MEDIUM PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-232868, filed on Dec. 27, 2024, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medium processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

Related Art

Medium processing apparatuses in the art are known that convey a sheet medium and execute a given process on the sheet medium. A process of forming a media bundle including media is also known as a process to be executed on a medium. In addition, a phenomenon is also known in which, when a media bundle is ejected from a stacker or a sheet tray in order to form a media bundle, the leading end of the media bundle is rounded, and the media bundle is disturbed on an ejection tray.

A medium processing apparatus in the related art discloses a configuration that can bind a media bundle at multiple positions to obtain the saving space and enhance the alignment accuracy.

The above-described medium processing apparatus in the related art discloses a guide mechanism that prevents the rounding of the leading end of a media bundle to be ejected. This guide mechanism has an issue that the manufacturing cost increases because a dedicated drive source needs to be used.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a novel medium processing apparatus including a tray, a medium stacker, a media bundle ejector, a media bundle guide, and a drive source. The medium stacker stacks media bundle on which a process is performed. The media bundle ejector ejects the media bundle from the medium stacker to the tray in an ejection direction. The media bundle guide is movable in the ejection direction to guide the media bundle ejected in the ejection direction. The drive source drives each of the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide an image forming apparatus including an image forming device to form an image on a sheet medium, and the above-described medium processing apparatus to perform a process on the media bundle including the sheet medium on which the image is formed by the image forming device.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide an image forming system including an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet medium, and the above-described medium processing apparatus to perform a process on the media bundle including the sheet medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and a typical medium guide mechanism in the art;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a medium ejection mechanism and a medium guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the medium ejection mechanism and the medium guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the medium ejection mechanism and the medium guide mechanism according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the medium ejection mechanism and the medium guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E are diagrams illustrating an example of a series of operations of a medium ejection mechanism in the art and a medium guide mechanism in the art;

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12E are diagrams illustrating an example of a series of operations of a medium ejection mechanism and a medium guide mechanism according to according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example of an ejection control process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that if an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “against,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, then it can be directly on, against, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, then there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “connected/coupled” includes both direct connections and connections in which there are one or more intermediate connecting elements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements describes as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments and examples and is not intended to be limiting of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. 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. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts and members having the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted unless otherwise required.

Embodiment of Image Forming System 1

A description is given below of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the image forming system 1.

The image forming system 1 has a function of forming an image on a sheet P as a sheet medium and a function of performing a post-processing operation on the sheet P as a process after the image is formed on the sheet P. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 20 including the image forming function and a post-processing apparatus 10 serving as a medium processing apparatus including the post-processing function, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the image forming system 1, the image forming apparatus 20 and the post-processing apparatus 10 operate in conjunction with each other.

The image forming apparatus 20 forms an image on the sheet P. The image forming apparatus 20 ejects the sheet P having the image on the sheet P to the post-processing apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 20 includes a sheet tray 211 that accommodates the sheet P, a conveyor 212 that conveys the sheet P accommodated in the sheet tray 211, and an image forming device 213 that forms an image on the sheet P conveyed by the conveyor 212. The image forming device 213 may be an inkjet system that forms an image using ink or an electrophotographic system that forms an image using toner. The image forming apparatus 20 also includes an image formation controller 200 that controls various operations of the conveyor 212 and the image forming device 213. Since the image forming apparatus 20 has a typical configuration, a detailed description of the configuration and functions of the image forming apparatus 20 are omitted.

Sheets of paper are widely used as sheet media. In the following description, a sheet-shaped medium as a medium to be processed is referred to as a “sheet P.” Further, in the following description, a bundle of sheets of paper as a plurality of media is an example of a “sheet bundle Pb.”

The object to be processed according to the present embodiment is not limited to a sheet of paper. For example, any material or specification may be used as long as an image can be formed on a medium in a typical image forming process and the medium is a target of the image forming process. Examples of the medium include a medium that can be an object of a folding process or a binding process, and the material and specification of the medium are not limited to any particular material and specification.

The post-processing apparatus 10 performs designated post-processing operation on the sheet P ejected from the image forming apparatus 20. The sheet P subjected to the post-processing operation is appropriately ejected to the sheet ejection portion. The post-processing apparatus 10 is provided with multiple ejection destinations as ejection destinations selected according to the type of the post-processing operations. For example, the multiple ejection destinations includes an upper tray 110, a stapler tray 114, and a shift tray 134. The post-processing operations that can be performed in the post-processing apparatus 10 include, for example, a punching (punching operation) to punch the sheet P, an alignment operation to stack multiple sheets P and align the end portions of the multiple sheets P, and a binding operation to stack multiple sheets P and bind the end portions of the multiple sheets P to create a sheet bundle Pb.

In the embodiment of the post-processing apparatus 10 described below, although a specific post-processing operation is not mentioned, it is assumed that an operation of performing at least one of the above-described post-processing operations and an ejection control process that is described below are is performed.

Configuration of Post-Processing Apparatus 10

A description is given below of the configuration of the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the post-processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Of the configurations of the post-processing apparatus 10, FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the part closely related to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the post-processing apparatus 10 includes an entrance guide 101, an entrance sensor 102, an entrance conveyance roller 103, an entrance conveyance path 104, an intermediate conveyance roller 105, a separation member 106, an upper conveyance path 107, an upper conveyance roller 108, an upper ejection roller 109, the upper tray 110, a horizontal conveyance path 111, a stapler tray ejection sensor 112, a shift roller 113, the stapler tray 114, a jogger 115, a tapping roller 116, a return roller 117, a trailing end aligner 118, a binding unit 119, a shift ejection roller 122, a shift ejection driven roller 123, and the shift tray 134.

The post-processing apparatus 10 includes the entrance conveyance path 104, the upper conveyance path 107, and the horizontal conveyance path 111. The entrance conveyance path 104 receives the sheet P subjected to image formation and ejected from the image forming apparatus 20. The upper conveyance path 107 is one of two paths branched from the entrance conveyance path 104, toward the upper tray 110. The horizontal conveyance path 111 is the other of the two paths branched from the entrance conveyance path 104, toward the shift tray 134.

The entrance conveyance roller 103 is disposed on the entrance conveyance path 104. The intermediate conveyance roller 105 is disposed downstream from the entrance conveyance roller 103 in the sheet conveyance direction. The separation member 106 is disposed at the branching point of the terminal end of the entrance conveyance path 104. The separation member 106 rotates to sort the conveyance path of the sheet P to the upper conveyance path 107 or the horizontal conveyance path 111. The sheet P sorted to the entrance conveyance path 104 is ejected to the upper tray 110 disposed at an extreme downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction.

The sheet P sorted to the horizontal conveyance path 111 is shifted by a given amount as the shift roller 113 including a shifting mechanism is moved by a given amount in a direction at a right angle (orthogonal) to the sheet conveyance direction by a drive unit while the sheet P is being conveyed. Then, the sheet P is ejected to the shift tray 134 on the extreme downstream side by the shift ejection roller 122 and the shift ejection driven roller 123, so that the sheets P are sequentially stacked on the shift tray 134.

The sheet P sorted to the horizontal conveyance path 111 is conveyed to the stapler tray 114 disposed downstream from the shift roller 113 in the sheet conveyance direction while a stapling operation is performed. The stapler tray 114 stacks a sheet bundle Pb on which a process is performed, as a medium stacker. The binding unit 119 is disposed at the end portion of the stapler tray 114 as a media stacker. The binding unit 119 advances and retreats in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the sheet P (sheet surface). As the sheet P is conveyed to the horizontal conveyance path 111, the trailing end of the sheet P passes through the shift roller 113, and the sheet P falls onto the stapler tray 114.

The tapping roller 116 is disposed on the stapler tray 114 so as to advance and retreat in a main scanning direction. The jogger 115 is also disposed on the stapler tray 114 so as to align the sheet bundle Pb on the stapler tray 114 in the main scanning direction. In the staple mode, the tapping roller 116 taps the sheet P conveyed to the stapler tray 114, so that the sheet P is switched back in a direction to the trailing end aligner 118. Then, as the sheet bundle Pb contacts the trailing end aligner 118, the sheet bundle Pb is aligned by the trailing end aligner 118 in the sub-scanning direction and by the jogger 115 in the main scanning direction. The sheet bundle Pb thus aligned is stapled and bound at an appropriate position of the lower edge of the sheet bundle Pb by the binding unit 119.

The sheet bundle Pb that has been bound is lifted at the trailing end of the sheet bundle Pb by an ejection aid member 120 and conveyed toward the shift tray 134. The dejection aid member 120 ejects the sheet bundle Pb to the stapler tray 114 in an ejection direction. The sheet bundle Pb conveyed by the ejection aid member 120 is nipped by the shift ejection roller 122 and the shift ejection driven roller 123, and is ejected to the shift tray 134 disposed on the extreme downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction.

Sheet guides 124 are disposed above the shift tray 134. The sheet guides 124 open and close in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet P. When the sheet bundle Pb that has been bound is ejected to the shift tray 134, the sheet guides 124 support the opposed ends of the sheet bundle Pb in the main scanning direction from below to assist the ejection of the sheet bundle Pb. When the sheet bundle Pb is conveyed to the upper side of the shift tray 134, the sheet guides 124 are opened to drop the sheet bundle Pb onto the shift tray 134. By dropping the sheet bundle Pb from the sheet guides 124 onto the shift tray 134, the contact angle between the sheet bundle Pb ejected by the shift ejection roller 122 and the shift tray 134 is made constant, the quality in alignment of the sheets P stacked on the shift tray 134 can be stabilized, and a large number of sheets can be stacked on the shift tray 134.

Ejection Aid Member 120, Sheet Guide 124, and Driving Mechanism Components

A description is given below of the configuration of the driving mechanism associated with the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet guides 124.

Prior to the description of the features of the configuration according to the present disclosure, a description is given of an example of a configuration in the art as a comparative example, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and a typical medium guide mechanism in the art.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the driving mechanism associated with the ejection aid member 120 include at least the stapler tray 114, the jogger 115, the ejection aid member 120, the ejection belt 121, the ejection drive gear 126a, the ejection member gear 126b, an ejection drive motor 127, and the ejection drive belt 128.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the main drive mechanism related to the sheet guides 124 includes at least the stapler tray 114, the jogger 115, the ejection aid member 120, the ejection belt 121, the sheet guides 124, the ejection drive gear 126a, the ejection member gear 126b, the ejection drive motor 127, the ejection drive belt 128, the sheet guide drive unit 129, the sheet guide belt 130, and the sheet guide gear 131.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the typical medium ejection mechanism in the art and the typical medium guide mechanism in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the ejection aid member 120 is fixed to the ejection belt 121 and is disposed at the position below the stapler tray 114 of the post-processing apparatus 10. The ejection aid member 120 and the ejection belt 121 are driven by the ejection drive motor 127 as a drive source, and can be rotated and moved in the counterclockwise direction by the ejection drive belt 128 and the ejection gear 126.

The sheet bundle Pb bound by the binding unit 119 is conveyed in a direction of the sheet guides 124 (from the lower right to the upper left in FIG. 6) by the ejection aid member 120 that rotates and moves.

The sheet guides 124 are located above the shift tray 134 of the post-processing apparatus 10, and are disposed on the front side and the back side, respectively. The sheet guides 124 are driven by the sheet guide drive unit 129 as a drive source, and can be moved in the front direction to the front side and the back direction to the back side by the sheet guide belt 130 and the sheet guide gear 131.

The sheet bundle conveyed by the ejection aid member 120 is received by the sheet guides 124, and the sheet guides 124 in pair are opened in the front direction and the back direction, respectively, so that the sheet bundle is dropped and stacked on the shift tray 134.

Embodiment of Post-Processing Apparatus 10

A description is given below of a detailed configuration of the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating a medium ejection mechanism and a medium guide mechanism according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In other words, FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating a configuration in which the driving mechanism of the ejection aid member 120 and a sheet moving guide 124A are shared by each other, according to the present embodiment. The sheet moving guide 124A as a media bundle guide that is movable in the ejection direction to guide the sheet bundle Pb ejected in the ejection direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, a media bundle ejector including the ejection aid member 120 and a media bundle guide including the sheet moving guide 124A, according to the present embodiment, include the ejection aid member 120, the ejection belt 121, the sheet moving guide 124A, the ejection drive gear 126a, the ejection member gear 126b, the ejection drive motor 127, the ejection drive belt 128, a sheet guide drive gear 132, a sheet guide return unit 133, and the electromagnetic clutch 136.

The sheet moving guide 124A is disposed at a position above the stapler tray 114 of the post-processing apparatus 10. The sheet guides 124 have a rack-gear-shaped portion (rack-gear face) on a face (lower face) different from a medium stacking face of the stapler tray 114 as a medium stacker. The sheet moving guide 124A is driven by the ejection drive motor 127 as a drive source, and can be moved by the ejection drive belt 128, the ejection gear 126, and the sheet guide drive gear 132.

Further, the sheet guide return unit 133 as an initial position returning mechanism is disposed below the lower face of the sheet moving guide 124A. The sheet guide return unit 133 includes an elastic member that connects the lower part of the sheet moving guide 124A and the starting point of return 135 on the lower part of the stapler tray 114. The sheet guide return unit 133 biases the sheet moving guide 124A in a direction to the starting point of return 135. In other words, the state of the sheet moving guide 124A illustrated in FIG. 7 is an initial state caused by the biasing force of the sheet guide return unit 133. Accordingly, when the driving force is applied to the sheet moving guide 124A in a direction against the biasing force of the sheet guide return unit 133, the sheet moving guide 124A is moved in a direction along the stapler tray 114 from the position in the initial state according to the driving force. The sheet moving guide 124A as a media bundle guide is movable between an initial position at which the sheet moving guide 124A is disposed over the staple tray 114 and an ejection position at which the sheet moving guide 124A extends toward the staple tray 114.

When the driving force is not applied to the sheet moving guide 124A, the sheet moving guide 124A returns to the initial state by the biasing force of the sheet guide return unit 133. As described above, the sheet moving guide 124A is returned to the initial position by the biasing force of the sheet guide return unit 133 including a contracting member such as a spring, and thus, a unique drive source is not required when the sheet moving guide 124A is returned to the initial position.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the medium ejection mechanism and the medium guide mechanism according to the present embodiment.

To be more specific, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a driving mechanism of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the driving mechanism of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A includes the sheet guide drive gear 132, a drive gear rotation unit 136a, an electromagnetic clutch 136, an armature 136b, and a leaf spring 136c. The electromagnetic clutch 136 is coupled to the sheet guide drive gear 132.

The electromagnetic clutch 136 includes the drive gear rotation unit 136a, the armature 136b, and the leaf spring 136c. The armature 136b is coupled to the sheet guide drive gear 132 via the leaf spring 136c. The drive gear rotation unit 136a has a coil inside to attract the armature 136b by the magnetic force when the power is turned on. In other words, the electromagnetic clutch switches (changes) the ejection aid member 120 as a media bundle ejector and the sheet moving guide 124A as a media bundle guide between an active state and a non-active state by using the action of an electromagnet.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state in which the energization to the drive gear rotation unit 136a is turned off (a power OFF state).

FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the energization to the drive gear rotation unit 136a is turned on (a power ON state).

As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the power is off, the drive gear rotation unit 136a and the armature 136b are separated from each other. For this reason, the driving force of the ejection drive motor 127 is transmitted only to the drive gear rotation unit 136a of the electromagnetic clutch 136, and the driving force is not transmitted to the armature 136b and the sheet guide drive gear 132.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when the power is on, the drive gear rotation unit 136a and the armature 136b are in close contact with each other by the magnetic force. For this reason, the driving force of the ejection drive motor 127 is transmitted to the armature 136b. Since the armature 136b and the sheet guide drive gear 132 are coupled to each other via the leaf spring 136c, the driving force is also transmitted to the sheet guide drive gear 132.

The electromagnetic clutch 136 is also coupled to the ejection member gear 126b, so that the same driving force as described above can be transmitted to the ejection member gear 126b.

The post-processing controller 100 controls whether the power to the drive gear rotation unit 136a of the electromagnetic clutch 136 is turned on or off. Accordingly, the operation timing of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A can be changed to any operation timing by the control of the post-processing controller 100. The ejection drive motor 127, which is a single common drive unit, can operate both the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A. In other words, the ejection drive motor 127 as a drive source drives each of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A. Since the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A can be operated by a single drive source and drive unit, the cost reduction can be achieved.

A description is given below of the operations of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A according to the present embodiment, in comparison with the configuration in the art.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E are diagrams illustrating an example of a series of operations of a medium ejection mechanism in the art and a medium guide mechanism in the art.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12E are diagrams illustrating an example of a series of operations of a medium ejection mechanism and a medium guide mechanism according to according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In each of the drawings, the processes of the series of operations are illustrated in order of the suffixes of, for example, XXA, XXB, XXC, XXD, and XXE. Accordingly, for example, the typical process of FIG. 11A and the process according to the present embodiment of FIG. 12A illustrate the same stages as the operation process of the configuration in the art and the operation process of the configuration according to the present embodiment.

The description below is given based on the comparison between the process of FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E as a process in the art and the process of FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D and 12E as a process according to the present disclosure. In FIGS. 11A to 11E and 12A to 12E, the illustration of the binding unit 119 and the shift tray 134 are omitted.

In the process in the art, first, as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the jogger 115 aligns the sheet bundle Pb in the main scanning direction, and the binding unit 119 performs the sheet binding operation. The sheet bundle Pb bound as described above is conveyed onto the stapler tray 114, and the jogger 115 is retracted in the main scanning direction so as not to disturb the conveyance of the sheet bundle Pb.

On the other hand, in the process according to the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, the jogger 115 aligns the sheet bundle Pb in the main scanning direction, and the binding unit 119 performs the sheet binding operation. The sheet bundle Pb bound as described above is conveyed onto the stapler tray 114, and the jogger 115 is retracted in the main scanning direction so as not to disturb the conveyance of the sheet bundle Pb.

In the process in the art, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the ejection drive motor 127 starts driving, and the ejection aid member 120 receives the trailing end of the sheet bundle Pb.

On the other hand, in the process according to the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, the ejection drive motor 127 starts driving, the sheet moving guide 124A starts moving in the direction to the shift tray 134, and the ejection aid member 120 receives the trailing end of the sheet bundle Pb.

By coupling the electromagnetic clutch 136 to the sheet guide drive gear 132 and the ejection member gear 126b, the operation timings of the ejection aid member 120 and the sheet moving guide 124A are changed, and the sheet moving guide 124A are moved to a desired position in advance with respect to, for example, a large size sheet, so that the hanging of the leading end of the large size sheet can be supported. This operation is as described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

In the process in the art, as illustrated in FIG. 11C, the ejection drive motor 127 is driven, and the ejection aid member 120 conveys the sheet bundle Pb in the direction to the sheet guides 124.

On the other hand, in the process according to the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 12C, the ejection drive motor 127 starts driving, and the sheet moving guide 124A is moved to the upper portion of the shift tray 134. At the timing when the movement of the sheet moving guide 124A is completed, the ejection aid member 120 conveys the sheet bundle Pb in the direction to the sheet guides 124. When the ejection aid member 120 is moved to a certain point, the locking of the coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 is released (unlocked). When the locking of the coupling portion is released (unlocked), the driving force of the ejection drive motor 127 is not applied, which is a non-force applying state.

The coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 are locked by using, for example, the electromagnetic clutch 136. A method of disconnecting the electromagnetic clutch 136 and the sheet guide drive gear 132 by turning off the electromagnetic clutch 136 (see FIG. 9) is used. When the coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 are locked, the driving force of the ejection drive motor 127 is applied, which is a force applying state.

In the process in the art, as illustrated in FIG. 11D, the ejection drive motor 127 starts driving, the ejection aid member 120 conveys the sheet bundle Pb to the upper portion of the shift tray 134, and the sheet bundle Pb is delivered to the sheet guides 124.

On the other hand, in the process according to the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 12D, the ejection drive motor 127 starts driving, and the ejection aid member 120 conveys the sheet bundle Pb to the upper portion of the shift tray 134. The sheet moving guide 124A that is released (unlocked) from the sheet guide drive gear 132 is moved to the original position by the sheet guide return unit 133.

In the process in the art, as illustrated in FIG. 11E, the sheet guide drive unit 129 starts driving, the sheet guides 124 opens to the front side and the back side to cause the sheet bundle Pb to drop onto the shift tray 134.

On the other hand, in the process according to the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 12E, the sheet guide return unit 133 completes the conveyance of the sheet moving guide 124A to the original position to cause the sheet bundle Pb to drop onto the shift tray 134.

Control Configuration of Post-Processing Apparatus 10

A description is given of the control configuration that controls the operations of the post-processing apparatus 10, with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the post-processing apparatus as a medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The post-processing apparatus 10 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a random access memory (RAM) 12, a read-only memory (ROM) 13, a hard disk drive (HDD) 14, and an interface (I/F) 15. The CPU 11, the RAM 12, the ROM 13, the HDD 14, and the I/F 15 are connected to each other via a common bus 19.

The CPU 11 is an arithmetic unit and controls the overall operation of the post-processing apparatus 10. The RAM 12 is a volatile storage medium that allows data to be read and written at high speed. The CPU 11 uses the RAM 12 as a working area for data processing. The ROM 13 is a read-only non-volatile storage medium that stores programs such as firmware. The HDD 14 is a non-volatile storage medium that allows data to be read and written and has a relatively large storage capacity. The HDD 14 stores, e.g., an operating system (OS), various control programs, and application programs.

By an arithmetic function of the CPU 11, the post-processing apparatus 10 processes, for example, a control program stored in the ROM 13 and an information processing program (application program) loaded into the RAM 12 from a storage medium such as the HDD 14. Such processing configures a software controller including various functional modules of the post-processing apparatus 10. The software controller thus configured cooperates with hardware resources of the post-processing apparatus 10 to construct functional blocks that implement functions of the post-processing apparatus 10. In other words, the CPU 11, the RAM 12, the ROM 13, the HDD 14, and the I/F 15 are included the post-processing controller 100 (controller) that controls the operations of the post-processing apparatus 10.

The I/F 15 is an interface that connects an entrance sensor 102, an entrance conveyance roller 103, a separation member 106, an upper conveyance roller 108, an upper ejection roller 109, a stapler tray ejection sensor 112, a shift roller 113, a jogger 115, a tapping roller 116, a return roller 117, a binding unit 119, a shift ejection roller 122, an ejection drive motor 127, and a drive gear rotation unit 136a, to the common bus 19.

The post-processing controller 100 controls the operations of the entrance conveyance roller 103, the separation member 106, the upper conveyance roller 108, the upper ejection roller 109, the shift roller 113, the jogger 115, the tapping roller 116, the return roller 117, the binding unit 119, the shift ejection roller 122, the ejection drive motor 127, and the drive gear rotation unit 136a, via the I/F 15. In addition, the post-processing controller 100 acquires detection results of the entrance sensor 102 and the stapler tray ejection sensor 112.

As described above, the post-processing apparatus 10 implements a function of performing operation control related to the conveyance of the sheet P to the post-processing controller 100 by software (control programs) executed by the CPU 11 with hardware resources included in the post-processing controller 100.

Operation Flow

A description is now given of an operation flow of a medium ejection process that is executed in the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment with reference to the flowchart FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example of an ejection control process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, the image forming apparatus 20 starts a printing operation (step S1401). Instructions (signals) including an instruction (signal) of whether the edge binding is to be performed are notified to the post-processing controller 100 of the post-processing apparatus 10 (step S1402). When the edge binding is not to be performed (NO in step S1402), the process ends.

When the edge binding is to be performed (YES in step S1402), the ejection aid member 120 is returned to the initial position, and the locking of the coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 is released (unlocked), so that the sheet moving guide 124A is moved to the initial position (step S1403).

The sheets P equal to the number of sheets to be bound are conveyed to the stapler tray 114, and the sheet binding operation is performed (step S1404).

When the sheet binding operation is completed, the ejection aid member 120 starts driving to start ejecting the sheet bundle Pb (step S1405). At this time, the coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 is locked, and the sheet moving guide 124A is also moved by the driving of the ejection drive motor 127 along the stapler tray 114 in the extending direction of the stacking face of the stapler tray 114. Accordingly, even when the sheet bundle Pb is moved beyond the stacking face of the stapler tray 114, the sheet bundle Pb is prevented from falling.

When the sheet bundle Pb is moved to the ejection position by the ejection aid member 120, the locking of the coupling portion of the sheet moving guide 124A and the sheet guide drive gear 132 is released (step S1406).

As the locking of the coupling portion is released, the sheet moving guide 124A is moved back to the initial position (step S1407). The sheet bundle Pb drops onto the shift tray 134, and the ejection of the sheet bundle Pb is completed.

A new instruction of whether the subsequent set of copies is to be printed or not is notified to the post-processing controller 100 of the post-processing apparatus 10 (step S1408). When the new instruction is notified (YES in step S1408: YES), the process returns to step S1403. When the new instruction is not notified (NO in step S1408), the process ends.

As described above, the post-processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can cause the guide mechanism for preventing the curling of the leading end of the sheet bundle Pb and the ejection mechanism used for ejecting the sheet bundle Pb to use the driving force supplied from the common driving source.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings. The technical contents included in the technical ideas described in the appended claims are included within the scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments represent examples, and various modifications can be achieved by those skilled in the art from the disclosed contents. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the Present Disclosure

Aspects of the present disclosure are, for example, as follows.

Aspect 1

In Aspect 1, a medium processing apparatus includes a medium stacker, a media bundle ejector, and a media bundle guide. The medium stacker stacks media including a sheet medium on which a process is performed. The media bundle ejector ejects a media bundle of the media stacked on the medium stacker, from the medium stacker. The media bundle guide restrains disturbance of a posture of the media bundle when the media bundle is ejected. The drive source of the media bundle ejector and the drive source of the media bundle guide are a common drive source. The media bundle ejector includes a drive source that operates when the media bundle is ejected. The media bundle guide includes a drive source that operates when the posture of the media bundle when the media bundle is ejected is restrained.

Aspect 2

In Aspect 2, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 1, the media bundle guide includes an initial position returning mechanism to return the media bundle guide to an initial position after a posture of the media bundle during ejection is restricted.

Aspect 3

In Aspect 3, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 1 or 2, the media bundle guide has a rack-gear-shaped face. The rack-gear-shaped face of the media bundle guide is different from a medium stacking face of the medium stacker.

Aspect 4

In Aspect 4, in the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide has an electromagnet to switch between an active state in which a driving force is applied from the common drive source and a non-active state in which the driving force is not applied from the common drive source.

Aspect 5

In Aspect 5, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a sheet medium, and the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4.

Aspect 6

In Aspect 6, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet medium, and the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4 to perform a process on the medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus.

Aspect 7

In Aspect 7, a medium processing apparatus includes a tray, a medium stacker, a media bundle ejector, a media bundle guide, and a drive source. The medium stacker stacks media bundle on which a process is performed. The media bundle ejector ejects the media bundle from the medium stacker to the tray in an ejection direction. The media bundle guide is movable in the ejection direction to guide the media bundle ejected in the ejection direction. The drive source drives each of the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide.

Aspect 8

In Aspect 8, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 7, the media bundle guide is movable between an initial position at which the media bundle guide is disposed over the medium stacker and an ejection position at which the media bundle guide extends in the ejection direction from the medium stacker.

Aspect 9

In Aspect 9, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 7 or 8, the media bundle guide includes a rack-gear face, a guiding face, and a spring. The rack-gear face is driven by the drive source to move the media bundle guide to the ejection position. The guiding face is opposite to the rack-gear face to guide the media bundle. The spring returns the media bundle guide to the initial position.

Aspect 10

In Aspect 10, in the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 7 to 9, the drive source includes an electromagnet clutch to switch transmission of a driving force to the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide between an active state in which the drive source applies the driving force to the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide and a non-active state in which the drive source does not apply the driving force to the media bundle ejector and the media bundle guide.

Aspect 11

In Aspect 11, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming device to form an image on a sheet medium, and the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 7 to 10.

Aspect 12

In Aspect 12, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet medium, and the medium processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 7 to 10 to perform a process on the medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus.

Aspect 13

In Aspect 13, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 7, the media bundle ejector includes a belt driven and rotate by the drive source, and a finger on the belt. The finger moves with a rotation of the belt to eject the media bundle to the tray.

Aspect 14

In Aspect 14, in the medium processing apparatus according to Aspect 7, the medium stacker is disposed between the media bundle guide and a media bundle ejector in a vertical direction.

The present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments described above, and numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings within the technical scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that, the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise by those skilled in the art than as specifically described herein, and such, modifications, alternatives are within the technical scope of the appended claims. Such embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope and gist of the embodiments of the present disclosure and are included in the embodiments described in claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The effects described in the embodiments of this disclosure are listed as the examples of preferable effects derived from this disclosure, and therefore are not intended to limit to the embodiments of this disclosure.

The embodiments described above are presented as an example to implement this disclosure. The embodiments described above are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, or changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and gist of this disclosure and are included in the scope of the invention recited in the claims and its equivalent.

Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.