U.S. patent application number 11/531798 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for sheet post-processing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Tomomi Iijima, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taki, Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto.
Application Number | 20070063412 11/531798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37883277 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070063412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Terao; Yasunobu ; et
al. |
March 22, 2007 |
SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
A sheet post-processing apparatus of the invention includes a
sheet switch flapper which divides a sheet delivered from an
entrance roller into an upper conveyance path and a lower
conveyance path, an upper-surface sheet output tray provided in an
end portion of the upper conveyance path, a lower-surface sheet
output tray which is provided in an end portion of the lower
conveyance path to stack the sheet thereon, the sheet being
subjected to post-processing by a post-processing mechanism, a
loading sensor which is provided in the upper-surface sheet output
tray to detect that a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on
the upper-surface sheet output tray, and a changeover mechanism
which changes the sheet switch flapper to the lower conveyance path
side at the time when the loading sensor detects that the
predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the upper-surface
sheet output tray.
Inventors: |
Terao; Yasunobu;
(Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; Yamamoto; Mikio;
(Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; Iijima; Tomomi;
(Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; Kawaguchi; Takahiro;
(Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JP) ; Taki; Hiroyuki;
(Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AMIN, TUROCY & CALVIN, LLP
1900 EAST 9TH STREET, NATIONAL CITY CENTER
24TH FLOOR,
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
2-17-2, Higashigotanda
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37883277 |
Appl. No.: |
11/531798 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
270/58.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2301/422615
20130101; B65H 2220/02 20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H
2511/152 20130101; B65H 2511/152 20130101; B65H 29/60 20130101;
B65H 29/34 20130101; B42C 1/12 20130101; B65H 2513/42 20130101;
B65H 2513/42 20130101; B65H 31/3018 20130101; B65H 2301/163
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
270/058.11 |
International
Class: |
B65H 33/04 20060101
B65H033/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 16, 2005 |
JP |
2005-270515 |
Claims
1. A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: an entrance roller
which receives and conveys a sheet conveyed from an MFP main body;
a sheet switch flapper which divides the sheet delivered from the
entrance roller into an upper conveyance path and a lower
conveyance path; an upper-surface sheet output tray which is
provided in an end portion of the upper conveyance path to stack
the sheet delivered from the entrance roller thereon when
post-processing is not performed; a post-processing mechanism which
is provided in the lower conveyance path to perform the
post-processing to the sheet delivered from the entrance roller
when the post-processing is performed; another tray which is
provided in an end portion of the lower conveyance path to stack
the sheet thereon, the sheet being subjected to the post-processing
by the post-processing mechanism; an upper-surface sheet output
tray loading sensor which is provided in the upper-surface sheet
output tray to detect that a predetermined number of sheets are
stacked on the upper-surface sheet output tray; and a changeover
mechanism which changes the sheet switch flapper to the lower
conveyance path side at the time when the upper-surface sheet
output tray loading sensor detects that the predetermined number of
sheets are stacked on the upper-surface sheet output tray.
2. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the lower conveyance path is formed longer than the upper
conveyance path.
3. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
a time in which the sheet passes through the lower conveyance path
is longer than a time in which the sheet passes through the upper
conveyance path.
4. A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: conveyance means
for receiving and conveying a sheet conveyed from an MFP main body;
sheet switch means for dividing the sheet delivered from the
conveyance means into an upper conveyance path and a lower
conveyance path; an upper-surface sheet output tray which is
provided in an end portion of the upper conveyance path to stack
the sheet delivered from the conveyance means thereon when
post-processing is not performed; post-processing means provided in
the lower conveyance path, the means performing the post-processing
to the sheet delivered from the conveyance means when the
post-processing is performed; another tray which is provided in an
end portion of the lower conveyance path to stack the sheet
thereon, the sheet being subjected to the post-processing by the
post-processing means; upper-surface sheet output tray loading
means provided in the upper-surface sheet output tray, the means
detecting that a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the
upper-surface sheet output tray; and changeover means for changing
the sheet switch means to the lower conveyance path side at the
time when the upper-surface sheet output tray loading means detects
that the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the
upper-surface sheet output tray.
5. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
the lower conveyance path is formed longer than the upper
conveyance path.
6. A sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
a time in which the sheet passes through the lower conveyance path
is longer than a time in which the sheet passes through the upper
conveyance path.
7. A sheet post-processing method comprising: receiving and
conveying a sheet conveyed from an MFP main body; dividing the
delivered sheet into an upper conveyance path and a lower
conveyance path; stacking the delivered sheet at an end portion of
an upper conveyance path when post-processing is not performed;
performing the post-processing to the delivered sheet in the lower
conveyance path when the post-processing is performed; stacking the
sheet subjected to the post-processing on another tray at an end
portion of the lower conveyance path; detecting that a
predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the upper-surface
sheet output tray with an upper-surface sheet output tray loading
sensor provided in the upper-surface sheet output tray; and
changing a sheet switch flapper to the lower conveyance path side
at the time when the upper-surface sheet output tray loading sensor
detects that the predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the
upper-surface sheet output tray.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-270515,
filed Sep. 16, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing
apparatus, such as a finisher, which is provided in a stage
subsequent to multi function peripheral (MFP), and particularly to
a sheet post-processing apparatus capable of smoothly stacking
sheets to which post-processing is not performed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Conventionally there is known a finisher which binds up and
staples plural sheets onto which printing is performed by MFP. In
the finisher, the sheets delivered from the MFP are sequentially
conveyed to a processing tray, and the sheets are bound by a
stapler and discharged to a sheet output tray.
[0006] A delay mechanism for absorbing a processing speed at the
MFP is required because the binding processing performed by the
stapler exists in the post processing performed by the finisher.
Therefore, a conveyance path is lengthened (for example, refer to
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 6-99070). For this reason,
down-sizing of the apparatus cannot sufficiently be performed.
There is also known a sheet output tray which is used only in not
performing the staple processing (for example, refer to Jpn. Pat.
Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-53308).
[0007] There is the following problem in the conventional sheet
post-processing apparatus. The finisher does not perform the
processing to some of the sheets printed by the MFP. The sheets not
subjected to such a processing are discharged to an upper-surface
sheet output tray provided in an upper surface of the apparatus
such that a user immediately takes out the sheets. In this case,
when attempt is made to increase the number of sheets stackable on
the upper-surface sheet output tray, the apparatus might be grown
in size. For this reason, the number of sheets stackable on the
upper-surface sheet output tray is limited to a predetermined
number of sheets (for example, about 250 sheets).
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention
is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus which can discharge
sheets even if sheets to which post-processing is not performed are
delivered in excess of the number of sheets stackable on an
upper-surface sheet output tray.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, a sheet
post-processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present
invention is configured as follows.
[0010] That is, the sheet post-processing apparatus comprises: an
entrance roller which receives and conveys a sheet conveyed from an
MFP main body; a sheet switch flapper which divides the sheet
delivered from the entrance roller into an upper conveyance path
and a lower conveyance path; an upper-surface sheet output tray
which is provided in an end portion of the upper conveyance path to
stack the sheet delivered from the entrance roller thereon when
post-processing is not performed; a post-processing mechanism which
is provided in the lower conveyance path to perform the
post-processing to the sheet delivered from the entrance roller
when the post-processing is performed; another tray which is
provided in an end portion of the lower conveyance path to stack
the sheet thereon, the sheet being subjected to the post-processing
by the post-processing mechanism; an upper-surface sheet output
tray loading sensor which is provided in the upper-surface sheet
output tray to detect that a predetermined number of sheets are
stacked on the upper-surface sheet output tray; and a changeover
mechanism which changes the sheet switch flapper to the lower
conveyance path side at the time when the upper-surface sheet
output tray loading sensor detects that the predetermined number of
sheets are stacked on the upper-surface sheet output tray.
[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to
discharge sheets even if sheets to which the post-processing is not
performed are delivered in excess of the number of sheets stackable
on the upper-surface sheet output tray.
[0012] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention, and together with the general description given
above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing main parts of a
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the main parts of the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view explaining an operation of a standby tray
of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a view explaining vertical alignment and a
sheet-bundle conveyance mechanism in the post-processing apparatus
of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a view explaining a horizontal alignment mechanism
of the post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a view explaining an operation of a stapler in the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the post-processing apparatus
of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a loading sensor of an
upper-surface sheet output tray incorporated into the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the post-processing
apparatus of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a view explaining a flow of a first sheet between
an entrance roller and a sheet feed roller in the post-processing
apparatus of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a view explaining the flow of the first sheet
between the sheet feed roller and a standby tray in the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a view explaining a flow of a second sheet
between the sheet feed roller and the standby tray in the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a view explaining an operation of a standby tray
roller in the post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 14 is a view explaining the operation of the standby
tray roller in the post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 15 is a view explaining an operation of active drop in
the post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 16 is a view explaining a flow of a third sheet in the
post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 17 is a view explaining the operation of the stapler in
the post-processing apparatus of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 18 is a view explaining a flow of a sheet bundle
between a processing tray and a sheet output tray in the
post-processing apparatus of the invention; and
[0032] FIG. 19 is a view explaining a flow of direct sheet
discharge to a third sheet output tray in the post-processing
apparatus of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing main parts of a
post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention, and FIG. 2 is a top view showing the main parts of the
post-processing apparatus of the embodiment. The main parts of the
post-processing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 include a standby
tray 10, a processing tray 12, a stapler 14, a first sheet output
tray 16, and a second sheet output tray 18.
[0034] A sheet 20 delivered from an MFP 1 is received by a pair of
entrance rollers (entrance roller) 22, and then, a conveyance
direction of the sheet 20 is switched between an upper conveyance
path 74 and a lower conveyance path 80 by a sheet switch flapper 72
based on presence or absence of post-processing (refer to FIG. 7).
In the case where the post-processing is performed, the sheet 20 is
delivered to the lower conveyance path 80, and is then supplied to
a pair of sheet feed rollers 24 and delivered from the sheet feed
rollers 24 to the standby tray 10. On the other hand, in the case
where the post-processing is not performed, the sheet 20 is
delivered to the upper conveyance path 74, and is then supplied to
a pair of upper-surface sheet discharge rollers 76 and delivered
from the upper-surface sheet discharge rollers 76 to an
upper-surface sheet output tray 70. The entrance roller 22 is
driven by an entrance roller motor 26.
[0035] The entrance roller 22 includes an upper entrance roller 22a
and a lower entrance roller 22b. Similarly, the sheet feed roller
24 includes an upper sheet feed roller and a lower sheet feed
roller.
[0036] The standby tray 10 includes a pair of standby tray
components 10a and 10b which is horizontally movable, and the sheet
is received while the standby tray components 10a and 10b are
closed. A standby tray roller 28 is provided to align the sheet in
this state of things. The standby tray roller 28 is vertically
movable, and the standby tray roller 28 is controlled by a standby
tray roller drive source 30. A standby tray roller motor 32 rotates
the standby tray roller 28.
[0037] When a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated in the
standby tray 10, the standby tray components 10a and 10b are opened
by a standby tray motor 34 as shown in FIG. 3, and the sheets 20
drop on the processing tray 12 by a self weight. This action is
called active drop.
[0038] A paper path 36 is provided to guide the sheet delivered
from the MFP 1 to the standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12,
and a paper path ceiling is provided in the paper path 36.
[0039] Vertical alignment and horizontal alignment are applied to
the sheet delivered to the processing tray 12. The vertical
alignment is executed by a vertical alignment roller 38 as shown in
FIG. 4. A vertical alignment upper roller 38a is driven by a
vertical alignment upper roller motor 40, a vertical alignment
lower roller 38b is driven by a vertical alignment lower roller
motor 42, and the sheet is aligned based on a stopper 45. A paddle
44 is provided to assist the alignment, and the paddle 44 is driven
by a paddle motor 46.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal alignment is executed by
a horizontal alignment mechanism 47 and a horizontal alignment
motor 48.
[0041] When a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated in the
processing tray 12, the stapler 14 performs the staple processing.
As shown in FIG. 6, the stapler 14 is positioned to control the
staple processing by a staple drive unit 49.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, a stapled sheet bundle is delivered to a
sheet output tray (another tray) 16 or a sheet output tray (another
tray) 18 by a conveyance mechanism 50. The sheet output trays 16
and 18 are selected by vertically moving the sheet output trays 16
and 18 with a sheet output tray drive unit 52.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the post-processing apparatus
of the invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a loading
sensor 90 of an upper-surface sheet output tray incorporated into
the post-processing apparatus of the invention. FIG. 9 is a
perspective view showing the post-processing apparatus of the
invention. An upper-surface sheet output tray 70 is provided in the
post-processing apparatus. The upper-surface sheet output tray 70
is provided with the loading sensor 90 according to the number of
sheets (for example, 250 sheets) stackable on the upper-surface
sheet output tray 70. The loading sensor 90 includes an actuator 91
and a switch mechanism 92 such as a micro-switch. The actuator 91
is pressed by the stacked sheets 20 to be rotated about a rotating
shaft 91a. The switch mechanism 92 is turned on by the rotation of
the actuator 91. A changeover mechanism 93 is provided to operate
the sheet switch flapper 72 based on turn-on and turn-off of the
switch mechanism 92. When the switch mechanism 92 is turned on, the
changeover mechanism 93 changes the sheet switch flapper 72 from
the side of the upper conveyance path 74 to the side of the lower
conveyance path 80.
[0044] The sheet 20 is discharged to the upper-surface sheet output
tray 70 through the entrance roller 22, the sheet switch flapper
72, the upper conveyance path 74, and the upper-surface sheet
discharge roller 76.
[0045] In the sheet discharge utilizing the path, the sheet 20 is
directly discharged not through the standby tray 10, the processing
tray 12, and the stapler 14, so that sheet discharge speed can be
enhanced.
[0046] When the post-processing is performed, a sheet bundle 21 is
discharged to the first sheet output tray 16 or the second sheet
output tray 18 through the entrance roller 22, the sheet switch
flapper 72, the lower conveyance path 80, the sheet feed roller 24,
the standby tray 10, the processing tray 12, and the stapler 14. A
user can select and set the first sheet output tray 16 and the
second sheet output tray 18. The sheet output tray to be used may
be set in each section, or a user may individually be selected to
set the sheet output trays 16 and 18.
[0047] An openable cover 78 can be provided on the upper-surface
sheet output tray 70. In this case, when the openable cover 78 is
locked, it is possible to manage a document which must not seen or
taken out by others.
[0048] Obviously the openable cover 78 may not be provided.
Therefore, throughput can be improved because the document to which
the post-processing such as stapling is not performed can directly
be discharged to the upper-surface sheet output tray 70 to shorten
a conveyance distance.
[0049] An operation of the post-processing apparatus of the
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 18. As
shown in FIG. 10, the sheet 20 delivered from the MFP 1 is
delivered to the sheet feed roller 24 through the entrance roller
22.
[0050] Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the first sheet 20 is accumulated
in the standby tray 10 through the sheet feed roller 24. At this
point, the standby tray roller 28 is lowered as shown by an arrow,
and the sheet 20 supplied to the standby tray 10 is aligned with a
rear end (upstream side) 60 of the standby tray 10.
[0051] Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the standby tray roller 28 is
lifted to prepare to accept a second sheet 20a.
[0052] When the preparation is completed, the second sheet 20a is
delivered to the standby tray 10, and the standby tray roller 28 is
lowered to align the positions of the sheets with the rear end 60
of the standby tray 10, as shown in FIG. 13. In this manner, a
sheet bundle 20b including the two sheets 20 and 20a are formed in
the standby tray 10.
[0053] Then, the standby tray roller 28 is lifted as shown in FIG.
14, and the standby tray components 10a and 10b are opened as shown
in FIG. 3, which allows the active drop to be performed to deliver
the sheet bundle 20b to the processing tray 12 as shown in FIG.
15.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 16, a third sheet 20c is directly delivered
from the sheet feed roller 24 to the processing tray 12 without
passing through the standby tray 10, and the third sheet 20c is
stacked on the second sheet bundle 20b to form the sheet bundle 21
having a predetermined number of sheets. At this point, the
vertical alignment mechanism 38 and the horizontal alignment
mechanism 47 function to perform the vertical sheet alignment and
horizontal sheet alignment.
[0055] At this point, as shown in FIG. 16, the rear end 60 of the
standby tray 10 and a rear end 62 of the processing tray 12 are
horizontally separated from each other by a distance L such that
the rear end 60 of the standby tray 10 is located on the downstream
side of the rear end (upstream side) 62 of the processing tray 12.
According to the above configuration, the sheet bundle 20b drops
easily from the standby tray 10 to the processing tray 12, and the
alignment operations can also easily be performed by the vertical
alignment mechanism 38 and the horizontal alignment mechanism 47.
As a result, the generation of jam can be prevented.
[0056] It is desirable that the standby tray 10 and the processing
tray 12 be obliquely arranged while the upstream sides of the
standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12 are inclined downward.
That is, the standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12 are
arranged such that the rear ends 60 and 62 are located in the
lowest position, and the sheet 20 and the sheet bundle 21 can be
aligned with the rear ends 60 and 62 by the self weight of the
sheet 20 and the sheet bundle 21.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, (1) the size of the standby tray
10 in the conveyance direction is smaller than the size of the
sheet 20; (2) the size of processing tray 12 in the conveyance
direction is smaller than the size of the sheet 20; and (3) when
the sheet drops from the standby tray 10 to the processing tray 12
due to the relationship of the above (2), the sheet 20 is stacked
while extending over the processing tray 12 and the sheet output
tray 16. The size of the post-processing apparatus (finisher) in
the conveyance direction can be decreased because these
configurations (1) to (3) are adopted.
[0058] Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the stapler 14 staples the sheet
bundle 21. As shown in FIG. 18, the conveyance mechanism 50
delivers the sheet bundle 21 to the sheet output tray 16, and the
post-processing is ended.
[0059] In the case where the post-processing is not required, the
sheet is, as shown in FIG. 19, directly discharged to the
upper-surface sheet output tray 70 without passing through the
standby tray 10 and the processing tray 12. As shown in FIG. 19,
the sheet delivered from the MFP 1 is delivered to the
upper-surface sheet output tray 70 through the entrance roller 22,
the sheet switch flapper 72, the upper conveyance path 74, and the
upper-surface sheet discharge roller 76.
[0060] When the number of sheets 20 stacked on the upper-surface
sheet output tray 70 reaches a predetermined number, the actuator
91 is pressed and rotated by the stacked sheets 20, and the switch
mechanism 92 abutting on the actuator 91 is turned on. When the
switch mechanism 92 is turned on, the changeover mechanism 93
changes the sheet switch flapper 72 from the side of the upper
conveyance path 74 to the side of the lower conveyance path 80. For
this reason, the sheet switch flapper 72 is changed to the side of
the lower conveyance path 80, and the sheet 20 is stacked on the
sheet output tray 16 or the sheet output tray 18 through the lower
conveyance path 80. Accordingly, even if the number of sheets 20
which do not require the post-processing exceeds the number of
sheets stackable on the upper-surface sheet output tray 70, the
sheets 20 can be held by the sheet output tray 16 or the sheet
output tray 18.
[0061] As described above, according to the sheet post-processing
apparatus of the embodiment, when the predetermined number of
sheets are stacked on the upper-surface sheet output tray 70 to
which the sheets 20 not subjected to the processing by the finisher
are discharged among the sheets 20 printed by the MFP 1, the sheets
20 not subjected to the processing by the finisher are stacked on
the sheet output tray 16 or 18. Consequently, the sheets 20 can be
held even if the number of sheets 20 exceeds the number of sheets
stackable on the upper-surface sheet output tray 70.
[0062] The above configuration is particularly effective in the
case where a distance between the entrance roller 22 and the
upper-surface sheet output tray 70 is sufficiently shorter than a
distance between the entrance roller 22 and the sheet output tray
16 or 18 (for example, one-fifths), and the above configuration is
more effective as the standby time or the post-processing time is
lengthened.
[0063] The embodiment of the invention is described by way of
example; but the invention is not limited to the embodiment. Each
component shown in the embodiment can be changed to another
component as long as the component has the same function.
[0064] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *