Sheet post-processing apparatus, and image forming system and electronic apparatus provided therewith

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-086746 filed on May 24, 2021, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus, and to an image forming system and an electronic apparatus provided therewith.

Conventionally, image forming systems are known that can form images on a plurality of sheets (of a recording medium such as print paper) and then perform predetermined post-processing on a sheet bundle resulting from stacking those sheets together, thereby to produce a predetermined booklet. One known such image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that form images on sheets and a sheet post-processing apparatus connected to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus in the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet post-processing apparatus here receives sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, and performs predetermined post-processing on them (as by stacking together a plurality of sheets so received to form a sheet bundle and performing a binding process to bind the sheet bundle with a staple or a punch hole forming process to perforate the sheet bundle with a punch hole forming device.

Such a sheet post-processing apparatus has a frame member that constitutes the skeleton of its housing. In the sheet post-processing apparatus, individual devices constituting it (such as a stapling device and a punch hole forming device) are fastened to the frame member. Also side panels, a bottom panel, a top panel, and the like that constitute the housing of the sheet post-processing apparatus are fastened to the frame member. The frame member is composed of a combination of metal plate-form members (sheet-metal members).

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a sheet post-processing apparatus receives a sheet discharged from an upstream apparatus and performs predetermined post-processing on the sheet. The sheet post-processing apparatus includes an apparatus body, a body frame, a sheet conveyance passage, an elevating tray, and an elevating unit. The elevating unit is provided on the body frame, and includes a pair of rails that guide the ascent and descent of the elevating tray. The body frame constitutes the frame of the apparatus body. Through the sheet conveyance passage, the sheet is conveyed from a carry-in port provided in a first side surface of the apparatus body to a carry-out port provided in a second side surface of the apparatus body opposite from the first side surface. The elevating tray configured to ascend and descend along the second side surface, and on the elevating tray, the sheet discharged from the carry-out port is stacked. The elevating unit that makes the elevating tray ascend and descend. The pair of rails are provided on the body frame and guide the ascent and descent of the elevating tray. The body frame includes of a plurality of vertical frame members that extends in the vertical direction and a plurality of horizontal frame members that extends in a horizontal direction and is joined to the plurality of vertical frame members. The pair of rails are formed integrally with, among the plurality of vertical frame members, a pair of vertical frame members provided corresponding to the second side surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal construction of an image forming apparatus and a sheet post-processing apparatus that constitute an image forming system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an entire body frame of the sheet post-processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the body frame with a main tray and an elevating unit fitted to it;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the body frame as seen from the side opposite from the image forming apparatus with respect to the left-right direction;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged part view around an elevating mechanism provided on the body frame (inside circle A indicated by a dash-dot-dot line in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view around the elevating mechanism on the body frame;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the elevating mechanism as cut along section line B-B in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a modified example of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. First, with reference to FIG. 1, a description will be given of an image forming system 100 according to the present disclosure that includes an image forming apparatus 1 and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3. While the following description deals with a configuration that employs, as the image forming apparatus 1 in the image forming system 100, an ink-jet printer as one example, any other type of image forming apparatus (e.g., a laser printer or a facsimile machine) may be employed instead.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal construction of the image forming apparatus 1 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 that constitute the image forming system 100. To the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is connected. The image forming system 100 includes the image forming apparatus 1, which forms images on the surface of sheets S as a recording medium (such as regular paper or envelopes), and the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, which is connected to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 1 and which performs predetermined post-processing (such as a punch hole forming process and a binding process) on sheets S discharged from the image forming apparatus 1.

In the following description, the direction in which a sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is conveyed toward the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 will be referred to as the “sheet conveyance direction”. Moreover, assuming that the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is disposed at the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, the side at which a sheet storage unit 4 for storing sheets S is disposed will be referred to as the upstream side. The direction of the height of the image forming apparatus 1 will be referred to simply as the “height direction”. A direction orthogonal to the height direction will be referred to as a “horizontal direction”. Of different horizontal directions, the direction in which the image forming apparatus 1 and the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 are disposed side by side will be referred to as the “left-right direction”, and the direction (i.e., the front-rear direction with respect to the image forming apparatus 1) orthogonal to the left-right direction will be referred to as the “front-rear direction”.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet storage unit 4 in which sheets S are stored, a sheet conveyance unit 5 that feeds one sheet S after another from the sheet storage unit 4 downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, an image recording unit 8 (image forming unit) that forms an image on the surface of the sheet S conveyed, and a reversal conveyance passage 9 that receives the sheet S having passed through the image recording unit 8 and that then conveys the sheet S, with its faces reversed, back to the image recording unit 8.

The sheet storage unit 4 is located in a lower part of the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet storage unit 4 includes a plurality of sheet feed cassettes 4a on each of which a bundle of sheets S is stacked. Each sheet feed cassette 4a is removably mounted in a lower part of the image forming apparatus 1. Each sheet feed cassette 4a can be taken out of and put into the image forming apparatus 1 in a horizontal direction, through a side of the image forming apparatus 1.

The sheet conveyance unit 5 includes a sheet conveyance passage 7a, a sheet feeding unit 6, and a pair of conveyance rollers 11. The sheet conveyance passage 7a is connected to the sheet storage unit 4. An upstream end part of the sheet conveyance passage 7a branches into a plurality of paths to be connected individually to the sheet feed cassettes 4a. The sheet conveyance passage 7a extends from a side of the sheet storage unit 4 downstream in the sheet conveyance direction.

The sheet feeding unit 6 is provided at a junction between each sheet feed cassette 4a and the sheet conveyance passage 7a, and conveys a sheet S in the sheet feed cassette 4a into the sheet conveyance passage 7a. The sheet feeding unit 6 includes a pickup roller 16 and a pair of feed rollers 10.

The pickup roller 16 is provided above the sheet feed cassette 4a, and lies in contact with the top surface of the bundle of sheets S in the sheet feed cassette 4a. As the pickup roller 16 rotates, a sheet S that lies in contact with the pickup roller 16 is conveyed downstream in the sheet conveyance direction.

The pair of feed rollers 10 is provided downstream of the pickup roller 16 in the sheet conveyance direction. The pair of feed rollers 10 is a pair of roller members that are disposed opposite each other with the sheet conveyance passage 7a in between. The pair of feed rollers 10 are disposed opposite each other, in pressed contact with each other, to form a nip. A sheet S conveyed by the pickup roller 16 is, by being nipped at the nip between the pair of feed rollers 10, further conveyed downstream of the sheet conveyance passage 7a.

Actually a plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers 11 are provided at different positions along the sheet conveyance passage 7a. Each pair of conveyance rollers 11 is a pair of roller members that are disposed opposite each other with the sheet conveyance passage 7a in between. The pair of conveyance rollers 11 are disposed opposite each other, in pressed contact with each other, to form a nip. A sheet S conveyed into the sheet conveyance passage 7a by the pickup roller 16 is, while passing through the nip between each pair of conveyance rollers 11, conveyed further downstream in the sheet conveyance passage 7a.

The image recording unit 8 is located above the sheet storage unit 4, and is adjacent to the sheet conveyance passage 7a in the height direction. The image recording unit 8 includes a conveyance belt 14, a plurality of ink-jet heads 12, and ink tanks.

The conveyance belt 14 is located above the sheet storage unit 4. The conveyance belt 14 is an endless belt stretched around a plurality of rollers including a driving roller. The conveyance belt 14 has a large number of small ventilation holes (not illustrated) formed in it. Inside the conveyance belt 14, a sheet suction unit (not illustrated) that sucks in air through the ventilation holes is provided. A sheet S fed from the sheet conveyance unit 5 is, when it reaches the conveyance belt 14, held on the conveyance belt 14 by suction by the sheet suction unit. In this state the sheet S passes below the image recording unit 8.

The ink-jet heads 12 are disposed opposite the surface of the conveyance belt 14 in the height direction. The ink jet heads 12 are connected respectively to four ink tanks (not illustrated) that separately store inks of four colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The ink-jet heads 12 are supplied with inks from the ink tanks to which they are connected. The ink-jet heads 12 eject the inks toward the sheet S conveyed in the state held on the conveyance belt 14 by suction.

The reversal conveyance passage 9 is connected to the sheet conveyance passage 7a at two places upstream and downstream, respectively, of the image recording unit 8 with respect to the sheet conveyance direction. The reversal conveyance passage 9 branches off the sheet conveyance passage 7a downstream of the image recording unit 8, passes above the image recording unit 8, and meets the sheet conveyance passage 7a upstream of the image recording unit 8. At a position halfway along the reversal conveyance passage 9 in the sheet conveyance direction, a switchback unit 17 is provided that switches back the conveyance direction of sheets S to reverse their faces.

When images are recorded on both sides of a sheet S, the sheet S having been subjected to image recording on one side is conveyed to the reversal conveyance passage 9, and its conveyance direction is switched (it is switched back). After the obverse and reverse faces of the sheet S are reversed, the sheet S, with its side having no image formed on it yet up, is conveyed back to the image recording unit 8 to be subjected to image recording once again. Having predetermined images recorded on it, one sheet S after another is discharged through a pair of discharge rollers 15 provided near an opening in a downstream end part of the sheet conveyance passage 7a.

In a first side surface 18 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, that is, its side surface close to the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction, a sheet carry-in port 31 (carry-in port) is provided through which sheets S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 are received. Inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, there are provided a punch hole forming device 32 that performs a punch hole forming process on sheets S carried in through the sheet carry-in port 31, an end-binding unit 33 that stacks together a plurality of carried-in sheets S to form a sheet bundle and that then, with an end part of the sheet bundle aligned, binds the sheet bundle with a staple, and a middle-binding middle-folding unit 36 that staples a middle part of a sheet bundle and that then folds it along the stapled part into a booklet.

In a second side surface 19 of the image forming apparatus 1, that is, its side surface facing away from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction, a plurality of sheet discharge openings 30 are formed. The sheet discharge openings 30 are disposed adjacent to each other in the height direction (the direction indicated by arrow L in FIG. 1). Below the sheet discharge openings 30, there are provided a main tray 34, a sub tray 35, and a booklet tray 37 respectively. The main tray 34 (elevating tray) is vertically movable (can ascend and descend) to a position suitable for discharge of a sheet bundle. The sub tray 35 is fixed to an upper part of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 (above the main tray 34). The booklet tray 37 is fixed to a lower part of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 (below the main tray 34).

Inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, a sheet conveyance passage 7b is provided. The sheet conveyance passage 7b extends from the sheet carry-in port 31 and on its way branches toward the individual sheet discharge openings 30.

The punch hole forming device 32 is disposed in an upper part of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3. Sheets S discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 are carried in through the sheet carry-in port 31 at the top right of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, and pass through the punch hole forming device 32. When sheets S having passed through the punch hole forming device 32 are subjected to a stapling process, the sheets S are conveyed to the end-binding unit 33 or the middle-binding middle-folding unit 36 disposed below the punch hole forming device 32. When sheets S having passed through the punch hole forming device 32 are not subjected to a stapling process, the sheets S are discharged onto the sub tray 35 without being conveyed to the end-binding unit 33 or the middle-binding middle-folding unit 36.

The end-binding unit 33 includes a stapler, a processing tray, and the like (none is illustrated). Sheets S are stacked on the processing tray to be formed into a sheet bundle in the form of a bundle. This sheet bundle is, with its tip end aligned, bound in an end part by the stapler provided in an end part of the processing tray, and is then discharged along the processing tray onto the main tray 34. The elevating position of the main tray 34 is controlled in accordance with the height of the booklet stacked on the main tray 34, by a control unit (not illustrated) provided at any place in the image forming system 100.

The middle-binding middle-folding unit 36 for middle binding and middle folding that is disposed below the end-binding unit 33 includes a middle-binding stapler, a middle folding device, a sheet guide, and the like (non is illustrated). The middle-binding stapler staples a middle part of the sheet bundle stacked in the sheet guide. The sheet bundle stabled by the middle-binding stapler is folded along the stapled part into a booklet by the middle folding device, and is then discharged onto the booklet tray 37.

In this way, a predetermined number of sheets fed from the image forming apparatus 1 are conveyed to the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, where they are formed into a sheet bundle in the form of a bundle, which is then subjected to predetermined post-processing to produce a booklet.

Next, a description will be given of a body frame 41 that constitutes a housing part of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire body frame 41 of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the body frame 41 is composed of vertical frame members 42a to 42r and horizontal frame members 43a to 43n combined into a frame in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The body frame 41 supports the side panels, the top panel, and the bottom panel of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3, and thereby constitutes a frame part of the housing of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3. Moreover, the above-mentioned different devices (the punch hole forming device 32, the end-binding unit 33, the main tray 34, and the middle-binding middle-folding unit 36) provided inside the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 are fastened to the body frame 41.

The vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are each a pipe member (rectangular pipe) in the shape of a rectangular column with a rectangular cross-sectional shape on a plane orthogonal to its longitudinal direction. The vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are formed by cutting identical pipe members, with identical sectional shapes on the plane orthogonal to their longitudinal direction, into different lengths. The vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are made of metal (such as aluminum or stainless steel).

The vertical frame members 42a to 42r are disposed so as to extend along the height direction. The horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are disposed so as to extend along horizontal directions. Thus, the vertical frame members 42a to 42r are orthogonal to the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n. The vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are joined together by welding.

A lowest part of the body frame 41 in the height direction is a bottom portion 44. The bottom portion 44 is composed of four horizontal frame members 43a, 43b, 43c, and 43d that are joined together to be formed in the shape of a rectangular frame. The bottom portion 44 is, at the four corners, coupled to the vertical frame members 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d extending in the height direction.

An upper end part of the body frame 41 is a top portion 54 composed of horizontal frame members 43e, 43f, 43g, and 43h. The top portion 54 faces the bottom portion 44 in the height direction. The horizontal frame members 43e and 43f in the top portion 54 are parallel to, and are so located as to overlap in the front-rear direction, the horizontal frame members 43a and 43c in the bottom portion 44. The horizontal frame members 43g and 43h in the top portion 54 couple together, so as to bridge between, the horizontal frame members 43e and 43f. The horizontal frame members 43g and 43h are orthogonal to the horizontal frame members 43e and 43f.

Between the bottom portion 44 and the top portion 54 with respect to the height direction, a middle portion 55 is formed that is composed of a horizontal frame members 43i, 43j, and 43k. The horizontal frame member 43i located at the front of the middle portion 55 couples together, so as to bridge between, upper end parts of the vertical frame members 42a and 42c adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The horizontal frame member 43j located in a part of the middle portion 55 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 couples together, so as to bridge between, upper end parts of the vertical frame members 42a and 42b adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The horizontal frame member 43k located at the rear of the middle portion 55 couples together, so as to bridge between, upper end parts of the vertical frame members 42b and 42d adjacent in the left-right direction.

To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43i close to the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction, the vertical frame member 42g is coupled. The vertical frame members 42c and 42g are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43i in between. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43i opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction, the vertical frame member 42e is coupled. The vertical frame members 42a and 42e are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43i in between. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43k close to the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction, the vertical frame member 42h is coupled. The vertical frame members 42d and 42h are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43k in between. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43k opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction, the vertical frame member 42f is coupled. The vertical frame members 42b and 42f are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43k in between.

Between the middle portion 55 and the top portion 54, a horizontal reinforcement portion 45 is provided that is composed of the horizontal frame members 43l, 43m, and 43n. The horizontal frame member 43l located al the front of the horizontal reinforcement portion 45 couples together, so as to bridge between, upper end parts of the vertical frame members 42e and 42g. The horizontal frame members 43m and 43n located at the rear of the horizontal reinforcement portion 45 couple together, so as to bridge between, upper end parts of the vertical frame members 42f and 42h.

The horizontal frame member 43m is coupled to an upper end part of the vertical frame member 42f, and extends toward the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43m close to the image forming apparatus 1, a lower end part of the vertical frame member 42i is coupled. The horizontal frame member 43n is coupled to an upper end part of the vertical frame member 42h, and extends away from the image forming apparatus 1 in the left-right direction. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43n away from the image forming apparatus 1, a lower end part of the vertical frame member 42i is coupled. The horizontal frame members 43m and 43n are disposed adjacent to each other with the vertical frame member 42i in between. An upper end part of the vertical frame member 42i is coupled to the horizontal frame member 43f in the top portion 54.

To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43e in the top portion 54 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1, the vertical frame member 42o extending downward is coupled. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43e close to the image forming apparatus 1, the vertical frame member 42p extending downward is coupled. A lower end part of the vertical frame member 42o is coupled to an end part of the horizontal frame member 42l opposite from the image forming apparatus 1. A lower end part of the vertical frame member 42p is coupled to an end part of the horizontal frame member 43l close to the image forming apparatus 1.

To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43f in the top portion 54 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1, the vertical frame member 42q extending downward is coupled. To an end part of the horizontal frame member 43f close to the image forming apparatus 1, the vertical frame member 42r extending downward is coupled. A lower end part of the vertical frame member 42q is coupled to an end part of the horizontal frame member 43m opposite from the image forming apparatus 1. A lower end part of the vertical frame member 42r is coupled to an end part of the horizontal frame member 42n close to the image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the body frame 41 with the main tray 34 and an elevating unit 38 fitted to it. FIG. 4 is a side view of the body frame 41 as seen from the side opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction. FIG. 5 is an enlarged part view around an elevating mechanism 48 provided on the body frame 41 (inside circle A indicated by a dash-dot-dot line in FIG. 3). FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view around the elevating mechanism 48 on the body frame 41. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the elevating mechanism 48 as cut along section line B-B in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, on a side surface of the body frame 41 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction, an elevating unit 38 is provided. The elevating unit 38 supports the main tray 34 such that the main tray 34 is vertically movable (can ascend and descend). The elevating unit 38 includes rails 46a and 46b, mount members 53a and 53b, and the elevating mechanism 48.

The rails 46a and 46b are bar-form members that are formed so as to be elongate in the height direction along the vertical frame members 42a, 42b, 42e, and 42f. The rails 46a and 46b couple together, so as to bridge between, the bottom portion 44 and the horizontal reinforcement portion 45 with respect to the height direction. The rail 46a is adjacent to the side surfaces of the vertical frame members 42a and 42e opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction. An upper end part of the rail 46a abuts on an end part of the horizontal frame member 43l opposite from the image forming apparatus 1. A lower end part of the rail 46a abuts on the horizontal frame member 43a. The rail 46a and the vertical frame member 42o are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43l in between.

The rail 46b is adjacent to the side surfaces of the vertical frame members 42b and 42f opposite from the image forming apparatus 1. An upper end part of the rail 46b abuts on an end part of the horizontal frame member 43m opposite from the image forming apparatus 1. A lower end part of the rail 46b abuts on the horizontal frame member 43c. The rail 46b and the vertical frame member 42q are disposed on a straight line with the horizontal frame member 43m in between.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the rails 46a and 46b each have a rail groove 47 formed in it that is recessed inward of the body frame 41 with respect to the front-rear direction and that extends in the height direction. That is, the rails 46a and 46b each have a U-shaped cross-sectional shape. Each rail groove 47 has, among its inner faces, a pair of guide faces 49a and 49b that face each other in the left-right direction.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the elevating mechanism 48 is provided on the side surface of the body frame 41 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction. The elevating mechanism 48 is composed of pulleys 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d, elevating belts 51b and 51b, a driving device 52 (motor), a rotary shall 56, and the mount members 53a and 53b.

The pulleys 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d each have a gear surface (not illustrated) formed in its outer circumferential face. The pulley 50a is rotatably supported in the corner between the horizontal frame member 43e in the top portion 54 and the vertical frame member 42o. The pulley 50b is rotatably supported in the corner between the horizontal frame member 43a in the bottom portion 44 and the vertical frame member 42a. The pulleys 50a and 50b are located at positions that overlap in the front-rear and left-right directions. That is, the pulleys 50a and 50b are disposed on a straight line along the height direction.

The pulley 50c is rotatably supported in the corner between the horizontal frame member 43f in the top portion 54 and the vertical frame member 42q. The pulley 50d is rotatably supported in the corner between the horizontal frame member 43c in the bottom portion 44 and the vertical frame member 42b. The pulleys 50c and 50d are located at positions that overlap in the front-rear and left-right directions. That is, the pulleys 50c and 50d are disposed on a straight line along the height direction.

The elevating belts 51a and 51b are each an endless belt. The elevating belts 51a and 51b each have, formed on its inner circumferential face, a gear surface (not illustrated) that is engageable with the gear surfaces on the corresponding ones of the pulleys 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d. The elevating belt 51a is stretched between the pulleys 50a and 50b such that their gear surfaces mesh together. The elevating belt 51b is stretched between the pulleys 50c and 50d such that their gear surfaces mesh together.

The driving device 52 is fastened in the corner between the horizontal frame member 43f in the top portion 54 and the vertical frame member 42p. The driving device 52 is connected to a power supply unit (not illustrated) and a control unit (not illustrated) that are provided at any places in the image forming system 100, and generates a rotative driving force. The driving device 52 is connected to the pulley 50c, and delivers the rotative driving force to the pulley 50c.

The rotary shaft 56 couples together, so as to bridge between, the pulleys 50a and 50c. The rotative driving force delivered to the pulley 50c is transmitted via the rotary shall 56 to the pulley 50a.

The mount members 53a and 53b are structured identically; accordingly only the mount member 53a will be described below, with no description repeated for the mount member 53b.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the mount member 53a is a plate-form member that bends so as to fit a corner of the rail 46a. The mount member 53a has a holding portion 58 and a roller guide 57 (mount segment). The holding portion 58 holds the elevating belt 51a in the front-rear direction. The mount member 53a is coupled via the holding portion 58 to the elevating belt 51a. The roller guide 57 is a wheel (roller member) that is rotatably supported on the mount member 53a. The outer diameter of the roller guide 57 is smaller than the distance across which the guide faces 49a and 49b face each other.

One of the guide faces 49a and 49b makes contact with the outer circumferential face of the roller guide 57, and as the roller guide 57 rotates, the mount member 53a ascends and descends along the rail grooves 47. As mentioned above, an upper end part of the rail 46a is coupled to the horizontal frame member 43l, and a lower end part of the rail 46a is coupled to the horizontal frame member 43a. Thus, the mount member 53a can ascend and descend between the horizontal frame member 43l in the horizontal reinforcement portion 45 and the horizontal frame member 43a.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, opposite end parts of the main tray 34 in the front-rear direction are coupled to the mount members 53a and 53b. As the driving device 52 applies a rotative driving force to the pulleys 50a and 50c, the elevating belts 51a and 51b rotate to circulates. As the elevating belts 51a and 51b rotate, the mount members 53a and 53b and the main tray 34 ascend and descend along the rails 46a and 46b in the height direction (the direction indicated by arrow L in FIGS. 1 and 4). The control unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 can control the rotative driving force of the driving device 52 and thereby adjust the position of the main tray 34 in the height direction.

On the side surface (second side surface 19) of the body frame 41 opposite from the image forming apparatus 1 with respect to the left-right direction, a side plate 39 is provided. The side plate 39 is a plate-form member that is formed by working sheet metal. The side plate 39 is coupled to the horizontal frame member 43j and the rails 46a and 46b so as to bridge between the rails 46a and 46b in the front-rear direction. The side plate 39 faces the main tray 34 in the left-right direction.

As described above, the body frame 41 is composed of the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n and the vertical frame members 42a to 42r. Thus, the body frame 41 is composed of a comparatively small number of components. The comparatively small number of components helps suppress lessening of ease of assembly of the body frame 41. It is thus possible to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 that can suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.

Moreover, as described above, the rails 46a and 46b couple together, so as to bridge between, the bottom portion 44 and the horizontal reinforcement portion 45. Thus, the rails 46a and 46b give the body frame 41 comparatively high rigidity.

Moreover, as described above, the vertical frame members 42 and the horizontal frame members 43 are formed of identical members. This helps standardize components and helps further reduce manufacturing cost.

Moreover, as described above, the vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n are each formed as a pipe member in the shape of a rectangular column. Thus, the vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n each have comparatively high rigidity. This helps give the body frame 41 comparatively high rigidity.

Incidentally, in a common sheet post-processing apparatus, the frame members that constitute the skeleton of its housing are each a plate-form sheet-metal member, and are joined together with fastening members such as bolts. Accordingly, in the assembly of the sheet post-processing apparatus, screw fastening is required at multiple places, and this may lead to lessened ease of assembly. Also the fastening members that keep the frame members joined together after assembly may loosen with time due to vibration and the like during the operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus, and this may lead to reduced rigidity of the housing of the sheet post-processing apparatus.

By contrast, in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 according to the present disclosure, as described above, the body frame 41 is composed of the vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n, all made of metal, joined together by welding. Thus the body frame 41 can be welded and assembled on an automated production line, and this helps suppress lessening of ease of assembly. Moreover, forming the body frame 41 by welding together the vertical frame members 42a to 42r and the horizontal frame members 43a to 43n helps suppress deterioration of the body frame 41 due to vibration and the like, and helps suppress a drop in the rigidity of the body frame 41.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment specifically described above and allows for many modifications without departure from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, while in the embodiment described above the image forming system 100 has a configuration where the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 is coupled directly to the image forming apparatus 1, a configuration is also possible where an insertion apparatus that permits insertion of insert sheets such as cover sheets is arranged between the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 and the image forming apparatus 1. With this configuration, it is possible to insert a front cover, middle inserts, a back cover, and the like in a booklet produced by the image forming system 100.

While in the embodiment described above a construction is adopted where the mount members 53a and 53b ascend and descend along the rails 46a and 46b as the rotatably supported roller guide 57 rotates, this is not meant as any limitation. For example, a construction is also possible where, instead of the roller guide 57, a guide projection is provided that projects into the rail groove 47 from each of the mount members 53a and 53b. In that case, the guide projection slides on at least one of the guide faces 49a and 49b so that the mount members 53a and 53b ascend and descend along the rails 46a and 46b. This helps reduce the number of components in the mount members 53a and 53b, it is thus possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.

A construction is possible where, as shown in FIG. 8, a gap is left between the rail 46a and the vertical frame members 42a and 42e with respect to the left-right direction and the roller guide 57 makes contact with either a side surface of the rail 46a or a side surface of the vertical frame members 42a and 42e. The same applies to the rail 46b. This eliminates the need to provide the rail groove 47 in the rails 46a and 46b, and helps suppress an increase in the production cost of the rails 46a and 46b. Moreover, in that case, the rails 46a and 46b can be formed of members identical with the vertical frame members 42a to 42r, and this helps further suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost of the body frame 41.

A construction is possible where, the rail groove 47 is formed in the vertical frame members 42a and 42b instead of in the rails 46a and 46b. This helps further reduce the number of components of the body frame 41.

By use of a plurality of vertical frame members 42a to 42r and horizontal frame members 43a to 43n as described above, it is possible to construct a frame for a body part of not only a sheet post-processing apparatus as described above but also an image forming apparatus 1 or any other electronic apparatus.

By applying the present disclosure to an image forming system including a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as a biding process on sheets having images formed on them by an image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress an increase in the manufacturing cost of the image forming system.

Sheet post-processing apparatus, and image forming system and electronic apparatus provided therewith

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