Sheet alignment device, sheet processing device and image forming system

Abstract

To provide a sheet alignment device capable of coping with more diversified sheet size than ever.SOLUTION: A sheet alignment device comprises: a loading part (32) on which a sheet is loaded; a first alignment member (41) abutting onto an end in a first direction (X) of the sheet loaded on the loading part and aligning a position of the sheet in the first direction; a first movement mechanism (48A) for moving the first alignment member in the first direction; a second alignment member (39) abutting onto an end in a second direction (Y) crossing the first direction of the sheet vertically and aligning the position of the sheet in the second direction; and a second movement mechanism (69A) for moving the second alignment member in the second direction. The first movement mechanism is arranged below the loading part and the second movement mechanism is arranged above the loading part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet aligning device that aligns a sheet, a sheet processing device that processes a sheet, and an image forming system that forms an image on a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] As an option for image forming devices such as copiers and printers, there is known a sheet processing device that performs post-processing such as stapling on sheets on which images have been formed. The binding processing device described in Patent Document 1 aligns sheets loaded on a processing tray with a pair of side alignment members, performs stapling after alignment, and then discharges the sheets from the processing tray with a claw-shaped discharge member attached to a rotating belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-105642 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a new type of sheet aligning device capable of aligning a sheet, and a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming system including this sheet aligning device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention includes a sheet conveying device having a loading section on which sheets are loaded, a first alignment member that comes into contact with an end of the sheet loaded on the loading section in a first direction and aligns a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first movement mechanism that moves the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member that comes into contact with an end of the sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and aligns a position of the sheet in the second direction, and a second movement mechanism that moves the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first movement mechanism is disposed below the loading section and the second movement mechanism is disposed above the loading section. When viewed in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, a movement area in which the first alignment member is moved on the loading section by the first moving mechanism and a movement area in which the second alignment member is moved on the loading section by the second moving mechanism intersect with each other. The sheet aligning device is characterized in that Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new type of sheet aligning device capable of aligning sheets, as well as a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming system including this sheet aligning device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a post-processing device and an image forming device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate stacking section according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an intermediate stacking section according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the intermediate loading section according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the vertical movement unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an example of a standby position of a vertical alignment reference plate according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 5A to 5E are diagrams illustrating the operation of the intermediate stacker according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the intermediate stacker according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a post-processing device and an image forming device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate stacking section according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the upper unit according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the vertical alignment reference plate according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the vertical alignment reference plate according to the modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 14] 13A to 13D are diagrams illustrating the operation of the upper unit according to the modified example of the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. EXAMPLES

[0013] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system 1S according to a first embodiment. The image forming system 1S of this embodiment is composed of an image forming apparatus 1, an image reading apparatus 2, a document feeder 3, and a post-processing apparatus 4. The image forming system 1S forms an image on a sheet, which is a recording material, and outputs the sheet after processing it by the post-processing apparatus 4 as necessary. Below, the operation of each apparatus will be briefly described, and then the post-processing apparatus 4 will be described in detail.

[0014] The document feeder 3 transports the document placed on the document tray 18 to the image reading units 16 and 19. The image reading units 16 and 19 are each an image sensor that reads image information from the document surface, and both sides of the document are read in one document transport. The document from which the image information has been read is discharged to the document discharge unit 20. In addition, the image reading unit 2 can read image information from a stationary document set on the document table glass (including a document that cannot be used by the document feeder 3, such as a booklet document) by reciprocating the image reading unit 16 using the drive unit 17.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with a direct transfer type image forming section 1B. The image forming section 1B is equipped with a cartridge 8 equipped with a photosensitive drum 9, and a laser scanner unit 15 arranged above the cartridge 8. When performing an image forming operation, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 9 is charged, and the laser scanner unit 15 exposes the photosensitive drum 9 based on image information to write an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 9 is developed into a toner image by charged toner particles, and the toner image is conveyed to a transfer section where the photosensitive drum 9 and a transfer roller 10 face each other. A controller (printer control section) of the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation by the image forming section 1B based on image information read by the image reading sections 16 and 19 or image information received from an external computer via a network.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of feeding devices 6 that feed sheets as recording materials one by one at a predetermined interval. Sheets that can be used as recording materials include various sheet materials of different sizes and materials, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, sheet materials with surface treatments such as plastic films, cloths, and coated paper, and sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper. The sheet fed from the feeding device 6 is conveyed to a transfer section after skew correction by a registration roller 7, and the toner image carried on a photosensitive drum 9 is transferred to the transfer section. A fixing unit 11 is disposed downstream of the transfer section in the sheet conveying direction. The fixing unit 11 has a pair of rotating bodies that sandwich and convey the sheet, and a heating element such as a halogen lamp for heating the toner image, and fixes the image by heating and pressurizing the toner image on the sheet.

[0017] When the sheet on which an image has been formed is discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet that has passed the fixing unit 11 is transported to the post-processing device 4 via the horizontal transport section 14. In the case of a sheet on which image formation on the first side has been completed in double-sided printing, the sheet that has passed the fixing unit 11 is handed over to the reversing rollers 12, is switchback-transported by the reversing rollers 12, and is transported again to the registration rollers 7 via the re-transport section 13. Then, the sheet passes through the transfer section and the fixing unit 11 again to form an image on the second side, and is then transported to the post-processing device 4 via the horizontal transport section 14.

[0018] The image forming unit 1B is an example of an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and may be an electrophotographic unit of an intermediate transfer type in which a toner image formed on a photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet via an intermediate transfer body. Also, a printing unit of an inkjet type or an offset printing type may be used as the image forming means.

[0019] (After-treatment device) The post-processing device 4 has an intermediate stacking section 42 for temporarily stacking sheets for processing such as stapling, and performs stapling on the sheets received from the image forming device 1 and discharges them as a sheet bundle. The post-processing device 4 can also simply discharge the sheets received from the image forming device 1 without stapling them.

[0020] The post-processing device 4 is provided with an incoming path 81, an inner discharge path 82, a first discharge path 83, and a second discharge path 84 as transport paths for transporting sheets, and is provided with an upper discharge tray 25 and a lower discharge tray 37 as destinations for discharging sheets. The incoming path 81 is a first transport path in this embodiment that receives and transports sheets from the image forming device 1, and the inner discharge path 82 is a second transport path in this embodiment that transports sheets toward the intermediate stacking unit 42. The first discharge path 83 is a transport path that discharges sheets to the upper discharge tray 25, and the second discharge path 84 is a transport path (third transport path) that discharges sheets to the lower discharge tray 37.

[0021] The receiving path 81 is provided with an entrance roller 21, a conveying roller 22, and an entrance sensor 27. The first discharge path 83 is provided with a reversing roller 24 as a reversing means and a discharge means. The inner discharge path 82 is provided with an inner discharge roller 26, an intermediate conveying roller 28, a kick-out roller 29, and an intermediate pre-stacking sensor 38. The second discharge path 84 is provided with a bundle discharge roller 36. The entrance sensor 27 and the intermediate pre-stacking sensor 38 are both examples of sheet detection means that detect the passage of a sheet at a predetermined detection position on the conveying path in the sheet processing device. As the entrance sensor 27 and the intermediate pre-stacking sensor 38, an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at the detection position using light can be used, as described later.

[0022] The following describes the sheet transport path in the post-processing device 4. However, the detailed configuration and operation of the intermediate stacking unit 42 will be described later.

[0023] A sheet discharged from the horizontal conveying unit 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 is received by the inlet rollers 21 and conveyed through the receiving path 81 toward the conveying rollers 22. The inlet sensor 27 detects the sheet at a detection position between the inlet rollers 21 and the conveying rollers 22. The conveying rollers 22 convey the sheet received from the inlet rollers 21 toward the first discharge path 83.

[0024] At a predetermined timing after the inlet sensor 27 detects the passage of the trailing end of the sheet, the conveying roller 22 accelerates the sheet conveying speed to a speed faster than the conveying speed in the horizontal conveying section 14. Alternatively, the sheet conveying speed by the inlet roller 21 may be set to be faster than that of the horizontal conveying section 14, and the conveying speed may be accelerated by the inlet roller 21 upstream of the conveying roller 22. In this case, it is preferable to provide a one-way clutch between the conveying roller of the horizontal conveying section 14 and the motor that drives it, so that the conveying roller rotates idly even if the sheet is pulled by the inlet roller 21.

[0025] When the sheet is discharged to the upper discharge tray 25, the reversing rollers 24 as a discharge means discharge the sheet received from the conveying rollers 22 to the upper discharge tray 25. In this case, the reversing rollers 24 decelerate to a predetermined discharge speed at a predetermined timing after the rear end of the sheet has passed the conveying rollers 22.

[0026] When the sheet is discharged to the lower discharge tray 37, the reversing rollers 24 as a reversing means switchback and convey the sheet received from the conveying rollers 22 to convey the sheet to the internal discharge path 82. A check valve 23 is disposed at a branching portion where the receiving path 81 and the internal discharge path 82 branch off from the first discharge path 83, upstream of the reversing rollers 24 in the sheet discharge direction by the reversing rollers 24. The check valve 23 has a function of preventing the sheet switched back by the reversing rollers 24 from flowing back into the receiving path 81.

[0027] The inner discharge rollers 26, the intermediate conveying rollers 28, and the kick-out rollers 29 arranged in the inner discharge path 82 sequentially deliver the sheet received from the reversing rollers 24 and convey the sheet toward the intermediate stacking section 42. The intermediate pre-stacking sensor 38 detects the sheet between the intermediate conveying rollers 28 and the kick-out rollers 29.

[0028] The intermediate stacking section 42 has an intermediate stacking section 42 on which sheets are stacked, and a stapler 51 as a processing means in this embodiment. The sheets discharged from the kick-out roller 29 are stacked on the intermediate stacking section 42, which is composed of an intermediate stacking plate 32 and an intermediate stacking upper guide 31, etc., and are subjected to an alignment process by a vertical alignment roller 33, etc., which will be described later. In addition, downstream of the kick-out roller 29, a stack holding flag 30 is rotatably supported for suppressing lifting of the rear end of the sheets so that the rear end of the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking plate 32 does not interfere with the leading end of the succeeding sheet. In addition, a sheet presence / absence sensor 34 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet on the stacking surface of the intermediate stacking plate 32 is disposed below the intermediate stacking plate 32.

[0029] After a plurality of sheets discharged one by one from the internal discharge path 82 are received and aligned in the intermediate stacker 42, the sheet stack is stapled at a predetermined position by the stapler 51. The detailed configuration and operation of the intermediate stacker 42 will be described later. The sheet stack stapled in the intermediate stacker 42 is delivered to the bundle discharge rollers 36 via a second discharge path 84 serving as a third transport path, and is discharged to the lower discharge tray 37 by the bundle discharge rollers 36 serving as a discharge means. In other words, the post-processing device 4 has a discharge section which is an opening for discharging the sheets transported in the discharge direction by the bundle discharge rollers 36 from inside the device to outside the device.

[0030] Both the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37 are movable up and down relative to the housing of the post-processing device 4. The post-processing device 4 is provided with sheet surface detection sensors that detect the top surface position of the sheets (stacking height of the sheets) on the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37, and when either sensor detects a sheet, the corresponding tray is lowered in the A2 or B2 direction. When the sheet surface detection sensor detects that a sheet has been removed from the upper discharge tray 25 or the lower discharge tray 37, the tray is raised in the A1 or B1 direction. Therefore, the upper discharge tray 25 and the lower discharge tray 37 are controlled to rise and fall according to the amount of sheets stacked so as to keep the top surface of the stacked sheets constant. In this embodiment, the upper discharge tray 25 as the first stacking section and the lower discharge tray 37 as the second stacking section are controlled to rise and fall by motor drive, but may be configured to be able to rise and fall by a biasing means such as a spring.

[0031] It should be noted that, in addition to the stapler 51 which performs the binding process, a processing unit which performs other processes such as center folding and cutting on the sheets stacked in the intermediate stacking unit 42 may be provided. In the following, an operation in which the sheet stack after alignment in the intermediate stacking unit 42 is stapled by the stapler 51 will be described, but the sheet stack after alignment may also be discharged to the lower discharge tray 37 without being stapled.

[0032] (Intermediate loading area) Next, the configuration of the intermediate stacker 42 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 5. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate stacker 42. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the intermediate stacker 42. Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing components of the intermediate stacker 42. Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing components of the vertical movement unit 56 as viewed from the direction of the arrow V shown in Fig. 4 (the conveying direction described below).

[0033] In the following description, the direction in which the sheet moves when the kick-out roller 29 (FIG. 1) discharges the sheet to the intermediate stacking section 42 and when the sheet is discharged from the intermediate stacking section 42 is referred to as the "conveying direction Y" or "vertical direction" in the intermediate stacking section 42. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction Y on the surface on which the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking section 42 spread is referred to as the "width direction X" or "lateral direction" in the intermediate stacking section 42. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction Y and the width direction X (the normal direction of the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking section 42) is referred to as the "thickness direction Z" of the sheets in the intermediate stacking section 42. The conveying direction Y is a first direction in this embodiment, the width direction X is an example of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the thickness direction Z is an example of a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the intermediate stacking section 42 includes the intermediate stacking plate 32, the intermediate stacking upper guide 31, the vertical alignment reference plate 39, the vertical alignment roller 33, the horizontal alignment moving member 41, the horizontal alignment reference plates 43a, 43b, the vertical movement drive unit 69A, and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A. The intermediate stacking plate 32 is the stacking section of this embodiment, and the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 is the opposing member of this embodiment that faces the stacking section in the thickness direction Z. The horizontal alignment moving member 41 is the first alignment member of this embodiment, and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A is the first movement mechanism of this embodiment. The vertical alignment reference plate 39 is the second alignment member of this embodiment, and the vertical movement drive unit 69A is the second movement mechanism of this embodiment. The horizontal alignment reference plates 43a, 43b are the first direction reference members of this embodiment. Also, the vertical alignment roller 33 is the moving member of this embodiment.

[0035] The intermediate stacking plate 32 has a stacking surface 32s that extends generally in the transport direction Y and the width direction X (FIG. 4), and the stacking surface 32s supports the lower surface of the lowermost sheet of the sheet stack stacked on the intermediate stacking section 42. In other words, the intermediate stacking plate 32 functions as a stacking section in this embodiment. The intermediate stacking upper guide 31 is disposed above the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z, and has a lower surface that extends generally in the transport direction Y and the width direction X as a surface facing the stacking surface 32s.

[0036] The vertical alignment reference plate 39 is disposed at the most downstream portion of the intermediate stacking section 42 in the conveying direction Y (FIGS. 2 and 4). The vertical alignment reference plate 39 functions as an alignment member for aligning (matching) the sheet stack stacked in the intermediate stacking section 42 by being abutted against the edge of the sheet in the conveying direction Y. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of vertical alignment reference plates 39 are disposed, and are arranged side by side along the width direction X. The upstream surfaces of the plurality of vertical alignment reference plates 39 in the conveying direction Y function as a plurality of second abutment portions where the second alignment member abuts against the edge of the sheet.

[0037] The intermediate stacking plate 32 is provided with a plurality of vertical slide grooves 32a (FIG. 4) each formed along the conveying direction Y. The intermediate stacking upper guide 31 is provided with a plurality of vertical slide holes 31a each formed along the conveying direction Y. However, the vertical slide hole 31a is a hole shape penetrating the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the thickness direction Z, whereas the vertical slide groove 32a is a concave shape recessed downward in the thickness direction Z in a cross section in a virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (conveying direction Y). Therefore, the intermediate stacking plate 32 can be formed as a single member connected to the width direction X via the bottom of the vertical slide groove 32a. The vertical slide groove 32a is a first groove in this embodiment, and the vertical slide hole 31a is a second hole in this embodiment.

[0038] The vertical alignment reference plate 39 extends downward through the vertical slide hole 31a of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31, and the tip of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 extends to the inside of the vertical slide groove 32a of the intermediate stacking plate 32. In other words, in this embodiment, the second alignment member extends to the inside of the first groove through the second hole. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is located below the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z, and the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 are in an overlapping positional relationship in the thickness direction Z. The vertical alignment reference plate 39 can move back and forth in the conveying direction Y along the vertical slide holes 31a, 32a.

[0039] The vertical alignment reference plate 39 is provided as a part of a vertical movement unit 56 (FIGS. 4 and 5) driven by a vertical movement drive section 69A described later. The vertical movement unit 56 is a movable unit that is movable in the conveying direction Y (vertical direction). As shown in FIG. 5, the vertical movement unit 56 includes a plurality of vertical alignment reference plates 39, vertical alignment rollers 33, a solenoid 60, a roller drive motor 61, and support plates 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d. The support plates 56a to 56d are fixed to each other with screws or the like to form a frame of the vertical movement unit 56, and support other components of the vertical movement unit 56.

[0040] The longitudinal alignment roller 33 is supported by a roller holder 59 and can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the width direction X. The roller holder 59 is attached to the support plate 56b so as to be swingable around a fulcrum (not shown). The roller holder 59 is connected to a solenoid 60 via a link mechanism (not shown), and the roller holder 59 swings via the link mechanism when the solenoid 60 is energized. For example, when the solenoid 60 is energized, the roller holder 59 rotates downward, and when the solenoid 60 is deenergized, the roller holder 59 rotates upward by the biasing force of a spring or the like. In other words, in response to energization / deenergization of the solenoid 60, the longitudinal alignment roller 33 swings between an upper position where it is retracted upward from the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking plate 32 (on the stacking section) and a lower position where it can abut against the stacked sheets and apply a conveying force to the sheets.

[0041] The roller drive motor 61 is connected to the vertical alignment roller 33 via a gear train 62, and rotates the vertical alignment roller 33. In other words, when the roller drive motor 61 rotates with the vertical alignment roller 33 in the lower position, the vertical alignment roller 33 moves the uppermost sheet on the intermediate stack plate 32 to one side in the conveying direction Y (hereinafter, referred to as the vertical alignment direction Y1) and rotates so as to abut against the vertical alignment reference plate 39.

[0042] Here, a configuration of the vertical movement drive section 69A for reciprocating the vertical movement unit 56 along the conveying direction Y will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the vertical movement drive section 69A includes a rail shaft 66, a timing belt 67, a pulley pair 68, and a rail (not shown), and is disposed in the upper part of the intermediate stacker 42 (above the intermediate stack upper guide 31). The vertical movement drive section 69A moves the vertical movement unit 56 by a driving force supplied from a vertical movement motor 69, which is a driving source.

[0043] 5, the vertical movement unit 56 has a timing belt gripping portion 63, a pair of rail bearing holes 64, and a rail gripping portion 65. The rail bearing holes 64 and the rail gripping portion 65 are preferably arranged separately on one side and the other side of the vertical movement unit 56 in the width direction X as shown in FIG.

[0044] The vertical movement unit 56 is attached on one side in the width direction X so that the rail shaft 66 passes through a pair of rail bearing holes 64, and on the other side in the width direction X, the rail gripping portion 65 grips the rail of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31. The rail shaft 66 extends in the conveying direction Y, and a rail (not shown) is provided on the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and extends in the conveying direction Y. The rail bearing holes 64 and the rail gripping portion 65 both function as guided portions that are guided in the conveying direction Y by the rail shaft 66 and the rail, which serve as guiding portions.

[0045] The timing belt gripping portion 63 grips the timing belt 67, whereby the vertical movement unit 56 is attached to the timing belt 67. The timing belt 67 is stretched around a pair of pulleys 68 (see also FIG. 2) that are spaced apart in the conveying direction Y. The pair of pulleys 68 is connected to a vertical movement motor 69 via a drive train (not shown). Therefore, the forward and reverse rotation of the vertical movement motor 69 drives the timing belt 67 by the pair of pulleys 68, and the vertical movement unit 56 moves to one side and the other side in the conveying direction Y.

[0046] 4, a lateral alignment movement member 41 (also called a lateral alignment jogger or width direction alignment means) for aligning sheets in the width direction X is disposed below the intermediate stacking plate 32. The lateral alignment movement member 41 functions as a first alignment member that aligns the position of the sheet in the first direction in the intermediate stacking section 42 by coming into contact with an end of the sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0047] The lateral alignment moving member 41 has a plurality of side end pressing surfaces 41a extending in the conveying direction Y and the thickness direction Z as a plurality of first abutting portions that abut against the end (side end) of the sheet in the width direction X. A plurality of lateral slide holes 32b are formed in the intermediate stacking plate 32 along the width direction X. Also, a plurality of lateral slide grooves 31b are formed in the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 along the width direction X. However, while the lateral slide holes 32b are hole-shaped penetrating the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z, in a cross section in a virtual plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (width direction X), the lateral slide groove 31b is a concave shape recessed upward in the thickness direction Z. For this reason, the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 can be formed as one member connected to the conveying direction Y via the bottom of the lateral slide groove 31b. The lateral slide groove 31b is a second groove in this embodiment, and the lateral slide hole 32b is a first hole in this embodiment.

[0048] The side end pressing surface 41a extends upward through the lateral slide hole 32b of the intermediate stacking plate 32, and the tip (upper end) of the side end pressing surface 41a extends to the inside of the lateral slide groove 31b of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31. In other words, in this embodiment, the first alignment member extends to the inside of the second groove through the first hole. That is, the side end pressing surface 41 of the lateral alignment moving member 41 a The tip of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 is located above the lower surface of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the thickness direction Z, and the tip of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 is located above the lower surface of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the thickness direction Z. a and the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 are in an overlapping positional relationship.

[0049] The lateral alignment movement member 41 is configured to be movable in the width direction X by a lateral movement drive unit 48A. The lateral movement drive unit 48A includes a timing belt 44, a pulley pair 47, and a rail 46, and moves the lateral alignment movement member 41 by a driving force supplied from a lateral movement motor 48. The lateral alignment movement member 41 has an engagement portion that engages with the timing belt 44, and a guided portion that engages with the rail 46 as a guide portion extending in the width direction X. The timing belt 44 is stretched around the pulley pair 47 that is disposed apart in the width direction X, and the pulley pair 47 is connected to a lateral movement motor 48 (FIG. 2) via a gear train. Therefore, when the timing belt 44 is rotated by the pulley pair 47 by the forward and reverse rotation of the lateral movement motor 48, the lateral alignment movement member 41 is guided by the rail 46 to reciprocate between one side and the other side in the width direction X. Accordingly, the side end pressing surface 41 a reciprocates in the width direction X along the lateral slide grooves 31 b , 32 b provided in the intermediate stacking plate 32 and the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 .

[0050] In this manner, in this embodiment, the rail shaft 66, timing belt 67, etc. constituting the vertical movement drive unit 69A are disposed above the tip of the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment movement member 41. In other words, the horizontal movement drive unit 48A is disposed above the thickness direction Z of the movement trajectory when the horizontal alignment movement member 41 moves in the width direction X. Also, the rail 46, timing belt 44, etc. constituting the horizontal movement drive unit 48A are disposed below the lower end position of the vertical alignment reference plate 39. In other words, the vertical movement drive unit 69A is disposed below the thickness direction Z of the movement trajectory when the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves in the transport direction Y.

[0051] 3 and 4, the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b are disposed to face the side end pressing surface 41a of the lateral alignment movement member 41 in the width direction X. The lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b are members that do not move during the alignment operation in the width direction X, and the lateral alignment movement member 41, which moves in the width direction X, presses the sheets against the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b, thereby aligning the sheets. The lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b in this embodiment are attached to the intermediate stacking plate 32, and extend upward from the stacking surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 as viewed in the width direction X.

[0052] In this embodiment, one of the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b (the lateral alignment reference plate 43a downstream in the longitudinal alignment direction Y1) is configured so that its position in the conveying direction Y can be adjusted by a driving mechanism (not shown). However, both of the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b may be disposed as fixed members.

[0053] 4, the vertical slide groove 32a and the horizontal slide hole 32b provided in the intermediate stacking plate 32 are in a positional relationship in which they intersect on the surface of the stacking surface 32s when viewed in the thickness direction Z. Also, the vertical slide hole 31a and the horizontal slide hole 31b provided in the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 are in a positional relationship in which they intersect on the surface of the stacking surface 32s when viewed in the thickness direction Z. groove 3 1 When viewed in the thickness direction Z, the lines b intersect with each other on the lower surface of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31.

[0054] 3, a stapler 51 is provided in the front direction of the device (one side in the width direction X, the lower left direction in the figure) of the intermediate stacking unit 42. The stapler 51 can perform a binding operation of performing a binding process at a predetermined position of the side end while moving in the conveying direction Y along the end (side end) in the width direction X of the sheet bundle stacked on the intermediate stacking unit 42 by an actuator and a drive mechanism (not shown). Note that, as will be described later, in this embodiment, long-side binding can be performed in which the stapler 51 binds multiple points along the long side of A4 size or legal size sheets.

[0055] 1, the bundle discharge rollers 36 that discharge the sheet bundle that has been post-processed in the intermediate stacking section 42 are provided on the opposite side of the waiting position (position in FIG. 1) of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in terms of the conveying direction Y. That is, in this embodiment, the conveying direction of the sheet bundle from the intermediate stacking section 42 toward the bundle discharge rollers 36 (bundle discharge direction Y2) is the opposite direction to the conveying direction (Y1) when the kick-out rollers 29 discharge the sheets to the intermediate stacking section 42.

[0056] In this embodiment, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 also serves as a carry-out member (push-out member) that pushes out the sheet bundle from the intermediate stacking unit 42. In other words, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 can move in the bundle discharge direction to a position where the leading edge of the sheet in the bundle discharge direction Y2 contacts the bundle discharge rollers 36 for a sheet having the shortest length in the conveying direction Y among the sizes that can be set to the lower discharge tray 37 as a discharge destination.

[0057] (Operation of intermediate loading section) Next, the operation of the intermediate stacking unit 42 will be described. FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are views of the intermediate stacking unit 42 as viewed in the thickness direction Z (the normal direction perpendicular to the sheet surface). However, only components necessary for the description are shown. FIG. 6(a) shows a state in which a large-sized sheet S1 (e.g., legal size) and FIG. 6(b) show a state in which a small-sized sheet S2 (e.g., letter size) have been transported onto the intermediate stacking plate 32. Note that the large size and small size indicate relative differences in size. In addition, the intermediate stacking unit 42 can also align and process A4-sized sheets, which have a shorter length in the width direction X (hereinafter referred to as the sheet width) than the letter size and legal size, and a length in the transport direction Y (hereinafter referred to as the sheet length) between the letter size and the legal size.

[0058] In this embodiment, the vertical movement unit 56 including the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the vertical alignment roller 33 is moved in advance to a predetermined position according to the sheet size so that the leading edge of the sheets stacked on the intermediate stacking plate 32 is at substantially the same position regardless of the sheet size. The leading edge of the sheets here is the downstream end of the sheet stack in the bundle discharge direction Y2 when the sheet stack is discharged from the intermediate stacking section 42 (the upstream end in the vertical alignment direction Y1 when the vertical alignment roller 33 abuts the sheet against the vertical alignment reference plate 39). The predetermined position is a position where the distance from the nip position of the kick-out roller 29 to the sheet contact surface of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is slightly longer than the sheet length of the sheet to be aligned. Therefore, the predetermined position corresponding to the large size sheet S1 (FIG. 6(a)) is located upstream in the bundle discharge direction Y2 (downstream in the vertical alignment direction Y1) of the predetermined position corresponding to the small size sheet S2 (FIG. 6(b)).

[0059] When the intermediate stacker 42 receives the sheets, the stapler 51 and the lateral alignment reference plate 43a are also moved in advance to predetermined positions in the transport direction Y. The predetermined position of the lateral alignment reference plate 43a is a standby position when the stapler 51 staples the sheets, and is set in advance so as not to interfere with the stapler 51. The predetermined position of the stapler is a standby position for quickly moving to the initial binding position in the binding process.

[0060] 7(a to 7e), the operation of the intermediate stacker 42 will be described in chronological order. Here, a series of operations for aligning and binding the small-sized sheets S2 will be described.

[0061] 7(a) shows a state in which the first sheet S2 is being transported toward the intermediate stacking section 42. Before the rear end of the sheet S2 passes through the kick-out roller 29, the vertical movement unit 56 including the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the vertical alignment roller 33, the stapler 51, and the horizontal alignment reference plate 43a have completed moving to predetermined positions according to the sheet size. The horizontal alignment movement member 41 waits at a position slightly outwardly spaced from the sheet side edge in the width direction X so as not to interfere with the transport of the sheet S2.

[0062] 7B shows a state where the rear end of the first sheet S2 has reached the nip of the kick-out roller 29. At this time, the leading edge of the sheet S2 in the longitudinal alignment direction Y1 has reached a position closer to the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 than the sheet contact position of the longitudinal alignment roller 33. The longitudinal alignment roller 33 is lowered by energizing the solenoid 60 to contact the sheet S2, and performs a longitudinal alignment operation (alignment operation in the conveying direction Y) of moving the sheet S2 in the longitudinal alignment direction Y1 by driving the roller drive motor 61. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet S2 in the longitudinal alignment direction Y1 is abutted against the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39, and the position of the sheet S2 in the conveying direction Y is aligned with the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39. The timing for lowering the longitudinal alignment roller 33 may be before or after the leading edge of the sheet S2 passes the sheet contact position of the longitudinal alignment roller 33.

[0063] 7(c) shows a state where the leading edge of the first sheet S2 abuts against the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 and alignment in the conveying direction Y is completed. After this, the lateral movement motor 48 is driven to perform a lateral alignment operation (alignment in the width direction X) in which the lateral alignment movement member 41 is moved in the alignment direction (one side in the width direction X, the left direction in the figure). Note that before the side end pressing surface 41a of the lateral alignment movement member 41 abuts against the sheet S2, the power supply to the solenoid 60 is stopped and the longitudinal alignment roller 33 is separated from the sheet S2. The lateral alignment movement member 41 stops at a position where the distance in the width direction X from the side end pressing surface 41a to the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b is equal to the sheet width of the sheet S2 or a position where it is slightly narrower than the sheet width. As a result, the side edges of the sheet S2 are abutted against the lateral alignment reference plates 43a and 43b, and the position of the sheet S2 in the width direction X is aligned with the lateral alignment reference plates 43a and 43b.

[0064] 7(d) shows a state in which the side edge of the first sheet S2 abuts against the lateral alignment reference plate 43 and alignment in the width direction X is completed. After this, the lateral alignment moving member 41 is moved in the retreat direction (to the right in the figure) to make it possible to receive the second sheet.

[0065] 7(a) to 7(d) are then repeated for a predetermined number of sheets. The predetermined number of sheets is, for example, the number of sheets that are to be bound together to form one sheet bundle. After the alignment of the predetermined number of sheets is completed, the stapler 51 performs the binding process. When stapling is to be performed on multiple locations on the sheets, the stapler 51 is moved from one binding position to another along the conveyance direction Y while repeatedly performing the binding process.

[0066] 7(e) shows a state in which the processed sheet bundle SB2 is being discharged after all the binding processes have been completed. In this embodiment, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 also serves as a discharge member of the intermediate stacking section 42, so the vertical alignment reference plate 39 presses the rear end of the sheet bundle SB2 in the bundle discharge direction Y2 in the bundle discharge direction Y2 and conveys the sheet bundle SB2 toward the bundle discharge rollers 36. The bundle discharge rollers 36 are a pair of rollers that can be opened and closed, and the nip portion is opened before the sheet bundle SB2 is received. When the leading end of the sheet bundle SB2 in the bundle discharge direction Y2 slightly passes the nip position of the bundle discharge rollers 36, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 stops, and a nip operation is performed to close the bundle discharge rollers 36. In addition, the bundle discharge rollers 36 are rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown), so that the sheet bundle SB2 is discharged toward the lower discharge tray 37 (FIG. 1).

[0067] After the sheet bundle SB2 is delivered to the bundle discharge rollers 36, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 returns to the standby position shown in Fig. 7(a) again. Also, as shown in Fig. 7(e), the vertical alignment reference plate 39 crosses the movement area of ​​the lateral alignment moving member 41 and moves further downstream.

[0068] (About the movement range of the vertical movement unit and the horizontal alignment movement member) 8(a) shows a state where the intermediate stacking section 42 of this embodiment aligns a sheet S3 of the minimum size (e.g., A5 size) that can be aligned. The arrows in the figure indicate the movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the movement area Mx of the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 on the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. As shown in the figure, it can be seen that the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 moves to a position that straddles the movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 on the right side in the figure, among the movement areas My of the three vertical alignment reference plates 39. In other words, on the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32, there is an area Mc1 where the movement area My where the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves to align the sheets and the movement area Mx where the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 moves to align the sheets intersect.

[0069] 8(b) shows the relationship between the movement area My in which the vertical alignment reference plate 39 serving as a pushing member for pushing out sheets from the intermediate stacking section 42 can move and the movement area Mx in which the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 serving as an alignment member can move. As shown in the figure, there are areas Mc1 and Mc2 where the movement area My in which the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves to push out (discharge) sheets intersects with the movement area Mx in which the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 moves to align sheets. Note that the movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the movement area Mx of the horizontal alignment moving member 41 shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are merely examples and should be changed as appropriate according to the size of the sheets to be processed in the intermediate stacking section 42.

[0070] As already mentioned, the vertical alignment reference plate 39, the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41, and the horizontal alignment reference plates 43a and 43b are provided in multiple numbers. As shown in Fig. 6(a, b) and Fig. 8(a, b), these members are arranged so as to abut against the sheet edge at least at two points across the center of gravity of the sheet in both the conveying direction Y and the width direction X for all sheet sizes that the intermediate stacking unit 42 can handle. That is, for multiple sheet sizes, regardless of which sheets are loaded, at least one of the multiple vertical alignment reference plates 39 is located on one side of the center of gravity of the sheet in the width direction X, and at least one of the remaining vertical alignment reference plates 39 is located on the other side of the center of gravity of the sheet in the width direction X. Furthermore, for any of a plurality of sheet sizes, at least one of the plurality of side end pressing surfaces 41a is located on one side of the center of gravity of the sheet in the conveying direction Y, and at least one of the remaining side end pressing surfaces 41a is located on the other side of the center of gravity of the sheet in the conveying direction Y. The same positional relationship is also established for the lateral alignment reference plates 43a and 43b.

[0071] Further, the side edge pressing surface 41a is disposed so that the standby position of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 (alignment reference position in the conveying direction Y for each sheet size) and the movement area Mx of the side edge pressing surface 41a do not interfere with each other.

[0072] The arrangement and number of the vertical alignment reference plate 39, the side end pressing surface 41a of the horizontal alignment moving member 41, and the horizontal alignment reference plates 43a, 43b can be changed as appropriate depending on the application of the intermediate stacker 42. In addition, in this embodiment, a configuration using a timing belt is shown as the movement mechanism for the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal alignment moving member 41, but the movement mechanism is not limited to a configuration using a timing belt. For example, a rack and pinion mechanism or a feed screw may be used.

[0073] (Summary of this Example) As described above, the vertical movement drive unit 69A for moving the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A for moving the horizontal alignment movement member 41 are arranged in the upper and lower layers with respect to the intermediate stack plate 32. In other words, the horizontal movement drive unit 48A as the first movement mechanism is arranged below the intermediate stack plate 32 as the stacking unit in the thickness direction Z, and the vertical movement drive unit 69A as the second movement mechanism is arranged above the intermediate stack plate 32 in the thickness direction Z. However, "upper" and "lower" mean upper and lower in the thickness direction Z perpendicular to the conveying direction Y and the width direction X with respect to the surface on the intermediate stack plate 32 extending in the conveying direction Y and the width direction X. Therefore, it is acceptable for the positions of the vertical movement drive unit 69A and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A in the gravity direction to overlap with the intermediate stack plate 32 in the gravity direction.

[0074] If both the vertical movement drive unit 69A and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A, which move the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal alignment movement member 41 in directions intersecting each other, were arranged together either above or below the intermediate stack plate 32, there is a possibility that the drive units would interfere with each other. In contrast, in this embodiment, the vertical movement drive unit 69A and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A are separately arranged above and below the intermediate stack plate 32. As a result, even if the movement ranges of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal alignment movement member 41 are increased, interference between the movement mechanisms (69A, 48A) is avoided.

[0075] In this embodiment, the movement area Mx of the lateral alignment moving member 41 as the first alignment member on the intermediate stacking plate 32 intersects with the movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 as the second alignment member on the intermediate stacking plate 32 (area Mc1 in FIG. 8(a)). At least one of the vertical alignment reference plates 39 can move to at least two positions across the movement area Mx of the lateral alignment moving member 41 in the conveying direction Y (see the vertical alignment reference plate 39 on the right side in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b)). At least one of the side end pressing surfaces 41a of the lateral alignment moving member 41 can move to at least two positions across the movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in the width direction X (see the side end pressing surface 41a on the lower side in FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 8(a)). Therefore, the alignment operation using the lateral alignment moving member 41 and the vertical alignment reference plate 39 can be performed for sheets of various sizes.

[0076] In this embodiment, the movement area Mx of the lateral alignment moving member 41 as an alignment member on the intermediate stacking plate 32 intersects with the movement area My of the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 as a push-out member on the intermediate stacking plate 32 (areas Mc1 and Mc2 in FIG. 8(b)). At least one of the longitudinal alignment reference plates 39 can push out a sheet from the intermediate stacking section 42 while moving across the movement area Mx of the lateral alignment moving member 41 in the conveying direction Y (see the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 on the right side in FIG. 7(d, e)). At least one of the side end pressing surfaces 41a of the lateral alignment moving member 41 can move to at least two positions across the movement area My of the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 in the width direction X (see the side end pressing surface 41a on the lower side in FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 8(a)). Therefore, for sheets of various sizes, the alignment operation using the lateral alignment moving member 41 and the push-out operation (discharge operation) using the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 can be performed.

[0077] The movement area My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the movement area Mx of the lateral alignment movement member 41 do not have to actually intersect on the intermediate stack plate 32. In other words, according to the configuration of this embodiment, it is possible to realize the movement range of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the lateral alignment movement member 41, which is difficult to realize in a configuration in which the vertical movement drive unit 69A and the lateral movement drive unit 48A are arranged together on the lower (or upper) side of the intermediate stack plate 32. For example, it is possible to make the movement areas Mx and My of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the lateral alignment movement member 41 contact each other when viewed in the thickness direction Z.

[0078] In this embodiment, the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 are provided with slide holes (31a, 32b) and slide grooves (31b, 32a) for guiding the movement of the lateral alignment moving member 41 and the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39, respectively. This prevents the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 from having a floating island portion (a portion whose four sides are divided by through holes), making it possible to manufacture each of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 as a single component.

[0079] Furthermore, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal alignment movement member 41 extend through the slide holes (31a, 32b) to the inside of the slide grooves (31b, 32a). In other words, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the horizontal alignment movement member 41 are arranged so as not to create a gap in the thickness direction Z with respect to either the lower surface of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 or the upper surface (loading surface 32s) of the intermediate stacking plate 32, which form the stacking space. This prevents the sheets from slipping through during the alignment operation or when the sheets are pushed out (discharged), enabling stable sheet handling.

[0080] In this embodiment, the vertical alignment reference plate 39, which is an alignment member in the conveying direction Y, also serves as a push-out member that pushes out the sheets from the intermediate stacking section 42. Therefore, the device can be made smaller and less expensive than when the push-out member (discharge mechanism) and its movement mechanism are provided separately from the alignment member and its movement mechanism.

[0081] In addition, the multiple vertical alignment reference plates 39 are arranged so as to abut against the sheet end at least two points across the center of gravity of the sheet in the width direction X for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. Therefore, the sheet is less likely to rotate during the sheet alignment operation or push-out (discharge), and the sheet alignment can be improved. In addition, the multiple side end pressing surfaces 41a of the lateral alignment moving member 41 are arranged so as to abut against the sheet end at least two points across the center of gravity of the sheet in the conveying direction Y for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. The multiple lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b are also arranged so as to have the same positional relationship for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. Therefore, the sheet is less likely to rotate during the sheet alignment operation, and the sheet alignment can be improved.

[0082] In this embodiment, the vertical alignment reference plate 39, which is a reference member that serves as a reference for the alignment position of the sheet in a predetermined direction, and the vertical alignment roller 33, which is a moving member that abuts the sheet against the vertical alignment reference plate 39, move while maintaining a certain positional relationship. The predetermined direction is the conveying direction Y in this embodiment. If alignment in the conveying direction Y is attempted in a state in which the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the contact position of the vertical alignment roller 33 with the sheet are farther apart than in this embodiment, kickback of the sheet may occur, causing the position of the sheet to be disturbed. That is, when the vertical alignment roller 33 rotates, a bending (also called a loop) of the sheet occurs between the sheet contact position of the vertical alignment roller 33 and the vertical alignment reference plate 39, and when the vertical alignment roller 33 retreats upward, the sheet stretches, and the sheet may move away from the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in reaction. In contrast, in this embodiment, the vertical alignment roller 33 and the vertical alignment reference plate 39 move at a constant distance in the conveying direction Y, so that even if the position of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 changes, it is possible to reduce kickback and improve sheet alignment.

[0083] In addition, in this embodiment, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the vertical alignment roller 33 are moved by a common moving mechanism, the vertical movement drive unit 69A, so that the device can be made smaller and less expensive while maintaining high alignment as described above.

[0084] (Modification) In this embodiment, the vertical movement drive unit 69A is disposed above the intermediate stack plate 32, and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A is disposed below the intermediate stack plate 32, but the up-down relationship may be reversed. That is, the vertical movement drive unit 69A as the first movement mechanism may be disposed below the intermediate stack plate 32 as the loading unit, and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A as the second movement mechanism may be disposed above the intermediate stack plate 32.

[0085] Further, the method of aligning the sheet in the conveying direction Y and the width direction X is not limited to the one described in this embodiment. For example, instead of the vertical alignment roller 33, a rotating belt-like or paddle-like moving member may abut the sheet against the vertical alignment reference plate 39, or a plate-like vertical alignment moving member may press an end of the sheet to abut the sheet against the vertical alignment reference plate 39. Further, instead of a one-sided reference method in which one of two alignment members (the horizontal alignment moving member 41 and the horizontal alignment reference plates 43a, 43b) facing each other in the width direction X moves toward the other to align the sheet in the width direction X, a configuration in which alignment is performed by the alignment members on both sides approaching each other may be used. EXAMPLES

[0086] Second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming system 1S of this embodiment. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged intermediate stacking unit 42 of this embodiment. The image forming device 1, image reading device 2, and document feeder 3 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment, so their description will be omitted. In the post-processing device 4, the same reference numerals are assigned to parts having the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and detailed description will be omitted.

[0087] As shown in Fig. 9, a sheet discharged from the horizontal conveying section 14 of the image forming apparatus 1 is delivered to the inlet rollers 21 of the post-processing device 4. A flap 70 is provided downstream of the inlet rollers 21 as a switching member for switching the conveying path. The flap 70 can be switched by an actuator (not shown) between the position shown in Fig. 9 and a position rotated clockwise from there in the figure, and the sheet conveying path can be switched.

[0088] When the sheet is to be conveyed to the upper discharge tray 25, the flap 70 is switched to a position rotated from the position shown in FIG. 9. As a result, the sheet sent out from the inlet rollers 21 is conveyed to the first discharge path 83A. Then, the conveying speed by the conveying rollers 22 and the discharge rollers 24A is controlled based on the time when the rear end of the sheet passes the inlet sensor 27, and the sheet is discharged to the upper discharge tray 25.

[0089] When the sheet is discharged to the lower discharge tray 37, the flap 70 is held in the position shown in Fig. 9. As a result, the sheet sent out from the inlet rollers 21 is transported to the inner discharge path 82A, passes through the intermediate transport rollers 28, and is transported by the kick-out rollers 29 to the intermediate stacking section 42 including the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32.

[0090] 10, a vertical alignment reference plate 71 is disposed at the most upstream portion of the intermediate stacking portion 42. In this embodiment, the conveying direction when the kick-out roller 29 discharges the sheet to the intermediate stacking portion 42 is the same as the conveying direction when the sheet is discharged from the intermediate stacking portion 42 (hereinafter, referred to as the conveying direction Y3). The vertical alignment reference plate 71 is a wall surface rising upward in the thickness direction Z from the most upstream portion of the stacking surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the conveying direction Y3.

[0091] Further, above the intermediate stacking plate 32, a vertical alignment roller 33 is provided which functions as a moving member for transporting the sheet that has passed the kick-out roller 29 toward the vertical alignment reference plate 71. After the rear end of the sheet passes the intermediate stacking pre-sensor 38, the vertical alignment roller 33 is lowered by an actuator (not shown) to abut against the upper surface of the sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking plate 32, and transports the sheet upstream in the transport direction Y3 toward the vertical alignment reference plate 71 at a predetermined timing. As a result, the rear end of the sheet in the transport direction Y3 abuts against the vertical alignment reference plate 71, and the position of the sheet in the transport direction Y3 is aligned with the vertical alignment reference plate 71, which is a reference member. A stack holding flag 30 for knocking down the rear end of the sheet is rotatably supported downstream of the kick-out roller 29.

[0092] After the rear end of the sheet abuts against the vertical alignment reference plate 71, an alignment operation in the width direction X (horizontal alignment operation) is performed by the lateral alignment movement member 41. The lateral alignment movement member 41 is engaged with a timing belt (not shown) and can move in the width direction X along the rail 46 as the timing belt rotates. The timing belt is stretched around a pair of pulleys (not shown), and the pair of pulleys is connected to a lateral movement motor 48 via a drive train (not shown). The rail 46, timing belt, and pulley pair constituting the lateral movement drive unit 48A as the first movement mechanism in this embodiment are all disposed above the intermediate stack upper guide 31 in the thickness direction Z.

[0093] The lateral alignment moving member 41 has a side end pressing surface 41a that passes through a lateral slide hole 31d as a second hole provided in the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and extends to the inside of a lateral slide groove 32d as a first groove provided in the intermediate stacking plate 32. In addition, lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b that serve as a reference for the alignment position in the width direction X are provided in the same positions as in the first embodiment (see Figs. 3 and 4) so ​​as to face the side end pressing surface 41a in the width direction X.

[0094] When the lateral movement drive unit 48A is driven by the lateral movement motor 48, the lateral alignment movement member 41 moves in the width direction X while pressing the sheet side edge with the side edge pressing surface 41a, and abuts the other sheet side edge against the lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b. This completes the alignment operation in the sheet conveying direction Y3 and the width direction X. Then, after the lateral alignment movement member 41 retreats in the width direction X to a position where it does not interfere with the conveyance of the succeeding sheet, the succeeding sheet is received.

[0095] When a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the intermediate stacking section 42 and the alignment operation for the final sheet is completed, a binding operation is performed by the stapler 51. The sheet stack that has been subjected to the binding process is pushed out from the intermediate stacking section 42 by the rear end pushing member 72, which serves as a pushing member, moving downstream in the conveying direction Y3, and the rear end of the sheet stack in the conveying direction Y3 is pressed.

[0096] The rear end pushing member 72 stops when the leading edge of the sheet bundle in the transport direction Y3 moves to a position slightly beyond the nip position of the bundle discharge rollers 36 (FIG. 9). As a result, the sheet bundle delivered to the bundle discharge rollers 36 via the second discharge path 84 is discharged by the bundle discharge rollers 36 to the lower discharge tray 37. After the sheet bundle is delivered to the bundle discharge rollers 36, the rear end pushing member 72 moves upstream in the transport direction Y3 and returns to the position shown in FIG.

[0097] In FIG. 10, a plurality of rear end pushing members 72 are arranged in line in the width direction X. The rear end pushing members 72 pass through the vertical slide hole 32c as a first hole provided in the intermediate stacking plate 32 and extend to the inside of the vertical slide groove 31c as a second groove provided in the intermediate stacking upper guide 31. The plurality of rear end pushing members 72 are attached to the timing belt 73 as an integral member. The timing belt 73 is stretched around a pulley pair 74, and the pulley pair 74 is driven and rotated by a vertical movement motor 75. That is, by rotating the vertical movement motor 75 forward and backward, the plurality of rear end pushing members 72 reciprocate along the conveying direction Y3. The timing belt 73 and the pulley pair 74 constituting the vertical movement drive unit 75A as the second movement mechanism in this embodiment are both arranged below the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z.

[0098] (Summary of this Example) As described above, the vertical movement drive unit 75A that moves the rear end push-out member 72 and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A that moves the horizontal alignment movement member 41 are arranged separately in an upper layer and a lower layer with respect to the intermediate stacking plate 32. In other words, the horizontal movement drive unit 48A as a first movement mechanism is arranged above the intermediate stacking plate 32 as a loading section in the thickness direction Z, and the vertical movement drive unit 75A as a second movement mechanism is arranged below the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z.

[0099] This prevents interference between the moving mechanisms (75A, 48A) even if the movement range of the rear end push-out member 72 as a push-out member and the lateral alignment moving member 41 as an alignment member is increased. In particular, in this embodiment, the movement area of ​​the rear end push-out member 72 on the intermediate stacking plate 32 intersects with the movement area of ​​the side end pressing surface 41a of the lateral alignment moving member 41 (see also FIG. 8(b)). This allows stable alignment and push-out (discharge) operations to be performed in response to a wider variety of sheet sizes.

[0100] In this embodiment, the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 are provided with slide holes (31d, 32c) and slide grooves (31c, 32d) for guiding the movement of the lateral alignment moving member 41 and the rear end pushing member 72, respectively. As a result, the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 do not have any floating island portions (portions whose four sides are divided by through holes), so that the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the intermediate stacking plate 32 can each be manufactured as a single component.

[0101] Furthermore, the rear end pushing member 72 and the lateral alignment moving member 41 extend through the slide holes (31d, 32c) to the inside of the slide grooves (31c, 32d). In other words, the rear end pushing member 72 and the lateral alignment moving member 41 are arranged so as not to create a gap in the thickness direction Z with respect to either the lower surface of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 and the upper surface (loading surface 32s) of the intermediate stacking plate 32, which form the stacking space. This prevents the sheet from slipping through during the alignment operation or when the sheet is pushed out (discharged), enabling stable sheet handling.

[0102] In addition, the multiple rear end pushing members 72 are arranged to abut against the sheet end at at least two points across the center of gravity of the sheet in the width direction X for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. Therefore, the sheet is less likely to rotate when pushed out (discharged), and stable sheet handling is possible. In addition, the multiple side end pressing surfaces 41a of the lateral alignment moving member 41 are arranged to abut against the sheet end at at least two points across the center of gravity of the sheet in the conveying direction Y for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. The multiple lateral alignment reference plates 43a, 43b are also arranged so that a similar relationship is established for multiple (preferably all) sheet sizes. Therefore, the sheet is less likely to rotate during the sheet alignment operation, and stable sheet handling is possible.

[0103] In this embodiment, the vertical movement drive unit 75A is disposed below the intermediate stack plate 32, and the horizontal movement drive unit 48A is disposed above the intermediate stack upper guide 31, but the vertical relationship may be reversed. That is, the horizontal movement drive unit 48A as the first movement mechanism may be disposed below the intermediate stack plate 32 as the loading unit, and the vertical movement drive unit 69A as the second movement mechanism may be disposed below the intermediate stack plate 32. EXAMPLES

[0104] As the third embodiment, a configuration and a method for making it possible to more easily remove a jammed sheet from the intermediate stacking section 42 when a jam occurs therein will be described. Hereinafter, elements having the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have substantially the same configurations and functions as those in the first embodiment.

[0105] The intermediate stacking section 42 is divided into an upper unit 101 and a lower unit 102 by the intermediate stacking plate 32 (see FIG. 4). The upper unit 101 is a unit including the intermediate stacking upper guide 31, the vertical movement unit 56, and the vertical movement drive unit 69A, and is located above the lower unit 102. The lower unit is a unit including the intermediate stacking plate 32, the horizontal alignment movement member 41, the horizontal movement drive unit 48A, and the stapler 51.

[0106] The lower unit 102 has a pair of support columns 103, each of which has a fulcrum shaft 104. The support columns 103 are members that rise upward from a base member approximately in the thickness direction Z, and face each other in the width direction X. The fulcrum shafts 104 are disposed inside the pair of support columns 103, and each protrudes approximately in the width direction X. In addition, with respect to the Y direction, the fulcrum shafts 104 are provided near the downstream end of the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the vertical alignment direction Y1.

[0107] The upper unit 101 is provided with a pair of fulcrum holes 105, each of which engages with one of the fulcrum shafts 104. In the Y direction, the fulcrum holes 105 are provided near the downstream end of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the vertical alignment direction Y1. Therefore, the upper unit 101 is held rotatably in a direction (approximately in the thickness direction Z) away from the intermediate stacking plate 32 with the fulcrum hole 105 as the center of rotation. In other words, the upper unit 101 is configured so that the upstream end of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the vertical alignment direction Y1 can rotate toward the upper side in the approximately thickness direction Z around an axis that passes through the downstream end in the vertical alignment direction Y1 and extends substantially in the width direction X. In addition, the upper unit 101 is provided with a link shaft 90 attached integrally with the intermediate stacking upper guide 31. The link shaft 90 protrudes in the width direction X from one side of the intermediate stacking upper guide 31 in the width direction X.

[0108] 11(a, b) show a state in which the upper unit 101 is separated from the lower unit 102 to clear a jam. FIG. 11(a) is a front view showing the intermediate stacker 42 as viewed from the front side of the post-processing device 4. Here, the front side of the post-processing device 4 is one side in the width direction X, and refers to the near side in FIG. 1 and the near left side in FIG. 4. FIG. 11(b) is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate stacker 42 in a plane perpendicular to the width direction X as viewed from the front side.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 11(a), the post-processing device 4 is provided with a handle 91 as an operation unit (grip unit) that the user can grip and operate to open the intermediate stacking unit 42. The handle 91 engages with a link shaft 90, and the two operate integrally. The handle 91 is configured to move along a handle rail 92. The handle rail 92 is fixed to a part 93 of the housing of the post-processing device 4. The handle rail 92 has an arc shape centered on a fulcrum shaft 104, and the user can move the upper unit 101 away from or abut against the lower unit 102 by moving the handle 91 along the handle rail 92.

[0110] As shown in Fig. 11(a), after separating the upper unit 101, the user can access and remove the jammed sheet S4 remaining in the intermediate stacking section 42 by inserting his / her hand into the space formed between the upper unit 101 and the lower unit 102. At this time, depending on the stopping position of the vertical alignment reference plate 39, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 may retreat upward in the thickness direction Z to a position where the tip of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 does not overlap with the stacking surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 as shown in Fig. 11(b). In that case, when the upper unit 101 is opened, it is considered that the jammed sheet S4 placed on the stacking surface 32s may fall from the intermediate stacking plate 32 into the space inside the post-processing device 4 due to its own weight.

[0111] In this embodiment, in order to prevent the jammed sheet S4 from falling, a stopper 106 is provided at the lower end (downstream end in the vertical alignment direction Y1) of the intermediate stacking plate 32, which is inclined so that the downstream side in the vertical alignment direction Y1 is located lower than the upstream side. The stopper 106 is a protrusion that protrudes upward in the thickness direction Z relative to the stacking surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. By providing the stopper 106, even if the jammed sheet S4 slips downward past the vertical alignment reference plate 39 when the handle 91 is operated to open the upper unit 101, the jammed sheet S4 comes into contact with the stopper 106 and is restricted from falling any further.

[0112] Next, a detailed configuration of the vertical alignment reference plate 39, which is an alignment member according to this embodiment, will be described. As shown in Fig. 12(a), a rotation shaft 107 passes through the vertical alignment reference plate 39, and the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 107. The rotation shaft 107 is held by a holder 108, which is a support plate that is a part of the vertical movement unit 56. 5 6a. The vertical alignment reference plate 39 is positioned by its own weight by hitting a stopper portion 108a that is a part of the holder 108. The position (third position) where the vertical alignment reference plate 39 hits the stopper portion 108a is a position where, with the upper unit 101 in the first position, the sheet can be aligned by hitting the sheet contact surface 39a of the vertical alignment reference plate 39. In this state, the tip (lower end) 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is located below the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 in the thickness direction Z. In other words, when the upper unit is located in the first position and the alignment member is located in the third position relative to the upper unit, the lower end of the alignment member is located below the loading surface 32s, which is the surface on which the loading section supports the sheets. When the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 is in the third position, the sheet contact surface 39a of the longitudinal alignment reference plate 39 extends substantially in the thickness direction Z (a direction substantially perpendicular to the loading surface 32s of the intermediate loading plate 32) as viewed in the width direction X.

[0113] When aligning the sheets in the intermediate stacking section 42, the load acting on the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in the counterclockwise direction (first rotation direction) in the figure when the vertical alignment roller 33 abuts the sheet against the sheet contact surface 39a is received by the stopper portion 108a. As a result, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is held at the third position, and the position of the sheet is aligned by the sheet contact surface 39a. On the other hand, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is not restricted from rotating in the direction away from the stopper portion 108a (clockwise direction in the figure, second rotation direction). In other words, the third position in this embodiment is a position where the alignment member abuts against the stopper portion and is restricted from rotating in the first rotation direction, and the fourth position is a position where the alignment member rotates from the third position in the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.

[0114] Next, the procedure for removing a jammed sheet will be described. During image forming operation, the upper unit 101 is usually in the abutment position (first position) shown in Fig. 2. The vertical alignment reference plate 39 is in the third position shown in Fig. 12(a). Figs. 12(a) to 12(c) all show the vicinity of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 as viewed in the width direction X.

[0115] When a jam occurs during the image forming operation and a jammed sheet S4 (which may be a sheet stack) is present on the stacking surface 32s, the sheet presence / absence sensor 34 (FIG. 1) detects the presence of the jammed sheet S4. In this case, the controller of the image forming apparatus notifies the user of the presence of a jammed sheet on the stacking surface 32s by a notification means, and urges the user to remove the jammed sheet S4 by operating the handle 91 to move the upper unit 101 to the separation position. Here, the notification means refers to a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or a speaker that emits sound that the image forming apparatus has, or a communication function that notifies a message to an external device that is the source of an instruction to perform the image forming operation, or the like.

[0116] Upon receiving the jam notification, the user grasps and operates the handle 91 to move the upper unit 101 to the separated position (second position) shown in Fig. 11 (a, b). At this time, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves to a position separated upward from the jammed sheet S4 on the intermediate stacking plate 32 as shown in Fig. 11 (a, b) while maintaining the relative position with respect to the upper unit 101. In other words, when the upper unit is located at the second position and the alignment member is located at the third position with respect to the upper unit, the lower end of the alignment member is separated upward from the surface where the stacking unit supports the sheet. The user inserts his hand into the space created between the upper unit 101 and the lower unit 102 to access the jammed sheet S4 in the intermediate stacking unit and remove the jammed sheet S4.

[0117] Next, the behavior of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in the case where the user closes the upper unit 101 (returns it to the abutment position) without removing the jammed sheet S4 will be described. FIG. 12(b) shows a state where the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 abuts against the jammed sheet S4 during the process of closing the upper unit 101 with the jammed sheet S4 remaining on the stacking surface 32s after the upper unit 101 has been separated. The tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 receives a reaction force from the jammed sheet S4, so that the vertical alignment reference plate 39 stops moving at the position shown in FIG. 12(b). If the upper unit 101 is further closed from there, the holder 108 and the vertical movement unit 56 finally return to the first position as shown in FIG. 12(c). However, the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 remains above the stacking surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. That is, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 can remain above the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32 by moving relatively from the third position to the fourth position with respect to the upper unit 101. In other words, in the process in which the upper unit moves from the second position to the first position, the alignment member moves relatively from the third position to the fourth position with respect to the upper unit, so that the lower end of the alignment member can remain above the surface on which the stacking portion supports the sheets.

[0118] By configuring the vertical alignment reference plate 39 as described above, even if the user moves the upper unit 101 from the separation position (second position) to the abutment position (first position) without removing the jammed sheet S4, damage to the jammed sheet S4 and damage to the device can be prevented. If the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is configured to be fixed to the support plate 56a, a large shear force may act on the jammed sheet S4 when the upper unit 101 is moved from the separation position (second position) to the abutment position (first position) without removing the jammed sheet S4. That is, the jammed sheet S4 is supported on both sides of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 in the width direction X by the loading surface 32s, and the portion abutting the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is pressed downward toward the vertical slide groove 32a. Therefore, the jammed sheet S4 may be wrinkled or torn. In addition, if the jammed sheet S4 is made of a material having sufficient rigidity or is a stack of many sheets, it is assumed that the vertical alignment reference plate 39 or other members of the post-processing device 4 may be damaged by the load of the reaction force from the jammed sheet S4. In contrast, according to this embodiment, even if the upper unit 101 is closed with the jammed sheet S4 stuck below the vertical alignment reference plate 39, such a problem can be avoided by the relative movement of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 with respect to the upper unit 101.

[0119] Furthermore, when a user's hand touches the vertical alignment reference plate 39 while trying to remove a jammed sheet, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves, which is expected to make the jam processing space wider and to reduce the possibility of the user's hand coming into strong contact with the vertical alignment reference plate 39.

[0120] As can be seen from FIG. 12(b), the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is disposed / configured such that the direction of the reaction force that the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 receives from the jammed sheet S4 is the clockwise rotation direction in the figure around the rotation shaft 107. That is, in order for the vertical alignment reference plate 39 to align the tip of the sheet on the sheet contact surface 39a, the rotation in the counterclockwise direction in the figure (first rotation direction) around the rotation shaft 107 needs to be restricted by the stopper portion 108a. On the other hand, even if the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is permitted to rotate in the clockwise direction in the figure (second rotation direction), the alignment function by the sheet contact surface 39a is not impaired. Therefore, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 can be retreated from the third position to the fourth position by the reaction force from the jammed sheet S4 without using an actuator or the like. This realizes a compact and low-cost device.

[0121] Note that even if the upper unit 101 is closed without removing the jammed sheet S4, the presence of the jammed sheet S4 left on the intermediate stacking plate 32 is detected by the sheet presence sensor 34. In this case, the controller of the image forming apparatus can notify the user by the above-mentioned notification means that a jammed sheet is present on the stacking surface 32s, and urge the user to remove the jammed sheet S4.

[0122] (Modification of movable vertical alignment reference plate 39) Next, a modified example of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13(a-c). In this modified example, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is held along the holder 108 so as to be slidable in a direction (approximately the thickness direction Z) approaching and moving away from the loading surface 32s in a direction approximately perpendicular to the loading surface 32s. The holder 108 is fixed to a support plate 56a which is a part of the vertical movement unit 56. Furthermore, an elastic body 110 such as a coil spring is inserted between the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and the holder 108. The elastic body 110 biases the vertical alignment reference plate 39 downward (to the lower left in the figure) in a direction (approximately the thickness direction Z) approximately perpendicular to the loading surface 32s, that is, in a direction approaching the intermediate loading plate 32. The third position in this embodiment is a position where the alignment member protrudes relative to the holder due to the biasing force of the elastic body, and the fourth position is a position where the alignment member slides in a direction away from the loading section while compressing the elastic body.

[0123] 13A shows a normal state during execution of an image forming operation, in which the upper unit 101 is located at the abutment position (first position), and the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is located at a position (third position) where the tip 39b is below the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. When a user moves the upper unit 101 to the separated position (second position) upon receiving a jam notification, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves while being maintained at the third position relative to the upper unit 101, and the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 moves upwardly away from the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32.

[0124] 13(b) shows a state where the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 abuts against the jammed sheet S4 during the process of closing the upper unit 101 from the separated position (second position) with the jammed sheet S4 remaining on the stacking surface 32s. If the upper unit 101 is closed further from this point, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 receives a component force in the direction along the sliding direction relative to the holder 108 of the reaction force that the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 receives from the jammed sheet S4. This component force causes the vertical alignment reference plate 39 to gradually move relative to the holder 108 from the position shown in FIG. 13(b) (third position) to the position shown in FIG. 13(c) (fourth position) while compressing the elastic body 110.

[0125] The relative movement of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 with respect to the holder 108 allows the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 to remain above the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. In other words, in the process in which the upper unit moves from the second position to the first position, the alignment member moves relative to the upper unit from the third position to the fourth position, allowing the lower end of the alignment member to remain above the surface on which the stacking portion supports the sheets. This provides the same effect as the third embodiment described with reference to Figs. 12(a-c). EXAMPLES

[0126] Further, another embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 14(a-d). Hereinafter, elements with the same reference numerals as those in the first and third embodiments have substantially the same configurations and functions as those in the first and third embodiments. Figs. 14(a) and 14(c) are front views showing the intermediate stacking unit 42 as seen from the front side of the post-processing device 4. Fig. 14(b) is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the handle 91 and the link shaft 90 in Fig. 14(a). Fig. 14(d) is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the handle 91 and the link shaft 90 in Fig. 14(c). The vertical alignment reference plate 39 in this embodiment is not configured to be movable between the third and fourth positions as described in the third embodiment. That is, the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is fixed to the holder 108 and the support member of the vertical movement unit 56.

[0127] Also in this embodiment, when the upper unit 101 is located in the abutment position (first position), the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is located below the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. Moreover, when the upper unit 101 is located in the separated position (second position), the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 is separated upward from the loading surface 32s of the intermediate stacking plate 32. In other words, when the upper unit is located in the first position, the lower end of the alignment member is located below the surface on which the loading portion supports the sheets, and when the upper unit is located in the second position, the lower end of the alignment member is separated upward from the surface on which the loading portion supports the sheets.

[0128] As shown in Fig. 14(b, d), a handle 91 as an operating part is releasably engaged with a link shaft 90 as an engaged part provided on the upper unit 101. In this embodiment, the shape of an engaging part 91a of the handle 91 with respect to the link shaft 90 is a concave shape that is open toward a tangential direction (rotation direction when the upper unit 101 is opened) to the arc of the handle rail 92. In other words, the operating part has a concave shape that receives the engaged part and is open toward the moving direction of the engaged part when the upper unit moves from the first position to the second position. As a modified example, a concave shape that is open toward the opposite side to the above concave shape may be provided on the link shaft 90, and a shaft member that fits into this concave shape may be provided on the handle 91.

[0129] When the user grasps the handle 91 to move the upper unit 101 away from the state in which the upper unit 101 and the lower unit 102 are in contact with each other (the state shown in FIG. 2) to the position shown in FIG. 14(a), the engagement between the handle 91 and the link shaft 90 is maintained. That is, the upper unit 101 tries to rotate counterclockwise in the figure due to its own weight, so the handle 91, the link shaft 90, and the upper unit 101 rotate together in the clockwise direction in the figure. Also, when the user grasps the handle 91 and moves the upper unit 101 from the separated position (second position) shown in FIG. 14(a) in the direction to close the upper unit 101 (counterclockwise direction in the figure), the handle 91 and the upper unit 101 move almost together. In this case, the handle 91 may move slightly ahead of the handle 91, but the upper unit 101 moves following the handle 91 due to its own weight.

[0130] On the other hand, if the jammed sheet S4 remains on the loading surface 32s, the following operation is performed. When the upper unit 101 is moved in the closing direction from the separated state as shown in FIG. 14(a), the tip 39b of the vertical alignment reference plate 39 abuts against the jammed sheet S4 at a certain position (the position of the upper unit shown in FIG. 14(c)). Even if the handle 91 is further moved in the substantially counterclockwise direction in the figure, the upper unit 101 receives a reaction force from the jammed sheet S4 via the vertical alignment reference plate 39 and is restricted in movement, so the upper unit 101 does not move any further and only the handle 91 moves. At this time, the handle 91 and the link shaft 90 are in a detached (separated) state as shown in FIG. 14(d). In other words, when the operating unit is operated toward the first position while the upper unit is in the second position, if the aligning member abuts against an obstacle present on the loading section, the operating unit is detached from the upper unit and the upper unit remains in a position between the first position and the second position.

[0131] With the configuration of this embodiment, even if the user tries to move the upper unit 101 from the separated position to the abutting position while the jammed sheet S4 is on the stacking surface 32s, it is possible to prevent a strong shear force from being applied to the jammed sheet S by the operating force of the user. This reduces the possibility that the jammed sheet S4 will be damaged or that the vertical alignment reference plate 39 or other members will be damaged by a reaction force from the jammed sheet S4.

[0132] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the sheet alignment device provided in the intermediate stacking unit 42 (processing unit) of the post-processing device 4 capable of binding sheets has been described, but the sheet alignment device of the present disclosure can be incorporated into any device that handles sheets. For example, the present technology may be applied to a sheet alignment device provided as part of an image forming system (image forming device) by arranging the intermediate stacking unit 42 together with the image forming unit 1B in a single housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0133] 1B...Image forming section / 1S...Image forming system / 4...Sheet processing device (post-processing device) / 31...Intermediate stack upper guide (opposing member) / 32...Intermediate stack plate (loading section) / 33...Moving member (vertical alignment roller) / 39...Second alignment member, reference member, pushing member (vertical alignment reference plate) / 41...First alignment member, alignment member (horizontal alignment moving member) / 42...Intermediate stacking section (sheet alignment device) / 48A...First moving mechanism (horizontal movement drive section) / 69A, 75A...Second moving mechanism, moving mechanism (vertical movement drive section) / 72...Pushing member (rear end pushing member) / X...First direction (width direction) / Y, Y3...Second direction (conveying direction) / Z...Third direction (thickness direction)

Claims

1. a loading section on which sheets are loaded; a first alignment member that abuts against an end of the sheet stacked on the stacking section in a first direction and aligns a position of the sheet in the first direction; a first moving mechanism that moves the first alignment member in the first direction; a second alignment member that abuts against an end of the sheet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and aligns a position of the sheet in the second direction; a second moving mechanism that moves the second alignment member in the second direction; having the first moving mechanism is disposed below the loading section, the second moving mechanism is disposed above the loading section, When viewed in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, a movement area in which the first alignment member is moved on the loading section by the first moving mechanism and a movement area in which the second alignment member is moved on the loading section by the second moving mechanism intersect with each other. A sheet aligning device comprising:

2. a counter member provided above the loading section so as to face the loading section and defining a loading space between the loading section and the counter member, in which the sheets are loaded; The loading portion is provided with a first hole extending along the first direction and a first groove extending along the second direction, The opposing member is provided with a second groove extending along the first direction and a second hole extending along the second direction, the first alignment member extends through the first hole to an inside of the second groove, The second alignment member extends through the second hole to the inside of the first groove.

2. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1.

3. The first alignment member is configured to move in the first direction to align the sheets while the second alignment member is stopped at any one of a plurality of preset positions that is aligned with the length of the sheets stacked in the stacking section in the second direction, and the first alignment member is disposed so that a position where the first alignment member abuts against the sheet is different from any of the plurality of positions; 3. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the first alignment member has a plurality of first contact portions provided at a plurality of positions in the second direction and contacting the sheet, the first contact portions are arranged such that the first contact portions contact the sheet end portions at at least two positions across a center of gravity of the sheet in the second direction for each of a plurality of sheet sizes having different lengths in the second direction; 4. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning device is a sheet supporting member.

5. the second alignment member has a plurality of second contact portions provided at a plurality of positions in the first direction and contacting the sheet, the second contact portions are arranged such that the second contact portions contact the sheet end portions at at least two locations across a center of gravity of the sheet in the first direction for each of a plurality of sheet sizes having different lengths in the first direction; 5. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning device is a sheet supporting member.

6. the second alignment member is driven by the second moving mechanism to perform a discharge operation of pushing the sheet from the stacking portion in the second direction.

6. The sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning device is a sheet supporting member.

7. a roller pair disposed downstream of the stacking portion in a sheet discharging direction in the discharging operation, the roller pair sandwiching and conveying the sheet pushed out from the stacking portion; the second alignment member is movable in the discharge direction until a downstream end in the discharge direction of a sheet having a shortest length in the second direction among the sheet sizes that can be aligned in the stacking section reaches a nip position of the roller pair.

7. The sheet aligning device according to claim 6.

8. The seat further includes a first direction reference member that serves as a reference for the position of the seat in the first direction, the first alignment member abuts against one end of the sheet on the stacking portion in the first direction and presses the sheet such that the other end of the sheet in the first direction abuts against the first directional reference member; 8. A sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning device is a sheet supporting member.

9. a moving member that comes into contact with an upper surface of the sheet on the stacking section and moves the sheet so that an end portion of the sheet in the second direction abuts against the second alignment member; The second alignment member serves as a reference for the position of the sheet in the second direction.

9. A sheet aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet aligning device is a sheet supporting member.

10. The moving member is moved in the second direction together with the second alignment member by the second moving mechanism while maintaining a constant distance from the second alignment member in the second direction.

10. The sheet aligning device according to claim 9.

11. A sheet aligning device according to any one of claims 1 to 10; a processing means for processing the sheet aligned by the sheet alignment device; A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

12. an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet; a sheet processing apparatus according to claim 11, which processes the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; An image forming system comprising:

Images