JP2002326473A - After treatment apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an after treatment apparatus for achieving the various requirements of a user by permitting the selection of various bookbinding processing forms. SOLUTION: The after treatment apparatus is constituted of a binding bookbinding apparatus 10 wherein a binding needle is needled into a paper bundle, a folding bookbinding apparatus 20 wherein the paper bundle is folded into two folds, a first gumming bookbinding apparatus 30 wherein the paper bundle is glued to bond the same and a second pasting bookbinding apparatus 40 wherein a cover is wrapped around the front and rear sides of the glued and bonded paper bundle, which are connected sequentially in series. In this case, a selecting means 9 for selecting either one of respective bookbinding apparatuses and a control means 90 for controlling respective apparatuses after selecting and permitting the execution of a bookbinding treatment wherein the treatments of a plurality of bookbinding apparatuses are combined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of forming a sheet bundle by aligning image-formed sheets and performing post-processing such as binding bookbinding processing, center folding bookbinding processing, glue binding processing, and cover binding binding bookbinding processing. With regard to a post-processing apparatus for bookbinding, in particular, a post-processing apparatus suitable for being connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer online, or being incorporated in an image forming apparatus, and a post-processing apparatus are provided. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, paper on which an image is recorded by a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a multifunction peripheral thereof is subjected to post-processing such as punching, stapling, and saddle stitching. Various processes such as folding, attaching a cover, folding, stamping, and glue binding are performed.

[0003] As a post-processing apparatus for performing saddle stitching processing on a bundle of sheets that constitute one set of a plurality of sheets, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-7206 discloses a post-processing apparatus.
4, JP-A-7-187479, JP-A-8-1929
No. 51 publications are known.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. Hei 7-48062 and Hei 10-148 disclose post-processing devices that enable center folding.
983, JP-A-10-167562, JP-A-11-
348451, and US Pat. No. 5,108,0.
No. 82 has been proposed.

[0005] As the glue binding apparatus, (1) a device that discharges glue onto paper using a glue discharge nozzle, (2) a glue wheel is set in a glue storage box, and glue is attached to the outer periphery of the rotating glue wheel. Device that makes the outer periphery of the glue wheel contact the paper to transfer
(3) a hot melt coating device that discharges a mixture of a hot melt agent (heat fusing agent) and heated compressed air from a nozzle;
(4) a tape sticking device for sticking one side edge of a sheet bundle while heating a tape to which adhesive paste is applied in advance;
Etc. are used.

The gluing method and apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-80377 is to blow high-pressure air onto glue discharged from a glue discharging nozzle to form a thin film.

The bookbinding apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-500907 deflects a sheet conveyed in a first direction in a second conveyance direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and thereafter, deflects the edge of the running sheet. The glue is applied linearly to the portion, and after the stacking and alignment, pressure is applied to bookbinding.

As the bookbinding method using a backside tape, there is a method in which a tape on which adhesive having adhesive property is applied before heating is applied while heating or a tape on which adhesive having adhesive property is applied in advance containing water is used. It has been known.

A conventional tape sticking method is disclosed in
No. 284795, U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,729, JP-A-3-151286, JP-A-6-1
No. 15,275, and the like.

[0010]

The conventional post-processing device is as follows.
Since any one post-processing device such as a staple binding device, a saddle stitching folding device, a glue binding device, a cover binding glue binding device, or the like is individually connected to the image forming device main body, various demands of users are given. No post-processing apparatus has been provided for producing a bookbinding that satisfies all of the above post-processing in accordance with the above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a post-processing apparatus capable of continuously performing multi-function post-processing and an image forming apparatus having the post-processing apparatus.

[0012]

The above object is achieved by the following post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus of the present invention.

(1) In a post-processing apparatus for forming a sheet bundle by aligning the sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body and binding the sheets by post-processing, the post-processing apparatus staples a staple to the sheet bundle. A binding bookbinding apparatus, a center folding bookbinding apparatus for folding a sheet bundle in half, a first gluing bookbinding apparatus for gluing and bonding the sheet bundle, a second gluing bookbinding apparatus for wrapping and gluing the front and back of the glued sheet bundle, And a selecting means for selecting any one of the binding apparatus, the center-folding apparatus, the first glue binding apparatus, and the second glue binding apparatus, and selecting each of the apparatuses. And control means for performing a bookbinding process by combining a plurality of processes of the respective devices.

(2) An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body including an image writing unit, an image forming unit, and a sheet conveying unit, and the post-processing apparatus according to (1) or (2). It is characterized by becoming.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus having the post-processing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus main body A, an image reading apparatus B, a binding bookbinding apparatus 10, a center folding bookbinding apparatus 20, and a first bookbinding apparatus.
1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a glue binding apparatus 30 and a second glue binding apparatus 40. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming system.

[One Embodiment of Image Forming Apparatus Main Body A] The image forming apparatus main body A includes a rotating image carrier (hereinafter, referred to as a photoconductor) 1, a charging means 2, an image exposing means (writing means). 3.) 3, developing means 4, transfer means 5A, static elimination means 5
B, the separating claw 5C, and the cleaning unit 6 are arranged, and after the charging unit 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 1, the exposure based on the image data read from the original by the laser beam of the image exposing unit 3 is performed. Scanning is performed to form a latent image, and the latent image is reversely developed by developing
To form a toner image on the surface of.

On the other hand, the transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as paper) S fed from the paper storage means 7A is sent to the transfer position.
At the transfer position, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet S by the transfer unit 5A. After that, the paper S is discharged by the discharging means 5B.
As a result, the charge on the back surface is erased, separated from the photoreceptor 1 by the separation claw 5C, conveyed by the intermediate conveyance unit 7B, subsequently heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, and discharged by the paper discharge roller 7C.

When forming images on both sides of the sheet S,
The sheet S, which has been heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, is branched from the normal sheet discharge path by the transfer path switching plate 7D, is switched back in the reverse transfer unit 7E, is turned over, and is discharged out of the apparatus by the sheet discharge roller 7C. Is done. Paper discharge roller 7
The sheet S discharged from C is sent to the receiving unit 11 of the binding apparatus 10.

On the other hand, the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after the image processing is removed by the cleaning means 6 downstream of the separation claw 5C, and the surface is prepared for the next image formation.

An operation unit (selection means) 9 arranged on the upper front side of the image forming apparatus main body A sets and displays various bookbinding processes described later.

An image reading device B provided with an automatic document feeder of a document moving type reading system is installed above the image forming device main body A.

[Arrangement of Post-Processing Apparatus] Image Forming Apparatus Main Body A
The binding side of the binding apparatus 10 and the center-folding binding apparatus 2
0, a first glue binding apparatus 30, and a second glue binding apparatus 40 are arranged in series.

[Simultaneous Discharge] When this sheet conveyance is set, the sheet S discharged from the discharge roller 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A is branched upward at the receiving portion 11 of the binding apparatus 10 and fixed. It is placed on the paper discharge tray 12. Up to 200 sheets S can be stacked on the fixed sheet discharge tray 12.

[Binding Process] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the binding and binding apparatus 10. As shown in FIG.

When the binding process is set in the operation section 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A, the receiving section 11 of the binding bookbinding apparatus 10
The image-formed sheet S sent to the transfer roller 13A is sent to the transfer path below the switching gate g1.
And conveyed downward.

(End binding process) When a sheet S having a size larger than A4 or B5 is conveyed in this conveyance path, the solenoid SL1 is driven to swing the switching gate g2. The paper S passes through the paper passage 14A on the left side in the drawing of the switching gate g2,
The sheet is nipped by the conveying roller 13B and is conveyed downward. The sheet S is further nipped and sent out by the downstream registration roller 15, discharged to the space above the inclined intermediate stacker 16, and contacts the upper surface of the intermediate stacker 16 or the sheet S stacked on the intermediate stacker 16. , And are transported diagonally upward. After the trailing end of the sheet S in the traveling direction is ejected from the holding position of the registration roller 15, the sheet S starts to descend due to its own weight, is conveyed on the inclined surface of the intermediate stacker 16, and is bound by a stapling unit (stapling unit) 17. A movable stopper member for edge binding in the vicinity (hereinafter, referred to as an edge binding stopper) 18
The rear end of the sheet S comes into contact with the sheet abutting surface of A and stops.

In this transport path, a movable switching gate g2 is provided to efficiently and continuously transport small-size sheets S such as A4 and B5 sizes to improve copy productivity.
A paper passage 14B is provided in parallel with the paper passage 14A on the left side of the switching gate g2.

When the solenoid SL1 connected to the switching gate g2 is driven, the paper passage 14A is closed and the paper passage 14B is opened.

The leading end of the first small-size sheet S sent from the transport roller 13A passes through the sheet passing path 14B, abuts against the peripheral surface of the registration roller 15 in the rotation stopped state, and stops.

Next, the energization of the solenoid SL1 is turned off, and the tip of the switching gate g2 swings clockwise,
The paper passage 14B is closed, and the paper passage 14A is opened. The leading end of the second sheet S sent out from the transport roller 13A passes through the paper passage 14A, comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the registration roller 15 in the rotation stopped state, and stops. Therefore, the first sheet S and the second sheet S are located near the holding position of the registration roller 15.
Each leading end of the sheet S overlaps and stops, and enters a standby state.

At a predetermined timing, the registration roller 15 is driven and rotated, and the two sheets S are nipped and conveyed simultaneously, and are discharged onto the intermediate stacker 16. From the third piece,
The registration rollers 15 discharge the sheets S one by one.

Reference numeral 16A denotes a pair of width adjusting members movably provided on both side surfaces of the intermediate stacker 16. Width alignment member 16
A is movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and when the sheet S is conveyed onto the intermediate stacker 16, the sheet S is opened wider than the sheet width, conveyed on the intermediate stacker 16, and moved to the end binding stopper 18 A. When the sheet S stops, the lateral edge of the sheet S in the width direction is lightly hit to align the width of the sheet bundle Sa (width alignment). At this stop position, when a predetermined number of sheets S are stacked and aligned on the intermediate stacker 16, the binding unit 17 performs a binding process, and the sheets S are bound to form a booklet Sb.

The booklet Sb produced by the edge binding processing is
The sheet is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by a sheet discharging means (not shown), and is placed on a sheet discharging table 19 shown in FIG.

The binding means 17 has a two-part structure of a stapling mechanism 17A and a staple receiving mechanism 17B, and forms a paper passing path through which the paper S can pass.

Booklet Sb bound by edge binding
Passes through the paper path of the binding means 17 and the paper path opened by the retraction of the end binding stopper 18A, is discharged by a paper discharge means (not shown), and is placed on a paper discharge table 19 outside the apparatus. .

FIG. 4A is a plan view showing an edge binding process in which the binding needles SP are stapled at two places at the center distribution near the side edge of the sheet S, and FIG. It is a top view which shows the edge binding process which staps the binding needle SP in one place.

The binding means 17 are arranged in two sets in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by a driving means (not shown). By this binding means 17, binding staples SP are set at two places at the center in the sheet width direction (see FIG. 4A). Also, the binding means 17
Is driven to be swingably rotatable, and hits a binding staple SP at one corner portion corresponding to the sheet size (see FIG. 4B).

(Saddle Stitching Process) When the saddle stitching mode is set in the operation section 9, the end stapling stopper 18A near the stapling processing position (stitching position of the stapler) of the stitching means 17 is retracted from the conveyance path, Almost at the same time, the saddle stitching movable stopper member (hereinafter, referred to as a saddle stitching stopper) 18B downstream thereof moves in the direction of the extended surface of the paper passing path, and blocks the paper passing path.

When the size (length in the transport direction) of the sheet S is set or detected, the saddle stitching stopper 18B moves to a position where it comes into contact with the lower end of the sheet bundle Sa for saddle stitching and stops. .

Sheet S carried out from image forming apparatus main body A
From the receiving unit 11 of the binding device 10
A, 13B, the leading end portion of the sheet S placed on the intermediate stacker 16 after passing through the registration roller 15 abuts on the saddle stitching stopper 18B and is positioned.

After the final sheet S is positioned and placed on the intermediate stacker 16, the saddle binding process is performed on the sheet bundle Sa by the binding means 17. By this saddle stitching process, the binding staple SP is driven into the center of the sheet S in the transport direction. Binding needle SP
Is driven from the stapling mechanism 17A on the staple driving side toward the staple receiving mechanism 17B on the staple clinch side.

[Center Folding Process] FIG.
FIG.

When the bookbinding process is set in the operation unit 9, the sheet bundle Sa subjected to the saddle stitching process is conveyed to the bookbinding device 20. The sheet bundle Sa obliquely lowers the guide plate 2.
1A and 21B, and are conveyed to the center folding stopper 2
The end of the sheet bundle Sa in the transport direction contacts the sheet bundle 2 and stops at a predetermined position. The center folding stopper 22 can be moved to a predetermined position by the setting or detection result of the sheet size and the driving means.

The folding means 23 comprises a protruding plate 24, folding rollers 25A and 25B, and supporting plates 26A and 26B.

A protruding plate 24 of a folding means 23 is provided at the center in the transport direction of the sheet bundle Sa which comes into contact with the center folding stopper 22 and is stopped, that is, on the right side in the drawing of the center folding position. A pair of folding rollers 25A and 25B are provided on the left side of the center folding position in the drawing. Fold roller 2
The surfaces of 5A and 25B are formed of a high friction resistance material such as rubber.

The folding rollers 25A and 25B comprise a pair of left and right pressing means which are substantially symmetrical. One pressing unit is connected to a driving source and driven by a folding roller 25A,
The folding roller 25A is rotatably supported, and a support shaft 27A is provided.
Plate 26A that can swing around the support plate, and this support plate 26A
And a spring 28A for urging the folding roller 25A in the direction of the holding position. The other pressing means includes a folding roller 25B connected to a driving source and driven, a supporting plate 26B rotatably supporting the folding roller 25B and swinging about a support shaft 27B, and a supporting plate 26B And a spring 28B for urging the folding roller 25B in the direction of the holding position.

A pair of rotating folding rollers 25A, 25B
Booklet S that has been creased to form a fold and bound
The sheet b is carried out by a sheet discharging means (not shown) and is placed on a sheet discharging table 29 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the two-folding process performed by the folding means 23. FIG.
4 shows a state in which the sheet bundle Sa is pressed and brought into pressure contact with the folding rollers 25A and 25B. FIG. 6B shows the protruding plate 24.
Shows a state in which the sheet bundle Sa has entered the position beyond the sandwiching position of the folding rollers 25A and 25B and the sheet bundle Sa has been folded in two. FIG. 6C shows that the protruding plate 24 has the folding rollers 25A and 25A.
B is retracted from the holding position and returns to the initial position, and the folded sheet bundle Sa is folded by the folding rollers 25A and 25A.
B shows the state discharged.

The protruding plate 24 connected to the drive source protrudes leftward in the figure from the sheet mounting surface in response to the folding start signal. The protruding plate 24 has a thin knife shape,
Its tip forms an acute angle.

The tip of the protruding plate 24, which is straight and protrudes leftward in the figure, pushes up the central portion of the sheet bundle Sa, and pushes and separates the holding portions of the folding rollers 25A and 25B via the sheet bundle Sa. .

The tip of the protruding plate 24 is a folding roller 25.
After passing through the holding portions of A and 25B, the protruding plate 24 retreats, and the central portion of the sheet bundle Sa is folded by the folding rollers 25A and 25B.
To form a fold. This fold substantially coincides with the position where the binding staple SP is driven into the sheet bundle Sa by the saddle stitching process.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a saddle stitching process in which the stapling needles SP are stapled at two places in the center of the sheet S along the two-fold crease. FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the booklet Sb that has been subjected to saddle stitching and half-fold post-processing, and FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the post-processed booklet Sb is opened in both directions.
FIG. 7D is a schematic sectional view of the booklet Sb.

In the operation unit 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A,
When the booklet production auto mode is selected and set, and printing is started, the above-described image process is executed by the operation unit 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A, and the sheet S carrying the image is subjected to the saddle stitching process by the binding bookbinding apparatus 10. And the center-folding bookbinding device 2
0 is performed, and the booklet Sb is continuously
Is produced and discharged.

[Gluing and Binding Apparatus] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the paper transport path and the glue applying processing in the first gluing and binding apparatus 30 and the second gluing and binding apparatus 40 during the glue applying processing. The glue binding apparatus includes a first glue binding apparatus 30 connected to the paper discharge unit side of the center folding bookbinding apparatus 20, and a second glue connected to a sheet discharge port and a sheet bundle discharge port of the first glue binding apparatus 30. And a bookbinding device 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

First glue binding apparatus (sheet bundle producing apparatus)
In the step 30, the sheets are glued and bound to form a sheet bundle Sa. Second glue binding device (cover cover binding making device)
Reference numeral 40 denotes a booklet Sb in which a front cover and a back cover are adhered to the front and back and back of the sheet bundle Sa and glued and bound.

[First Gluing and Binding Apparatus 30] FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a paper transport path of the glue binding apparatus 30 of FIG.

The first glue binding apparatus 30 comprises a top horizontal transport means 31, a direction change transport means 32 on the front side of the apparatus,
A sheet transport device including a middle sheet storage unit 33 and a sheet discharging unit 34, a lower first sheet feeding unit (front cover sheet feeding unit) 35A, and a second sheet feeding unit (back cover sheet feeding unit) 35B; It comprises a glue discharging means 38 and a glue supplying means 389.

Sheet S discharged from image forming apparatus main body A
Is introduced into the receiving section of the first glue binding apparatus 30 via the paper transport path of the binding bookbinding apparatus 10 and the center folding bookbinding apparatus 20.

(Paper Conveyance in Glue Coating Processing) When the mode is set to the glue binding processing, the paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A is supplied to the motor M1 shown in FIG.
The sheet is nipped and conveyed by conveyance rollers 311 and 312 driven and rotated by. When the leading end of the sheet S comes into contact with the positioning member 314, the bending of the sheet S is corrected, and positioning is performed in the transport direction (the first transport path X1 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 8 and 9). Thereafter, the driving of the motor M1 is stopped, and the transport roller 31 is driven by a driving unit (not shown).
Each of the upper rollers 1 and 312 is retracted upward from the sheet surface and the pressure contact is released.

Further, the sheet S is nipped by a conveying roller 313 which is driven and rotated by a driving source (not shown), and is conveyed in a conveying direction deflected by 90 degrees (second conveying in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIGS. 8 and 9). Road Y1). The sheet S continues to be transported by the transport roller 31.
3 and is conveyed in a U-turn and sent to the paper storage unit 33 (third conveying path Z in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 8 and 9).

(Glue coating process on paper S) The first glue discharging means 38 has a linear shape on one side edge of the paper S traveling from the second transport path Y1 to the third transport path Z by the transport roller 313. Alternatively, the glue is discharged in a broken line to form the glue application portion N on the upper surface of the paper S (see FIG. 7).

The first sheet S is not subjected to the glue coating process,
Nipped by the transport roller 313 of the direction changing transport means 32,
The sheet is conveyed and sent to the fourth conveyance path Y2, where the sheet
Placed on top. Subsequent second and subsequent sheets S that have been subjected to the glue coating process are nipped and conveyed by conveyance rollers 313 and stacked on the preceding sheets. (Glue Discharging Unit) FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the first glue discharging unit 38 and the second glue discharging unit 48. In addition, the first glue discharging means 38 and a second
Since the glue discharging means 48 has the same configuration, the glue discharging means 38 will be described below as a representative.

The first glue discharging means 38 includes a nozzle member 381 having an opening 381a for discharging glue, an opening 381a.
Needle 382 that opens and closes needle 382
383 and needle 38 that movably accommodates
2 is constituted by a solenoid SL2 and the like for movably driving the solenoid SL2.

The return spring 385 is inserted between the bottom of the casing 384 of the first glue discharging means 38 and the upper surface of the flange 382b, and presses the needle 382 downward. When the solenoid SL2 is not operated, the tip 382a of the needle 382 closes the opening 381a of the nozzle member 381 by the return spring 385.

When a voltage is applied to the solenoid SL2, the plunger SLa is moved upward, the needle 382 directly connected to the plunger SLa is pulled up, and the nozzle member 3
The opening 381a at 81 is opened to enable the paste discharge.

The gap distance between the opening 381 a and the tip 382 a when the opening is opened is variable by the adjusting knob 386.

An inlet member 38 is provided on a side surface of the casing 383.
The glue 7 is fixed, and the glue supplied from the glue supply means 389 described later is introduced into the glue accommodating chamber 383a via the supply pipe 388. -(Glue application part) Fig. 11 is a plan view showing various glue application parts formed near the side edge of the sheet S. FIG. 11A shows a linear glue application section N formed on the long side of the sheet S. FIG. 11B
Indicates a linear glue application portion N formed on the short side of the paper S.

(Attaching Cover Sheet) When attaching cover sheets (front cover and back cover) of the same size as the sheet bundle Sa to the sheet bundle Sa, the sheet is attached to the lower part of the first glue binding apparatus 30. The cover paper is supplied from the first paper supply unit 35A or the second paper supply unit 35B disposed. The cover sheet accommodated in the sheet cassette of the first sheet feeding unit 35A or the sheet cassette of the second sheet feeding unit 35B is fed by a sheet feeding unit (not shown), passes through a conveying roller, and
1, the glue application section N is formed by the first glue discharging means 38, and is fed onto the paper placing table 331 of the paper storage section 33 via the direction changing / transporting means 32, and the uppermost surface of the paper bundle Sa (See FIG. 8).

The paste used in the embodiment of the present invention is a water-soluble vinyl acetate resin emulsion paste, and has a viscosity of 750 to 1500 mPa · s at room temperature. The sheet bundle Sa adhered with the water-soluble glue can be reused as recycled paper.

(Loading, Alignment, and Pressing of Sheets S) (See FIGS. 8 and 9) The first sheet of paper S that has not been subjected to the glue application processing is transferred to the fourth transport path Y2.
After the sheet S is placed on the sheet placing table 331, the subsequent second and subsequent sheets S that have been subjected to the glue coating process are nipped and conveyed by the conveying rollers 313, and the preceding sheet S on the sheet placing table 331 is transferred. It is loaded on S.

That is, the leading end of the sheet S conveyed onto the sheet table 331 is gripped by gripping means (grippers) held by an endless belt (not shown).
Is transported to the fourth transport path Y2. The pressurizing means 36 held by the moving gripping means presses and moves the back side of the surface on which the glue application portion N of the preceding bundle of sheets Sa placed on the sheet placing table 331 is moved to bond the sheets. To ensure. The leading end of the sheet S gripped by the gripping means is positioned at the leading end stopper 33.
2 and the leading ends are aligned. The leading end stopper 332 can be moved by a driving unit (not shown), and stops at a predetermined position according to the size setting of the sheet S. The trailing end of the sheet S is movably driven by the sheet aligning / pressing means 333 to align the trailing end of the sheet and press the top surface of the trailing end of the sheet. Both side edges of the sheet S are positioned by the width aligning means 334. The alignment and positioning of the leading end, the trailing end, and both side ends of the sheet S are performed before the pressing process by the pressing unit 36. The pressing process of the sheet S by the pressing unit 36 includes
It may be performed each time the sheet S after the first sheet is placed on the sheet placing table 331. Alternatively, the pressing process may be performed each time a plurality of sheets S are stacked.

The above-described process completes one sheet bundle Sa that has been glued. This first glue binding apparatus 30
Then, for example, a maximum of 200 sheets S can be glued and bound.

(The first paste from the first glue binding apparatus 30)
(Discharge) A plurality of discharge belts 341 wound around a driving roller and a driven roller are rotatably arranged on a part of the sheet stacking surface of the sheet mounting table 331.

The last sheet S is stacked on the sheet table 331, subjected to pressure processing, and glued and bound.
a, the rear end of the sheet bundle Sa is held by the discharge claw 342 of the discharge belt 341 rotated by the motor M2.
The paper slides on the mounting surface of the paper mounting table 331 and is discharged. The sheet bundle Sa is sandwiched between the sheet bundle discharge rollers 343, discharged from the lower discharge port 344 (see FIG. 1), and introduced into the entrance of the second glue binding apparatus 40 (the fifth transport path in FIG. 9). X2). Prior to the sheet discharging process, the pressing unit 36 and the width adjusting unit 334 are retracted above the conveyance path by a driving unit (not shown) (see FIG. 8).

(The second glue from the first glue binding apparatus 30)
In FIG. 9, the first glue binding apparatus 30 includes a first paper discharging mode for transferring the sheet bundle Sa subjected to the glue binding processing to the second glue binding apparatus 40, and the sheet bundle Sa is directly out of the machine. And a second paper discharge mode for discharging paper to the paper discharge table 39.

When the cover case binding production processing mode by the second glue binding apparatus 40 described later is selected in the operation unit 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A, the first glue binding apparatus 30 performs the gluing processing. The produced sheet bundle is transferred to the second glue binding apparatus 40.

The sheet bundle Sa produced by the first glue binding apparatus 30 in the sheet bundle producing step and placed on the sheet placing table 331 is placed in the fifth transport path if the cover case binding producing step is not required. Sixth transport path Y in a direction orthogonal to X2
The sheet is sent out in three directions and is stacked on the sheet discharge table 39.

Therefore, it is produced by the sheet bundle producing process,
Since the sheet bundle Sa that does not require the cover binding bookbinding process is stored on the sheet discharge tray 39, the sheet bundle Sa can be quickly taken out.

Further, the sheet bundle Sa produced by the first glue binding apparatus 30 is directly passed through the discharge table 39 without passing through the long transport path discharged via the second glue binding apparatus 40. Because it is stored on the top, the transport path is short,
There are also few members in contact with the sheet bundle Sa, and the occurrence of sheet bundle conveyance failure is reduced.

[Second Gluing and Binding Apparatus 40] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a paper transport path and a glue applying process of the second gluing and binding apparatus 40.

The horizontal conveying means 41, the direction changing conveying means 42 constituting the paper conveying path of the second glue binding apparatus 40,
Paper storage unit 43, paper discharging means 44, and second glue discharging means 4
8 are a horizontal conveying unit 31, a direction changing conveying unit 32, and a sheet storage unit 3 of the first glue binding apparatus 30.
3. It has substantially the same configuration as each of the members constituting the paper discharging means 34 and the first glue discharging means 38.

A front cover Ka supplied from the first paper supply unit 35A, and a back cover Kb supplied from the second paper supply unit 35B.
Is passed through the horizontal conveying means 31 of the first glue binding apparatus 30 and introduced into the second glue binding apparatus 40 (FIG. 1).
reference).

On the other hand, the sheet bundle Sa produced by the first glue binding apparatus 30 is conveyed by the sheet bundle discharge roller 343 of the paper discharging means 34, discharged from the lower discharge port 344, and is then subjected to the second glue binding apparatus. 40 (see FIG. 1).

The mechanism of the cover case binding production function includes a horizontal transport unit 41, a direction changing transport unit 42, a paper storage unit 43,
It includes a paper discharging means 44, a crease roller 45, a second glue discharging means 48, and a paper discharging table 49.

[0086] The creasing roller 45 is connected to the second conveying path Y1.
A first fold a is formed on the front cover Ka which is provided and transported downstream of the paper S, and the front cover Ka is folded into a loose V-shape to form a front cover portion b having the same size as the paper S and a spine cover c (FIG. 8).

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a process of gluing the front cover Ka and the back cover Kb to the sheet bundle Sa to perform cover case binding. Hereinafter, the cover case binding production process will be described.

(1) Second direction changing means 42
The cover Ka, which is conveyed in the Y1A direction indicated by the white arrow on the conveyance path Y1, is subjected to the first fold a by the pair of fold rollers 45, is bent into a loose V-shape, and has the same size as the paper S. A cover part b and a spine part c are formed (see FIG. 13A).

(2) The forward / backward rotation of the conveying roller 421 of the direction changing / conveying means 42, the widthwise movement of the cover Ka, and the discharge of the glue by the second glue discharging means 48, the spine c of the cover Ka. A wide glue application surface portion Na including a plurality of glue application portions N is formed near the first fold a on the surface (see FIG. 13 (2)). The width of the glue application surface portion Na is set by the number of linear glue application portions N so as to be wider than the width of the spine of the sheet bundle Sa to be glued and bound.

The folded front cover Ka having the wide glue application surface Na is sandwiched by the transport rollers 42 of the direction changing transport means 42, and once downwardly transported in the direction of the third transport path Z, the switch Ka The paper is transported upward and transported in the fourth transport path Y2 direction, and is placed on the paper loading table 431 of the paper storage unit 43 with the spine portion c facing upward, and the width direction is regulated by the width alignment means 434. And the tip stopper 43
Stops in contact with 2.

The paper storage unit 3 of the first glue binding apparatus 30
In No. 3, since the preceding sheet bundle Sa is transferred to the second glue binding apparatus 40 and becomes empty, the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A can be continuously placed in the sheet storage unit 33.

(3) After the front cover Ka is conveyed onto the paper placing table 431 and placed at a predetermined position, the sheet bundle Sa glued and bound by the first glue binding apparatus 30 is converted into a second glue binding apparatus. The sheet is then transported to the upper surface of the front cover Ka on the sheet mounting table 431 and is positioned and determined by the width aligning means 434.

Next, the first folding means 46A supported at the retreat position below the paper placing table 431 is raised, and presses the spine portion c of the front cover Ka to remove the loosely bent spine portion c. Then, the sheet is bent substantially at right angles along the first fold line a, and the wide glue application section N formed on the surface of the spine section c of the front cover Ka and the back of the sheet bundle Sa are bonded (FIG. 13).
(3)).

(4) After bending the cover Ka at right angles,
The second folding means 46B is advanced in the horizontal direction by the driving means to form a second fold d on the front cover Ka, fold it at a right angle, and form a folded portion (see FIG. 13 (4)).

(5) The second folding means 46B retreats and retracts to the initial position, the cover pressing member 47 descends, pressurizes the upper surface side of the folded portion of the cover Ka, and moves the folded portion to the final position of the sheet bundle Sa. Adhere to the sheet Sn (see FIG. 13 (5)).

(6) The cover pressing member 47 is driven up and retracts upward. On the other hand, the back cover Kb sent out by the second paper feeding means 35B is transported in the direction of the first transport path X1 by the horizontal transport means 31, 41, and the direction changing transport means 42.
Is fed to the paper placing table 431 with the glue application section N being on the lower side through the second conveying path Y1, the third conveying path Z, and the fourth conveying path Y2.

The second and subsequent sheets S on which the glue application section N has been formed
Are stacked on the preceding paper S and the papers are adhered to each other, and the back of the front cover Ka and the back of each paper S are bonded by the wide glue application surface Na.

The glue application section N is formed, and the paper
The back cover Kb sent upward is width-aligned by pressing the side end of the back cover Kb by the width aligning means 434, and is placed on the top layer of the sheet bundle Sa and the folded portion of the cover Ka to cover the front cover Kb. It is bonded to the back of the cover Ka (see FIG. 13 (6)).

(7) The upper surface of the joining surface between the folded portion of the front cover Ka and the back cover Kb is pressed by the cover pressing member 47 to strengthen the adhesion (see FIG. 13 (7)).

(8) The first bending means 46A is lowered and retracted to the lower initial position. The booklet Sb that has been glued and bound is discharged onto the discharge tray 49 with the trailing end of the booklet held by the paper discharge means 44 (stacked in the direction indicated by the arrow).
Transport path Y4). (See FIGS. 12 and 13 (8)).

(Control of Post-Processing Apparatus) FIG. 14 shows a display screen of the operation unit (selection means) 9 of the image forming apparatus main body A set to the post-processing mode. On this display screen, edge binding, saddle-stitch binding, glue binding, cover binding, and a discharge tray are selected, set with the OK key, and the operation of the post-processing mode is started.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing control of the post-processing device, and FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing control of the post-processing device.

On the display screen of the operation unit 9, any one of edge binding (see FIG. 4), saddle stitching folding (see FIG. 7), glue binding (see FIG. 11), and cover binding (see FIG. 13). Set the mode.

When the edge binding mode is selected on the operation unit 9, the control means 90 drives the driving means of the binding apparatus 10 to execute the edge binding processing. The booklet Sb bound by the edge binding process is discharged to the paper discharge tray 19. Alternatively, the booklet Sb subjected to the edge binding processing is transferred to the second glue binding apparatus 40, and the cover binding processing is performed. The booklet Sb on which the cover case binding is performed is discharged to the discharge tray 49.

When the saddle stitch saddle stitching mode is selected on the operation section 9, the control means 90 drives the drive means of the stitch stitching apparatus 10 and the center stitching apparatus 20 to execute the saddle stitching processing and the center folding processing. Let it. The booklet Sb bound by the saddle stitching process and the center folding process is discharged to the paper discharge tray 29. Alternatively, the booklet Sb folded during saddle stitching is
The sheet is transferred to the second glue binding apparatus 40, and the cover binding process is performed. The booklet Sb on which the cover case binding is performed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 49.

When the glue binding mode is selected on the operation unit 9, the control means 90 sets the first glue binding device 30
Is driven to execute the glue binding process.
The booklet Sb that has been glued and bound is discharged to the discharge tray 39.

When the cover case binding mode is selected on the operation unit 9, the control means 90 drives the driving means of the first glue binding apparatus 30 to perform the gluing process on the paper S to perform the glue binding. After preparing the bundle Sa, the sheet bundle Sa
Is transferred to the second glue binding apparatus 40, and the sheet bundle Sa
Is subjected to a cover binding process. The booklet Sb on which the cover case binding is performed is discharged to the discharge tray 49.

The paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A and not subjected to any of the above-mentioned post-processing is introduced into the receiving portion 11 of the binding device 10 and then directly discharged to the upper fixed paper discharge tray 12. You.

The post-processing apparatus including the binding bookbinding apparatus 10, the center folding bookbinding apparatus 20, the first glue binding apparatus 30, and the second glue binding apparatus 40 is formed as an independent apparatus, and is processed by another image forming apparatus. It is also possible to make a post-processing binding for the processed paper.

[0110]

As is apparent from the above description, the following effects can be obtained by the post-processing apparatus of the present invention and the image forming apparatus having the post-processing apparatus.

(1) The post-processing apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of bookbinding apparatuses, such as a staple binding apparatus, a center folding bookbinding apparatus, a sheet bundle gluing bookbinding apparatus, and a cover binding bookbinding apparatus, which are connected in series to the image forming apparatus main body. By doing so, bookbinding can be performed by continuously executing the above-described multifunctional bookbinding process according to various requests of the user.

(2) The image forming apparatus equipped with the post-processing device of the present invention can bind a sheet conveyed at a high speed from the image forming apparatus main body without lowering the high-speed productivity of the image forming apparatus main body. The bookbinding process, the center-folding binding process, the sheet bundle gluing binding process, and the cover binding process can be sequentially performed to produce a booklet. Further, by stabilizing the sheet conveyance and quickly discharging the booklet, continuous production of a high-quality booklet is achieved, and an image forming apparatus excellent in operability is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an image forming apparatus main body, an image reading apparatus, a binding bookbinding apparatus, a center folding bookbinding apparatus, a first glue binding apparatus, and a second gluing bookbinding apparatus.
1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a glue binding apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the image forming system.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the binding apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an edge binding process in which binding staples are stapled at two places near a side edge of a sheet, and 1 near a corner of the sheet.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an edge binding process of stapling a binding staple at a location.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of the center-folding bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of a two-fold process performed by a folding unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a saddle stitching process in which binding stapling is performed at two places in the center of a sheet, a perspective view of a booklet that has been subjected to saddle stitching and half-folded post-processing, and a state in which the post-processed booklet is opened on both sides. The perspective view shown, the schematic cross section of a booklet.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a sheet transport path and a glue applying process in the first glue binding apparatus and the second glue binding apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a sheet transport path of the first glue binding apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a first glue discharging unit and a second glue discharging unit.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing various glue application sections formed near the side edges of the sheet.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a paper transport path and a glue applying process of a second glue binding apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a process of gluing a front cover and a back cover to a sheet bundle to perform cover binding;

FIG. 14 is a display screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus main body set to a post-processing mode.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating control of the post-processing device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating control of the post-processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 9 operation unit (selection means) 10 binding bookbinding device 12 fixed paper discharge tray 17 binding means (staple means) 19 paper discharge table 20 center folding bookbinding apparatus 23 folding means 29 paper discharge table 30 first glue binding apparatus (sheet bundle preparation) 33) Paper storage unit 35A First paper feed unit (cover cover paper feed unit) 35B Second paper feed unit (back cover paper feed unit) 38 First glue discharge unit 39 Paper discharge table 40 Second glue binding device ( Cover case binding production apparatus) 43 paper storage unit 45 crease roller 48 second glue discharge unit 49 discharge tray 90 control unit A image forming apparatus main body N glue application unit S transfer paper (paper) Sa paper bundle Sb booklet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 37/04 B65H 37/04 AD 45/18 45/18 G03G 15/00 534 G03G 15/00 534 ( 72) Inventor Katsunori Takahashi 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Takenobu Kimura 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Toshitaka Matsumoto Toshima-ku, Tokyo 3-51-4 Kanamecho F-term (reference) 2H072 GA01 GA08 GA09 JA02 3F108 AA01 AB01 AC02 BA03 BA09 BB11 CD01 CD07 GA02 GB01 GB03 HA02 HA12 HA32

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A post-processing apparatus for aligning sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus main body to form a sheet bundle and binding the sheets by post-processing, wherein the post-processing apparatus binds a binding needle to a sheet bundle. A bookbinding device, a center-folding bookbinding device for folding a sheet bundle in half, a first gluing bookbinding device for gluing and bonding the sheet bundle, and a second glue binding device for wrapping and gluing the front and back surfaces of the glued sheet bundle. A selection means for selecting any one of the above-mentioned binding bookbinding apparatus, center folding bookbinding apparatus, first glue binding apparatus, and second glue binding apparatus, and selecting each of the apparatuses. Control
Control means for executing a bookbinding process in which a plurality of processes of the respective devices are combined. 2. The processing of the binding bookbinding apparatus, the center folding bookbinding apparatus, the first glue binding apparatus, and the second glue binding apparatus are selected and designated by an operation unit of the image forming apparatus main body. The post-processing device according to claim 1. 3. The binding device, the center-folding binding device, the first glue binding device, and the second glue binding device each have a dedicated paper output stand, and the sheet bundle that has completed the corresponding binding process. 2. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is discharged to a dedicated sheet discharge table. 4. An image forming apparatus main body comprising an image writing unit, an image forming unit, and a sheet conveying unit, and the post-processing apparatus according to claim 1. Image forming device.