Patent Application
20150203321
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer.
Conventionally, there is well-known a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs a jogger and stack process and a stapling process to a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer. For example, in some sheet post-processing apparatuses, the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are stapled by stapling means, and a sheet bundle stapled by the stapling means is dropped and stacked on a stacking tray by opening jogger and stack means, and the subsequent sheets are discharged on the stacked sheet bundle by sheet conveying means while overlapped with the sheet bundle, and the next sheet bundle is formed by the jogger and stack means (e.g., refer to Patent Literature 1).
Patent Literature 1: JP 8-225227A
Sometimes the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus such as the copying machine and the printer is curled around a conveying direction due to a structure of a conveying system of the image forming apparatus, and there is a risk of displacing the sheet bundle due to the curled sheet during the jogger and stack process.
The sheet bundle is dropped and stacked on the stacking tray, and the next sheet is discharged and stacked on the stacked sheet bundle. In dropping the sheet bundle on the stacking tray, there is no means of escape of air between the sheet bundles, and sometimes the stacked sheet bundle is displaced by the air.
The invention is made in view of above-described problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus that can stack the sheet bundle with no displacement to improve a stacking property of the sheet bundle and shorten sheet receiving time to improve productivity.
In order to solve the above problems to achieve the object, the present invention is configured as follows.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes: sheet conveying means for conveying a sheet discharged by an image forming apparatus to a stacking tray; jogger and stack means including a pair of left and right joggers that stacks the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means while supporting and jogging the sheet; and a support that is able to be progressed and retreated, and supports a rear end portion of the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means at a progressing position. At this point, the jogger and stack means is arranged above the stacking tray, the support is arranged between the stacking tray and the jogger and stack means, the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means is supported by the pair of left and right joggers, the rear end portion of the sheet is placed on and jogged by the support located at the progressing position to form a sheet bundle, the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop the jogged sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and the support is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle placed on the support on the stacking tray.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the support supports an inside in a width direction of the rear end portion of the sheet.
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers supports and jogs a leading end side portion and a leading end bottom portion of the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means, and the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop a leading end side of the jogged sheet bundle on the stacking tray.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers is horizontally movable with respect to a sheet discharge center position, operation to move the sheet bundle in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at the sheet discharge center position, open the pair of left and right joggers at a stacking position, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and operation to move the sheet bundle in the other of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at the sheet discharge center position, open the pair of left and right joggers at the stacking position, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray are repeated, and the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while alternately displaced.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus, the pair of left and right joggers is horizontally movable with respect to a sheet discharge center position, operation to move the sheet bundle in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at the sheet discharge center position, open the pair of left and right joggers at the stacking position, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray is repeated, and the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while not alternately displaced.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention further comprising stapling means for stapling the sheet bundle jogged by the pair of left and right joggers. At this point, the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop the leading end side of the sheet bundle stapled by the stapling means on the stacking tray, only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is placed on the support, and the support is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion the sheet bundle placed on the support on the stacking tray.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers is horizontally movable with respect to a sheet discharge center position, operation to move the sheet bundle only in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at the sheet discharge center position, and staple the sheet bundle at a stapling position using the stapling means, operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers at one of stacking positions, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray, operation to move the sheet bundle in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at a sheet discharge center position, and staple the sheet bundle at a stapling position using the stapling means, and operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers at the other of stacking positions, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray are repeated, and the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while alternately displaced.
According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers is horizontally movable with respect to a sheet discharge center position, the pair of left and right joggers repeats operation to move the sheet bundle in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle is jogged at the sheet discharge center position, and staple the sheet bundle at a stapling position using the stapling means, and operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers at one of stacking positions, and retreat the support to drop and stack the sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while not alternately displaced.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects of the invention, a sheet bundle holder is arranged at a position where the sheet bundle jogged by the pair of left and right joggers is stapled, and the sheet bundle holder acts as a holding member for the sheet bundle to be stapled, and as a cover covering the stapling means.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the sheet post-processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects of the invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus is arranged above the image forming apparatus, and the sheet conveying means conveys the sheet sent from an upper portion of the image forming apparatus to the stacking tray.
Thanks to the above configuration, the invention has the following advantageous effects.
In the first aspect of the invention, the jogger and stack means is arranged above the stacking tray, the support is arranged between the stacking tray and the jogger and the stack means, the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means is supported by the pair of left and right joggers, and the rear end portion of the sheet is placed on and jogged by the support located at the progressing position, so that the sheet bundle can smoothly be formed without displacing the sheet. Additionally, the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop the jogged sheet bundle on the stacking tray, and the support is retreated, and the rear end portion of the sheet bundle placed on the support is dropped and stacked on the stacking tray. Therefore, the sheet bundle can smoothly and quickly be dropped on the stacking tray, and the stacked sheet bundle is not displaced by the air because the air escapes to the rear end side of the sheet bundle.
In the second aspect of the invention, the support supports the inside in the width direction of the rear end portion of the jogged sheet bundle. Therefore, the displacement of the sheet can be reduced even if the sheet is curled around the conveying direction due to the structure of the conveying system of the image forming apparatus.
In the third aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers supports and jogs the leading end side portion and the leading end bottom portion of the sheet discharged by the sheet conveying means, and the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop the leading end side of the jogged sheet bundle on the stacking tray. Therefore, the stacked sheet bundle is not displaced by the air because the air escapes to the rear end side from the leading end side of the sheet bundle.
In the fourth aspect of the invention, the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while alternately displaced, but the stacked sheet bundle is not displaced by the air when the sheet bundle is dropped and stacked on the stacking tray.
In the fifth aspect of the invention, the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while not alternately displaced, but the stacked sheet bundle is not displaced by the air when the sheet bundle is dropped and stacked on the stacking tray.
In the sixth aspect of the invention, the pair of left and right joggers is opened to drop the leading end side of the sheet bundle stapled by the stapling means on the stacking tray, only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle is placed on the support, and the support is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle placed on the support on the stacking tray. Therefore, a staple used to staple the sheet bundle can be prevented from being caught on the pair of left and right joggers, but the sheet bundle is not displaced by the catch of the staple.
In the seventh aspect of the invention, the stapled sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while alternately displaced, the staple used to staple the sheet bundle can be prevented from being caught on the pair of left and right joggers, but the sheet bundle is not displaced by the catch of the staple.
In the eighth aspect of the invention, the sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray while not alternately displaced, the staple used to staple the sheet bundle can be prevented from being caught on the pair of left and right joggers, but the sheet bundle is not displaced by the catch of the staple.
In the ninth aspect of the invention, the sheet bundle holder is arranged at the position where the sheet bundle jogged by the pair of left and right joggers is stapled, the sheet bundle holder holds the sheet bundle to be stapled, and the sheet bundle can be stapled without displacing the sheet bundle. Additionally, the sheet bundle holder covers stapling means, so that a user can be prevented from inserting a finger in the position where the sheet bundle is stapled.
In the tenth aspect of the invention, the sheet post-processing apparatus is arranged above the image forming apparatus, and the sheet sent from the upper portion of the image forming apparatus can be conveyed to the stacking tray.
a) and 7(b) are views illustrating actuation of a support.
a) and 9(b) are views illustrating stacking of a sheet bundle.
a) to 10(c) are views illustrating a jogger and stack state.
a) to 11(c) are views illustrating a stapling state.
Hereinafter, a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will be described. The embodiment illustrates the best mode of the invention, but the invention is not limited to the embodiment.
In a sheet post-processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, an apparatus body 2 includes a stacking tray 3, a support 20, jogger and stack means 30, stapling means 40, and sheet conveying means 10. In a bottom portion of the apparatus body 2, registration members 90 are provided at right and left ends while protruded downward. The sheet post-processing apparatus 1 is arranged while the registration members 90 are inserted in the upper portion of the image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer, and a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is sent in the sheet post-processing apparatus 1 from below. The sheet conveying means 10 is configured so as to convey the sheet sent from the upper portion of the image forming apparatus to the stacking tray 3. The jogger and stack means 30 and the stapling means 40 perform a jogger and stack process and a stapling process, and the processed sheet bundle is stacked on the stacking tray 3.
The sheet conveying means 10, the support 20, the jogger and stack means 30, and the stapling means 40 are arranged in the apparatus body 2 of the embodiment. The sheet conveying means 10 includes a conveying guide 11 and a conveying roller 12, and conveys a sheet 100 discharged from the image forming apparatus onto the stacking tray 3 from a position below the apparatus body 2. For example, the conveying roller 12 is driven by conveyance driving means 200 including power transmission means such as a motor, a belt, and a gear. The conveyance driving means 200 drives the conveying roller 12 to convey the sheet 100.
The three supports 20 are horizontally arrayed at positions above the stacking tray 3, for example. The support 20 can be progressed and retreated in a sheet discharge direction with respect to the apparatus body 2, a rear end portion of the sheet 100 discharged from the sheet conveying means 10 is supported at a progressing position of the support 20, and the sheet is dropped at a retreating position. For example, the support 20 is driven by a support driving means 201 including power transmission means such as a motor and a cam. The support 20 is progressed and retreated by the support driving means 201.
The jogger and stack means 30 includes a pair of left and right joggers 31 that perform stack and jogger. In the apparatus body 2, the pair of left and right joggers 31 can horizontally be moved with respect to a sheet discharge center position. The pair of left and right joggers 31 having a U-shape in section includes a lower guide 31a, an upper guide 31b, and a coupling guide 31c. The pair of left and right joggers 31 stacks and jogs the sheet discharged from the sheet conveying means 10 while supporting both side end portions and both side bottom portions at a leading end of the sheet.
The pair of left and right joggers 31 is provided in a moving body 38 with a slide lever 32. In jogging, and opening and closing the pair of left and right joggers 31, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is driven by jogger moving means 202 including power transmission means such as a motor and an actuation shaft. In horizontally moving the pair of left and right joggers 31, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is driven by jogger movement driving means 203 including power transmission means such as a motor, a gear, and a belt. The sheets 100 are jogged by the pair of left and right joggers 31.
The jogger and stack means 30 is arranged above the stacking tray 3, and the supports 20 are arranged between the stacking tray 3 and the jogger and stack means 30. Therefore, a leading end side of the sheet 100 discharged by the sheet conveying means 10 is supported by the pair of left and right joggers 31 of the jogger and stack means 30, and the rear end portion is stacked and jogged on the supports 20 located at the progressing positions, thereby forming a sheet bundle 110. At this point, the supports 20 support an inside in a width direction of the rear end portion of the sheet 100, and support the inside in the width direction of the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 jogged by the supports 20, so that displacement of the sheet bundle 110 can be reduced even if the sheet 100 is curled around a conveying direction due to a structure of a conveying system of the image forming apparatus.
The leading end side of the jogged sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3 by opening the pair of left and right joggers 31, and only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the support 20. Then, the supports 20 are retreated to drop the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 placed on the supports 20 on the stacking tray 3.
In stacking the sheet 100, the pair of left and right joggers 31 having the U-shape in section includes the lower guide 31a, the upper guide 31b, and the coupling guide 31c, and supports both the side end portions and both the side bottom portions at the leading end of the sheet 100. Therefore, the leading end portion of the jogged sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3 by opening the pair of left and right joggers 31. The rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the supports 20, the support 20 is arranged between the stacking tray 3 and the jogger and stack means 30, the support 20 is located below the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 stacked on the support 20 is dropped and stacked on the stacking tray 3 by retreating the support 20. Therefore, the sheet bundle 110 can smoothly and quickly be dropped on the stacking tray 3. Additionally, the stacked sheet bundle 110 is not displaced by air because the air escapes from the leading end side to the rear end side of the sheet bundle 110 when the sheet bundle 110 is dropped.
The pair of left and right joggers 31 is arranged above the stacking tray 3, the support 20 is arranged between the stacking tray 3 and the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the support 20 is located below the pair of left and right joggers 31. Therefore, the support 20 is retreated to drop and stack the sheet bundle 100 on the stacking tray 3 in a short time, the next sheet 100 can be received by the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the receiving time can be shortened to improve the productivity.
The stapling means 40 is arranged on the right side of the apparatus body 2 while incorporated in the apparatus body 2, and the sheet bundle 110 jogged by the jogger and stack means 30 is stapled. In the stapling, a corner portion at a rear end of the jogged sheet bundle 110 is closed with a staple by a well-known method.
a) to 10(c) are views illustrating the jogger and stack state, and
Referring to
When the pair of left and right joggers 31 of the jogger and stack means 30 is located at the jogger and stack position, because the protrusion 33 formed in the slide lever 32 supporting the right jogger 31 is located at the position where the arm 34 is not actuated, the arm 34 does not depress the end portion 36a of the link 36 through the auxiliary lever 35, and the link 36 is not actuated. Therefore, the safety switch 37 is in an off state in which current is not passed, and the actuation of the stapling means 40 is prohibited.
Referring to
A control device 300 receives a command of the number of sheets 100 to be jogged from a control device of the image forming apparatus, drives the conveyance driving means 200, the support drive 201, the jogger driving means 202, and the jogger movement driving means 203, and performs shift stacking actuation and one-way stacking actuation in the case that the stapling is not performed and the shift stacking actuation and the one-way stacking actuation in the case that the stapling is performed.
[Shift Stacking Actuation in the Case that Stapling is not Performed]
The actuation in the case that the stapling is not performed will be described with reference to
After the right and left end faces of the sheet 100 are jogged, the right and left end faces of the sheet bundle 110 are moved rightward from the sheet discharge center position K1 while sandwiched by the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the sheet bundle 110 is moved to a stacking position K2 separated from the sheet discharge center position K1 by a distance L1 (Step a12).
At the stacking position K2, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is opened, the leading end side of the jogged sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, and only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the support 20. At this point, the support 20 is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 placed on the support 20 on the stacking tray 3 (Step a13). When the sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, the air escapes from the leading end side to the rear end side of the dropped sheet bundle 110. Therefore, the stacked sheet bundle 110 is not displaced by the air.
Then, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is moved to the sheet discharge center position K1, the right and left end faces of the next-sent sheet 100 are jogged by the actuation of the pair of left and right joggers 31 based on the sheet discharge center position K1, and the rear end side of the sheet 100 is supported by the support 20 located at the progressing position (Step a14).
After the right and left end faces of the sheet 100 are jogged, the right and left end faces of sheet bundle 110 are moved leftward from the sheet discharge center position K1 while sandwiched by the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the sheet bundle 110 is moved to a stacking position K3 separated from the sheet discharge center position K1 by a distance L2 (Step a15).
At the stacking position K3, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is opened, the leading end side of the jogged sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, and only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the support 20. At this point, the support 20 is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 placed on the support 20 on the stacking tray 3 (Step a16). When the sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, the air escapes from the leading end side to the rear end side of the dropped sheet bundle 110. Therefore, the stacked sheet bundle 110 is not displaced by the air.
Thus, the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K2, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3, and the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in the other of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K3, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3 are repeated, and the sheet bundle 110 is stacked on the stacking tray 3 while alternately displaced L3 (Step a17).
[One-Way Stacking Actuation in the Case that Stapling is not Performed]
Steps a11 to a13 described in the shift stacking actuation in the case that the stapling is not performed are repeatedly performed, but actuation from Step a14 is not performed. Thus, the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K2, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3 is repeated, and the sheet bundle 110 is stacked on the stacking tray 3 while not alternately displaced.
[Shift Stacking Actuation in the Case that Stapling is Performed]
The actuation in the case that the stapling is performed will be described with reference to
After the right and left end faces of the sheet 100 are jogged, the right and left end faces of the sheet bundle 110 are moved rightward from the sheet discharge center position K1 while sandwiched by the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the sheet bundle 110 is stapled at a stapling position K4 using the stapling means (Step a22). After the stapling, the right and left end faces of the sheet bundle 110 are moved leftward while sandwiched between the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the sheet bundle 110 is returned to the stacking position K2 (Step a23).
At the stacking position K2, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is opened, the leading end side of the stapled sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, and only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the support 20. At this point, the support 20 is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 placed on the support 20 on the stacking tray 3 (Step a24).
Then, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is moved to the sheet discharge center position K1, the right and left end faces of the next-sent sheet 100 are jogged by the actuation of the pair of left and right joggers 31 based on the sheet discharge center position K1, and the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is supported by the support 20 located at the progressing position (Step a25).
After the right and left end faces of the sheet 100 are jogged, the right and left end faces of sheet bundle 110 are moved rightward while sandwiched by the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the stapling means performs the stapling at the stapling position K4 (Step a26). After the stapling, the right and left end faces of the sheet bundle 110 are moved leftward while sandwiched between the pair of left and right joggers 31, and the sheet bundle 110 is returned to the stacking position K3 (Step a27).
At the stacking position K3, the pair of left and right joggers 31 is opened, the leading end side of the stapled sheet bundle 110 is dropped on the stacking tray 3, and only the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 is placed on the support 20. At this point, the support 20 is retreated to drop and stack the rear end portion of the sheet bundle 110 placed on the support 20 on the stacking tray 3 (Step a28).
Thus, the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, and staple the sheet bundle 110 at the stapling position K4 using the stapling means 40, the operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K2, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3, the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, and staple the sheet bundle 110 at the stapling position K4 using the stapling means 40, and the operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K3, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3 are repeated, and the sheet bundle 110 is stacked on the stacking tray 3 while alternately displaced L3 (Step a29).
[One-Way Stacking Actuation in the Case that Stapling is Performed]
Steps a21 to a24 described in the shift stacking actuation in the case that the stapling is performed are repeatedly performed, but the actuation from Step a25 is not performed. Thus, the operation to move the sheet bundle 110 in one of the horizontal directions while the sheet bundle 110 is jogged at the sheet discharge center position K1, and staple the sheet bundle 110 at the stapling position K4 using the stapling means 40, and the operation to move and open the pair of left and right joggers 31 at the stacking position K2, and retreat the support 20 to drop and stack the sheet bundle 110 on the stacking tray 3 are repeated, and the sheet bundle 110 is stacked on the stacking tray 3 while not alternately displaced.
The invention is applied to the sheet post-processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus such as the copying machine and the printer, the sheet bundle is stacked while not displaced, the stacking property of the sheet bundle is improved, and the sheet receiving time can be shortened to improve the productivity.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-148448 | Jul 2012 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2012/082733 | 12/18/2012 | WO | 00 |
