JP2004059292A - Sheet alignment apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to return a slide guide to a predetermined position and perform accurate sheet alignment even when a slide guide for performing sheet alignment is deviated from a predetermined position.
In a sheet processing apparatus that aligns sheets using slide guides that can move to respective positions in a sheet width direction, the slide guides perform a standby position and a sheet alignment when a sheet is carried in. The position can be moved to an alignment position and a home position which is an initial position. For example, slit portions 301S1 and 301S2 having different widths in the sheet width direction are provided at different positions in the guide moving direction, and the slit portions 301S1 and 301S2 are used. A photo sensor 316 for switching a detection signal is provided, and the slide guides 301 and 302 are moved to the predetermined positions based on the detection signal of the photo sensor 316.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet aligning apparatus that aligns a sheet by a guide member that can move in a width direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet aligning apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a printer includes a sheet processing apparatus that discharges a plurality of sheets on which an image has been formed (printed) by performing processing such as stapling (stapling) while aligning respective ends. There is something. It is very important for such a sheet processing apparatus to align the sheet bundle before performing the processing operation, and the alignment operation in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction has been sent to the first stacking unit. Means are known in which the slide guides on both sides in the width direction of the sheets or one of the slide guides move to push the stacked sheets to perform alignment.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, due to variations in size between sheets of the same size, the slide guide may not be able to sufficiently align a sheet touching in the direction of smaller size.
[0004]
On the other hand, if the moving width of the slide guide is set with a margin for the sheet size to overcome the above-described problem, particularly when aligning thick sheets such as thick paper, a drive source for driving the slide guide is required. Step-out may occur and the position of the slide guide may shift.
[0005]
Further, when the position of the slide guide is shifted due to an external impact or the like, if the alignment operation is performed as it is, there may be a problem that accurate sheet alignment cannot be performed.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to move a slide guide for performing sheet alignment to a predetermined position even when the slide guide is displaced from a predetermined position. To perform accurate sheet alignment.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A typical configuration of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a first guide member on a sheet pushing side movable to respective positions in a width direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction and a second guide member on a sheet abutting side. In the sheet aligning apparatus for aligning sheets by the guide members, the first and second guide members are standby positions at the time of carrying in a sheet having an interval larger than the width of the sheet carried between the guide members. After the sheet is loaded, the first guide member is moved to the loaded sheet side, and the second position, which is the alignment position where the sheet is aligned by abutting the sheet against the second guide member, is turned on. The third position, which is the initial position to be moved at the time and located outside the first position in the sheet width direction, is movable in the sheet width direction. Are provided at different positions in the direction of movement of the second guide member, and a detection means for switching a detection signal by the detection part is provided. Based on the detection signal of the detection means, the first And moving the second guide member to the predetermined position.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, at the time of the initial operation, the guide member reliably stops at the third position, which is the initial position. Further, even if the guide member is displaced from a predetermined position due to an external impact after the initial operation, the guide member returns to the predetermined position, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed. Further, sheet alignment can be performed reliably regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet. Further, even when the drive source of the guide member goes out of synchronization, the guide member can immediately correct the position and continue the alignment operation without causing the alignment failure.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a sheet processing apparatus (including a sheet aligning unit) mounted on an image forming apparatus represented by a laser beam printer will be described as an example.
[0010]
[First Embodiment]
First, a configuration and a series of operations of a printer main body and a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall configuration of a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a printer main body as an image forming apparatus, which is independently connected to a computer or connected to a network such as a LAN, and based on image information and a print signal transmitted from the computer or the network, a predetermined number. Is an apparatus for forming (printing) an image on a sheet by the image forming process described above and discharging the sheet.
[0013]
On the other hand, the sheet processing apparatus 300 loads the sheet discharged from the printer main body 100 outside the apparatus onto the first sheet stacking unit in a face-down state with the image side down via a transport unit in the sheet processing apparatus. The sheets are aligned by the aligning means, the sheets are bundled for each predetermined job, and one or more of the sheets are stapled and discharged and stacked on the stacking section 325 of the sheet processing apparatus, or the sheet processing is performed simply face down. This is a device for discharging and loading on the loading section 325 of the device.
[0014]
Here, the sheet processing apparatus 300 and the printer main body 100 are electrically connected by a cable connector (not shown). Further, the sheet processing apparatus 300 has a casing section 300A for storing each section, and is detachable from an apparatus main body 100A of the printer main body 100 described later.
[0015]
Next, the configuration of each part of the printer main body 100 will be described along the transport path of the conveyed sheet S.
[0016]
In the printer body 100, a plurality of sheets S are stacked in the feeding cassette 200, and the uppermost sheet among these is separated and fed one by one by various rollers. In accordance with a predetermined print signal supplied from a computer or a network, the sheet S fed from the feed cassette 200 is subjected to image forming for forming a toner image by a so-called laser beam type image forming process in the printer main body 100. The toner image is transferred onto the upper surface of the sheet by the unit 101, and subsequently the toner image is permanently fixed by applying heat and pressure to the fixing device 120 on the downstream side.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet S on which the image has been fixed is turned over in a substantially U-shaped sheet conveyance path up to the discharge roller 130, so that the image surface is inverted and the image surface is lower. In this state, the sheet is discharged face-down from the printer body 100 to the outside by the discharge roller 130. Here, when the position of the flapper 150 of the printer main body 100 is determined based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown), the sheet S is subjected to face-down (FD) discharge provided at the upper part of the printer main body 100. Whether the sheet is to be discharged to the sheet discharging unit 125 or the sheet discharging unit (stacking unit) 325 of the sheet processing apparatus 300 is selected.
[0018]
Next, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 300 and the movement of each unit when the sheet S conveyed by the discharge roller 130 is directed to the sheet processing apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the discharge roller 130 and the sheet processing apparatus 300, and FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet processing apparatus 300 taken along line AA in FIG. 3 (b) shows a BB cross section of FIG. 3 (a).
[0019]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 330a denotes an upper discharge roller, 330b denotes a lower discharge roller, M denotes a jogger motor as a driving source, 322 denotes a paddle, and 323 denotes a reference wall for abutting the rear end of the sheet.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2, a roller pair 330 including a discharge upper roller 330a and a discharge lower roller 330b is disposed above the flapper 150 on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown). You.
[0021]
The upper discharge roller 330a is supported by an arm 331 that is rotatable about a paddle shaft 350.
[0022]
The jogger motor M is a drive source for driving slide guides 301 and 302 as guide members described later, and in this embodiment, a stepping motor is used.
[0023]
The paddles 322 are made of a flexible material such as rubber, and are fixed to the paddle shaft 350 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. When the paddle shaft 350 is driven and rotated clockwise in FIG. 2, the sheet S is moved in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction, and the end surface (rear end) of the sheet S is brought into contact with the reference wall 323 to thereby perform the sheet conveying direction. Perform the matching.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, in the sheet processing apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, a slide guide R301 and a slide guide L302, which will be described in detail later, are used as guide members for performing alignment in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. Is provided. The slide guide R301 is a first guide member on the sheet pushing side, and the slide guide L302 is a second guide member on the sheet abutting side.
[0025]
In the sheet processing apparatus 300, when performing staple processing based on a command output in advance from a computer or the like, before the sheet S to be stapled is discharged by the discharge roller 130, a link (not shown) is operated by a solenoid (not shown). 2 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and stops at the position shown in FIG. 2A by contacting the stopper, whereby the paper path is switched to the sheet processing apparatus 300. .
[0026]
As a result, the sheet S is carried into the entrance 390 of the sheet processing apparatus 300 by the pair of rollers (fixing device) 120 provided in the printer main body 100.
[0027]
The sheet S conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 300 is detected by rotating the flag 361 of the entrance sensor 360 clockwise and transmitting the photo sensor 362 with the flag 361. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed upward by the pair of entrance rollers 363.
[0028]
The sheet processing apparatus 300 is capable of stapling and discharging and stacking the sheet on the stacking unit 325 of the sheet processing apparatus, and simply stacking the sheet on the stacking unit 325 face-down.
[0029]
First, the operation of discharging and stacking the sheet on the stacking unit 325 of the sheet processing apparatus face down will be described with reference to FIG.
[0030]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the sheet processing apparatus 300, the bottom surfaces of the right slide guide R301 and the left slide guide L302 with respect to the sheet carrying direction do not come into contact with the incoming sheet S. The sheet S is retracted to a position, that is, a position outside by a predetermined amount from the length in the width direction of the sheet S, and the sheet S is directly conveyed to the stacking unit 325 of the sheet processing apparatus.
[0031]
The sheet conveyed by the pair of entrance rollers 363 passes through the staple roller pair 320, passes through the frontage of the stapler H serving as a binding unit, is conveyed by the pair of discharge rollers 330, and is fed to the sheet discharge unit (stacking unit) of the sheet processing apparatus. ) 325.
[0032]
Next, an operation of stapling and discharging and stacking the sheets on the stacking unit 325 of the sheet processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
[0033]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the sheet processing apparatus 300, the reference plate R303 and the reference plate L304 provided on the wall surfaces of the right slide guide R301 and the left slide guide L302 with respect to the sheet loading direction. The sheet S is retracted to a position outside by a predetermined amount from the length in the width direction of the sheet S so as not to interfere with the incoming sheet S. The interval between the end faces of the bottom surface of the slide guide is located at a position smaller than the width of the sheet S, and waits for the sheet S to enter. This position is referred to as a standby position (first position).
[0034]
The sheet conveyed by the pair of entrance rollers 363 passes through the frontage of the stapler H after passing through the pair of staple rollers 320, and is conveyed by the pair of discharge rollers 330 to be formed by the slide guide R301 and the slide guide L302. The sheet is conveyed onto the guide surface of the first sheet stacking unit 300B.
[0035]
Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, the guide surface of the first sheet stacking unit 300B is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, and mutually upstream and downstream in the sheet loading direction. The angle of inclination is different, and specifically, a bent portion 300C that bends at an angle of inclination α between a predetermined section on the upstream side and a predetermined section on the downstream side is formed. The guide surface of the first sheet stacking portion 300B has such a bent portion 300C to prevent the central portion of the sheet S that is not guided by the slide guides 301 and 302 from bending.
[0036]
Immediately after the first sheet is conveyed on the surface formed by the slide guide R301 and the slide guide L302, the discharge upper roller 330a pivotally supported by the arm 331 is rotated by the arm 331 rotating counterclockwise. When the discharge roller pair 330 is separated upward, the drive connected to the discharge roller pair 330 is cut off at the same time, and the rotation of the discharge upper roller 330a and the discharge lower roller 330b is stopped.
[0037]
When the trailing end of the sheet S completely passes through the staple roller pair 320, the sheet returns by its own weight in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, and moves in the direction of the reference wall 323.
[0038]
Next, only the left slide guide L302 operates to start the alignment operation in the width direction of each sheet stacked on the first sheet stacking unit 300B. Specifically, when the slide guide L302 is driven by the motor M and the slide guide L302 moves rightward in FIG. 3, the reference plate L304 provided on the slide guide L302 comes into contact with the left side surface of the sheet S and the slide guide L302. The sheet S is pushed into the R301 side. Then, the right side of the sheet S abuts against the reference plate R303 provided on the slide guide R301 and the reference plate R303B provided near the stapler, so that the alignment of each sheet in the width direction is performed. The position where the sheet S abuts on the reference plates R303 and R303B and is aligned so that the sheet S moves to the set staple position is defined as an alignment position (second position). Note that the slide guide R301 is stopped at a certain position when the slide guide L302 is operating in the range from the standby position to the alignment position. Therefore, the sheet abutting position is a uniform position regardless of the sheet size.
[0039]
Here, the configuration of the slide guide will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the configuration of the slide guide showing the AA cross section of FIG. 4 and 5 are views for explaining the operation of the slide guide.
[0040]
Each of the slide guides 301 and 302 is guided by a total of four guide pins 313a provided on the mold frame and guide pins 313b provided on the sheet metal frame. The jogger motor M is capable of reciprocating in the orthogonal width direction (sheet width direction), and is moved by transmission of a driving force from the jogger motor M.
[0041]
When viewed from the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction, the slide guides 301 and 302 include, as shown in FIG. 3B, wall portions for guiding both sides of the sheet S and support portions for supporting the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet S. As a result, each of the sheets discharged onto the first sheet stacking portion 300B is supported by the lower surface of the U-shape, and the center of the sheet S in the width direction is not guided. It has a configuration.
[0042]
The slide guide L302 is provided with a slide rack L310 having a flat gear that meshes with the step gear 317. On the other hand, a slide rack R312 having a flat gear that meshes with the step gear 317 is also attached to the slide guide R301. Here, the slide rack R312 is provided so as to be relatively movable with respect to the slide guide R301 via a coiled spring 314. Here, one end of the spring 314 contacts the slide guide R301, and the other end of the spring 314 contacts the slide rack R312, and biases the slide guide R301 and the slide rack R312 in a direction of expanding. The slide rack R312 has an embossed portion 312a for moving the square hole 301a on the slide guide R301 side.
[0043]
One reference plate R303 is provided on the side wall of the slide guide R301, one reference plate R303B is provided near the stapler, and one reference plate R304 is provided on the side wall of the slide guide L302. As will be described later, the slide guide L302 moves, and the reference plate L304 and the reference plates R303, R303B abut on both side end surfaces 305, 306 of the sheet.
[0044]
Further, the slide guide R301 and the slide guide L302 are supported in the height direction by the step gear 317 and the jog sheet metal frame.
[0045]
3 to 5, reference numeral H denotes a stapler as a binding means for stapling a sheet. The stapler H is fixedly arranged on the slide guide R301 side in order to perform stapling on the upper left corner of the image surface of the sheet on which an image is formed and to bind each sheet.
[0046]
After the sheet guides are aligned in the sheet width direction by the slide guides 301 and 302 as shown in FIG. 4, both slide guides are retracted slightly outward, and the regulation of the sheet S in the width alignment direction is made rough, and the sheet S is conveyed. Make it movable in the direction. This position is referred to as a rough position (fourth position). The fourth position, the rough position, is located between the standby position, which is the first position, and the alignment position, which is the second position. Thereafter, in the rough position, as shown in FIG. 6B, the paddle 322 as a paddle member makes one clockwise rotation around the paddle shaft 350, and the paddle 322 comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet S. By abutting the sheet S against the reference wall 323, the end of the sheet in the transport direction is aligned.
[0047]
These operations enable alignment in the sheet conveying direction and the sheet width direction. In order to maintain the aligned state, a lever provided with a friction member moves vertically in the vicinity of the right end face of the aligned sheet as shown in FIG. The lever presses the upper surface of the sheet after the aligning operation is completed and before the next entering sheet comes into contact with the aligned sheet. Prevents moving the aligned sheet.
[0048]
After the alignment operation, the slide guide L302 moves in a direction wider than the width of the sheet S so that the standby position can cope with the conveyance of the next sheet again.
[0049]
Subsequently, the second and subsequent sheets will be described. When the second and subsequent sheets are conveyed, the discharge roller pair 330 is separated, so that when the rear end of the sheet S completely passes through the staple roller pair 320, the sheet returns to the direction opposite to the conveyance direction by its own weight, and It moves in the direction of the wall 323. The matching operation from here is completely the same as that of the first sheet, and the description is omitted.
[0050]
Such an operation is repeated to perform an operation of aligning the last (n-th) sheet (Sn) of one job, and when the sheet (Sn) is abutted against the reference wall 323 by the paddle 322, the slide guide is rough again. The reference plate L304 provided on the slide guide L302 abuts the left side of the sheet against the reference plate R303 of the slide guide R301 and the reference plate R303B provided near the stapler. In the state of FIG. 4 in which the movement of the sheet bundle is stopped, a small stapler H located on the right rear end of the sheet bundle staples the right rear end position.
[0051]
According to this configuration and operation, during the alignment operation of each sheet, the slide guide R301 stops at the reference position and does not move, only the slide guide L302 moves, and the left end of each sheet is aligned with the reference position. The stapler H fixedly arranged on the side of the slide guide R301 performs the binding process accurately and reliably. Furthermore, even when the width of each sheet carried in one job varies, or even when the sheet size changes from LTR to A4 in one job, the position of the left end of each sheet remains constant. Since they are aligned, the finish of the binding process by the stapler H is accurate and beautiful, and excellent effects can be obtained.
[0052]
In the first embodiment, when the stapling operation is completed in this way, as shown in FIG. 6C, the arm 331 is rotated clockwise, so that the upper discharge roller 330a supported by the arm 331 is rotated. Moves downward to form the discharge roller pair 330, and at the same time, connects the drive to both rollers of the discharge roller pair 330 to start rotation of the upper discharge roller 330a and the lower discharge roller 330b.
[0053]
By this operation, the sheet bundle S is nipped by the upper discharge roller 330a and the lower discharge roller 330b, and is conveyed onto the surface formed by the slide guides R301 and L302.
[0054]
When the sheet bundle S is completely discharged from the discharge roller pair 330, the slide guide L302 moves in the direction in which the slide guide L302 spreads from the state shown in FIG. At the start of the movement of the slide guide L302, on the slide guide R301 side, the slide rack 312 moves to the right in FIG. 4, and the slide guide R301 itself does not immediately move.
[0055]
Then, when the position of the slide guide L302 passes through the standby position shown in FIG. 3, the embossed portion 312a of the slide rack 312 comes into contact with the end surface of the square hole 301a of the slide guide R301, and the slide guide R301 moves to the right side in FIG. The movement starts, and both slide guides 301 and 302 move.
[0056]
Further, when the interval between the supported slide guides 301 and 302 becomes close to or greater than the width of the sheet, the stapled sheet bundle S is, as shown in FIGS. This falls down and is referred to as an evacuation position. As a result, the sheet bundle S falls to the stacking unit 325 of the sheet processing apparatus and is stacked.
[0057]
The above is the configuration and a series of operations of the printer body and the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0058]
Next, control and configuration of the slide guide according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0059]
The operation control of the slide guides 301 and 302 will be described in detail. When power is supplied to the sheet processing apparatus 300, the staple roller pair 320 driven by the driving motor starts rotating as shown in FIG. 7, and then the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates. Then, the slide rack 310 of the slide guide L302 is driven and retracts outward. When the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates, first, the slide rack 312 relatively moves, and the embossed portion 312a of the slide rack 312 comes into contact with the right end surface of the square hole portion 301a of the slide guide R301. After being in contact, it is retracted outward by being pressed by the embossed portion 312a.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 7, the slide guide R301 is provided with concave slit portions 301S1 and 301S2 (slit width: B), which are detection portions having different widths in the sheet width direction, at different positions in the guide moving direction. When the portion 301S1 overlaps with the photosensor 316 as the detecting means and advances by a predetermined amount A after transmitting light, the jogger motor M stops. This stop position is the home position (third position). Here, for example, when the position of the slide guide R301 is at the position as shown in FIG. 8A when the power is turned on, the photo sensor 316 moves the slit portion 301S2 as shown in FIG. Detects light transmission. However, in the control according to the present embodiment, the slide guide R301 is set so as to continue to move if the light is changed to the light shielding within a predetermined amount A (A> B) after light transmission. Then, as described above, the jogger motor M stops when the slit portion 301S1 overlaps with the photosensor 316 and transmits a predetermined amount A after transmitting light. That is, the slide guides 301 and 302 stop at the home position as shown in FIG.
[0061]
Therefore, in the first stage, the slide guide is reliably stopped at the same home position regardless of the position of the slide guide.
[0062]
Further, in the present embodiment, even when the slide guide is moved by the user after the initial operation and the photo sensor 316 comes to a position where the light is blocked, the above operation is repeated again by detecting this. Therefore, even when the slide guide is displaced by an external impact, the slide guide can be immediately returned to a correct position by the above-described operation, and an accurate alignment operation can be performed.
[0063]
When a signal that the sheet S enters the sheet processing apparatus 300 is input from the printer main body 100 to the sheet processing apparatus 300, the jogger motor M rotates, and the slide guides R301 and L302 move to the home positions shown in FIG. 3 (b) and 9 (b), and stops at a position wider than the width of the entering sheet S by a predetermined amount D, at the above-described standby position. In this position, the stopper 301b of the slide guide R301, which is the guide member on the sheet abutting side, comes into contact with the end surface 313c of the guide pin 313a, and cannot move further inward. The standby position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward from the home position by a predetermined amount E. In this position, the distance from the right end of the slit portion 301S2 to the sensor edge of the photo sensor 316 is F. Thus, the photo sensor 316 detects light shielding.
[0064]
In this standby position, the side surface of the slide guide R301 is the reference position during the alignment operation.
[0065]
In the present embodiment, the standby positions of the slide guides R301 and L302 are set such that the gaps on both sides are G when the size (width) of the sheet S is the maximum size that can be passed. I have.
[0066]
Next, the operation from the standby position to the alignment position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward by a fixed amount H from the standby position, as shown in FIG.
[0067]
Generally, an error in the width direction of the sheet S has an error of about ± 2 [mm] between lots of the same sheet.
[0068]
In this embodiment, the width I of the reference plate L304 and the reference plate R303 (and the reference plate R303B) at the alignment position in the width direction is slightly smaller than the regular size (length in the width direction) J of the aligned sheets. (JI> 2). Thus, the sheet S can be reliably pushed and aligned by the reference plate L304 regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet.
[0069]
The subsequent operations from the alignment position → the rough position → the standby position are performed as shown in FIG. 11 (a) → FIG. 11 (b) → FIG. 11 (c). It is controlled as a position to move outward by a fixed amount K and L from the alignment position shown (H = K + L).
[0070]
However, in the case where the sheet S is set in a direction to be pushed in more than the regular width J of the sheet S as in the present embodiment, in the case of a thick sheet such as a cardboard that is touched in the direction in which the sheet size increases, the sheet is not shown in FIG. ), The slide guide L302 cannot move inward, and the jogger motor M may step out slightly.
[0071]
In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the slide guide L302 did not advance inward due to the loss of synchronism, and thus advanced only inward by a distance M from the standby position (M <H). Has not reached. In control, since this position is determined to be the original matching position that has advanced inward from the standby position by the distance H, the slide guide L302 moves to the next position (→ rough position → standby position) in the next operation (→ rough position → standby position). From the matching position), as described above (→ constant amount K → constant amount L). Therefore, the standby position is shifted by the amount by which the alignment position is shifted from the original position, and the standby position is operated at the shifted position throughout the subsequent operation, and a sufficient alignment operation cannot be realized.
[0072]
In order to prevent such a situation, the following control is performed in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13 (a), when the alignment position deviates from the original alignment position by F or more due to the step-out of the jogger motor M, when it comes to the standby position by a specified operation thereafter, the outer side of the original standby position. Since the slide guide comes, the slide guide R301 moves outward by an amount F shifted outward. At this time, the photo sensor 316 overlaps the slit portion 301S2 and detects light transmission. If the photo sensor 316 detects light transmission when the slide guide comes to the standby position in this way, it is determined that the standby position is shifted outward, and the slide guide starts moving inward. After the photo sensor 316 detects the switching from the light transmission to the light shielding, the control is set so as to switch to the control of moving and stopping by the displacement amount F described above. As a result, even if the standby position also shifts due to the shift of the matching position, it is possible to immediately return to the correct standby position.
[0073]
Therefore, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism due to a variation in the size of the sheet to be aligned, the subsequent alignment operation can be continued without causing an alignment failure.
[0074]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the slide guide reliably stops at the home position, which is the initial position, at the time of the initial operation. Further, even if the slide guide is deviated from a predetermined position due to an external impact after the initial operation, the slide guide returns to the predetermined position, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed. Further, sheet alignment can be performed reliably regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet. Further, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism, the slide guide can immediately correct the position and continue the alignment operation without causing an alignment failure.
[0075]
[Second embodiment]
Next, control and configuration of the slide guide according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0076]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, details of the operation control of each slide guide 301, 302 will be described. When power is supplied to the sheet processing apparatus 300, as shown in FIG. 14, the staple roller pair 320 driven by the drive motor starts rotating, and then the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates. Then, the slide rack 310 of the slide guide L302 is driven and retracts outward. When the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates, first, the slide rack 312 relatively moves, and the embossed portion 312a of the slide rack 312 comes into contact with the right end surface of the square hole portion 301a of the slide guide R301. After being in contact, it is retracted outward by being pressed by the embossed portion 312a.
[0077]
As shown in FIG. 14, the slide guide R301 is provided with convex flag portions 301F1 and 301F2 (flag width: B), which are detection portions having different widths in the sheet width direction, at different positions in the guide moving direction. When the flag unit 301F1 overlaps with the photo sensor 316 as the detecting means and proceeds by a predetermined amount A after light shielding, the jogger motor M stops. This stop position is the home position. Here, for example, when the position of the slide guide R301 is at the position as shown in FIG. 15A when the power is turned on, the photo sensor 316 sets the flag unit 301F2 as shown in FIG. Also, it detects the light blocking. However, in the control according to the present embodiment, the slide guide R301 is set so as to continue to move if the light is changed to light transmission within a predetermined amount A (A> B) after the light is blocked. As described above, the jogger motor M stops when the flag unit 301F1 overlaps with the photo sensor 316 and proceeds a predetermined amount A after light shielding. That is, the slide guides 301 and 302 stop at the home position as shown in FIG.
[0078]
Therefore, in the first stage, the slide guide is reliably stopped at the same home position regardless of the position of the slide guide.
[0079]
Further, in the present embodiment, even when the slide guide is moved by the user after the initial operation and the photo sensor 316 comes to a position where the light is transmitted, the above operation is repeated again by detecting this. Therefore, even if the slide guide is displaced due to an external impact, the slide guide immediately returns to the correct position by the above-described operation, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed.
[0080]
When a signal that the sheet S enters the sheet processing apparatus 300 is input from the printer main body 100 to the sheet processing apparatus 300, the jogger motor M rotates, and the slide guides R301 and L302 move to the home positions shown in FIG. 16B, and stops at a position wider than the width of the entering sheet S by a predetermined amount D (see FIG. 3B), that is, at the above-described standby position. In this position, the stopper 301b of the slide guide R301, which is the guide member on the sheet abutting side, comes into contact with the end surface 313c of the guide pin 313a, and cannot move further inward. This standby position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward from the home position by a predetermined amount E. In this position, the distance from the right end of the flag portion 301F2 to the sensor edge of the photo sensor 316 is F. Thus, the photo sensor 316 detects light shielding.
[0081]
In this standby position, the side surface of the slide guide R301 is the reference position during the alignment operation.
[0082]
In the present embodiment, the standby positions of the slide guides R301 and L302 are set such that the gaps on both sides are G when the size (width) of the sheet S is the maximum size that can be passed. I have.
[0083]
Next, the operation from the standby position to the alignment position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward by a fixed amount H from the standby position, as shown in FIG.
[0084]
Generally, an error in the width direction of the sheet S has an error of about ± 2 [mm] between lots of the same sheet.
[0085]
In this embodiment, the width I of the reference plate L304 and the reference plate R303 (and the reference plate R303B) at the alignment position in the width direction is slightly smaller than the regular size (length in the width direction) J of the aligned sheets. (JI> 2). Thus, the sheet S can be reliably pushed and aligned by the reference plate L304 regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet.
[0086]
The subsequent operations from the alignment position → the rough position → the standby position are performed as shown in FIG. 18 (a) → FIG. 18 (b) → FIG. 18 (c), respectively. The positions are controlled to move outward by a fixed amount K and a fixed amount L from the alignment positions shown (H = K + L).
[0087]
However, in the case where the sheet S is set to be pushed in a direction smaller than the regular width J of the sheet S as in the present embodiment, in the case of a thick sheet such as cardboard that touches in the direction of increasing the sheet size, the sheet is not shown in FIG. ), The slide guide L302 cannot move inward, and the jogger motor M may step out slightly.
[0088]
In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 19 (b), the slide guide L302 does not advance inward due to the loss of synchronism, and therefore advances only inward by a distance M from the standby position (M <H). Has not reached. In control, since this position is determined to be the original matching position that has advanced inward by the distance H from the standby position, the slide guide L302 moves to the next position (→ rough position → standby position) by the slide guide L302. From the matching position), as described above (→ constant amount K → constant amount L). Therefore, the standby position is shifted by the amount by which the alignment position is shifted from the original position, and the standby position is operated at the shifted position throughout the subsequent operation, and a sufficient alignment operation cannot be realized.
[0089]
In order to prevent such a situation, the following control is performed in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 20 (a), when the alignment position deviates from the original alignment position by F or more due to the step-out of the jogger motor M, when it comes to the standby position by a specified operation thereafter, it is located outside the original standby position. Since the slide guide comes, the slide guide R301 moves outward by an amount F shifted outward. At this time, the photo sensor 316 overlaps the flag section 301F2 and detects light shielding. If the photo sensor 316 detects light blocking when the slide guide comes to the standby position, the standby position is determined to be shifted outward, and the slide guide starts moving inward. After the photosensor 316 detects the switch from light-shielding to light-transmitting, it is set to switch to the control of moving and stopping by the above-described shift amount F. As a result, even if the standby position also shifts due to the shift of the matching position, it is possible to immediately return to the correct standby position.
[0090]
Therefore, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism due to a variation in the size of the sheet to be aligned, the subsequent alignment operation can be continued without causing an alignment failure.
[0091]
In the present embodiment, as compared with the first embodiment, only the flag portion detected by the photosensor needs to be provided with a thickness on the slide guide R, so that the volume of the material can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.
[0092]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the slide guide reliably stops at the home position, which is the initial position, at the time of the initial operation. Further, even if the slide guide is deviated from a predetermined position due to an external impact after the initial operation, the slide guide returns to the predetermined position, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed. Further, sheet alignment can be performed reliably regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet. Further, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism, the slide guide can immediately correct the position and continue the alignment operation without causing an alignment failure.
[0093]
[Third embodiment]
Next, control and configuration of a slide guide according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0094]
In the third embodiment of the present invention, details of operation control of each slide guide 301, 302 will be described. When power is supplied to the sheet processing apparatus 300, the staple roller pair 320 driven by the drive motor starts rotating as shown in FIG. 21, and then the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates. Then, the slide rack 310 of the slide guide L302 is driven and retracts outward. When the jogger motor M rotates and the step gear 317 rotates, first, the slide rack 312 relatively moves, and the embossed portion 312a of the slide rack 312 comes into contact with the right end surface of the square hole portion 301a of the slide guide R301. After being in contact, it is retracted outward by being pressed by the embossed portion 312a.
[0095]
As shown in FIG. 21, the slide guide R301 is provided with concave slit portions 301S1 and 301S2 (slit width: B), which are detection portions having different widths in the sheet width direction, at different positions in the guide moving direction. When the unit 301S1 overlaps with the switch 501 as a detecting means and the switch 501 is turned off and the predetermined amount A is advanced, the jogger motor M stops. This stop position is the home position. Here, for example, when the position of the slide guide R301 is at a position as shown in FIG. 22A when the power is turned on, the switch 501 is connected to the slit portion 301S2 as shown in FIG. The overlap switch is turned off. However, in the control according to the present embodiment, the slide guide R301 is set to continue moving if the switch is pressed again and turned on within a predetermined amount A (A> B) after the switch is turned off. . Then, as described above, the jogger motor M stops when the slit portion 301S1 overlaps with the switch 501 and proceeds by a predetermined amount A after the switch 501 is turned off. That is, the slide guides 301 and 302 stop at the home position as shown in FIG.
[0096]
Therefore, in the first stage, the slide guide is reliably stopped at the same home position regardless of the position of the slide guide.
[0097]
Further, in the present embodiment, even when the slide guide is moved by the user after the initial operation to the position where the switch 501 is turned on, this is detected and the above operation is repeated again. Therefore, even when the slide guide is displaced by an external impact, the slide guide can be immediately returned to a correct position by the above-described operation, and an accurate alignment operation can be performed.
[0098]
When a signal that the sheet S enters the sheet processing apparatus 300 is input from the printer main body 100 to the sheet processing apparatus 300, the jogger motor M rotates, and the slide guides R301 and L302 move to the home positions shown in FIG. 23B, and stops at a position wider than the width of the entering sheet S by a predetermined amount D (see FIG. 3B), that is, at the above-described standby position, as shown in FIG. In this position, the stopper 301b of the slide guide R301, which is the guide member on the sheet abutting side, comes into contact with the end surface 313c of the guide pin 313a, and cannot move further inward. This standby position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward from the home position by a predetermined amount E. In this position, the switch 501 is pushed over the slit portion 301S2 and is turned on from OFF to ON. It is also the position advanced by the distance F after switching to.
[0099]
In this standby position, the side surface of the slide guide R301 is the reference position during the alignment operation.
[0100]
In the present embodiment, the standby positions of the slide guides R301 and L302 are set such that the gaps on both sides are G when the size (width) of the sheet S is the maximum size that can be passed. I have.
[0101]
Next, the operation from the standby position to the alignment position is controlled as a position where the slide guide L302 is moved inward by a fixed amount H from the standby position, as shown in FIG.
[0102]
Generally, an error in the width direction of the sheet S has an error of about ± 2 [mm] between lots of the same sheet.
[0103]
In this embodiment, the width I of the reference plate L304 and the reference plate R303 (and the reference plate R303B) at the alignment position in the width direction is slightly smaller than the regular size (length in the width direction) J of the aligned sheets. (JI> 2). Thus, the sheet S can be reliably pushed and aligned by the reference plate L304 regardless of the widthwise error between the lots of the sheet.
[0104]
The subsequent operations from the alignment position → the rough position → the standby position are performed as shown in FIG. 25 (a) → FIG. 25 (b) → FIG. 25 (c). It is controlled as a position to move outward by a fixed amount K and L from the alignment position shown (H = K + L).
[0105]
However, in the case where the sheet S is set to be pushed in a direction smaller than the regular width J of the sheet S, as shown in FIG. ), The slide guide L302 cannot move inward, and the jogger motor M may step out slightly.
[0106]
In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 26 (b), the slide guide L302 does not advance inward due to the loss of synchronism, and therefore advances only inward by a distance M from the standby position (M <H). Has not been reached. In control, since this position is determined to be the original alignment position which has advanced inward from the standby position by the distance H, the slide guide L302 moves to the next position (→ rough position → standby position) by the slide guide L302. From the matching position), as described above (→ constant amount K → constant amount L). Therefore, the standby position is shifted by the amount by which the alignment position is shifted from the original position, and the standby position is operated at the shifted position throughout the subsequent operation, and a sufficient alignment operation cannot be realized.
[0107]
In order to prevent such a situation, the following control is performed in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 27 (a), when the alignment position deviates from the original alignment position by F or more due to the step-out of the jogger motor M, when it comes to the standby position by a prescribed operation thereafter, the outer side of the original standby position. The slide guide R301 moves outward by the amount F shifted outward because the slide guide comes, and at this time, the switch 501 overlaps the slit portion 301S2 and is ON. If the switch 501 is turned on when the slide guide comes to the standby position in this way, it is determined that the standby position is shifted outward, and the slide guide starts moving inward. Then, after the switch 501 is switched from OFF to ON, it is set to switch to the control of moving and stopping by the above-described shift amount F. As a result, even if the standby position also shifts due to the shift of the matching position, it is possible to immediately return to the correct standby position.
[0108]
Therefore, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism due to a variation in the size of the sheet to be aligned, the subsequent alignment operation can be continued without causing an alignment failure.
[0109]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the slide guide reliably stops at the home position, which is the initial position, at the time of the initial operation. Further, even if the slide guide is deviated from a predetermined position due to an external impact after the initial operation, the slide guide returns to the predetermined position, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed. Further, sheet alignment can be performed reliably regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet. Further, even when the jogger motor M loses synchronism, the slide guide can immediately correct the position and continue the alignment operation without causing an alignment failure.
[0110]
[Other embodiments]
In the above-described embodiment, a printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile apparatus may be used. A similar effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a sheet aligning unit of a sheet processing apparatus used in the apparatus.
[0111]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus that is detachable from the image forming apparatus is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sheet processing apparatus that is integrated with the image forming apparatus may be used. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to the sheet aligning unit of the sheet processing apparatus.
[0112]
In the above-described embodiment, the electrophotographic method is exemplified as the recording method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another recording method such as an ink jet method may be used.
[0113]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, at the time of initializing, the guide member surely stops at the third position which is the initial position. Further, even if the guide member is displaced from a predetermined position due to an external impact after the initial operation, the guide member returns to the predetermined position, so that an accurate alignment operation can be performed. Further, sheet alignment can be performed reliably regardless of the length error in the width direction between lots of the same sheet. Further, even when the drive source of the guide member goes out of synchronization, the guide member can immediately correct the position and continue the alignment operation without causing the alignment failure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printer equipped with a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the slide guide according to the first embodiment, and shows a state where the slide guide is at a standby position.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the slide guide according to the first embodiment, and shows a state where sheets are aligned by the slide guide.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the slide guide according to the first embodiment, showing a state where the slide guide is located at a home position and a sheet bundle falls.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where sheets are aligned by the slide guide.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide to the home position according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide to the home position according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide from the home position to the standby position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide from the standby position to the alignment position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from the alignment position to the rough position and the standby position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating a movement of the slide guide from a standby position to a de-adjustment position → an incorrect rough position → an incorrect standby position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from the illegal standby position to the standby position in the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a front view showing a movement of a slide guide to a home position according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a front view showing a movement of a slide guide to a home position according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating a movement of a slide guide from a home position to a standby position according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating a movement of a slide guide from a standby position to an alignment position according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from the alignment position to the rough position and the standby position in the second embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from a standby position to a de-adjustment position → an incorrect rough position → an incorrect standby position in the second embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from the illegal standby position to the standby position in the second embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a front view showing a movement of a slide guide to a home position according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 22 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide to the home position according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 23 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide from the home position to the standby position according to the third embodiment.
FIG. 24 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from the standby position to the alignment position in the third embodiment.
FIG. 25 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide from the alignment position to the rough position and the standby position in the third embodiment.
FIG. 26 is a front view showing a movement of the slide guide from a standby position to a de-adjustment position → an illegal rough position → an illegal standby position in the third embodiment.
FIG. 27 is a front view showing the movement of the slide guide from the illegal standby position to the standby position in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
H… Stapler
M: Jogger motor
S ... sheet
100… Printer itself
100A ... main body
101 image forming unit
120: Fixing unit
125… Face down (FD) discharge section
130 ... discharge roller
150 ... Flapper
200… feed cassette
300… Sheet processing device
300A ... casing part
300B: first sheet stacking unit
300C… bending part
301, 302 ... slide guide
301F1, 301F2: Flag section
301S1, 301S2 ... slit section
301a ... square hole
301b ... stopper
303, 304 ... reference plate
303B: Reference plate
310,312… Slide rack
312a ... embossed part
313a, 313b ... guide pins
313c ... end face
314… spring
316… Photo sensor
317… step gear
320… Staple roller pair
322… paddle
323… Reference wall
325… Loading part
330 ... roller pair
330a ... discharge upper roller
330b ... lower discharge roller
331… arm
350… paddle shaft
360 ... entrance sensor
361… Flag
363… Inlet roller pair
390… entrance
400… Stamp means
501… Switch

Claims (13)

In a sheet aligning apparatus that performs sheet alignment by a first guide member on a sheet pushing side and a second guide member on a sheet abutting side movable to respective positions in a width direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction,
The first and second guide members are a first position, which is a standby position at the time of loading a sheet having a larger interval than a width of a sheet transported between the guide members, and the first guide member is loaded after the sheet is loaded. A second position, which is an alignment position for performing sheet alignment by moving the sheet to the side of the sheet and abutting the sheet against the second guide member, and a position of an initial to be moved when the power is turned on. The position can be moved to a third position, which is a position outside the sheet width direction from the position,
Along with providing two detection units having different widths in the sheet width direction at different positions in the movement direction of the second guide member, a detection unit in which a detection signal is switched by the detection unit is disposed.
The sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second guide members are moved to the predetermined position based on a detection signal of the detection unit. Of the two detecting units provided in different positions in the moving direction of the second guide member and having different widths in the sheet width direction, the second detecting unit detects one detecting unit having a smaller width in the sheet width direction. 2. The position of the guide member according to claim 1, wherein the position of the guide member is inside the position of the second guide member in the sheet width direction when the other detection unit having the large width in the sheet width direction is detected. 3. Sheet alignment device. The third position moves the first and second guide members outward in the sheet width direction, and the detection unit detects the detection unit provided on the second guide member, thereby detecting the detection unit. After the detection signal is switched, the detection unit moves by a predetermined amount A larger than the width B of the detection unit having a smaller width in the sheet width direction among the detection units. The sheet aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning apparatus stops at a position where the sheet is not switched. The first and second guide members move inward in the sheet width direction when the detection unit detects a detection unit having a small width in the sheet width direction when moving to the first position. The sheet aligning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, after the detection unit is disengaged from the detection unit and the detection signal is switched, the detection unit moves and stops by a predetermined amount F. The sheet aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detecting portions provided on the second guide member are a concave slit portion or a convex flag portion, respectively. The sheet aligning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is a photosensor that switches between light transmission and light blocking by a detection unit provided on the second guide member. The sheet aligning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detecting unit is a switch that is turned on and off by a detecting unit provided on the second guide member. The space (J) between the guide members facing each other at the second position is smaller than a width (I) of a sheet conveyed between the guide members. Sheet alignment device. The first and second guide members are position-movable to a fourth position between the first position and the second position. 9. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment is performed by a paddle member. The movement to each position in the first and second guide member pairs starts from the third position, and is performed under the control that the first guide member moves to the next position by moving each fixed amount from the previous position. The sheet aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The movement of each of the first and second guide members to each position starts from the third position, and moves to the first position according to the size of the sheet to be conveyed. 11. The abutment reference according to claim 1, wherein the first guide member moves by a predetermined amount and moves to a next position to align a predetermined number of sheets. Sheet alignment device. A binding unit that performs binding processing on a plurality of sheet bundles, and after performing the binding processing operation on a bundle of sheets that has been bound by repeating the alignment operation for a predetermined number of sheets, the first and second guide members are separated by an interval. The sheet aligning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sheet bundle moves in a direction in which the sheet bundle spreads and drops the sheet bundle to a lower sheet stacking unit. 13. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet, comprising: the sheet aligning device according to claim 1 as an aligning unit for aligning the sheet on which the image is formed. Image forming device.

Images