Medium processing device and corresponding image forming system

Abstract

A medium processing device includes: a conveyor; a stacker; an aligner to align a leading end in a conveyance direction of the medium on the stacker; a pressing member adjacent to the aligner; and a shifter to move the medium on the stacker in an orthogonal direction to the conveyance direction. The pressing member includes a movable portion movable in a thickness direction of the medium and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes a guide surface to guide the medium and a protruding portion protruding from the guide surface toward a stacking surface of the stacker. The protruding portion has a shape in which a cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction and a cross-sectional shape in the orthogonal direction decrease in area toward a direction protruding from the guide surface. At least an outer periphery of the cross-sectional shape in the orthogonal direction has an arc shape.

Description

[DESCRIPTION][Title of Invention]MEDIUM PROCESSING DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a medium processing device and an image forming system. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a medium processing device (post-processing device) including a means for performing post-processing such as binding processing, folding processing, punch processing, and the like on a medium such as sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus.As a post-processing device that performs binding processing, there is a device that performs binding processing by stacking a conveyed medium on a stacking surface of a stacker (staple tray), butting an end portion against an aligner (reference fence) to align the medium, and a binding processing unit (stapler) driving a needle into a predetermined position.

[0003] In a case where the medium to be stacked is a sheet with weak stiffness or a curled sheet, stacking failure may occur, and this may cause variation in the binding position and deteriorate the appearance of the bound bundle pf sheets.On the other hand, a configuration is known in which a pressing member is provided to improve the alignment accuracy of the bundle of sheets, and the bundle of sheets stacked on the stacker is pressed in the thickness direction by the pressing member to maintain the posture of the bundle of sheets (See, for example, Patent Literatures (PTLs) 1 and 2.).

[0004] PTL 1 discloses a device in which a roller held so as to be able to advance and retract from a sheet pressing surface of a pressing member is provided, and the subsequent sheet can be stacked in a state in which the pressing member constantly presses a bundle of sheets by rolling of the roller, for the purpose of preventing bending or the like from occurring in the sheet when the pressing member separates from the sheet at the time of stacking the subsequent sheet.

[0005] PTL 2 discloses a device which is possible to prevent a sheet from being damaged by forming a corner portion of an end surface of a pressing member in contact with a bundle of sheets into a curved surface.[Citation List][Patent Literature]

[0006] [PTL 1]Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-240844[PTL 2]Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H8-137151 [Summary of Invention] [Technical Problem]

[0007] Some post-processing devices have a shift function which can execute a "shift operation" of moving a bundle of sheets on a stacker in a direction substantially orthogonal to a conveyance direction. Since the shift operation is performed in a state where the bundle of sheets is pressed by the pressing member, the pressing member may hinder the movement of the sheets during the shift operation.

[0008] For example, since the pressing member included in the device described in PTL 1 includes a roller that is rotatable only in the sheet conveyance direction, the roller that does not rotate in the shift direction becomes a resistance during the shift operation. In addition, in the pressing member included in the device described in PTL 2, since the contact portion of the pressing member is a flat surface, the contact portion similarly becomes a resistance during the shift operation.As described above, in the conventional pressing member, there is a problem that the shift movement of the sheet is hindered, so that the sheet is warped to cause skew, leading to sheet alignment failure.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a medium processing device which can perform a shift operation without causing skew even in a state where a pressing member presses a medium.[Solution to Problem]

[0010] The present disclosure described herein provides a medium processing device to be mounted on an image forming apparatus. The medium processing device includes a conveyor, a stacker, an aligner, a pressing member, and a shifter. The conveyor conveys a medium discharged from the image forming apparatus. The stacker has a stacking surface to stack the medium conveyed by the conveyor. An aligner aligns a leading end in a conveyance direction of the medium on the stacker. The pressing member is disposed adjacent to the aligner to press the medium on the stacker. The shifter moves the medium on the stacker in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The pressing member includes a movable portion movable in a thickness direction of the medium and a fixed portion supporting the movable portion. The movable portion includes a guide surface to guide the medium and a protruding portion that protrudes from the guide surface toward the stacking surface of the stacker to abut on the medium stacked on the stacker. The protruding portion has a shape in which a cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and a cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area towarda direction protruding from the guide surface. At least an outer periphery of the cross- sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape.The present disclosure described herein further provides an image forming system includes an image former to form an image on a medium and the medium processing device to perform post-processing on the medium on which the image has been formed by the image former. [Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the medium processing device that can perform a shift operation without causing skew even in a state where the pressing member presses the medium.[Brief Description of Drawings]

[0012] A more complete appreciation of embodiments of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.[FIG. 1]FIGS. 1A and IB are schematic views illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system.[FIG. 2]FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams illustrating an example of the image forming system of FIGS. 1A and IB.[FIG. 3]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming system.[FIGS. 4]FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a side view schematically illustrating an example of a medium processing device.[FIG. 5]FIGS. 5 A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 5E are explanatory diagrams of a flow of ejecting a sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus in a shift sheet ejection mode.[FIG. 6]FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, and 6F are explanatory diagrams of a flow of processing a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus in a staple mode.[FIGS. 7]FIGS. 7A and 7B are a plan view and a side view schematically illustrating an example of a post-processing device including an optional device.[FIG. 8]FIGS. 8 A, 8B, 8C, and 8D is explanatory diagrams of a flow of punching a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus.[FIG. 9]FIGS. 9A and 9B are a plan view and an external perspective view schematically illustrating an example of the medium processing device.[FIG. 10]FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of the medium processing device.[FIG. 11]FIGS. 11A and 1 IB are a plan view and a side view schematically illustrating an example of the medium processing device.[FIG. 12]FIGS. 12A and 12B are a plan view and a side view schematically illustrating an example of the medium processing device.[FIG. 13]FIGS. 13 A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of an operation in which a pressing member provided in the medium processing device of the present embodiment presses a medium. [FIG. 14]FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member provided in the medium processing device of the present embodiment.[FIG. 15]FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member provided in the medium processing device of the present embodiment.[FIG. 16]FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member provided in the medium processing device of the present embodiment.[FIG. 17]FIGS. 17A, 17B, and 17C are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of the pressing member provided in the medium processing device of the present embodiment.[FIG. 18]FIGS. 18 A, 18B, and 18C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a flow in which a medium is loaded on a stacker.[FIG. 19]FIGS. 19A and 19B are explanatory diagrams of a shift operation in the medium processing device of the present embodiment.[FIG. 20]FIGS. 20A and 20B are explanatory diagrams of a shift operation in a medium processing device including a pressing member according to a comparative example.

[0013] The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.[Description of Embodiments]

[0014] In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.

[0015] Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0016] Hereinafter, a medium processing device and an image forming system according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not to be considered limited to the following embodiments but can be changed within the range that can be conceived of by those skilled in the art, such as other embodiments, additions, modifications, and deletions, and the scope of the present disclosure encompasses any aspect, as long as the aspect achieves the operation and advantageous effect of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIGS. 1A and IB are schematic external views illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming system including a post-processing device as a medium processing device and an image forming apparatus.An image forming apparatus 300 is, for example, an apparatus that forms an image on a medium by a known electrophotographic process.In the following description, a medium processed by the image forming apparatus 300, a postprocessing device 100, and an optional device 200 will be described as a sheet, but the medium is not limited to a paper medium, and may be, for example, a sheet made of plastic, cloth, or metal.

[0018] FIG. 1A is a configuration example of an image forming apparatus equipped with the postprocessing device (inner finisher) 100 as a medium processing device. The sheet discharged after the image forming processing is performed by the image forming apparatus 300 is conveyed to the post-processing device 100, and post-processing such as binding processing is performed.

[0019] FIG. IB is a configuration example of the image forming apparatus equipped with the postprocessing device 100 and the optional device 200. The sheet subjected to the image forming processing in the image forming apparatus 300 and discharged is conveyed to the optional device 200, subjected to post-processing such as punch processing or folding processing, andthen conveyed to the post-processing device 100, and subjected to post-processing such as binding processing. Note that the optional device 200 is a device that allows the user to appropriately select mounting / non-mounting.

[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams illustrating an example of a system including the image forming apparatus 300, the post-processing device 100, and the optional device 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and IB. In the drawing, the flow of the communication signal is indicated by a solid line, and the flow of the sheet is indicated by a broken line.

[0021] FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the image forming system of FIG. 1 A.The image forming apparatus 300 includes a display unit 301 for notifying a user of states and operation contents of various devices, an operation unit 302 for the user to perform setting operation and input of a mode, a number of copies, and the like, a sheet feeder 303 that stocks sheets and separately feeds the sheets one by one, an image forming unit 304 that forms a latent image on a photoconductor and transfers the image to the sheet, a fixing unit 305 that fixes the image transferred to the sheet, and a controller 306 that controls each of these blocks.Note that the display unit 301 and the operation unit 302 also function as a display means and an operation input means of the post-processing device 100.

[0022] The post-processing device 100 includes a controller 102 and a processing unit 101.The controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 300 issues a processing instruction to the controller 102 through a communication line 307, and the processing designated for the sheet designated by the processing unit 101 is performed. Examples of the information exchanged through the communication line 307 include information such as the type and mode of processing performed on the sheet, the size of the sheet, and the processing timing. Such a configuration enables operation of the system.

[0023] FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the image forming system of FIG. IB.The configurations of the image forming apparatus 300 and the post-processing device 100 are similar to those in FIG. 2A.The optional device 200 includes a controller 202 and a processing unit 201.The controller 102 of the post-processing device 100 issues a processing instruction to the controller 202 through the communication line 103, and the processing designated for the sheet designated by the optional device processing unit 201 is performed. The information exchanged through the communication line 103 includes, for example, information such as the type and mode of processing performed on the sheet, the size of the sheet, and the processing timing, similarly to the information in the communication line 307. Such a configuration enables operation of the system.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming system.The controller 102 of the post-processing device 100 is connected to the controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 300 via an FF102b. Control of the post-processing device 100 is performed in accordance with a processing signal from the image forming apparatus 300.A central processing unit (CPU) 102a is an arithmetic means and controls the overall operation of the post-processing device 100.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration including the optional device 200 that performs punching processing and an optional device 400 that performs folding as optional devices.The controller 202 of the optional device 200 is connected to the CPU 102a of the postprocessing device 100 via an I / F 202a, and the optional device 400 is connected to the CPU 102a of the post-processing device 100 via an I / F 402a, and the operation thereof is controlled by the controller 102 of the post-processing device 100.

[0026] The post-processing device 100, the optional device 200, and the optional device 400 are detachable devices, and the I / F (102b, 202a, 402a) is similarly detachable in hardware by a relay connector, a drawer connector, or the like.

[0027] A conveyance motor 111, a sheet ejection motor 112, a staple drive motor 113, a conveyance sensor 114, a sheet ejection sensor 115, and a staple movement home position (HP) sensor 116 are connected to the controller 102 of the post-processing device 100.

[0028] A punching motor 221, a punch moving motor 222, a pre-punch sensor 223, a cover opening / closing sensor 224, and a punching unit HP sensor 225 are connected to the controller 202 of the optional device 200.

[0029] A folding motor 411, an inlet sensor 412, and a folding sensor 413 are connected to the controller 402 of the optional device 400.

[0030] FIGS. 4 A and 4B are diagrams for explaining a device configuration and an operation of a main body that executes post-processing on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 in the medium processing device (hereinafter, also referred to as a "postprocessing device") 100 to which the present disclosure is applied.The post-processing device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B is an apparatus that performs binding processing as post-processing, and includes a binder (binding device) as the postprocessing unit.FIG. 4 A is a plan view of the post-processing device 100, and FIG. 4B is a side view as viewed from the Y direction.An alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4A indicates a reference position that is the center in the width direction of the sheet to be conveyed and ejected. In FIG. 4B, a part of the sheet conveyance path of the sheet is indicated by a broken line.

[0031] The post-processing device 100 is provided near an inlet through which the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 300 is loaded, and as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the postprocessing device 100 includes an inlet roller 11 located on the most upstream side of the conveyance path, a conveyance roller 12 located on the downstream side, a shift roller 13 that shifts the sheet in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction in the post-processing device, and a sheet ejection roller 16 located on the most downstream side and provided near a sheet ejection tray 20 on which the sheet is placed.

[0032] In addition, a reference fence 18 against which the leading edge portion of the sheet in the conveyance direction abuts when the binding processing is executed, and an end fence 21 against which the rear edge portion of the ejected sheet in the sheet ejection direction abuts when the binding processing is executed are provided. End edges in the conveyance direction of the sheet that has been stopped by the reference fence 18 and the end fence 21 are aligned. In addition, a return roller 14 that conveys and butts the sheet toward the reference fence 18 and a tapping roller 15 that conveys the sheet toward the reference fence 18 are provided.The reference fence 18 is a member which aligns the leading end in the conveyance direction of the sheet stacked on the staple tray 17, and is hereinafter also referred to as an "aligner".

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the post-processing device 100 includes a pair of jogger fences 22 (22a, 22b) that align end edges of the sheets P in the width direction and shift and move the sheets P in the width direction. The jogger fence, which is a shifter, can be displaced according to the size and position of the sheet. The end edges of the sheets in the width direction are aligned by sandwiching the sheets P between the jogger fences 22a and 22b in the direction indicated by the arrow F in the drawing.

[0034] The post-processing device 100 further includes a binding device (stapler) 19 that performs binding processing, and a stacker (hereinafter, also referred to as a "staple tray")17 that stacks the sheets conveyed until the binding processing is executed on the stacking surface.

[0035] In addition to the "staple mode" in which the binding processing is performed on the sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus 300, the post-processing device 100 has a "sheet ejection mode" and a "shift sheet ejection mode" in which the sheets ejected from the image forming apparatus 300 are conveyed and ejected without performing the binding processing. Any one of the modes can be appropriately selected and set by the user.

[0036] In the "sheet ejection mode" and the "shift sheet ejection mode", the post-processing device 100 loads the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 300 by the inlet roller 11, conveys the sheet to the sheet ejection roller 16, and then ejects the sheet to the sheet ejection tray 20.

[0037] A flow of the shift sheet ejection mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D. FIGS. 5A to 5D are side views of the post-processing device 100, and are views for explaining a conveyance path of a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 and a flow of post-processing. In the drawing, a conveyance path of the sheet P is indicated by a broken line. The conveyance direction of the sheet P is indicated by an arrow DI. FIG. 5E is a plan view of the post-processing device 100 corresponding to the state of FIG. 5B.

[0038] First, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is received by the inlet roller 11 and loaded into the post-processing device 100.

[0039] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5(B), after the sheet ejection driven roller 16b is located in the nip pressure release state and the rear end of the sheet P passes through the conveyance roller 12, the sheet P is conveyed while being shifted in the width direction by the shift roller 13. The plan view illustrated in FIG. 5E illustrates, as an example, a state in which the sheet P is shifted in a direction (upper side, far side in FIG. 5B) indicated by an arrow with respect to the conveyance center. In the plan view of FIG. 5E, the shift roller 13 can also perform an operation of shifting the sheet P to the lower side (the front side in FIG. 5B) with respect to the conveyance center (alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5E).The shift direction of the sheet P can be switched for each sheet or for each of a plurality of sheets, and the sorting processing can be performed by shifting the sheet P in units of predetermined number of copies and shifting the sheet ejection position.

[0040] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, after the shift of the sheet P is completed, the sheet ejection driven roller 16b is moved to the nip position, and the sheet P is conveyed toward the sheet ejection tray 20.As illustrated in FIG. 5D, the conveyed sheet P is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 20 by the sheet ejection roller 16.

[0041] On the other hand, in the "staple mode", the post-processing device 100 receives and loads the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 300 by the inlet roller 11, conveys the sheet to the shift roller 13, then ejects the sheet onto the staple tray 17, switches back the sheet by the operations of the tapping rollers 15 and the return rollers 14, and conveys the sheet until the sheet edge abuts the reference fence 18. After the plurality of sheets is similarly conveyed, binding processing is performed on a bundle of sheets by the binding device 19,and the bound bundle of sheets is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 20 by rotation of the sheet ejection roller 16.

[0042] The flow of the staple mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 A to 6F.FIGS. 6A to 6F are side views of the post-processing device 100, and are views for explaining a conveyance path of a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 and a flow of post-processing. In the drawing, a conveyance path of the sheet P is indicated by a broken line. The conveyance direction of the sheet P is indicated by arrows DI and D2.

[0043] First, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is received by the inlet roller 11 and loaded into the post-processing device 100.Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the sheet P is not shifted, and the sheet P is conveyed toward the stacker (staple tray) 17 while the sheet ejection driven roller 16b is at the pressure release position.Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, after the sheet P is ejected to the staple tray 17 by the shift roller 13, the sheet P is tapped by the tapping roller 15 and switched back toward the reference fence 18.

[0044] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 6D, the sheet P is conveyed by the tapping roller 15 and the return rollers 14 until the end of the sheet P abuts the reference fence 18.The end edges of the sheet P in the width direction abutting the reference fence 18 are aligned by the jogger fence 22 (see FIG. 4A).The first sheet P is caused to stand by in the state illustrated in FIG. 6D, and the operation illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6D is similarly performed for the subsequent sheet P.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 6E, the plurality of sheets P is sequentially stacked on the staple tray 17 and stacked as a bundle of sheets in an aligned state. A binding processing is performed on the bundle of sheets by the binding device 19. The binding device 19 is a stapled stapler, and a needle is driven into a predetermined position of the bundle of sheets by the binding processing. The sheet ejection driven roller 16b moves to the nip position.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 6F, the bound bundle of sheets is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 20 by the sheet ejection roller 16.

[0047] FIGS. 7A to 8D are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation of the medium processing device (post-processing device) 100 to which the present disclosure is applied, the device including the optional device 200 that performs punch processing.The post-processing device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B is an apparatus that performs binding processing as post-processing, and includes the binder (binding device) as the postprocessing unit.FIG. 7 A is a plan view of the post-processing device 100 and the optional device 200, and FIG. 7B is a side view as viewed from the Y direction.The alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7 A indicates a reference position that is the center in the width direction of the sheet to be conveyed and ejected. In FIG. 7B, a part of the conveyance path of the sheet is indicated by a broken line.

[0048] The optional device 200 includes a detection device 211 that detects an edge portion of a sheet, a punching device 212 including punching pins 213, and a punch waste hopper 214 that accumulates punch waste.Note that even in a configuration in which the optional device 200 that performs punch processing is mounted, it is not always necessary to perform punch processing, and it is also possible to convey a sheet to the main body of the post-processing device 100 without performing punch processing.

[0049] The flow of punch processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D.FIGS. 8B and 8D are side views of the post-processing device 100 and the optional device 200, and are views for explaining a conveyance path and a flow of post-processing of a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 300. In the drawing, a conveyance path of the sheet P is indicated by a broken line. The conveyance direction of the sheet P is indicated by an arrow. FIGS. 8 A and 8C are plan views of the post-processing device 100 and the optional device 200 corresponding to the states of FIGS. 8B and 8D.

[0050] First, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 A and 8B, the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 300 is delivered to the inlet roller 11 of the post-processing device 100 via the optional device 200. While the sheet P is being conveyed in the post-processing device 100, the end of the sheet P conveyed is detected by the detection device 211, and the position of the sheet P in the width direction is detected.Next, the punching device 212 moves in the width direction of the sheet P in accordance with the detected end position of the sheet P.

[0051] The sheet P stops at a position where punching is performed, and as illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8D, punch holes are drilled by the punching pins 213 included in the punching device 212.Punch waste Ps that has dropped is accumulated in the punch waste hopper 214.After the punching, the sheet P is conveyed by a conveyor of the post-processing device 100, and predetermined post-processing is executed.

[0052] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining a configuration of the post-processing device 100 to which the present disclosure is applied.The post-processing device 100 is, for example, an apparatus that performs binding processing as post-processing, and includes the binder (binding device) as the post-processing means.The post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment includes a main body 100a that executes post-processing on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 300, and a manual binding portion 100b.FIG. 9 A is a plan view of the post-processing device 100, and FIG. 9B is a schematic external view thereof. Note that an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 9A indicates a reference position that is the center in the width direction of the sheet conveyed and ejected in the main body 100a.

[0053] In FIG. 9A, an example of a position (main body processing position) at which the binding device is arranged at the time of the binding processing in the main body 100a is illustrated as H, and an example of a position (manual processing position) at which the binding device is arranged at the time of the binding processing in the manual binding portion 100b is illustrated as M.

[0054] The manual binding operation is started when the user presses a start button 24 illustrated in FIG. 9B. When the start button 24 is pressed, the binding processing is automatically performed on the inserted bundle of sheets (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "sheet").In the binding device, the binding position when the manual binding is performed can be set to the home position (HP).

[0055] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9A, a housing 25 of the manual binding portion 100b is provided with a stopper 25a for regulating an X direction end edge of the sheet manually inserted into a slit portion 27 and a stopper 25b for regulating a Y direction end edge of the sheet.When the sheet is manually inserted into the slit portion 27, the leading edge portion on the binder side in the X direction is stopped by the stopper 25a, and the leading edge portion on the apparatus inner side in the Y direction is blocked by the stopper 25b and positioned.

[0056] In the example illustrated in FIG. 9B, the slit portion 27 is provided to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction so that the sheet is placed on substantially the same plane as the sheet ejection tray 20, but the mode of the slit portion 27 is not limited thereto, and may be provided horizontally.The positional relationship between the sheet ejection tray 20 and the slit portion 27 is not particularly limited as long as the binder can perform both the binding processing in the main body 100a and the binding processing in the manual binding portion 100b.

[0057] The post-processing device 100 according to the present embodiment can simultaneously execute a sheet ejection operation of ejecting the sheet conveyed by the conveyor in the main body 100a without executing post-processing, and a manual processing operation (manual binding operation) of performing post-processing on the sheet inserted into the slit portion 27 in the manual binding portion 100b. The sheet ejection operation for ejecting without executing post-processing includes a shift sheet ejection operation.The sheet ejection operation or the shift sheet ejection operation can be started during the manual processing operation, and the manual processing operation can be started during the sheet ejection operation or the shift sheet ejection operation.

[0058] The post-processing device 100 can include binders as a plurality of processing means.FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating an example of a post-processing device 100 including, as a binder, the needle binding device (needle stapler) 19 that performs binding processing using a needle and a non-needle binding device (non-needle stapler) 26 that performs binding processing without using a needle.

[0059] In the post-processing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 10, the non-needle binding device 26 that performs the binding processing without using a needle is arranged on the other end side in the Y direction via the reference line with respect to the position where the needle binding device 19 is arranged. Note that the positional relationship between the needle binding device 19 and the non-needle binding device 26 is not limited thereto, and the non-needle binding device 26 may be arranged at the position of the needle binding device 19 illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6F, and the needle binding device 19 may be arranged at the position of the non-needle binding device 26 illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0060] In the post-processing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 10, the binding processing is performed by either the needle binding device 19 or the non-needle binding device 26 in the staple mode, and the operation of the binding processing is similar to the operation illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6F.

[0061] FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate examples of the post-processing device 100 including the non- needle binding device 26.FIG. 11 A is a plan view, and FIG. 1 IB is a side view as viewed from the Y direction.In the post-processing device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 1 IB, the non-needle binding device 26 performs the binding processing in the staple mode. The operation of the binding processing is similar to the operation illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6F.

[0062] FIGS. 12A and 12 B are diagrams for explaining the post-processing device 100 as the medium processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 12A is a plan view of the post-processing device 100, and FIG. 12B is a side view thereof.The post-processing device 100 as the medium processing device of the present embodiment includes the binder (binding device) that performs binding processing as post-processing. In FIG. 12A, the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12A indicates a reference position that is the center in the width direction of the sheet to be conveyed and ejected.

[0063] The medium processing device (post-processing device 100) of the present embodiment is the medium processing device 100 mounted on the image forming apparatus 300, and includes: the conveyor that conveys the medium (sheet P) discharged from the image forming apparatus 300; the stacker (staple tray) 17 that stacks the medium conveyed by the conveyor on the stacking surface; the aligner (reference fence) 18 that aligns the leading end in the conveyance direction of the medium stacked on the stacker 17; a pressing member 23 that is disposed adjacent to the aligner 18 and presses the medium on the stacker 17; and the shifter (jogger fence 22) that moves the medium on the stacker 17 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.The pressing member 23 includes a movable portion 23b movable in the thickness direction of the medium and a fixing portion 23a that supports the movable portion 23b.The movable portion 23b includes a guide surface 23d that guides the medium, and a protruding portion 23c that protrudes from the guide surface 23d toward the stacking surface of the stacker 17 and abuts on the stacked medium.The protruding portion 23c has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward a direction protruding from the guide surface 23d, and at least the outer periphery of the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape.

[0064] The post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment has the "staple mode", the "sheet ejection mode", and the "shift sheet ejection mode", and a user can appropriately select and set any one of the modes.The operation illustrated in FIGS. 5 A to 5D is executed in the "shift sheet ejection mode", and the operation illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6F is executed in the "staple mode", and the sheet P as a medium is ejected to the sheet ejection tray 20.

[0065] Furthermore, the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment can execute a shift operation of holding the sheet P stacked on the staple tray 17 by the pair of jogger fences 22a and 22b serving as shifter and moving the sheet P in a direction (width direction of the sheet P) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet P (see FIG. 19A).The shift operation is executed in a state where the sheet P stacked on the staple tray 17 is pressed by the pressing member 23.

[0066] FIGS. 13 A and 13B are diagrams for explaining an operation in which the pressing member 23 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment presses the sheet P which is the medium, and are cross-sectional views in the conveyance direction of the medium.FIG. 13A illustrates a state in which the sheet P is not stacked on the staple tray 17, and FIG. 13B illustrates a state in which a plurality of sheets P is stacked on the staple tray 17 and end portions thereof are aligned by the aligner (reference fence) 18.

[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 13 A and 13B, the pressing member 23 includes the movable portion 23b that can move up and down in the thickness direction of the medium, and the fixing portion 23a that movably supports the movable portion 23b. The movable portion 23b includes the guide surface 23d that guides the conveyed medium, and the protruding portion 23c that protrudes from the guide surface 23d toward the stacking surface of the stacker 17 and abuts on the surface of the loaded medium.The fixing portion 23a is supported and fixed to the aligner 18, for example.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 13B, when the sheet P is conveyed and stacked, the movable portion 23b moves (rises) in a direction of an arrow (upward). When the stacked sheet P is ejected, the pressing member 23 descends to a position where the protruding portion 23c abuts on the stacking surface by its own weight.

[0069] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member 23 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment.FIG. 14-(A) is a cross-sectional view in the medium conveyance direction, FIG. 14-(B) is a plan view as viewed from the placement surface side of the stacker 17, FIG. 14-(C) is a side view in the medium conveyance direction, and FIG. 14-(D) is a side view as viewed from the sheet ejection tray 20 side.

[0070] The protruding portion 23c of the present embodiment is a hemispherical member disposed on the guide surface 23d, and has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward the direction protruding from the guide surface 23d, and the outer peripheries of the cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium have an arc shape.

[0071] Since the protruding portion 23c abuts on the sheet P in an extremely small contact region of the apex portion of the hemispherical shape, it does not become a resistance that hinders the movement of the sheet P with respect to the medium conveyance direction and the directionorthogonal to the medium conveyance direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a "shift operation direction"). Therefore, even in a state where the pressing member 23 presses the sheet P, the shift operation can be performed without causing skew. As a result, it is possible to prevent alignment failure of the bundle of sheets including the plurality of sheets P.

[0072] The protruding portion 23c is preferably a member having high slidability. The friction coefficient between the protruding portion 23c and the medium is preferably smaller than the friction coefficient between the media.

[0073] FIG. 15is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member 23 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment.FIG. 15-(A) is a cross-sectional view in the medium conveyance direction, FIG. 15-(B) is a plan view as viewed from the placement surface side of the stacker 17, FIG. 15-(C) is a side view in the medium conveyance direction, and FIG. 15 -(D) is a side view as viewed from the sheet ejection tray 20 side.

[0074] The pressing member 23 of the present embodiment includes a rotatable rotating member 230, and the protruding portion 23c is configured by a portion where the rotating member 230 is exposed from the guide surface 23d.

[0075] The rotating member 230 included in the pressing member 23 of the present embodiment is a spherical member, and is rotatable in the conveyance direction of the medium and in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.By making the protruding portion 23c rotatable, the resistance to the medium can be further reduced, and the resistance does not become a resistance that hinders the movement of the sheet P in both the medium conveyance direction and the shift operation direction. Therefore, even in a state where the pressing member 23 presses the sheet P, it is possible to perform the shift operation without causing skew, and it is possible to prevent alignment failure of the bundle of sheets including the plurality of sheets P.

[0076] In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 23c has a shape in which the cross- sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward the direction protruding from the guide surface 23d, and the outer peripheries of the cross- sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium have an arc shape.

[0077] A part of the rotating member 230 exposed from the opening 23f of the guide surface 23d constitutes the protruding portion 23c.When the exposed region of the rotating member 230 is large, stacking failure may occur as a hindrance to the medium to be conveyed. Therefore, the volume exposed from the guide surface 23d of the rotating member 230 is preferably 1 / 2 or less of the entire volume of the rotating member 230.

[0078] The movable portion 23b has a space for accommodating the rotating member 230.A wall surface defining a space for accommodating the rotating member 230 of the movable portion 23b includes a support portion 23e that rotatably supports the rotating member 230. The support portion 23e is, for example, a three -point convex member, and may be formed integrally with the movable portion 23b or may be attached as a separate member. The support portion 23e is preferably made of a material having high slidability. Since the support portion 23e is a member having high slidability, the resistance at the time of rotation of the rotating member 230 can be reduced, and as a result, the resistance of the protruding portion 23c to the medium can also be reduced.

[0079] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the pressing member 23 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment.FIG. 16-(A) is a cross-sectional view in the medium conveyance direction, and FIG. 16-(B) is a plan view as viewed from the placement surface side of the stacker 17.The rotating member 230 is similar to the example illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0080] The pressing member 23 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of protruding portions 23c. The plurality of protruding portions 23c is portions where the plurality of rotating members 230 is exposed from the guide surface 23d.By providing the plurality of protruding portions 23c, the number of contact points with the medium increases, and the medium can be more reliably pressed.

[0081] The number and positions of the protruding portions 23c can be appropriately selected according to the function and configuration of the post-processing device 100.As an example of forming the plurality of protruding portions 23c, an example in which the plurality of rotating members 230 is provided has been described in the present embodiment. However, an aspect in which a plurality of hemispherical members disposed on the guide surface 23d as illustrated in FIG. 14 is disposed may be adopted, or an aspect in which the plurality of hemispherical members is formed by a combination of the protruding portions 23c formed by the rotating members 230 and the hemispherical members may be adopted.

[0082] FIGS. 17A to 17C are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of the pressing member 23 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment.FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional view in the medium conveyance direction, FIG. 17B is a side view in the medium conveyance direction, and FIG. 17C is a side view as viewed from the sheet ejection tray 20 side.

[0083] In the rotating member 230 included in the pressing member 23 of the present embodiment, a portion exposed from the guide surface 23d is a member having a dome shape, and is rotatable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.The rotating member 230 has a drum-like shape (short-roller shape), and is attached to the movable portion 23b via a rotary shaft 23g so as to be rotatable in the shift direction.The protruding portion 23c is formed of a portion where the rotating member 230 is exposed from the guide surface 23d. The protruding portion 23c comes into contact with the medium placement surface of the stacker in a line contact manner, and both end portions in the conveyance direction are tapered, and thus do not become a resistance that hinders the movement of the conveyed medium.

[0084] By making the protruding portion 23c rotatable in the shift direction, the resistance to the medium can be further reduced, and the resistance does not become a resistance that hinders the movement of the sheet P with respect to the shift operation direction. Therefore, even in a state where the pressing member 23 presses the sheet P, it is possible to perform the shift operation without causing skew, and it is possible to prevent alignment failure of the bundle of sheets including the plurality of sheets P.

[0085] In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 23c has a shape in which the cross- sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward the direction protruding from the guide surface 23d, and the outer periphery of the cross- sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape. Since the rotating member 230 can be a roller-shaped member, design is easy.

[0086] When the exposed region of the rotating member 230 is large, stacking failure may occur as a hindrance to the medium to be conveyed. Therefore, the volume exposed from the guide surface 23d of the rotating member 230 is preferably 1 / 2 or less of the entire volume of the rotating member 230.

[0087] FIGS. 18A to 18C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a flow in which the medium is conveyed to the stacker 17 included in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment and the end of the medium is aligned and stacked by the aligner 18.FIG. 18A illustrates a state in which the sheet P whose leading edge is curled is conveyed to the vicinity of the pressing member 23.

[0088] FIG. 18B illustrates a state in which the leading edge of the sheet P abuts on the protruding portion 23c of the pressing member 23 and the movable portion 23b moves upward. The protruding portion 23c on which the sheet P abuts has high slidability, and when the protruding portion 23c is formed of the rotating member 230, the resistance is smaller, so that there is no hindrance to the movement of the sheet P.

[0089] FIG. 18C illustrates a state in which the leading edge of the sheet P is aligned by butting against the aligner 18 and is stacked on the stacker 17. The curl of the sheet P is corrected by the pressing of the pressing member 23, and does not hinder the subsequent conveyance and stacking of the sheet P, and occurrence of stacking failure is prevented.

[0090] FIGS. 19A to 20B are explanatory diagrams of a shift operation in the post-processing device, FIGS. 19A and 19B are examples of the post-processing device 100 according to the present disclosure, and FIGS. 20A and 20B are comparative examples.FIGS. 19A and 20A are plan views of the post-processing device 100, and FIGS. 19B and 20B are side views of the pressing member 23 inside the post-processing device as viewed from the sheet ejection tray 20 direction.

[0091] The post-processing device 100 can shift the sheet P by holding the sheet P stacked on the stacker 17 with a pair of jogger fences (22a, 22b) as a shifter and moving the jogger fences 22 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet P (shift direction indicated by an arrow S).Note that the shifter can shift the sheet P in the vertical direction with respect to the conveyance center (alternate long and short dash line in the drawing) in the plan view of FIG. 19A.

[0092] In a post-processing device 100 according to a comparative example illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, a protruding portion 231 of the pressing member 23 in contact with the sheet P is configured by a roller rotatable only in the conveyance direction of the medium. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 20B, the protruding portion 231 hinders the movement of the sheet P at the time of the shift operation of the sheet P, and deflection W may occur. In addition, in a case where any one of the pressing members 23 obstructs the movement of the sheet P, the sheet P rotates about the pressing member 23, skew occurs as illustrated in FIG. 20A, and sheet alignment failure is caused.

[0093] On the other hand, in the post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the protruding portion 23c of the pressing member 23 in contact with the sheet P has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward the direction protruding from the guide surface 23d,and the outer periphery of the cross-sectional shape in at least the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape. Therefore, the protruding portion 23c does not become a hindrance to the movement of the sheet P during the shift operation of the sheet P.

[0094] The post-processing device 100 of the present embodiment including the pressing member 23 illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 17C can perform a shift operation without causing skew even in a state where the pressing member 23 presses the sheet P, and can prevent occurrence of sheet alignment failure.

[0095] Aspects of the present disclosure are, for example, as follows.Aspect 1A medium processing device to be mounted on an image forming apparatus includes: a conveyor to convey a medium discharged from the image forming apparatus; a stacker to stack the medium conveyed by the conveyor on a stacking surface of the stacker; an aligner to align a leading end in a conveyance direction of the medium stacked on the stacker; a pressing member disposed adjacent to the aligner to press the medium on the stacker; and a shifter to move the medium on the stacker in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The pressing member includes a movable portion movable in a thickness direction of the medium and a fixed portion supporting the movable portion. The movable portion includes a guide surface to guide the medium and a protruding portion that protrudes from the guide surface toward the stacking surface of the stacker to abut on the medium stacked on the stacker. The protruding portion has a shape in which a cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward a direction protruding from the guide surface, and at least an outer periphery of the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape.Aspect 2The medium processing device according to Aspect 1 further includes a plurality of protruding portions including the protruding portion.Aspect 3In the medium processing device according to Aspect 1 or 2, the pressing member includes a rotating member which is rotatable, and the protruding portion is an exposed portion of the rotating member that is exposed from the guide surface.Aspect 4The medium processing device according to Aspect 3, in which the rotating member is a spherical member, and is rotatable in the conveyance direction of the medium and in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.Aspect 5In the medium processing device according to Aspect 3, the exposed portion of the rotating member that is exposed from the guide surface is a dome shape, and the rotating member is rotatable in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.Aspect 6In the medium processing device according to any one of Aspects 3 to 5, a volume the exposed portion of the rotating member that is exposed from the guide surface is half or less of an entire volume of the rotating member.Aspect 7The medium processing device according to Aspect 1 or 2, in which the protruding portion is a hemispherical member disposed on the guide surface.Aspect 8An image forming system including: an image former to form an image on a medium; and the medium processing device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7 to perform post-processing on the medium on which the image has been formed by the image former.

[0096] The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present disclosure. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and / or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and / or substituted for each other within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0097] This patent application is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-199318, filed on November 24, 2023, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.[Reference Signs List]

[0098] 17 Stacker (staple tray)18 Aligner (reference fence)19 Binder (needle binding device)22 Shifter (jogger fence)23 Pressing member23 a Fixing portion23b Movable portion23c Protruding portion23d Guide surface23e Support portion23f Opening26 Binder (non-needle binding device)27 Slit portion100 Medium processing device (post-processing device)230 Rotating member300 Image forming apparatus

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A medium processing device to be mounted on an image forming apparatus, the medium processing device comprising: a conveyor to convey a medium discharged from the image forming apparatus; a stacker having a stacking surface to stack the medium conveyed by the conveyor; an aligner to align a leading end in a conveyance direction of the medium on the stacker; a pressing member disposed adjacent to the aligner to press the medium on the stacker; and a shifter to move the medium on the stacker in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, the pressing member including: a movable portion movable in a thickness direction of the medium; and a fixed portion supporting the movable portion, the movable portion including: a guide surface to guide the medium; and a protruding portion that protrudes from the guide surface toward the stacking surface of the stacker to abut on the medium stacked on the stacker, and the protruding portion having a shape in which a cross-sectional shape in the conveyance direction of the medium and a cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium decrease in area toward a direction protruding from the guide surface, and at least an outer periphery of the cross-sectional shape in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium has an arc shape.

2. The medium processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protruding portions including the protruding portion.

3. The medium processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing member includes a rotating member which is rotatable, and the protruding portion is an exposed portion of the rotating member that is exposed from the guide surface.

4. The medium processing device according to claim 3, wherein the rotating member is a spherical member, and is rotatable in the conveyance direction of the medium and in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.

5. The medium processing device according to claim 3, wherein the exposed portion of the rotating member has a dome shape, and the rotating member is rotatable in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium.

6. The medium processing device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the exposed portion of the rotating member has a volume of half or less of an entire volume of the rotating member.

7. The medium processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protruding portion is a hemispherical member disposed on the guide surface.

8. An image forming system comprising: an image former to form an image on a medium; and the medium processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to perform postprocessing on the medium on which the image has been formed by the image former.

Images