Aftertreatment Device

Abstract

To provide a post-processing apparatus that can perform post-processing on a medium in a state where a bulge of the medium is extended and improve a quality of the post-processing.SOLUTION: A post-processing apparatus includes: a processing tray in which a medium recorded by a recording unit is mounted; a rear end matching unit that a rear end (an example of an end portion) of the medium in the processing tray is matched; a post-processing unit 33 that performs post-processing on the medium matched by the rear end matching unit; and a pressing member 81 that presses a rear end portion of the medium. The pressing member 81 is movably provided in cooperation with movement of the post-processing unit 33 in a state contacting with the medium matched by the rear end matching unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on a medium such as paper. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses, as an example of a post-processing device, a sheet processing device that includes a pressing member that presses sheets (an example of a medium) and a stapler (an example of a post-processing section) that performs edge binding while pressing the sheets with the pressing member. The sheet processing device includes a tray member (an example of a processing tray) on which sheets are stacked, a fence member (an example of an alignment section) that positions the trailing edge of the sheets stacked on the tray member, a pressing member that presses the sheets stacked on the tray member, and a stapler. The pressing member is configured to move in conjunction with the stapler. The pressing member presses the sheets when the stapler performs edge binding, and moves away from the sheets and together with the stapler when the stapler moves. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-132584 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the post-processing device described in Patent Document 1, the pressing member separates from the media when the post-processing unit moves. Therefore, if curled media is pressed down while the pressing member is separated, the thickness of the bundle of multiple sheets expands due to the curl of the media during the separation. If post-processing such as edge stapling is performed while the media is in this expanded state, the quality of the post-processing decreases. Therefore, there is a need to perform post-processing without errors on bundles of curled media. This need is not limited to edge stapling, but is common to post-processing methods such as punching and saddle stitching. For example, when post-processing such as edge stapling is performed on media recorded using an inkjet recording device, the media is prone to curling during post-processing. This is because the media expands as the ink is absorbed into the media and contracts as the absorbed ink dries. Furthermore, the above-mentioned problem is common when post-processing media recorded using a recording method other than inkjet recording, media that has undergone some pre-processing other than recording, or media with a tendency to curl, which may be prone to curling during post-processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A post-processing device that solves the above problem comprises a processing tray on which media recorded by a recording unit is loaded, an alignment unit that aligns the edges of the media in the processing tray, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the media aligned by the alignment unit, and a pressing member that presses the edges of the media, and the pressing member is arranged to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing unit while in contact with the media aligned by the alignment unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing a recording system including a post-processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a main part of the post-processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of the post-processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a post-processing section and a pressing mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view illustrating the movement of the post-processing unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a predetermined number of media are stacked. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing how media are further stacked after a predetermined number of media have been stacked. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a target number of media are stacked. [Figure 13] 10 is a schematic side view showing the effect after the media hits the trailing edge alignment portion when a predetermined number of media or more are stacked; FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing how the pressing member rolls when the post-processing section moves. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a post-processing section and a pressing mechanism according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the post-processing section and a broken pressing mechanism. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the pressing mechanism. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a post-processing section provided with a pressing mechanism according to a modified example. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a pressing mechanism and a post-processing section in a modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] (First embodiment) A recording system according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The recording system performs a post-processing operation in which a plurality of recorded media are stacked and post-processed on the stack of media. The recording system may, for example, perform a recording operation in which recording is performed on a medium such as paper prior to the post-processing operation.

[0008] In FIG. 1, the recording system 11 is assumed to be placed on a horizontal plane, with the direction of gravity indicated by the Z axis, and two intersecting axes along a plane intersecting the Z axis indicated by the X and Y axes. The X, Y, and Z axes are preferably perpendicular to one another. In the following description, the direction parallel to the X axis is also referred to as the width direction X, the direction of gravity parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as the vertical direction Z, and the direction perpendicular to the width direction X and along the conveyance path 17 is referred to as the conveyance direction Y0. The conveyance direction Y0 is the direction in which the conveyance roller pairs 19, 19A, and 31 convey the medium 12 and changes depending on the position of the medium 12 as it is conveyed from the recording device 13 to the post-processing device 14.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the recording system 11 includes a post-processing device 14 that performs post-processing on the recorded medium 12. The recording system 11 may further include a recording device 13 that records on the medium, and may further include an intermediate device 15 disposed between the recording device 13 and the post-processing device 14. The recording device 13 is, for example, an inkjet printer that ejects ink, an example of a liquid, onto the medium 12 to record characters and images. The intermediate device 15 inverts the recorded medium 12 received from the recording device 13 and then ejects it to the post-processing device 14. The post-processing device 14 performs post-processing on the recorded medium 12 received from the intermediate device 15. Post-processing includes, for example, stapling, which binds multiple media 12 together. In addition to stapling, post-processing may also include punching, saddle-stitching, folding, and other processes. Here, punching is the process of punching holes in one or more media 12.

[0010] The recording system 11 is provided with a transport path 17, shown by a two-dot chain line in Figure 1, that runs from the recording device 13 through the intermediate device 15 to the post-processing device 14. The recording device 13 is equipped with one or more pairs of transport rollers 19 that transport the medium 12 along the transport path 17 by driving a transport motor 18. The intermediate device 15 also has a reversing processing unit 200 that reverses the recorded medium 12. The intermediate device 15 is equipped with a transport motor (not shown) that drives one or more pairs of transport rollers 19 that make up the reversing processing unit 200.

[0011] Furthermore, the post-recorded medium 12 that has been inverted by the intermediate device 15 is carried into the post-processing device 14. The post-processing device 14 includes a transport mechanism 30 that transports the medium 12. The transport mechanism 30 includes a pair of transport rollers 19A and 31, and a transport motor (not shown) that drives the pair of transport rollers 19A and 31.

[0012] The post-processing device 14 includes a processing tray 32 that loads the medium 12 carried in from the transport roller pair 31, a post-processing section 33 that performs post-processing on the medium 12 aligned on the processing tray 32, a discharge mechanism 36 that discharges the post-processed medium 12 from the processing tray 32, and a discharge tray 35 that loads the medium 12 discharged from the discharge mechanism 36. The processing tray 32 is loaded with the medium 12 that has been recorded on by the recording section 24.

[0013] Furthermore, post-processing device 14 may also include a guide member 37 above discharge tray 35 that guides media stack 12B discharged by discharge mechanism 36 from above, and a media support member 38 that temporarily supports media stack 12B as it is being discharged and then drops it onto discharge tray 35. Post-processing device 14 may also include an elevation mechanism that lowers discharge tray 35 as the amount of media 12 loaded on discharge tray 35 increases.

[0014] Note that the medium stack 12B refers to a stack of multiple media 12 stacked with the edges aligned. Post-processing is processing performed on a single medium 12 or the medium stack 12B, and is processing performed on a medium 12 or the medium stack 12B after pre-processing such as recording or reversal has been performed.

[0015] Next, the detailed configuration of recording device 13 will be described. Recording device 13 is provided with one or more detachable cassettes 20 that store media 12 in a stacked state. Recording device 13 includes a pickup roller 21 that feeds out the topmost medium 12 of the media 12 stored in cassette 20, and a separation roller 22 that separates the media 12 fed out by pickup roller 21 and feeds out only one sheet of medium 12. The fed sheet of medium 12 is transported along transport path 17.

[0016] The recording device 13 includes a support unit 23 located along the transport path 17 and supporting the medium 12, and a recording unit 24 located opposite the support unit 23 across the transport path 17. The recording unit 24 includes a liquid ejection head 25 having a plurality of nozzles 26 capable of ejecting liquid. The liquid ejection head 25 records on the medium 12 by ejecting a liquid such as ink from the nozzles 26 toward the portion of the medium 12 supported by the support unit 23. The liquid ejection head 25 is, for example, a line head. The line head is capable of simultaneously ejecting liquid over the entire area of the medium 12 in the width direction X using a large number of nozzles 26 arranged at a constant nozzle pitch over the entire area of the medium 12 in the width direction X. The recording unit 24 may also be a serial recording type. In the case of the serial recording method, the recording unit 24 includes a carriage (not shown) that can move in the width direction X, and a serial liquid ejection head 25 provided on the carriage, and the liquid ejection head 25 ejects liquid from the nozzles 26 toward the medium 12 while moving together with the carriage in the width direction X, thereby recording one scan at a time on the medium 12.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 , the recording device 13 includes a transport unit 100 that transports the medium 12. The transport unit 100 includes, as part of the transport path 17, a discharge path 101 through which the medium 12 is discharged, a switchback path 102 through which the medium 12 is transported in a switchback manner, and a reversal path 103 through which the medium 12 is reversed. The switchback path 102 and the reversal path 103 are used when double-sided recording is performed. In double-sided recording, the medium 12, which has been recorded on its first side, is transported in a switchback manner along the switchback path 102, and the rear end of the medium 12 enters the reversal path 103, where it is reversed, and then fed again toward the liquid ejection head 25. The liquid ejection head 25 records on the second side of the medium 12, which is the side opposite the first side, thereby performing double-sided recording on the medium 12. The medium 12, which has been recorded on one or both sides by the liquid ejection head 25, is discharged to the discharge unit 104 via the discharge path 101 or transported to the intermediate device 15.

[0018] When the recording device 13 is an inkjet printer, recording is performed by ejecting ink or other liquid onto the medium 12. The recorded medium 12 absorbs the ink adhering to its recording surface. By absorbing the ink, the recorded side of the medium 12 is more likely to swell than the back side. Because the fibers of the swollen portion expand as the ink penetrates, the recorded side expands more than the back side. This makes the medium more likely to curl toward the recorded side. On the other hand, when ink penetrates the back side of the medium, the back side also expands due to the absorbed ink, reducing the distribution of ink concentration across the thickness. In other words, the expansion of both the front and back sides of the medium somewhat suppresses curling. Therefore, ink penetration to the back side depends on the amount of ink ejected per unit area and the thickness of the medium. The greater the amount of ink ejected per unit area and the thinner the medium, the more likely it is to curl.

[0019] On the other hand, when the medium 12 dries from a state swollen with ink, the swollen portion of the medium 12 shrinks more than the non-swollen portion. For example, if the recording surface side swells more, the recording surface side shrinks more than the back side, causing the recording surface side to curl concavely. Furthermore, in the case of double-sided recording, the amount of ink ejected per unit area differs between the front and back sides, so the side with the greater amount of ink ejected per unit area is more likely to curl concavely. Furthermore, thick paper such as photo paper and coated paper has a coating layer on the surface, which makes it difficult for ink to penetrate the medium 12. Therefore, curling is less likely to occur due to the thickness of the medium and its poor ink penetration.

[0020] In this way, inkjet printers tend to curl more easily when the amount of ink ejected per unit area is large, when the medium 12 is thin, and when the medium 12 is uncoated, such as plain paper. In this way, inkjet printers are a recording method that makes the recorded medium 12 more likely to curl than recording devices using other recording methods.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate device 15 has the aforementioned reversing processing unit 200 that reverses the recorded medium 12 transported from the recording device 13. The reversing processing unit 200 includes an inlet path 201, a first switchback path 202, a second switchback path 203, a first merging path 204, a second merging path 205, and an outlet path 206. The reversing processing unit 200 has multiple transport roller pairs 19 (only one shown) that transport the medium 12 along each of the paths 201-206, and a flap (not shown) that guides the medium 12 to one of its destinations at the branching points of each of the paths 201-203. After passing through the inlet path 201, the destination of the medium 12 is alternately switched between the first switchback path 202 and the second switchback path 203 by the flap.

[0022] The medium 12 transported in a switchback manner on the first switchback path 202 is inverted on the first junction path 204 and then transported to the outlet path 206. Meanwhile, the medium 12 transported in a switchback manner on the second switchback path 203 is inverted on the second junction path 205 and then transported to the outlet path 206. The inverted medium 12 is sent from the intermediate device 15 through the outlet path 206 to the post-processing device 14 with the side that was most recently recorded on by the recording device 13 facing downward. In addition, the medium 12 dries as it is transported through the intermediate device 15, and the medium 12 is sent to the post-processing device 14 with curling caused by moisture in the ink adhering to the medium 12 suppressed.

[0023] The recording device 13 controls the conveying unit 100 and the recording unit 24 by a control unit (not shown). The post-processing device 14 also includes a control unit 110. The control unit 110 controls the driving of the conveying mechanism 30, the post-processing unit 33, the discharge mechanism 36, the guide member 37, the medium support member 38, etc. The control unit 110 may also control the intermediate device 15. The control unit of the recording device 13 may also serve as the control unit 110 of the post-processing device 14.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the post-processing device 14 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the medium 12 inverted by the intermediate device 15 is carried into the housing 14A of the post-processing device 14. The medium 12 carried into the housing 14A is transported by the transport mechanism 30 described above and then ejected substantially horizontally into the space (processing area) above the processing tray 32. In other words, when viewed from the processing tray 32 side, the medium 12 is carried from the transport mechanism 30 substantially horizontally into the space above the processing tray 32. The transport mechanism 30 is provided with a sensor 34 that detects the presence or absence of the medium 12 at a position on the transport path between the transport roller pair 19A and the transport roller pair 31. The sensor 34 detects the leading and trailing ends of the medium 12 in the transport direction Y0. The control unit 110 detects the timing when the trailing end of the medium 12 separates from the transport roller pair 31 of the transport mechanism 30 from the detection position where the sensor 34 detected the trailing end of the medium 12. When the trailing edge of the medium 12 separates from the pair of transport rollers 31, the control unit 110 starts alignment control to stack the medium 12 on the processing tray 32 in an aligned state.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing device 14 may include a transport mechanism 30, a processing tray 32, a receiving mechanism 41, a feeding mechanism 43, an alignment mechanism 51, a discharge mechanism 36, a push-down mechanism 70, a guide mechanism 75, and a support mechanism 79.

[0026] The transport mechanism 30 includes the aforementioned transport roller pair 31 at the downstream end in the transport direction Y0. The transport roller pair 31 includes a drive roller 31A and a driven roller 31B. The medium 12 is transported from the transport roller pair 31 to a processing area above the processing tray 32 in a substantially horizontal position.

[0027] The post-processing device 14 includes a receiving unit 40 located above and an alignment unit 50 located below, with the conveyance path of the medium 12, which is conveyed substantially horizontally from the conveyance mechanism 30, sandwiched in the vertical direction Z. The processing tray 32 is fixed at an angle to the upper end of the alignment unit 50. The receiving unit 40, which rotatably supports a first paddle 45, is disposed above the processing tray 32.

[0028] 2, post-processing device 14 may have a discharge surface 14B onto which printed media transported via another transport path (not shown) separate from transport path FT along which media 12 forming media stack 12B are transported are discharged. Discharge surface 14B is located above receiving unit 40 and is positioned at a height that allows the user to easily pick up media. For example, media 12 on which images received by recording device 13 via facsimile are recorded are discharged onto discharge surface 14B.

[0029] The processing tray 32 shown in FIG. 2 has a loading surface 32A on which media 12 are loaded. The loading surface 32A is inclined so that the upstream end in the transport direction Y0 is positioned lower in the vertical direction Z than the downstream end in the transport direction Y0. The processing tray 32 has a predetermined width in the width direction X that is longer than the width of the widest media 12. Depending on the inclination of the loading surface 32A of the processing tray 32, the transport direction Y0 in which the media stack 12B is discharged from the loading surface 32A is referred to as the first transport direction Y1, and the direction opposite to the first transport direction Y1 is referred to as the second transport direction Y2 (-Y0). In other words, the first transport direction Y1 is equal to the transport direction Y0 of the media 12 on the loading surface 32A, and the second transport direction Y2 is equal to the counter-transport direction -Y0, which is the direction opposite to the transport direction Y0 of the media 12 on the loading surface 32A.

[0030] The receiving unit 40 has a receiving mechanism 41 and a part of a feed mechanism 43. The receiving mechanism 41 guides the medium 12, which is conveyed almost horizontally from the transport roller pair 31, to the processing tray 32, which is inclined relative to the horizontal. The medium 12 guided by the receiving mechanism 41 is more easily received on the processing tray 32. The receiving mechanism 41 has a rotatable variable guide 42.

[0031] The variable guide 42 shown in FIG. 2 rotates within a predetermined angular range around the downstream end in the conveying direction Y0. The variable guide 42 rotates between a standby position shown in FIG. 2 and an operating position (not shown) rotated a predetermined angle clockwise from the standby position. The tip of the variable guide 42 in the standby position is located above and adjacent to the entrance of the conveying roller pair 31. The variable guide 42 is also located at the widthwise center of the receiving unit 40 (see FIG. 3). By rotating clockwise in FIG. 2 from the standby position to the operating position, the variable guide 42 taps downward the widthwise center of the medium 12, shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, which is being conveyed from the conveying roller pair 31 substantially horizontally at a predetermined conveying speed. By the variable guide 42 tapping the medium 12 downward, the path of the medium 12 is changed to a direction along the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32, and the medium 12 is received in the processing tray 32. Note that multiple variable guides 42 may be provided at different positions in the width direction X.

[0032] 2, the receiving unit 40 is configured by assembling the variable guide 42 and its drive mechanism 65, and the first paddle 45 of the feed mechanism 43 and its drive mechanism 60 to a frame. The variable guide 42 is rotationally displaced by the drive mechanism 65. The first paddle 45 is rotationally driven by the drive mechanism 60.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the drive mechanism 65 of the variable guide 42 includes an electric motor 66, a drive lever 67 driven by the power of the electric motor 66, and a driven portion 68 that is displaced when pressed downward by the drive lever 67. The driven portion 68 is biased upward by a spring (not shown) and is displaced downward when pressed by the drive lever 67. When the driven portion 68 is displaced downward, the variable guide 42 rotates from the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 to an operating position tilted downward by a predetermined angle. When the drive lever 67 returns to a position where it does not press the driven portion 68, the biasing force of the spring causes the variable guide 42 to rotate from the operating position to the retracted position. This reciprocating rotation of the variable guide 42 strikes downward the medium 12 conveyed from the transport roller pair 31.

[0034] The feeding mechanism 43 has a function of feeding the medium 12 guided to the processing tray 32 by the receiving mechanism 41 in the second transport direction Y2 along the inclined stacking surface 32A. The feeding mechanism 43 has the aforementioned large-diameter first paddle 45 and small-diameter second paddle 46 above the processing tray 32. The large-diameter first paddle 45 is arranged above a position upstream in the second transport direction Y2 relative to the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. The small-diameter second paddle 46 is arranged above a position downstream in the second transport direction Y2 relative to the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. The first paddle 45 has multiple blade portions 45A.

[0035] The first paddle 45 is driven to rotate by a drive mechanism 60. The drive mechanism 60 has an electric motor 61 that is a drive source for the first paddle 45. The first paddle 45 moves in the width direction X by a transmission force in which the power of the electric motor 61 is transmitted via a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The first paddle 45 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 as a result of the rotation of a rotation shaft 48 (see FIG. 3) by the power of an electric motor (not shown). The second paddle 46 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 as a result of the rotation of a rotation shaft 49 (see FIG. 3) by the power of an electric motor (not shown).

[0036] 1 detects the trailing edge of the medium 12 with the sensor 34, and then drives the electric motor 66 shown in FIG. 2 when the drive roller 31A has finished rotating an amount corresponding to the distance between the sensor 34 and the nip position of the transport roller pair 31. This causes the variable guide 42 to rotate from the retracted position to the operating position when the trailing edge of the medium 12 leaves the transport roller pair 31. Therefore, the medium 12, which has been transported almost horizontally into the processing area above the processing tray 32, is struck downward by the variable guide 42 when the trailing edge of the medium 12 is no longer nipped by the transport roller pair 31, and the transport path of the medium 12 is changed to a direction along the processing tray 32.

[0037] The first paddle 45 begins to rotate when the variable guide 42 strikes the medium 12 downward. The medium 12 is guided to the processing tray 32 by the striking action of the variable guide 42 and the rotation of the first paddle 45. The first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 contact the medium 12 at different positions in the second transport direction Y2 while rotating, thereby drawing the medium 12 into the second transport direction Y2. The first paddle 45 and the second paddle 46 may feed the medium 12 in the second transport direction Y2 at the same feed speed. Alternatively, the first paddle 45 may feed the medium 12 at a large feed amount, and when the first paddle 45 finishes feeding, the second paddle 46 may feed the medium 12 at a small feed amount.

[0038] 2 and 3, the post-processing device 14 has a trailing edge alignment portion 47 as an example of an alignment portion that aligns the trailing edges 12r of the media 12 in the processing tray 32. The trailing edge alignment portion 47 is bent into a predetermined shape and extends upward from the end of the processing tray 32 in the second transport direction Y2. The trailing edge alignment portion 47 has a regulating surface 47A that is perpendicular to the stacking surface 32A in the side view of FIG.

[0039] The paddles 45 and 46 feed the media 12 on the processing tray 32 until their trailing ends 12r (see FIG. 3) hit the trailing end alignment section 47. When the media 12 are fed in the second transport direction Y2 by the paddles 45 and 46, their trailing ends 12r hit the trailing end alignment section 47, and the media 12 are aligned in the transport direction Y0 on the processing tray 32 based on the abutment position. Multiple trailing end alignment sections 47 are provided at intervals in the width direction X. The intervals between the multiple trailing end alignment sections 47 are set to a length that allows a minimum-width medium 12 to hit the trailing end alignment section 47 at multiple locations. The post-processing section 33 performs post-processing on the media 12 aligned by the trailing end alignment section 47. The post-processing section 33 in this example is movable in the width direction X and performs post-processing, such as stapling, on the trailing end 12R of the media bundle 12B at a position in the width direction X that avoids the multiple trailing end alignment sections 47.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the post-processing device 14 may include an alignment mechanism 51 that aligns the media 12 in the width direction X on the processing tray 32. That is, the media 12 may be aligned in the width direction X on the processing tray 32 in addition to the transport direction Y0. The alignment mechanism 51 includes a pair of alignment members 52 that are movable in the width direction X along the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. The alignment mechanism 51 includes two electric motors (not shown) that act as drive sources for individually driving the pair of alignment members 52. The pair of alignment members 52 align the media 12 in the width direction X by striking both side edges of the media 12 once or multiple times when the first paddles 45, which intermittently contact the media 12, separate from the media 12. In this way, the media 12 are aligned in both directions, the second transport direction Y2 and the width direction X, on the processing tray 32.

[0041] The media 12 are sequentially stacked on the processing tray 32. A stack of media 12B is formed on the processing tray 32, with multiple media 12 aligned with their edges aligned. When the number of media 12 stacked on the processing tray 32 reaches a target number, the post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on the stack of media 12B on the processing tray 32. In the processing tray 32, the media 12 are aligned at least in the transport direction Y0. In this regard, the post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on the media 12 aligned by the trailing end alignment unit 47. Note that the target number is not limited to a multiple number and may include one.

[0042] In this example, the post-processing unit 33 is movable in the width direction X. Here, the width direction X is a direction that intersects with the transport direction Y0 of the media 12 in the processing tray 32. The width direction X is a direction parallel to the direction in which the side of the rear end 12r of the media 12 aligned by the rear end alignment unit 47 extends. Therefore, by moving in the width direction X, the post-processing unit 33 can move along the rear end 12r of the media 12 aligned by the rear end alignment unit 47. The post-processing unit 33 moves along the rear end 12r of the media 12 and performs post-processing at one or more target positions at the rear end of the media bundle 12B.

[0043] The post-processing unit 33 is, for example, a staple mechanism (stapler). When the post-processing unit 33 is a stapler, it moves in the width direction X as needed and staples the rear end of the medium bundle 12B in one or more locations. The post-processing unit 33 is not limited to a stapler, and may also be a punch mechanism, a folding mechanism, or a perforation mechanism that inserts perforations. The punch mechanism is a process that makes holes (punch holes) in the rear end of the medium 12. The folding mechanism is a mechanism that folds the medium. Regardless of which of these mechanisms the post-processing unit 33 is, like a stapler, it moves in the width direction X to a target position and performs one of the following post-processing processes on the rear end of the medium bundle 12B: punching, folding, or perforation.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, a stage 55 is disposed adjacent to the processing tray 32 on the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0, and serves as a platform for the post-processing unit 33 to move in the width direction X. The post-processing unit 33 is provided so as to be movable in the first direction X1 and the second direction X2 along a guide groove 55A formed in the stage 55. The post-processing unit 33 may be guided by a portion that bends at a predetermined angle at the end of the guide groove 55A, and may be inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and may be disposed in an inclined position as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3. In this case, the post-processing unit 33 is capable of flat stapling, which staples the rear end of the media bundle 12B parallel to the side, as well as oblique stapling, which staples the corners of the media bundle 12B at an oblique angle (for example, 45 degrees). In addition, if the width size of the media stack 12B is different, the media stack 12B can be moved in the width direction X using the media support member 38 and the alignment mechanism 51, thereby shifting the corners of the media stack 12B to a position where it can be diagonally struck by the post-processing unit 33.

[0045] The discharge mechanism 36 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided at the downstream end of the processing tray 32 in the transport direction Y0 and discharges the processed media bundle 12B from the processing tray 32 toward the discharge tray 35. The discharge mechanism 36 employs, for example, a roller discharge system. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge mechanism 36 has a roller pair consisting of a drive roller 36A and a driven roller 36B that can hold the media bundle 12B on the processing tray 32. In this example, the driven roller 36B is journaled at the base end of a variable guide 42. The driven roller 36B moves between a spaced position shown in FIG. 2, where it is spaced apart from the drive roller 36A, and a nipping position (not shown) where the media bundle 12B can be nipped between the drive roller 36A and the driven roller 36A. The movement of the driven roller 36B between the nipping position and the spaced position is achieved by the receiving unit 40 rotating about a pivot point (not shown) to change its position. The driven roller 36B is biased by a spring (not shown) in a direction approaching the drive roller 36A. Note that the discharge mechanism 36 is not limited to a roller conveyance type, and may be a push-out type having a pusher that pushes the media bundle 12B on the processing tray 32 out of the processing tray 32.

[0046] A guide mechanism 75 including a guide member 37 is provided above the discharge tray 35 (see FIG. 1). The guide mechanism 75 uses the guide member 37 to guide the media bundle 12B discharged from the processing tray 32 by the discharge mechanism 36 so as not to shift upward. The guide mechanism 75 includes an electric motor 76 as a drive source, and a drive mechanism 77. Two output shafts of the drive mechanism 77 are connected to the guide member 37 via arms 78. By driving the electric motor 76, the position of the guide member 37 is adjusted in a direction that changes the distance between the medium support member 38 and the guide member 37. The position of the guide member 37 may be adjusted depending on the thickness of the media bundle 12B and the amount of curl of the media bundle 12B.

[0047] The press-down mechanism 70 is provided at a position between the processing tray 32 and the guide member 37 in the transport direction Y0. The press-down mechanism 70 includes a press-down member 71 that presses down the media 12. The press-down mechanism 70 includes a drive source (not shown), a pinion 72 that rotates by the power of the drive source, and a rack member 73 that meshes with the pinion 72. The press-down member 71 is fixed to the lower end of the rack member 73. The press-down mechanism 70 prevents the rear end of the discharged media stack 12B from getting caught on the drive roller 36A or a location nearby and falling onto the stacking surface 35A of the discharge tray 35 by having the press-down member 71 press down the rear end of the discharged media stack 12B.

[0048] 2 and 3, the support mechanism 79 has a pair of medium support members 38 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) that are arranged between the guide member 37 and the discharge tray 35 (see FIG. 1). The pair of medium support members 38 are located above the discharge tray 35 and are provided so as to be movable in the width direction X. The pair of medium support members 38 have a support surface 38A that supports the lower surface (rear surface) of the medium stack 12B, and a guide surface 38B that guides the side edges of the medium stack 12B.

[0049] 3, the pair of medium support members 38 move in the width direction X between a holding position shown by a solid line in Fig. 3 where the medium 12 can be held on the pair of support surfaces 38A, and a retracted position shown by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 3 where the pair of medium support members 38 are spaced apart in the width direction X to an extent that the pair of support surfaces 38A cannot hold the media stack 12B. When the pair of medium support members 38 are positioned in the holding position, the leading edge of the medium 12 loaded on the processing tray 32 is supported by the pair of support surfaces 38A and is guided by the pair of guide surfaces 38B, so that misalignment of the medium 12 in the width direction X is kept within an allowable range.

[0050] The pair of medium support members 38 supports the leading edges of the media 12 stacked on the processing tray 32, preventing the leading edges from drooping. If the media stack 12B is discharged with its leading edges drooping, the drooping leading edges may be rolled inward and bent. The pair of medium support members 38 prevent this type of drooping, which can cause folding. The pair of medium support members 38 hold the media 12 being discharged from the processing tray 32 until partway through the discharge process, and then retract in the width direction X to a retracted position, allowing the media stack 12B to fall onto the discharge tray 35.

[0051] Next, the detailed configuration of the post-processing unit 33 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the post-processing unit 33 has a rectangular parallelepiped main body 33A and a pressing mechanism 80 that presses the rear end of the media 12. The pressing mechanism 80 has a pressing member 81 that presses the rear end of the media. The pressing member 81 presses the rear end of the media stack 12B near the portion that will be post-processed by the post-processing unit 33. In this example, media 12 to which liquid such as ink is ejected by the recording unit 24 tends to curl. Post-processing is then performed on media 12 that tend to curl. Therefore, simply aligning the media stack 12B causes the media stack 12B to bulge in the stacking direction (thickness direction). In this example, the pressing member 81 presses the bulge of the media 12. It is sufficient for the pressing member 81 to be able to press the bulge of the media stack 12B, and a pair of pressing members 81 may be provided as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In other words, the pressing members 81 may be provided on both sides of the movement direction (width direction X) in the post-processing unit 33.

[0052] The main body 33A has a recess 331 that opens to the top of its front surface, which is the surface on the upstream side in the conveyance direction Y0. The recess 331 is located at a height corresponding to the rear end 12r of the media 12 aligned by the rear end alignment unit 47. The post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on the portion of the rear end 12R of the medium bundle 12B that is inserted into the recess 331. More specifically, a staple drive unit 332 (see FIG. 14) that staples (binds) the rear end 12R of the medium bundle 12B is exposed on the upper wall surface of the recess 331. When the staple drive unit 332 is driven, the portion of the rear end 12R of the medium bundle 12B aligned on the processing tray 32 that is positioned within the recess 331 is stapled. Note that a support surface 47B, with which the rear end alignment unit 47 supports the backside of the rear end of the media 12, is located above a bottom surface 331A of the recess 331 (see FIG. 10). Furthermore, an inclined guide portion 33D that guides the rear end 12r of the medium 12 into the recess 331 extends above the opening of the recess 331 in the main body 33A (see FIG. 4).

[0053] 4, a rail (not shown) extending along the guide groove 55A is provided within the stage 55, and a guide section guided by this rail is provided at the bottom of the main body 33A. Also provided within the stage 55 is a belt-type power transmission mechanism as an example of a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power from an electric motor (not shown), which is an example of a drive source. The belt-type power transmission mechanism includes an endless timing belt that extends in the width direction X along the guide groove 55A and has both ends wound around a pair of pulleys, and a part of the bottom of the main body 33A is fixed to a part of this timing belt. As a result, the post-processing section 33 moves in the first direction X1 and the second direction X2 along a movement path that follows the guide groove 55A as the timing belt rotates forward and backward due to the forward and reverse rotation drive of the electric motor.

[0054] 4 and 5, the pressing members 81 are provided on both sides of the post-processing section 33 in the width direction X. For example, the pressing members 81 may be arranged on both sides of the opening of the recess 331 in the width direction X.

[0055] The pressing member 81 is provided so as to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing section 33 while in contact with the medium 12 aligned by the trailing end alignment section 47. The pressing member 81 only needs to be provided so as to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing section 33, and does not necessarily have to rotate in order to move in conjunction with the movement. In other words, rotation of the pressing member 81 is not essential.

[0056] 4 and 5, pressing member 81 has a rotation axis RL in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of post-processing section 33, and is provided so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the movement of post-processing section 33. In this example, pressing member 81 is a rotating conical roller.

[0057] The pressing member 81 has a conical shape and has an apex 81A facing upstream in the transport direction Y0 of the medium 12. A rotation axis RL passes through the apex 81A. The pressing member 81 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis RL.

[0058] The pressing member 81 has a truncated conical surface 81B between the apex 81A and the bottom surface where the diameter is greatest, and the diameter increases from the apex 81A to the bottom surface. The pressing member 81 also has a pressing surface 81C adjacent to the conical surface 81B and made up of an outer peripheral end surface located on the larger diameter side. The pressing surface 81C is an annular surface whose distance (radius) from the rotation axis RL is constant. The pressing member 81 also has a cylindrical tube portion 82 that extends along the rotation axis RL.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 5, the pressing member 81 has a through hole 82A that passes through the interior of the cylindrical portion 82 along the rotation axis RL. The through hole 82A is a hole with a circular cross section. The pressing member 81 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis RL with a support shaft 83 inserted through the through hole 82A. More specifically, the outer diameter of the support shaft 83 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 82A. The support shaft 83 is inserted into the through hole 82A.

[0060] 4, the main body 33A has an upper extension portion 33B and a lower main body portion 33C that face each other vertically (in the medium stacking direction) with the recess 331 sandwiched therebetween. A pair of plate-shaped first arms 84 extend outward in the width direction X from both sides of the tip of the upper extension portion 33B. The tip of the support shaft 83 is fixed to the tip of the pair of first arms 84.

[0061] A pair of second arm portions 85 extend outward in the width direction X from both upper side surfaces of the main body 33A. The second arm portions 85 have receiving portions 85A with a U-shaped cross section at their extending tips. In other words, the receiving portions 85A have an opening that opens upward. The rear end of the support shaft 83 is inserted into the receiving portions 85A and supported by the second arm portions 85. The width dimension of the receiving portions 85A is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support shaft 83. Therefore, the support shaft 83 can move in the loading direction along the inner wall surfaces of the receiving portions 85A.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pressing member 81 is biased toward the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. More specifically, the pressing member 81 is biased by a first elastic member 86 in a pressing direction PD, which is a direction toward the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. The first elastic member 86 is, for example, a tension spring. A shaft portion 87 protrudes horizontally from one side surface of the main body 33A at a position lower than the rear end of the support shaft 83. One end of the first elastic member 86 is hooked to the rear end of the support shaft 83, and the other end is hooked to the shaft portion 87. The rear end of the support shaft 83 is biased by the first elastic member 86 in the pressing direction PD, which is the downward direction of two directions perpendicular to the stacking surface 32A. The pressing member 81 can be displaced in a direction away from the loading surface 32A due to a gap (backlash) at the insertion point between the support shaft 83 and the first arm portion 84 and due to relative displacement in the loading direction LD between the rear end of the support shaft 83 and the receiving portion 85A. Note that the pressing direction PD and the loading direction LD are opposite directions to each other.

[0063] 4 and 5, the pressing member 81 is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0. More specifically, the pressing member 81 is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0 by a second elastic member 88. The second elastic member 88 is, for example, a compression spring. The second elastic member 88 is interposed between an apex portion 81A of the pressing member 81 having a truncated cone shape and a tip end of a first arm portion 84 that supports a tip end of the support shaft 83. The pressing member 81 is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0 by the second elastic member 88.

[0064] 3 and 6, the media 12 are stacked in an aligned state on the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. At this time, the pair of pressing members 81 of the post-processing unit 33 are positioned within the width of the media 12. As the first paddle 45 rotates, the media 12 are pulled along the stacking surface 32A toward upstream in the conveying direction Y0 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0065] 8, the rear end 12r of the medium 12 pulled in by the first paddle 45 hits the regulating surface 47A of the rear end alignment section 47, aligning the medium 12 in the transport direction Y0. In this embodiment, the second paddle 46 also pulls the medium 12 upstream in the transport direction Y0. Also, in this embodiment, the pair of alignment members 52 move in the width direction X, aligning the medium 12 on the processing tray 32 in the width direction X. This alignment in the width direction X may be performed during alignment in the transport direction Y0, or may be performed after alignment in the transport direction Y0 is completed.

[0066] The medium 12 thus discharged downstream in the transport direction Y0 from the transport mechanism 30 is pulled upstream in the transport direction Y0 by the paddles 45, 46, and is aligned on the processing tray in two directions, the transport direction Y0 and the width direction X. Note that the medium 12 may be pulled upstream in the transport direction Y0 using a pulling member other than the paddles 45, 46. Furthermore, the tilt of the processing tray 32 may be configured so that the medium 12 slides upstream in the transport direction Y0 on the stacking surface 32A or on the top surface of previously aligned medium 12 under its own weight, and the pulling member may be omitted.

[0067] Each time a medium 12 is discharged from the conveying mechanism 30, the medium 12 is pulled upstream in the conveying direction Y0 by the paddles 45, 46, forming a stack of media 12B on the processing tray 32 in which multiple sheets of media 12 are aligned and stacked.

[0068] 9, the post-processing unit 33 may wait at the width center of the medium 12 during the alignment process. This is because if the frictional resistance that the medium 12 experiences due to contact with the pressing member 81 is uneven in the width direction X, the medium 12 is more likely to skew during the alignment process. Note that if the medium 12 does not experience enough frictional resistance to cause skew, the standby position of the post-processing unit 33 may be shifted from the width center of the medium 12 in the width direction X.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position in the first direction X1 or the second direction X2 and hits the media flatly at two locations. Alternatively, the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position in the first direction X1 to one corner of the media bundle 12B and is positioned at an angle at the corner (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9). The post-processing unit 33 then hits the one corner of the media bundle 12B at an angle. The post-processing unit 33 also moves in the second direction X2 to the other corner of the media bundle 12B and is positioned at an angle at the corner (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line on the right side in FIG. 9). The post-processing unit 33 then hits the other corner of the media bundle 12B at an angle.

[0070] 9, no matter where post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on trailing end 12R, the pair of pressing members 81 are in a position where they come into contact with media bundle 12B during post-processing. Therefore, post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing at a position sandwiched between two points pressed by the pair of pressing members 81 on trailing end 12R.

[0071] 10, when the pressing member 81 is in the lowest position shown in FIG. 10, where the biasing force of the first elastic member 86 places it closest to the stacking surface 32A, the distance between the support surface 47B of the trailing end alignment section 47 and the lower end of the pressing member 81 is a distance L1. Here, distance L1 is set to a distance that allows the maximum number of media 12 to be stacked when the maximum expected number of media 12 is loaded. The maximum number of media 12 is, for example, a predetermined number between 10 and 100 (e.g., 50).

[0072] As shown in FIG. 10 , media 12 to which ink or other liquid has been applied by the recording unit 24 tend to curl, causing them to bulge in the stacking direction LD when a predetermined number of media 12 are stacked. Therefore, when the maximum anticipated number of media 12 is stacked on the processing tray 32, the stack thickness exceeds the predetermined distance L1. For example, when the maximum anticipated number of media 12 (e.g., 50 sheets) is reached, it becomes necessary to set a staple width that corresponds to the total thickness of a number of media 12 (e.g., 55 sheets) greater than the maximum anticipated number of media 12. Here, the staple width refers to the height of the opening required to insert the media 12 into the opening of the recess 331. As the media 12 curl, the stack of media 12B bulges in the thickness direction, increasing its total thickness, so the staple width must be set wider. Setting the staple width wider than the value corresponding to the maximum anticipated number of sheets results in post-processing being performed on the bulging media stack 12B, increasing the likelihood of post-processing errors. When the post-processing is stapling, staple errors tend to occur, where the staples cannot be inserted into the media bundle 12B, or where the staples are inserted but not bent correctly. Furthermore, when the post-processing is punching, punch misalignment errors tend to occur, where the holes are misaligned between the media 12 that make up the media bundle 12B. Furthermore, when the post-processing is folding, fold misalignment errors tend to occur, where the folds are misaligned between the media 12 that make up the media bundle 12B.

[0073] Therefore, in this embodiment, the pressing member 81 presses the rear end 12R of the medium stack 12B bulging in the stacking direction LD, thereby bringing the opening height dimension (staple width) at which the rear end 12R is inserted into the recess 331 as close as possible to the predetermined distance L1. Note that in this embodiment, the opening height dimension is the height dimension between the pressing member 81 and the support surface 47B, which is the surface on which the media are supported in the rear end alignment section 47.

[0074] Next, the electrical configuration of the recording system 11 will be described. The recording device 13 receives recording data from, for example, a host device (not shown). The recording data includes recording condition information and image data in, for example, a CMYK color system that defines the recording content. The recording condition information includes information on the medium size, medium type, whether double-sided recording is performed, recording color, recording quality, total number of recorded sheets, and post-processing condition information. The post-processing condition information includes information such as the type of post-processing, post-processing position, and number of media sheets for one post-processing (target number). A control unit (not shown) within the recording device 13 controls the liquid ejection head 25, transport unit 100, and intermediate device 15. As a result, the control unit of the recording device 13 controls the operations of the liquid ejection head 25, transport unit 100, and intermediate device 15.

[0075] 1 also controls the post-processing device 14. The control device 110 counts the number of media 12 stacked on the processing tray 32 using a counter (not shown). The control unit 110 is electrically connected to the conveying mechanism 30, the receiving mechanism 41, the feed mechanism 43, the alignment mechanism 51, the post-processing unit 33, the discharge mechanism 36, the press-down mechanism 70, the guide mechanism 75, and the support mechanism 79. The control unit 110 controls the operations of the respective units 30, 33, 36, 41, 43, 51, 70, 75, and 79. The control unit 110 executes post-processing control based on post-processing condition information specified in a job received from the recording device 13.

[0076] The control unit 110 detects the rear end 12r of the medium 12 when the sensor 34 switches from a detection state in which the medium 12 is detected to a non-detection state in which the medium 12 is not detected. When the number of media stacked on the processing tray 32 reaches the target number, the control unit 110 performs post-processing instructed by the job on the stack of media 12B stacked on the processing tray 32. In this example, the control unit 110 controls the drive of an electric motor, which is the drive source for moving the post-processing unit 33, to move the post-processing unit 33 to the target position, which is the post-processing position. The control unit 110 then performs stapling as an example of post-processing. That is, the control unit 110 drives the staple drive unit 332 to cause the post-processing unit 33 to perform the stapling operation.

[0077] Next, the operation of the recording system 11 will be described. The user inputs and sets recording condition information and post-processing condition information by operating a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse (both not shown) of the host device (not shown). The recording condition information includes the media size, media type, recording color, total number of recorded sheets, etc. The post-processing condition information also includes whether post-processing is performed, the post-processing content, and a set number, which is the number of sheets of media 12 that make up one media stack 12B. For example, an example of a process without post-processing is "stacking," while examples of post-processing include "stapling," "punching," "saddle stitching," and "folding." The set number is the "number of sheets stacked" in the media stack 12B that are the target of post-processing. For example, it refers to the number of sheets to be stapled in the media stack 12B by stapling, or the number of sheets to be punched in the media stack 12B by punching. Post-processing may also be "crimping," which is stapleless stapling.

[0078] The recording device 13 receives recording data from the host device and acquires information such as the type of post-processing, the post-processing position, and the set number of sheets from the post-processing condition information included in the recording data.

[0079] The control unit of the recording device 13 determines whether post-processing is required from the post-processing condition information, and if the type of post-processing is specified, sends a job including that information to the control unit 110. When the control unit 110 accepts the job, it performs media bundle formation control, which stacks media 12 one by one on the processing tray 32 to form a media bundle 12B of the target number on the processing tray 32, by driving and controlling the conveying mechanism 30, receiving mechanism 41, feed mechanism 43, and alignment mechanism 51. When the media bundle formation control results in the formation of a media bundle 12B of the target number on the processing tray 32, the control unit 110 performs post-processing control.

[0080] 3 and 6, media 12 are stacked in an aligned state on stacking surface 32A of processing tray 32. At this time, post-processing unit 33 is placed in a standby position where a pair of pressing members 81 overlaps media 12. As first paddle 45 rotates, media 12 are pulled upstream on stacking surface 32A in the conveying direction Y0.

[0081] 7, the medium 12 drawn in by the first paddle 45 is aligned in the transport direction Y0 when its rear end 12r hits the regulating surface 47A of the rear end alignment section 47. In this embodiment, the second paddle 46 also draws the medium 12 upstream in the transport direction Y0. Also, in this embodiment, the pair of alignment members 52 move in the width direction X to align the medium 12 on the processing tray 32 in the width direction X. This alignment in the width direction X may be performed during alignment in the transport direction Y0, or may be performed after alignment in the transport direction Y0 is completed.

[0082] The medium 12 discharged downstream in the transport direction Y0 from the transport mechanism 30 is struck downward by the pivotally displaced variable guide 42 and guided onto the processing tray 32. During this guidance, the first paddle 45 begins to rotate, and the first paddle 45 also guides the medium 12 onto the processing tray 32. The medium 12 guided onto the processing tray 32 is pulled upstream in the transport direction Y0 by the rotating paddles 45 and 46. The rear end 12r of the medium 12 strikes the regulating surface 47A of the rear end alignment section 47, aligning the medium 12 in the transport direction Y0. The alignment mechanism 51 is also driven, and the pair of alignment members 52 strike both side edges of the medium 12, aligning the medium 12 in the width direction X. The medium 12 is aligned on the processing tray 32 in both the transport direction Y0 and the width direction X. Each time a medium 12 is discharged from the conveying mechanism 30, the medium 12 is pulled upstream in the conveying direction Y0 by the paddles 45, 46, forming a stack of media 12B on the processing tray 32 in which multiple sheets of media 12 are aligned and stacked.

[0083] Note that the medium 12 may be drawn upstream in the conveying direction Y0 using a drawing member other than the paddles 45, 46. The drawing member may be a drive roller that can come into contact with and separate from the medium 12. Furthermore, if the tilt of the processing tray 32 allows the medium 12 to slide under its own weight onto the stacking surface 32A or on the top surface of previously loaded media 12 and move upstream in the conveying direction Y0, the drawing member may not be necessary.

[0084] 9, during the alignment process, the post-processing unit 33 waits, for example, at the width center position of the medium 12. Therefore, the frictional resistance that the medium 12 experiences when it comes into contact with the pressing member 81 is not biased in the width direction X, and the medium 12 is less likely to skew during the alignment process.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing at a position based on the post-processing condition information. For example, when flat deposition is specified at two locations, the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position in the first direction X1 or the second direction X2 and performs flat deposition at two locations. When oblique deposition is specified, the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position in the first direction X1 to one corner of the medium bundle 12B and is positioned at an oblique position at the corner (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9). The post-processing unit 33 then performs oblique deposition at one corner of the medium bundle 12B. Alternatively, the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position in the second direction X2 to the other corner of the medium bundle 12B and is positioned at an oblique position at the corner (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line on the right side in FIG. 9). The post-processing unit 33 then performs oblique deposition at the other corner of the medium bundle 12B.

[0086] 9, no matter where post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on trailing end 12R, the pair of pressing members 81 are in positions where they can come into contact with media bundle 12B during post-processing. Therefore, post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing at a position sandwiched between two positions where trailing end 12R is pressed by the pair of pressing members 81.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 11 , the pressing member 81 has a truncated cone shape and is positioned with its apex 81A facing downstream in the conveying direction Y0. In the side view of FIG. 11 , the lower end of the conical surface 81B faces downstream of the regulating surface 47A of the trailing-end alignment unit 47 in the conveying direction Y0 and above the support surface 47B. This conical surface 81B functions as a slanted guide surface that becomes lower toward the downstream side in the conveying direction Y0. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11 , even if the trailing end 12r of the medium 12 being fed downstream in the conveying direction Y0 is raised, the trailing end 12r is guided along the conical surface 81B toward the support surface 47B. The trailing end 12r is then pushed between the previously stacked stack of media 12 and the pressing surface 81C of the pressing member 81 before hitting the regulating surface 47A. Therefore, the rear end 12R of a new stack 12B of media made up of the uppermost media 12 sent upstream in the transport direction Y0 by the paddles 45 and 46 and the previously stacked stack of media 12 is pressed by the pressing member 81.

[0088] At this time, if the stacking thickness of the rear end 12R of the medium stack 12B exceeds the distance L1 (see FIG. 10), the pressing member 81 receives an upward force from the media 12 when the rear end 12r of the media 12 is sent below the pressing surface 81C. This upward force causes the rear end of the support shaft 83 to lift in the stacking direction LD against the biasing force of the first elastic member 86 (see FIG. 5), and the bottom surface of the pressing member 81 tilts as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11. This tilting of the pressing member 81 displaces the pressing surface 81C in a direction (diagonally upward) away from the support surface 47B.

[0089] In this way, after the stack thickness of the media 12 swelled with ink exceeds the predetermined distance L1, the rear end 12R is compressed by the pressing member 81 to a stack thickness of distance L1. Then, when the next medium 12 is fed thereafter, the pressing member 81 rises or tilts against the biasing force of the first elastic member 86, allowing the topmost medium 12 to enter below the pressing surface 81C. The rear end 12R of the media stack 12B is then compressed by the pressing member 81 to a stack thickness of distance L1. Even after the target number of media 12 have been stacked, the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B is still compressed by the pressing member 81 to the distance L1.

[0090] Thus, as shown in Figure 12, when the media stack 12B loaded on the processing tray 32 reaches the target number of sheets, the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B is pressed by the pressing member 81 with a pressing force based on the spring force of the first elastic member 86.

[0091] For example, when the maximum number of sheets of media 12B is stacked, the printed media 12 absorb ink and swell, becoming thicker than their original thickness, and this swelling causes small wrinkles (cockling). Furthermore, media 12 that have absorbed ink and swelled often curl. Even when the maximum number of sheets of media 12 with cockling and curling are stacked, the rear end 12R of media stack 12B is compressed to a stack thickness of approximately the distance L1.

[0092] If the maximum number of sheets is stacked and compressed by the pressing member 81, but the thickness of the stack exceeds the distance L1, the pressing member 81 will be displaced in the stacking direction LD, and the rear end 12R will be compressed by the pressing member 81, even though the thickness of the stack slightly exceeds the distance L1.

[0093] When the rear end 12r of the medium 12 abuts against the regulating surface 47A of the rear end alignment section 47, the medium 12 receives a force from the regulating surface 47A toward downstream in the conveying direction Y0. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13 , the medium 12 may bend in reaction to the rear end 12r abutting against the regulating surface 47A. When the medium 12 releases the bend, a force F1 is generated on the medium 12 toward downstream in the conveying direction Y0. This force F1 causes the medium 12 to shift downstream in the conveying direction Y0 from the alignment position. In this embodiment, the pressing member 81 is biased toward upstream in the conveying direction Y0 by the biasing force of the second elastic member 88. Therefore, when the uppermost medium 12 in contact with the pressing member 81 attempts to be displaced downstream in the conveying direction Y0 due to the force F1, a force F2 acts on the uppermost medium 12 due to the biasing force of the second elastic member 88 in a direction that prevents the displacement. As a result, the reaction force generated when the trailing end 12r hits the regulating surface 47A prevents the medium 12 from shifting downstream in the transport direction Y0. Therefore, the medium 12 is aligned in the transport direction Y0 with almost no misalignment. As a result, post-processing can be performed on the medium stack 12B that is aligned with a high degree of alignment in the transport direction Y0.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 14, once the alignment process for the medium bundle 12B is complete, the post-processing unit 33 moves on to the post-processing process. The rear end 12R of the medium bundle 12B is compressed at and near the portion pressed by the pressing members 81. In particular, the portion of the rear end 12R sandwiched between the pair of pressing members 81 is suppressed from bulging. The staple driving unit 332 is located between the pair of pressing members 81 in the width direction X. The staple driving unit 332 staples the portion of the rear end 12R where the bulge is suppressed by the pair of pressing members 81. This reduces the frequency of mistakes in post-processing, such as stapling.

[0095] Although the post-processing unit 33 may be configured to perform post-processing at a standby position, typically, after the alignment process is completed and before post-processing, the post-processing unit 33 moves to the target position in the width direction X. For example, there are cases where the post-processing unit 33 moves from the standby position to the target post-processing position to perform post-processing, and cases where the post-processing unit 33 moves to a second post-processing position after completing the first post-processing.

[0096] In these cases, as the post-processing unit 33 moves in the width direction X, the pressing members 81 rotate (roll) while in contact with the media 12, and move while pressing the media stack 12B. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 14, when the post-processing unit 33 moves in the first direction X1, the pressing members 81 rotate in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the solid arrow in Fig. 14 while in contact with the media 12, and the pair of pressing members 81 move while pressing the trailing end 12R. Also, when the post-processing unit 33 moves in the second direction X2, the pressing members 81 rotate in the clockwise direction indicated by the dashed arrow in Fig. 14 while in contact with the media 12, and the pair of pressing members 81 move while pressing the trailing end 12R.

[0097] Therefore, even when the post-processing unit 33 reaches the target post-processing position, the bulge of the trailing end 12R is suppressed at the position sandwiched between the pair of pressing members 81 in the width direction X, as in Figure 14. The staple drive unit 332 staples the medium stack 12B at the location where the bulge is suppressed. As a result, the frequency of post-processing errors, such as stapling, is reduced.

[0098] After the post-processing is completed, the control unit 110 performs the next discharge operation. The pressing member 71 waits at the guide position shown in Fig. 2. The pair of medium support members 38 wait at the support position shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3. The control unit 110 performs the discharge operation of the medium stack 12B.

[0099] When post-processing is complete, the control unit 110 moves the driven roller 36B from the separated position shown in FIG. 2 to the nip position, thereby nipping the media bundle 12B between the pair of rollers 36A, 36B. Next, the control unit 110 drives the drive roller 36A to discharge the media bundle 12B from the processing tray 32. The media bundle 12B is discharged from the processing tray 32 in the first transport direction Y1 (downstream in the transport direction Y0). The media bundle 12B is discharged while being guided from above by the pressing member 71 and the guide member 37. This prevents the curled leading end of the media bundle 12B from being displaced excessively upward.

[0100] During this ejection process, the pressing member 71, which has descended from the standby position to the pushing position, pushes the rear end of the media bundle 12B downward. As a result, ejection errors, in which the rear end of the media bundle 12B gets caught on the drive roller 36A or its surrounding area and does not fall, are prevented.

[0101] 3, the pair of medium support members 38 move away from the support position indicated by the solid line to the retracted position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the same figure. As a result, the medium stack 12B falls onto the discharge tray 35. The medium stack 12B, which was first discharged onto the pair of medium support members 38, falls from the pair of medium support members 38 onto the discharge tray 35. This prevents the leading edge of the medium stack 12B from bending, which would occur if the medium stack 12B were discharged onto the discharge tray 35 with the leading edge hanging down.

[0102] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The post-processing device 14 includes a processing tray 32 on which media 12 recorded by the recording unit 24 are stacked, a trailing edge alignment unit 47 that aligns the trailing edge 12r (an example of an edge) of the media 12 in the processing tray 32, a post-processing unit 33 that performs post-processing on the media 12 aligned by the trailing edge alignment unit 47, and a pressing member 81 that presses the trailing edge 12R of the media 12. The pressing member 81 is provided so as to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing unit 33 while in contact with the media 12 aligned by the trailing edge alignment unit 47. Therefore, when the post-processing unit 33 moves, the pressing member 81 comes into contact with the media 12, flattening any bulges in the media 12, and post-processing is performed in areas of the media 12 where the bulge is suppressed. This improves the quality of post-processing even for curled media 12. Therefore, post-processing can be performed on the media 12 with the bulge flattened, improving the quality of post-processing.

[0103] (2) The pressing member 81 has a rotation axis RL in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the post-processing unit 33, and is provided so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing unit 33. Therefore, when the post-processing unit 33 moves, the pressing member 81 comes into contact with the medium 12 while rotating, which prevents damage to the medium 12 when the bulge is flattened.

[0104] (3) The pressing member 81 is conical in shape and has a vertex 81A facing upstream in the conveying direction Y0 of the medium 12. The rotation axis RL passes through the vertex 81A and is configured to rotate around the rotation axis RL. The rear end 12r of the medium 12 contacts the conical surface of the pressing member 81, and the rear end is guided along the conical surface toward the outer peripheral end face of the pressing member 81, which has the largest diameter. As a result, the rear end 12R of the medium 12 is pressed by the outer peripheral end of the pressing member 81. Therefore, the medium 12 can be moved without resistance to the location where it is pressed by the pressing member during alignment, and the pressing member 81 rotates when the post-processing unit 33 moves, flattening the bulge. As a result, the area of the medium 12 to be post-processed can be reliably pressed. Therefore, post-processing can be performed on the thinned area of the medium 12.

[0105] (4) The pressing members 81 are provided on both sides of the movement direction (width direction X) of the post-processing unit 33. Therefore, regardless of which direction the post-processing unit 33 moves in the width direction X, the pressing members 81 rotate and press the destination of the movement in the direction of movement, so that the bulge in the post-processing area of the medium 12 can be reliably flattened.

[0106] (5) The pressing member 81 is biased toward the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. This allows the bulge in the medium stack 12B to be flattened, and the aligned medium stack 12B can be held in place so as not to shift position.

[0107] (6) The pressing member 81 is biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0. Therefore, even if the aligned medium 12 attempts to move downstream in the conveying direction Y0 due to a reaction force, the pressing member 81 applies a force in the opposite direction to the movement, thereby preventing the medium 12 from shifting from the aligned position.

[0108] (7) The pressing member 81 is provided so as to be retractable from the media 12, and moves away from the media 12 when the media 12 are aligned by the trailing end alignment unit 47, and comes into contact with the media 12 when the post-processing unit 33 moves and when post-processing is performed on the media 12. Therefore, by moving the pressing member away from the media during the process of aligning the media 12, the media 12 can be aligned by the trailing end alignment unit 47 without resistance, and post-processing can be performed in the area where the bulge of the media bundle 12B is thinly stretched.

[0109] (8) The pressing member 81 has a conical surface 81B as an example of a guide surface that guides the rear end 12r of the media 12 so that the media 12 is inserted below the pressing member 81. Therefore, even if the thickness of the stack of media 12B increases due to curling of the media 12, the rear end 12r of the media 12 can be inserted below the pressing member 81.

[0110] (9) The medium 12 is inserted below the pressing member 81 while displacing the pressing member 81 in the stacking direction LD against the biasing force of the first elastic member 86. Therefore, even if the medium bundle 12B expands due to curling of the medium 12 and the stack thickness increases, the rear end 12r of the medium 12 can be inserted below the pressing member 81.

[0111] (10) The dimension of the opening through which media 12 are inserted, which is the dimension between support surface 47B and pressing member 81, is set to a predetermined distance L1 that is smaller than the stacking thickness of media stack 12B that expands due to curling of media 12. Therefore, even if media stack 12B expands due to curling of media 12, post-processing can be performed on trailing end 12R of media stack 12B with the stacking thickness of trailing end 12R compressed to the predetermined distance L1. For example, if the predetermined distance L1 is set to a stacking thickness equivalent to the maximum number of sheets of media 12 before recording, post-processing can be performed on media stack 12B with the maximum number of sheets of media 12B that expand due to curl compressed to a stacking thickness of approximately the predetermined distance L1.

[0112] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 17. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the pressing member 81 is different from that of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the post-processing device 14 in the second embodiment includes a processing tray 32, paddles 45 and 46, and a trailing end alignment unit 47. Note that the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0113] As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the post-processing unit 33 has a main body 33A with a recess 331 and a pressing member 91 that presses the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B aligned by the rear end alignment unit 47 in the processing tray 32. The pressing member 91 is provided so as to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing unit 33 while in contact with the media 12 aligned by the rear end alignment unit 47. In this example, the pressing member 91 is spherical. In other words, the pressing member 91 is a ball. Therefore, the pressing member 91 is provided so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the media 12 in the transport direction Y0 and the post-processing unit 33 in the movement direction (width direction X).

[0114] The pressing members 91 may be provided on both sides of the post-processing section 33 in the width direction X. For example, a pair of pressing members 91 may be provided on both sides of the recess 331 in the width direction X of the post-processing section 33. The pressing mechanism 90 has the pressing member 91, a bearing portion 92 that holds the pressing member 91 in a freely rotatable state, and a rectangular box-shaped housing 93 that holds the bearing portion 92 in its lower portion. The housing 93 has a rectangular box shape that is open at the bottom. The bearing portion 92 is attached to the lower portion of the housing 93 in a state that allows it to displace in the pressing direction PD.

[0115] 15, the shape of the main body 33A is partially different from that of the first embodiment, but the basic configuration and function are the same. That is, the main body 33A has a guide unit (not shown) fixed to its bottom, which is guided along a rail (not shown) provided within the stage 55, and is also fixed to a part of a timing belt (both not shown) constituting a power transmission mechanism provided within the stage 55. Therefore, the post-processing unit 33 moves in the first direction X1 and the second direction X2 along the guide groove 55A by forward and reverse rotation of an electric motor (not shown) serving as a driving source. The post-processing unit 33 is tilted, for example, 45 degrees at both ends of the movement path along the guide groove 55A (see FIG. 3). Therefore, when performing stapling as post-processing, the post-processing unit 33 can perform both flat and oblique stapling. In addition, a staple driving section 332 similar to that of the first embodiment is partially exposed on the upper wall surface of the recess 331, and when the staple driving section 332 is driven, staple processing is performed on the portion of the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B located within the recess 331.

[0116] 16, the pressing member 91 is a freely rotatable ball, and therefore has a rotation axis RL in a direction (conveying direction Y0) perpendicular to the movement direction (width direction X) of the post-processing unit 33. The rotation axis RL is one of multiple rotation axes of the freely rotatable pressing member 91. In this way, the pressing member 91 may have multiple rotation axes including the rotation axis RL in a direction (conveying direction Y0) perpendicular to the movement direction (width direction X) of the post-processing unit 33.

[0117] 16, the pressing member 91 may be biased toward the stacking surface 32A of the processing tray 32. The bearing portion 92 is biased relative to the housing 93 in a pressing direction PD, which is a direction intersecting (e.g., perpendicular to) the stacking surface 32A. A first elastic member 94 is interposed between the housing 93 and the bearing portion 92. The first elastic member 94 is, for example, a compression spring. The first elastic member 94 biases the bearing portion 92, which is attached to the housing 93 so as to be able to move relatively, in the pressing direction PD. In other words, the pressing member 91 is biased by the first elastic member 94 in the pressing direction PD, which is a direction approaching the stacking surface 32A.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 16, the height dimension of the gap (opening) between the support surface 47B supporting the rear end 12R of the medium stack 12B loaded on the processing tray 32 and the pressing member 91 is set to a predetermined distance L1. As with the first embodiment, this predetermined distance L1 is a value set based on the expected maximum number of sheets that can be loaded. Note that the predetermined distance L1 is a value that can be changed as appropriate depending on the design concept. This is also true for the first embodiment.

[0119] Next, the operation of the post-processing section 33 and the pressing mechanism 90 in the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 17 , the paddles 45 and 46 pull the media 12 upstream in the transport direction Y0 on the processing tray 32. The media 12 are aligned in the transport direction Y0 when their rear ends 12r abut against the regulating surface 47A. When the topmost media 12, indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 17 , is transported downstream in the transport direction Y0, its rear end 12r abuts against the pressing member 91, causing the pressing member 91 to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction X. As a result, the rear ends 12r of the media 12 are guided toward the stacking surface 32A along the spherical guide surface 91A of the rotating pressing member 91. When the rear ends 12r of the media 12 abut against the spherical guide surface 91A of the pressing member 91 and are guided toward the stacking surface 32A, the ball pressing member 91 rotates, thereby reducing the load on the media 12 compared to the first embodiment.

[0120] Then, the rear end 12r of the medium 12 is pushed below the pressing member 91, which is made of a ball. At this time, the medium 12 is pushed below the pressing member 91 so as to slide along the upper surface of the uppermost medium 12 of the previously stacked medium bundle 12B. Then, the rear end 12r of the medium 12 hits the regulating surface 47A, and the medium bundle 12B is stacked in a state where the rear end 12R is pressed by the pressing member 91.

[0121] When the number of media 12 on the processing tray 32 reaches the target number, the post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on the trailing end 12R of the media bundle 12B, which has been pressed by the pressing member 91. Before performing post-processing, the post-processing unit 33 moves in the width direction X to a post-processing position. When the post-processing unit 33 moves in the width direction X, the pressing member 91, which is made of a ball, rotates and moves while pressing the trailing end 12R of the media bundle 12B. Therefore, even when the post-processing unit 33 moves to the post-processing position, the pressing member 91 can press the trailing end 12R of the media bundle 12B. Therefore, the post-processing unit 33 can reliably perform post-processing even at the post-processing position to which it has moved. If the post-processing is, for example, stapling, the staple processing is performed on the portion of the media bundle 12B where the trailing end 12R is pressed, even if the media 12 are curled. As a result, even if the media bundle 12B is in a bulging state due to curling of the media 12, staple processing is performed on the compressed portion at the rear end 12R, thereby suppressing the occurrence of staple processing errors in which the staple does not penetrate the media bundle 12B.

[0122] Note that the media stack 12B is not pressed by the pressing member 91 until the number of sheets of the media stack 12B loaded on the processing tray 32 exceeds the number of sheets that would cause the media stack 12B to swell to a thickness greater than the predetermined distance L1 (see FIG. 16). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, once the number of sheets of the media stack 12B loaded on the processing tray 32 exceeds the number that would cause the media stack 12B to swell to a thickness greater than the predetermined distance L1, the media 12B are pressed by the pressing member 91. Therefore, even when the target number of sheets is small, post-processing is performed with the height dimension of the opening at the short predetermined distance L1. As a result, post-processing errors can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the height dimension of the opening is greater than the predetermined distance L1 in anticipation of the thickness of the recorded media stack 12B expanding.

[0123] According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) to (10) of the first embodiment, the following effect can be obtained. (11) The pressing member 81 is spherical and is rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the medium 12 in the conveying direction Y0 and the post-processing unit 33 in the movement direction. Therefore, the medium 12 can be received on the spherical surface, and the pressing member 81 can rotate when the post-processing unit 33 moves, thereby thinning out the bulge.

[0124] The above embodiment can be modified as shown in the following modified examples. Furthermore, the above embodiment and the modified examples shown below can be appropriately combined to form further modified examples, or the modified examples shown below can be appropriately combined to form further modified examples.

[0125] In the second embodiment, the pressing member 91 may be biased toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0. For example, as shown in FIG. 18 , a second elastic member 95 may be provided to bias the pressing member 91 toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0. The second elastic member 95 biases the spherical pressing member 91 toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0. The first elastic member 94 biases the pressing member 91 in the pressing direction PD, as in the second embodiment. A cylindrical portion 93A extends toward the upstream side in the conveying direction Y0 from a housing 93 that slidably holds a bearing portion 92 that rotatably holds the pressing member 91 made of a ball. The cylindrical portion 93A is connected to a cylindrical portion 333 that extends downstream in the conveying direction Y0 from the main body 33A in a manner that allows it to slide in the conveying direction Y0. The housing 93 is biased upstream in the conveying direction Y0 by a second elastic member 95 made of a tension spring that is hung in an accommodating chamber inside the cylindrical portion 93A and the cylindrical portion 333.

[0126] When the media 12 bend in reaction to the rear end 12r hitting the regulating surface 47A, a force F1 that releases the bending occurs downstream in the conveying direction Y0. However, in this modified example, when the uppermost media 12 in contact with the pressing member 81 attempts to be displaced downstream in the conveying direction Y0 due to force F1, a force F2 that prevents the displacement acts on the uppermost media 12 due to the biasing force of the second elastic member 95. As a result, the reaction force when the rear end 12r hits the regulating surface 47A prevents the media 12 from shifting downstream in the conveying direction Y0. Therefore, the media 12 are aligned in the conveying direction Y0 with almost no misalignment. As a result, post-processing can be performed on the media stack 12B that is aligned with a high degree of alignment in the conveying direction Y0.

[0127] In the example of Figure 18, the second elastic member 95 is a tension spring, but it may also be a compression spring that is positioned downstream of the bearing portion 92 or the housing 93 in the conveying direction Y0 and urges the bearing portion 92 or the housing 93 upstream in the conveying direction Y0.

[0128] 18, instead of providing two types of elastic members, the first elastic member 94 and the second elastic member 95, a configuration may be adopted in which a single type of elastic member is provided to bias the pressing members 81, 91 in a direction that combines two directional components, the pressing direction PD and the direction toward upstream in the transport direction Y0. By providing this biasing structure, a single elastic member can be used to both press the medium stack 12B and prevent misalignment of the media 12 in the transport direction Y0.

[0129] The pressing members 81, 91 may be provided so as to be retractable from the media 12. For example, the pressing member 81 of the first embodiment may be moved between a position where it contacts and presses the media 12 and a position where it is retracted from the media 12 using an actuator (drive source) such as a plunger. As shown in FIG. 19 , the pressing member 81 may be provided so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the stacking surface 32A using a plunger 96. The plunger 96 supports a support shaft 83 so as to be movable in a direction intersecting the stacking surface 32A. The plunger 96 includes a drive rod 96A fixed to the support shaft 83 and an electromagnet 97 that uses electromagnetic attraction to move the pressing member 81 in the retracting direction, which is the direction opposite to the biasing direction of the first elastic member 86. The control unit 110 controls the plunger 96 to control the position of the pressing member 81 in the pressing direction PD.

[0130] 20, during the alignment process in which the media 12 are aligned by the trailing end alignment section 47, the pressing member 81 waits at a distance from the media 12 due to the drive of the plunger 96 (see FIG. 19). Also, as shown in FIG. 21, the pressing member 81 moves in the pressing direction PD to press the media 12 during the period from when alignment of one sheet of media 12 is completed until alignment of the next sheet of media 12 begins, and when post-processing is performed on the media 12.

[0131] Specifically, during the period from when the retraction member, such as the paddle 45, starts retracting the media 12 until the trailing end 12r of the media 12 hits the regulating surface 47A, the pressing member 81 is retracted to the separated position (FIG. 20). The control unit 110 calculates this period based on the length of the media 12 in the transport direction Y0 and the amount of rotation of the paddle 45. When the trailing end 12r of the media 12 hits the regulating surface 47A and alignment of that single media is completed, the control unit 110 moves the pressing member 81 from the separated position to the pressing position. As a result, each time alignment of a single media 12 is completed, the trailing end 12R of the media stack 12B is pressed by the pressing member 81, which has moved to the pressing position. Until the retraction of the next media 12 begins, the trailing end 12R of the media stack 12B is maintained in a pressed state by the pressing member 81 in the pressing position. When the target number of media 12 are stacked on the processing tray 32 and the media stack 12B is completed, the pressing member 81 moves from the retracted position to the pressing position and presses the trailing end 12R of the media stack 12B. Then, with the pressing member 81 pressing the trailing end 12R, the post-processing unit 33 performs post-processing on the trailing end 12R. With this configuration, the pressing member 81 moves away from the media 12 during the process of aligning the media 12 on the processing tray 32, allowing the media 12 to be transported without resistance until they abut against the trailing end alignment unit 47. Other advantages (1) to (10) similar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained. The pressing member 91 of the second embodiment may also be configured to use an actuator (drive source) to move the housing 93 in a direction parallel to the pressing direction PD, thereby moving the pressing member 91 between the separated position and the pressing position in a similar manner. The actuator may also be an electric motor.

[0132] Although a pair of pressing members 81 are provided on both sides of the area (recess) to be post-treated, only one pressing member 81 may be provided. Also, three or more pressing members 81 may be provided. The pressing member 81 may be rotated by the power of a driving source such as an electric motor.

[0133] The pressing member 81 may have any other shape as long as it can rotate around the rotation axis RL. For example, in the configuration shown in Figures 19 to 21, the pressing member 81 may be a cylindrical roller.

[0134] In the above-described embodiments, the predetermined distance L1, which is the distance between the pressing members 81, 91 and the support surface 47B in the stacking direction LD, is set to the thickness of the maximum number of unrecorded media 12 that can be stacked. However, it may be set to another distance. For example, the predetermined distance L1 may be set to half the thickness of the maximum number of unrecorded media 12 that can be stacked. The predetermined distance L1 may also be set to "0." In these cases, it is sufficient that the pressing members 81, 91 move in the stacking direction LD until the predetermined distance L1 reaches at least the distance corresponding to the maximum number of stacked media. Furthermore, in these cases, the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B can be pressed by the pressing members 81, 91 as long as the set number of media is equal to or greater than half the maximum number of media that can be stacked. Therefore, compared to the above-described embodiments, the rear end 12R of the media stack 12B is pressed by the pressing members 81, 91 more frequently, thereby further reducing post-processing errors. Furthermore, when predetermined distance L1=0, rear end 12R of medium stack 12B can be pressed when post-processing section 33 is moved and during post-processing, regardless of the set number of sheets, further reducing post-processing errors.

[0135] The alignment unit is not limited to a trailing edge alignment unit that aligns the trailing edge of the medium. For example, the processing tray 32 may be arranged at an inclination opposite to that of the above-described embodiments, i.e., with an inclination that decreases toward the downstream side in the transport direction Y0. The alignment unit may also be a leading edge alignment unit that aligns the leading edge 12f of the medium 12 by abutting it against the processing tray 32. With this configuration, the post-processing unit 33 may perform post-processing on the leading edge of the medium 12 aligned in the leading edge alignment unit. Furthermore, when the post-processing unit 33 is configured to perform post-processing on the leading edge of the medium 12, the pressing member may press the leading edge of the medium.

[0136] The second elastic members 88, 95 that urge the pressing members 81, 91 upstream in the conveying direction Y0 may be springs other than coil springs. For example, they may be leaf springs such as washer springs or disc springs. For example, a leaf spring may be interposed between the apex portion 81A of the pressing member 81 and the first arm portion 84 that supports the tip of the support shaft 83 so as to urge the pressing member 81 upstream in the conveying direction Y0.

[0137] The first elastic member 86 may be a compression spring as long as it can bias the pressing member 81 in the pressing direction PD toward the stacking surface 32A. The first elastic member 86 may be, for example, a compression spring that biases the support shaft 83 in the pressing direction PD from its upper position.

[0138] The second elastic member 88 may be a tension spring as long as it can bias the pressing member 81 in the upstream direction in the conveying direction Y0. The first elastic member 86 may be something other than a spring. The second elastic member 88 may also be something other than a spring. For example, the first elastic member 86 may be an elastic member such as rubber that biases the pressing member 81 in a direction toward the upstream side of the conveying direction Y0. For example, the second elastic member 88 may be an elastic member such as rubber that biases the pressing member 81 in a pressing direction toward the stacking surface 32A.

[0139] The first elastic member 86 and the second elastic member 88 may not be provided. Although the post-processing unit 33 and the pressing member 81 are configured as an integrated unit, the pressing member 81 and the post-processing unit 33 may be configured as separate units. For example, the pressing member 81 and the post-processing unit 33 may move on different rails, and the pressing member 81 may move together with the post-processing unit 33 when it moves. In this configuration, the driving sources for the post-processing unit 33 and the pressing member 81 may be different or the same.

[0140] The receiving mechanism 41 that receives the medium 12 on the tray 32 is not limited to a configuration including a variable guide 42. For example, it may be an adhesive conveying belt that conveys the medium 12 while adsorbing it to the belt. The adhesive conveying belt may use negative pressure or static electricity. In this case, the adhesive conveying belt may adsorb the medium 12 discharged from the conveying mechanism 30 to a position above the processing tray 32 in the conveying direction Y0, convey the medium 12 to the position above the processing tray 32, and then release the adsorption or use a movable guide or the like to forcibly peel the medium 12 off the adhesive conveying belt and drop it onto the stacking surface 32A, thereby receiving the medium 12 on the processing tray 32. Furthermore, after the medium 12 adsorbed to the adhesive conveying belt is conveyed in the conveying direction Y0, the belt's movement direction is reversed, resulting in a switchback conveyance in which the medium 12 is conveyed in the counter-conveying direction -Y0. Then, the medium 12 may be received on the processing tray 32 by peeling the medium 12 off the suction conveying belt or releasing the suction of the medium 12 while it is being conveyed in the counter conveying direction -Y0, and dropping the medium 12 onto the loading surface 32A.

[0141] The recording system 11 does not necessarily have to include the intermediate device 15. That is, the recording system 11 may be configured with the recording device 13 and the post-processing device 14. The reversing processing unit 200 of the intermediate device 15 may be incorporated into the post-processing device 14. In this case, the post-processing device 14 internally reverses the medium 12 carried in from the recording device 13 and then places it on the tray 32 for post-processing. The reversing processing unit 200 of the intermediate device 15 may be incorporated into the recording device 13. In this case, the post-processing device 14 places the inverted medium 12 carried in from the recording device 13 on the tray 32 for post-processing.

[0142] In the above embodiment, the recording system 11 includes the recording device 13 and the post-processing device 14, but the recording device 13 may include the post-processing device 14. The recording system may be one in which the recording device 13 and the post-processing device 14 are housed in a single housing. For example, the recording system may be configured by housing the post-processing device 14 in the housing of the recording device 13. Alternatively, the recording system may be configured by housing the reversing processing unit 200 and the post-processing device 14 in the housing of the recording device 13. The post-processing device 14 may be housed in the intermediate device 15.

[0143] The control unit 110 may be configured as software in which a computer such as a CPU executes a program, or may be configured as hardware using electronic circuits such as an ASIC. The control unit 110 may also be configured as a combination of software and hardware.

[0144] The medium 12 is not limited to paper, but may be a synthetic resin film or medium, cloth, nonwoven fabric, laminated medium, or the like. The recording device 13 is not limited to an inkjet printer, but may be an inkjet textile printing device. The recording device 13 may also be a multifunction device that has a scanning mechanism and a copying function in addition to a recording function.

[0145] The recording method of the recording device 13 is not limited to the inkjet type, but may be a dot impact type, an electrophotographic type, or a thermal transfer type. The technical concepts and effects that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described below.

[0146] (A) A processing tray on which media recorded by a recording unit is loaded, an alignment unit that aligns the edges of the media in the processing tray, a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the media aligned by the alignment unit, and a pressing member that presses the edges of the media, wherein the pressing member is arranged to be movable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing unit while in contact with the media aligned by the alignment unit.

[0147] With this configuration, the pressing member comes into contact with the medium as the post-processing unit moves, flattening any bulges in the medium, and post-processing is performed on the edge of the medium where the bulge is suppressed. This improves the quality of post-processing, even for curled media. Therefore, post-processing can be performed on the medium with the bulge flattened, improving the quality of post-processing.

[0148] (B) In the post-processing device, the pressing member may have a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the post-processing section, and may be provided rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing section. According to this configuration, the pressing member rotates while coming into contact with the medium when the post-processing section moves, so that scratches on the medium can be prevented when the bulge in the medium is flattened.

[0149] (C) In the post-processing device, the pressing member may be conically shaped, have a vertex facing upstream in the medium transport direction, the rotation axis passing through the vertex, and be configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis. Note that the conical shape may include a cone and a truncated cone.

[0150] With this configuration, the rear end of the medium contacts the conical surface of the conical pressing member, and the rear end is guided along the conical surface toward the outer peripheral end face of the pressing member, which has the largest diameter. As a result, the rear end of the medium is pressed by the outer peripheral end of the pressing member. Therefore, the medium can be moved to the location where it is pressed by the pressing member without resistance when aligning, and the pressing member rotates when the post-processing section moves, flattening the bulge. As a result, the area where the medium is to be post-processed can be reliably pressed. Therefore, post-processing can be performed on the flattened area of the medium.

[0151] (D) In the post-processing device, the pressing member may be spherical and rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the medium in the transport direction and the post-processing section in the movement direction. With this configuration, when aligning the medium, the medium can be moved to a location where it is pressed by the pressing member without resistance on the spherical surface, and the pressing member can rotate when the post-processing section moves, thereby thinning out the bulge.

[0152] (E) In the post-processing device, the pressing members may be provided on both sides of the post-processing section in the direction of movement. With this configuration, regardless of which way the post-processing section moves, the pressing member rotates and presses the destination of the movement, so that the bulge in the post-processing area of the medium 12 can be reliably flattened.

[0153] (F) In the post-processing device, the pressing member may be biased toward the loading surface of the processing tray. This configuration allows the bulge in the medium to be flattened and also allows the aligned medium to be held in place so that it does not shift out of position.

[0154] (G) In the post-processing device, the pressing member may be biased upstream in the transport direction of the medium. With this configuration, even if the aligned medium attempts to move downstream in the transport direction due to a reaction force, the medium receives a force from the pressing member in the direction opposite to the movement direction, thereby preventing the medium from shifting from the aligned position.

[0155] (H) In the above post-processing device, the pressing member may be configured to be removably positioned from the medium, and may be removably positioned from the medium when the medium is aligned by the trailing end alignment section, and may be in contact with the medium when the post-processing section moves and when the post-processing is performed on the medium.

[0156] With this configuration, the pressing member moves away from the medium during the process of aligning the medium, allowing the medium to be aligned by the alignment section without resistance, and post-processing can be performed in the area where the bulge in the medium has been stretched thinly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 11...recording system, 12...medium, 12B...medium stack, 12r...rear end as an example of an end, 13...recording device, 14...post-processing device, 14A...housing, 15...intermediate device, 17...transport path, 18...transport motor, 19A...transport roller pair, 20...cassette, 21...pickup roller, 22...separation roller, 23...support section, 24...recording section, 25...liquid ejection head, 26...nozzle, 30...transport mechanism, 31...transport roller pair, 31A...drive roller, 31B...follower roller, 32...processing tray, 32A...stacking Loading surface, 33... post-processing section, 33A... main body, 33B... upper extension section, 33C... lower section of main body, 33D... guide section, 331... recessed section, 331A... bottom surface, 332... staple drive section, 34... sensor, 35... discharge tray, 35A... loading surface, 36... discharge mechanism, 36A... drive roller, 36B... driven roller, 37... guide member, 38... medium support member, 40... receiving unit, 41... receiving mechanism, 42... variable guide, 43... feed mechanism, 45... first paddle, 46... second paddle, 47... trailing end alignment section, 48... rotation shaft, 49... rotation Shaft, 50...alignment unit, 51...alignment mechanism, 52...alignment member, 60...drive mechanism, 61...electric motor, 65...drive mechanism, 66...electric motor, 67...drive lever, 68...driven part, 70...pressing mechanism, 71...pressing member, 72...pinion, 73...rack member, 75...guide mechanism, 76...electric motor, 79...support mechanism, 80...pressing mechanism, 81...pressing member, 81A...apex portion, 81B...conical surface, 81C...pressing surface, 82...cylindrical portion, 83...support shaft, 84...first arm portion, 85...second arm portion, 86...first elastic member, 87...shaft portion, 88...second elastic member, 90...pressing mechanism, 91...pressing member, 92...bearing portion, 93...housing, 94...first elastic member, 95...second elastic member, 100...conveying portion, 110...control portion, 200...reversing processing portion, X...width direction, X1...first direction, X2...second direction, Y0...conveying direction, -Y0...counter-conveying direction (direction toward upstream of the conveying direction), Y1...first conveying direction, Y2...second conveying direction, Z...vertical direction, RL...rotation axis, L1...predetermined distance, PD...pressing direction, LD...loading direction, F1...force, F2...force.

Claims

1. a processing tray on which media recorded by the recording unit are loaded; an alignment unit that aligns an edge of the medium in the processing tray; a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the medium aligned by the alignment unit; a pressing member provided in the post-processing section and configured to press the edge of the medium; Equipped with the pressing member is biased toward the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium, the pressing members are provided on both sides of the post-processing section in a moving direction of the post-processing section, The post-processing device, wherein the pressing member is provided so as to be movable in conjunction with movement of the post-processing section while being in contact with the medium aligned by the alignment section.

2. 2. The post-processing device according to claim 1, The post-processing device, wherein the pressing member has a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the post-processing section, and is provided so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing section.

3. 3. The post-processing device according to claim 2, the pressing member is conical in shape and has a vertex facing upstream in the medium transport direction; The post-processing device is characterized in that the rotation axis passes through the vertex portion and is configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis.

4. 2. The post-processing device according to claim 1, The pressing member is spherical, 10. A post-processing device, comprising: a post-processing unit that is rotatable in conjunction with the medium transport direction and the post-processing unit when the post-processing unit moves in the movement direction.

5. The post-processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The post-processing device, wherein the pressing member is biased toward the loading surface of the processing tray.

6. 6. The post-processing device according to claim 1, the pressing member is provided so as to be separable from the medium, When the medium is aligned by the rear end alignment portion, the medium is separated from the medium. A post-processing device, characterized in that the post-processing section comes into contact with a medium when it moves and when the post-processing is performed on the medium.

7. a processing tray on which media recorded by the recording unit are loaded; an alignment unit that aligns an edge of the medium in the processing tray; a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on the medium aligned by the alignment unit; a pressing member provided in the post-processing section and configured to press the edge of the medium; Equipped with the pressing members are provided on both sides of the post-processing section in a moving direction of the post-processing section, the pressing member is provided to be movable in conjunction with movement of the post-processing section while being in contact with the medium aligned by the alignment section, the pressing member is provided so as to be separable from the medium, When the medium is aligned by the rear end alignment portion, the medium is separated from the medium. A post-processing device, characterized in that the post-processing section comes into contact with a medium when it moves and when the post-processing is performed on the medium.

8. The post-processing device according to claim 7, The post-processing device, wherein the pressing member has a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the post-processing section, and is provided so as to be rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the post-processing section.

9. The post-processing device according to claim 8, the pressing member is conical in shape and has a vertex facing upstream in the medium transport direction; The post-processing device is characterized in that the rotation axis passes through the vertex portion and is configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis.

10. The post-processing device according to claim 8, The pressing member is spherical, The rotation is linked to the transport direction of the medium and the post-processing section when the latter moves in the movement direction. A post-processing device characterized by being provided in a facility.

11. 11. The post-processing device according to claim 7, The post-processing device, wherein the pressing member is biased toward the loading surface of the processing tray.

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