JPS61211272A - Sheet post-treatment unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automate folding, stacking and stapling of each transcription sheet by equipping an image creating device with an exhaust port and a connective carry in port at the same level so that a folding device or a finisher device consisting of stacker part and stapling part can be connected. CONSTITUTION:To connect the copying machine 10 with a folding device 1 and further a finisher device 7, the folding device 1 is supported rotatably on the finisher device 7, which is placed in parallel with the copying machine 10 along a rail R, wherein the sheet exhaust port 11 of the copying machine 10 shall be in coincidence with the sheet carry-in port 2 of the folding device 1. Sheet S exhausted from this exhaust port 11 is transported to the inlet deflector 15 from the sheet carry-in port 2 of the folding device 1 by rotation of a carry-in roller couple 13, and if the through-pass mode is selected in which the sheet S is not folded, the inlet deflector 15 is changed over to the transit path 16 side, whereby the sheet S advances on the transit path to be sent automatically to the sheet exhaust port 3 by rotation of an exhaust roller couple 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing unit that processes sheets ejected from image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printing machines, and more specifically to a folding device that folds sheets. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing unit comprising: a stacker section that stacks sheets; and a finisher device that includes a staple section that staples sheets.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, a sheet post-processing unit (or an image forming device, for example, a copying machine on the left) is configured by connecting a folding device, a stacker device or a stacking device, and a folding device, respectively. Separate connections of the devices were used to fold, CAM, or staple the copied sheets exiting the copier.

→ Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in these sheet post-processing units 1-, each device must be connected to the copying machine depending on the processing content, which is very inconvenient. 7″1 tr -
f1. N Suji 廿Ir I6 Vagina'R 鴻tr Hat 1.
It is not possible to further connect a stacker device and a stacker device to the f-fG h device, and it is not possible to fold the copied sheets discharged from the copying machine and to automatically perform A-stacking or stapling processing. There wasn't.

(B) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as shown in FIG. A stacker section 5 which stacks the sheets S is arranged so that the sheets S are on the same horizontal level as the stacker section 5.
The sheet a entrance 9 in the finisher device 7 consisting of the stapling section 6 and the stapling section 6 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
The folding device 1 or the finisher device 7 is arranged at the same height as the sheet discharge port 1) of the image forming device 10, and the folding device 1 or the finisher device 7 can be connected to the image forming device 10, respectively. and further connect the folding device 10
The present invention is characterized in that it is configured such that the finisher device 7 can be connected to.

(e) Operation By employing the above-mentioned means, the folding device 1 is installed in the image forming device 10.
Alternatively, the finisher device 7 consisting of the stacker section 5 and the staple section 6 may be connected separately and used as a folding device alone or a finisher device alone. Further, a folding device 1 is connected to the image forming device, and a finisher device 7 is connected in series to the folding device 1, the sheet is folded by the folding device 1, and the folded sheet is further transferred to the stacker section 5 of the finisher device 7. Alternatively, the sheets are sent to the stapling section 6 to be accumulated or stapled/accumulated.

(F) Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the copying machine 10 is used by connecting the folding device 1 and the finisher device 7, the folding device 1 is installed in the finisher device 7 as shown in FIG.

The sheet outlet 3 of the folding device 1 is aligned with the sheet inlet 9 of the finisher device 7, and the sheet outlet 1) of the copying machine 10 is aligned with the sheet inlet 2 of the folding device 1.
It is matched with

As shown in FIG. 2, the folding device 1 includes a sheet inlet 2 provided at the top of the folding device body 12, a pair of carry-in rollers 13 facing the inlet 2, and a pair of carry-in rollers 13 disposed facing the inlet 2. An inlet deflector 15 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyor belt 13 so as to be switchable in two directions, and allows the sheet S sent from the conveyance port 2 to pass through conveyance #1) 6 or to the sheet I.
It is conveyed to the folding conveyance path 17. Further, a pair of discharge rollers 19 is disposed at the downstream end of the passing conveyance 916, and a sheet discharge port 3 is provided downstream of the pair of discharge rollers 19. The sheet discharge port 3 is connected to the sheet carry-in port 2. They are specified to be on the same horizontal level. Further, a first folding roller 20 is arranged on the downstream side of the folding conveyance path 17, and a second folding roller 21 is further arranged adjacent to the roller 2o. Furthermore, a first deflector 22 is disposed on the downstream side of the first folding roller 20 so as to be switchable in two directions.
The sheet S conveyed from the u-feeding path 17 is transferred to the first folding position regulating conveying path 23, or to the first-stage folding position regulating conveying path consisting of the first and second folding rollers 20 and 21. On the downstream side of 23, a fixed stopper member 24 and a movable stopper member 25 configured to protrude into the center of the conveyance path 23 when the solenoid device 25a is energized are disposed. In addition, the first stage folding roller pair (20
, 21), a second deflector 26 is disposed so as to be switchable in two directions.
, 21) to the second folding position regulation conveyance path 27, or a second stage folding process consisting of the second folding roller 21 and the third folding roller 29 adjacent to the second folding roller 21. It is conveyed to a pair of rollers (21, 29). A fixed stopper member 30 is disposed on the downstream side of the second folding position regulating conveyance path 27. Further, a third deflector 31 is disposed on the downstream side of the second-stage folding roller pair (21, 29) so as to be switchable in two directions, and is conveyed from the second-stage folding roller pair (21, 29). the sheet S to the third folding position regulating conveyance path 32, or
folding roller 29 and the third stage folding roller pair (2
9, 33). A fixed stopper member 35 is disposed downstream of the third folding position regulating conveyance path 32. In addition, the third stage folding roller pair (29, 3
A folding end conveyance path 36 is formed on the downstream side of 3), and the downstream side of this conveyance path 36 merges with the passing conveyance path 16 and communicates with the discharge roller pair 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the folding device 1 has a pin tray 37 removably disposed at its sheet discharge port 3, and furthermore, the sheet inlet port 2 of the device 1 is connected to the sheet discharge port 1 of the copying machine 10. It can be removably attached to the copying machine 10 in accordance with the above.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the finisher device 7, a sheet accumulation tray 5a constituting the stacker section 5 is disposed above the rear part of the main body 39 so as to be reciprocating in the vertical and horizontal directions. An intermediate tray 6a constituting the stable section 6 is arranged in the main body 39 below the stacker section 5, and the front end of the intermediate 1, Leiro a, supports one end of the sear 1-S on the tray 6a. Stopper 4
0 is rotatably arranged. Furthermore, a lower tray 41 is arranged in the main body 39 below the stapling section 6, and the sheets 1-S on the intermediate tray 6a are dropped and stored on the lower tray 41 by rotation of the stopper 40. In addition, there is a sea!
- A sheet carry-in port 9 is provided, and the sheet feed-in port 9 is disposed at the same height as the sheet discharge port 1) of the copying machine 10.

A carry-in roller 42 is disposed at the sheet carry-in port 9, and an inlet deflector 43 is arranged downstream of the sheet carry-in roller 42 so as to be switchable in two directions. The sheet S is conveyed to the stacker section conveyance path 45 or to the staple section conveyance path 46. Furthermore, a pair of discharge rollers 47 is disposed at the downstream end of the stacker section conveyance path 45, and a pair of discharge rollers 47 is arranged to transfer the conveyed sheets S to the sheet accumulation tray 5a.
to be discharged. Further, a pair of discharge rollers 49 is disposed at the downstream end of the staple portion conveyance path 46, and a lower roller 49a of the pair of discharge rollers 49 has its lower end connected to the intermediate tray 6a.
A part of the belt 50 that is in contact with the stopper 40 is wound around the belt 50, and the belt 50 rotates together with the lower roller 49a, and the sheet S discharged onto the intermediate tray 6a by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 49 is moved to the stopper 40. Align the edges along. Further, a staple 51 is installed above the upper end of the intermediate tray 6a, and staples the sheets S on the intermediate tray 6a.

Note that, as shown in FIG.
) can also be arranged in parallel to the copy 81)0.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the folding device 1 is installed in the finisher device 7, the lower end and side portion of the folding device 1 are rotatably connected to the tip of a bracket 52 provided at the bottom of the finisher device. However, if a jam occurs, the folding device l is installed so that the jam can be cleared by opening it.

Since this embodiment has the above configuration, the copying machine 10
When the folding device 1 is connected to the folding device 1 and the finisher device 7 is connected to the folding device 1, as shown in FIG. It is arranged in parallel with the copying machine 10 along the rail R, and the sheet discharge port 1) of the copying machine 10 and the sheet inlet port 2 of the folding device 1 are aligned.

Then, the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 1) of the copying machine 10 is conveyed from the sheet import port 2 of the folding device 1 to the entrance deflector 15 by the rotation of the pair of import rollers 13.
When the through-pass mode in which the sheet S is not folded is selected, the entrance deflector 15 is connected to the passing conveyance path 16.
The sheet 1-S is conveyed through the passing conveyance path 16, and is delivered to the sheet discharge port 3 by the rotation of the pair of discharge rollers 19.
transported to.

In addition, as shown in Figure 5, two-fold (al, Z-fold)
When the sheet folding mode of bl or back Z-fold (C) is selected, the entrance deflector 15
7 side, the sheet S is conveyed through the folding conveyance path 17 and conveyed to the first deflector 15 by the rotation of the first folding roller 20. Then, when a sheet 1-S of eight-fine size paper (A4, 85 or less) is conveyed in the sheet folding mode, the first deflector 22 is switched to the first stage folding roller pair (20, 21), Furthermore, the second deflector 26 is connected to the second stage folding roller pair (21, 29).
) side, and further the third deflector 31 is switched to the third stage folding roller pair (29, 33) side, and the sheet S is switched to the first stage folding roller pair (20, 21), the second stage folding roller pair (20, 21),
The sheet is conveyed through the folding roller pair (21° 29) and the third stage folding roller pair (29, 331) and the folding end conveyance path 36, and is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 3 by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 19. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 5fa), when the two-single folding mode is selected, the first deflector 22 is switched to the first folding position regulating conveyance path 23 side, and the sheet S is The sheet S is conveyed to the folding position regulation conveyance path 23.
The tip of the fixed strut f1 is brought into contact with the member 24. At this time, the solenoid device 25a that is interlocked with the movable stopper member 25 is in a non-energized state, and the movable stopper member 25 is held in a state that it does not protrude into the folding position regulating conveyance path 23. Then, due to the abutment of the fixed stopper member 24 of the sheet S, a loop X is formed in the center of the sheet S as shown in FIG. 3(a), and the sheet S
As shown in FIG. 3 fbl, the loop X of
A crease is formed in the center of S. The sheet 1-S folded in half in this way is passed through a pair of folding rollers (21, 21,
29) the second deflector 26 and the third deflector switched to the
It is guided by the third deflector 31 which has been switched to the folding roller pair (29°33) side of the second stage folding roller pair (21, 29) and the third stage folding roller pair (29, 33).
3) and the folding end conveyance path 36, and is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 3 by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 19.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (bl), when the Z-folding mode is selected, the first deflector 22 is switched to the first folding position regulating conveyance path 23 side, and the solenoid device 25a is energized. Then, the movable nib flange member 25 is projected into the folding position regulating conveyance path 23.Then, the sheet S
is guided by the first deflector 22 and conveyed to the first folding position regulating conveyance path 23, and the leading end of the sheet S comes into contact with the movable stopper member 24. Then, a loop is formed at about 1/4 of the tip of the sheet S, and the sheet S
The loop is sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers (20° 21) at the first stage, and a first fold is formed in 1/4 of the sheet S. Furthermore, the sheet S on which the first crease has been formed is transferred to the second folding position regulating conveyance path 27 side.
The sheet +-S is guided by the deflector 26 and conveyed to the second folding position regulating conveyance path 27, and the tip of the sheet +-S comes into contact with the fixed stopper member 30. Then, a loop is formed at the end of the two sheets stacked by the first fold of Sheet 1-S, and the loop of Sheet 1-S is sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers (21, 29) at the second stage. , C1-S2
A second crease is formed at the end of the stack, resulting in a Z-folded sheet. Further, the sheet 1-S is guided by the third deflector 31 that is not switched to the third stage folding roller pair (29, 33), and is guided to the third stage folding roller pair (29, 33).
33) and the folding end conveyance path 36, and is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 3 by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 19.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (C1), when the back Z-fold remote is selected, the first deflector 22 is switched to the first stage folding roller pair (20, 21), and the second
The deflector 26 is switched to the second folding position regulating conveyance path 27, and the sheet S is transferred to the second folding position regulating conveyance path by the deflector 22, 26 and the pair of folding rollers (20, 21) of the first stage. 27, and the tip of the sear 1-S is brought into contact with the fixed stopper member 30. Then, a loop is formed about 1/4 from the tip of the sheet S,
The loop of the sheet S passes through the second stage folding roller pair (21,
29), and a first fold is formed at a 1/4 portion of the sheet S on the back side of the Z-fold.

Furthermore, the sheet S on which the first fold has been formed is guided by the third deflector 31 which is switched to the third folding position regulating conveyance path 32 side, and is conveyed to the third folding position regulating conveyance path 32. Then, the tip of the sea 1 is a fixed stopper member 35.
Be touched by. Then, a loop is formed at the end of the double layering of the sheet S by the first fold, and the sheet S
- The loop of S is connected to the third stage folding roller pair (29, 33
A second fold is formed on the back side of the Z-fold at the end of the stack of two sheets of Sheet 1-S, resulting in a sheet to be back-Z-folded. Further, the sheet S is conveyed through the folding end conveyance path 36, and is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 3 by the rotation of the pair of discharge rollers 19.

In this way, the sheet S discharged from the sheet discharge port 3 of the folding device 1 is transferred from the sheet import port 9 of the finisher device 7 to the entrance deflector 4 by the rotation of the pair of transport rollers 42.
3, and the stacker mode in which the sheets S are stacked on the sheet accumulating tray 5a is selected, the entrance deflector 43 is switched to the stacker section conveyance path 45 side, and the sheets S are conveyed through the stacker section conveyance path 45. , the sheets are discharged onto the sheet accumulation tray 5a by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 47. At this time, the sheet accumulating tray 5a is moved horizontally as required, and the discharged sheets 1-S are sorted and accumulated. Furthermore, the stacking tray 5a is configured such that the fall height from the ejection roller pair 47 to the highest sheet S stacked on the sheet stacking tray 5a is maintained at a predetermined height!・It is lowered according to the loading of No. 1-S on Ray 5a.

Further, when the stacker mode in which the sheets S are stacked and stapled is selected, the entrance deflector 43 is switched to the stapling section feed path 46 side, and the sheets S are conveyed through the stapling section feed path 46. And sea 1-
The sheet S is discharged onto the intermediate tray 6a by the rotation of the discharge roller pair 49 and the belt 50, and the discharged sheet S is further moved by the rotation of the lower end of the belt 50, so that the rear end of the sheet S is moved along the stopper 40. It will be harmonized. Further, when a predetermined number of sheets 1-3 are stacked and aligned on the intermediate tray 6a, the ends of the sheets 1-3 are stapled with staples 51, and the stopper 40 is further rotated to remove the stapled sheets 1-3. is dropped and stored on the lower tray 41.

Furthermore, when the finisher device 7 supporting the folding device 1 is arranged in parallel with the copying machine 10, if a jam occurs in the folding device or the finisher device 7, the finisher device 7 and the folding device 7 will be damaged as shown in FIG. 1 is separated from the copying machine 10, the folding device 1 is further rotated from the finisher device 7, and in this state, each guide piece is opened to clear a jam in the folding device 1 or the finisher device 7.

(l.) As described in detail, according to the present invention, the sheet inlet 2 and the sheet outlet 3 of the folding device 1 are arranged at the same horizontal level, and the sheets 1-S are stacked. The image forming apparatus 10 is arranged so that the sheet inlet 9 of the finisher device 7, which includes a stacker section 5 for stapling and a stapling section 6 for stapling, is at the same height as the sheet exit port 1) of the image forming apparatus 10. Since the structure is configured so that the folding device 1 or the finisher device 7 can be respectively connected to the folding device 1 or the finisher device 7,
If bending work is not required for S, the image forming apparatus 10
The finisher device 7 can be directly connected to the image forming device 10, and if only folding work is required, only the folding device 1 can be connected to the image forming device 10.

Further, since the folding device 1 is connected to the image forming device 10 and the finisher device 7 is connected to the folding device 1, the sheet S ejected from the image forming device 10 is
can be automatically folded, stacked, sorted, or stapled.

For example, a format often used in reports can be satisfied, such as adding an A3 Z-fold sheet to a group of A4 sheets and stapling.

Furthermore, when the folding device 1 is connected to the finishing device 7 and the sheet S discharged from the image forming device 10 does not require folding processing and only needs to be processed by the finishing device 7, the sheet S is folded. device] without being bent, and passes through the finisher device 7.
It is also possible to have the process done only by hand.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the connection between a folding device and a finisher device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the folding device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing folding of a sheet in its two-fold mode. FIG. 4 is a side view, in which (a) shows a state in which a loop is formed in the center of the sheet, and (bl shows a state in which the center part of the sheet is folded in half). FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the connected state, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the folding mode of the sheet. , FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the finisher device according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the finisher device connected to the image forming device, and FIG. 8 is the folding device and finisher device connected to the image forming device. FIG. 9 is a side view showing jam removal in the folding device and the finisher device. 1. Folding device, 2. Sheet inlet of the folding device, 3. Folding device. Sheet discharge port of the device, 5...
Stacker section, 6... Stapling section, 7゛Finisher device, 9゛Sheet inlet of finisher device, 10... Image forming device (copying machine),
1)...Sheet discharge port of image forming apparatus, S sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A sheet post-processing unit comprising a folding device that folds sheets ejected from an image forming device, and a finisher device that includes a stacker section that accumulates sheets and a stapling section that staples the sheets, the sheet loading device in the folding device; The folding device is placed in the image forming device so that the opening and the sheet discharge port are on the same horizontal level, and the sheet inlet in the finisher device is placed in the same height as the sheet discharge port in the image forming device. Alternatively, a sheet post-processing unit configured so that finisher devices can be connected to each other, a folding device can be connected to an image forming device, and a finisher device can be connected to the folding device.