This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-043792 filed Mar. 8, 2017.
The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.
For example, in the case of ejecting a recording medium, such as a printing sheet, on which stapling has been performed to an ejection tray, if a printing sheet on which stapling has not been performed is stacked on the ejection tray, the printing sheet on which stapling has not been performed may sometimes be displaced.
In order to prevent such displacement of a printing sheet on an ejection tray, a configuration may sometimes be employed in which an ejected printing sheet is pressed from above by a pressing member, such as a set clamp, so as not to be displaced.
In the case of using such a set clamp, when a printing sheet is ejected from an ejection port, the set clamp needs to be moved and accommodated in an apparatus body so as not to hinder the printing sheet from being ejected.
However, using components including a dedicated driving source, such as a motor, for driving the set clamp, a position-detection sensor, and an electromagnetic clutch leads to an increase in the manufacturing costs.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a post-processing apparatus including an ejection tray receiving a recording medium that is ejected, a moving mechanism causing the ejection tray to move up and down in a vertical direction, a driving source driving the moving mechanism, a pressing member pressing, from above in the vertical direction, a recording medium ejected to the ejection tray, a rotational-driving mechanism driving the pressing member so that the pressing member rotates in a direction away from an apparatus body when the ejection tray is moved upward by the moving mechanism and that the pressing member rotates in a direction toward the apparatus body when the ejection tray is moved downward by the moving mechanism, a rotation-angle limiting unit limiting a rotation angle of the pressing member when the pressing member is driven so as to rotate in the direction away from the apparatus body and when the pressing member is driven so as to rotate in the direction toward the apparatus body, and a rotational-force limiting mechanism idling when a rotational force that is not lower than a predetermined force is applied to the rotational-driving mechanism.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
As illustrated in
Note that, in the post-processing apparatus 10, the ejection tray 30 is configured to be vertically movable. In the post-processing apparatus 10, a set clamp 31 that prevents printing sheets on the ejection tray 30 from being displaced by pressing the printing sheets is accommodated in an apparatus body, and the set clamp 31 is configured to project from the apparatus body and press the printing sheets on the ejection tray 30 when the ejection tray 30 moves upward.
A state in which the post-processing apparatus 10 is used by being connected to a printer 90 is illustrated in
The ejection tray 30 is fixed to the rack member 33. When the motor 38 rotates, the gears 34 and 35 are driven so as to rotate. The rack member 33 has teeth that engage the gear (pinion gear) 35 and is configured to move in the vertical direction along with rotation of the gear 35.
The set clamp 31 is disposed in the vicinity of the center of a region below the ejection port 26 of the post-processing apparatus 10. The set clamp 31 is accommodated in the apparatus body when a printing sheet is ejected from the ejection port 26. The set clamp 31 is controlled such that, as the ejection tray 30 moves upward as a result of the ejected printing sheet being stacked on the ejection tray 30, the set clamp 31 projects from the apparatus body and presses the printing sheet on the ejection tray 30.
Although a case will be described in which the one set clamp 31 is disposed in the center of the apparatus body of the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which two set clamps 31 that operate in conjunction with each other press printing sheets on the ejection tray 30 may be employed.
A state in which the set clamp 31 projects from the apparatus body and presses printing sheets on the ejection tray 30 is illustrated in
Although not illustrated in
A specific configuration for driving the set clamp 31 will now be described with reference to
As illustrated in
In other words, the gear 35, the belt 41, and the torque limiter 42 form a rotational-driving mechanism that drives the set clamp 31 so that the set clamp 31 rotates in the direction away from the apparatus body when the ejection tray 30 is moved upward by the moving mechanism, which includes the rack member 33, and that the set clamp 31 rotates in the direction toward the apparatus body when the ejection tray 30 is moved downward by the moving mechanism, which includes the rack member 33.
Note that the controller 60, which is illustrated in
A stopper 43 and a stopper 44 are disposed in front of and to the rear of the set clamp 31, respectively. The stopper 43 limits the rotation angle of the set clamp 31 when the set clamp 31 is driven so as to rotate in the direction away from the apparatus body, and the stopper 44 limits the rotation angle of the set clamp 31 when the set clamp 31 is driven so as to rotate in the direction toward the apparatus body.
In other words, each of the stoppers 43 and 44 functions as a rotation-angle limiting unit that limits the rotation angle of the set clamp 31 when the set clamp 31 is driven so as to rotate.
The torque limiter 42 functions as a rotational-force limiting mechanism that idles when a torque (rotational force) that is not lower than a predetermined torque is applied to the rotational-driving mechanism, which drives the set clamp 31 so that the set clamp 31 rotates.
Accordingly, when the ejection tray 30 moves downward, as illustrated in
When the ejection tray 30 moves upward, as illustrated in
Note that a damper 31a, which is an elastic member, is mounted on a surface of the set clamp 31, the surface coming into contact with a printing sheet, in such a manner as to prevent printing sheets ejected to the ejection tray 30 from being displaced.
When the damper 31a mounted on the surface of the set clamp 31, which comes into contact with a printing sheet, presses printing sheets on the ejection tray 30, the damper 31a accommodates the height deviation of the ejection tray 30 by extending and retracting by, for example, about 5 mm.
In the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the vertical movement of the ejection tray 30 and the driving of the set clamp 31 so as to cause the set clamp 31 to rotate are controlled by one motor 38. Therefore, the driving of the set clamp 31 so as to cause the set clamp 31 to rotate with the vertical movement of the ejection tray 30 is achieved without requiring a dedicated motor for driving the set clamp 31 so that the set clamp 31 rotates, a sensor that detects the rotation position of the set clamp 31, and the like.
[Modification]
In the above-described exemplary embodiment, although a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a post-processing apparatus, the present invention is not limited to such a post-processing apparatus. The present invention may also be applied to apparatuses, such as image forming apparatuses including printers and copying machines, each of which includes an ejection tray that receives an ejected printing sheet.
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-043792 | Mar 2017 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country |
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2006069746 | Mar 2006 | JP |
2015-016994 | Jan 2015 | JP |
2015020813 | Feb 2015 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180257896 A1 | Sep 2018 | US |