JP4766684B2 - Paper transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet.

For example, when paper is supplied to a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as binding processing and bookbinding processing, time for performing post-processing on the paper is required. When the paper is post-processed, no more paper can be stacked on the paper bundle to be post-processed. Further, the time required for post-processing varies depending on the processing capability of the post-processing apparatus as well as the type of post-processing. For this reason, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a paper feeding device that includes a transport belt and a paper pressing roller that presses the paper on the transport belt and temporarily delays the transport of the paper by the transport belt.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-92018

  In the technique described in the above-mentioned patent document, the conveying belt is stopped for a predetermined time, or the conveying speed is switched from a normal speed to a low speed for a predetermined time. However, when the conveyance of the paper is temporarily delayed by such a method, the control of the conveyance belt becomes complicated, and the reliability of the mechanism that drives the conveyance belt may be reduced.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to temporarily delay the conveyance of paper by simple control.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a paper transport device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transport belt that transports a fed paper placed on the top surface, and a paper stacking the fed paper above the transport belt. Intermediate storage means for storing a plurality of sheets by sequentially placing them on the sheet stacking unit. The intermediate accumulator rises so that the paper stacking portion is positioned above the upper surface of the transport belt when storing the paper, and descends so that the paper stacking portion is positioned below the upper surface of the transport belt when not storing the paper. To do.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the necessity of controlling the conveyor belt for temporarily delaying the conveyance of the paper, and to simplify the control of the conveyor belt. This also improves the reliability of the mechanism that drives the conveyor belt.

  When the intermediate accumulating means is raised, it abuts against the paper stacking section to stop the progress of the fed paper, and when the intermediate accumulating means is lowered, it abuts the upper surface of the conveying belt and is driven by the conveying belt. A locking roller may be further provided. According to this aspect, when the intermediate stacking member is raised, the rotation of the intermediate stacking member comes into contact with the sheet stacking unit and the rotation thereof is suppressed, so that it is possible to effectively stop the progress of the sheet. Further, when the intermediate accumulating unit is lowered, the intermediate belt is driven by the conveyor belt, so that the sheet can be smoothly conveyed by the conveyor belt and the locking roller.

  The paper stacking unit may be provided on one side and the other side of the transport belt in the paper width direction, and the locking roller may contact both the one side and the other side of the paper stacking unit. According to this aspect, since it is disposed between both paper stacking portions of the transport belt, the lower surface of the paper stacked on the paper stacking portion contacts the transport belt when the intermediate stacking member is raised. Is more effectively suppressed.

  The intermediate accumulating unit may be lowered when a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated, and the conveying belt may convey the accumulated sheets as a bundle of sheets. According to this aspect, it is possible to easily realize a temporary delay in paper conveyance.

  An air blowing means for blowing air between the upper surface of the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit and the lower surface of the sheet fed onto the uppermost sheet may be further provided. According to this aspect, the frictional force between the upper surface of the uppermost sheet and the lower surface of the sheet fed thereon can be reduced, and the sheet can be smoothly stacked on the sheet stacking unit.

  According to the present invention, paper conveyance can be temporarily delayed by simple control.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the paper feeding device 10 taken along the line P-P. In FIG. 1, for ease of understanding, an outer cover or the like is represented by a two-dot chain line so that the internal structure of the sheet feeding device 10 is represented.

  The paper feeding device 10 includes a device main body 12 and a paper feeding table 14. The paper feeding device 10 includes a paper feeding unit 16, a first air blowing member 52, a second air blowing member 54, a paper height sensor 20, and a buffer mechanism 22. Near the center of the apparatus main body 12, a paper storage unit 15 that is a space region that opens forward and downward is provided. Sheets are stacked on the sheet supply table 14, and a sheet storage unit 15 stores the sheet supply table 14 and sheets stacked thereon.

  The paper feed base 14 is detachable from the apparatus main body 12. The paper feed table 14 includes a paper feed plate 51 and casters 48. The sheet feeding plate 51 is formed in a flat plate shape having a rectangular outer shape. The sheet feeding plate 51 is attached to the apparatus main body 12 so that the upper surface is horizontal, and a sheet placement surface 50 on which sheets are stacked is provided on the upper surface of the sheet feeding plate 51. The caster 48 is provided below the sheet feeding plate 51. The caster 48 is grounded when the paper feed table 14 is detached from the apparatus main body 12 and allows the paper feed table 14 to move.

  When the user attaches the paper feed tray 14 to the apparatus main body 12, the user moves the sheets stacked on the paper feed stand 14 so as to abut against the frame 13 on the back side of the apparatus as necessary. Further, if necessary, the paper loaded on the paper feed tray 14 is moved in the paper feeding direction so as to abut against a predetermined abutting portion. Thus, the sheets stacked on the sheet feed table 14 are positioned at a position suitable for feeding out the sheets. Further, the sheet to be sent out is prevented from being inclined by the frame 13.

  The paper feed unit 16 is provided in the upper right part of the paper storage unit 15. The paper feed unit 16 includes a plurality (eight in the first embodiment) of paper feed belts 17 and two rollers 18. Each of the plurality of paper feeding belts 17 has the same width and the same circumferential length, and is mounted on the outer circumferences of the two rollers 18 so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction. The paper feed unit 16 is disposed on the upper side and the right side of the paper storage unit 15 so that the axial direction of the roller 18 faces in the front-rear direction and the two rollers are arranged in the left-right direction, and is fixed to the frame 13 of the apparatus main body 12. Is done.

  One of the rollers 18 is driven by a motor (not shown), and all the paper feed belts 17 are also driven by this. At this time, the motor drives the roller 18 so that the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17 moves in the paper feeding direction. The paper feed unit 16 also has an air suction mechanism (not shown). The air suction mechanism sucks air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. When the sheet feeding belt 17 is driven with the sheets stacked to a predetermined height and air is sucked from the lower surface of the sheet feeding belt 17, the uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets is placed on the sheet feeding belt 17. Adsorbed to the lower surface and sent out to the right of the device. In the first embodiment, the air suction mechanism has a fan, and an air flow for sucking air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17 is formed by the operation of the fan.

  The paper feeding device 10 has an electronic control unit (not shown). The electronic control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls operations of various actuators such as a motor and a solenoid mounted on the sheet feeding device 10.

  A motor for driving the paper feed belt 17 is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls on / off of the operation of the paper feed belt 17. The air suction mechanism is provided with a solenoid that drives a lid member that opens and closes an opening provided in the air flow path. When the solenoid is off, the opening is opened and the suction of the paper to the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17 is suppressed by weakening the suction of air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. When the solenoid is on, the opening is closed and the suction of air from the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17 is strengthened, so that the paper is adsorbed on the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17. This solenoid is also connected to the electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls the adsorption of the paper to the paper feeding belt 17 by controlling the on / off state of the solenoid. As described above, the electronic control unit controls the feeding of the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 14 by controlling the driving of the sheet feeding belt 17 and the adsorption of the sheet to the lower surface of the sheet feeding belt 17. .

  The paper height sensor 20 detects the height of the topmost paper among the papers stacked on the paper feed table 14. The apparatus main body 12 is disposed on the upstream side (hereinafter referred to as “upstream side”) of the paper feed unit 16 in the paper conveyance direction. The paper height sensor 20 includes a rotating plate 20a, an optical sensor 20b, and a sensor frame 20c. The rotation plate 20a is rotatably supported by the sensor frame 20c. The optical sensor 20b is fixed to the sensor frame 20c and detects that the rotating plate 20a has been rotated to a predetermined angle. The paper height sensor 20 is disposed around the left side of the paper feed unit 16 and is fixed to the frame 13 so that the rotating plate 20 a protrudes slightly below the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. As will be described later, the stacked sheets can be raised and lowered together with the sheet feed table 14, and the rotating plate 20a is stacked in a state where the uppermost sheet is in contact with the stacked sheets. The paper rotates as the paper rises. The optical sensor 20b and the rotation plate 20a detect the rotation of the rotation plate 20a to a predetermined angle when the uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets is lifted to a height suitable for feeding. Each is arranged.

  The first air blowing member 52 is disposed in the vicinity of the right side of the stacked sheets and in the vicinity of the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, and blows air forward by supplying air. Therefore, the first air blowing member 52 functions as an air blowing means for blowing air to the upper end side surface of the stacked paper. The second air blowing member 54 is disposed in the vicinity of the front side on the left side of the stacked sheets and in the vicinity of the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, and blows air backward when supplied with air. Therefore, the second air blowing member 54 also functions as an air blowing means for blowing air to the upper end side surface of the stacked paper. By blowing air from the first air blowing member 52 and the second air blowing member 54, an air layer is formed between the uppermost sheet and the lower sheet among the stacked sheets. As a result, the frictional force between the sheets is reduced, and the uppermost sheet is easily fed out.

  A curved paper transport path that reverses the paper transport direction from the right to the left while moving up is provided at the paper delivery destination of the paper feed unit 16. In this curved sheet conveyance path, the sheet is conveyed by the roller 19.

  A roller unit 160 is provided on the left side, which is the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “downstream side”) of the curved paper conveyance path. The roller unit 160 includes a belt 162, a pulley 164, and a pulley 166. The belt 162 is attached to the outer periphery of the pulley 164 and the pulley 166, and forms a sheet conveyance path that moves obliquely downward by the lower surface of the belt 162.

  In the post-processing device connected to the paper feeding device 10, the paper conveyed from the paper feeding device 10 is stacked to form a paper bundle, and post-processing such as folding, binding, and punching is performed on the paper bundle. However, while the post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle, no more sheets can be stacked on the sheet bundle to be processed. For this reason, it is desirable that the conveyance of the sheet from the sheet feeding device 10 is temporarily delayed while the post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle.

  For this reason, the sheet feeder 10 according to the first embodiment temporarily delays the conveyance of the sheet in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. The sheet storage mechanism 100 is provided on the downstream side of the roller unit 160. A third air blowing member 56 is provided below the roller unit 160 and upstream of the sheet storage mechanism 100. The sheet storage mechanism 100 and the third air blowing member 56 will be described later.

  The paper transport path provided on the downstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100 is formed so as to first proceed obliquely downward and then proceed in the horizontal direction. The paper transported to the paper transport path is transported by the roller 30 and discharged out of the apparatus main body 12. When sheets are stacked by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 to form a sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is conveyed in the same manner. The paper discharged from the apparatus main body 12 is conveyed to a post-processing device such as a paper folding device, a paper binding device, or a paper punching device.

  The paper feeder 10 further includes an air pump 42, a first pipe 34, a second pipe 36, a third pipe 38, a second air valve 40, a first air valve 44, and a door 32. The door 32 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 12 in the right direction from the paper storage unit 15.

  The air pump 42 is provided inside the apparatus main body 12 positioned to the right of the paper storage unit 15. A first air valve 44 is connected to the air pump 42. The first pipe 34, the second pipe 36, and the third pipe 38 are also provided inside the apparatus main body 12. The first pipe 34 is connected to the third air blowing member 56. The second pipe 36 is connected to the first air blowing member 52. The third pipe 38 is connected to the second air blowing member 54. The first pipe 34, the second pipe 36 and the third pipe 38 are all connected to a single second air valve 40. The air pump 42, the first air valve 44, and the second air valve 40 are disposed at positions that can be accessed by the user by opening the door 32.

  One end of a hose (not shown) is connected to the first air valve 44, and the other end of the hose is connected to the second air valve 40. When the air pump 42 is turned on, air is supplied to the first air blowing member 52, the second air blowing member 54, and the third air blowing member 56, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a left side view of the sheet feeder 10 according to the first embodiment. The apparatus body 12 further includes two rods 72, two chains 80, and a single motor 84. The two rods 72 have the same shape as an elongated plate.

  The two rods 72 are fixed to each other so as to extend in parallel while being separated from each other by a connecting shaft (not shown). Rollers 76 are arranged in the vertical direction behind the frame 13. A chain 80 is attached to the outer periphery of the roller 76. Two sets of such rollers 76 and chains 80 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction of the apparatus. Each of the two rods 72 is coupled to each of the two chains 80 via rod support portions 74. At this time, the rod 72 is provided so as to protrude from the frame 13 toward the front of the apparatus in the paper accommodating portion 15. The sheet feeder 16 is placed on the rod 72.

  A central axis of the upper roller 76 is connected to a motor 84 via a speed reducer 82. By operating the motor 84, the chain 80 is driven, and the rod 72 moves in the vertical direction. The motor 84 is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls the operation of the motor 84 by supplying a drive signal to the motor 84. As a result, the electronic control unit controls the raising and lowering of the sheet feed table 14.

  FIG. 4 is a top view of the paper storage mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the paper storage mechanism 100. 4 and 5, the sheet is conveyed in the left direction. The paper accumulation mechanism 100 includes an intermediate accumulation member 114, a conveyance belt 102, a roller unit 124, and the like.

  The conveyor belt 102 is attached to two rollers 104. The conveying belt 102 is arranged such that the upper surface thereof extends in the sheet conveying direction and gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side. The conveyance belt 102 conveys the paper fed from the roller unit 160 by placing it on the upper surface. In the following description related to FIGS. 4 and 5, the extending direction of the upper surface of the conveyor belt 102 is defined as the sheet conveying direction, and the direction parallel to the upper surface of the conveying belt 102 and perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction is described as the sheet width direction. .

  Of the two rollers 104, the downstream roller 104 is rotatably fixed to a shaft 110 extending in the paper width direction. A roller 112 is provided in the vicinity of the downstream roller 104 in the axial direction. The roller 112 is also rotatably fixed to the shaft 110 together. The shaft 110 is driven by a motor (not shown), and thereby the conveyor belt 102 is driven. The motor is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit drives the conveyor belt 102 by supplying a drive signal to the motor.

  The intermediate accumulating member 114 as the intermediate stacking means is formed in a shape obtained by bending a plate-like member into a U shape. The intermediate accumulating member 114 is disposed so as to open upward and enclose the conveyance belt 102. On the upper part of the intermediate accumulation member 114, a sheet stacking portion 114a having a width of the thickness of the intermediate accumulation member 114 is formed. Accordingly, the paper stacking unit 114a is disposed on the front side and the back side of the roller 112 in the paper width direction. The intermediate storage member 114 is disposed so that the paper stacking unit 114a is positioned on the same plane perpendicular to the paper width direction. The paper stacking portion 114a is formed of resin or hard rubber, or is coated with a fluororesin material, a nickel-fluorine resin material, a graphite resin material, or a molybdenum disulfide resin material.

  In the intermediate accumulating member 114, a rotation shaft 106 that is coaxial with the upstream roller 104 is inserted into a rotation hole that is a round hole provided in the vicinity of the upstream end. The rotating shaft 106 is rotatably supported by a support bracket 108, and the support bracket 108 is fixed to the frame 13. The intermediate storage member 114 has the shaft 110 inserted through a long hole 114b which is provided in the vicinity of the downstream end and which is long in the vertical direction. For this reason, the intermediate storage member 114 is configured to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 106 in a predetermined angle range. When the intermediate accumulating member 114 is rotated so as to rise, the paper stacking portion 114a is positioned above the upper surface of the transport belt 102, and when the intermediate accumulating member 114 is rotated so as to descend, the paper is stacked. A predetermined angle range in which the intermediate accumulating member 114 can be rotated is determined so that the stacking unit 114a is positioned below the upper surface of the transport belt 102.

  A roller 116 that is rotatable about an axis parallel to the paper width direction is provided on the downstream side of the intermediate storage member 114 on the front side in the paper width direction. A cam 118 is provided below the roller 116, and the roller 116 is pressed against the cam 118 by the weight of the intermediate accumulating member 114 or the biasing force of a spring.

  The cam 118 is driven by a motor 120. The cam 118 rotates to lift the roller 116 upward. As a result, the intermediate accumulation member 114 rotates so as to rise or fall.

  The roller unit 124 includes a locking roller 130, a shaft 132, and two support plates 128. The outer periphery of the locking roller 130 is formed of resin or hard rubber, or is coated with a fluororesin material, a nickel-fluorine resin material, a graphite resin material, or a molybdenum disulfide resin material.

  The locking roller 130 is disposed between the two support plates 128, and the shaft 132 is inserted through the centers of the two support plates 128 and the locking roller 130. The roller unit 124 is disposed so that the shaft 132 is parallel to the paper width direction. Further, the intermediate accumulation member 114 is normally in a lowered state, and the locking roller 130 is disposed so as to press the upper surface of the conveyance belt 102.

  The roller moving mechanism 122 includes a belt 142 and two rollers 144. The belt 142 is attached to the two rollers 144. The roller unit 124 is connected to the belt 142 via a support shaft 136 and a connecting member 138. The connection member 138 is restricted from moving in directions other than the sheet conveyance direction by the guide 140. One of the rollers 144 is driven by a motor (not shown). The motor is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls the position of the locking roller 130 in the paper conveyance direction by controlling the operation of the motor.

  The paper storage mechanism 100 also includes a paper placement member 146, a front side paper guide 148, a back side paper guide 150, and the like. The paper placing member 146 is formed in an elongated quadrangular prism shape. A plurality of the paper placement members 146 are arranged in parallel so that the upper surface thereof is positioned substantially on the same plane as the upper surface of the transport belt 102 and extends in the paper transport direction.

  The back side paper guide 150 is formed in a shape obtained by bending a plate-like member into an L shape, and is fixed to the frame 13 of the paper feeding device 10 so as to extend in the paper transport direction. The back side paper guide 150 regulates the position of the back side end in the paper width direction of the paper to be conveyed.

  The front-side paper guide 148 is also formed in a shape obtained by bending a plate-like member into an L shape, and is arranged to extend in the paper transport direction. The front side paper guide 148 regulates the position of the front side end of the paper to be conveyed in the paper width direction. The front side paper guide 148 is configured to be movable in the paper width direction while maintaining a parallel state with the back side paper guide 150. The front paper guide 148 is connected to a belt (not shown), and the belt is driven by a motor. The motor is connected to the electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit supplies a drive signal to the motor to move the front side paper guide 148 in the paper width direction.

  The sheet feeding device 10 is provided with a control panel (not shown) that can be input by the user. The user can input the size of paper to be fed by operating this control panel. Note that the paper feeding in the paper feeding device 10 refers to an operation of sequentially feeding the uppermost paper among the papers stacked by the paper feeding unit 16.

  The control panel is connected to the electronic control unit, and information input by the user is output to the electronic control unit. Using the input paper size, the electronic control unit moves the front paper guide 148 in the paper width direction so as to be positioned according to the paper size. Further, the electronic control unit uses the input paper size to move the locking roller 130 in the paper transport direction so that the position is in accordance with the paper size.

  In addition, the user can input whether or not to accumulate sheets by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 by operating the control panel. Therefore, the control panel functions as an accumulation necessity input unit that accepts an input by the user regarding whether or not to accumulate sheets. When the user inputs that storage of paper by the paper storage mechanism 100 is unnecessary, the electronic control unit lowers the intermediate storage member 114 so that the paper stacking unit 114a is positioned below the upper surface of the transport belt 102. Leave as is.

  The user can input a continuous conveyance number as the number of sheets to be continuously conveyed and an accumulation number as the number of sheets to be accumulated by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 by inputting numbers on the control panel. For example, when the post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on the sheet bundle, when it is necessary to interrupt the conveyance of the sheet to the post-processing apparatus for the time required to store five sheets in the sheet storage mechanism 100, the user can set the control panel as the stored number. It is possible to input 5 sheets. Further, when the number of sheet bundles to be post-processed integrally in the post-processing apparatus is 18, 13 sheets other than 5 sheets to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 are continuously conveyed without being accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. Therefore, the user can input 13 sheets to the control panel as the continuous transport number. Therefore, the control panel functions as a sheet number input unit that accepts an input by the user of the continuous conveyance number or the accumulated number.

  A paper sensor (not shown) is provided on the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100. The paper sensor detects the paper conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100. The paper sensor is connected to the electronic control unit, and the detection result by the paper sensor is output to the electronic control unit.

  The electronic control unit has a counter that counts the number of sheets that have passed the sheet sensor. The electronic control unit resets the value of the counter to zero when the start button is pressed by the user. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the electronic control unit rotates and raises the intermediate accumulation member 114 so that the paper stacking unit 114 a is positioned above the upper surface of the transport belt 102, and the paper supply unit 16 supplies the paper. Start paper movement.

  The locking roller 130 has a length in the axial direction that is longer than the distance between the paper stacking portions 114a so as to come into contact with both of the paper stacking portions 114a when the paper stacking portion 114a is raised. The locking roller 130 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction, and is biased downward by an elastic member such as a spring. When the locking roller 130 is raised, the locking roller 130 is raised in contact with both the paper stacking portions 114 a, and the locking roller 130 is separated from the conveying belt 102. In this way, contact between the paper and the conveyor belt 102 when paper is stacked on the paper stacking unit 114a is suppressed.

  When a sheet is fed from the roller unit 160 while the locking roller 130 is in contact with the sheet stacking portion 114a, the fed sheet slides on the sheet stacking portion 114a, and the leading end is locked by the locking roller 130. Then, it stops on the paper stacking unit 114a. Next, the fed sheet is stacked on the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit 114a. Thus, the intermediate accumulation member 114 accumulates the paper fed from the roller unit 160.

  At this time, the electronic control unit continuously drives the conveyor belt 102. Thus, by driving the conveyance belt 102 regardless of whether or not it is necessary to accumulate the sheets, it is possible to easily control the drive of the conveyance belt 102 by the electronic control unit.

  The third air blowing member 56 blows air along the upper surface of the transport belt 102 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the buffer mechanism 22. As a result, the leading edge of the paper entering the paper storage mechanism 100 can be lifted upward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the progress of the conveyed sheet from being impeded by the rear end of the sheet already stacked on the intermediate storage member 114 and the front end of the sheet fed onto the sheet.

  In addition, when the third air blowing member 56 blows air, the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit 114a and the lower surface of the sheet fed onto the uppermost sheet are separated. Air is blown out. As a result, an air layer can be formed between the sheets, and the frictional force between the sheets can be reduced. In this way, smooth accumulation of sheets in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 is realized by blowing out air from the third air blowing member 56.

  The sheet storage mechanism 100 has a rear end alignment mechanism (not shown). The trailing edge aligning mechanism is arranged so that each time a sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking unit 114a or when a predetermined number of sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 114a, Align the edges.

  The electronic control unit determines whether or not the value of the counter has reached the number of stored sheets input by the user. When the value of the counter has not reached the number of accumulated sheets, the electronic control unit keeps the intermediate accumulation member 114 raised.

  When the counter value reaches the accumulated number, the electronic control unit lowers the intermediate accumulation member 114. The conveyance belt 102 integrally conveys the sheets accumulated in the intermediate accumulation member 114 as a sheet bundle. Further, the electronic control unit resets the counter value to zero when the counter value reaches the accumulated number. As a result, the value of the counter thereafter becomes the number of sheets continuously conveyed without being accumulated in the intermediate accumulation member 114. The electronic control unit determines whether or not the value of the counter has reached the number of continuously conveyed sheets input by the user. If the number of continuous conveyance has not been reached, the electronic control unit keeps the intermediate accumulation member 114 lowered.

  When the value of the counter reaches the continuous conveyance number input by the user, the electronic control unit causes the intermediate accumulation member to position the paper stacking unit 114a above the upper surface of the conveyance belt 102 as shown in FIG. 114 is rotated and raised. Thus, the intermediate accumulation member 114 accumulates the paper fed from the roller unit 160 again.

  While the intermediate accumulating member 114 is accumulating sheets, the first five sheets accumulated and conveyed and the 13 sheets conveyed continuously are supplied to the post-processing apparatus. The post-processing device stacks sheets supplied while the intermediate accumulating member 114 accumulates sheets to form a sheet bundle, and performs post-processing on the sheet bundle. In this way, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates the conveyed paper, thereby temporarily delaying the conveyance of the paper from the paper feeding device 10 to the post-processing device.

  When the intermediate storage member 114 is lowered, the electronic control unit resets the counter value to zero again. The electronic control unit determines again whether or not the value of the counter has reached the number of continuously conveyed sheets. Hereinafter, the electronic control unit repeats the above-described processing until the conveyance of the total number of sheets input by the user is completed or until there is no sheet stacked on the sheet feeding table 14. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 functions as a paper storage device that stores paper, and also functions as a paper transport device that transports paper.

  Note that the user can also input a post-processing unit number, which is the number of sheet bundles to be integrally processed, instead of the continuous conveyance number, to the control panel. In this case, the number of continuous conveyance sheets is obtained by subtracting the input accumulated number of sheets from the input post-processing unit number. For example, when the user inputs 5 sheets as the accumulated number and 18 sheets as the post-processing unit number, 13 sheets obtained by subtracting 5 sheets from 18 sheets are set as the continuous transport number, and the above-described processing is performed.

  The user is prohibited from inputting a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel. When the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel by the user, the electronic control unit supplies a message to the effect that the input number exceeds the maximum number stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100. The number displayed on the display (not shown) provided in the paper device 10 is not set as the accumulated number to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100.

  In the first embodiment, the maximum number of sheets that can be stored by the sheet storage mechanism 100 is set to 10. When a user inputs a number exceeding 10 sheets such as “11” or “20” as the number of sheets to be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100, the electronic control unit displays “less than 10 sheets” on the display. Please enter the number of sheets. ”Is displayed, and the input number of sheets is not set as the number of sheets to be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100.

  Note that when the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel, the electronic control unit may prohibit the start of the sheet feeding operation. Specifically, the paper feeding operation refers to a series of operations such as feeding of paper by the paper feeding unit 16, accumulation of paper by the paper accumulation mechanism 100, and discharge of the fed paper to a post-processing device.

  In this case, when the user presses the start button, the electronic control unit determines whether or not the accumulated number of sheets to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 input to the control panel by the user exceeds the maximum accumulation number of the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. Determine. If the maximum accumulated number is not exceeded, the paper feeding operation is started. If the maximum number of stored sheets is exceeded, a message indicating that the number of input sheets exceeds the maximum number of stored sheets of the paper storage mechanism 100 is displayed on the display, such as “Please enter a number of 10 or less.” Do not start.

(Second Embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the second embodiment, the user can input the number of accumulated sheets and the number of post-processing units on the control panel. In the sheet feeding device 10 according to the second embodiment, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates and accumulates the accumulated number of sheets until the number of sheets conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number. The process of transporting the sheet integrally to a downstream transport path (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream transport path”) connected to the post-processing apparatus is repeated. The sheet storage mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number when the number of sheets conveyed to the sheet storage mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number, even when the storage of the accumulated number of sheets is not completed. After the accumulated paper is accumulated, the accumulated paper is integrally conveyed to the downstream conveyance path.

  For example, when the post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on the sheet bundle, when it is necessary to interrupt the conveyance of the sheet to the post-processing apparatus for the time required to store five sheets in the sheet storage mechanism 100, the user can set the control panel as the stored number. It is possible to input 5 sheets. When the post-processing unit number is 18, the user can input 18 sheets as the post-processing unit number to the control panel. Therefore, the control panel functions as a sheet number input means for accepting an input by the user of the accumulated sheet number or the post-processing unit sheet number.

  As in the first embodiment, a paper sensor that detects paper conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100 is provided on the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100. The electronic control unit has a counter that counts the number of sheets that have passed the sheet sensor. The electronic control unit grasps the number of sheets accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 by using the value of the counter, and controls accumulation and conveyance of sheets by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100.

  When 5 sheets are stored as the number of stored sheets and 18 sheets are input as the number of post-processing units and the start button is pressed, the sheet storage mechanism 100 first stores and stores the 5 sheets of sheets input as the stored number of sheets. A sheet of paper is conveyed to a downstream conveyance path. Even if this operation is repeated three times, the counter value is 15 sheets and does not reach the post-processing unit number of 18 sheets. Therefore, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 performs the operation of accumulating five sheets and conveying them integrally. Repeat once.

  The counter value reaches the post-processing unit number on the third sheet from the start of the fourth sheet accumulation. After accumulating the third sheet that has reached the post-processing unit number, the sheet accumulating mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated three sheets to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys the three sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts again the operation of accumulating the sheets by five sheets. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device stores the five sheets first. During the operation, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is integrally performed on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating five sheets three times and accumulating three sheets once.

  The maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 is preset in the sheet feeder 10. When the accumulated number is not input by the user, the maximum number of stacked sheets is handled as the accumulated number to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. When the number of accumulated sheets reaches the maximum number of accumulated sheets, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path and starts accumulation of new sheets. When the post-processing unit number of sheets is conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path even when the accumulated number does not reach the maximum accumulation number. Then, accumulation of new paper is started.

  Also in the second embodiment, the maximum number of sheets that can be stored by the sheet storage mechanism 100 is set to 10. Therefore, if the accumulated number is not input by the user, the accumulated number is set to 10.

  When 18 sheets are input as the post-processing unit number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 first accumulates 10 sheets, which is the maximum accumulation number, and then stores the accumulated 10 sheets downstream. Transport to the transport path.

  The counter value reaches the post-processing unit number at the eighth sheet from the start of the second sheet accumulation. The paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates the eighth sheet that has reached the post-processing unit number, and then conveys the accumulated eight sheets integrally to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys eight sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts the operation of accumulating ten sheets again. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while 10 papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device is an operation in which the paper storage mechanism 100 stores 10 sheets. During the process, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is performed integrally on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating 10 sheets once and accumulating 8 sheets once.

  Also in the second embodiment, the user is prohibited from inputting a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, as in the first embodiment. In addition, when the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, the electronic control unit may prohibit the start of the sheet feeding operation as in the first embodiment. It is the same.

(Third embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the third embodiment, a CCD sensor (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100. On the paper stacked on the paper feed tray 14, a last page mark indicating that the paper is the last paper is recorded in advance on the last paper in the unit of the paper bundle to be post-processed. The CCD sensor captures an image of a portion where the mark is recorded on the paper transported to the paper storage mechanism 100. The CCD sensor is connected to the electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit that outputs the captured image as image data to the electronic control unit analyzes the input image data to determine whether the final page mark is recorded on the sheet. By determining whether or not, it is determined whether or not the sheet is the last sheet in the sheet bundle to be post-processed. Therefore, this CCD sensor functions as a mark detection unit that detects marks recorded on the paper.

  The user can input the number of sheets stored as the number of sheets to be stored by the sheet storage mechanism 100 by inputting numbers on the control panel. The paper storage mechanism 100 repeatedly stores the input storage number, and when the last page mark is detected, the paper storage mechanism 100 moves down the intermediate storage member 114 even during the storage of the input storage number. Thus, the storage of the paper is interrupted and the paper stored in the paper storage mechanism 100 is conveyed.

  For example, when the unit of the sheet bundle to be post-processed is 18 sheets, the last page mark is recorded for every 18 sheets from the topmost sheet on the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 14. When the user inputs 5 sheets as the accumulated number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates five conveyed sheets, and the accumulated five sheets as a bundle of sheets are integrated downstream. First, the operation of conveying the sheet to the conveying path is repeated three times to supply a total of 15 sheets to the post-processing apparatus. A sheet on which the last page mark is recorded is conveyed to the third sheet in the middle of the fourth accumulation operation. When the last page mark is detected, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates three sheets including the sheet on which the last page mark is recorded, and then conveys the accumulated sheet to the downstream conveyance path, Supply to post-processing equipment.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys the three sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts again the operation of accumulating the sheets by five sheets. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device stores the five sheets first. During the operation, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is integrally performed on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating five sheets three times and accumulating three sheets once.

  The maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 is preset in the sheet feeder 10. When the accumulated number is not input by the user, the maximum number of stacked sheets is handled as the accumulated number to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. When the number of accumulated sheets reaches the maximum number of accumulated sheets, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path and starts accumulation of new sheets. When the paper on which the final page mark is recorded is conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100, the paper storage mechanism 100 stores the paper on which the final page mark is recorded, even if the stored number has not reached the maximum storage number. Then, the accumulated paper is integrally conveyed to the downstream conveyance path, and accumulation of new paper is started.

  Also in the third embodiment, the maximum number of sheets that can be stored by the sheet storage mechanism 100 is set to 10. In the above example, the paper on which the last page mark is recorded every 18 sheets is conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100. Therefore, since the last page mark is not recorded on the first 10 sheets conveyed to the sheet storage mechanism 100, the sheet storage mechanism 100 can store the accumulated 10 sheets when the accumulated number reaches 10. Are integrally conveyed to the downstream conveyance path, and accumulation of sheets is newly started.

  The paper on which the last page mark is recorded on the eighth sheet after the start of new sheet accumulation is conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. When the last page mark is detected, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates eight sheets including the sheet on which the last page mark is recorded, and then conveys the accumulated sheet integrally to the downstream conveyance path. Start accumulating new paper. The post-processing apparatus superimposes the 18 sheets conveyed from the sheet feeding device 10 while the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates 10 sheets, which is the maximum accumulation number, and forms a sheet bundle. Is post-processed integrally. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating 10 sheets once and 8 sheets once.

  The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the user is prohibited from inputting to the control panel a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100. In addition, when the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, the electronic control unit may prohibit the start of the sheet feeding operation as in the first embodiment. It is the same.

(Fourth embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the fourth embodiment, the user can input the number of accumulated sheets and the number of post-processing units on the control panel. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the process of accumulating the accumulated number of sheets and conveying them integrally to the downstream conveyance path until the number of sheets conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number. The sheet storage mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number when the number of sheets conveyed to the sheet storage mechanism 100 reaches the post-processing unit number, even when the storage of the accumulated number of sheets is not completed. After the accumulated paper is accumulated, the accumulated paper is integrally conveyed to the downstream conveyance path.

  For example, when post-processing is performed on the sheet bundle in the post-processing device, when it is necessary to interrupt the conveyance of the paper to the post-processing device for the time required to store five sheets in the paper storage mechanism 100, the user can use the control panel as the stored number. You can enter 5 cards. When the post-processing unit number is 18, the user can input 18 sheets as the post-processing unit number to the control panel.

  As in the first embodiment, a paper sensor that detects paper conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100 is provided on the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100. The electronic control unit has a counter that counts the number of sheets that have passed the sheet sensor. The electronic control unit grasps the number of sheets accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 by using the value of the counter, and controls accumulation and conveyance of sheets by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100.

  When 5 sheets are stored as the number of stored sheets and 18 sheets are input as the number of post-processing units and the start button is pressed, the sheet storage mechanism 100 first stores and stores the 5 sheets of sheets input as the stored number of sheets. A sheet of paper is conveyed to a downstream conveyance path. Even if this operation is repeated three times, the counter value is 15 sheets and does not reach the post-processing unit number of 18 sheets. Therefore, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating and conveying five sheets three times.

  The counter value reaches the post-processing unit number on the third sheet from the start of the fourth sheet accumulation. The paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates the third sheet that has reached the post-processing unit number, and then conveys the accumulated three sheets integrally to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys the three sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts again the operation of accumulating the sheets by five sheets. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device stores the five sheets first. During the operation, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is integrally performed on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating five sheets three times and accumulating three sheets once.

  The maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 is preset in the sheet feeder 10. When the accumulated number is not input by the user, the maximum number of stacked sheets is handled as the accumulated number to be accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. When the number of accumulated sheets reaches the maximum number of accumulated sheets, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path and starts accumulation of new sheets. When the post-processing unit number of sheets is conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path even when the accumulated number does not reach the maximum accumulation number. Then, accumulation of new paper is started.

  Also in the fourth embodiment, the maximum accumulation number that can be accumulated by the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 is set to 10. Therefore, if the accumulated number is not input by the user, the accumulated number is set to 10.

  When 18 sheets are input as the post-processing unit number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 first accumulates 10 sheets, which is the maximum accumulation number, and then stores the accumulated 10 sheets downstream. Transport to the transport path.

  The counter value reaches the post-processing unit number at the eighth sheet from the start of the second sheet accumulation. The paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates the eighth sheet that has reached the post-processing unit number, and then conveys the accumulated sheet integrally to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys eight sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts the operation of accumulating ten sheets again. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while 10 papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device is an operation in which the paper storage mechanism 100 stores 10 sheets. During the process, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is performed integrally on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating 10 sheets once and accumulating 8 sheets once.

  Also in the fourth embodiment, the user is prohibited from inputting a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, as in the first embodiment. In addition, when the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, the electronic control unit may prohibit the start of the sheet feeding operation as in the first embodiment. It is the same.

(Fifth embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. In the paper feeder 10 according to the fifth embodiment, a CCD sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100 as in the third embodiment. This CCD sensor is the same as the third embodiment in that it functions as a mark detection unit that detects a mark recorded on a sheet.

  The user can input the number of sheets stored as the number of sheets to be stored by the sheet storage mechanism 100 by inputting numbers on the control panel. When the accumulated number is input by the user and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 first accumulates the inputted accumulation number of sheets, and then conveys the accumulated sheets integrally to the downstream conveyance path. Thereafter, the operation of accumulating sheets and transporting them integrally is repeated until the last page mark is detected.

  When the final page mark is detected, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates the paper on which the final page mark is recorded, then conveys the accumulated paper to the downstream conveyance path, and starts accumulating new paper. The paper accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating paper and transporting it integrally until the last page mark is detected again.

  For example, when the unit of the sheet bundle to be post-processed is 18 sheets, the last page mark is recorded for every 18 sheets from the topmost sheet on the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 14. When the user inputs 5 sheets as the accumulated number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates five conveyed sheets, and then conveys the accumulated sheets integrally to the downstream conveyance path. Then, accumulation of new paper is started.

  Since five sheets have already been transported from the sheet storage mechanism 100, the sheet with the last page mark recorded on the thirteenth sheet is transported to the sheet storage mechanism 100 after the start of sheet storage. When the final page mark is detected, the paper storage mechanism 100 stores the thirteenth paper on which the final page mark is recorded, and then integrally transports the stored paper to the downstream transport path.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys 13 sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts the operation of accumulating 5 sheets again. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device stores the five sheets first. During the operation, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is integrally performed on the sheet bundle. The sheet storage mechanism 100 repeats the operation of storing 5 sheets once and 13 sheets once.

  The maximum number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 is preset in the sheet feeding device 10. After accumulating and conveying the accumulated number of sheets input by the user, the sheet accumulating mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated sheets to the downstream conveyance path when the accumulated number reaches the maximum accumulated number. Then, accumulation of new paper is started. When the paper on which the final page mark is recorded is conveyed to the paper storage mechanism 100, the paper storage mechanism 100 stores the paper on which the final page mark is recorded, even if the stored number has not reached the maximum storage number. Then, the accumulated paper is integrally conveyed to the downstream conveyance path, and accumulation of new paper is started.

  When the user inputs 5 sheets as the accumulated number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates five conveyed sheets, and the accumulated five sheets as a bundle of sheets are integrated downstream. The paper is transported to the transport path and new paper accumulation is started. However, another 13 sheets need to be conveyed to the sheet storage mechanism 100 until the sheet on which the last page mark is recorded is conveyed. For example, in the paper feeding device 10 according to the fifth embodiment, when the maximum accumulation number of the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 is set to 10, this maximum accumulation is performed while 13 sheets are conveyed to the sheet accumulation mechanism 100. The number will be reached.

  In this case, when the number of accumulated sheets reaches 10, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated 10 sheets to the downstream conveyance path, and newly starts accumulation of sheets. At this time, a total of 15 sheets have already been transported from the sheet storage mechanism 100, so the sheet with the last page mark recorded on the third sheet after the start of new sheet storage is transported to the sheet storage mechanism 100. The Rukoto. When the last page mark is detected, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates three sheets including the sheet on which the last page mark is recorded, and then conveys the accumulated sheet integrally to the downstream conveyance path. Start accumulating new paper.

  When the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 conveys the three sheets to the downstream conveyance path, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts again the operation of accumulating the sheets by five sheets. In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device stores the five sheets first. During the operation, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is integrally performed on the sheet bundle. The sheet storage mechanism 100 repeats the operation of storing five sheets once, storing ten sheets once, and storing three sheets once.

  Also in the fifth embodiment, the user is prohibited from inputting a number exceeding the maximum accumulation number of the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 to the control panel as the accumulation number, as in the first embodiment. In addition, when the user inputs a number exceeding the maximum number of sheets stored in the sheet storage mechanism 100 to the control panel as the number of stored sheets, the electronic control unit may prohibit the start of the sheet feeding operation as in the first embodiment. It is the same.

(Sixth embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the sixth embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The paper feeding device 10 according to the sixth embodiment is connected to a post-processing control unit (not shown) provided in the post-processing device. The post-processing control unit can control the post-processing of the paper and can accept the paper in the electronic control unit of the paper feeding device 10 according to the progress of the post-processing of the paper in the post-processing device. An acceptable signal indicating that is transmitted.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the sixth embodiment, the user can input the number of post-processing units on the control panel. When the user presses the start button after inputting the number of post-processing units, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 first continuously conveys the conveyed paper to the downstream conveyance path without accumulating the input number of post-processing units. When conveyance of the post-processing unit number of sheets is completed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of conveyed sheets.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10 after the sheet accumulation starts, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 finishes the accumulation of the sheet, and the accumulated sheet is integrated downstream. Transport to the transport path. Next, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 continuously conveys the conveyed paper to the downstream conveyance path without accumulating the paper. When the number of sheets obtained by subtracting the number of sheets conveyed integrally from the post-processing unit number is continuously conveyed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheets again. Thereafter, the paper storage mechanism 100 repeats the process from the start of paper storage to the completion of continuous conveyance of a post-processing unit number of papers.

  For example, when the user inputs 18 sheets as the post-processing unit number and the start button is pressed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 first conveys the conveyed sheets continuously to the downstream conveyance path without accumulating 18 sheets. When the continuous conveyance of 18 sheets is completed, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed paper.

  When the post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on the sheet bundle, when it is necessary to interrupt the conveyance of the sheet to the post-processing apparatus for the time required to store five sheets in the sheet storage mechanism 100, the post-processing control unit An acceptable signal is output to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10 at the timing when the accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulating sheets and the time for accumulating five sheets elapses.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 finishes accumulation of sheets, and conveys the accumulated sheets integrally to a downstream conveyance path. In the sixth embodiment, an acceptability signal is input to the electronic control unit at the timing when the time for accumulating five sheets has elapsed. At this time, five sheets are integrally conveyed. Next, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 continuously conveys the conveyed sheet to the downstream conveyance path without accumulating the sheet again. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 continuously conveys 13 sheets obtained by subtracting 5 sheets from 18 sheets, and starts accumulation of the conveyed sheets again.

  In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device is an operation in which the paper storage mechanism 100 stores five sheets. During the process, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is performed integrally on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating five sheets once and continuously conveying 13 sheets once.

(Seventh embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the seventh embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. In the paper feeder 10 according to the seventh embodiment, a CCD sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100 as in the third embodiment. This CCD sensor is the same as the third embodiment in that it functions as a mark detection unit that detects a mark recorded on a sheet.

  A paper feeding device 10 according to the seventh embodiment is provided in a post-processing device and is connected to a post-processing control unit that controls post-processing on paper. The post-processing control unit transmits an acceptance signal indicating that the paper can be received to the electronic control unit of the paper feeding device 10 in accordance with the progress of post-processing on the paper in the post-processing device.

  When the user presses the start button, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 first continuously conveys the conveyed paper to the downstream transport path until the last page mark is detected. When the conveyance of the sheet on which the last page mark is detected is completed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheet.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10 after the sheet accumulation starts, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 finishes the accumulation of the sheet, and the accumulated sheet is integrated downstream. Transport to the transport path. Next, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 continuously conveys the conveyed paper to the downstream conveyance path without accumulating the paper. When the last page mark is detected after the start of continuous conveyance, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed paper again. Hereinafter, the paper storage mechanism 100 repeats the processes from the start of paper storage to the end of continuous conveyance after the last page mark is detected.

  For example, when the number of post-processing units is 18, the last page mark is recorded on every 18 sheets from the topmost sheet on the sheet loaded on the sheet feed table 14. When the user presses the start button, the sheet storage mechanism 100 first continuously conveys the conveyed sheet to the downstream conveyance path until the conveyance of the eighteenth sheet where the last page mark is detected is completed. When the conveyance of the 18th sheet in which the final page mark is detected is completed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheet.

  When the post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on the sheet bundle, when it is necessary to interrupt the conveyance of the sheet to the post-processing apparatus for the time required to store five sheets in the sheet storage mechanism 100, the post-processing control unit An acceptable signal is output to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10 at the timing when the accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulating sheets and the time for accumulating five sheets elapses.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit to the electronic control unit of the sheet feeding device 10, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 finishes accumulating the sheets when five sheets are accumulated, and the accumulated five sheets Are integrally transported to the downstream transport path. Next, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 continuously conveys the sheets conveyed again without accumulating. At this time, since the sheet on which the last page mark was recorded last time has been conveyed, five sheets have already been conveyed from the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 to the downstream conveyance path. The last page mark is recorded on the paper. When the paper accumulation mechanism 100 detects the last page mark of the paper continuously conveyed on the thirteenth sheet, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the paper conveyed again after conveying the paper on which the final page mark is recorded to the downstream conveyance path. .

  In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while the five papers to be transported are stored, and the post-processing device is an operation in which the paper storage mechanism 100 stores five sheets. During the process, a total of 18 conveyed sheets are superposed to form a sheet bundle, and post-processing is performed integrally on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the operation of accumulating five sheets once and continuously conveying 13 sheets once.

(Eighth embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the eighth embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  The paper feeding device 10 according to the eighth embodiment is connected to a post-processing control unit provided in the post-processing device. The post-processing control unit controls post-processing on the paper, and transmits an acceptance signal to the electronic control unit of the paper feeding device 10 according to the progress of post-processing on the paper in the post-processing device.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the eighth embodiment, the user can input the number of post-processing units on the control panel. When the user presses the start button after inputting the number of post-processing units, the paper storage mechanism 100 starts storing the transported paper. In this case, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates sheets for a preset maximum accumulation number. When the maximum number of accumulated sheets is accumulated, the sheet feeding device 10 temporarily stops the sheet feeding operation, and enters a standby state waiting for the input of an acceptable signal from the post-processing control unit.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit, the paper feeding device 10 resumes the paper feeding operation. In this case, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated paper to the downstream conveyance path, and continuously conveys the paper conveyed later to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the number of sheets obtained by subtracting the number of sheets conveyed integrally from the post-processing unit number is continuously conveyed, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheets again. When the maximum number of accumulated sheets is accumulated, the sheet feeding device 10 once again interrupts the sheet feeding operation and enters a standby state. Hereinafter, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the processes from the start of accumulation of sheets until the completion of continuous conveyance.

  For example, it is assumed that 10 sheets are set as the maximum accumulated number of sheets, and 18 sheets are input by the user as the post-processing unit number. When the user presses the start button, the paper storage mechanism 100 stores 10 sheets of paper to be transported, and when the 10 sheets are stored, the paper feeder 10 enters a standby state.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit, the paper feeding device 10 resumes the paper feeding operation. The sheet feeding device 10 integrally transports the accumulated 10 sheets to the downstream transport path, and then continuously transports the transported sheets to the downstream transport path. When the continuous conveyance of the remaining eight sheets until the post-processing unit number reaches 18, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheet again. When ten sheets are accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100, the sheet feeding device 10 is again in a standby state.

  In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while accumulating 10 transported papers and while the paper feeding device 10 interrupts the paper feeding operation. The processing apparatus superimposes a total of 18 sheets conveyed in the meantime to form a sheet bundle, and integrally performs post-processing on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the accumulation operation of 10 sheets, the standby state, and the continuous conveyance operation of 8 sheets.

(Ninth embodiment)
The configuration of the paper feeder 10 according to the ninth embodiment is the same as that of the paper feeder 10 according to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified. Similarly to the third embodiment, the paper feeding device 10 according to the ninth embodiment also has a CCD sensor disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the paper storage mechanism 100. This CCD sensor is the same as the third embodiment in that it functions as a mark detection unit that detects a mark recorded on a sheet.

  A paper feeding device 10 according to the ninth embodiment is provided in a post-processing device, and is connected to a post-processing control unit (not shown) that controls post-processing of paper. The post-processing control unit transmits an acceptance signal indicating that the paper can be received to the electronic control unit of the paper feeding device 10 in accordance with the progress of post-processing on the paper in the post-processing device.

  In the paper feeder 10 according to the ninth embodiment, when the start button is pressed by the user, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed paper. In this case, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 accumulates sheets for a preset maximum accumulation number. When the maximum number of accumulated sheets is accumulated, the sheet feeding device 10 temporarily stops the sheet feeding operation, and enters a standby state waiting for the input of an acceptable signal from the post-processing control unit.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit, the paper feeding device 10 resumes the paper feeding operation. In this case, the paper accumulation mechanism 100 integrally conveys the accumulated paper to the downstream conveyance path, and continuously conveys the paper conveyed later to the downstream conveyance path.

  When the last page mark is detected during continuous conveyance of the sheet, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheet again after conveying the sheet in which the last page mark is detected to the downstream conveyance path. When the maximum number of accumulated sheets is accumulated, the sheet feeding device 10 once again interrupts the sheet feeding operation and enters a standby state. Hereinafter, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the processes from the start of accumulation of sheets until the completion of continuous conveyance.

  For example, when the number of post-processing units is 18, the last page mark is recorded on every 18 sheets from the topmost sheet on the sheet loaded on the sheet feed table 14. In addition, it is assumed that 10 sheets are set as the maximum accumulation number. When the user presses the start button, the paper storage mechanism 100 stores 10 sheets of paper to be transported, and when the 10 sheets are stored, the paper feeder 10 enters a standby state.

  When an acceptable signal is input from the post-processing control unit, the paper feeding device 10 resumes the paper feeding operation. The sheet feeding device 10 integrally transports the accumulated 10 sheets to the downstream transport path, and then continuously transports the transported sheets to the downstream transport path. At this time, since a total of 10 sheets have already been transported from the sheet storage mechanism 100, the sheet on which the last page mark is recorded is transported to the eighth sheet after the continuous transport is started. When the last page mark is detected, the sheet accumulation mechanism 100 starts accumulation of the conveyed sheet again after conveying the eighth sheet of continuous conveyance on which the final page mark is recorded to the downstream conveyance path. When ten sheets are accumulated in the sheet accumulation mechanism 100, the sheet feeding device 10 is again in a standby state.

  In this way, the paper storage mechanism 100 temporarily delays the transport of the paper to the post-processing device while accumulating 10 transported papers and while the paper feeding device 10 interrupts the paper feeding operation. The processing apparatus superimposes a total of 18 sheets conveyed in the meantime to form a sheet bundle, and integrally performs post-processing on the sheet bundle. The sheet accumulation mechanism 100 repeats the accumulation operation of 10 sheets, the standby state, and the continuous conveyance operation of 8 sheets.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  In a modification, the user operates the control panel to continuously convey the sheet from when the start button is pressed until the accumulation starts, and the accumulation time for accumulating the sheet in the intermediate accumulation member 114. Alternatively, a post-processing unit sheet conveyance time for conveying the post-processing unit sheet can be input. For example, the user can input “13 seconds” or the like as the continuous conveyance time, can input “5 seconds” or the like as the accumulation time, and can also input “18 seconds” or the like as the post-processing unit sheet conveyance time. Can be entered. In this modified example, the paper storage mechanism 100 in any of the above-described embodiments, the continuous transport time is elapsed instead of the continuous transport sheet count, the accumulation time is elapsed instead of the accumulated sheet count, and the accumulation time is elapsed. Each operation is performed using the passage of the post-processing unit sheet conveyance time instead of counting the processing unit sheet number.

It is a front view of the paper feeder concerning an embodiment. It is PP sectional drawing of the paper feeder which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view of a sheet storage mechanism. It is a front view of a paper storage mechanism. It is a front view of a paper storage mechanism when an intermediate storage member is raised.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper feeder, 12 Apparatus main body, 56 3rd air blowing member, 100 Paper storage mechanism, 102 Conveyance belt, 114 Intermediate storage member, 114a Paper stacking part, 130 Locking roller.

Claims (4)

A transport belt for placing and transporting the fed paper on the upper surface;
An intermediate accumulating unit that sequentially stacks the fed sheets on a sheet stacking unit on which the sheets are stacked and stores a plurality of sheets above the transport belt;
The intermediate accumulator rises so that the paper stacking unit is positioned above the upper surface of the conveyor belt when accumulating sheets, and when the predetermined number of sheets are accumulated and no further sheets are accumulated, Lower so that the paper stacking part is located below the top surface ,
The sheet conveying apparatus , wherein the conveying belt integrally conveys accumulated sheets as a sheet bundle .   When the intermediate accumulating means is raised, it abuts against the paper stacking portion to stop the progress of the fed paper, and when the intermediate accumulating means is lowered, it abuts the upper surface of the conveyor belt. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a locking roller that follows the conveying belt. The paper stacking portions are provided on one side and the other side of the transport belt in the paper width direction,
The sheet conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the locking roller is in contact with both the sheet stacking portions on one side and the other side. The apparatus further comprises air blowing means for blowing air between the upper surface of the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit and the lower surface of the sheet fed onto the uppermost sheet. Item 4. The paper conveying device according to any one of Items 1 to 3 .

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