JP2006036493A - Sheet handling device and image forming device equipped with it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet handling device capable of flattening a curved folding top part of a bundle of folded sheets securely and stably and to provide an image forming device equipped with it. <P>SOLUTION: The folding top part of the bundle of sheets conveyed by conveyance means 106, 107 after folding it is butted on a positioning means 110 to position the folding top part of the bundle of sheets and set amount of collapse of the folding top part of the bundle of sheets by a flattening means 104. A control means controls a changing means based on information about the bundle of folded sheets and changes a position of the positioning means 110 to change the amount of collapse of the folding top part of the bundle of sheets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet processing apparatus and an apparatus for flattening a curved folded top portion of a folded sheet bundle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, facsimiles, and composite devices thereof include a sheet processing apparatus that performs a folding process or the like on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming unit. In such a sheet processing apparatus, after the sheet bundle is folded, the curved fold top portion that is the folded portion of the sheet bundle is flattened in order to improve the quality of the folded portion and the stackability. There is something.

  FIG. 12 shows the structure of such a conventional sheet processing apparatus. When flattening the folding top, first, as shown in FIG. 12A, the folded sheet bundle 201 is conveyed. The curved folding top portion of the sheet bundle 201 is abutted against the positioning means 105 and positioned.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the gripping means 202, 203 sandwich and fix the vicinity of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle 201, and then the positioning means 205 is retracted and then bent. The fold apex portion is flattened by running along the fold apex portion while pressing the pressure roller 204 against the fold apex portion of the sheet bundle 201.

  Then, after flattening the folding top portion in this way, the sheet bundle 201 is discharged to the discharge tray 208 as shown in FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram showing the traveling direction of the pressure roller 204, and FIG. 13B shows a state in which the folded top portion of the sheet bundle 201 is pressed by the pressure roller 204 and becomes flat. ing.

  By the way, in such a sheet processing apparatus, for example, when the number of sheet bundles is small and the sheet bundle thickness is small, folding of the sheet bundle 201 that is crushed by the pressing roller 204 as shown in FIG. When the crushing allowance X (the amount of protrusion from the gripping means 202, 203) of the top portion is reduced, or when the number of sheet bundles is large and the sheet bundle thickness is thick, as shown in FIG. (See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, by shifting the abutting position of the positioning means 205 in accordance with the sheet bundle thickness in this way, the folding top can be surely flattened, and the occurrence of wrinkles and folds can be prevented. , The quality of the booklet that is the deliverable can be maintained.

JP 2001-260564 A

  However, in such a conventional sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the same, the crushing margin X (crushing amount) is set by counting the number of sheet bundles folded by the user. When there is a forgotten setting, there is a problem that the back cover of the completed booklet is wrinkled or folded.

  In addition, when setting the crushing allowance, the basis weight (weight) of the sheet and the material of the sheet are not taken into account, and the setting that takes into account it depends on the experience and intuition of the user, There was a problem that the folded top portion could not be flattened stably.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and a sheet processing apparatus capable of surely and stably flattening a curved folding top portion of a folded sheet bundle, and An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus provided.

  The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus for flattening a flattened portion of the folded sheet bundle by flattening the flattened portion of the bent sheet bundle, and flattening the folded top portion of the bent sheet bundle. A conveying unit that conveys the bundle; and a folding top portion of the sheet bundle that has been conveyed by the conveying unit abuts to position the folding top portion of the sheet bundle, and a flattening unit determines a collapse amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle. Positioning means for setting, changing means for changing the position of the positioning means so as to change the crushing amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle, and the position of the positioning means based on the sheet bundle information of the folded sheet bundle. And a control means for controlling the changing means so as to change and change the crushing amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle.

  As in the present invention, by changing the crushing amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle based on the sheet bundle information of the folded sheet bundle, the curved folded top portion of the folded sheet bundle is reliably and stably maintained. Can be flattened.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a copier that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1A is a copying machine, and 1 is a copying machine main body. The copying machine main body 1 includes a platen glass 21 serving as a document placement table, a light source 22a, a lens system 22, a paper feeding unit 11, and an image forming unit 12. A document feeding device 23 for feeding the document to the platen glass 21, an operation display device 15 and the like are provided.

  Here, the paper feeding unit 11 has a cassette 11 a that stores recording sheets and is detachable from the copying machine main body 1. Further, the image forming unit 12 includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum 24, a developing device 25, a fixing device 13, and the like, and a discharge roller pair 14 and the like are disposed on the downstream side of the image forming unit 12. ing. Further, the copying machine main body 1 is provided with a sheet processing apparatus 2A for processing the image-formed sheet discharged from the copying machine main body 1.

  Here, the sheet processing apparatus 2A includes a binding unit 2B that binds an image-formed sheet ejected from the copying machine main body 1, a bookbinding processing unit 2 that binds a sheet bundle in two, and a bookbinding processing unit 2. A flattening processing unit 3 is provided for selectively performing flattening processing on the folded top portion of the bound sheet bundle.

  Next, an image forming operation of the copying machine main body 1 having such a configuration and a sheet processing operation of the sheet processing apparatus 2A will be described.

  When a paper feed signal is output from the copying machine main body 1, a sheet is fed from the cassette 11 a of the paper feed unit 11. In addition, the original placed on the platen glass 21 is irradiated with light from the light source 22 a, and the light reflected by the original is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 24 via the lens system 22. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 24 is uniformly charged. When light is irradiated in this manner, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 24. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum.

  On the other hand, the sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit 11 is corrected in skew by the registration roller 26 and further fed to the image forming unit 12 at a proper timing, and the toner images formed on the photosensitive drum 24 are sequentially transferred. Is done. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred in this manner is then permanently fixed in the fixing device 13 by the fixing device 13. The sheet on which the image has been fixed is thereafter discharged from the copying machine main body 1 by the discharge roller pair 14 and conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 2A.

  When the sheet is conveyed in this way, in the sheet processing apparatus 2A, for example, when the binding mode is set, the sheet is conveyed to the binding unit 2B by the entrance roller 31 or the like, and the sheet bundle is bundled by the stapler 21. I try to bind them. Further, when the bookbinding processing mode is set, the sheet is first directed to the bookbinding processing unit 2 by switching the flapper 22 as shown in FIG.

  The sheet thus conveyed is then conveyed by the conveying roller 32 until it hits the stopper 33. Thereafter, the sheets are sequentially conveyed and similarly damped by the stopper 33, whereby a sheet bundle is formed in the conveyance path 34.

  Next, after the sheet bundle is formed in the conveyance path 34 in this way, the center portion of the sheet bundle is selectively stapled by the stapler 35, and then the stopper 33 is moved so that the center of the sheet bundle is aligned with the pushing plate 38. Move to the butt position. Then, after the center of the sheet bundle is moved to the pushing position in this way, the center of the sheet bundle is drawn by the pushing plate 38, whereby the center of the sheet bundle is drawn into the folding roller pair 36 as the folding means and folded in half. Thereafter, the folded sheet bundle is conveyed to the flattening processing unit 3 by a pair of folding rollers 36.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the flattening processing unit 3 holds and fixes the conveyance belts 106 and 107, which are conveyance means, the positioning stopper 110, and the sheet bundle 101 positioned by abutting against the positioning stopper 110. Clampers 102 and 103 that are gripping means, and a pressure roller 104 that is a pressure moving member as an example of a flattening means that performs flattening processing of the folded top portion of the curved sheet bundle 101. Reference numeral 109 denotes a support base that holds the positioning stopper 110 so as to be slidable (movable) in the sheet bundle conveying direction indicated by arrow A in the drawing and is rotatable in the arrow B direction in the drawing.

  Then, the sheet bundle 101 conveyed to the flattening processing unit 3 having such a configuration is first, as shown in FIG. 2A, until the folded top portion curved by the conveying belts 106 and 107 hits the positioning stopper 110. Be transported.

  Here, the positioning stopper 110 serving as the positioning means is slid in the sheet bundle conveying direction on the support base 109 based on information such as the number of sheet bundles, sheet weight, sheet material, and the like by a driving source (not shown). Is controlled so as to be in an optimum position that can be flattened reliably and stably. A control method and an optimum position setting method will be described later.

  Next, the sheet bundle 101 positioned by abutting against the positioning stopper 110 is fixed by the clampers 102 and 103 as shown in FIG. Retreats with upward rotation.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the pressure roller 104 travels (moves) in the direction of the arrow along the curved folded top portion 101 a of the sheet bundle 101, thereby flattening the folded top portion 101 a of the sheet bundle 101. Processing is performed. Then, the sheet bundle 101 that has been subjected to the flattening processing of the folded top portion is discharged to the discharge tray 108 as shown in FIG. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the folded top portion 101a of the sheet bundle 101 is pressed and flattened by the pressing roller 104.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the position of the positioning stopper 110 based on the sheet bundle information of the sheet bundle so that the curved fold top portion 101a of the folded sheet bundle 101 can be surely and stably flattened. To change.

  Next, a method for controlling the position change of the positioning stopper 110 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of control of the copying machine 1A, and 201 is a main body control unit which is a main control means provided in the copying machine main body 1. Here, the main body control unit 201 includes a CPU circuit unit 150. The CPU circuit unit 150 further includes a CPU, a ROM 151, and a RAM 152 (not shown), and a main body control unit according to a control program stored in the ROM 151. 201, the document feeding device control unit 202 of the document feeding device 23, the operation display device control unit 203 of the operation display device 15, and the sheet processing device control unit 205 of the sheet processing device 2A are collectively controlled.

  The RAM 152 temporarily holds control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control.

  Reference numeral 153 denotes a sheet bundle information detection unit that is a sheet bundle information detection unit that detects sheet bundle information of the folded sheet bundle. In the present embodiment, the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 includes the sheet bundle information. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet detection sensor 16 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge roller pair 14 shown in FIG. 1. The sheet detection signal from the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 (sheet detection sensor 16) is input to the main body control unit 201, and the main body control unit 201 detects the number of sheets in the sheet bundle based on the sheet detection signal. I have to.

  Here, the document feeding device control unit 202 controls driving of the document feeding device 23 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150. The main body control unit 201 is mounted on the copying machine main body 1, and the CPU circuit unit. By exchanging information with 150, drive control of the entire copying machine is performed.

  The operation display device control unit 203 exchanges information between the operation display device 15 and the CPU circuit unit 150. Here, the operation display device 15 displays information such as the number of documents, sheet size, sheet weight, sheet material, single-sided or double-sided printing in addition to a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation and information indicating the setting state. Display unit 15a (see FIG. 1) for outputting a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key to the CPU circuit unit 150, and corresponding information based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150. To be displayed. Then, the main body control unit 201 controls the image forming unit 12 for forming an image on a sheet based on various information set by the operation display unit 15.

  The sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 is mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 2A, and performs drive control of the entire sheet processing apparatus by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150.

  As described above, the document image information read by the copying machine main body 1 is processed by the CPU circuit unit 150 together with information such as sheet size, sheet weight, sheet material, single-sided or double-sided printing input from the operation display device 15. Then, the CPU circuit unit 150 transmits the sheet bundle information and the sheet bundle number information from the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 described above to the sheet processing apparatus control unit 205.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the operation display device 15 which is a sheet bundle information setting unit for setting sheet bundle information of a sheet bundle sets the sheets in three classifications of plain paper, thick paper, and thickest paper. In addition, the sheet material can be set in two types of normal paper and coated paper. Note that this classification may be fine or rough if necessary, and does not limit the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the set sheet information is input from the plain paper T1, the thick paper T2, and the thickest paper T3 for the sheet weight, and the normal paper M1, the coated paper M2, and the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 for the sheet material. The number of sheets in the sheet bundle is encoded as N1 for 1 sheet, N2 for 1 sheet, and Nn for n sheets, and is transferred from the CPU circuit section 150 to the sheet processing apparatus control section 205 constituting the control means. Sent.

  The sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 then determines the position of the positioning stopper 110 based on the sheet bundle information transmitted (input) via the main body control unit 201 (the CPU circuit unit 150) and the following calculation formula, in other words: Determine the amount of crushing.

Position Xn = Tn × Mn × Nn
Tn is the seat weight coefficient of T1, T2, and T3 (see FIG. 5)
Mn is the sheet material coefficient of M1 and M2 (see Fig. 5)
Nn is the number of sheets in N1, N2, N3,.

  Here, in the sheet processing apparatus 2A capable of processing up to n sheets in the sheet bundle, the position Xn is n × n × n (in this embodiment, when the sheet weight classification is n and the sheet material classification is n). In the form, there are 3 × 2 × n ways), and the position information of the positioning stopper 110 that is an optimum crushing amount (crushing amount) suitable for the state of the sheet bundle is incorporated in each position Xn. Note that the position of the positioning stopper 110 corresponding to these positions Xn is obtained in advance by experiments or the like and stored in, for example, the RAM 152.

  The sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 is a driving unit that is a changing unit that changes the position of the positioning stopper 110 so as to change the collapse amount of the folded portion of the sheet bundle according to the sheet bundle information and the information stored in the RAM 152. The position of the positioning stopper 110 is changed by controlling the source 110A (see FIG. 4).

  For example, when the sheet bundle 101 is a lightweight one such as plain paper T1, a soft material such as regular paper M1, or a small number of sheets, as shown in FIG. Is set to a position where the crushing margin is reduced. On the other hand, when the sheet bundle 101 is heavy, such as the thickest paper T3, is made of a hard material such as the coated paper M2, or has a large number of sheets, as shown in FIG. Set the position so that the crushing margin is large.

  Then, during the flattening process of the sheet bundle 101 folded in this way, the crushing amount (crushing amount) of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle 101 based on information such as the number of sheets in the sheet bundle 101, the sheet weight, and the sheet material. By automatically changing, the folded top can be reliably and stably flattened. As a result, it is possible to stably form the back cover portion of the sheet bundle 101, and to prevent problems due to setting mistakes or forgetting to set.

  In the above description, the sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 is provided in the sheet processing apparatus 2A as shown in FIG. 4, but this sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 is provided in the copying machine main body 1 as shown in FIG. You may make it provide.

  In the description so far, the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 is provided in the copying machine main body 1, but the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 may be provided in the sheet processing apparatus 2A as shown in FIG. good. In this case, the sheet bundle information detection unit 153 can be configured by the sheet detection sensor 39 or 40 provided in the folding path R shown in FIG. 1, and in this case, from the sensors 39 and 40 that detect the sheet. The sheet detection signal is input to the main body control unit 201, and the main body control unit 201 detects the number of sheets based on signals from the sensors 39 and 40.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 112 denotes a sheet bundle thickness detection sensor that detects the thickness of the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveyance belts 106 and 107. The sheet bundle information detection unit 153 shown in FIG. You may comprise by the thickness detection sensor 112. FIG. In this case, a sheet bundle thickness signal from the sheet bundle thickness detection sensor 112 is input to the main body control unit 201, and the main body control unit 201 detects the number of sheets based on the sheet bundle thickness signal.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a sheet bundle information detection unit 153 including a sheet detection sensor 39 or 40 or a sheet bundle thickness detection sensor 112 is provided in the sheet processing apparatus 2A, and the sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 is provided as a copying machine. You may make it provide in the main body 1. FIG. Further, the number of sheet bundles may be set in the operation display device 15 which is a sheet bundle information setting unit, and the sheet weight and the sheet material may be detected by a known detection unit.

  Further, when the sheet processing apparatus 2A is used in a stand-alone manner, a sheet bundle information detection unit 153 and a sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 are provided in the sheet processing apparatus 2A. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the sheet bundle thickness detection sensor 112 detects the thickness of the sheet bundle, and the sheet processing apparatus control unit 205 generates a sheet bundle thickness signal from the sheet bundle thickness detection sensor 112. Based on this, the crushing margin (crushing amount) of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle 101 is automatically changed.

  By the way, in the description so far, the case where the pressing roller 104 is moved along the folding top portion of the sheet bundle to perform the flattening process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing roller is fixed. The flattening process may be performed by moving the sheet bundle while pressing the folding top portion against the pressure roller.

  FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 denote the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 11, reference numeral 111 denotes a pressure contact roller that is a pressure contact member fixed at a predetermined position, and 120 and 121 are clampers that constitute a pressure contact roller 111 and a flattening means and that can be moved in the direction of the arrow by a moving means (not shown). is there. Then, the sheet bundle 101 is held by the clampers 120 and 121 which are such moving means, and the sheet bundle 101 is moved in the direction of the arrow while the folding top portion 101a is pressed against the fixed pressure roller 111. Thus, a planarization process can be performed.

  Moreover, in the description so far, the form which changes the position of the positioning stopper 110 in order to change the crushing amount of a folding top part was demonstrated. However, the crushing amount of the folding top portion corresponds to the projection amount of the folding top portion from the clampers 102 and 103, in other words, the distance between the positioning stopper 110 and the clampers 102 and 103. Therefore, the clampers 102 and 103 may be moved by changing means, and the distance from the positioning stopper 110 may be adjusted to change the protruding amount (crush amount) of the folded top portion from the clampers 102 and 103.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a copier that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the planarization process in the said sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining operation | movement and an effect | action of the press-contact roller provided in the said sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the copying machine. The figure which shows the sheet | seat weight coefficient used when determining the position of the positioning stopper provided in the said sheet processing apparatus, a sheet | seat material coefficient, and a product. The figure explaining the position change of the said positioning stopper. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram according to another configuration of the copying machine. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram according to another configuration of the copying machine. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram according to another configuration of the copying machine. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram according to another configuration of the copying machine. The figure which shows the structure of the sheet processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The figure explaining the planarization process in the conventional sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining operation | movement and an effect | action of the press-contact roller provided in the conventional sheet processing apparatus. The figure explaining the position change of the conventional positioning stopper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A Copying machine 1 Copying machine main body 2A Sheet processing apparatus 2 Bookbinding processing section 3 Flattening processing section 12 Image forming section 15 Operation display device 39 Sheet detection sensor 40 Sheet detection sensor 101 Sheet bundle 101a Sheet bundle folding top section 102, 103 Clamper 104 Pressure roller 106, 107 Conveying belt 110 Positioning stopper 109 Support base 111 Pressure roller 112 Sheet bundle thickness detection sensor 120, 121 Clamper 153 Sheet bundle information detection unit 201 Main body control unit 205 Sheet processing device control unit

Claims (10)

In the sheet processing apparatus in which the folded fold crest of the folded sheet bundle is crushed and flattened,
Flattening means for flattening the folded top portion of the curved sheet bundle;
Conveying means for conveying the folded sheet bundle;
Positioning means for positioning the folded top portion of the sheet bundle by abutting against the folded top portion of the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying means, and setting a crushing amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle by the flattening means;
Changing means for changing the position of the positioning means so as to change the crushing amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle;
Control means for changing the position of the positioning means based on the sheet bundle information of the folded sheet bundle and controlling the changing means so as to change the collapse amount of the folded top portion of the sheet bundle. A sheet processing apparatus. Gripping means for gripping the folded top portion of the folded sheet bundle so as to protrude;
Changing means for changing the amount of protrusion of the folding top from the gripping means;
Flattening means for flattening the folded top portion of the sheet bundle gripped by the gripping means;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the changing means so as to change a protruding amount of the folding top portion from the gripping means based on sheet bundle information of the sheet bundle.   3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flattening unit is a press-contact moving member that moves along the folding top portion while pressing the folding top portion of the sheet bundle.   The flattening means includes a pressure contact member that press-contacts the curved fold top portion of the sheet bundle, and a moving means that moves the sheet bundle while pressing the fold top portion against the pressure contact member. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Sheet bundle information setting means for setting sheet bundle information of the sheet bundle, or sheet bundle information detecting means for detecting sheet bundle information of the sheet bundle,
5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the changing unit based on sheet bundle information from the sheet bundle information setting unit or the sheet bundle information detection unit. Sheet processing device.   6. The sheet bundle information according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle information is at least one of sheet bundle thickness information, sheet number information, sheet weight information, and sheet material information. The sheet processing apparatus according to the description. An image forming unit;
Folding means for folding a sheet bundle on which an image is formed by the image forming unit;
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a fold top portion of the sheet bundle folded by the folding means is flattened.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a main control unit.   The sheet bundle information is input to the main control unit, and the control unit of the sheet processing apparatus controls the changing unit based on the sheet bundle information input via the main control unit. Item 8. The image forming apparatus according to Item 7.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus main body including an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
The image forming apparatus includes a folding unit that is connected to the image forming apparatus main body and that folds the sheet bundle on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, and flattenes the folding top portion of the sheet bundle folded by the folding unit. A sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A sheet bundle information setting unit configured to set the sheet bundle information, or a sheet bundle information detection unit configured to detect the sheet bundle information, provided in the image forming apparatus main body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the changing unit based on sheet bundle information set by the sheet bundle information setting unit or sheet bundle information detected by the sheet bundle information detecting unit.

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