JP2000016682A - Posttreatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unite a tray for forming a paper bundle and a tray for stock together and to stitch a plurality of paper bundles on the tray at one operation by applying adhesive to paper sheets except for the last one in being carried, by providing a position alignment regulation boards on a bundle treatment discharge tray, by pressurizing the coating position after the discharge, and by stitching them into the bundle. SOLUTION: A paper sheet 12 fed to a posttreatment device 6 is carried and discharged to a target discharge tray 10 or a bundle treatment discharge tray 11. The paper sheets discharged to the bundle treatment discharge tray 11 are aligned and stacked in a prescribed position by the regulating board 14 and an adhesive application unit 7 applies adhesive to a prescribed position on the paper sheets 12 in carrying to be discharged to the bundle treatment discharge tray 11. The paper sheets which are applied with the adhesive and stacked on the bundle treatment discharge tray 11 are formed into a paper sheet bundle by pressurizing and stitching the coating part by a pressurization unit 13. If the paper sheet bundle treated before is still left on the discharge tray, the following paper sheet bundle can be pressurized together so as to dispense with another tray for the stock.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus installed in a sheet discharge section of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a post-processing apparatus for forming a sheet bundle by bundling a plurality of discharged sheets. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various post-processing apparatuses installed in a paper discharge section of an image forming apparatus are known. For example, a sorter that sorts a plurality of copies by sequentially discharging a plurality of copies of the same copy to separate trays, a post-processing device that performs a stapling process and a punching process on a plurality of discharged copies, and the like. It has been known. As a specific example of the post-processing device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-122292 discloses that a plurality of sheets once discharged from the image forming apparatus are stacked on a single bundle processing discharge tray and stapled on the sheet bundle. A post-processing apparatus is disclosed in which a ring processing is performed, and then the sheet is conveyed to a sorter having a multi-stage tray or a single-stage discharge tray and stacked. In the apparatus disclosed in JP-A-6-122292, sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus are aligned and stacked on a bundle processing discharge tray, thereby forming a sheet bundle. On the other hand, a stapler is provided on one side of the bundle processing discharge tray, and the stapler performs a stapling process on one side edge of the sheets stacked on the bundle processing discharge tray. Further, the sheet bundle subjected to the stapling process is conveyed from the bundle processing discharge tray to each tray of the sorter or the discharge tray and discharged.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional post-processing apparatus, a bundle processing discharge tray for forming a sheet bundle and a tray for stacking the formed sheet bundle (each tray of a sorter) Or paper output tray)
A kind was required, and the post-processing apparatus became large. Further, with the current bundle processing discharge tray and stapler, it is possible to form a sheet bundle on the bundle processing discharge tray and perform stapling processing (post-processing). Since the next sheet bundle cannot be formed unless it is removed from the output tray, the conventional post-processing device can staple one sheet bundle at a time, even when creating multiple sets of sheets in one job. Therefore, the processing time of post-processing (stapling processing) cannot be reduced. Furthermore, the generation of noise due to the stapling process could not be reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-described drawbacks of the related art, and has a tray for forming a sheet bundle and a tray for stocking, and performs a binding process for a plurality of sheet bundles on the tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide a post-processing device that can be performed quietly by one operation.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a post-processing apparatus for moving a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus.
Paper guiding means for guiding the paper on a predetermined path, a paper discharge tray on which the paper is placed, and paper bundle binding means for forming a paper bundle in which a plurality of the papers are bundled and some of the papers are bound. A post-processing apparatus, wherein a regulating plate provided on a paper discharge tray for aligning the position of the discharged paper, and a predetermined position on the paper where the paper transporting means and the paper guiding means do not contact with each other. Adhesive applying means for applying an adhesive to the sheet; pressing means for pressing the adhesive applying position on the sheet from above and below;
Control means for controlling the respective means so as to operate the pressurizing means after applying the adhesive to a predetermined position of the sheet being conveyed except for the sheet and discharging the sheet, and applying the adhesive. Means and the pressurizing means constitute the sheet bundle binding means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit operates the adhesive applying unit based on a signal for detecting a rear end of the sheet in the transport direction. And According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the post-processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the control unit, when forming a plurality of the sheet bundles, overlaps all sheets of the plurality of sheet bundles. The pressurizing means is operated after the paper is discharged in the state of being pressed.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the post-processing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
The post-processing device 6 according to the present embodiment is connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus that forms (transfers), fixes, and discharges a developed image on a sheet conveyed by an electrophotographic method, for example. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed tray 2 for storing paper 12 used for image formation, an image forming unit 3 for forming an image on the paper 12, and an image formed on the paper 12. A fixing unit 4 for fixing and a paper discharge roller 5 for discharging the paper 12 on which the image is fixed are arranged. The papers 12 stocked in the paper feed tray 2 are taken out one by one and transported, and the image is transferred to the surface of the papers 12 by the image forming unit 3, and then the image formed on the papers 12 is fixed. The sheet 12 on which the image is fixed and the image is fixed is discharged to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1 by the discharge roller 5. In the present embodiment, since the post-processing device 6 is connected so as to follow the sheet discharge port of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet 12 discharged by the discharge roller 5 is subsequently sent to the post-processing device 6. Paper is fed. The post-processing device 6 includes an adhesive application unit 7 that applies an adhesive to a predetermined position of the conveyed paper, a conveyance roller 8 that conveys the paper fed from the image forming apparatus 1 in the post-processing device 6,
A deflecting claw 9 which is a guiding means for switching a sheet conveyance path by a solenoid or the like to guide the sheet to a target sheet discharge destination tray, a sheet discharge tray 10 not provided with a pressure unit 13 described later, and a sheet discharge tray 10 described later. A bundle processing discharge tray 11 having a pressure unit 13, a pressure unit 13 for pressing the adhesive applied portion of the sheet on which the adhesive has been applied, and a regulation for guiding the discharged sheet to a predetermined position. Board 14 and paper 1
Discharge rollers 19 for discharging the sheet 2 to the respective discharge trays 10 and 11
And a CPU (not shown) including a storage device as control means for controlling these components. In the bundle processing discharge tray 11, the lowering control of the bundle processing discharge tray 11 is performed so that the height of the uppermost portion of the plurality of stacked sheets (the height of the last discharged sheet) is constant. Will be

The paper 12 fed to the post-processing device 6 is transported along a transport path by a transport roller 8, guided to a target discharge destination tray by a deflection claw 9, and is discharged by a discharge roller 19 to a discharge tray 10. Alternatively, the sheet is discharged to the bundle processing discharge tray 11. The sheets discharged to the bundle processing discharge tray 11 are stacked at the predetermined position by the regulating plate 14. The adhesive application unit 7 detects a predetermined position on the paper 12 being conveyed and discharged to the bundle processing paper discharge tray 11 and applies the adhesive. The application position of the adhesive and the application device will be described later with reference to FIGS. The sheet coated with the adhesive and stacked on the bundle processing discharge tray 11 is
3, the adhesive application portion on the paper 12 is pressed to form a bound paper bundle (bound process). The pressurizing unit 13 includes a lower pressurizing unit 13 (a) having a driving DC motor therein, an upper pressurizing unit 13 (b) which is a movable piece for pressurizing a sheet, and the pressurizing unit 13 ( b) is constituted by a lead screw 13 (c) that is raised and lowered by rotation of a DC motor. The upper pressure unit 13 (b) is a lead screw 13 (c)
A threaded hole is drilled inside so as to move up and down based on the rotation of, and it is located above the bundle processing discharge tray 11 so as not to hinder the discharge except during pressurization. The driving DC motor whose current value changes depending on the load is used.

The drive control of the pressure unit 13 is such that when the last sheet of the sheet bundle is stacked on the bundle processing discharge tray 11, the upper pressure unit 13 (b) is lowered by the DC motor drive, and the DC motor is driven. When the driving load detected by the changed current value becomes equal to or more than a predetermined load, the lowering is stopped, and the upper pressurizing unit 13 (b) is raised by a DC motor to stop pressurizing. Is done. Further, when the lowering control of the bundle processing discharge tray 11 is performed, the lower pressure unit 13 (a) is also controlled to lower so as to be aligned with the bundle processing discharge tray 11. Although the present embodiment is based on the premise that only one type of paper is used, the restricting plate 14 is fixed. However, the restricting plate 14 can be driven to cope with various types of paper. The restricting plate 14 may be driven in accordance with the size of. In the claims of the present invention, the sheet conveying means in the post-processing apparatus is an apparatus for conveying the sheet including the conveying roller 8 and the discharging roller 19, and the sheet guiding means is the deflecting claw 9 or the like. Is a device for determining the path of a sheet.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the structure of the portion where the sheet coated with the adhesive is discharged to the bundle processing discharge tray in FIG. In addition, in FIGS. 2 to 4 described below, parts having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The adhesive application unit 15 indicates a portion (position) of the adhesive applied on the paper 12 by the adhesive application unit 7. The position of the adhesive application section 15 is determined by the conveyance roller 8, the paper discharge roller 19, and the contact line 2 described later.
0 is a position where the adhesive does not contact. The contact line 20 is formed on the paper 12 by transport ribs (not shown) provided at various parts of the transport path for guiding the paper 12 to the bundle processing discharge tray 11 in the transport path of the paper 12 and the above-described deflection claw 9. This is a line that is obtained by tracing the contact portion that makes contact on the paper and the transport path. An adhesive is applied to the paper 12 being conveyed in the post-processing device 6 by the adhesive application unit 7 like the adhesive application unit 15 so that the applied adhesive is applied to the paper 1.
2 can be prevented from adhering to various rollers, ribs, and the like on the transport path during the transport of
1 can be used only for bonding between the sheets discharged. When the sheets 12 are aligned on the regulating plate 14 and deposited on the bundle processing discharge tray 11, and the last sheet of the sheet bundle to which the adhesive is not applied is deposited, the lower pressure unit 13 (a) The DC motor inside rotates the lead screw 13 (c). The rotation of the lead screw 13 (c) causes the upper pressing unit 13 to rotate.
(B) moves downward, and presses the adhesive application section 15 of the paper 12. When the reaction force due to the pressurization increases and the current flowing through the DC motor in the lower pressurizing unit 13 (a) becomes larger than a predetermined value, the rotation direction of the DC motor is reversed and the upper pressurizing unit 13 ( Control is performed using a CPU or the like to return b) to the original position.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a more detailed configuration of the adhesive application unit in FIG. The adhesive application unit 7 in FIG. 3 is provided on the back surface of the adhesive application section of the paper 12 at the time of applying the adhesive, and a counter roller 16 that sandwiches the application roller 17 and the paper 12 described later, and is thinly attached to the roller surface. A coating roller 17 for applying the applied adhesive to the paper 12, a paper rear end sensor 18 for detecting the rear end of the paper 12 being conveyed, a push solenoid 21 for pressing the application roller 17 against the paper 12, and an adhesive 23. And a bonding agent 23 which is thinly applied to the roller surface of the application roller 17. Here, the position where the adhesive application unit 7 is installed in the post-processing device 6 is a position where the adhesive can be applied to the position of the adhesive application unit 15 in FIG. Further, the application port of the adhesive container 22 is arranged so as to always contact the surface of the application roller 17. In the present embodiment, as the adhesive 23, the coating roller 1 is used.
Since it is necessary to use a paper adhesive that is slowly dried from the necessity of waiting for the paper to be conveyed, it is more preferable to use a pressure-sensitive two-liquid epoxy using microcapsules containing an epoxy resin. It can also be an adhesive.
In addition, instead of using a liquid adhesive, a predetermined amount of adhesive (adhesive) processed into a strip or tape may be used, or a double-sided tape with adhesive or adhesive applied to both sides of a strip-shaped substrate May be used. The paper trailing edge sensor 18 is
When the rear end is detected, the push solenoid 21 presses the application roller 17 against the paper 12 for a predetermined time (the time required for applying the adhesive) (to sandwich the paper 12 between the opposing roller 16 and the application roller 17). And paper 1
The application of the adhesive 23 is performed at a position at a predetermined distance from the rear end on 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a binding process of pressing the sheet bundle by the pressing unit according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the first sheet bundle 12
(A) is placed thereon, and the second sheet bundle 12 is further placed thereon.
(B) is placed. This sheet bundle 12 (a),
3B, the positions are aligned by the regulating plate 14. Each sheet of the sheet bundles 12 (a) and 12 (b) has the final sheet (the uppermost one).
The adhesive is applied to the predetermined position 15 except for the sheet.
The adhesive is applied to the same position on all sheets except the last sheet of each sheet bundle 12 (a) and (b), and the positions of the respective sheets are aligned by the regulating plate 14 as described above. Sheet bundle 1 using the pressure units 13 (a) and (b).
2 (a) and (b) can be pressurized by one process. Note that FIG. 4 shows a case where two sets of paper bundles are pressurized by one process. However, even in the case of three or more paper bundles, pressurization by one process can be similarly performed. Also,
In order to ensure the pressurization of each sheet bundle, instead of pressurizing a plurality of sets of sheet bundles at once as described above, it is also possible to pressurize each time a sheet bundle is stacked.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the adhesive application for applying the adhesive to all sheets except the last sheet of the sheet bundle. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the sheet being conveyed is the last sheet of the sheet bundle. If it is the last sheet (step S1: YES), the process proceeds to step S3, and if it is not the last sheet ( (Step S1: NO)
Proceeds to step S2. In step S2, an adhesive is applied to the paper being transported. The method of applying the adhesive will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In step S3, the process returns to step S1 again.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the application of the adhesive in the flowchart of FIG. In step S21, it is determined that the sheet trailing edge sensor 18 that is detecting the sheet to be conveyed is turned off, that is, whether or not the trailing edge is detected, and the trailing edge is detected (step S2).
1: YES), the process proceeds to step S22, and if the rear end is not detected (step S21: NO), the process proceeds to step S23.
Proceed to. In step S22, the push solenoid 19
Is advanced by, for example, 10 mm, and the application roller 17 is pressed against the paper 12 (the paper 12 is sandwiched between the opposing roller 16 and the application roller 17). In step S23,
It returns to step S21 again. By configuring and operating as described above, it is possible to place a plurality of bound sheet bundles on one tray without separating the tray for forming the sheet bundle and the tray for stocking. The binding process of a plurality of sheet bundles can be performed in one operation.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the adhesive is applied to a predetermined position of all the sheets other than the last sheet of the sheet bundle, and the pressure is applied (binding process) on the sheet discharge tray. Therefore, even if the previously processed sheet bundle remains on the output tray, the next sheet bundle can be pressed together with the previous sheet bundle. And the next sheet bundle can be easily separated. Therefore, even when the binding processing of the sheet bundle is performed, there is no need to use two types of discharge trays, the tray for forming the sheet bundle and the tray for stocking, and the post-processing device can be downsized. Since the binding processing of the sheet bundle is performed without performing the ring processing, noise during the processing is small, and the binding processing of the sheet bundle of a plurality of sets can be performed at one time, so that the processing time can be reduced. Further, since only one tray is required, the post-processing apparatus of the present invention can be installed on the upper part of the image processing apparatus main body, which has not been conventionally possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a portion where a sheet coated with an adhesive is discharged to a bundle processing discharge tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a more detailed configuration of the adhesive application unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a binding process of pressing a sheet bundle by a pressing unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining adhesive application for applying adhesive to all sheets except the last sheet of the sheet bundle.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method of applying an adhesive in the flowchart of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Paper feed tray, 3 ...
Image forming unit, 4 fixing unit, 5 discharge rollers, 6
..Post-processing device, 7 ... adhesive application unit, 8 ...
・ Conveyance roller, 9: deflection claw, 10: discharge tray,
11: bundle processing discharge tray, 12: paper, 12
(A) 1st sheet bundle, 12 (b) 2nd sheet bundle, 13 ... pressing unit, 13 (a) ... lower pressing unit, 13 (b) ... Upper pressure unit, 1
3 (c): lead screw, 14: regulating plate,
15 ... Adhesive application part, 16 ... Counter roller, 17
... Coating roller, 18 ... Paper edge detection sensor, 19
... Discharge rollers, 20.
... Push solenoid, 22 ... Adhesive container, 2
3 ... Adhesive

Claims (3)

[Claims] A sheet conveying means for moving the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus; a sheet guiding means for guiding the sheet on a predetermined path; a sheet discharge tray for placing the sheet; A sheet bundle binding means for forming a sheet bundle in which a part of the sheets are bound by binding the sheets, wherein a regulation provided on a sheet ejection tray for aligning the position of the ejected sheets is provided. A plate, an adhesive applying unit for applying an adhesive to a predetermined position on the sheet where the sheet conveying unit and the sheet guiding unit do not contact, and a pressing unit for pressing the adhesive applying position on the sheet from above and below And control means for controlling the respective means so as to operate the pressurizing means after applying the adhesive to a predetermined position of the sheet being conveyed except for the last sheet in the sheet bundle and discharging the sheet. Having the above, Post-processing apparatus characterized by constituting the sheet bundle binding unit by said pressurizing means and Chakuzai coating means. 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the adhesive applying unit based on a signal for detecting a trailing end of the sheet in the transport direction. 3. When forming a plurality of sets of the sheet bundle, the control unit operates the pressurizing unit after the sheets of the plurality of sets are discharged in an overlapping state. The post-processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: