JP2002240457A - Bookbinding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bookbinding apparatus for folding and binding one printed matter of front and rear 4-page feeding sent from an image forming unit from its center. SOLUTION: The bookbinding apparatus folds and binds the printed matter of the front and rear 4 pages of sheets sent from a printer from its center, matches and binds the sheets of the 4 pages and discharges a book of the sheet bundle out of the printer. The apparatus does not bend the printed matter of a half (folding size) size of the folded sheet but receives the printed matter freely of the front and the rear of the sheets and binds the sheets.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus, and more specifically, is connected behind a paper discharge section of a printer or a copier, collects a plurality of sheets, and binds the sheets as a sheet bundle such as staples. The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus that performs a process and then discharges a bound sheet bundle booklet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A large number of printed sheets, such as those found in the binding of weekly magazines, are stacked and aligned, and the center is bound with staples. A processing technique for cutting three rounds by a cutting device is well known. Alternatively, it is connected downstream of a discharge section of a copying machine or the like, sorts and collects sheets for image formation and discharged single-sided or double-sided copying, aligns them, and performs binding processing as a sheet bundle.

[0003]

In the binding of a weekly magazine or the like, staple binding is performed at the center after the sheets are overlaid and aligned, and the staple binding portion is bent, and the opposite sides of the bent portion are not aligned. So cut that part. The sound for cutting the stacked sheets and the cutting device are expensive, and the size of the device is also large. In addition, the life of the blade of the device is short, and the power consumption required for driving for cutting is large.
The cutting device has various problems, such as a large weight.
Further, there is a problem that a large number of sheets are required to bend the central portion, and an enormous pressing force is required for pressurization.

[0004] Further, the binding performed in a copying machine or the like is binding in which one sheet of paper is stacked, and if the binding portion is binding in which one sheet of paper is stacked, the staple portion is pulled when the paper is pulled. There is also a problem that it is easy to cut, and the binding position also enters the center in order to increase the strength of the staple portion, thereby reducing the image area.

[0005] In addition, the problem to be solved is that the two pages on the front and the back are few, and the ability to freely page the computer is not fully utilized. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make the entire device large and durable,
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding method that does not use a cutting device that consumes a large amount of electric power. 4. The central part of the sheet having the image of four pages can be folded and the binding process can be performed on the bent portion, and the binding processing position (binding margin) can be reduced in order to make the image portion as large as possible. In addition, since four pages of paper are folded one by one, the folding dimensions are accurate and the folding / pressing mechanism can be simplified. Compact and compact, which is advantageous in terms of power consumption and running costs. To provide equipment.

In addition, since a four-page image is formed on one sheet of paper, a multiple-page image of four can be bound without waste.
In the case of a multiple of 1 plus one page, three blank pages can be formed. The image was taken on half the length of a four-page image, without folding, in order to reduce the blank area, and only that half of the paper was accepted without folding. It can be sent to the matching unit as it is, or inverted. By providing this function, it is also possible to add a special color image page to the front cover, the back cover, and the monochrome page of the character.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Folding means for folding the sheets one by one from the center, alignment means for aligning the folded sheets, binding means for binding the folded portion of the sheets, and discharge means for discharging the bound sheet bundle booklet outside the machine. The apparatus has a direct feeding means for directly feeding the fed sheet to the alignment means without folding.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a folding means for folding sheets one by one from the center, an aligning means for aligning folded sheets, and a binding means for performing a binding process on a folded portion of the aligned folded sheet group. And a discharge means for discharging the bound sheet bundle booklet, and a direct feed guide means integrated with the knife means for directly feeding the fed sheet to the aligning means without breaking.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a folding means for folding sheets one by one from the center, an aligning means for aligning the folded sheets, and a binding means for performing a binding process on a folded portion of the aligned folded sheet group. And a discharge means for discharging the bound sheet bundle booklet, a guide means for guiding the paper entering received by the paper folding means and a roller pressing means, and a return means for returning the paper to the guide means. Configuration.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments described below, the present invention is applied to an apparatus connected to a printer.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an image creation control device, 2 denotes an image creation device (referred to as a printer), and 3 denotes a bookbinding device.

The image creation control device 1 is composed of a display, an operation keyboard, a scanner, etc., and has various settings and inputs such as image creation, editing, processing, reading, page setting and number of copies setting, and a mode and device selected. Is displayed, for example.

The image creation control device 1 stores an image read by a scanner, an image sent from an external input device, a created image, and the like, and performs editing such as changing pages after the storage.

A printer 2 as an image forming apparatus forms an image from the image forming control device 1 on a sheet sent from a sheet feeding unit. The printer 2 generally employs a method of forming an image by an inkjet method or an electrophotographic method.

In many cases, the printer 2 reverses the image after forming an image on one side of the sheet and feeds the sheet back to the image forming section to form an image on the back side. Is discharged from the discharge section.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bookbinding apparatus 3 includes a sheet receiving section 11, a sheet guide section 12, a sheet folding section 13, an auxiliary pressing section 14, an aligning section 15, a binding section 16, and a booklet discharging section 1.
7, a discharge unit 18, a control unit 19, and the like.

The paper receiving section 11 comprises a paper receiving table 31, a pair of side guides 32, a paper presence / absence sensor C46, an entrance roller 33, and a drive mechanism including the entrance motor 21 as shown in FIG. There is a pair of side guides 32 for guiding the left and right positions of the paper 4 sent from the printer 2 in the traveling direction on a receiving table 31 fixed to the main body of the bookbinding apparatus 3, and also detects the paper 4 and the paper jam. And a paper presence / absence sensor C46 for counting the number of sheets received.

The inlet roller 33 has a gear C as shown in FIG.
25 is fixed, meshes with a pulley: gear B23 fixed to the sheet folding roller pair 42, and a pulley: gear B2
The gear 3 meshes with the gear D26, and the gear F28 and the gear G29 mesh with each other via the idle gear E27.

An auxiliary pressure roller pair 45 is fixed to the gears F28 and G29, and a pulley 22 fixed to the inlet motor 21 and a pulley gear 23 are connected by a belt 24, and the inlet motor 21 rotates. At the same time, the entrance roller 33, the sheet folding roller pair 42, and the auxiliary pressure roller pair 45
Rotates.

The inlet roller 33 is applied with a predetermined pressure on the sheet folding roller pair 42 of the sheet folding section 13 and is coaxially and integrally provided with a gear C25 on the outside of the side plate. Pulley mounted: gear 23
And rotate at the same peripheral speed as the paper folding roller pair 42,
The sent paper is sent to the paper guide unit 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the paper guide section 12 includes an upper guide plate 36, a lower guide plate 37, a paper stopper 40, and a paper leading end detection sensor A39. The upper guide plate 36 and the lower guide plate 37 may be substantially horizontal to a line connecting the axes of the sheet folding roller pair 43, but the inclination angle can be set to about 45 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle is set to 30 degrees because the sheet is easily bent. Also, the sheet 4 fed by the entrance roller 33
The lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36 are mounted at a certain interval so as to slide between the lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36, and both of the guide plates are provided with windows. The paper stopper 40 is slidable to stop the sliding, and a paper leading end detection sensor A39 is attached in front of the paper stopper 40.

An adjustment rack 157 is fixed to the paper stopper 40, and an adjustment pinion 156 fixed to the adjustment shaft 38 meshes with the adjustment rack 157 so that the adjustment shaft 3
When the rotating member 8 rotates, the adjustment rack 157 moves, and the paper stopper 40 slides and moves to the windows of the guide plates 36 and 37.

As shown in FIG. 4, the adjusting shaft 38 is rotatably mounted on both side plates of the main body, and an adjusting worm gear 154 is fixed to the outside of the main body side plate, and is meshed with the adjusting worm 153.

The adjusting worm 153 is fixed to an adjusting shaft 155 and is rotatably supported by a motor mounting base 158. An adjusting gear A 152 is fixed to the other end of the adjusting worm 153.
8 is engaged with an adjusting gear B151 fixed to the shaft of the adjusting motor 150 fixed to the shaft 8, and when the adjusting motor 150 rotates, the adjusting shaft 38 rotates to move the paper stopper 40.

The paper 4 which has slipped between the lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36 by the entrance roller 33 is prevented from moving forward by the paper stopper 40, and is substantially separated from the lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36. 4 is slackened at the center, and the slack enters between the sheet folding roller pair 42.

When the length of the sheet is half, the upper and lower guide plates 3
The paper entering between 6 and 37 remains discharged to the entrance roller 33.
A return roller 210 shown in FIG. 16 is provided for pushing in between. The return roller 210 is lightly in contact with the upper guide plate 36 from the lower guide plate 37 having a window formed by, for example, polyurethane foam or a bristle brush, and is light when the paper comes between the upper guide plate 36 and the return roller 210. The feeding force is applied to the sheet in the rotation direction of the return roller 210 by force. The return roller 210 is rotatably supported by the main body side plate, and the rotation of the return motor 214 is controlled by an integrated pulley M212 and a belt M213 hung on a pulley N215 directly connected to the return motor 214 fixed to the main body side plate. The sheet is transmitted and the upper guide plate 36 and the lower guide plate 3
7 is driven in the same direction as the traveling direction of the sheet. However, the paper stops at the position where the paper reaches the paper stopper 40, starts rotating in the return direction, and returns the paper, and the same movement is performed when the paper is constantly bent.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet folding section 13 is composed of a sheet folding roller pair 42 driven by the entrance motor 21 and rotates at the same peripheral speed simultaneously with the auxiliary pressure roller pair 45.

Further, the sheet bending portion 13 is provided in the manner shown in FIGS.
An axis A41 that is freely rotatable on the main body side plate as shown in FIG.
It comprises a direct feed guide 225 having the knife 34 integrally attached thereto, a knife unit 35, a solenoid A47 attached to the outside of the side plate, and an arm A48 connected to the solenoid A47 and rotating the shaft 41 by its movement.

The folding of the center of the sheet 4 can be performed without using the knife unit 35 with the knife 34. When the knife unit 35 is used, first,
A paper edge detection sensor A39 attached to the upper and lower guide plates 36 and 37 detects the edge of the paper. At a predetermined timing thereafter, the solenoid A47 operates and the knife unit 3
5 rotates clockwise about the axis A41, folds the center of the sheet, and pushes it between the sheet folding roller pair 42.

The folded portion of the sheet is the sheet folding roller pair 42
If it is caught in the middle, the power of the solenoid A47 is turned off, and at the same time, the knife unit 35 is released and returned to the illustrated position by a spring (not shown).

In the case where the paper is fed directly between the paper folding roller pair 42 without folding the paper with the length of the paper being half,
Before the paper arrives, the knife unit 35 is switched to the solenoid A4.
7, the upper guide plate 36 and the lower guide plate 3 are positioned between the sheet folding roller pair 42 by the direct feed guide 225 which is located at the lower position (b) and is integrated with the knife unit 35.
7, the sheet is fed directly between the pair of sheet bending rollers 42.

As shown in FIG. 7, the auxiliary pressing section 14 includes an auxiliary pressing roller pair 45, an intermediate guide plate 43, and a paper sensor B4.
4 and a support shaft 49 serving as a center for rotating the intermediate guide plate 43 in a clockwise direction. When removing the paper jammed in the auxiliary pressurizing section, the intermediate guide plate 43 can be rotated clockwise about the support shaft 49, so that the jammed paper can be easily removed. It is always stopped by a spring (not shown) at the illustrated position. The folded paper 5 which is folded at the central portion of the paper at the paper folding portion 13 and sent with the folded portion at the tip.
Is pressed by the auxiliary pressure roller pair 45 and sent to the next step in order to more reliably bend.

The aligning section 15 includes a central paper pressing mechanism 200 (FIG. 7) for pressing the paper from above, a staple positioning plate mechanism 201 (FIG. 8) for aligning the bent portion at the leading end of the paper, and an aligning table 202 (FIG. 9). And the alignment table vertical mechanism 203 (FIG. 13)
Etc. Hereinafter, each mechanism will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the center paper holding mechanism 200 includes a center paper holding plate 50 and a rotating shaft 5 serving as a fulcrum of its swing.
6 and an upper guide 59 for guiding both sides of the leading end of the sheet from above.
And a shaft D51 integrally attached to the central paper pressing plate 50 and an arm C for transmitting a force for swinging the central paper pressing plate 50
The arm C52 comprises a shaft C53, which is the center of rotation of the arm 52 and the arm C52 and is rotatably attached to the side plate of the main body, a solenoid B55 for performing a rocking operation, and an arm B54 for transmitting the force as a rotational motion. And axis C53
And the arm B54 are integrated.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13, the staple positioning mechanism 201 determines the stop position of the positioning plate 60 in order to determine the stapling position at the leading end of the folded sheet on which the stapler 121 is stacked. This is a mechanism for pushing back the bundled booklet from the stapler 121.

The axis E6 to which the positioning plate 60 for stopping and aligning the leading end of the folded sheet 5 sent to the alignment table 57 is fixed.
1 is rotatably attached to the main body side plate, and an arm 107 is fixed to the outside of the main body side plate. A spring 108 is provided at the tip of the arm 107, and the arm 107 is always pulled in a clockwise direction.
04 is pressed against a cam plate 106 fixed to a staple position adjusting knob 105 that is braked by a spring so that it can be rotated only manually on the side plate of the main body.

The cam plate 106 fixed to the staple position adjusting knob 105 is engaged with the roller 104 of the arm 107, and the stop position of the positioning plate 60 can be adjusted by the rotation stop position of the staple position adjusting knob 105.

A link 103 is rotatably supported on the arm 107, and the other of the link 103 is connected to the solenoid 101. When the solenoid 101 operates, the arm 107 connected to the link 103 rotates counterclockwise. Then, the positioning plate 60 fixed to the shaft 61 is swung counterclockwise to return the stapled sheet bundle booklet 6 on the alignment table 57 to the right.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, 10, 13, etc., the alignment table 202 is attached to the alignment table 57 to detect the presence or absence of a sheet on the table. A left alignment plate 74 for aligning and guiding the left side, and an alignment plate pin 80 integrated with the left alignment plate 74 can slide on the left alignment plate guide groove 71 of the alignment table 57 and move on the alignment table 57, so that the left alignment plate 74 An upper left guide 76 is supported by the aligning plate shaft 77 and attached so as to be able to swing around the aligning plate shaft 77. 11 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a lower plate 99 that is bent downward at a part of the upper left guide 76 extends from above the alignment table 57 through the left alignment plate guide groove 71 to the D hole 119 of the alignment plate rack 82. .

Further, the matching table 202 is driven by a motor A 88 mounted on the back plate 90 of the matching table 57.
A pulley A87 directly connected to the pulley B88 and a pulley B86 connected by a belt A89 are rotated to be moved by a pinion integrated with the pulley B86.

The alignment plate rack 82 has a D hole 119 for driving a part of the lower plate 99 of the upper left guide 76 and an elongated hole 118 for the alignment plate pin 80 which slides and moves the left alignment plate 74 into the left alignment plate guide groove 71. And rack guide 8 integrated with alignment table 57
There is a rack groove 84 for sliding along 5

The D hole 119 of the aligning plate rack 82 is a hole for driving the lower plate 99 of the upper left guide 76 to move the upper left guide 76 substantially horizontally (X position) and upward (Y position). When the aligning plate rack 82 is moved so that the guide 76 is substantially in the horizontal position (X) and upward (Y), the aligning plate pin 80 becomes a limit hole in the horizontal position (X) and upward (Y) position. When the rack 82 moves in the inward direction (In), the lower plate 99 is moved in the first movement, so that the upper left guide is directed upward (Y), and then the slot 118 moves the alignment plate pin 80 to the left alignment. Plate 74 begins to move.

When the left alignment plate 74 is located inside the alignment table 57 and the alignment plate rack 82 starts to move outward (Ou), the lower plate 99 is first moved to set the upper left guide 76 to the horizontal position (X). After that, the aligning plate rack 82
The left alignment plate 74 is moved outward (Ou) by moving 0. On the outside, a left position sensor 83 is provided as a reference position for movement and driving of the left alignment plate 74 and the right alignment plate 73.

With the same configuration as the left alignment plate 74 and the upper left guide 76 for aligning the left side of the folded sheet 5, the right alignment plate 73 and the upper right id 75 are located at positions symmetrical to the advance of the sheet. It is made to move. The right alignment plate rack 160 engaged with the pinion integrated with the pulley B86 driven by the motor A88 makes a symmetrical movement with the alignment plate rack 82.

An end plate portion for aligning the front and rear positions of the folded sheet 5 discharged onto the alignment table 57 in the traveling direction is provided on the alignment table 5.
7. Pulley E including motor B91 fixed to back plate 90
92, belt E93, pulley: pinion E94, rear alignment plate rack 96, end plate position sensor 97, end plate 95, rear end alignment plate 78, end plate shaft 79
The movement of the left alignment plate 74 and the upper left guide 76 for aligning the left side of the folded sheet 5 is a forward and backward movement with respect to the folded sheet 5, but the movement is the same.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the aligning table vertical mechanism 203 has a support shaft A62 for swingably mounting the aligning table 57 on both side plates, and a groove plate 63 and a groove integrally mounted on both side surfaces of the aligning table 57. The arm D64 integrated with the protrusion 66 that moves and fits into the slot of the plate 63, and can freely rotate on both side plates of the main body, and the arm D64 and the arm F1 outside the side plate.
11 is fixed to the shaft F65.

Further, a motor D11 fixed to the main body side plate
6, an arm G115 fixed to the shaft 6 and rotating with the shaft, and a shielding plate 114.
And a link B117 that connects

The sensor E113, the sensor E113, and the sensor F112 are located at 180 degrees with respect to the motor shaft. When the shielding plate 114 rotates together with the motor D116 shaft, the sensor F112 and the sensor E113 are located at positions where the sensor F112 and the sensor E113 are shielded.

When the arm G115 integrated with the shaft of the motor D116 rotates and the link B117 reciprocates to swing the arm F111, when the arm F111 is at the left end position, the shielding plate 114 detects the sensor F112. When it is shielded and located at the right end position, the shielding plate 114 is located at a position where it shields the sensor E113.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the binding section 16
A guide A125, a guide B126, and a pinion A127 fixed to the shaft of the motor G122 to guide the stapler 121 and the stapler 121 on the stapler base 128 integrated with the rack 123 and the shielding plate A120 to the positions (u) and (v). It comprises a rack 123 to be engaged, a pinion A127, a rack guide B124 for guiding the rack 123, and a sensor H140 and a sensor J141 for position detection for stopping the stapler 121 at predetermined positions (u) and (v).

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13, the booklet discharging portion 17 is integrally formed with a gear A130 fixed to the shaft of a motor F129 fixed to the main body side plate, a gear A130 and a shaft G132 of a meshing roller H136. And a roller H138 rotatably mounted on a discharge plate 137 fixed to the shaft H133, and a shaft H133 rotatably rotatable on the main body side plate.
As shown in the figure, there is an arm H134 integrally attached to the shaft H133, which is normally pulled counterclockwise by the spring B109 and stopped by the stopper A135, but the spring C11 is turned in the opposite direction to the spring B109.
0 and is connected to the solenoid D102.

As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge section 18 comprises an opening 141 provided on the rear side of the main body and a discharge table 140.

Next, the operation will be described. When the bookbinding apparatus is turned on, each unit prepares for reception. FIG.
, The knife unit 35 is at the position (a), the central paper pressing plate 50 is at the position (e), the positioning plate 60 is at the position (k), the roller H138 is at the position (r), and the alignment table 57 is The shield plate 114 shields the sensor F112 and sets the arm D64.
It is at the position (m) with respect to the position (p). The position of the paper stopper 40 of the paper guide unit 12 is also set to a predetermined position by the adjustment motor 150.

The motor 88 rotates clockwise on the left alignment plate 74 and the right alignment plate 73 on the alignment table 57 to move the alignment plate rack 82 and the right alignment plate rack 160 toward the center. First, the upper left guide 76 and the upper right guide plate 75 are moved to the horizontal position (x).
To the upward (y) position, and then the left aligning plate 74 and the right aligning plate 73 are moved from the shielding position of the left position sensor 83 toward the central portion by moving the aligning plate pins 80 integrated therewith. The alignment plate rack 82 and the right alignment plate rack 160 are moved to the folded paper 5 size position, and are returned by a margin L of the elongated hole 118 in which the alignment plate pins 80 integrated with the left alignment plate 74 and the right alignment plate 73 are fitted. The upper left guide 76 at the upward position (y) and the upper right position the id 75 at the horizontal position (x).

Further, the end plate 95 also moves to the rear position where the folded paper 5 is aligned, and the rear end pressing plate 78 is in the horizontal position as well as the upper left guide 76 and the upper right guide 75.
Further, the stapler 121 connects the sensor H140 to the shielding plate A12.
0 is at the shielding (u) position and waits for the folded paper 5 to be sent.

A predetermined sheet is sent from the printer 2 between the pair of side guides 32 on the sheet receiving table 31 of the bookbinding apparatus 3. When the paper presence / absence sensor C46 detects the paper 4, the entrance motor 21 starts rotating, and the entrance rollers 33 placed on the paper folding roller pair 42 start to rotate together, and the fed paper 4 is received by the lower guide plate 37. It is fed between the upper guide plates 36.

The sheet 4 advances between the lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36, and the sheet leading edge detection sensor A39 detects the leading edge of the sheet, issues a command to the control unit 19, and activates the solenoid A47 after a predetermined time.

The leading edge of the sheet passes under the leading edge detection sensor A39 and is stopped by the sheet stopper 40. However, since the entrance roller 33 and the sheet folding roller pair 42 are rotating, the lower guide plate 37 and the upper guide plate 36 are rotated. At the moment when the slack enters the space between the sheet folding roller pair 42, the solenoid A47 is actuated to activate the knife unit 35.
Is moved clockwise, and the slack of the paper is pushed between the pair of paper folding rollers 42 by the knife 34. The paper can be folded without the knife unit mechanism, but by using the knife unit, the folding accuracy at the center of the paper can be increased and the bending failure can be reduced.

In the case where a half-length sheet of paper being worked or bound without being bent is bound by the instruction from the control unit 19, the solenoid A47 is operated before the sheet comes and the knife unit 35 is moved downward. (B), the fed sheet is guided by the direct feeding guide 215 between the lower sheet folding roller pair 42, and the leading edge of the sheet is set to the sheet sensor B.
When it reaches 44, the solenoid A47 is released. Also, when reversing a paper sent with half length paper,
The paper is fed between the upper guide plate 36 and the lower guide plate 37 in the same manner as when the paper is folded. At this time, the return roller 210 rotates counterclockwise in the same direction as the paper advances, and the paper leading edge is detected by the paper leading edge detection sensor A39. At the same time as the leading edge of the paper reaches the paper stopper 40, the paper starts to rotate in the clockwise direction opposite to the rotation so far and feeds the paper. Therefore, even a half-length sheet is fed between the sheet folding roller pair 42. The return roller 210 operates in the same manner when the sheet has a length to be bent.

The folded sheet 5 which has been pressed and sent out by the sheet folding roller pair 42 or the half-length sheet which has been directly guided and returned from the space between the upper and lower guide plates (36, 37), etc. Is passed over the paper sensor B44 and sent between the pair of auxiliary pressure rollers 45,
, And is discharged onto the alignment table 57.

Before the folded sheet 5 is discharged onto the alignment table 57, the left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 9
Reference numeral 5 denotes a position (center portion) on the alignment table 57 where the folded sheets 5 are aligned, and the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end pressing plate 78 are each at a horizontal position, and the fed folded sheets 5 On the rear end presser plate 78 of the end plate 95,
It slides on the upper left guide 76 of the left alignment plate 74 and on the upper right guide 75 of the right alignment plate 73 to guide to the alignment position.

The trailing end of the folded sheet passes through the sheet sensor B44 and is released onto the alignment table 57, and the sheet sensor B44 detects the trailing end of the folded sheet 5 after a predetermined time, and the solenoid B55
The arm B54, the shaft C53, and the arm C52 are rotated clockwise about the axis C53, and the central paper holding plate 50 is rotated about the rotation shaft 56 to the position (f) to be folded paper. 5 is pressed down to a substantially horizontal position.

Thereafter, each of the left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 95 is moved to a position where it shields the outer left position sensor 83 and the end plate position sensor 97. This position is a position deviating from the folded sheet position where the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end pressing plate 78 are released.

At this time, the upper left guide 76 and the upper right guide 7
5. The trailing end press plate 78 moves in the horizontal position.

As soon as the outermost left position sensor 83 and the end plate position sensor 97 are shielded, the motor A88 and the motor B91 start to rotate in the reverse direction.
4. Each of the right alignment plate 73 and the end plate 95 returns to the folded paper 5 alignment position. At this time, first, the upper left guide 76,
The upper right guide 75 and the rear end presser plate 78 are first moved to the original positions in the center direction while keeping the upper position (y).

When returning to the predetermined alignment position of the folded sheet 5, the motors A88 and B91 move the alignment plate pins 82 of the alignment plate rack 82, the right alignment plate rack 160, and the rear alignment plate rack 96.
And the left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 95 by rotating the alignment plate rack 82, the right alignment plate rack 160, and the rear alignment plate rack 96 by rotating the alignment plate rack 82, the right alignment plate rack 160, and the rear alignment plate rack 96 by the margin L of the long hole 118. Without moving, the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end pressing plate 78 are stopped at the horizontal position (x).

The left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 95 are moved to the folded paper alignment position to align the folded paper 5 sent thereto at a predetermined position. The upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end pressing plate 78 After stopping at the horizontal position (x), the solenoid 55 is released and the central paper pressing plate 50 returns to the upper position (e).

The bookbinding apparatus 3 receives the next sheet 4 again, and the folded sheet 5 folded from the center is discharged from the auxiliary pressure roller pair 45 onto the folded sheet 5 sent forward on the alignment table 57. You.

The paper sensor B44 detects the rear end of the folded paper 5, and after a predetermined time, the central paper holding plate 50 rotates to the horizontal position (f) to hold the folded paper 5, and the left alignment plate 74 and the right alignment plate 7
3. The end plate 95 moves outward. Folded paper 5
From the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, the rear end holding plate 78
Are moved to the shielding positions of the left position sensor 83 and the end plate position sensor 97 at the outermost positions where the upper and lower guides 76, 75 and 75 are moved upward (y), respectively. The upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end pressing plate 78 return to the horizontal position (x) and press the second folded paper 5.

The folded paper 5 is fed one after another, the central paper pressing plate 50 holds down from above, and the left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 95 align the folded paper 5, and the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear The end presser plate 78 presses the bulge of the folded paper 5, and the center paper presser plate 50 rotates upward, and the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the upper surface of the rear end press plate 78 are bent next. It functions as a guide for the paper 5.

When the total number of pages to be bound is a multiple of 4 plus 1 or 2, the front and back covers can be used. However, when it is desired to reduce the number of blank pages, printed pages of half size (folded) (No pages) to eliminate or reduce blank pages. Then, it is possible to decide whether to put the half-size paper on the book cover, put it in the middle, or make it the last page, and also make it a designated item of the maker.

A predetermined number of sheets are sent, the final sheet is bent from the center in response to the print end command, and is discharged onto the alignment table 57.
The center paper holding plate 50 holds the folded paper 5 from above, the left alignment plate 74, the right alignment plate 73, and the end plate 95 align the folded paper at the alignment position, and the upper left guide 76, the upper right guide 75, and the rear end holding plate 78 At the horizontal position (x), the stapler 121
Staples the sheet folded portion at the position (u), then the motor G122 starts rotating clockwise to move the rack 123 to move the stapler from the position (u) to the direction (v), and the shielding plate A120 of the stapler 121 detects the sensor J141. Is stapled at the position (v) where the motor G122 stops, and the stapler 121 returns to the position (u).

At the same time when the stapling is completed at the position (v), the central paper pressing plate 50 is returned to the position (e).
7, the end plate 95 starts moving outward, moves a predetermined amount, and stops. At the same time, solenoid C101 turns ON
Then, the positioning plate 60 moves from (k) to (l), and pushes out the stapled sheet bundle booklet 6 from the opening of the stapler 121.

The motor D116 rotates clockwise until the shielding plate 114 shields the sensor E113,
7 around the support shaft A62 from (m) to (n), the motor F129 starts rotating, and the roller H136 rotates.
At the same time, the end plate 95 on the alignment table 57 moves toward the center, and pushes out the sheet bundle booklet 6 toward the booklet discharging section, and at a position where the sheet bundle booklet 6 is pushed out by a predetermined amount, the solenoid D102 operates and the roller H
138 presses the sheet bundle booklet 6 against the roller H136, and discharges the sheet bundle booklet 6 onto the discharge table 140 with the roller H136.

The sensor D58 detects that the sheet bundle booklet 6 has been discharged from the alignment table 57, and the stapling operation is completed. Then, preparations are made to receive the sheet 4 sent from the printer 2 again.

[0076]

As described above, the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention folds a printed material sent from a printer into a front and back page with four images printed from the center, and the total number of pages is a multiple of four pages. In the case of plus one page or two pages, two or three pages are wasted. By feeding and binding half-length sheets of four pages, waste can be reduced, and by changing the quality of half-length sheets, it is possible to insert front and back covers and special color images. It also increases the function of bookbinding. In addition, binding the folded portion has a feature that the binding strength is strong and the binding margin can be reduced. In the case where speed is prioritized, half-length paper can be freely turned by controlling whether it is sent to the guide plate or sent to the matching part as it is received, even if the image is turned upside down or inverted without folding. Is a compact device that uses a direct feed, binds a bent part (tip) that can be selected for reversal in image formation, and discharges it outside the machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bookbinding apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image creation control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram of paper.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a paper stopper position adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sheet receiving unit, a sheet guide unit, a sheet bending unit, and an auxiliary pressing unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a driving mechanism of a sheet folding unit, an auxiliary pressing unit, and a knife unit.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a folded paper alignment structure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a binding unit and a booklet discharging unit.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the central paper holding plate as viewed from above.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the operation of sheet alignment on the alignment table.

11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of paper alignment, and a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of paper alignment, continued from FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a staple positioning mechanism, an alignment table vertical drive mechanism, and a sheet bundle booklet discharge section drive mechanism.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the operation of the alignment table up-down drive mechanism, continued from FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing the structure of a direct feed guide.

FIG. 16 is a drive mechanism diagram of a return roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image creation control device 2 printer 3 bookbinding device 4 paper 5 folded paper 6 paper bundle booklet 7 staple 11 paper receiving unit 12 paper guide unit 13 paper bending unit 14 auxiliary press unit 15 alignment unit 16 binding unit 17 booklet discharging unit 18 Discharge unit 19 Control unit 31 Paper receiving table 33 Side guide pair 35 Knife unit 42 Paper folding roller pair 45 Auxiliary pressure roller pair 50 Central paper press plate 57 Alignment table 60 Positioning plate 73 Right alignment plate 74 Left alignment plate 75 Upper right guide 76 Upper left guide 78 Rear end holding plate 95 End plate 210 Return roller 225 Direct feed guide

Claims (3)

[Claims] A folding means for folding the sheets one by one from the center, an aligning means for aligning the folded folded sheets, a binding means for performing a binding process on a folded portion of the aligned folded sheet group; A bookbinding apparatus having a discharge means for discharging a bound sheet bundle booklet; and a bookbinding apparatus having direct feed guide means for directly feeding the fed sheet to the alignment means without folding the sheet. 2. A folding means for folding sheets one by one from the center, an aligning means for aligning folded folded sheets, a binding means for performing a binding process on a folded portion of the aligned folded sheet group, In a bookbinding apparatus having a discharging unit for discharging a bound sheet bundle booklet, a direct feeding unit that directly feeds the fed sheet to the aligning unit without folding is integrated with a knife unit that performs a bending operation. Bookbinding device A folding means for folding the sheets one by one from the center, an aligning means for aligning the folded folded sheets, a binding means for performing a binding process on a folded portion of the aligned folded sheet group, In a bookbinding apparatus having a discharge unit that discharges a bound sheet bundle booklet, the sheet folding unit includes a guide unit that guides the entry of the sheet and a pressure roller unit,
A bookbinding apparatus characterized in that the guide means has return means for returning paper.