BACKGROUND

[0001] A post-processing apparatus may refer to an apparatus that may be connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction printer to receive image-formed print media from the image forming apparatus to perform various kinds of post-processing on the print media.

[0002] Such a post-processing apparatus can perform a function such as an alignment operation to align the print media, a punching operation to form binding holes in the print media, a stapling operation to bind a plurality of print media together through a stapler, a folding operation to fold a plurality of print media at the centers thereof in a booklet form, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an image forming system according to an example.

[0005] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to an example.

[0006] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to an example.

[0007] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 according to an example.

[0008] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a paper alignment device shown in FIG. 3 according to an example.

[0009] FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a print medium is fed to a top surface of a paper support device in the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 according to an example.

[0010] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a print medium is fed toward a tray in the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Hereinafter, examples will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] A component that is described as “connected”, “supported”, or “seated” to another component may be understood as being directly connected, supported, or seated to the latter component or that a third component may be interposed between the two components.

[0013] Certain terms used in the present specification are to describe various examples without limiting the disclosure. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context.

[0014] The terms used herein, including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe, and not to limit, various components. The terms are to distinguish the components from one another.

[0015] The meaning of “comprising” or “including” refers to a specific characteristic, region, integer, operation, action, element, and/or component, and use of either term is not to limit the existence or addition of another specific characteristic, region, integer, operation, action, element, component, and/or group.

[0016] In addition, expressions regarding the direction in the description are based on the illustration in the drawings. It is mentioned in advance that if the direction of the corresponding object is changed, the object may be depicted differently. In the specification, the width direction may be the x-axis direction in FIG. 3, and the length direction may be the y-axis direction in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7. Further, the thickness direction may be a z-axis direction in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7.

[0017] Hereinafter, an example of an image forming system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. [0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming system 1 may generate, print, receive, and transmit image data and may post-process image- formed print media and provide the print media to a user in various forms. This image forming system 1 may include an image forming apparatus 2 and a postprocessing apparatus 3.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 2 may form an image on a print medium by various printing methods such as an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, a thermal transfer method, a thermal sublimation method, and the like. Such an image forming apparatus 2 may deliver an image-formed print medium to the post-processing apparatus 3.

[0020] The post-processing apparatus 3 may receive the image-formed print medium from the image forming apparatus 2 and may perform postprocessing on the print medium. For example, the post-processing apparatus 3 may provide print media to the user without changing the received print media or may provide print media based on performing operations such as aligning, punching, folding, stapling, and the like. In various examples, the print media may be provided in forms such as papers, paperboards, overhead project films (OHP), and the like. In addition, the post-processing apparatus 3 may be integrally provided within the image forming apparatus 2 or may be provided as a separate apparatus so as to be separable from the image forming apparatus 2. The postprocessing apparatus 3 may include a body part 10, an inlet roller 20, a tray part 30, a booklet part 40, an alignment part 50, and a control part 60.

[0021] The body part 10 may support the inlet roller 20, the tray part 30, the booklet part 40, and the alignment part 50. The body part 10 may be connected to the image forming apparatus 2 and may be supported by the image forming apparatus 2.

[0022] The inlet roller 20 may transfer or feed the print medium received from the image forming apparatus 2 to the tray part 30, the booklet part 40, and the alignment part 50.

[0023] The tray part 30 may provide the user with the print medium processed or aligned in the booklet part 40 and the alignment part 50. The tray part 30 may include a top tray 31 , a main tray 32, and a booklet tray 33. [0024] If there is no operation to be performed for the print medium, the top tray 31 may receive the print medium fed from the inlet roller 20 without going through the alignment part 50 and the print medium may be provided to the user. [0025] The main tray 32 may provide a print medium subjected to a punching operation or a stapling operation to the user based on the punching operation or the stapling operation being performed for the print medium. The main tray 32 may receive a print medium from a puncher (not shown) or a stapler (not shown).

[0026] The booklet tray 33 may provide a print medium subjected to a booklet operation to the user based on the booklet operation being performed for the print medium. The booklet tray 33 may receive a print medium from the booklet part 40.

[0027] The booklet part 40 may process print media into a booklet form by folding the print media or by stapling and folding the print media. The booklet part 40 may provide various types of booklets according to a user's input.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the alignment part 50 may align a plurality of print media, on which images are formed in the image forming apparatus 2, in a preset arrangement pattern. For example, the alignment part 50 may align the plurality of print media in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. In this specification, the longitudinal direction and the width direction refer to the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the tray 500 to be described later, and may not correlate to the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the print medium. Further, the alignment part 50 may sequentially receive a plurality of print media one by one. The alignment part 50 may include a paper support device 100, a paper alignment device 200, a paper feeding device 300, a shaft 400, a tray 500, and a driving device 600.

[0029] The paper support device 100 may support print medium transferred or fed from the paper feeding device 300 on a top surface of the paper support device 100. Further, the paper support device 100 may align a plurality of print media loaded on the tray 500 at a preset position in the width direction of the tray 500. For example, based on print media being loaded on the tray 500, the paper support device 100 may align the print media by supporting the side surfaces of the loaded print media. The plurality of print media aligned by the paper support device 100 may be aligned at a preset position in the width direction of the tray 500 in the tray 500.

[0030] In this specification, the print media preloaded on the tray 500 may be understood as the print media preloaded on the tray 500 before a print medium is fed to the tray 500. These print media may be fed one by one to the tray 500 and the paper support device 100 may perform an alignment operation each time that one print medium is fed to the tray 500.

[0031] A plurality of paper support devices 100 may be provided. The paper support devices 100 may be spaced apart from each other in the width direction. Further, the paper support devices 100 may move along the shaft 400 while being spaced apart from each other. For example, the paper support devices 100 may drop a print medium to the tray 500 by moving away from each other based on the print medium being placed thereon. As an example, based on one end of the print medium being placed on the tray 500, the paper support devices 100 may move away from each other so that the other end of the print medium placed on the paper support devices 100 is also placed on the tray 500.

[0032] Each of the paper support devices 100 may include a main support 110, an auxiliary support 120, a rotation shaft 130, and a frame 140.

[0033] A print medium may be placed on a top surface of the main support 110. The main support 110 may support the auxiliary support 120, the rotation shaft 130, and the frame 140. In addition, the main support 110 may be integrally formed with the paper alignment device 200 to be moved along the shaft 400 in the width direction together with the paper alignment device 200 by the driving device 600. As used herein, the expression "integrally formed" may refer to a case where the main support 110 and the paper alignment device 200 are formed as a single member and also a case where the main support 110 and the paper alignment device 200 are formed as separate members that are coupled to each other and moved together.

[0034] The auxiliary support 120 may support the print medium on a top surface of the auxiliary support 120. Further, the auxiliary support 120 may guide the movement of the print medium based on the print medium being fed toward the tray 500. The auxiliary support 120 may be rotated about the rotation shaft 130 based on a pressure being applied to the auxiliary support 120 by a pressing roller 230 to be described later. Further, based on the auxiliary support 120 being rotated, the auxiliary support 120 may guide the print medium to the tray 500. In an example, the auxiliary support 120 may include a flexible material that can be bent based on a pressure being applied thereto. For example, one side of the auxiliary support 120 may be bent by being pressed by the paper alignment device 200 and may guide the print medium to the tray 500.

[0035] The rotation shaft 130 may extend along the width direction and may support the auxiliary support 120. The auxiliary support 120 may be rotated about the rotation shaft 130.

[0036] The frame 140 may support a plurality of print media loaded on the tray 500 in the width direction. The frame 140 may be supported on one side of the main support 110 in the width direction.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the paper alignment device 200 may transfer or feed a print medium to the top surface of the paper support device 100. Further, the paper alignment device 200 may align the print medium at a preset position in the longitudinal direction by feeding the print medium placed on the paper support device 100 toward the tray 500. For example, the paper alignment device 200 may feed the print medium in a first direction on the paper support device 100 based on the print medium being fed to the paper support device 100. As another example, based on the print medium being fed toward the tray 500, the paper alignment device 200 may feed the print medium in a second direction on the paper support device 100. In this regard, the first direction may be a direction in which a print medium is fed from the paper feeding device 300 to the paper support device 100 as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6. In addition, the second direction may be a direction in which a print medium is fed from the paper support device 100 to the tray 500 as shown by an arrow in FIG. 7.

[0038] The paper alignment device 200 may be supported on an upper side of the paper support device 100. Further, the paper alignment device 200 may be integrally formed with the paper support device 100 to be moved along the shaft 400 in the width direction together with the paper support device 100. The paper alignment device 200 may include an alignment body 210, a guide roller 220, the pressing roller 230, a first pivot shaft 240, a second pivot shaft 250, a first driving gear 260, a second driving gear 270, a first gear assembly 280, and a second gear assembly 290.

[0039] The alignment body 210 may support the guide roller 220, the pressing roller 230, the first pivot shaft 240, the second pivot shaft 250, the first gear assembly 280, and the second gear assembly 290. The alignment body 210 may be supported on the top surface of the paper support device 100. In addition, the shaft 400 may pass through the alignment body 210, and the alignment body 210 may be moved along the shaft 400.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, the guide roller 220 may transfer or feed a print medium in the first direction. The guide roller 220 may press the print medium and the paper support device 100 based on feeding the print medium. In addition, the guide roller 220 may feed the print medium, which is fed to the upper side of the paper support device 100 by the paper feeding device 300, in the same direction as the feeding direction. The guide roller 220 may be arranged at one end of the alignment body 210. For example, based on the print medium being supplied from the paper feeding device 300, the guide roller 220 may descend toward the paper support device 100 to guide the print medium so that the print medium moves from the paper feeding device 300 to the paper support device 100.

[0041] Further, the guide roller 220 may be rotated about the first pivot shaft 240 together with the first gear assembly 280. For example, based on the shaft 400 rotating clockwise, the guide roller 220 may be rotated about the first pivot shaft 240 so as to be closer to the paper support device 100. As another example, based on the shaft 400 rotating counterclockwise, the guide roller 220 may be rotated about the first pivot shaft 240 to be spaced apart from the paper support device 100.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the pressing roller 230 may transfer or feed the print medium placed on the paper support device 100 toward the tray 500. The pressing roller 230 may feed the print medium in the second direction. For example, the pressing roller 230 may feed the print medium in a direction opposite to the feeding direction of the print medium fed on the paper support device 100 by the guide roller 220. In addition, the pressing roller 230 may press the print medium and the paper support device 100 based on feeding the print medium. The pressing roller 230 may be arranged at the other end of the alignment body 210. For example, based on the print medium being moved to the paper support device 100, the pressing roller 230 may descend toward the paper support device 100 to guide the print medium so that the print medium can be moved from the paper support device 100 to the tray 500.

[0043] In addition, the pressing roller 230 may be rotated about the second pivot shaft 250 together with the second gear assembly 290. For example, based on the shaft 400 rotating clockwise, the pressing roller 230 may be rotated about the second pivot shaft 250 to be spaced apart from the paper support device 100. As another example, based on the shaft 400 rotating counterclockwise, the pressing roller 230 may be rotated about the second pivot shaft 250 so as to be closer to the paper support device 100.

[0044] The guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230 may be arranged above the paper support device 100 and may be rotated in opposite directions. In addition, the guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230 may selectively press the top surface of the paper support device 100 in order to feed the print medium. In other words, one of the guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230 may feed the print medium based on the one of the guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230 pressing the print medium.

[0045] In addition, one of the guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230 may be spaced apart from the print medium so as not to interfere with the feeding of the print medium performed by the other of the guide roller 220 and the pressing roller 230. For example, based on the guide roller 220 pressing the top surface of the paper support device 100, the pressing roller 230 may be spaced apart from the top surface of the paper support device 100. Further, based on the pressing roller 230 pressing the top surface of the paper support device 100, the guide roller 220 may be spaced apart from the top surface of the paper support device 100. As a more detailed example, based on the print medium moving from the paper feeding device 300 to the paper support device 100, the guide roller 220 may descend and the pressing roller 230 may ascend. In addition, based on the print medium moving from the paper support device 100 to the tray 500, the guide roller 220 may ascend and the pressing roller 230 may descend.

[0046] The first driving gear 260 may transmit the rotational power of the shaft 400 to the first gear assembly 280. For example, the first driving gear 260 may transmit the rotational power to a first gear 281 .

[0047] The second driving gear 270 may transmit the rotational power of the shaft 400 to the second gear assembly 290. For example, the second driving gear 270 may be provided with a one-way bearing 271 and may be connected to the shaft 400 by the one-way bearing 271. In this case, the second driving gear 270 may transmit the rotational power of the shaft 400 to a third gear 291 based on the shaft 400 rotating counterclockwise and may not rotate correspondingly to the shaft 400 based on the shaft 400 rotating clockwise.

[0048] The first gear assembly 280 may transmit the rotational power of the first driving gear 260 to the guide roller 220. In addition, the first gear assembly 280 may be rotated about the first pivot shaft 240 by the surface pressure applied from the first driving gear 260. In this case, the guide roller 220 may be rotated together with the first gear assembly 280. The first gear assembly 280 may include the first gear 281 to rotate together with the first driving gear 260 and a second gear 282 to transmit the rotational power to the guide roller 220.

[0049] The second gear assembly 290 may transmit the rotational power of the second driving gear 270 to the pressing roller 230. In addition, the second gear assembly 290 may be rotated about the second pivot shaft 250 by the surface pressure applied from the second driving gear 270. In this case, the pressing roller 230 may be rotated together with the second gear assembly 290. The second gear assembly 290 may include the third gear 291 to rotate correspondingly to the second driving gear 270, a fourth gear 292 to mesh with the third gear 291 , and a fifth gear 293 to mesh with the fourth gear 292 and to transmit the rotational power to the pressing roller 230.

[0050] The paper feeding device 300 may transfer or feed the print medium onto the paper support device 100. The paper feeding device 300 may include an exit roller 310, an idle roller 320, and a pressing guide 330. [0051] The exit roller 310 and the idle roller 320 may be disposed to face each other and may transfer or feed a print medium onto the paper support device 100. For example, the exit roller 310 and the idle roller 320 may rotate in opposite directions and may feed the print medium fed between the exit roller 310 and the idle roller 320 to the paper support device 100.

[0052] The pressing guide 330 may press the print media loaded on the tray 500. For example, the pressing guide 330 may be a torsion spring.

[0053] The shaft 400 may guide the movement of the paper alignment device 200. In addition, the shaft 400 may extend along the width direction and may rotate about the width direction. The shaft 400 may be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the driving device 600.

[0054] The tray 500 may accommodate a plurality of print media. The print media may be sequentially stacked on the tray 500 in the thickness direction of the tray 500. The tray 500 may be disposed below the paper support device 100. In addition, a paper alignment end 510 for supporting a print medium may be formed on one side of the tray 500. The paper alignment end 510 may prevent the print medium fed toward the tray 500 by the pressing roller 230 from leaving the tray 500. In addition, the print medium fed to the tray 500 may be aligned at a preset position in the longitudinal direction by the paper alignment end 510.

[0055] The driving device 600 may provide a rotational power to rotate the shaft 400 and may provide power to move the plurality of paper support devices 100 in the width direction. For example, a plurality of driving devices 600 may be provided and may be spaced apart from each other to constitute one assembly. In addition, each of the driving devices 600 may provide power to the paper support device 100 and the shaft 400.

[0056] The control part 60 may control the driving device 600 to drive the paper support device 100, the paper alignment device 200, and the paper feeding device 300. The control part 60 may be realized by a calculation device including a microprocessor, a measurement device such as a sensor or the like, and a memory.

[0057] Hereinafter, example operations and effects of the post-processing apparatus 3 will be described. [0058] The control part 60 may control the inlet roller 20 to feed the print medium toward the paper feeding device 300 based on an image-formed print medium being fed from the image forming apparatus 2. In addition, the paper feeding device 300 may receive the print medium and may feed the print medium onto the paper support device 100.

[0059] Based on the print medium being fed to the guide roller 220 while being placed on the paper support device 100, the shaft 400 may be rotated so that the guide roller 220 presses the print medium. In addition, the guide roller 220 may feed the print medium to one side in the longitudinal direction while pressing the print medium with a preset pressure.

[0060] Based on the print medium being fed by the guide roller 220, the shaft 400 may be rotated so that the pressing roller 230 presses the print medium and the guide roller 220 is spaced apart from the print medium. In this case, the pressing roller 230 may press the print medium and the auxiliary support 120 may be rotated or bent. In addition, the pressing roller 230 may feed the print medium to the other side in the longitudinal direction. In this case, one end of the print medium in the longitudinal direction may be caught by the paper alignment end 510, and the other end may be supported by the auxiliary support 120.

[0061] In an example, based on one end of the print medium in the longitudinal direction being loaded on the tray 500 by the pressing roller 230, the paper support devices 100 may be spaced apart from each other so that the other end supported by the paper support devices 100 can be loaded on the tray 500.

[0062] Based on a plurality of print media being fed from the image forming apparatus 2 to the post-processing apparatus 3, the control part 60 may perform the above-described processes for each of the print media.

[0063] The post-processing apparatus 3 according to an example has an effect that the print medium may be fed to the tray 500 while being supported on the paper support device 100 without making contact with the pre-loaded print media, which makes it possible to uniformly manage the frictional force generated between the print media.

[0064] In addition, the post-processing apparatus 3 according to an example has an effect that it is possible to more accurately align a plurality of print media at a preset position by equalizing the frictional force generated between the print media.

[0065] While examples of the present disclosure have been described, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and should be construed as having the widest scope within the technical spirit disclosed in the present specification. The present disclosure may be implemented in a form that is not included in the above described examples by combining or replacing the disclosed examples, however, it also does not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, it is apparent that the disclosed examples may be changed or modified based on the present specification, and thus, such changes or modifications fall within the scope of the present disclosure.