Patent Grant
7458505
The present invention relates to a punching unit for punching holes in a sheet type member by engaging punches with corresponding dies and more specifically to a punching unit which may be most suitably attached to a main unit of an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile and a multifunction machine of those machines, or to a printing machine.
Hitherto, as a punching unit of the sort described above, there have been known a dedicated type punching unit dedicated for punching two holes, three holes or four holes and a switching type punching unit arranged so as to be able to commonly use punches in punching two holes and three holes or two holes and four holes. As the switching type punching unit, there is known a sliding-cam type punching unit wherein a stroke range of a cam is divided into two stages so as to be able to punch two holes in a certain stroke range and to punch three holes in another stroke range as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-198889.
However, such sliding-cam type punching unit requires many parts because it requires punches and dies each equal to a total number of holes to be punched, e.g., five each punches and dies in the switching type punching unit for punching two and three holes. Accordingly, it has been desired to realize a punching unit whose punches and dies may be reduced and whose structure may be simplified with a smaller number of parts, while having the function of punching different numbers of holes.
It is therefore an object of the invention to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a punching unit whose punches and dies are reduced as compared to those of the prior art punching unit and whose structure is simplified with a smaller number of parts.
According to one aspect of the invention, a punching unit (30 or 60) is provided with a plurality of punches (52a through 53c and 53 or 89a through 89d) and dies (54 or 29) for punching holes in a sheet type member, a reciprocating member (35 or 75) capable of reciprocating in the direction orthogonal to moving directions of the punches, and a plurality of cams (44, 84 and 94, or 11 through 14) and followers (62 or 25) that engage with the cams, interposed between the reciprocating member (35 or 75) and the plurality of punches, for converting the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating member (35 or 75) into a vertical movement of the punches to punching and non-punching positions. The plurality of punches are grouped into a first group composed of a predetermined number of punches and into a second group containing any one of the punches in the first group and having a smaller number of punches than the predetermined number of punches in the first group. A punching state of the predetermined number of punches is produced by reciprocating the reciprocating member (35 or 75) within a first movable range and by vertically moving the punches of the first group through an intermediary of the cams and followers corresponding to the punches of the first group and a punching state of the smaller number of punches than the predetermined number of punches is produced by reciprocating the reciprocating member (35 or 75) within a second movable range and by vertically moving the punches of the second group through an intermediary of the cams and followers corresponding to the punches of the second group.
Accordingly, since the punching unit is capable of producing the punching state of the predetermined number of holes by reciprocating the reciprocating member (35 or 75) within the first movable range and by vertically moving the punches of the first group through the intermediary of the cams and followers corresponding to the punches of the first group and is capable of producing the punching state of the less holes than the predetermined number by reciprocating the reciprocating member (35 or 75) within the second movable range and by vertically moving the punches of the second group through the intermediary of the cams and followers corresponding to the second group, and since any one of the punches of the first group is contained also in the punches of the second group and the number of punches of the second group is fewer than that of the first group, each punch in the first and second groups may be selectively put into operation corresponding to the movement of the reciprocating member (35 or 75) and it becomes possible to lessen the total number of punches used in the different punching processes to be less than a total number of punches of the first and second groups, while having the functions of two units that carry out the processes of punching different number of holes. Thus, the number of punches and corresponding dies may be reduced as compared to those of the prior art unit. Still more, the number of parts may be reduced, the structure of the unit may be simplified and its cost may be lowered. Accordingly, when this punching unit is mounted to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, it can contribute to multi-functioning of the apparatus.
Preferably, the first movable range is a range in which the reciprocating member (35) reaches in advancing in one direction from a home position with respect to the main frame and the second movable range is a range in which the reciprocating member (35) reaches in advancing in the other direction from the home position.
Accordingly, the reciprocating member (35) may reach the first or second movable range readily and reliably just by moving in one direction or in the other direction from the home position and hence the control may be simplified.
Preferably, first and second neutral positions are provided on the opposite side from the home position, respectively, in the first and second movable ranges provided at the positions interposing the home position therebetween. The reciprocating member (35) vertically moves the plurality of punches as the first or second group in reciprocating in the first and second movable ranges, respectively.
Accordingly, the mechanism for vertically moving the plurality of punches reliably as the first or second group just by reciprocating the reciprocating member (35) in the first or second movable range may be realized.
Preferably, the first group is composed of three punches (52a, 52b and 52c) arrayed at a predetermined pitch and the common punch (52b), that may be commonly used also in the second group, is positioned at the center of the three punches (52a, 52b and 52c) in the first group. The second group is composed of the common punch (52b) and a punch (53) dedicated for punching two holes and disposed between the punch (52c) positioned at one end among the three punches (52a, 52b and 52c) of the first group and the common punch (52b).
Accordingly, since this arrangement produces the three-hole punching state in which the common punch (52b) at the center of the first group is positioned at the center and the two-hole punching state in which its center is positioned at the intermediate position between the common punch (52b) and the punch (53) dedicated for punching two holes, the two-hole and three-hole punching processes may be freely carried out to the member to be punched by only four punches (52a through 52c and 53) and dies (54) in total by using the common punch (52b) at the center of the three-hole punches (52a, 52b and 52c) also for punching two holes by shifting the respective centers in correspondence to the respective processes. Thus, it becomes possible to readily switch the process for punching three holes at a certain pitch in the member to be punched and the process for punching two holes at a different pitch.
Preferably, the cam (84) corresponding to the common punch (52b) is provided with, continuously via a linear portion (87b), a first V-shaped portion (85 or 86) capable of moving the common punch (52b) from the non-punching position to the punching position when the reciprocating member (35) moves in one direction and a second V-shaped portion (85 or 86) capable of moving the common punch (52b) from the non-punching position to the punching position when the reciprocating member (35) moves in the other direction.
Accordingly, since the cam (84) corresponding to the common punch (52b) is provided with, continuously via the linear portion (87b), the first V-shaped portion capable of moving the common punch (52b) when the reciprocating member (35) moves in one direction and the second V-shaped portion capable of moving it when the reciprocating member (35) moves in the other direction, the structure for freely moving the common punch (52b) as the punch of the first group or the second group may be realized even though it is simple.
Preferably, the first movable range is a range which the reciprocating member (75) reaches in advancing by one step in one direction from a home position with respect to the main frame and the second movable range is a range to which the reciprocating member (75) reaches in advancing further by one step in one direction from the first movable range.
Accordingly, since the reciprocating member (75) may readily and reliably reach the first or second movable range just by advancing by one step in one direction from the home position or by advancing further by one step in one direction from the first movable range, the control may be simplified.
Preferably, first and second neutral positions are provided in order from the home position in the first and second movable ranges sequentially provided in one direction from the home position. The reciprocating member (75) vertically moves the plurality of punches (89a through 89d) as the first or second group in reciprocating respectively in the first and second movable ranges.
Accordingly, the plurality of punches (89a through 89d) may be vertically moved reliably as the first or second group just by reciprocating the reciprocating member (75) within the first or second movable range.
Preferably, the first group is composed of three or more punches (89a through 89d) arrayed at a predetermined pitch and the second group is composed of at least two punches (89b and 89c) among the punches in the first group.
Accordingly, because the first group is composed of the four or more punches, i.e., the even number of punches (89a through 89d), and the second group is composed of the two center punches (89b and 89c) among the punches (89a through 89d) of the first group, the four- and two-hole punching processes may be adequately and freely carried out on a sheet P without shifting, in correspondence to each process, the center of each punching state of the four-punching state which is carried out centering on the center part of the four punches (89a through 89d), i.e., the intermediate position between the punches (89b and 89c), of the first group and of the two-hole punching state which is carried out centering on the intermediate position between the two center punches (89b and 89c) of the first group.
Preferably, the punching unit (60) is provided further with move restricting means (23) for restricting the reciprocating member (75) from moving to the movable range on the opposite side in using the reciprocating member (75) within the first or second movable range.
Accordingly, it becomes possible to reduce a number of sensors for detecting the move of the cam plate (75) by the very simple arrangement of just restricting the move of the cam plate (75) to the movable range on the opposite side by the move restricting means (23). That is, when the punching unit (60) is mounted to a main unit of a copying machine or the like, a control is made so as to be able to use only the group actually used often based on data detected by the sensors for detecting the move of the reciprocating member (75) to the group of the opposite side. For instance, when the control is reset after when a supply of electric power is started again from a condition of system-down such as a power failure, the control of shifting the reciprocating member (75) to the group used before the power failure is normally carried out based on the result detected by the sensor. Accordingly, although the sensor (78) is essential, the present invention enables the relatively expensive sensor (78) to be eliminated and the cost to be cut because it restricts the very move of the reciprocating member (75) to the opposite side by the move restricting means (23) and by omitting the sensor (78).
Preferably, the move restricting means (23) is a stopper for blocking the move of the reciprocating member (75) at a predetermined position with respect to the main frame.
Accordingly, since the move restricting means (23) for stopping the move of the reciprocating member (75) at the predetermined position with respect to the main frame may be arranged by the stopper, the move restricting means (23) may be constructed very simply.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, which are best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A first embodiment of an inventive punching unit will be explained below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
As shown in
The cam plate 35 is disposed so as to be able to reciprocate in the lateral direction in
Three notches 66, 67 and 68 are formed at predetermined intervals in the cut-away portion of the upper edge of the cam plate 35 in the vicinity of the left end thereof and a resilient positioning plate 65 is provided at the inner face of the main frame 31 above the cut-away portion while being biased downward. By engaging with the positioning plate 65, the center notch 67 anchors the cam plate 35 to the center initial position (see
The cam plate 35 is provided with three cams 44, 84 and 94 formed in order from the left side of the figure. The cams 44 and 94 are formed so that their level is equal below the center of the cam plate 35 in the vertical direction, i.e., in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof. The cam 84 is positioned above the center of the cam plate 35 in the vertical direction and is formed so that a third linear portion 87c overlaps longitudinally with a first linear portion 97a of the cam 94.
The cams 44, 84 and 94 are formed respectively so as to penetrate from the front to the back of the cam plate 35 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The cam 44 has a first linear portion 46a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 35 on the level of center of the cam plate 35, a V-shaped portion 45 formed so as to gradually descend at a predetermined angle from the right end of the first linear portion 46a and then to gradually ascend from the lowest point (bottom) at a predetermined angle and a second linear portion 46b formed so as to extend by a predetermined width from the right end of the V-shaped portion 45 in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 46a.
The cam 84 has a first linear portion 87a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 35 on the upper level of the cam plate 35, a V-shaped portion 85 formed so as to gradually descend at the predetermined angle from the right end of the first linear portion 87a and then to gradually ascend from the bottom at the predetermined angle, a second linear portion 87b formed so as to extend by a predetermined width from the right end of the V-shaped portion 85 in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 87a, a V-shaped portion 86 formed so as to gradually descend at the predetermined angle from the right end of the second linear portion 87b and then to gradually ascend from the bottom at the predetermined angle, and a third linear portion 87c formed so as to extend by a predetermined width from the right end of the V-shaped portion 86 in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first and second linear portions 87a and 87b.
The cam 94 has a first linear portion 97a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 35 on the level of center of the cam plate 35, a V-shaped portion 95 formed so as to gradually descend at the predetermined angle from the right end of the first linear portion 97a and then to gradually ascend from the bottom at the predetermined angle, a second linear portion 97b formed so as to extend by a predetermined width from the right end of the V-shaped portion 95 in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 97a, a V-shaped portion 96 formed so as to gradually descend at the predetermined angle from the right end of the second linear portion 97b and then to gradually ascend from the bottom at the predetermined angle, and a third linear portion 97c formed so as to extend by a predetermined width from the right end of the V-shaped portion 96 in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first and second linear portions 97a and 97b.
The punching unit 30 has the punches 52a, 52b and 52c, for use in punching three holes, which are supported movably in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction at intervals of a predetermined distance D1 in the longitudinal direction of the main frame 31 (cam plate 35). The punching unit 30 also has a punch 53 dedicated for use in punching two holes and supported movably in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction between the punches 52b and 52c apart from the punch 52b by a distance D2 that is shorter than the distance D1. The punch 52b is used also in punching two holes as described later.
These punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c as well as the cams 44, 84 and 94 are arranged so as to have a predetermined positional relationship as described later. It is noted that pins 62, which are supported respectively by the punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c, are slidably inserted through the cams 44, 84 and 94.
That is, in the initial state in which the cam plate 35 is positioned at the center part of the main frame 31 as shown in
Still more, in a three-hole punching state for punching three holes as shown in
Further, in a two-hole punching state for punching two holes as shown in
In order to realize the initial state, the three-hole punching state and the two-hole punching state described above, the cams 44, 84 and 94 have the following positional relationship from each other.
That is, as shown in
Further, the second linear portion 97b of the cam 94 is set so as to have a length slightly longer than a distance between the punches 53 and 52c so as to be able to keep the both neighboring punches 53 and 52c at the highest position (non-punching position) in the initial state described above, to forward the punch 52c to the V-shaped portion 96 and to keep the punch 53 at the highest position in the three-hole punching state described above, and to forward the punch 53 to the V-shaped portion 95 and to keep the punch 52c at the highest position in the two-hole punching state described above.
The cam 44 is set so that the first linear portion 46a of the cam 44 has a length equal to that of the second linear portion 97b of the cam 94 so as to be able to keep the punch 52a at the highest position until when the two-hole punching state in
Meanwhile, as shown in
As shown in
The punches 52a, 52b and 52c are arrayed at an equal pitch (D1) and compose a first group for punching three holes in the sheet P. The punch 53 composes, together with the punch 52b (common punch) that is also used for punching three holes, a second group for punching two holes in the sheet P.
Then, as shown in
Still more, the punch 52b is provided with a spring 47 that biases the punch 52b toward the corresponding die 54. The spring 47 is interposed between the upper edge of the main frame 31 and a stop ring 98 fixed to the punch 52b. Although the spring 47 biases the punch 52b downward, the punch 52b will not come out of the main frame 31 because the pin 62 penetrates through the second linear portion 87b of the cam 84 and is held by that.
It is noted that the punch 52b indicated by a solid line in
Further, as shown in
In the punching unit 30 of the present embodiment having the structure described above, a range within which the cam plate 35 reaches when it is moved to the left as shown in
The three-hole punching state using the three-hole punches 52a, 52b and 52c as the first group is obtained by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the first movable range R3 and the two-hole punching state using the two-hole punches 52b and 53 as the second group is obtained by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the second movable range R2.
When the home position is denoted as N2 and the position where all of the punches separate from the dies 54, thus producing the non-punching state beside the home position, is defined as a neutral position, a neutral position N1 and a neutral position N3 exist respectively on the opposite side from the home position N2 with respect to an intermediate position described later where the punching state is produced in the first and second movable ranges R3 and R2. That is, with respect to the first and second movable ranges R3 and R2 interposing the home position N2 therebetween, this state may be expressed as follows:
N1←→three-hole punching state (R3)←N2→two-hole punching state (R2)←→N3
In the initial state of the punching unit 30 in which the motor 33 is stopped, the positioning plate 65 of the cam plate positioning mechanism 99 engages with the notch 67 and the cam plate 35 is held at the center within the main frame 31 as shown in
When the sheet P is fed into the gap S between the main frame 31 and the leg 51 through an intermediary of sheet conveying means (not shown) and is positioned at a predetermined position in this initial state, a sensor (not shown) detects that the sheet P has been fed to the punching unit 30. Then, based on this detection, the control means 20 turns on the punching unit 30. It is assumed that a user has made a setting for punching three holes in advance by this point of time.
Then, the control means 20 drives the motor 33 to move the cam plate 35 so as to shift from the initial state in
Thereby, the three-hole punches 52a, 52b and 52c drop to the lowest position, respectively, and engage with the dies 54 after punching holes in the sheet P as shown in
Then, in response to a signal from the control means 20, the motor 33 rotates and continues to move the cam plate 35 to the left, so that the cams 44, 84 and 94 lead the respective pins 62 to the second linear portion 46b, the third linear portion 87c and the third linear portion 97c and lift and keep the respective punches 52a, 52b and 52c at the highest position while keeping the punch 53 at the highest position by the second linear portion 97b of the cam 94. At this time, the cam plate 35 moves to the leftmost end and the positioning plate 65 of the cam plate positioning mechanism 99 engages with the notch 66, so that the cam plate 35 is held at that position. That is, the cam plate 35 is positioned at the final end of the first movable range R3 in this state.
At this point of time, the sheet P in which the three holes have been punched is pulled out of the gap S (see
Thus, the punching unit 30 is capable of repeatedly carrying out the operation of punching three holes by the punches 52a, 52b and 52c by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the first movable range R3.
When a sheet P is fed to the gap S between the main frame 31 and the leg 51 and stops at the predetermined position in the initial state in
Then, the control means 20 drives the motor 33 to move the cam plate 35 so as to shift the state from the initial state in
Thereby, the two-hole punches 52b and 53 drop to the lowest position, respectively, and engage with the dies 54 after punching holes in the sheet P as shown in
Then, in response to the signal from the control means 20, the motor 33 rotates and continues to move the cam plate 35 further to the right, so that the cams 84 and 94 lead the respective pins 62 to the first linear portion 87a and the first linear portion 97a and lift and keep the respective punches 52b and 53 at the highest position while keeping the punches 52a and 52c at the highest position by holding the respective pins 62 in the first linear portion 46a and the second linear portion 97b of the cams 44 and 94. At this time, the cam plate 35 moves to the rightmost end and the positioning plate 65 of the cam plate positioning mechanism 99 engages with the notch 68, so that the cam plate 35 is held at that position. That is, the cam plate 35 is positioned at the final end of the second movable range R2.
At this point in time, the sheet P in which two holes have been punched is pulled out of the gap S (see
Thus, the punching unit 30 is capable of repeatedly carrying out the operation of punching two holes by the punches 52b and 53 by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the second movable range R2.
As described above, the punching unit 30 of the present embodiment is capable of punching three holes by moving the cam plate 35 to the left from the intermediate position and of punching two holes by moving the cam plate 35 to the right from the intermediate position. That is, it is possible to punch different numbers of holes at different positions of the sheet P by one unit.
At this time, because a position C1 corresponding to the position of the punch 52b becomes the center in punching three holes as shown in
For instance, the relative position of the whole punching unit 30 and a unit mounting section of a copying machine or the like mounting the punching unit 30 is shifted by position changing means not shown so that the center C2 coincides with the center C1. Or, the position for feeding the sheet to the punching unit 30 by the sheet conveying means not shown in a copying machine or the like mounting the punching unit 30 is changed in punching two holes and in punching three holes. The punching process may be smoothly carried out while eliminating misalignment of centers in punching two and three holes by adequately adopting these methods.
While the punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c are provided, respectively, with the springs 47 for biasing the punches in the direction of approaching to the corresponding dies, the spring 47 adds a thrust force to each punch in punching a hole in the sheet P and also becomes a load in separating the respective punch from its corresponding die. It enables the load applied to the motor 33 required in moving the cam plate 35 to be almost uniformed and enables the process of continuously punching holes in the sheet P to be smoothly carried out.
Further, although the pins 62 have been provided on the side of the punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c, and the cams 44, 84 and 94 have been provided on the side of the cam plate 35, it is possible to reverse this relationship and to provide the cams on the side of the punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c and to provide the pins on the side of the cam plate 35.
As described above, the punching unit 30 of the present embodiment is capable of producing the three-hole punching state by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the first movable range R3 to vertically move the punches 52a, 52b and 52c of the first group through the intermediary of the cams 44, 84 and 94 corresponding to the punches of the first group and the pins (followers) 62, and of producing the two-hole punching state in which holes to be punched is fewer than that of the first group by reciprocating the cam plate 35 within the second movable range R2 to vertically move the punches 52b and 53 of the second group. Further, because the second group includes the punch 53 that also belongs to the first group and the number of punches thereof is smaller than that of the first group, the total number of punches (four) used in the different punching processes may be lessened as compared to the total number of punches (five) of the first and second groups by selectively operating the respective punches of the first and second groups corresponding to the move of the cam plate 35 while having the function of two units carrying out the processes of punching the different number of holes. Thus, it allows the number of punches and corresponding dies to be reduced as compared to those of the prior art, the number of parts to be reduced and the structure of the unit to be simplified. It may also bring down the cost and will contribute to multi-functioning of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine when it is mounted thereto.
Further, because it is capable of readily and steadily shifting to the first movable range R3 or to the second movable range R2 just by moving the cam plate 35 to the left or right from the home position N2, its control may be simplified. Still more, it realizes the structure of vertically moving the punches 52a, 52b, 53 and 52c reliably as the first or second group just by reciprocating the cam plate 35 in the first movable range R3 or in the second movable range R2.
While the punching unit 30 produces the three-hole punching state centering on the common punch 52b positioned at the center of the first group and the two-hole punching state centering on the intermediate position between the common punch 52b and the punch 53 dedicated for punching two holes, it is freely capable of carrying out the two-hole and three-hole punching processes adequately to the sheet (to be punched) P just by the four punches (and dies) in total in which the common punch 52b at the center of the three-hole punches is used also in punching two holes by shifting the respective centers corresponding to the respective processes. That is, it becomes possible to readily switch the process of punching three holes in the sheet P with a certain pitch and the process of punching two holes with a pitch different thereto.
Still more, because the cam 84 corresponding to the common punch 52b is provided with the V-shaped portion 86 capable of operating the common punch 52b when the cam plate 35 moves to the left and the V-shaped portion 85 capable of operating the common punch 52b when the cam plate 35 moves to the right continuously via the second linear portion 87b, the structure that permits the common punch 52c to be freely operated as the first or second group may be realized even though its structure is so simplified.
Next, a second embodiment of the inventive punching unit will be explained with reference to
As shown in
As shown also in
The cam plate 75 is disposed so as to be able to reciprocate in the lateral direction of the figure along the inner face, i.e., in the rear side of
The cam plate 75 is provided with four cams 11, 12, 13 and 14 formed in order from the left side of the figure. The cams 12 and 14 are formed so that their level in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 75, i.e., in the vertical direction in the figure, is equal under the center thereof. The cams 11 and 13 are positioned above the center in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 75.
The cams 11 through 14 penetrate from the front to the back of the cam plate 75 along the longitudinal direction of the cam plate 75. The cam 11 has a first linear portion 11a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the upper level of the cam plate 75 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof, a V-shaped portion 15 that drops gradually at a predetermined angle from the right end of the first linear portion 11a and then rises gradually at the predetermined angle from the lowest part (bottom), and a second linear portion 11b extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 15 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 11a.
The cam 12 has a first linear portion 12a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the lower level of the cam plate 75 and so as to overlap by a predetermined length with the second linear portion 11b of the cam 11, a V-shaped portion 16 that drops from the right end of the first linear portion 12a gradually at the predetermined angle and then rises from the bottom gradually at the predetermined angle, a second linear portion 12b extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 16 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 12a, a V-shaped portion 17 that drops from the right end of the second linear portion 12b gradually at the predetermined angle and then rises from the bottom gradually at the predetermined angle, and a third linear portion 12c extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 17 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first and second linear portions 12a and 12b.
The cam 13 has a first linear portion 13a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the upper level of the cam plate 75 and so as to overlap by a predetermined length with the third linear portion 12c of the cam 12, a V-shaped portion 18 that drops from the right end of the first linear portion 13a gradually at the predetermined angle and then rises from the bottom gradually at the predetermined angle, a second linear portion 13b extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 18 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 13a, a V-shaped portion 19 that drops from the right end of the second linear portion 13b gradually at the predetermined angle and then rises from the bottom gradually at the predetermined angle, and a third linear portion 13c extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 19 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the linear portions 13a and 13b.
The cam 14 has a first linear portion 14a formed so as to extend by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the lower level of the cam plate 75 and so as to overlap by a predetermined length with the third linear portion 13c of the cam 13, a V-shaped portion 22 that drops from the right end of the first linear portion 14a gradually at the predetermined angle and then rises from the bottom gradually at the predetermined angle, and a second linear portion 14b extending from the right end of the V-shaped portion 22 by a predetermined width in the longitudinal direction on the same level with the first linear portion 14a.
The punching unit 60 also has the punches 89a through 89d disposed in order in the longitudinal direction of the main frame 70 at a predetermined pitch (at intervals of a predetermined distance D3) while being supported movably in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It is noted that even though not shown, there is provided a cam plate positioning mechanism for anchoring the cam plate 75 at predetermined positions also in the present embodiment similarly to the cam plate positioning mechanism 99 in the first embodiment.
While the movable range detecting sensor 76 comprises a light projecting element as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, a light receiving element corresponding thereto is not shown in the figures. When the cam plate 75 moves laterally in the figure with respect to the main frame 70, dousing members 5, 6 and 7 sequentially block a light of the movable range detecting sensor 76. Then, the sensor 76 transmits a result detected at that time to the control means 80.
Based on the result of detection that the movable range detecting sensor 76 has been blocked by any one of the dousing members 5, 6 and 7, the control means 80 detects the position of the cam plate 75 moving with respect to the main frame 70 and detects that the punches 89a through 89d are kept at the highest position (non-punching position). The control means 80 also detects that the punches 89a through 89d are positioned at the lowest position (punching position), i.e., that the punching operation is being conducted, based on the result of detection that the light of the movable range detecting sensor 76 is not blocked by anyone of the dousing members 5, 6 and 7,
The movable range detecting sensor 77 comprises a light projecting element 77a and a light receiving element 77b disposed so as to face to each other apart by a predetermined gap and the movable range detecting sensor 78 comprises a light projecting element 78a and a light receiving element 78b disposed so as to face to each other separated by a predetermined gap.
The light of the movable range detecting sensor 77 passes through or is blocked by a dousing plate 9 that moves between the light projecting element 77a and the light receiving element 77b when the cam plate 75 moves laterally in the figure with respect to the main frame 70 and the movable range detecting sensor 77 transmits a result detected at this time to the control means 80. Based on the result detected by the movable range detecting sensor 77, the control means 80 decides to which the cam plate 75 should be moved among the dousing member S, 6 and 7 when the cam plate 75, i.e., the punches 89a through 89d, is started again after stopping at position other than the home position, i.e., at the position where the movable range detecting sensor 76 does not face to anyone of the dousing members 5, 6 and 7, due to a power failure or the like.
The light of the movable range detecting sensor 78 passes through or is blocked by the dousing plate 9 that moves between the light projecting element 78a and the light receiving element 78b when the cam plate 75 moves laterally in the figure with respect to the main frame 70 and the movable range detecting sensor 78 transmits a result detected at this time to the control means 80. Then, based on the result detected by the movable range detecting sensor 78, the control means 80 judges whether the cam plate 75, i.e., the punches 89a through 89d, is positioned in a first movable range R4 or in a second movable range R2. The movable range detecting sensor 78 avoids the cam plate 75 from moving to the movable range of the group not used then even if an abnormality occurs in the control due to a system down such as a power failure in using the punching unit 60 for punching four or two holes by using either the first group in the first movable range R4 or the second group in the second movable range R2.
Here, the punches 89a through 89d and the cams 11 through 14 described above are arranged so as to have the following predetermined positional relationship. It is noted that pins (followers) 25, supported by the respective punches 89a through 89d as described later, slidably engage with the respective cams 11 through 14.
That is, in the initial state shown in
Then, in the four-hole punching state, the pin 25 of the punch 89a is positioned in the V-shaped portion 15, the pin 25 of the punch 89b is positioned in the V-shaped portion 17, the pin 25 of the punch 89c is positioned in the V-shaped portion 19, and the pin 25 of the punch 89d is positioned in the V-shaped portion 22. That is, in the four-hole punching state, the cam plate 75 shifts to the first movable range R4 and lowers the punch 89a at the V-shaped portion 15 of the cam 11, the punch 89b at the V-shaped portion 17, the punch 89c at the V-shaped portion 19 and the punch 89d at the V-shaped portion 22, respectively, to the lowest position (punching position). In this state, the control means 80 recognizes the four-hole punching state based on the result detected by the movable range detecting sensors 76 and 77.
In the two-hole punching state on the other hand, the pin 25 of the punch 89a is positioned in the first linear portion 11a, the pin 25 of the punch 89b is positioned in the V-shaped portion 16, the pin 25 of the punch 89c is positioned in the V-shaped portion 18, and the pin 25 of the punch 89d is positioned in the first linear portion 14a. That is, in the two-hole punching state, the cam plate 75 shifts to the second movable range R2 and lowers the punch 89b at the V-shaped portion 16 of the cam 12 and the punch 89c at the V-shaped portion 18, respectively, to the lowest position (punching position) while keeping the punch 89a at the first linear portion 11a of the cam 11 and the punch 89d at the first linear portion 14a to the highest position, respectively. In this state, the control means 80 recognizes the two-hole punching state based on the result detected by the movable range detecting sensors 76 and 77.
In order to realize the initial state, the four-hole punching state and the two-hole punching state described above, the cams 11 through 14 have the following positional relationship to each other. That is, a pitch (D3) between the four-hole punches 89a, 89b, 89c and 89d is almost equal to a pitch between the bottoms of the corresponding V-shaped portions 15, 17, 19 and 22.
Still more, the second linear portion 11b of the cam 11, the third linear portion 12c of the cam 12, the third linear portion 13c of the cam 13 and the second linear portion 14b of the cam 14 are formed so as to become longer bit by bit in this order. Further, the second linear portion 12b of the cam 12 is formed to be slightly longer than the second linear portion 13b of the cam 13. This arrangement is made to lessen a load applied to the motor 73 in punching holes by moving the punches 89a through 89d of the first group or the punches 89b and 89c of the second group to the lowest position by shifting the timing for lowering the punches of the respective groups bit by bit.
The cams are set so that the second linear portion 11b of the cam 11 overlaps with the first linear portion 12a of the cam 12, the third linear portion 12c of the cam 12 overlaps with the first linear portion 13a of the cam 13, and the third linear portion 13c of the cam 13 overlaps with the first linear portion 14a of the cam 14.
Further, as shown in
As shown in
Then, the punch 89d for example is provided with a through hole 10 perforated in the direction orthogonal to its moving direction (vertical direction in the figure). The through hole 10 supports the pin 25 so that the pin 25 penetrates through the hole 10 and the second linear portion 14b of the cam plate 75 and protrudes toward a guide long hole 26 formed in the vertical direction of the main frame 70. The guide long hole 26 is formed so as to penetrate through a side wall of the main frame 70 and so that its longitudinal direction orients in the vertical direction. Removable stop rings (not shown) are fitted to both ends of the pin 25.
Still more, the punch 89d is provided with a spring (not shown) that biases the punch 89d toward the corresponding die 29 and that is interposed between the upper edge of the main frame 70 and the stop ring fixed to the punch 89d. Although the spring biases the punch 89d downward, the punch 89d will not come out of the main frame 70 because the pin 25 penetrates through the second linear portion 14b of the cam 14 and is held by that. It is noted that although the structure for supporting the punch has been described here centering on that of the punch 89d, the structure for supporting the other punches 89a through 89c is the same as that and explanation thereof will be omitted here.
The rack 83 is linked to the left end of the cam plate 75 in
A slide guide 4 for suppressing looseness of the rack 83 during its move is linked to an extension 70a of the main frame 70 extending in the left direction in the figure. The slide guide 4 is made of a synthetic resin material for example and the stopper (move restricting means) 23 described above may be provided at an adequate position of its slide groove not shown.
The stopper 23 may be formed in a body with the slide guide 4 by the same synthetic resin material and concurrently in fabricating the slide guide 4. For instance, it may be provided at the position facing to the left end of the rack 83 in the state in which the cam plate 75 is moved in the right direction in
At this time, although the cam plate 75 is capable of reciprocating within the second movable range R2 in the state in which its left side in the figure is restricted by the stopper 23, the cam plate 75 will not be switched to the first movable range R4 during its operation in the second movable range R2 even if it becomes difficult to discriminate the rotational position of the motor by the encoder 2 due to a system-down event such as a power failure and the cam plate 75 is tried to be moved to the first movable range R4 in the left direction in the figure because the stopper 23 reliably stops its move. That is, the simple arrangement using such stopper 23 allows the movable range detecting sensor 78 described above to be omitted.
As shown in
In the punching unit 60 of the present embodiment having the structure described above, a range to which the cam plate 75 reaches when it is moved by one step in the right direction in the figure from the home position, i.e., the initial state in
The four-hole punching state using the four-hole punches 89a, 89b, 89c and 89d as the first group is obtained by reciprocating the cam plate 75 within the first movable range R4 and the two-hole punching state using the two-hole punches 89b and 89c as the second group is obtained by reciprocating the cam plate 75 within the second movable range R2.
For instance, when the home position is denoted as N1 and the position where the punches separate from the dies 29, thus producing the non-punching state beside the home position, is defined as a neutral position, neutral positions N1 and N2 exist, while interposing the intermediate position where the respective punching state is produced, in order from the home position N1 in the first and second movable ranges R4 and R2 sequentially provided from the home position N1 in the right direction in
N1←→four-hole punching state (R4)←→N2←→two-hole punching state (R2)←→N3
In the initial state (initial position) of the punching unit 60 in which the motor 73 is stopped in
When a sheet P is fed to the gap S1 and is positioned at a predetermined position in this initial state, the control means 80 turns on the punching unit 60, similarly to the case of the punching unit 30 described above. It is assumed that a user has made a setting for punching four holes in advance by this point of time.
When the motor 73 rotates so as to shift the cam plate 75 from the initial state to the four-hole punching state, the cam plate 75 starts to move in the right direction in
Then, because the motor 73 rotates in the same direction and the cam plate 75 moves further in the right direction within the first movable range R4, all of the punches 89a through 89d are raised to and kept at the highest position by the first linear portion 11a, the second linear portion 12b, the second linear portion 13b and the first linear portion 14a, each corresponding to the cams 11 through 14. At this time, the sheet P in which the four holes have been punched is pulled out of the gap S1 and a new sheet P is fed to the gap S1.
When the motor 73 rotates reversely by a predetermined number of revolutions in this state and when the cam plate 75 moves in the left direction in the figure, four holes are punched in the new sheet P by the four-hole punches 89a through 89d. When the cam plate 75 moves further in the left direction, the respective pins 62 of the punches 89a through 89d are led to the second linear portion 11b, the third linear portion 12c, the third linear portion 13c and the second linear portion 14b, respectively, and the cam plate 75 returns to the initial state.
When a sheet P is fed to the gap S1 and is stopped at the predetermined position in the state in which the punches 89a through 89d are positioned at the first linear portion 11a, the second linear portion 12b, the second linear portion 13b and the first linear portion 14a, each corresponding to the cams 11 through 14, and are kept at the highest position and when the motor 73 is stopped, the control means 80 turns on the punching unit 60. It is assumed that the user has made a setting for punching two holes in advance by this point in time.
Then, when the motor 73 rotates so as to shift the cam plate 75 from the state described above to the two-hole punching state, the cam plate 75 starts to move in the right direction in
Then, in response to a signal from the control means 80, the motor 73 rotates in the same direction and moves the cam plate 75 further in the right direction within the second movable range R2, so that all of the punches 89a through 89d are held at the highest position by the first linear portion 11a, the second linear portion 12a, the second linear portion 13a and the first linear portion 14a each corresponding to the cams 11 through 14. At this point in time, the sheet P in which the two holes have been punched is pulled out of the gap S1 and a new sheet P is fed to the gap S1. When the motor 73 rotates reversely by a predetermined number of revolutions in this state and when the cam plate 75 moves in the left direction in the figure, two holes are punched in the new sheet P by the two-hole punches 89b and 89c.
As described above, the punching unit 60 of the present embodiment brings about the following effects in addition to the similar effects of the first embodiment.
That is, the punching unit 60 enables the cam plate 75 to readily and reliably reach to the first movable range R4 or the second movable range R2 just by advancing the cam plate 75 in one direction by one step from the home position N2 or by advancing it in the same direction further by one step from the first movable range R4. Accordingly, the control may be simplified. Still more, it is capable of vertically moving the punches 89a through 89d reliably as the first or second group just by reciprocating the cam plate 75 within the first and second movable range R4 and R2.
Still more, because the first group is composed of the four punches, i.e., an even number of punches, and the second group is composed of the two center punches 89b and 89c among the punches 89a through 89d of the first group, the four- and two-hole punching processes may be adequately and freely carried out on the sheet P (it is of course possible to punch an even number of holes of more than four) without shifting, in correspondence to each process, the center of each punching state of the four-punching state which is carried out centering on the center part of the four punches 89a through 89d, i.e., the middle position between the punches 89b and 89c, of the first group and of the two-hole punching state which is carried out centering on the middle position between the two center punches 89b and 89c of the first group.
It is also possible to omit the movable range detecting sensor 78 for detecting the move of the cam plate 75 by the very simple arrangement of just restricting the movement of the cam plate 75 to the opposite movable range by the stopper 23. That is, when the punching unit 60 is mounted to a copying machine or the like, a control is made so as to be able to use only the group actually used often based on the movable range detecting sensor 78 that detects the move the cam plate 75 to the opposite group. For instance, when the control is reset after when a supply of electric power is started again from a system-down condition such as a power failure, the control of shifting the cam plate 75 to the group used before the power failure is normally carried out based on the result detected by the movable range detecting sensor 78. Accordingly, although the movable range detecting sensor 78 is essential, the stopper 23 is capable of restricting the very movement of the cam plate 75 to the opposite side and the sensor 78 may be omitted in the present embodiment. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the product cost by omitting the relatively expensive sensor 78. That is, it enables to cut the cost required for a control board (not shown) in the control means 80, in addition to the cost of the movable range detecting sensor 78 itself. It also enables a considerable cost reduction to be counted on in producing several tens of thousands of sets, troubles that may be otherwise caused by the sensors and the control to be reduced and its maintenance to be reduced.
Still more, the movement of the rack 83 in the left direction in
When the stopper 23 is formed in the slide groove of the slide guide 4, only the cost for correcting a die of the slide guide 4 needs to be taken into account and hence it may be handled at very low cost without increasing the cost.
It may be needless to say that the arrangement of eliminating the movable range detecting sensor 78 by providing the stopper 23 is also applicable to the first embodiment described above.
As described above, the inventive punching unit is useful mounted to a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile and a multifunction machine of those machines or to a printing machine, and is specifically suitable for an apparatus which is required to be simplified by reducing a number of parts.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-306361 | Oct 2002 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP03/13412 | 10/21/2003 | WO | 00 | 10/6/2005 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004/035274 | 4/29/2004 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20060151590 A1 | Jul 2006 | US |
