JP3884916B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus such as an LBP and a copying machine including the sheet processing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some conventional image forming apparatuses include a sheet processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as edge alignment and stapling on a plurality of sheets on which images have been formed. As such a sheet processing apparatus, a type provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body on the sheet discharge port side is known.
[0003]
However, the sheet processing apparatus having such a configuration has a problem that the installation area of the entire apparatus increases.
[0004]
Therefore, as another configuration, a first sheet stacking unit for temporarily stacking sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, an aligning unit for aligning the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking unit, and alignment And a post-processing unit that performs processing such as stapling on the bundle of sheets aligned by the unit, and the aligning unit moves the sheets on the first sheet stacking unit to the lower side of the first sheet stacking unit. It is conceivable to perform an operation of dropping onto a second sheet stacking unit formed above.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in realizing an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus configured to stack sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body and post-processed sheet bundles on the same sheet stacking unit,
1: The sheet discharged directly from the image forming apparatus main body to the second sheet stacking unit is post-processed and dropped to the second sheet stacking unit up to the full load detection position height without getting in the way. Allow discharge.
[0006]
2: Depending on whether post-processing is to be performed, switching between whether the sheet discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus is reliably conveyed to the first sheet stacking unit or the second sheet stacking unit is switched.
[0007]
3: The sheet bundle that has undergone post-processing is surely dropped and stacked on the second sheet stacking unit without the full-load detection flag of the post-processing unit being in the way and being caught by the image forming apparatus main body discharge roller unit. .
The problem is given.
[0008]
The object of the invention according to the present application is to reliably convey the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body to a predetermined sheet stacking unit according to whether or not post-processing is performed, and reliably perform the second processing after the post-processing. Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus capable of dropping and stacking on sheet stacking unit Is to provide .
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first sheet stacking unit for temporarily stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and processing of sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking unit The Do A processing unit; a dropping unit that performs an operation of dropping a sheet on the first sheet stacking unit onto a second sheet stacking unit below the first sheet stacking unit; and a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus Switching means for selectively switching the transport path of the first sheet stacking section to the path of transporting to the first sheet stacking section and the path of transporting to the second sheet stacking section, and the stacking height of the second sheet stacking section Loading height detection means for detecting the height, Loading height Controlling the switching means according to the detection signal and the print signal of the detection means; Transport route And a control means for determining the sheet processing apparatus.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the switching unit and the loading height detection unit are combined.
[0011]
A third invention is any one of the above inventions, wherein the second sheet stacking unit is disposed above the main body of the image forming apparatus.
[0012]
4th invention is the said 1st or 3rd invention, The said switching means By When the path is switched to the path for carrying in the first sheet stacking unit, the stacking height detecting means retreats from the sheet dropping track from the first sheet stacking unit to the second sheet stacking unit. And the switching means By In the case where the path is switched to the path where the sheet is carried into the second sheet stacking unit, the stack height detection unit is in a position for detecting the stack height of the stacked sheets.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the above aspects, when the sheet falls from the first sheet stacking unit to the second sheet stacking unit, the stacking height detection unit retreats from the sheet dropping track. And is returned to a position where the stacking height of the stacked sheets is detected after dropping.
[0014]
According to a sixth invention, in any one of the above inventions, when the stacking height detecting unit detects that the sheet stacking height is equal to or higher than a certain level, the discharged sheet is controlled by the switching unit. The control means is fixed to the route to be carried into the loading section. Is The print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit is not accepted until the detection of the stacking height is canceled, and only the print information to be carried into the second sheet stacking unit is executed.
[0015]
In a seventh aspect based on any one of the first to fifth aspects, when the stacking height detecting unit detects that the sheet stacking height is equal to or higher than a certain level, the control unit cancels the stacking height detection. Print information that has already been received until it is received, or print information that is subsequently received into the first sheet stacking unit, or print information that is subsequently received into the first sheet stacking unit, and is transferred into the second sheet stacking unit It is characterized by executing only.
[0018]
First 8 The present invention lies in an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and any one of the sheet processing apparatuses described above.
[0019]
In the invention having the above-described configuration, the conveyance guide as the switching means for conveying the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body to the first sheet stacking unit is switchable, and the post-processing apparatus according to the movement thereof. The position of the full load detection flag as the detection means is also switched, and the timing of those operations is optimized, so that the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body can be surely supplied to the second sheet stacking when it is not post-processed. The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is reliably conveyed to the first sheet stacking unit during post-processing, and is surely dropped and stacked on the second sheet stacking unit after post-processing. .
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, an example of a sheet processing apparatus mounted on a printer apparatus typified by a laser beam printer will be described.
[0021]
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer main body as an image forming apparatus, which is connected to a computer alone or connected to a network such as a LAN, based on image information, print signals, etc. sent from these computers and networks. The apparatus forms (prints) an image on a sheet by the image forming process and discharges the sheet.
[0024]
On the other hand, the sheet processing apparatus 2 scoops out the sheet discharged from the printer main body 1 with the flapper 3 and passes through the conveying section in the sheet processing apparatus to face the first side in a face-down state with the image surface facing down. The sheet is placed on the sheet stacking unit 2B, aligned by an aligning unit, which will be described later, bundled for each predetermined job, and stapled at one or a plurality of locations, and then below the first sheet stacking unit. It is dropped and loaded onto a face-down (FD) discharge unit formed above the image forming apparatus main body.
[0025]
Here, the sheet processing apparatus 2 and the printer main body 1 are electrically connected by a cable connector (not shown). Further, the sheet processing apparatus 2 has a casing part 2A for storing each part, and is detachable from the apparatus main body 1A of the printer main body 1 described later.
[0026]
Next, the configuration of each unit of the printer main body 1 will be described along the conveyance path of the conveyed sheet S.
[0027]
In the printer main body 1, a plurality of sheets S are stacked in the feeding cassette 4, and the uppermost sheet among them is sequentially separated and fed one by one by various rollers. The sheet S fed from the feeding cassette 4 by a predetermined print signal supplied from a computer or a network forms a toner image in the printer main body 1 by a so-called laser beam type image forming process. The toner image is transferred to the upper surface of the sheet by the unit 5, and then the toner image is permanently fixed by applying heat and pressure by the fixing device 6 on the downstream side.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet S on which the image is fixed is folded back in a substantially U-shaped sheet conveyance path to the discharge roller 7, so that the image surface is reversed and the image surface is on the lower side. In this state, the paper is discharged face down from the printer main body 1 by the discharge roller 7.
[0029]
Here, the sheet S is face-down (FD) provided on the upper portion of the printer body 1 by determining the position of the flapper 3 of the sheet processing apparatus 2 based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown). Whether it is discharged to the discharge unit 8 as it is or discharged via the sheet processing apparatus 2 is selected, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 2 and the movement of each part in each case are shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.
[0030]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mechanism portion related to the flapper 3 and the full load detection flag 9. When a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus 2 so that the sheet is discharged from the control unit (not shown) to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing, as shown in FIG. The spring 10 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 11 by the spring force of the spring 10 and is retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the solenoid 12 is OFF. At that time, the full load detection flag 9 hangs in a state in which it can rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 13.
[0031]
The sheet S discharged from the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 goes to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 formed above the image forming apparatus main body 1 without touching the flapper 3. The sheet S is discharged to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 while rotating the full load detection flag 9 counterclockwise about the shaft 13 at the leading end of the sheet when discharged.
[0032]
At this time, when the stacking amount of the sheets S stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 exceeds a certain level, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the full load detection flag 9 is set according to the stacking height of the stacked sheets S. The sagging angle θ changes.
[0033]
When the hanging angle θ of the full load detection flag 9 reaches a certain angle or less, a sensor (not shown) detects that the flapper 3 is retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. Until the full load detection is canceled, the control means does not accept the print information carried into the first sheet stacking section 2B, and is discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge section 8 without post-processing. Only print information to be printed.
[0034]
Next, a case where a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus 2 so as to be discharged from the control unit (not shown) via the sheet processing apparatus 2 will be described.
[0035]
First, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 2 and the movement of each part when the sheet S conveyed by the discharge roller 7 goes to the sheet processing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, FIGS. 5A and 5B show sectional views of the discharge roller 7 and the sheet processing apparatus 2, and FIG. 6A shows the sheet processing apparatus 2. Cross section FIG. 6B shows B in FIG. − B section is shown.
[0036]
In FIG. 5, 15 is a conveyance roller, 16 is a discharge sensor, M is a jogger motor as a drive source, 17 is a sheet return member, and 18 is a reference wall for abutting the rear end of the sheet.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyance roller 15 is disposed on the downstream side of the above-described flapper 3 in the sheet conveyance direction, and is rotated by a drive motor (not shown). The discharge sensor 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the conveyance roller 15 in the sheet conveyance direction, and detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller 15. The jogger motor M is a motor for driving slide guides 19 and 20 described later, and a stepping motor is used in this embodiment.
[0038]
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sheet return member 17 is disposed on the most downstream side in the sheet processing apparatus 2 and is configured to be rotatable about the support shaft portion 17a. Here, FIG. 5A shows an initial position of the sheet return member 17, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the sheet return member 17 is pushed up by the sheet S. The sheet return member 17 has a predetermined weight, and when it is pushed up counterclockwise in FIG. 5 by an external force, it tries to rotate in the arrow direction (clockwise direction) in FIG. As a result, the sheets are stacked with their rear ends aligned on the reference wall 18.
[0039]
Also, as shown in FIG. 6, in the sheet processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, a right (R) slide guide 19 and a left (L) slide guide, which will be described in detail later, as guide members that perform alignment in the sheet width direction. 20 is provided.
[0040]
In the sheet processing apparatus 2, when stapling is performed based on a command output in advance from a computer or the like, before the stapled sheet S is discharged by the discharge roller 15, as shown in FIG. , The link 21 rotating around the shaft 22 is pulled, and in conjunction with this, the shaft 23 of the flapper 3 engaged with the long hole of the link 21 is pushed by the link 21, and the flapper 3 And the tip end side of the flapper 3 hangs down below the nip portion of the discharge roller 7.
[0041]
At that time, the full load detection flag 9 is pushed up by the shaft 24 of the link 21 to jump up around the shaft 13.
[0042]
As a result, the sheet S discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge roller 7 is drawn upward along the flapper 3, carried into the sheet processing apparatus 2, and a first sheet stacking unit for temporarily stacking sheets. It is carried into 2B.
[0043]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the sheet processing apparatus 2, the R-slide guide 19 on the right side and the L-slide guide 20 on the left side interfere with the sheet S that is carried in with respect to the sheet loading direction. In order to avoid this, the sheet S is retracted to a position outside by a predetermined amount from the width direction of the sheet S and waits for the sheet S to enter.
[0044]
In the sheet processing apparatus 2, when the first sheet S is discharged from the discharge roller 7 of the printer main body 1, the sheet S is carried into the apparatus main body 2 </ b> A so as to be scooped up by the flapper 3. The sheet is conveyed onto the guide surface of the first sheet stacking unit 2B configured by the R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide 20 by the discharge roller 15 that is rotationally driven by the illustrated drive motor.
[0045]
Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, the guide surface of the first sheet stacking unit 2B is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, and is mutually on the upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet loading direction. The angle of inclination is different, and specifically, a bent portion 2C that is bent at an angle of inclination is formed between a predetermined interval on the upstream side and a predetermined interval on the downstream side. Since the guide surface of the first sheet stacking portion 2B has such a bent portion 2C, the central portion of the sheet S that is not guided by the slide guides 19 and 20 is prevented from being bent.
[0046]
When the leading edge of the sheet S carried into the apparatus main body 2A is detected by the discharge sensor 16 near the upstream side of the discharge roller 15, the flag 25 is displayed. 5 , And then the paper drop flag 14 is rotated counterclockwise. When the trailing edge of the paper passes through the discharge roller 15, as shown in FIG. 5B, the paper dropping flag 14 rotates by its own weight in the clockwise direction in FIG. Then, it reliably falls on the guide surface constituted by the R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide 20. At this time, the discharge sensor 16 is turned OFF when the flag 25 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG.
[0047]
Further, when the front end of the sheet S pushes up the sheet return member 17 in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 5, the sheet return member 17 rotates in the reverse direction under its own weight as described above, and the rear end of the sheet is the reference wall. 18 is hit. As a result, the rear end portions in the conveying direction of the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking unit 2B are aligned.
[0048]
When the above-described discharge sensor 16 is turned off, only the right R-slide guide 19 operates, and the alignment operation in the width direction of each sheet stacked on the first sheet stacking unit 2B is started. ing. Specifically, when the R-slide guide 19 is driven by the motor M and moves to the left side in FIG. 6, the right (R) reference pin 26 provided on the R-slide guide 19 contacts the right side surface of the sheet S. The sheet S is pushed in contact with the L-slide guide 20 side. Then, the left side surface of the sheet S abuts on the left (L) reference pin 27 provided on the L-slide guide 20 so that the alignment of the sheets in the width direction is performed.
[0049]
Here, the configuration of the slide guide will be described in detail. FIG. Of the sheet processing apparatus 2 It is a figure explaining the structure of the slide guide which showed the cross section. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the slide guide.
[0050]
The slide guides 19 and 20 are guided by guide pins 28 (28a to 28d) provided on the frame F, so that the slide guides 19 and 20 reciprocate in the left-right direction in FIG. 6, that is, the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction (sheet width direction). It can be moved, and is moved by transmission of driving force from the jogger motor M.
[0051]
When viewed from the sheet conveying direction, the slide guides 19 and 20 are, as shown in FIG. 6B, each wall portion for guiding both sides of the sheet S and a support portion for supporting the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet S. It has a substantially U-shaped cross section, supports each sheet discharged onto the first sheet stacking portion 2B by the lower surface of the U shape, and does not guide the central portion in the width direction of the sheet S. It has become.
[0052]
The R-slide guide 19 is provided with a rack portion 19 a having a flat gear that meshes with the step gear 29. On the other hand, a left (L) slide rack 30 having a flat gear meshing with the step gear 29 is also attached to the L-slide guide 20. Here, the L-slide rack 30 is provided so as to be movable relative to the L-slide guide 20 via a coiled spring 31. Here, one end of the spring 31 abuts on the L-slide guide 20, and the other end abuts on the L-slide rack 30, and biases the L-slide guide 20 and the L-slide rack 30 in a widening direction. ing. The L-slide rack 30 has an embossed portion 30a that moves in the square hole portion 20a on the L-slide guide 20 side.
[0053]
Two R-reference pins 26 made of metal with excellent wear resistance are provided on the side wall of the R-slide guide 19, and two L-reference pins 27 are provided on the side wall of the L-slide guide 20. When the sheets are aligned, the R-slide guide 19 moves as will be described later, and the R-reference pin 26 and the L-reference pin 27 are brought into contact with both end surfaces of the sheet.
[0054]
The R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide 20 are supported in the height direction by a step gear 29 and a height regulating member 32.
[0055]
6 to 9, H is a stapler that strikes the sheet. This stapler H is fixedly arranged on the L-slide guide 20 side in order to staple each sheet at the upper left corner of the image surface of the image-formed sheet and bind each sheet.
[0056]
Next, operations of the slide guides 19 and 20 will be described. When the sheet processing apparatus 2 is turned on, the discharge roller 15 driven by the drive motor starts rotating, and then the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 29 rotates, whereby the R-slide guide 19 is rotated. The rack portion 19a is driven and retracts to the outside. In the L-slide guide 20, when the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 29 rotates, the slide rack 30 first moves relatively, and the embossed portion 30a of the slide rack 30 is a view of the square hole portion 20a of the L-slide guide 20. 6 After coming into contact with the left end face, it is retracted to the outside by being pressed by the embossed portion 30a.
[0057]
The R-slide guide 19 is provided with a flag portion 19f. When the flag portion 19f moves to a predetermined retreat distance, the photosensor 33 is shielded from light as shown in FIG. M stops. This position is the home position.
[0058]
When a signal that the sheet S enters the sheet processing apparatus 2 is input from the printer body 1 to the sheet processing apparatus 2, the jogger motor M rotates and the R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide 20 move inward. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the vehicle stops at a position wider than the width of the entering sheet S by a predetermined amount d. At this position, the L-slide guide 20 is in a state where the guide pin 28c abuts against the end portion and cannot move further inward. In the first embodiment, this position shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is set as a standby position, and at this standby position, the side surface of the L-slide guide 20 becomes a reference position during the alignment operation.
[0059]
In the present embodiment, when the size (width) of the sheet S is the maximum size capable of passing paper, the R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide are set so that the gaps on both sides become predetermined amounts d and d, respectively. Twenty standby positions are set.
[0060]
When aligning a narrower sheet with the sheet processing apparatus 2, the R-slide guide 19 is moved to the left by an amount corresponding to this, so that the gap on the right side in FIG. The predetermined amount is d. On the other hand, in this case, the gap between the sheet and the L-slide guide 20 is wider than the predetermined amount d by half of the narrowed amount.
[0061]
When the first sheet S is discharged from the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet S is picked up by the flapper 3 and introduced into the sheet processing apparatus 2, and each slide guide 19, 20 is discharged by the discharge roller 15. It is conveyed to.
[0062]
At this time, after the leading edge of the sheet S is detected by the discharge sensor 16, the sheet S is conveyed along the guide surfaces of the slide guides 19 and 20, and the left corner of the leading edge (the lower left corner in FIG. 6A). Enters the opening of the stapler H. In addition, when the sheet S is in contact with the sheet returning member 17 at the center of the leading end thereof, and the sheet S is vigorous, the sheet returning member 17 is pushed up in the counterclockwise direction (arrow direction) in FIG. The rear end is aligned with the reference wall 18 by rotating in the clockwise direction by its own weight.
[0063]
Also, almost simultaneously with this operation, when the trailing edge of the sheet S passes through the discharge roller 15, the flag 25 of the discharge sensor 16 turns back in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 due to its own weight, and the discharge sensor 16 is turned OFF. At this time, the trailing edge of the sheet is pressed downward by the flag 25 and is surely dropped onto the guide surface of the first sheet stacking portion 2 </ b> B configured by the R-slide guide 19 and the L-slide guide 20.
[0064]
When the discharge sensor 16 is turned off, the jogger motor M starts to rotate, and the slide guide at the standby position starts the alignment operation as follows. That is, at the start of the alignment operation, the jogger motor M rotates in the direction in which the slide guide moves inward. Here, the L-slide guide 20 cannot move because it is in contact with the guide pin 28c, and only the slide rack 30 provided on the L-slide guide 20 moves in the direction in which the spring 31 is contracted. Accordingly, during the alignment operation, only the R-slide guide 19 moves, so that the R-reference pin 26 of the R-slide guide 19 first comes into contact with the right end surface of the sheet S, and the sheet S is further moved as shown in FIG. When the left end surface is moved to the left side and abutted against the L-reference pin 27 of the L-slide guide 20, the state shown in FIGS. At this time, the R-slide guide 19 may be moved to a position that is narrower than the width of the sheet S by a predetermined amount in consideration of the bending of the sheet.
[0065]
The jogger motor M temporarily stops in the state shown in FIG. 8 in which both ends of the sheet S are in contact with the slide guides 19 and 20, and then starts reverse rotation, so that the R-slide guide 19 returns to the standby position shown in FIG. It stops when it becomes. The amount of movement of the R-slide guide 19 during this period is managed by the number of driving pulses of the jogger motor M, which is a stepping motor, based on the position of the home position where the photosensor 33 is shielded. At this time, only the slide rack 30 moves in the direction in which the spring 31 spreads and the L-slide guide 20 itself does not move and is held at the reference position on the L-slide guide 20 side. The left end of FIG. 4 remains in contact with the L-slide guide 20.
[0066]
Next, when the second sheet (S2) is conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 2 in the same manner as the first sheet S, the sheet (S2) is removed when the trailing edge of the sheet (S2) passes through the discharge roller 15. S2) When the trailing edge of the flag 25 falls to the first sheet stacking unit 2B due to the weight of the flag 25 and then the discharge sensor 16 is turned off, the alignment operation is started as in the case of the first sheet. That is, the jogger motor M rotates to move the R-slide guide 19, the R-reference pin 26 contacts the side surface of the sheet (S 2), and the left side surface of the sheet (S 2) further moves to the L-slide guide 20. The left end portions of the two sheets are aligned by moving until they are brought into contact with the provided L-reference pin 27. Thereafter, the R-slide guide 19 moves to the above-described standby position and stops.
[0067]
This operation is repeated to perform the operation of aligning the last (nth) sheet (Sn) of one job, and each R-reference pin 26 provided on the R-slide guide 19 moves the left side surface of the sheet to L In the state shown in FIG. 8 where the R-slide guide 19 has stopped moving by abutting against each L-reference pin 27 of the slide guide 20, the position on the left side of the front end is stapled with a small stapler H located on the left side of the front end of the sheet bundle. To do.
[0068]
According to this configuration and operation, during the alignment operation of each sheet, the L-slide guide 20 does not stop and move at the reference position, only the R-slide guide 19 moves, and the left end portion of each sheet moves to the reference position. Since they are aligned, the binding process by the stapler H fixedly arranged on the L-slide guide 20 side is performed accurately and reliably. Furthermore, even when the width of each sheet carried in one job varies or when the sheet size changes within one job, for example, from LTR to A4, the position of the left end of each sheet is made uniform. Therefore, the finish of the binding process by the stapler H becomes accurate and beautiful, and an excellent effect is obtained.
[0069]
When the stapling operation is completed in this manner, the jogger motor M is rotationally driven to move the R-slide guide 19 from the state shown in FIG. When the movement of the R-slide guide 19 is started, the slide rack 30 moves to the left side in FIG. 8 on the L-slide guide 20 side, and the L-slide guide 20 itself does not move immediately.
[0070]
When the position of the R-slide guide 19 passes the standby position shown in FIG. 6, the embossed portion 30 a of the slide rack 30 comes into contact with the end surface of the square hole portion 20 a of the L-slide guide 20, and the L-slide guide 20. Is a figure 6 The slide guides 19 and 20 are moved to the left side.
[0071]
Further, the stapled bundle of sheets is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B when the distance between the supported slide guides 19 and 20 is near or wider than the width of the sheet. The sheet bundle is dropped and stacked to the FD discharge unit 8 of the printer main body 1 below the first sheet stacking unit.
[0072]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the flapper 3 is hung downward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1, so that the fallen sheet bundle is face-down without being caught by the nip portion of the discharge roller 7. (FD) It serves as a guide for dropping and loading on the discharge unit 8. In addition, since the full load detection flag 9 is in a state of jumping up, it does not interfere with the fall of the post-processing sheet bundle.
[0073]
As shown in FIG. 7, after the sheet bundle is dropped, the solenoid 12 is turned off, and the flapper 3 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 11 by the force of the spring 10 and retracts upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus. Then, the full load detection flag 9 in which the bias of the link 21 is released by the movement of the link 21 hangs down so as to be able to rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 13. At this time, when the amount of sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 exceeds a certain level, the hanging angle of the full load detection flag 9 changes according to the stacking height of the stacked sheets as shown in FIG. Come. When the hanging angle θ of the full load detection flag 9 reaches a certain angle or less, a sensor (not shown) detects it, and the flapper 3 is fixed in a state of being retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. Thus, until the detection is canceled, the control means does not accept the print information carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B, and only the print information discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing. Execute.
[0074]
Since the sheet stacking height detected by the full load detection flag 9 is lower than the sheet stacking height detected by the image forming apparatus main body 1, the sheet discharged and stacked onto the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 via the sheet processing apparatus. However, it does not interfere with the discharge of the sheet discharged to the face down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing.
[0075]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the sheet stacking apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0076]
When a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus 2 so that the sheet is discharged from the control unit (not shown) to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing, as shown in FIG. The spring 10 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 11 by the force of the spring 10 and is retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. At this time, the solenoid 12 is OFF. At that time, the full load detection flag 9 hangs in a state in which it can rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 13.
[0077]
The sheet S discharged from the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 goes to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 formed above the image forming apparatus main body 1 without touching the flapper 3. The sheet S is discharged to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 while rotating the full load detection flag 9 counterclockwise about the shaft 13 at the leading end of the sheet when discharged.
[0078]
At this time, if the stacking amount of the sheets S stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 exceeds a certain level, 4 As shown, the hanging angle θ of the full load detection flag 9 changes according to the stacking height of the stacked sheets S. When the hanging angle θ of the full load detection flag 9 reaches a certain angle or less, a sensor (not shown) detects it, temporarily stops the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B, and performs post-processing. Only the print information discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 is executed. Further, the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking section 2B received thereafter is kept in a standby state.
[0079]
When the sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 are removed and the detection is canceled, the print information to be carried into the stopped first sheet stacking unit 2B is executed.
[0080]
Next, when a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus so as to be discharged from the control unit (not shown) via the sheet processing apparatus 2, before the stapled sheet S is discharged by the discharge roller 7, FIG. As shown, the solenoid 12 operates and pulls the link 21, so that the link 21 rotates about the shaft 22. You The In conjunction with this, the shaft 23 of the flapper 3 is pushed by the link, so that the flapper 3 rotates clockwise about the shaft 11 and the tip side of the flapper 3 hangs below the nip portion of the discharge roller 7. It becomes a state. At that time, the full load detection flag 9 is pushed up about the shaft 13 by being pushed by the shaft 24 of the link 21.
[0081]
The sheet S discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge roller 7 is drawn upward along the flapper 3, is loaded into the sheet processing apparatus 2, and is loaded into the first sheet stacking unit 2 </ b> B for temporarily stacking sheets. Is done. Thereafter, after the stapled sheet bundle is stapled by the aligning means, the sheet bundle is dropped and stacked to the FD discharge section 8 of the printer main body 1 below the first sheet stacking section 2B.
[0082]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the flapper 3 hangs downward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1, so that the dropped sheet bundle is face-downed without being caught by the nip portion of the discharge roller 7. FD) It serves as a guide for dropping and loading on the discharge unit 8. In addition, since the full load detection flag 9 is in a state of jumping up, it does not interfere with the fall of the post-processing sheet bundle.
[0083]
Figure 4 3, after the sheet bundle is dropped, the solenoid 12 is turned off, and the flapper 3 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 11 by the force of the spring 10, and is retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus. Then, the full load detection flag 9 in which the bias of the link 21 is released by the movement of the link 21 hangs down in a state of being able to rotate counterclockwise about the shaft 13. At this time, when the amount of sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 exceeds a certain level, the hanging angle of the full-load detection flag 9 changes according to the stacking height of the stacked sheets as shown in FIG. Come on. When the hanging angle θ of the full load detection flag 9 reaches a certain angle or less, a sensor (not shown) detects it, temporarily stops the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B, and performs post-processing. Only the print information discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 is executed. Further, the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking section 2B received thereafter is kept in a standby state.
[0084]
When the sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 are removed and the detection is canceled, the print information to be carried into the stopped first sheet stacking unit 2B is executed.
[0085]
Since the sheet stacking height detected by the full load detection flag 9 is lower than the sheet stacking height detected by the image forming apparatus main body 1, a sheet that has been dropped and stacked on the face down (FD) discharge unit 8 via the sheet processing apparatus. It does not interfere with the discharge of the sheet discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing.
[0086]
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0087]
When a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus 2 so that the sheet is discharged from the unillustrated control unit to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without post-processing, as shown in FIG. By operating and pulling the link 21, the link member 21 rotates about the shaft 22. In conjunction with this, the shaft 23 of the flapper 3 is pushed by the link member 21, whereby the flapper 3 is rotated clockwise around the shaft 11 and retracted upward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1. become.
[0088]
As a result, the sheet S discharged from the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 goes to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 formed above the image forming apparatus main body 1 without touching the flapper 3. . next When a control signal is sent to the sheet processing apparatus so as to be discharged from the control unit (not shown) via the sheet processing apparatus 2, before the stapled sheet S is discharged by the discharge roller 7, FIG. As shown, solenoid 12 is turned off. Accordingly, the force of the link 21 that has pushed the flapper 3 disappears, and the flapper 3 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 11 by its own weight, and the tip side of the flapper 3 hangs down below the nip portion of the discharge roller 7. It becomes a state.
[0089]
At this time, if the stacking amount of the sheets already stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 is more than a certain level, the flapper 3 hangs down only to the position where it hits the stacked sheets as shown in FIG. . Then, if the hanging angle of the flapper 3 is equal to or smaller than a certain angle, the photo sensor 34 detects the flag portion 3a provided at the end of the flapper 3, and the print is carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B that has already been received. The information is temporarily stopped, and only the print information discharged as it is to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without performing post-processing is executed. Further, the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking section 2B received thereafter is kept in a standby state.
[0090]
When the sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 are removed and detection is canceled, the print information to be carried into the stopped first sheet stacking unit 2B is executed.
[0091]
If the photo sensor 34 does not detect, the sheet S discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge roller 7 is drawn upward along the flapper 3 and is carried into the sheet processing apparatus 2 for temporarily stacking the sheets. No. 1 sheet stacking unit 2B. Thereafter, after the stapled sheet bundle is stapled by the aligning means, the sheet bundle is dropped and stacked to the FD discharge section 8 of the printer main body 1 below the first sheet stacking section 2B.
[0092]
At this time, the flapper 3 hangs downward from the nip portion of the discharge roller 7 of the image forming apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 10, so that the dropped sheet bundle is face-down (FD) without being caught by the nip portion of the discharge roller 7. ) It serves as a guide for dropping and loading on the discharge unit 8.
[0093]
At this time, if the amount of sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 exceeds a certain level, , Loading sheet The hanging angle of the flapper 3 changes in accordance with the height of the load. When the hanging angle of the flapper 3 reaches a certain angle or less, the photo sensor 34 detects the flag information 3a provided at the end of the flapper, and the print information to be carried into the already received first sheet stacking unit 2B. Is temporarily stopped and only the print information discharged to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 as it is without performing post-processing is executed. The print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B received thereafter is kept in a standby state.
[0094]
When the sheets stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 are removed and the detection is canceled, the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit 2B which has been stopped is put into execution.
[0095]
Since the sheet stacking height detected by the full load detection flag 9 is lower than the sheet stacking height detected by the image forming apparatus main body 1, the sheet that has been dropped and stacked on the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 via the post-processing device. It is assumed that the sheet discharged to the face-down (FD) discharge unit 8 without being post-processed does not interfere with discharge.
[0096]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the conveyance guide as the switching means for conveying the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body to the first sheet stacking unit can be switched, for example, in its movement. Accordingly, the position of the full load detection flag as the loading height detection means for the post-processing apparatus is also switched, and by optimizing the timing of these operations, the post-processing is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body. The sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is reliably conveyed to the first sheet stacking unit during post-processing, and the second sheet is securely post-processed. It was possible to drop and load onto the loading section.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a printer equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a mechanism portion related to the flapper and full load detection flag of FIG. 1;
3 is a cross-sectional view of a mechanism portion related to the flapper and full load detection flag of FIG. 2, showing a state where the flapper is in a jumped position.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a mechanism portion related to the flapper and full load detection flag of FIG. 2 and shows a state in which the full load detection flag detects the loading height.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are operation explanatory views of the sheet processing apparatus.
6A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A, showing a state where the slide guide is in a standby position.
7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the flapper and full load detection flag of FIG. 1, showing a state where the flapper is in a suspended position.
8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A, showing a state where sheets are aligned by a slide guide.
9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1A showing a state where the slide guide is located at the home position and the sheet bundle is dropped.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation in which a post-processed sheet bundle falls to a face-down (FD) discharge unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the flapper according to the third embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the flapper is in a jumped position.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the flapper in the third embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the flapper is in a suspended position.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the flapper in the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the flag portion of the flapper detects the stacking height.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer body
1A Main unit
2 Sheet processing equipment
2A Main unit (casing part)
2B First sheet stacking unit
2C bent part
3 Flapper (switching means)
4 Feed cassette
7 Discharge roller (sheet conveying means)
8 FD discharge part (second sheet stacking part)
9 Full load detection flag
10 Spring
11 axis (Flapper fulcrum)
12 Solenoid
13 axes (full load detection flag fulcrum)
14 Paper drop flag
15 Transport roller
16 Discharge sensor
17 Sheet return member
18 reference wall
19 R-slide guide (alignment means, guide member)
20 L-slide guide (alignment means, guide member)
21 links
22 axes (link fulcrum)
23 axis (Flapper part)
24 axis (link part)
25 flags
26 R-reference pin
27 L-reference pin
28 (28a-28d) Guide pin
29 gears
30 slide rack
31 Spring
32 Restriction member
33 Photosensor
M jogger motor (alignment means, drive source)
S sheet
H Stapler (stapling means)
F frame
325 stacking tray (second sheet stacking unit)
410 R-slide guide (alignment means, moving guide member)
411 Fixed guide L (alignment means, fixed guide member)

Claims (11)

  A first sheet stacking unit for temporarily stacking sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet; and a processing unit for processing the sheets stacked on the first sheet stacking unit; A dropping unit that performs an operation of dropping a sheet on the first sheet stacking unit onto a second sheet stacking unit below the first sheet stacking unit, and a conveyance path of a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus. , A switching means for selectively switching between a route carried into the first sheet stacking unit and a route carried into the second sheet stacking unit, and detecting a stacking height of the second sheet stacking unit A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a stacking height detection unit; and a control unit that controls the switching unit according to a detection signal of the stacking height detection unit and a print signal to determine a conveyance path. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the switching unit and the stack height detection unit are combined. It said second sheet stacking portion, the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that disposed above the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus. When the switching unit switches to the path for carrying in the first sheet stacking unit, the stacking height detection unit is configured to detect the sheet dropping trajectory from the first sheet stacking unit to the second sheet stacking unit. The position at which the stacking height detecting unit detects the stacking height of the stacked sheets when the sheet is retracted to the outside and the switching unit switches to the path where the sheet is carried into the second sheet stacking unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet processing apparatus is provided. When the sheet falls from the first sheet stacking unit to the second sheet stacking unit, the stacking height detecting unit is evacuated out of the sheet dropping trajectory, and detects the stacking height of the stacked sheet after dropping. the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of the back in a position to claim 1, wherein 3. It said switching means sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in the path of power is carried into the second sheet stacking portion when the OFF. 4. The switching means determines a conveyance path by an operation of a solenoid, and determines the position of the stacking height detection means by interlocking with a link coupled to the solenoid. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of items 6 to 6 . The switching unit serving also as the stacking height detecting unit is in a path where the post-processed sheet is carried into the first sheet stacking unit when being dropped and stacked on the second sheet stacking unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 6 . When the stacking height detecting unit detects that the sheet stacking height is equal to or higher than a certain level, the control of the switching unit fixes the discharged sheet to the path where the discharged sheet is carried into the second sheet stacking unit, and the control The means does not accept print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit until detection of the stacking height is canceled, and executes only print information to be carried into the second sheet stacking unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8 . When the stack height detection unit detects that the sheet stack height is equal to or greater than a certain level, the control unit causes the print information to be carried into the first sheet stacking unit that has been received until the stack height detection is canceled. or the first pause printing information to be conveyed to the sheet stacking portion for receiving Thereafter, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that only the run the print information to be conveyed to the second sheet stacking portion Sheet processing equipment. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, an image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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