JP2005041661A - Post-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a post-processing device capable of surely and accurately placing folded paper on a saddling and accumulating member from a carrying means, carrying the paper to a paper width position, and capable of aligning the paper so as to perform saddle stitching. <P>SOLUTION: A saddle stitching part 240 is provided with the saddling and accumulating member 241 for stacking the paper S so that a fold (a) of the folded paper S faces up, the carrying means for carrying the folded paper S to the saddling and accumulating member 241, a reference alignment member 242A arranged on a paper carrying direction downstream side of the saddling and accumulating member 241, and a movable alignment member 242B arranged on a paper delivery side of the carrying means and movable on a paper carrying direction upstream side of the saddling and accumulating member 241. The movable alignment member 242B presses a rear end of the paper S carried onto the saddling and accumulating member 241, and abuts a tip of the paper S to the reference alignment member 242A so as to align the width of the paper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing device that performs a half-folding process and a saddle stitching process on a sheet on which an image has been recorded and discharged from an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper folding apparatus having a function of folding paper after image recording and a post-processing apparatus having a function of paper folding processing and binding processing have been disclosed in a copying machine as an image forming apparatus.

  A paper folding device that folds one or a small number of papers in two or three is also used as a device for producing sealed documents such as mail.

  A copying machine having a bookbinding function described in Patent Document 1 folds the sheets after copying one by one in the center, and forms the folds in a mountain shape so that the folds face upward. A stacking support member, and a binding device that binds a fold portion of a sheet group supported on the support member at an upper portion of the support member.

In the automatic online signature finishing apparatus described in Patent Document 2, the paper output from the printer is individually folded at the nip position sequentially by the reverse rotation of the folding roll, and then the folded paper is dropped from above to sequentially. They are stacked on a saddle type accumulator and stapled.
JP-A-60-254165 JP-A-7-179262

  In the bookbinding function disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561, since the folded paper is opened and the paper is aligned on the basis of the end portion, the folds of the overlapped sheets may not be aligned. If the saddle stitching process is performed while the folds of the plurality of sheets are not uniform, the appearance quality of the completed booklet is deteriorated.

  In the signature finishing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the creased paper is dropped from above and placed on the saddle type accumulator, the creased paper is shifted from the apex of the saddle type accumulator and stacked. It is sometimes done. When the creased sheets are misaligned and stacked, the binding needles are not exactly aligned with the creases, and the appearance quality of the finished booklet is deteriorated.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides a post-processing device that performs a saddle stitching process by placing a sheet that has been subjected to half-folding processing on a hook stacking member reliably and accurately from a conveying unit, and conveying and aligning the sheet to a sheet width position. The purpose is to provide.

  That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus that achieves the following objects.

  (A) After the folded sheet is conveyed to the sheet width alignment position of the saddle stitching unit and placed on the hook stacking member, the sheet width alignment is performed by the alignment unit to eliminate the unevenness of the sheet bundle.

  (B) By aligning the width direction of the paper while the paper is placed on the saddle stacking member, the paper folds are prevented from being shifted and stacked, and the binding position of the saddle stitching process is not shifted, Improve the appearance quality of the booklet.

  (C) Regardless of the thickness of the paper, paper quality, paper size, etc., the misalignment of each paper is eliminated, and the creases are made at accurate positions by accurately aligning in the paper transport direction.

  The above object is achieved by the following technique of the present invention.

  (1) In the post-processing apparatus for producing a bookbinding product by performing a half-folding process on a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus at a center portion, and then binding a binding needle into a sheet fold by a saddle stitching processing unit. A hook stacking member that stacks the folded paper so that the folds of the folded paper face upward, a transport unit that transports the folded paper to the hook stacking member, and a paper transport of the hooked stacking member A reference alignment member installed on the downstream side in the direction, and a movable alignment member disposed on the paper discharge side of the transport unit and movable on the upstream side in the paper transport direction of the hook stacking member. A post-processing apparatus that presses a rear end portion of the sheet conveyed on the hook stacking member and abuts the leading end portion of the sheet to the reference alignment member to align the sheet width.

  (2) The post-processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the reference alignment member is movable to a predetermined position corresponding to a sheet size.

  (3) The movable alignment member presses a rear end portion of the sheet each time the sheet is mounted on the hook stacking member or each time a plurality of sheets are mounted, and serves as the reference alignment member. The post-processing apparatus according to (1), wherein the width of the sheet is aligned by abutting the leading end of the sheet.

  The following effects can be obtained by the post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

  (1) With the post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the folded sheet is transported from the transport belt to the sheet width alignment position of the saddle stitching means, placed on the hook stacking member, and the sheet width alignment is performed by the alignment means. Uneven paper bundles are eliminated.

  (2) By aligning the width direction of the sheet while the sheet is placed on the saddle stacking member, the folds are shifted and stacked, and the binding position of the saddle stitching process is eliminated, so the appearance quality of the booklet is improved. To do.

  (3) Regardless of the paper thickness, paper quality, paper size, etc., the deviation of each paper can be eliminated and the paper can be accurately aligned in the paper transport direction, so that a crease can be made at an accurate position. .

  Hereinafter, a post-processing apparatus of the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the post-processing apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The post-processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus including the post-processing apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the following embodiments.

[Image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus A, an automatic document feeder DF, a post-processing apparatus B, and a large-capacity paper feeder LT.

  The illustrated image forming apparatus A includes an image reading unit (image input device) 1, an image processing unit 2, an image writing unit 3, an image forming unit 4, paper feed cassettes 5A, 5B and 5C, a manual paper feed tray 5D, 1 paper feed units 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, a second paper feed unit 6F, a fixing device 7, a paper discharge unit 8, and an automatic duplex copy paper feed unit (ADU) 8B.

  An automatic document feeder DF is mounted on the upper part of the image forming apparatus A. A post-processing device B is connected to the paper discharge unit 8 side on the left side of the image forming apparatus A shown in the figure.

  The document placed on the document table of the automatic document feeder DF is read on one or both sides of the document by the optical system of the image reading unit 1 and read by the image sensor CCD.

  The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor CCD is subjected to analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like in the image processing unit 2 and then sent to the image writing unit 3.

  In the image writing unit 3, output light from the semiconductor laser is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 4 </ b> A of the image forming unit 4 to form a latent image. In the image forming unit 4, processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, and cleaning are performed. An image is transferred by the transfer means 4B to the paper S fed from the paper feed cassettes 5A to 5C, the manual paper feed tray 5D, and the first paper feeders 6A to 6E from the large-capacity paper feeder LT. The paper S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7 and sent from the paper discharge unit 8 to the post-processing device B. Alternatively, the single-sided image-processed paper S sent to the automatic double-sided copy paper feeding unit 8B by the transport path switching plate 8A is again discharged from the paper discharge unit 8 after the double-sided image processing in the image forming unit 4.

  The operation unit 9 selects and sets processing functions of the image forming system including the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B.

[Post-processing equipment]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper transport process of the post-processing apparatus B. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing sheet conveyance in the half-folding and saddle stitching process of the post-processing apparatus B. 4 is a front view of the post-processing apparatus B, FIG. 5 is a right side view, and FIG. 6 is a left side view.

  First, a paper transport process from paper introduction to folding processing will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus A is introduced into the inlet portion (carry-in portion) 201 of the post-processing device B, the paper S is sandwiched between the inlet rollers 202 and the conveyance path is switched. It is transported to either the transport path r1 above the means G1 or the transport path r2 below.

<Straight output>
The sheet S branched to the conveyance path r1 is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 203 to 207, and is conveyed to either the conveyance path r3 above the conveyance path switching unit G2 or the conveyance path r4 below.

  The paper S that has traveled to the upper conveyance path r3 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 208, and is stacked on a sub paper discharge tray (top tray) 209 disposed on the upper portion of the post-processing apparatus B.

  The sheet S that has advanced to the lower conveyance path r4 is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 210 to 213, and is discharged by the paper discharge roller 214.

<First right angle deflection transport>
The sheet S conveyed to the conveyance path r2 below the conveyance path switching means G1 descends substantially vertically, and is temporarily stopped and stored at a predetermined position. At this stop position, a plurality of subsequent sheets S are stacked and stored.

<Second right angle deflection conveyance>
The accommodated paper S is deflected and moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 by the transport rollers 215 to 218 and a guide plate (not shown), and passes through the transport path r5 that wraps around the front side Bf inside the post-processing apparatus B. Passes in an upright position and temporarily stops at a predetermined position.

<Third right-angle deflection conveyance>
Next, the sheet S is conveyed vertically upward by the conveying roller 219, then deflected in the horizontal direction, and moved to the aligning means by the conveying alignment belt 220 and the conveying roller 221 (conveying path r6).

<Alignment before folding process>
The aligning means is arranged on the downstream side of the transport path r6 in the sheet transport direction, the aligning member 224 that contacts and positions the leading end of the sheet, and a movable aligning block that moves by pressing the trailing end of the sheet S ( Alignment claw portion) 220A. The alignment block 220A presses and moves the trailing end of the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 221 disposed on the upstream side of the conveying path r6 in the sheet conveying direction to the aligning member 224, and further the trailing end of the sheet S. Is pressed to bring the leading end of the sheet into contact with the alignment member 224 to align the sheets.

  Next, the half-folding, saddle stitching, and sheet bundle cutting of the sheet S in the post-processing apparatus B will be specifically described.

<Folding function>
A folding processing unit 230 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance alignment belt 220 in the sheet conveyance direction. The folding processing unit 230 includes a first folding roller 231, a second folding roller 232, a third folding roller 233, a first folding plate member 234, and a second folding plate member 235.

  The plurality of sheets S that have reached the folding processing unit 230 are sandwiched between a first folding roller 231 that rotates in opposite directions, a second folding roller 232, and a first folding plate member 234 that travels in the opposite direction. A crease a is formed in the width direction (see FIG. 5).

  Thereafter, the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 are reversely rotated. The sheet S on which the fold a is formed is separated from the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 and returned to the original horizontal conveyance path. The sheet S continues to be conveyed in the direction of the extension line of the fold line a (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3, the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2) by the conveying claws 236A (see FIG. 2) fixed to the rotating conveying belt 236. r7 is conveyed to the saddle stitching processing unit 240.

  In this way, the folding processing unit 230 performs the middle folding process on a small number of one to three sheets S, firmly attaches the folds a, and sequentially feeds them to the saddle stitching processing unit 240. A small number of high-quality booklets (bookbinding products) SA can be produced.

<Saddle stitching function>
The sheet S that has undergone the folding process in the folding processing unit 230 proceeds in the direction of the conveyance path r7 by the conveyance belt 236 and guide means (not shown), and is placed on the saddle stacking member 241 of the saddle stitching processing unit 240. Subsequent half-folded sheets S continue to pass through the transport path r7 and are stacked on the hook stacking member 241.

  The hook stacking member 241 includes two guide plates that are substantially orthogonal to each other, and is fixed to the apparatus main body. In the vicinity of the top of the hook stacking member 241, a pressing member 241 </ b> A that can be lifted and lowered by a spring is supported by the needle receiving mechanism 243.

  The top portion of the pressing member 241A has a convex shape that is substantially perpendicular to the upper side, and the fold a (see FIG. 5) of the sheet S that has been subjected to the middle folding process is placed on the top edge line.

  The plurality of sheets S placed on the hook stacking member 241 and the pressing member 241A are aligned by the width aligning means 242.

  A needle striking mechanism 243 is fixedly disposed above the pressing member 241A. Inside the hook stacking member 241, a pressing member 241A and a needle receiving mechanism 244 are supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  Two sets of binding means having a two-part structure comprising a needle-striking mechanism 243 and a needle-receiving mechanism 244 are arranged in the sheet crease direction. When the saddle stitching process is set in the operation unit, the needle receiving mechanism 244 is raised to perform the saddle stitching process. In other words, the two sets of binding means strike the binding needles SP at two positions in the center distribution along the fold line a of the sheet bundle on the pressing member 241A. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the booklet SA subjected to the center folding process and the saddle stitching process.

<Paper bundle cutting function>
The sheet bundle that has undergone saddle stitching processing in the saddle stitching processing unit 240 is supported by a swingable guide member 251, swung in the direction of the chain line, and placed on the transport belt 252. The sheet bundle is conveyed obliquely downward by the rotation of the conveyance belt 252 and further conveyed by the rotating conveyance belt 253 and stopped at a predetermined position.

  Thereafter, the conveyor belt 253 swings and becomes horizontal. Since the edge (the free end on the opposite side of the fold) of the sheet bundle placed on the transport belt 253 in the horizontal state is uneven depending on the number of sheets of the booklet SA, the cutting means (trimmer) 250 Cut out and align the edges.

  The booklet SA produced by the cutting process is placed on the transport belt 253 that rotates in the reverse direction, and is transported in a state where the rear end portion of the booklet SA is pressed by the paper discharge claw 254 fixed to the transport belt 253. It falls in the direction of the arrow from the tip of the belt 253. The fallen booklet SA is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 256 disposed outside the front surface side Bf of the post-processing apparatus B by a rotating conveyor belt 255.

[Folding section]
Next, the configuration and operation of the folding processing unit 230 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the folding processing unit 230. The folding processing unit 230 performs middle folding processing and tri-folding processing.

<Conveying and aligning paper to the folding processing section>
In FIG. 7, the paper S that goes up the transport path r6 is transported by being sandwiched by the transport rollers 221 and transported to the transport path r6 formed between the paper mounts 222A and 223A and the guide plates 222B and 223B. Is done.

  After the trailing edge of the paper S being nipped and conveyed by the conveyance roller 221 passes through the nipping position of the conveyance roller 221, the conveyance alignment belt 220 is rotated by driving the motor M2, and is fixed to the conveyance alignment belt 220. The alignment block 220 </ b> A moves while pressing the rear end portion in the transport direction of the paper S placed on the paper placement tables 222 </ b> A and 223 </ b> A, and positions the front end portion of the paper S in contact with the alignment member 224.

  The alignment member 224 is fixed to a support member 2242 that slides on the guide bar 2241 and can move linearly. The support member 2242 is locked to a belt 2243 that rotates via a gear train by driving the motor M <b> 1, and linearly moves along the guide bar 2241.

  Control means and driving means (not shown) move the alignment member 224 to a predetermined position according to the paper size of A3 size, A4 size, etc., the paper folding type such as half-folding processing, tri-folding processing, etc., and stop.

  The conveyance alignment belt 220 is rotated forward and backward in the paper conveyance direction and the paper conveyance reverse direction by the driving means. The driving unit rotates the conveyance alignment belt 220 forward, pushes the rear end of the sheet by the alignment block 220A, and temporarily stops the position at which the front end of the sheet contacts the alignment member 224. Thereafter, the driving unit rotates the conveyance alignment belt 220 in the reverse direction to separate the alignment block 220A from the rear end portion of the sheet. Next, the conveying alignment belt 220 is rotated forward at a speed slower than the sheet conveying speed, and the alignment block 220A is again aligned by pressing the trailing end of the sheet. Thereafter, the alignment block 220A moves to a position retracted from the conveyance path and stands by.

<Folder configuration>
The folding processing unit 230 includes a first folding unit, a second folding unit, and a sheet guiding unit.

  The first folding unit includes a first folding roller 231, a second folding roller 232 that is pressed against the first folding roller 231, and a knife that feeds the first fold b of the paper S between the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232. And a first folded plate member 234 having a shape.

  The second folding unit includes the first folding unit, the second folding roller 232, and the third folding roller 233 and the first folding roller 231 that are in pressure contact with the second folding roller 232 on the downstream side of the first folding roller 232. And a second folding plate member 235 having a knife shape for feeding the second fold c of the sheet S between the second folding roller 232 and the second folding roller 232.

  The sheet guiding means is composed of guide plates 225 and 226 and a stopping means. The stopping unit includes a detecting unit 227 that detects the passage of the first fold b formed on the sheet S discharged from the first folding unit.

  The first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 are rotatably supported by a support plate (not shown), and are held in pressure contact by a pressing means (not shown).

  A motor and a drive transmission system (not shown) drive the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 in the reverse rotation direction in a pressure contact state, respectively.

  The third folding roller 233 is pressed against the second folding roller 232 by a spring or the like (not shown) and is driven to rotate.

  The motor M3 rotates the rotating shaft 2341 via the gear train, and swings and rotates the arm plate 2342 fixed to the rotating shaft 2341. The end of the arm plate 2342 and one end of the link plate 2344 are connected by a shaft 2343, and the other end of the link plate 2344 is connected to the end of the support member 2345. The support member 2345 can be linearly moved by guide means (not shown). A first folded plate member 234 is fixed to the distal end portion of the support member 2345. The tip of the first folding plate member 234 moves linearly toward the pressure contact position between the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232.

  The support moving mechanism of the second folded plate member 235 has the same configuration as the support moving mechanism of the first folded plate member 234 and is driven by the motor M4. The tip of the second folding plate member 235 moves linearly toward the pressure contact position between the second folding roller 232 and the third folding roller 233.

  A pair of guide plates 225 are arranged on the downstream side of the pressure contact position between the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232, and guide and pass the paper S. In a part of the guide plate 225, a detection unit 227 for detecting passage of the leading edge of the paper S traveling in the guide plate 225 is disposed. The detection means 227 includes, for example, an optical sensor and an actuator.

<Tri-fold process>
When the paper S is folded in three, after the first fold b is formed on the paper S in the first fold portion including the first folding roller 231, the second folding roller 232, and the first folding plate member 234, the second folding is performed. A second crease c is formed on the sheet S in the second fold portion including the roller 232, the third fold roller 233, and the second fold plate member 235.

  The sheet S formed with the first fold line b and the second fold line c is folded in three, passes through the pair of guide plates 226, and is discharged by the sheet discharge roller 238 through the conveyance roller 237 and the conveyance path r8. Are accommodated in a paper discharge tray 239 (see FIG. 3).

  In the folding processing unit 230, after stacking three or less sheets S on the sheet placing bases 222A and 223A and performing alignment processing, the plurality of sheets S are simultaneously folded in half and folded in three. Things are possible.

<First step of the middle folding process>
8 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing the middle folding process.

  The paper S transported to the folding processing unit 230 is transported on the paper mounting bases 222A and 223A, and the front end of the paper comes into contact with the alignment member 224 of the alignment means and stops. The setting position of the alignment member 224 is such that the distance from the nipping position N1 between the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 to the sheet contact surface of the alignment member 224 is half of the total length L in the longitudinal direction of the sheet S. It is a certain position.

  The driving force of the motor M3 causes the first folding plate member 234 to move forward via the arm plate 2342, the link plate 2344, and the support member 2345, and protrudes upward in the figure, in response to the half-folding processing start signal. The front end portion of the first folding plate member 234 presses the position of the first fold line a formed on the paper S, and is inserted into the clamping position N1 between the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 (FIG. 8 (a)).

  The first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 are driven and rotated in directions opposite to each other in the direction of the arrow to sandwich the paper S to form a fold a. After the fold line a is formed, the first folded plate member 234 moves backward from the position near the clamping position N1 and returns to the initial position (see FIG. 8B).

<Second process of center folding>
Thereafter, the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 are reversely rotated. The sheet S on which the fold a is formed is separated from the first folding roller 231 and the second folding roller 232 and returned to the original horizontal conveyance path (see FIG. 9). The sheet S continues to be conveyed in the direction of the extension line of the fold line a (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 3, the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2) by the conveying claws 236A (see FIG. 2) fixed to the rotating conveying belt 236. r7 is conveyed to the saddle stitching processing unit 240.

[Saddle stitching processing section]
Next, the configuration and operation of the saddle stitching processing unit will be described in detail.

<Paper conveyance process in the saddle stitching processing section>
10 is a front view of the sheet conveying unit and the saddle stitching processing unit, and FIG. 11 is a left side view of the saddle stitching processing unit.

  The sheet S that has undergone the folding process in the folding processing unit 230 is pressed at the rear end in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet S by a paper discharge claw unit 245A that is fixed to a conveying belt 245 that rotates forward by a driving unit (not shown). Then, the sheet slides on the sheet placing tables 222A and 223A, and proceeds to the saddle stitching processing unit 240. The conveying means is constituted by a conveying belt 245 and a paper discharge claw portion 245A.

  Prior to this sheet conveyance, one end of the paper discharge claw 245A is slidably supported by the guide bar 246 by reverse rotation of the conveyance belt 245, and a slider 247 that reciprocates linearly is shown in FIG. Move forward to the left shown. An elongated bar-shaped guide bar 248 is fixed to the slider 247.

  As the slider 247 advances, the guide rod 248 advances, and the tip of the guide rod 248 advances across the space where the needle striking mechanism 243 and the needle receiving mechanism 244 face each other, stops at a predetermined position, and is supported in a cantilevered manner. Installed in the erected state.

  After the guide rod 248 is installed at a predetermined position, the transport belt 245 is switched to the forward rotation, and the other end of the paper discharge claw 245A presses the rear end of the paper S in the paper transport direction. The sheet is moved on the sheet placing table 222A or 223A.

  The leading end portion of the moving paper S is discharged from the paper discharge portions of the paper mounting bases 222A and 223A, and the guide rod is supported so that the inner side of the crease a of the paper S which is subjected to the middle folding process and has an upwardly convex shape is projected. In a state of straddling 248, the sheet is conveyed by being pressed by the paper discharge claw portion 245A and proceeds to the saddle stitching processing portion 240. FIG. 12 is a left side view of the saddle stitching processing unit 240 showing the sheet S straddling the guide rod 248.

<Alignment process of saddle stitching processing section>
An aligning means is disposed on the needle receiving mechanism 244 side of the saddle stitching processing unit 240.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the aligning means includes a reference aligning member 242A, a movable aligning member 242B, a guide bar 242C, and moving means 242D and 242E.

  The reference alignment member 242A and the movable alignment member 242B are disposed to face the vicinity of both ends of the guide bar 242C. The reference alignment member 242A is moved in the paper width direction by the moving unit 242D. The movable alignment member 242B is moved in the paper width direction by the moving means 242E.

  When the paper size is set in the operation unit 9, the reference aligning member 242A is moved in the paper width direction by the moving unit 242D and stopped at a predetermined position corresponding to the paper size.

  The paper discharge claw portion 245A fixed to the rotating conveyance belt 245 at the time when the leading end portion of the paper S that has been subjected to the center folding process and conveyed while straddling the guide rod 248 contacts the reference alignment member 242A. However, it retracts below the paper placement surfaces of the paper placement units 222A and 223A.

  The end face of the paper discharge claw portion 245 </ b> A that retracts below the paper placement surface presses the slider 247 and moves it to the right along the guide bar 246. The guide rod 248 fixed to the slider 247 is moved to the right in the drawing and retracts from the vicinity of the hook stacking member 241 of the saddle stitching processing unit 240.

  The sheet S placed on the guide rod 248 and supported with the fold line a convexly upward falls by its own weight by the guide rod 248 being retracted, and is placed on the hook stacking member 241 and the pressing member 241A.

  FIG. 13 is a left side view of the saddle stitching means 240 showing the saddle stacking member 241 on which the paper S is placed.

  The sheet S placed on the hook stacking member 241 is pressed against the reference aligning member 242A side by the movement of the movable aligning member 242B in the sheet width direction to perform width alignment.

  Also for the second sheet S, the paper discharge claw portion 245A presses the rear end of the second sheet S in the sheet conveying direction by the forward rotation of the conveying belt 245, and the sheet S is placed on the sheet placement bases 222A and 223A. Move. At this time, the second sheet S advances while sliding on the first sheet S placed on the hook stacking member 241 and is stacked on the first sheet S.

  After the second sheet S is stacked on the cover stacking member 241, the movable alignment member 242B moves in the sheet width direction and presses it toward the reference alignment member 242A to perform width alignment again.

  Similarly, for the third and subsequent sheets S, the paper discharge claw 245A presses the rear end of the sheet S in the sheet transport direction, and slides on the preceding sheet S placed on the hook stacking member 241. It is guided by moving, and is sequentially stacked on the preceding paper S, and width alignment is performed by the movable alignment member 242B and the reference alignment member 242A.

  In this way, the paper output claw portion 245A fixed to the conveyance belt 245 and the movable alignment member 242B are arranged so that the trailing end in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet S is parallel to the fold line a of the sheet S having high rigidity. Since the sheet is pressed, the sheet S can be conveyed to the hook stacking unit and aligned without using a conveying roller for nipping the sheet S.

  In addition, even when the sheet S is folded in a state where a plurality of sheets S are stacked, the sheets S can be conveyed and aligned on the hook stacking member 241 while being stacked. .

<Saddle stitching process>
FIG. 14 is a left side view of the saddle stitching processing unit 240 showing the ascending process of the saddle stitch stacking member 241.

  After a predetermined number of sheets S are stacked on the hook stacking member 241 and aligned, the pressing members 241A (see FIG. 10) arranged on both sides of the needle receiving mechanism 244 are driven by a driving means (not shown) such as a cam mechanism. Be raised. At the upper limit position of the pressing member 241 </ b> A, the uppermost layer of the sheet S is held in a state of being spring-biased and pressed against a sheet receiving surface (not shown) of the needle striking mechanism 243.

  FIG. 15 is a left side view of the saddle stitching processing unit 240 showing the ascending process and the needle-striking process of the needle receiving mechanism 244.

  The driving means further continues to drive, and the needle receiving mechanism 244 moves up to pinch the paper S stacked on the pressing member 241A and presses it against the needle striking surface of the needle striking mechanism 243. In this state, the stapling mechanism 243 is operated to stap the binding needle SP, and the sheet S is subjected to saddle stitching to form a booklet SA.

  After the saddle stitching process, the needle receiving mechanism 244 and the pressing member 241A are lowered to return to the state before the saddle stitching process start shown in FIG. 13, and the booklet SA produced by the saddle stitching process is placed on the saddle stacking member 241. Placed.

  Cutting is performed by a cutting means (trimmer) 250 to align the edges.

  The booklet SA is cut out from the post-processing apparatus B after the fore edge is cut by the cutting unit 250, and is stored in the paper discharge tray 256.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the post-processing apparatus having the saddle stitch function connected to the copying machine main body has been described. However, a multi-folding apparatus that performs a plurality of types of folding on one sheet or a small number of sheets, and a small edge cutting apparatus. It is also possible to selectively connect multi-purpose and multi-function post-processing by selectively connecting a device, a flat binding device, a gluing binding device, etc. to a post-processing device equipped with the paper folding device of the present invention. .

  The present invention can also be applied to a post-processing apparatus that is used by connecting to an image forming apparatus such as a light printing machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.

  Furthermore, various folding processes can be performed as a single-type post-processing apparatus separated from the image forming apparatus.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus, an automatic document feeder, a post-processing apparatus, and a large-capacity paper feeder. The schematic diagram which shows the paper conveyance process of a post-processing apparatus. The schematic diagram which shows the paper conveyance of the middle folding of a post-processing apparatus, and a saddle stitching process. The front view of a post-processing apparatus. The right view of a post-processing apparatus. The left view of a post-processing apparatus. Sectional drawing of a folding process part. Sectional drawing which shows a middle folding process. Sectional drawing which shows a middle folding process. The front view of a paper conveyance means and a saddle stitching process part. The left view of a saddle stitching process part. The left view of the saddle stitching process part which shows the sheet | seat straddled on the guide rod. The left view of the saddle stitching means which shows the saddle | stacking stacking member which loaded the paper. The left view of the saddle stitching process part which shows the raising process of a hook stacking member. The left view of the saddle stitching process part which shows the raising process and needle-shooting process of a needle-receiving mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

220 conveying alignment belt 220A alignment block (alignment claw part)
221 Conveying rollers 222A, 223A Paper placement table 230 Folding processing unit 240 Saddle stitching processing unit 241 Latch stacking member 241A Pressing member 242 Width alignment unit 242A Reference alignment member 242B Movable alignment member 242C Guide bar 242D, 242E Moving unit 243 Needle receiving mechanism 244 Needle mechanism 245 Conveyor belt 245A Discharge claw portion 246, 249 Guide bar 247 Slider 248 Guide bar A Image forming apparatus B Post-processing apparatus S Paper SA Booklet (bookbinding product)

Claims (3)

In a post-processing apparatus for producing a bookbinding product by performing a half-folding process on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus at the center, and then binding a binding needle into a sheet fold by a saddle stitching processing unit.
A saddle stitching processing unit that stacks the folded sheets so that the folds of the folded sheets are facing upward,
Conveying means for conveying the sheet that has undergone the folding process to the hook stacking member;
A reference alignment member installed on the downstream side in the paper transport direction of the hook stacking member;
A movable alignment member disposed on the paper discharge side of the transport means and movable on the upstream side in the paper transport direction of the hook stacking member,
The movable alignment member presses a rear end portion of the sheet conveyed on the hook stacking member, and abuts the leading end portion of the sheet on the reference alignment member to align the sheet width. Post-processing device. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference alignment member is movable to a predetermined position corresponding to a paper size. The movable alignment member presses the rear end of the sheet each time the sheet is mounted on the hook stacking member or each time a plurality of sheets are mounted, and the reference alignment member The post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion is abutted to align the paper width.

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