Patent Application
20060066037
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2004-285286 filed on Sep. 29, 2004 and 2004-381906 filed on Dec. 28, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet post-process apparatus for post-processing sheets of paper ejected from an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a composite device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, to post-process sheets of paper after image forming such as sorting or stapling sheets of paper, a sheet post-process apparatus may be installed in the neighborhood of the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus body. To make the succeeding sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus body stand by like this, conventionally, in Japanese Patent Publication 6-99070, an apparatus installing a shifting path halfway the path toward the stapler is disclosed. Or, in Japanese Patent Application 2004-142868, an apparatus having an installed primary loading section above a paper ejection tray to match sheets of paper at the time of paper ejection after the sheets are processed.
However, as in the conventional apparatus, when a shifting path or a buffer path is installed halfway the path toward the stapler, the length of the conveying path from the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus body to the stapler becomes longer, thus a problem arises that miniaturization of the apparatus is disturbed.
Therefore, a sheet post-process apparatus capable of shortening the distance from the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus to the processing mechanism for performing the post process and realizing miniaturization is desired.
An object of this embodiment of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-process apparatus for shortening the distance from the paper ejection unit of the image forming apparatus to the processing mechanism for performing the post process and realizing miniaturization.
According to this embodiment of the present invention, the sheet post-process apparatus comprises a standby tray for making sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus stand by and having a tilt angle of θ1 at which the front ends of the sheets are higher than the rear ends of the sheets, a processing tray arranged under the standby tray for loading the sheets dropped and fed from the standby tray and/or the sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus not via the standby tray, a processing mechanism for post-processing the sheets loaded on the processing tray, and a paper ejection tray for at least loading the sheets after post processed to be ejected from the processing tray and having a tilt angle of θ2 at which the front ends of the sheets are higher than the rear ends of the sheets.
Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The processing tray 12, while the sheets of paper P are stapled by the stapler 14 which is a processing mechanism for performing the post-process, matches and supports the sheets of paper P to be loaded. As shown in
The processing tray 12 has a pair of upper vertical matching roller 38a and lower vertical roller 38b shown in
Further, when the sheets of paper P are dropped and fed on the processing tray 12, at the position where the rear end of each of the sheets of paper P is dropped, a rotatable paddle 44 for matching vertically the uppermost sheet of paper P loaded on the processing tray 12 is arranged. The paddle 44, as shown in
At the end of the processing tray 12 on the side of the stapler 14, a stopper 45 for making contact with the rear end of each of the sheets of paper P and controlling the rear end position. Almost at the center of the processing tray 12, a conveyor belt 50 which is a conveyor mechanism for making contact with the lowest sheet of paper P on the processing tray 12 is installed. The conveyor belt 50 conveys the sheet bundle T, which is stapled and taken out from the stapler 14 by the upper and lower vertical matching rollers 38a and 38b, up to the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 which is a paper ejection means. To the conveyer belt 50, a feed pawl 50a for hooking the rear end of the sheet bundle T is attached.
The standby tray 10 can drop and feed the sheets of paper P onto the processing tray 12 and also can convey the sheets of paper P toward the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18. When conveying the sheets of paper P toward the paper ejection trays 16 and 18, a standby tray roller 28 for matching the sheets of paper P makes contact with the sheets of paper P on the standby tray 10. The standby tray roller 28 is controlled in the vertical movement by a standby tray roller driving source 30 and is driven to rotate by a standby tray roller motor 32.
The standby tray 10, to support the sheets of paper P in a state that the front ends of the sheets of paper P are positioned higher than the rear ends thereof, is arranged so that the tilt angle θ1 becomes 40°. The first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 is moved up and down by a paper ejection tray driving unit 52 and either of them is selected. The first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 is moved up and down up to almost the same height as that of the standby tray 10 or the processing tray 12 when loading the sheets of paper P to improve the consistency of the sheets of paper P to be ejected.
Further, the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18, to support the sheets of paper P in a state that the front ends of the sheets of paper P are positioned higher than the rear ends thereof, is arranged so that the tilt angle θ2 becomes 25°. Further, the processing tray 12, to increase the consistency of the sheets of paper P when the post process is performed by a stapler 14, is arranged so that the tilt angle θ3 becomes 30° so as to support the sheets of paper P in a state that the front ends of the sheets of paper P are positioned higher than the rear ends thereof. Here, the tilt angles θ2 and θ3, if they are not a resistance at the time of conveying of the sheets of paper P, for example, θ2=θ3 is acceptable. However, when θ3>θ2, the conveying resistance of the sheets of paper P is reduced more and the consistency can be improved. Therefore, the tilt angles θ2 and θ3 are desirable to have a relation of θ3≧θ2.
Furthermore, the standby tray 10, the processing tray 12, and the first and second paper ejection trays 16 and 18 are set so that the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10, the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray 12, and the tilt angle θ2 of the paper ejection trays 16 and 18 have a relative relation of θ1>θ3≧θ2. The reason is to increase the consistency of the sheets of paper P on the processing tray 12 and the first and second paper ejection trays 16 and 18.
For example, assuming the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10 and the tilt angle θ2 of the first paper ejection tray 16 as θ1<θ2, the friction between the front end of the sheet of paper P starting to enter the first paper ejection tray 16 and the first paper ejection tray 16 is increased. Namely, the ejection force of the front end of the sheet of paper P is decreased, and the sheet of paper P is curved convexly as indicated by the dotted line in
Therefore, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10 and the tilt angle θ2 of the first paper ejection tray 16 are set as θ1>θ2 and the front end of the sheet of paper P is ejected smoothly. Similarly, the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray 12 and the tilt angle θ2 of the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 are set as θ3>θ2 and the front end of the sheet of paper P ejected from the processing tray 12 is ejected smoothly.
Further, when dropping the sheets of paper P from the standby tray 10 onto the processing tray 12, compared with dropping the whole sheets of paper P almost in parallel with the processing tray, when the sheets of paper P are dropped from the ends on the side of the stapler 14, the consistency of the sheets of paper on the processing tray 12 is good and the sheets of paper P are lined up easily on the side of the stapler 14. Therefore, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10 and the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray 12 are set as θ1>θ3, and the consistency of the stapler 14 is increased, and a satisfactory stapling process is performed.
As shown in
Next, the operation of the invention will be described. When an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 5 and a sheet of paper P is fed from the paper ejection rollers 6, the sheet post-process apparatus 7, depending on a case of performing the post-process of the sheet of paper P or a case of performing no post-process, or while the preceding sheet of paper P is in execution of the post-process or the post-process is finished, performs a different operation.
When the post-process is not to be performed, for example, the first paper ejection tray 16 slides and moves to the position indicated by a dotted line shown in
In this way, on the first paper ejection tray 16, sheets of paper are sequentially loaded. At this time, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10 and the tilt angle θ2 of the first paper ejection tray 16 are set as θ1>θ2, so that when the paper ejection is started, the conveying force of the front ends of the sheets of paper P is not decreased due to the friction with the first paper ejection tray 16 and the sheets of paper P are smoothly ejected free of bending.
Furthermore, at this time, the first paper ejection tray 16 is arranged so that the tilt angle becomes θ2, and the front ends of the sheets of paper are positioned higher than the rear ends thereof, so that for example, even if the sheets of paper P are ejected onto the first paper ejection tray 16 in a state that they are curled convexly as indicated by the dotted line in
Next, a case that the stapling process which is a post process is to be performed and no preceding sheet of paper P in execution of the stapling process exists on the processing tray 12 will be described. At this time, the standby tray 10 slides and moves the tray members 10a and 10b respectively up to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in
At the time of dropping and feeding, the upper vertical matching roller 38a is shifted upward and the receiving portion 44a of the paddle 44 receives the rear end of the sheet of paper P. Both sides of the sheet of paper P drop in contact with the horizontal matching plates 47a and 47b and are matched in the horizontal direction. When the sheet of paper P is dropped from the standby tray 10 onto the processing tray 12, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10 and the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray 12 are set as θ1>θ3, so that the sheet of paper P makes contact with the processing tray 12 from the side of the stapler 14 and is fed onto the processing tray 12 in a lined-up state.
Then, the paddle 44 rotates in the direction of an arrow o, drops the rear end of the sheet of paper P from the receiving portion 44a, and beats down it onto the processing tray 12 by the beating portion 44b. Furthermore, the paddle 44 feeds the sheet of paper P in the direction of an arrow q by the feeding portion 44c, and the rear end of the sheet of paper P makes contact with the stopper 45, and the vertical matching of the sheet of paper P is completed. At this time, the processing tray 12 has the tilt angle θ3, so that the sheet of paper P is easily lined up on the side of the stopper 45 by the inclination. Further, the vertical matching of the sheet of paper P on the processing tray 12 may be executed by the upper vertical matching roller 38a by moving up and down the upper vertical matching roller 38a each time.
In this way, the sheet of paper P on which an image is formed is loaded directly on the processing tray 12 from the paper feed rollers 24 while sequentially matching it in the horizontal direction and vertically direction. When the sheets of paper P reach a predetermined number, the stapler 14 staples the sheets of paper P on the processing tray 12 at a desired position and bundles them to form the sheet bundle T. Hereafter, the upper vertical matching roller 38a is moved down onto the sheet bundle and the sheet bundle T is held between the upper vertical matching roller 38a rotating in the direction of the arrow r and the lower vertical matching roller 38b rotating in the direction of the arrow s and is conveyed toward the first paper ejection tray 16.
When the rear end of the sheet bundle T passes the upper and lower vertical matching rollers 38a and 38b, it is hooked by the feed pawl 50a of the conveyor belt 50 rotating in the direction of the arrow t and is fed onto the first paper ejection tray 16.
At this time, the first paper ejection tray 16 slides and moves from the position indicated by the dotted line in
Next, a case that the stapling process which is a post-process is to be performed and preceding sheets of paper P in execution of the stapling process remain on the processing tray 12 will be described. At this time, in the standby tray 10, the tray members 10a and 10b slide and move from the positions indicated by the dashed lines in
The sheets of paper P loaded on the standby tray 10 are moved down onto the standby tray 10, are sent toward the standby stoppers 10c and 10d by the standby tray roller 28 rotating in the opposite direction of the direction of the arrow f, and are vertically matched with the rear end of the sheets of paper P in contact with the standby stoppers 10c and 10d. Furthermore, the first paper ejection tray 16 is arranged slantwise so that the front end of the sheets of paper is positioned higher than the rear end thereof, thus the sheets of paper P are vertically matched by the own weight with the rear end thereof in contact with the standby stoppers 10c and 10d.
The standby tray 10 is arranged slantwise, so that for example, even if the sheet of paper P is fed from the paper feed rollers 24 in a state that it is curled convexly and is fed to the standby tray 10, the preceding sheet of paper P loaded on the standby tray 10 is not pressed out by making contact with the front end of the succeeding sheet of paper P.
Namely, the fed sheets of paper P are sequentially loaded on the standby tray 10 unless the order is disturbed. Further, even if the preceding sheet of paper P is pressed by the succeeding sheet of paper P and is slightly displaced, since the standby tray 10 has the tilt angle θ1, the sheet of paper P drops by its own weight down to the position where the rear end thereof makes contact with the standby stoppers 10c and 10d and is loaded on the standby tray 10 with the rear end matched.
During this period, when the preceding sheet of paper P on the processing tray 12 is ejected on the side of the paper ejection tray 16 and the processing tray 12 becomes free, the standby tray 10 slides and moves the tray members 10a and 10b respectively up to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in
The lower side sheet of paper P of the two sheets of paper P dropped onto the processing tray 12 is sent in the direction of the arrow q by the lower vertical matching roller 38b rotating in the opposite direction of the direction of the arrow s, and the rear end of the sheet of paper P makes contact with the stopper 45, and the vertical matching of the sheet of paper P is completed. The upper side sheet of paper P of the two sheets of paper P dropped onto the processing tray 12 is sent in the direction of the arrow q by the upper vertical matching roller 38a rotating in the opposite direction of the direction of the arrow r. By doing this, the rear end of the sheet of paper P makes contact with the stopper 45 and the vertical matching of the sheet of paper P is completed. Thereafter, the upper vertical matching roller 38a is shifted upward.
The third and subsequent sheets of paper P ejected from the image forming apparatus 5 are directly dropped and fed onto the processing tray 12 from between the tray members 10a and 10b without standing by on the standby tray 10. Hereafter, the third and subsequent sheets of paper P are sequentially matched on the sheets of paper P loaded earlier on the processing tray 12 by the paddle 44.
When the sheets of paper P loaded on the processing tray 12 reach a predetermined number, the sheets are stapled by the stapler 14 to form the sheet bundle T. Hereafter, the sheet bundle T is conveyed toward the first paper ejection tray 16 by the upper and lower vertical matching rollers 38a and 38b, and furthermore the rear end is hooked by the feed pawl 50a of the conveyor belt 50 and is conveyed to the first paper ejection tray 16, and the stapling process of the sheets of paper P is completed.
According to this embodiment, when the stapling process is to be performed after image forming and the preceding stapling process is not finished on the processing tray 12, the standby tray 10 is installed above the processing tray 12 and waits for the succeeding sheets of paper P. And, waiting for the processing tray 12 to become free, the sheets of paper P standing by on the standby tray 10 are dropped and fed and then are moved to the processing tray 16. Therefore, the practical conveying path from the standby tray 10 in the sheet post-process apparatus 7 to the processing tray 12 can be shortened and the sheet post-process apparatus can be miniaturized.
Further, the standby tray 10 has the tilt angle θ1, so that the sheets of paper P can be matched by the own weight on the standby tray 10. Furthermore, there are no possibilities that the preceding loaded sheet of paper P is pressed out by the succeeding sheet of paper P and the consistency of the sheets of paper P on the standby tray 10 can be improved. Therefore, the sheets of paper P can be prevented from jamming and moreover the sheets of paper P on the standby tray 10 can be prevented from disturbance of the loading order. Similarly, the first and second paper ejection trays 16 and 18 are given the tilt angle θ2, thus there are no possibilities that the preceding loaded sheet of paper P or sheet bundle T is pressed out by the succeeding sheet of paper P or sheet bundle T and the consistency of the sheets of paper P on the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 can be improved. Therefore, the sheets of paper P can be prevented from jamming and moreover the sheets of paper P or sheet bundle T on the first or second paper ejection tray 16 or 18 can be prevented from disturbance of the loading order.
Further, the processing tray 12 is given the tilt angle θ3, so that the consistency of the sheets of paper P when fed to the stapler 14 is high and a satisfactory stapling process can be obtained. Furthermore, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray 10, the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray 12, and the tilt angle θ2 of the paper ejection trays 16 and 18 have a relation of θ1>θ3≧θ2, so that the consistency at the time of dropping and feeding from the standby tray 10 onto the processing tray 12, the consistency at the time of paper ejection from the standby tray 10 onto the first paper ejection tray 16, and the consistency at the time of paper ejection from the processing tray 12 onto the paper ejection trays 16 and 18 are all improved. Therefore, on the standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12 in the middle, satisfactory consistency can be retained and the sheets of paper P or sheet bundle T post-processed in high consistency on the paper ejection trays 16 and 18 can be obtained as well.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment and can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the method for dropping and feeding sheets from the standby tray onto the processing tray is not limited and the standby tray rotates and moves instead of sliding and moving, thus sheets of paper on the standby tray may be dropped and fed onto the processing tray. Further, the processing mechanism, if it is a post process to be performed for sheets, is not limited to the stapler and it may be a hole puncher. Furthermore, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray, the tilt angle θ2 of the paper ejection trays, and the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray are not limited and the relative angle thereof, so long as the relation of θ1>θ3≧θ2 is retained, is not limited.
Furthermore, the standby tray is given the tilt angle θ1 so that the front end of sheets is positioned higher than the rear end thereof and the paper ejection trays are given the tilt angle θ2 so that the front end of sheets is positioned higher than the rear end thereof, thus on the standby tray and paper ejection trays, the preceding loaded sheet is not pressed out by the succeeding sheet. Therefore, on the standby tray and paper ejection trays, the consistency of sheets is improved, and the sheets can be prevented from jamming, and the sheets on each tray can be prevented from disturbance of the loading order.
Further, the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray and the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray have a relation of θ1>θ3, so that when dropping sheets from the standby tray onto the processing tray, the end of each sheet on the post-process apparatus side earlier makes contact with the processing tray and then the whole makes contact with the processing tray. Therefore, the consistency of sheets when the sheets on the processing tray are fed to the post-process apparatus is excellent and the post process can be performed easily.
Since the tilt angle θ3 of the processing tray and the tilt angle θ2 of the paper ejection trays have a relation of θ3≧θ2, the contact area between the sheets and the paper ejection trays when the paper ejection from the processing tray onto the paper ejection trays is started becomes smaller. Therefore, the friction between the sheets and the paper ejection trays can be made smaller, and the conveying force of the sheets is not decreased, and satisfactory paper ejection can be obtained. Furthermore, similarly, since the tilt angle θ1 of the standby tray and the tilt angle θ2 of the paper ejection trays have a relation of θ1>θ2, even when the paper ejection from the standby tray onto the paper ejection trays is started, the friction between the sheets and the paper ejection trays can be made smaller and satisfactory paper ejection can be obtained.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-285286 | Sep 2004 | JP | national |
| 2004-381906 | Dec 2004 | JP | national |
