JPH11349214A - Sheet processing device and image forming device having it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device capable of reliably changing the paper sheet delivering speed and reducing costs, and an image forming device having it. SOLUTION: A sheet delivering means 31 for delivering a delivered sheet toward a sheet housing means is driven by a driving means 52, and a delivered sheet delivered from an image forming device main body is detected by a detecting means. A speed control means controls the driving means 52 on the basis of detected information obtained from the detecting means and changes the delivering speed of the sheet delivering means 31 according to the delivered sheet. A driving force transmitting means 51 for transmitting driving force of the driving means 52 to the sheet delivering means 31 is interposed between the sheet delivering means 31 and the driving force transmitting means 51, and driving force of the driving means 52 is selectively transmitted to the sheet delivering means 31 by the driving force transmitting means 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus for stacking and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same. This is related to the sheet discharge speed when the sheet is discharged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sheet processing apparatus for stacking and sorting sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus,
For example, a plurality of bins for sorting and storing discharged sheets from the image forming apparatus are arranged in the vertical direction, and a predetermined bin among the plurality of bins is moved to a position facing the sheet discharge port, and then the image is formed. In some cases, a discharge sheet received from a forming apparatus is discharged toward a bin.

When the discharged sheets are discharged toward the bin as described above, the alignment of the discharged sheets on the bin may be deteriorated depending on the discharge speed. It is necessary to change the discharge speed.

Here, the conventional sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet discharging means for discharging the discharged sheet toward the bin and a driving means for driving the sheet discharging means. The sheet discharging means is always driven by the driving means. Therefore, the discharge speed cannot be changed until the sheet passes through the sheet discharge unit on the image forming apparatus side.

Therefore, when changing the discharge speed, the sheet discharge speed of the image forming apparatus and the sheet discharge speed of the sheet processing apparatus are made to coincide until the sheet passes through the sheet discharge means on the image forming apparatus side. The sheet discharging speed of the sheet processing apparatus is changed only after the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging unit of the image forming apparatus.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional sheet processing apparatus, if the distance between the sheet discharging means of the image forming apparatus and the sheet discharging means of the sheet processing apparatus is short, the discharge speed is changed. The timing to do it is difficult,
Alternatively, there is a problem in that the time required to reach the discharge speed to be changed becomes insufficient.

In order to secure the time required to reach the changed sheet discharging speed, for example, if the driving of the driving means is accelerated, the sheet discharging speed of the sheet discharging means of the sheet processing apparatus is higher than the sheet discharging speed of the main body side sheet discharging means. In this case, the sheet that has not passed through the sheet discharging means on the image forming apparatus side is pulled in. In order to make this possible, a large-sized motor or the like is required, resulting in a problem that the cost is increased.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and a sheet processing capable of reliably changing the sheet discharge speed and reducing the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus for sorting and storing discharged sheets from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein the sheet forming means sorts and stores the discharged sheets; Sheet discharge means for discharging a discharge sheet received from a main body side sheet discharge means provided in the apparatus main body toward the sheet storage means,
A driving unit for driving the sheet discharging unit, a detecting unit for detecting a discharged sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body, and a discharging speed of the sheet discharging unit based on detection information from the detecting unit. Speed control means for controlling the driving means to change to a speed according to,
It is characterized by having.

Further, according to the present invention, a sheet discharging speed of the main body side sheet discharging means is provided between the sheet discharging means and the driving means so as to transmit a driving force of the driving means to the sheet discharging means. Is higher than the sheet discharging speed of the sheet discharging unit, the driving force of the driving unit is transmitted to the sheet discharging unit.If the sheet discharging speed of the main body side sheet discharging unit is lower, the driving force is reduced. A driving force transmitting unit configured to transmit only the set amount, the speed control unit transmits the driving force to the sheet discharging unit when the driving force transmitting unit transmits the driving force by the set amount. The driving means is controlled so as to change the discharge speed of the sheet discharging means.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and a sheet processing apparatus that sorts and stores discharged sheets from the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is the same as the above. Or the sheet processing apparatus according to item 2.

Further, as in the present invention, the sheet discharging means for discharging the discharged sheet toward the sheet storage means is driven by the driving means, and the discharged sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is detected by the detecting means. The speed control means controls the driving means based on the detection information from the detection means, and changes the discharge speed of the sheet discharge means to a speed corresponding to the discharged sheet.

[0013] A driving force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force of the driving means to the sheet discharging means is interposed between the sheet discharging means and the driving means.
When the sheet discharge speed of the main body side sheet discharge unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body is faster than the sheet discharge speed of the sheet discharge unit, the driving force of the driving unit is transmitted to the sheet discharge unit, and the main body side sheet discharge unit is transmitted. When the sheet discharge speed is slower, the driving force is transmitted by the set amount. Then, the speed control means, when the driving force transmission means transmits the driving force to the sheet discharging means by the set amount,
The driving unit is controlled to change the discharge speed of the sheet discharging unit.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a copying apparatus which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a copying apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus main body), and reference numeral 20 denotes a staple sorter which is a sheet processing apparatus provided in the apparatus main body 1.

The apparatus main body 1 includes a document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as an ADF) 2 for automatically feeding a document G, and includes a photosensitive drum 5, a charging roller 6, and a transfer sheet S therein.
, A pickup roller 8 for picking up the transfer sheet S, a separation roller 9 for preventing double transfer of the transfer sheet S, a registration roller 10, a transfer roller 11, and a toner image transferred as described later. The fixing device 12 includes a fixing device 12 for thermocompression bonding to the paper S, and a main body discharge roller 13 that is a main body side discharge unit that conveys the transfer paper S on which the toner image is pressed to the staple sorter 20. Reference numeral 3 denotes a platen glass provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body, on which a document G is placed. Reference numeral 5a denotes a developing device.

On the other hand, the staple sorter 20 includes a main frame 30, a sorter discharge roller 31, a discharge sensor 32, and a bin unit 40. The bin unit 40 includes a bin frame 41, a plurality of bins 42B that are vertically arranged and rotatably mounted with bin rollers 43C and that can move in the vertical direction, a bin roller guide 44, and a bin unit 40. And a rail 55 for guiding the vertical movement of the rail. 33R (L) is a lead cam provided on the staple sorter 20 to shift the bin 42B in the vertical direction.

Next, the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 1 thus configured and the sheet stacking or sorting operation of the staple sorter 20 will be described.

First, when the user starts copying, A
The document G placed on the DF2 is transferred onto the platen glass, and the document G is set. Next, the original G
Is set, the transfer paper S set in the cassette 7 is picked up by the pickup roller 8,
Thereafter, the registration roller 1 is separated by the separation roller 9 and
Transported to zero.

Next, the transfer paper S is sent toward the photosensitive drum 5 at an accurate timing by the registration roller 10 so that the leading edge of the latent image coincides with the leading end of the transfer paper S.
Thereafter, by passing between the photosensitive drum 5 and the transfer roller 11, the toner image on the drum 5 is transferred onto the transfer paper.

Next, the transfer paper S on which the toner image has been transferred in this manner is separated from the photosensitive drum 5, and the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 12 by applying pressure and heat. And
The transfer paper (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet) on which an image is formed in this manner is thereafter discharged from the discharge roller 13 to the staple sorter 20 with the printing surface facing upward.

Next, in the staple sorter 20, the sheet discharged from the apparatus main body 1 is detected by a discharge sensor 32 which is a detecting means.
A bin 42 is provided by a sorter discharge roller 31 provided in
B is discharged.

[0023] At this time, the bottle 42B is shifted (moved) in the vertical direction in accordance with the copy mode ejected sheets or the like by the control of the later-described CPU, sheets any bottle 42B ₁ through 42
_Bn is discharged and loaded or sorted. When the size of the sheet is changed during the sheet passing, the rotation speed of the sorter discharge roller 31 is changed according to the sheet size as described later.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of a shift drive unit for shifting the bin 42B in this manner. In the figure, reference numeral 61 denotes a shift of the bin 42B in the vertical direction by rotating the lead cams 33R and 33L. It is a shift motor.

The one lead cam 33L is connected to a shift motor 61 transmitted through gears 62, 63 and 64.
It is rotated by the driving force of. Also, the other lead cam 33
R is gears 62, 63, 66, shaft 67, gear 6
The driving force of the shift motor 61 transmitted via the motors 8, 69, 70 rotates the same amount and in the same direction at the same time as one of the lead cams 33L.

As a result, the bin 42B can move up and down without tilting. When the lead cams 33R, 33L rotate forward, the bin rollers 43C are scooped up, and when the lead cams 33R, 33L rotate reversely, the bin rollers 43C are lowered. Therefore, by rotating the lead cams 33R, 33L forward and reverse, the bin 42B for discharging sheets can be designated.

FIG. 3 shows the lead cams 33R and 33L.
Is a development view of the lead cam 33R, as shown in FIG.
The position of the bin roller 43C changes with the rotation of 33L. That is, the positional relationship between the lead cam 33 and the bin roller 43C in the case of an upshift is as follows: a → b → c.h → i → j. In the case of shift down, j → i → h
c → b → a.

It should be noted that, in FIG.
The intervals e and gh correspond to the parallel portions of the lead cams 33R and 33L.
Is not blocked by the bin 42B. However, the interval between cd and fg of the bin roller 43C corresponds to the inclined portion of the lead cams 33R and 33L. When the inclined portion is moved, the sheet discharge port 31A is closed by the bin 42B.

Therefore, if the inclined portion is shifted while the sheet discharge sensor 32 is detecting the sheet, the sheet is transferred to the bin 4.
2B gets involved and it becomes a guillotine jam. Conversely, if the parallel portion is shifted while the sheet is being detected by the sheet discharge sensor 32, only the inclined portion may be shifted in a portion between sheets where the sheet is not detected by the sheet discharge sensor 32.

Therefore, the bin shift speed is set to a speed at which the parallel portion of the lead cam 33 can be moved by the sheet passing time using the sheet passing time and the sheet interval time measured by the sheet ejection sensor 32. With lead cam 33
The speed is such that the inclined part can be moved. By moving the bin 42B (bin roller 43C) within the sheet passing time and the sheet interval, the speed of the bin shift can be reduced, thereby reducing the noise at the time of the bin shift and reducing the bin shift. 42
Effects such as stability of the sheet on B are obtained.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4, of a transport drive section for driving the sorter discharge roller 31 to rotate.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 52 denotes a transport motor as a driving means, and the driving of the transport motor 52 rotates a sorter discharge roller 31 as a sheet discharging means. Reference numeral 51 denotes a torque limiter which is interposed between the transport motor 52 and the sorter discharge roller 31 and is a drive transmission means for transmitting the rotation of the transport motor 52 to the sorter discharge roller 31. The limiter 51 idles when a torque equal to or more than the limit is applied to a shaft (not shown) on the sorter discharge roller side. With this configuration, the set amount (set torque) of the driving force is transmitted to the sorter discharge roller 31.

When the torque limiter 51 idles, the sorter discharge roller 31 is not driven by the transport motor 52. Incidentally, in FIG.
Are gears provided on the rotating shaft 52a of the transport motor 52,
1b is a gear provided on one shaft 51a of the torque limiter 51, 51c is a gear provided on a shaft (not shown) of the torque limiter 51 on the sorter discharge roller side, and 31b is a rotating shaft 31 of the sorter discharge roller 31. Gears.

By configuring the transport driving unit in this manner, when the leading edge of the sheet approaches the main body discharge roller 13, the sorter discharge roller 31 is in a no-load state, and the rotation of the transport motor 52 is performed. Are transmitted to the torque limiter 51 via the gears 52b and 51b, and then transmitted to the gears 51c and 3c.
The light is transmitted to the rotation shaft 31 of the sorter discharge roller 31 via 1b, and the sorter discharge roller 31 is driven by the transport motor 52. That is, the sorter discharge roller 31 is
It rotates at a speed according to the driving force from the motor.

On the other hand, when the sheet is conveyed and the sheet is nipped by the main body discharge roller 13 and the sorter discharge roller 31, if the rotation speed of the sorter discharge roller is high, the sorter discharge is performed. The roller 31 attempts to pull in the sheet from the main body discharge roller 13. However, when the sheet is pulled in this way, a load is applied on the sorter discharge roller, so that the torque limiter 51 idles, and the transport motor 52 and the sorter discharge roller 31 are in the non-driven state as described above. Becomes

Therefore, the sorter discharge roller 31 rotates at the rotation speed of the main body discharge roller 13. In addition,
When the rotation speed on the sorter discharge roller side is low, the sorter discharge roller 31 rotates at the rotation speed of the main body discharge roller 13.

Thereafter, the sheet is further conveyed, the sheet passes through the main body discharge roller 13 and the sorter discharge roller 31
When the sheet is nipped between the rollers, the load on the sorter discharge roller 31 is eliminated, so that the torque limiter 51 does not run idle.
Is driven. Thus, the sorter discharge rollers 31
Rotates at a speed corresponding to the driving force from the transport motor 52,
The sheet can be discharged to the bin 42B at this speed.

When the sheet does not pass through the main body discharge roller 13, the sorter discharge roller 31
Is rotated at the rotation speed of the main body discharge roller 13, and after rotating through the main body discharge roller 13, at a speed corresponding to the driving force of the transport motor 52, the sorter discharge roller 31 is rotated.
The torque required to rotate the motor can be reduced. Thus, the size of the transport motor and the like can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the sheet size is changed during the sheet passing, the discharge speed needs to be changed according to the sheet size as described above. Therefore, the rotation speed of the transport motor 52 is changed. Here, in the present embodiment, the change of the rotation speed of the transport motor 52 is performed when the sheet is detected by the discharge sensor 3.
2, the CPU, which is a speed control means to be described later, controls the conveyance motor 52 to change the rotation speed according to the sheet size.

By changing the rotation speed of the transport motor 52 when the sheet is detected by the sheet discharge sensor 32, the change of the discharge speed is performed at the timing when the sheet enters the sorter discharge roller 31. The speed can be reliably changed even when the distance between the main body discharge roller 13 and the sorter discharge roller 31 is short.

On the other hand, the sheet discharged to the bin 42B by the sorter discharge roller 31 is abutted against the sheet abutting plate 96 provided on the bin 42B by the alignment rod 94 as shown in FIG. Aligned.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of an alignment drive section for driving the alignment rod 94. In FIG.
Is a matching motor, 91 is a gear, 92 is a matching gear, 93 is a matching HP (home position) sensor flag, 95 is a matching shaft of a matching rod 94, and 114 is a matching HP sensor.

In the aligning drive unit thus constructed, the aligning rod 94 makes a circular motion about the aligning shaft 95 via the gear 91 and the aligning gear 92 by the driving of the aligning motor 55, and the circular motion causes The sheets discharged onto the bin 42B are pushed and hit the sheet abutting plate 96, whereby the sheets discharged onto the bin 42B are aligned regardless of the bin position and the number of sheets.

Here, the amount of movement of the alignment rod 94 depends on the length of the sheet in the width direction. The size information of the discharged sheet is obtained by communication with the apparatus main body 1.

The sheets discharged to the bin 42B are stapled by the stapler unit 80 shown in FIG. 7 in the case of the stapling mode. In the figure, 54 is a staple motor, 84 is a cam of the stapler unit 80, 87 is a roller, 88a is an upper jaw, 88 is a lower jaw, and 87a swings by rotation of the cam 84 to move the lower jaw 88 in the vertical direction. Is a link to be moved to

Then, in the stapler unit 80 thus configured, when the staple motor 54 is driven and the cam 84 rotates counterclockwise as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the link is pushed down, the link 87a swings, and the lower jaw 88 approaches the upper jaw 88a.

Thereafter, when the cam 84 further rotates,
As shown in (c), the lower jaw 88a is pressed against the upper jaw 86, thereby hitting a needle (not shown).

The stapler unit 80
Is moved between a staple position and a home position (HP) by a staple swing drive unit shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 53 denotes a staple swing motor which is a stepping motor, 81 denotes a cam gear,
82 is a guide shaft, 83 is a gear, 85 is a staple swing HP sensor flag, 86 is a stapler unit 80
A reference numeral 89 denotes a staple swing HP sensor provided on the frame 80a, and a reference numeral 89 stands on the cam gear 81 and moves along the cam guide 86.

Then, in the staple swing drive section configured as described above, when the cam gear 81 rotates via the gear 83 by the driving of the staple swing motor 53, the guide pin 89 makes a circular motion, and the guide pin 89 80a (stapler unit 80) with the circular motion of
Moves from the home position shown by the solid line to the staple position shown by the broken line while being guided by the guide shaft 82.

When the stapler unit 80 is at the home position, the stapler swing HP sensor 113 is set to the stapler swing HP sensor flag 8 as shown in FIG.
5 is detected. Further, the stapler unit 80 moves to a staple position when the staple swing motor 53 rotates by a predetermined clock, and at this time, the staple swing HP sensor flag 85 rotates to a position indicated by 85b.

When performing the stapling operation, the stapler unit 80 is first moved to the home position,
Thereafter, the stapler swing motor 53 is driven to move the stapler unit 80 to the stapling position. next,
Stapling is performed, and the stapler unit 80 is moved to the home position. Here, after stapling in this way, by moving the stapler unit 80 to the home position, bin shift for stapling the sheet of the next bin 42B can be performed.

The stapling operation differs depending on the mode specified for the apparatus main body 1.

That is, in the non-sort mode, the bin unit 40 is kept at the home position, and all sheets discharged from the apparatus main body 1 are bin units 4.
The first bin 42B ₁ (see FIG. 1), which is the uppermost stage of the bin 0, is kicked out by the sorter discharge roller 31 and is stacked and stored. Then, after that, the sheet is stapled.

In the sort mode, first, the bin unit 40 is returned to the home position, and the paper feeding is started. Then, the first bottle 42B ₁ discharges the first sheet and that the trailing edge of the sheet has passed to detect the discharge sensor 32, with raising the bottle 42B, performs alignment of the sheet by the aligning rod 94. Next, the second bin 42B ₂ is moved to the paper discharge position bin 42B rises, and thereafter the next sheet is discharged to the second bin 42, the discharge sensor 32 to the rear end of the sheet has passed through Upon detection, the first bin 42B ₁
Similarly, the bin 42B is raised and the sheet is aligned.

[0056] Hereinafter, the same operation is performed, the first page sheet feeding is performed sequentially for each bin 42B to grade bin corresponding to a predetermined number of copies to be the first bin 42B ₁ of the bin unit 40 and the first . In addition, each bin 42B
Is fed in the reverse order from the last bin to which the first page sheet has been fed toward the first bin by lowering the unit bin 40 one bin at a time.

[0057] In this way increased movement of the bin unit 40, the number of falling motion is executed repeatedly corresponding to a predetermined number of copies, sheet by respective predetermined number one part relative to the first bin 42B ₁ following each bin Are loaded and loaded.

After the sheets are distributed and stacked in this manner, the sheets are stapled by the staple sorter 20. Note that if stapling is possible by inputting a manual staple key 124 shown in FIG. 10 described later to start a manual stapling / manual stapling request from the apparatus main body 1, stapling is performed for all bins that have been sorted.

The stapling is performed by reciprocating the alignment bar 94 two times at the start, moving the stapler unit 80 while pressing the alignment bar 94 against the sheet, and performing stapling.
Return the stapler unit 80 to the home position. Next, the bin 42B is shifted and the above-described stapling operation is performed again, and the sheets on the plurality of bins 42B are stapled.

FIG. 10 is a hardware block diagram of the CPU 100 provided in the staple sorter 20, and the input side of the CPU 100 includes
2. In addition to the stapler swing HP sensor 113, the alignment bar HP sensor 114, and the manual staple key 124, a lead cam sensor 111 for detecting the parallel portion and the inclined portion of the lead cam 33, and a bin HP for detecting the home position of the bin unit 40. The sensor 112, a penetration sensor 115 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the bin 42B, a joint sensor 116 for detecting whether or not the apparatus main body 1 is connected to the staple sorter 20, and a stapler unit 80 which is opened when the stapler unit 80 is replaced with a staple. A staple door sensor 117 for detecting the open / closed state of the staple door, a stapler HP sensor 118 for detecting the end of clinch of the stapler unit 80, a stapler staple absence sensor 119 for detecting the presence or absence of a staple in a staple cartridge of the staple unit 80, a stapler unit. 0 staple cartridge sensor 120 needle cartridge detects whether it is set to,
A self-prime sensor 121 for detecting whether or not the stapler of the stapler unit 80 is caught, a staple foreign matter sensor 122 for detecting the presence or absence of a foreign matter in the stapling portion of the stapler unit 80, and a shift provided on the shaft of the shift motor 61. The clock sensor 123 and the like are electrically connected.

On the other hand, on the output side of the CPU 100, via the drivers D1 to D7, the transport motor 52, the shift motor 61, the staple swing motor 53,
Manual staple L for indicating permission of the staple motor 54, the matching motor 55, and the stapler unit 80
The ED 56 and the needleless LED 57 for indicating the absence of the needle of the stapler unit 80 are electrically connected.

Incidentally, in FIG.
RO storing a control program to be executed by 0
M and 102 are RAMs for storing communication data, control data, ejection speed data and the like according to the sheet size and the like, 103
Is an EEPROM for storing adjustment data or the like adjusted in a portion where individual differences occur, and 104 is a communication IC used for communication with the apparatus main body 1.

Next, C having the above block configuration
The initial setting operation of the PU 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power of the staple sorter 20 is turned on (S1001), the CPU 100 initializes an I / O port (not shown) and a memory (RAM 102) (S1).
002). Next, it is determined whether communication with the apparatus main body 1 has been established (S1003). Then, when communication with the apparatus main body 1 is established (Y in S1003), the initial data of the staple sorter 20 is transmitted (S1004), and the process shifts to the standby state in which the staple sorter 20 is operable (S100).
5).

Next, a control operation in the copy operation of the CPU 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

When a copy start signal is transmitted from the apparatus main body 1 (S1101), the bin unit 40 is first moved to a predetermined bin initial position (S1102). Next, when the bin unit 40 has been moved, the data latch timing and the paper discharge signal from the apparatus main body 1 are monitored (S1103, S1105). When the data latch timing is detected (Y in S1103), the communication data from the apparatus main body 1 is latched (S110).
4). If a paper ejection signal is received from the apparatus main body 1 (N in S1103 and Y in S1105), a paper sequence (control for one sheet) described later is started (S1).
106).

Next, if the copy end is detected while monitoring the data latch timing and the paper ejection signal from the apparatus main body 1 (Y in S1107), it is checked whether a staple request has been transmitted from the apparatus main body 1. (S1108) If there is a request (Y of S1108), a stapling operation is performed (S1109), and a series of copying operations is completed (S11).
10).

FIG. 13 and FIG. 1 show the above paper sequence.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the paper sequence is started (S120)
1) The transport motor 52 is started (S1202), and waits until the paper discharge sensor 32 is turned on (S1203). When it is detected that the discharge sensor 32 is turned on (Y in S1203), the parallel portion of the lead cam 33 is shifted (S12).
04), the measurement of the sheet passing time is started (S1).
205).

Further, the discharge speed of the staple sorter 20 is changed based on the discharge sensor 32 being turned on (S1206). The change of the paper discharge speed is performed according to the data such as the sheet size from the apparatus main body 1 in the RAM.
This is performed by selecting a discharge speed corresponding to the sheet size or the like from the discharge speed data stored in the storage device 102 and changing the rotation speed of the transport motor 52 so as to achieve the discharge speed.

Next, when it is detected that the discharge sensor 32 is turned off (Y in S1207), the inclined portion of the lead cam 33 is shifted (S1208), and the measurement of the sheet passing time is determined (S1209). A value is set (S1210). Thereafter, when a time-up is detected (Y in S1302), the alignment rod 94 is operated (S1302).
3) At the same time, an arbitrary timer value is set (S130).
4) Wait for time up again (S1305).

When a time-up is detected (S1)
(Y of 305), the alignment rod 94 is moved to the retracted position (S13).
06), the paper sequence ends (S1307).

Next, the bin shift operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15, 16, 17, and 18.

In the case of a parallel part shift up (S140)
1) The bin shift speed is set based on the sheet passing time determined in S1209 of the flowchart of FIG. 13 described above (S1402), and bin shift is activated (S1).
403). Next, when it is detected by the lead cam sensor 111 that the parallel portion has been removed (Y in S1404), the bin shift is stopped (S1405), and the parallel portion shift is terminated (S1406).

On the other hand, in the case of the shift down of the parallel portion (S15
01), the bin shift speed is set based on the sheet passing time (S1502), and the bin shift is started (S150).
3). Next, when it is detected that the parallel part has been removed (S15).
04, Y), the bin shift is stopped (S1505), and the parallel part shift is terminated (S1506).

Further, in the case of the upshift of the inclined portion (S16)
01), the bin shift speed is set based on the inter-sheet time obtained from the sheet passing time (S1602), and the bin shift is activated (S1603). Next, when it is detected by the lead cam sensor 111 that the vehicle has exited the inclined portion (S1).
(Y in 604), the bin shift is stopped (S1605), and the inclined portion shift is ended (S1606).

In the case of the downshift of the inclined portion (S170)
1) The bin shift speed is set based on the sheet interval time (S
1702), bin shift is activated (S1703). Next, when it is detected that the vehicle has left the inclined portion (Y in S1704), the bin shift is stopped (S1705), and the inclined portion shift is terminated (S1706).

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a discharged sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is detected, the discharging speed is changed to a speed corresponding to the discharged sheet, thereby discharging the sheet. The speed can be changed reliably. Thereby, the alignment of the sheets can be improved.

The driving force transmitting means for transmitting the driving force of the driving means to the sheet discharging means selectively transmits the driving force of the driving means to the sheet discharging means.
The driving means can be reduced in size, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a bin shift drive unit of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a development view of a lead cam of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transport driving unit that rotationally drives a sorter discharge roller of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a sheet alignment operation of an alignment rod of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an alignment driving unit that drives the alignment rod.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a staple unit of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a staple operation of the staple unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a stapler swing drive unit of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a hardware block diagram of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an initial setting of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating copy operation control of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a part of a paper sequence of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating another part of the paper sequence of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a bin shift-up control of a lead cam parallel portion of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a bin shift-down control of a lead cam parallel portion of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a lead cam inclined portion bin shift-up control of the sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a bin shift down control of a lead cam inclined portion of the sheet processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body 13 Main body discharge roller 20 Staple sorter 31 Sorter discharge roller 32 Discharge sensor 40 Bin unit 42B Bin 51 Torque limiter 52 Transport motor 100 CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet processing apparatus for sorting and storing discharged sheets from an image forming apparatus main body, a sheet storing means for sorting and storing the discharged sheets, and a main body provided in the image forming apparatus main body. Sheet discharging means for discharging the discharged sheet received from the sheet discharging means toward the sheet storage means; driving means for driving the sheet discharging means; and detecting means for detecting the discharged sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body. And speed control means for controlling the drive means to change the discharge speed of the sheet discharge means to a speed corresponding to the discharged sheet based on detection information from the detection means. Sheet processing equipment. 2. A sheet discharging speed of the main body side sheet discharging means is set between the sheet discharging means and the driving means so as to transmit a driving force of the driving means to the sheet discharging means. The driving force of the driving unit is transmitted to the sheet discharging unit when the sheet discharging speed is higher than the sheet discharging speed of the sheet discharging unit, and the driving force is set when the sheet discharging speed of the main body side sheet discharging unit is lower. A driving force transmitting unit configured to transmit the sheet discharging unit when the driving force transmitting unit transmits the driving force to the sheet discharging unit by a set amount. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is controlled to change a discharge speed of the unit. 3. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body; and a sheet processing apparatus that sorts and stores discharged sheets from the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is the sheet processing apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet processing apparatus;