Post-processing device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a post-processing device and an image forming device capable of preventing variations in folding position of a recording medium.SOLUTION: A post-processing device has a blade 46 that is pressed against a recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium, and a support part 82 that supports the blade 46. The support part 82 has a movement body 84 to which the blade 46 is fixed and moves together with the blade 46, and an insertion part 86 that is inserted into the movement body 84, wherein the insertion part 86 is pressed against one surface of the movement body 84 .SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a post-processing device and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet processing apparatus that stacks sheets conveyed one by one, staples the stacked sheets at the center, and folds the stapled sheet stack in two. The sheet processing apparatus includes an end guide that is movable in the sheet conveying direction and stacks the sheets by blocking the leading ends of the sheets conveyed one by one, a stapler that staples the center of the sheets stacked by the end guide, a sheet folding machine that presses a blade against the center of the sheet stack after the stapler has been stapled, folds the sheet stack, and sends it to rollers to be sandwiched by the rollers to fold the sheet stack in two, and the end guide is located at a home position set upstream in the sheet conveying direction within the movement range of the end guide. The present invention discloses a sheet processing device (hereinafter referred to as a post-processing device) comprising: a home sensor which detects whether or not a sheet is present; and a control unit which moves the end guide, which is in the home position, to a first position corresponding to the size of the sheet to stack the sheets which have been sequentially transported, moves the end guide to a second position corresponding to the size of the sheet to cause the stapler to perform the binding process, moves the end guide further to a third position corresponding to the size of the sheet to cause the sheet folder to perform the folding process, and moves the end guide to the home position, wherein the control unit starts moving the end guide, which is in the third position, to the home position while the sheet folder is performing the folding process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-1659 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing device and an image forming apparatus that can prevent variation in the folding position of a recording medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The post-processing device of the first aspect of the present invention has a blade that is pressed against the recording medium at the folding position of the recording medium, and a support portion that supports the blade, the support portion having a moving body to which the blade is fixed and that moves together with the blade, and an insertion portion inserted into the moving body, and the insertion portion is pressed against one side of the moving body.

[0006] The post-processing device according to a second aspect of the present invention further includes a biasing member that presses the insertion portion against one surface of the movable body.

[0007] In a post-processing device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the biasing member presses the insertion portion.

[0008] In a post-processing device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the biasing member presses the moving body.

[0009] A post-processing device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a drive unit that drives the moving body, and the drive unit is disposed at an end in a direction intersecting with a folding direction of the recording medium.

[0010] A sixth aspect of the post-processing device of the present invention has a blade that is pressed against the recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium, and a support portion that supports the blade, and the blade is supported by the support portion so as to be inclined with respect to the recording medium.

[0011] In a seventh aspect of the post-processing device of the present invention, the support portion has a movable body to which the blade is fixed and which moves together with the blade, and an insertion portion inserted into the movable body, and the blade is fixed at an angle to the movable body.

[0012] An eighth aspect of the post-processing device of the present invention has a drive unit that drives the moving body, the drive unit is arranged at an end in a direction intersecting the folding direction of the recording medium, and the blade is inclined so that the end opposite to where the drive unit is arranged approaches the recording medium.

[0013] An image forming apparatus of a ninth aspect of the present invention comprises an image forming unit which forms an image on a recording medium, and a post-processing device which performs post-processing on the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, the post-processing device having a blade which is pressed against the recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium, and a support part which supports the blade, the support part having a moving body to which the blade is fixed and which moves together with the blade, and an insertion part which is inserted into the moving body, and the insertion part is pressed against one side of the moving body.

[0014] An image forming apparatus of a tenth aspect of the present invention comprises an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit, the post-processing device having a blade that is pressed against the recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium, and a support unit that supports the blade, and the blade is supported by the support unit so as to be inclined relative to the recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the first, sixth, ninth and tenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to prevent variation in the folding position of the recording medium.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the insertion portion can be pressed against one surface of the movable body by using the biasing member.

[0017] According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure so as to press the insertion portion.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the present invention, it can be configured to press the moving body.

[0019] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to prevent variation in the folding position of the recording medium when the drive unit is disposed at the end.

[0020] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the blade can be fixed to the moving body at an incline, so that the blade can be inclined with respect to the recording medium.

[0021] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the variation in the folding position of the recording medium by inclining the end portion on the opposite side to the drive unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus having a post-processing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state immediately before a folding process of a recording medium is performed in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which a folding process is being performed on a recording medium in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the folding device, excluding the blade, in a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the periphery of a drive unit of the bending device in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the side showing the periphery of a support portion in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a support portion as viewed from above in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between a movable body and an insertion section in a first embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A shows a state before the start of folding processing of a recording medium, and FIG. 1B shows a state at the start of folding processing of the recording medium. [Figure 9]5A and 5B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between a moving body and an insertion section in a comparative example, where FIG. 5A shows a state before folding of a recording medium starts, and FIG. 5B shows a state at the start of folding of the recording medium. [Figure 10] 11 is a table comparing the amount of folding misalignment between the first embodiment of the present invention and a comparative example. [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between a movable body and an insertion section in a second embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a state before the start of folding processing of the recording medium, and (b) shows a state at the start of folding processing of the recording medium. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 shows an image forming apparatus having a post-processing device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus has an image forming section 12 that forms an image on a recording medium, and the post-processing device 10 is connected to the side of the image forming section 12.

[0024] The post-processing device 10 has an end stitching processing section 14 and a saddle stitching processing section 16. The end stitching processing section 14 stacks the recording media conveyed one by one in sequence, and stitches the ends of the stacked recording media. The saddle stitching processing section 16 stacks the recording media conveyed one by one in sequence, stitches the center of the stacked recording media, and folds the bundle of the bound recording media in two.

[0025] The post-processing device 10 has a recording medium inlet 18 formed on a side surface connected to the image forming unit 12. The recording medium on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit 12 is carried into the post-processing device 10 through the recording medium inlet 18. A first conveying member 20 and a second conveying member 22 are provided downstream of the recording medium inlet 18. The downstream side of the second conveying member 22 is divided into a first conveying path 24 and a second conveying path 26. The first conveying path 24 and the second conveying path 26 are selected by a switching member (not shown), and the recording medium is conveyed to the end stitching processing unit 14 via the first conveying path 24 and to the saddle stitching processing unit 16 via the second conveying path 26.

[0026] The end stitching processing section 14 is provided with an end stitching temporary accumulation section 28. Recording media are temporarily accumulated in this end stitching temporary accumulation section 28. The end stitching processing section 14 is also provided with an end stitching stapler 30 that staples the temporarily accumulated recording media. The recording media stapled by the end stitching stapler 30 are discharged to an end stitching discharge section 34 by a bundle discharge device 32. A position adjustment device 36 is connected to the end stitching discharge section 34, and this position adjustment device 36 adjusts the position of the end stitching discharge section 34 so that the top surface of the recording medium bundle discharged to the end stitching discharge section 34 is at the same position.

[0027] The saddle stitching processing section 16 is provided with a temporary saddle stitching storage section 38. Recording media are temporarily stored in this temporary saddle stitching storage section 38. A holding section 40 is formed at the lower end of this temporary saddle stitching storage section 38, which holds the recording media by contacting the lower end of the recording media. The saddle stitching processing section 16 is also provided with a saddle stitching stapler 42 that staples the recording media temporarily stored. This saddle stitching stapler 42 is configured to staple the center of the recording media when the holding section 40 of the temporary saddle stitching storage section 38 is in the upper position.

[0028] The saddle stitching processing section 16 is provided with a folding device 44. The folding device 44 has a blade 46. The blade 46 reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium. When the holding section 40 of the saddle stitching temporary accumulation section 38 is moved downward and the center of the recording medium is at the position of the blade 46, the blade 46 presses the center of the recording medium against the recording medium to fold it.

[0029] An opening 48 is formed in the direction of the tip of the blade 46 of the saddle stitching temporary accumulation section 38. A folding roll 50 is further disposed beyond the opening 48. The folding roll 50 vertically sandwiches the folded recording medium and presses the recording medium between the folding rolls 50. The folded recording medium is then discharged to a saddle stitching discharge section 54 by a discharge roll 52.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, when blade 46 presses the recording medium and advances, as shown in FIG. 3, the folded tip of the recording medium is sandwiched between folding rolls 50, and the recording medium is folded by being pressed in the vertical direction by pressing member 56 against folding rolls 50.

[0031] Next, the folding device 44 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, the blade 46 is long in the sub-scanning direction of the recording medium, and has a plurality of protrusions 58 facing the recording medium. The blade 46 is fixed to two moving bodies 84, which will be described later, and is connected to a crank mechanism 60. The crank mechanism 60 has a first shaft 62, a second shaft 64 provided away from the first shaft 62, and a third shaft 66 fixed to the blade 46. The first shaft 62 and the second shaft 64 are connected via a first link 70, and the second shaft 64 and the third shaft 66 are connected via a second link 72. When the first shaft 62 is rotated, the second shaft 64 rotates around the first shaft 62, and the third shaft 66 moves together with the blade 46 via the second link 72, and the blade 46 is pressed against the recording medium.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 5, the first shaft 62 is an input shaft, and a drive unit 72 is provided at an end of the first shaft 62 (the end in the direction intersecting the folding direction of the recording medium). The drive unit 72 is, for example, a gear, and rotates by receiving a driving force from a motor (not shown). An arm 74 is connected to the drive unit 72, and a first biasing member 78 is provided between the arm 74 and the post-processing device main body 76. When the driving force from the motor is released, the drive unit 72 is, for example, clutched, and rotated in the opposite direction by the first biasing member 78, returning the blade 46 to the initial position.

[0033] The folding device 44 also has a support frame 80 that is open at the top and formed in a rectangular box shape that is long in the sub-scanning direction of the recording medium. A support section 82 is provided on this support frame 80. The support section 82 movably supports the blade 46 described above. The support section 82 has two moving bodies 84 to which the blade 46 is fixed, and two insertion sections 86 with a circular cross section inserted into each of the two moving bodies 84. The moving bodies 84 are each formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and two insertion holes 88a, 88b are formed along the movement direction of the blade 46. An insertion section 86 is inserted into each of the insertion holes 88a, 88b.

[0034] 6 and 7, one insertion hole 88a formed in one moving body 84 has a circular cross section, and the other insertion hole 88b has an elliptical cross section, and an insertion part 86 having a circular cross section is inserted into each of them. However, there is a play between the one insertion hole 88a and the insertion part 86 due to the intersection.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, adjustment members 90 are provided on both side surfaces of the support frame 80 on the side opposite the driving unit. The adjustment members 90 are fixed to the support frame 80 with screws 92. A play is provided in the longitudinal direction between the screw holes formed in the support frame 80 and the screws. An insertion portion 86 located at the end opposite the driving unit is fixed to the adjustment member 90. The other insertion portion 86 is fixed to the support frame 80.

[0036] A second biasing member 94 is provided between the front adjustment member 90 and the support frame 80, and a third biasing member 96 is provided between the rear adjustment member 90 and the support frame 80. The second biasing member 94 is, for example, a tension spring, and biases the front adjustment member 90 toward the drive unit side (left side in FIG. 4) relative to the support frame 80. The third biasing member 96 is, for example, a linear spring, and biases the rear adjustment member 90 toward the opposite side to the drive unit relative to the support frame 80.

[0037] In the above-mentioned configuration, when assembling the post-processing device 10, the second biasing member 94 and the third biasing member 96 are placed in a biased state before the adjustment member 90 is fixed to the support frame 80 by the screw 92. In this state, as shown in FIG. 8, the insertion portion 86 of the movable body 84 on the opposite side to the driving unit is pressed against the surface of the insertion hole 88a on the opposite side to the driving unit, and there is no play between the insertion portion 86 and the insertion hole 88a. Also, the insertion portion 86 of the movable body 84 on the driving unit side is pressed against the surface of the insertion hole 88a on the driving unit side, and there is no play between the insertion portion 86 and the insertion hole 88a. In this state, the control member 90 is fixed to the support frame 80 by the screw 92.

[0038] In this way, there is no play between the insertion portion 86 and the insertion hole 88a, so that as shown in FIG. 8(b), the drive of the movable body 84 is stable even when the blade 46 is pressed into the recording medium, and the operation of the blade 46 is also stable, compared to the comparative example shown in FIG. 9.

[0039] A comparative example is shown in Fig. 9. In this comparative example, there is play between the insertion portion 86 and the insertion hole 88a. When an attempt is made to push the blade 46 into the recording medium, the blade 46 receives a reaction force from the recording medium, making the position of the blade 46 unstable, and causing variation in the folding position of the recording medium.

[0040] Fig. 10 shows the results of comparing the folding misalignment between the first embodiment and the comparative example when the number of recording media is 1, 5, and 10. The solid line indicates the variation width, and the square indicates the average value of the variation. Although all variations are within the specifications, the comparative example has a larger deviation from the required value than the first embodiment, and the variation is larger. In contrast, the first embodiment has a smaller deviation from the required value than the comparative example, and it can be seen that the first embodiment is more stable.

[0041] In the first embodiment, the insertion portion 86 is pressed against the insertion hole 88a, but conversely, the movable body 84 may be biased so as to press the insertion hole 88a against the insertion portion 86. In addition, the portion where the insertion portion 86 contacts the insertion hole 88a may be covered with a low-friction material having a lower friction coefficient than the main body material of the movable body 84 or the insertion portion 86.

[0042] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In addition to the first embodiment described above, the second embodiment fixes the blade 46 at an angle to the movable body 84 so that the side of the blade 46 opposite the driving unit is closer to the recording medium than the driving unit side. In the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, the insertion portion 86 is pressed against the insertion hole 88a, but in another embodiment, the blade 46 may simply be at an angle without pressing the insertion portion 86 against the insertion hole 88a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10 Aftertreatment device 12 Image forming section 14 Edge binding processing section 16 Saddle stitch processing section 18 Recording media entrance 20 First conveying member 22 second conveying member 24 First conveyor path 26 Second conveyor path 28 Temporary storage section for edge binding 30 Edge Stapler 32 Bundle discharge device 34 End binding discharge section 36 Position adjustment device 38 Temporary storage unit for saddle stitching 40 Holding part 42 Saddle stitching stapler 44 Bending device 46 blades 48 Opening 50 fold roll 52 Discharge Roll 54 Saddle stitching discharge section 56 Pressing member 58 Protrusion 60 Crank mechanism 62 First Axis 64 Second Axis 66 Third Axis 70 First Link 72 Second Link 72 Drive unit 74 Arm 76 Post-processing device main body 78 First biasing member 80 Support Frame 82 Support part 84 Mobile 86 Insertion part 88a, 88b Insertion holes 90 Adjustment parts 92 Screw 94 Second biasing member 96 third biasing member

Claims

1. a blade that is pressed against the recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium; A support portion that supports the blade, the support portion has a moving body to which the blade is fixed and which moves together with the blade, and an insertion portion which is inserted into the moving body and guides the movement of the moving body, and the insertion portion is pressed against one surface of the moving body; Further, a biasing member for pressing the insertion portion against one surface of the movable body is provided. Aftertreatment device.

2. The post-processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing member presses the insertion portion.

3. The post-processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing member presses the moving body.

4. A crank mechanism connected to the blade; A drive unit that drives the moving body, 4. The post-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is disposed at an end of an input shaft of the crank mechanism in a direction intersecting a folding direction of the recording medium.

5. an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; having The post-treatment device includes: a blade that is pressed against the recording medium at a folding position of the recording medium; A support portion that supports the blade, the support portion has a moving body to which the blade is fixed and which moves together with the blade, and an insertion portion which is inserted into the moving body and guides the movement of the moving body, and the insertion portion is pressed against one surface of the moving body; Further, a biasing member for pressing the insertion portion against one surface of the movable body is provided. Image forming device.

Images