Patent Grant
10221031
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus configured to stack sheets which are sequentially conveyed.
Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a digital multifunction device, sheets having images formed thereon are sequentially delivered to a post-processing apparatus. The post-processing apparatus is configured to deliver the introduced sheets directly to a tray and stack the sheets on the tray, or perform various post-processing and stack the sheets on the tray.
Even when a sheet is not subjected to particular processing in the post-processing apparatus, application of heat to the sheet for the purpose of fixing toner in the image forming apparatus may cause the sheet to shrink unevenly, and particularly cause edges of the sheet to roll up and swell (in other words, the edges are curled). Further, steps of the post-processing may include, after aligning edges of conveyed sheets, stapling of saddle stitching, nipping the bound bundle of sheets with a pair of rollers to crease the bundle of sheets, delivering the creased bundle of sheets to a delivery tray, and stacking the bundle of sheets on the delivery tray. Then, when the center-folded sheets are sequentially delivered to the delivery tray, the sheets are introduced to the delivery tray with respective folded portions, which are bent portions, being the leading edges.
However, when the bundle of sheets is center-folded, the bundle of sheets may swell. In particular, such swelling may occur conspicuously at the folded edge of the bundle of sheets. Thus, there is a problem in that a stack height of the bundles of sheets readily exceeds a mechanical size limit of the delivery tray, and hence stacking a large number of the bundles of sheets is disabled, thereby degrading the stacking efficiency.
Thus, there has been known a sheet stacking apparatus having a configuration in which, when the bundles of sheets are to be stacked and received on the delivery tray, a receiving surface of the delivery tray configured to receive the bundles of sheets is inclined along a direction of introducing the bundles of sheets, and the stacked bundles of sheets are pressed by an arm (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-143466).
However, according to the related art disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-143466, when an area of the receiving surface of the delivery tray configured to stack the sheets thereon is sufficiently larger than a surface area of the sheets, there is a case where sheets subsequently introduced to a portion of the delivery tray having no sheet stacked thereon are moved, while sliding on the inclined receiving surface, to a portion having sheets stacked thereon. In such a case, there is a problem in that the subsequent sheets sliding on the inclined receiving surface hit the sheets having already been stacked.
The present invention provides a sheet stacking apparatus configured to allow sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit to be stacked on sheets placed on a second region of a stacking unit.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sheet stacking apparatus, comprising:
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Now, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, an image forming apparatus 100 to which a sheet stacking apparatus 160 according to the present invention is effectively applicable will be described.
As illustrated in
The sheet feeding portion 2 includes cassette mechanisms 2a, 2b, and 2c configured to receive sheets of a plurality of sizes to be subjected to image formation, respectively, and sends out sheets having a size designated by a main body controller (not shown) to a sheet feeding path 6. The cassette mechanisms 2a, 2b, and 2c are removably mounted in the sheet feeding portion 2, and each cassette mechanism includes a separating mechanism configured to separate sheets in the cassette mechanism into individual sheets and a sheet feeding mechanism configured to send out the sheets. On the sheet feeding path 6, there are provided conveyance rollers configured to feed sheets, which are fed from the respective cassette mechanisms 2a, 2b, and 2c, to downstream, and a registration roller pair. The registration roller pair is provided at an end of the sheet feeding path 6 and configured to correct skew feed of sheets.
Further, a large capacity cassette 2d and a manual feed tray 2e are connected to the sheet feeding path 6. The large capacity cassette 2d is an optional unit configured to receive sheets having a size which is consumed in large amounts. The manual feed tray 2e is configured to enable supply of special sheets, such as thick sheets, coated sheets, or film sheets, which are difficult to be separated and fed.
The image forming portion 3 is constructed by, for example, an electrostatic printing mechanism, and includes a photosensitive drum 9 to be rotated. At the periphery of the photosensitive drum 9, there are provided a light emitting unit 10 configured to emit an optical beam, a developing unit 11, and a cleaner (not shown). The image forming portion 3 having a monochromatic printing mechanism is illustrated in
Then, a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding path 6 to the image forming portion 3 at a timing of forming an image on the photosensitive drum 9, and the toner image is transferred onto the sheet by a transfer charger 12. The toner image is fixed on the sheet by a fixing roller 13 disposed on a sheet delivery path 14. On the sheet delivery path 14, there are arranged a sheet delivery roller 15 and a sheet delivery port 16 to convey the sheet to the sheet post-processing apparatus B described later.
The scanner unit A2 includes a platen 17 on which an original is placed, a carriage 18 configured to reciprocate along the platen 17, a photoelectric converter 19, and a reduction optical system 20 configured to guide light, which is radiated from the carriage 18 and reflected from the original placed on the platen 17, to the photoelectric converter 19. Further, the scanner unit A2 includes a running platen 21 and reads an image of an original, which is fed from the feeder unit A3, with the use of the carriage 18 and the reduction optical system 20. The photoelectric converter 19 is configured to convert optical output from the reduction optical system 20 into image data through photoelectric conversion and output the image data as an electric signal to the image forming portion 3.
The feeder unit A3 includes a feeding tray 22, a feeding path 23 configured to guide an original fed from feeding tray 22 to the running platen 21, and a delivery tray 24 configured to receive the original read through the running platen 21.
The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes a sheet carry-in path 28 to which a sheet from the carry-in port 26 is introduced, a first sheet delivery path 31, a second sheet delivery path 32, and a third sheet delivery path 30, which are formed to branch out from downstream of the sheet carry-in path 28, a first path-switching device 33, and a second path-switching device 34. The first path-switching device 33 is constructed by a flapper guide configured to change a sheet conveyance direction. The first path-switching device 33 is configured to be switched by a driving device (not shown) into a mode of guiding a sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the third sheet delivery path 30 and a mode of guiding the sheet to a direction toward the first sheet delivery path 31 or the second sheet delivery path 32.
The first sheet delivery path 31 and the second sheet delivery path 32 are arranged to communicate with each other so as to enable switch-back conveyance of reversing the conveyance direction of a sheet which has once been introduced to the first sheet delivery path 31 and introducing the sheet to the second sheet delivery path 32. The second path-switching device 34 is configured to be switched by a driving device (not shown) to a mode of introducing a sheet conveyed from the first path-switching device 33 to the first sheet delivery path 31 and a switch-back conveyance mode of introducing a sheet which has been introduced to the first sheet delivery path 31 to be further introduced to the second sheet delivery path 32. On the sheet carry-in path 28, there is arranged a punching unit 50 configured to form a punch hole in the conveyed sheet.
The sheet post-processing apparatus B includes a first processing unit B1 configured to align, stack, and bind sheets conveyed from the first sheet delivery path 31, a second processing unit B2 configured to perform book binding by bundling sheets conveyed from the second sheet delivery path 32 into a bundle of sheets and performing center folding on the bundle of sheets, and a third processing unit B3 configured to cause sheets conveyed from the third sheet delivery path 30 to be offset by a predetermined amount in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. On outside of the apparatus housing 27, there are arranged a first tray 49, a second tray 61, and a third tray 71 on which sheets or bundles of sheets having been subjected to post-processing by the first processing unit B1, the second processing unit B2, and the third processing unit B3 and conveyed therefrom, respectively are stacked.
The first processing unit B1 includes a processing tray 37 configured to align and stack sheets conveyed from the sheet delivery port 35 and a stapler unit 47 configured to perform binding on the stacked bundle of sheets. The processing tray 37 is provided below the sheet delivery port 35 of the first sheet delivery path 31. Sheets carried out from the sheet delivery port 35 are switched back in the sheet conveyance direction and introduced to the processing tray 37. Then, the sheets are positioned at a predetermined binding position on the processing tray 37 by a positioning mechanism and bound by the stapler unit 47. The bound bundle of sheets is delivered to the first tray 49 by a sheet bundle carry-out mechanism.
The third processing unit B3 is configured to perform jog-sorting of causing sheets conveyed to the third sheet delivery path 30 to be offset and sorted in the orthogonal direction, and deliver the sheets to the third tray 71.
The second processing unit B2 is configured to perform center folding on a bundle of sheets, and this center folding is closely related to the present invention. The second processing unit B2 is configured to align and stack sheets sequentially conveyed through the switch-back conveyance from the first sheet delivery path 31, perform binding on a center portion of the bundle of sheets, perform center folding on the bundle of sheets, and introduce the bundle of sheets to the second tray 61. Thus, the second tray 61 serves as a stacking unit configured to stack the center-folded bundle of sheets.
The second processing unit B2 includes a guide member 66 configured to stack sheets to form a bundle, a regulation stopper 67 configured to regulate leading edges of the sheets at a predetermined position on the guide member 66, to thereby position the sheets, a saddle stitching stapling unit 63 configured to perform binding on a center portion of the positioned bundle of sheets, a folding roller pair 64 configured to fold the bundle of sheets at a center portion thereof after the binding, a folding blade 65, and a pair of delivery rollers 69 configured to nip the center-folded bundle of sheets and deliver the center-folded bundle of sheets to the second tray 61.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-184324 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-051644, in a state in which a bundle of sheets is located between a head unit and an anvil unit, the saddle stitching stapling unit 63 causes the head unit and the anvil unit to move along a center portion (line) of the sheets and performs binding.
Further, during the center folding, the folding blade 65 is inserted, with intervention of a crease of the bundle of sheets, into a nip portion of the folding roller pair 64 held in pressure contact with each other, and the inserted bundle of sheets is folded by rotation of the folding roller pair 64. The pair of rollers constructing the folding roller pair 64 are each formed of a material having a relatively large friction coefficient, such as rubber. For example, using a soft material such as rubber enables accurate conveyance of the bundle of sheets in a rotational direction while folding the bundle of sheets. It is more preferred that the soft material such as rubber be subjected to lining.
An operation of the second processing unit B2 will be described. In response to a job termination signal from the image forming apparatus main body A, the sheets stacked on the guide member 66 are moved so that the center portion of the bundle of sheets is aligned with the saddle stitching stapling unit 63, and then the sheets are bound. After binding at one location or two locations has been completed, the bundle of sheets is moved to a folding position, and then the folding roller pair 64 is rotated. The folding blade 65 is caused to proceed in the folding direction, and then the folding blade 65 is retreated after the folding rollers 64 are rotated by a predetermined amount. After that, the center-folded bundle of sheets is passed to the pair of delivery rollers 69 and nipped therebetween. Rotation of the delivery rollers 69 causes the center-folded bundle of sheets to be delivered through a delivery port 62 of the pair of delivery rollers 69 to the second tray 61 of the sheet stacking apparatus 160. Thus, the pair of delivery rollers 69 constructs a conveyance unit configured to convey the bundle of sheets to the second tray 61.
The second tray (stacking unit) 61 has an upper surface configured to receive the conveyed bundle of sheets and inclined downward along a direction in which the bundle of sheets is introduced (conveyance direction). An engagement portion 68 which stands vertically is provided at a distal end of the second tray 61. The upper surface of the second tray 61 includes a first region 61a, which serves as an entry portion to which the bundle of sheets is introduced, and a second region 61b, which is located downstream of the first region 61a in the conveyance direction and stacks the conveyed bundle of sheets thereon. In the first region 61a, there is provided a guide member 59 configured to guide a subsequent bundle of sheets, which is conveyed subsequently to the bundle of sheets arranged on the second region 61b, over the bundle of sheets stacked on the second region 61b.
As illustrated in
Upper surfaces of the ribs 60 form a guide path configured to guide the bundle of sheets conveyed by the delivery rollers 69. The upper surfaces of the ribs 60 have a gradient which gradually declines along the conveyance direction of the bundle of sheets. However, the slope angle of the gradient is set to be smaller than the slope angle of the second tray 61, to thereby provide a step “d” between the rear end (the downstream end in the conveyance direction) of the rib 60 and the second region 61b. It is preferred that the shape of the guide path be formed so as to gradually more separate from the upper surface of the second tray 61 in a direction away from the upstream end of the guide path toward downstream along the conveyance direction of the sheets conveyed by the delivery rollers 69. The second tray 61 is inclined downward in the conveyance direction, and hence the heights of the ribs 60 on the side where the sheets are introduced can be set low, thereby being capable of stacking more sheets.
Above the second tray 61, there are provided a first pressing member 51 and a second pressing member 52, which are coupled to each other, and a third pressing member (pressing portion) 53. The first pressing member (upstream pressing portion) 51 and the second pressing member (upstream pressing portion) 52 press the bundle of sheets stacked on the second tray 61 upstream of the third pressing member 53 in the conveyance direction. The second pressing member 52 and the third pressing member 53 are supported in a pivotable manner by rotation shafts (pivot supporting points) 54 and 55, respectively. As illustrated in
The third pressing member 53 has a larger size in the longitudinal direction than the first and second pressing members 51 and 52 which are coupled to each other, and is supported by the rotation shaft 55 in a state of extending obliquely downward toward the upper surface of the second tray 61. Meanwhile, the first and second pressing members 51 and 52 are mounted so as to be suspended by a biasing member such as a weight (not shown) in the substantially vertical direction toward the upper surface of the second tray 61. Thus, the stack height when the first pressing member 51 presses the sheets stacked on the upper surface in the second region 61b of the second tray 61 is set to be lower than the stack height when the second pressing member 52 presses the sheets.
When the bundle of sheets 56 is nipped by the pair of delivery rollers 69 and delivered through the delivery port 62, a folded portion as a leading edge of the bundle of sheets 56 is first brought into abutment against the upper surfaces of the ribs 60 of the guide member 59 and moved toward the second region 61b while sliding on the gradient of the guide path on the upper surface. Then, the bundle of sheets 56 is moved over the second region 61b while pushing away the first and second pressing members 51 and 52, aligned by the engagement portion 68 of the second tray 61, and then stacked on the second tray 61.
The downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the sheet conveyance direction are arranged between the first and second pressing members 51 and 52 and the third pressing member 53. The first and second pressing members 51 and 52 are arranged upstream of the downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the sheet conveyance direction, and mounted so as to be suspended in the substantially vertical direction toward the upper surface of the second tray 61, thereby being capable of securely guiding the bundle of sheets 56 to the upper surface of the ribs 60 of the guide member 59.
Further, the downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the sheet conveyance direction and the position of the first pressing member 51 in the sheet conveyance direction are arranged close to each other. With this, opening of the open edge of the bundle of sheets 56 stacked on the downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the sheet conveyance direction can be suppressed.
Then, when the bundle of sheets 56a reaches the rear ends (downstream ends) of the ribs 60 in the conveyance direction, the bundle of sheets 56a is introduced to the second region 61b from a high position of the step “d”, and hence the bundle of sheets 56a is guided over the bundle of sheets 56 stacked on the second region 61b. With this, occurrence of hitting sound caused by a leading edge of the bundle of sheets 56a hitting the bundle of sheets 56 and alignment failure at the time of sheet jamming or sheet stacking can be prevented. Further, even when the open edge of the bundle of sheets 56 is opened to some extent due to insufficient center folding on the stacked bundle of sheets 56, entry of the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a between sheets of the bundle of sheets 56 can also be prevented.
In the sheet stacking apparatus 160, the guide member 59 is provided in the first region 61a on the entry side of the second tray 61, and the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a is guided by the guide member 59 over the bundle of sheets 56 stacked on the second region 61b on the downstream side of the second tray 61, thereby being capable of stacking the bundles of sheets in the aligned state.
In the embodiment, the guide member 59 comprises the pair of ribs 60. However, the guide member 59 may comprise one rib or three or more ribs. In the case where one rib is provided, it is necessary to set the width size of the rib in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction to be substantially equal to the width size of the bundle of sheets 56 having the smallest width size.
Further, the material of the rib is also not limited to the material same as that of the second tray 61, and bent wires may be mounted on the upper surface of the first region 61a. In the case of a bundle of sheets having a large size in the conveyance direction and extending from the second region 61b to the first region 61a when the bundle of sheets is stacked on the second tray 61, the bundle of sheets is stacked also on the guide member 59. When such a bundle of sheets having a large size is to be processed, constructing the guide member 59 with the wires gives elasticity to the guide member 59, and hence the guide member 59 is flexed by the weight of a group of stacked bundles of sheets 56, thereby producing the effect of increasing the stackable number of sheets.
Further, other than the configuration of allowing the bundle of sheets to slide and move utilizing the shape of the guide member 59, the guide member 59 may comprise, for example, a lever (not shown) configured to move in and out upward from the upper surface of the second tray 61 at the positions of the downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the sheet conveyance direction. The lever (not shown) is moved in and out by a spring member or a driving device (not shown) such as a solenoid motor.
The lever may stand by with its distal end located at a height position equal to or lower than that of the upper surface of the tray 61, and be caused to project at the timing when a leading edge of the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a to be conveyed passes above the lever, to thereby guide the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a over the bundle of sheets 56 stacked on the second region 61b.
Further, a hole may be formed in the upper surface of the second tray 61 at a position which is the same as the position of the lever and is located at the downstream ends of the ribs 60 in the conveyance direction, and a fan may be provided in the second tray 61, to thereby send air from the fan through the hole to blow the air upward. As in the lever described above, the fan can be rotated at the timing when the leading edge of the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a to be conveyed passes above the hole, to thereby guide the subsequent bundle of sheets 56a over the bundle of sheets 56 stacked on the second region 61b.
According to the embodiment, sheets which are sequentially introduced can be securely stacked in the aligned state on the predetermined region of the stacking unit. Sheets which are subsequently conveyed are guided by the guide member over a rear edge of the sheets having already been stacked on the stacking unit, thereby being capable of preventing occurrence of jamming or stack alignment failure due to the subsequent sheets hitting the sheets having already been stacked.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-177132, filed Sep. 9, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-177132 | Sep 2015 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7862015 | Kotani | Jan 2011 | B2 |
| 20060180999 | Suzuki et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20080099973 | Kotani | May 2008 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-143466 | Jun 2006 | JP |
| 2008-184324 | Aug 2008 | JP |
| 2009-051644 | Mar 2009 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170066616 A1 | Mar 2017 | US |
