JP2006076676A - Folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding device capable of suppressing occurrence of wrinkle and folding a sheet double. <P>SOLUTION: This folding device is provided with a protruding part 143a_1 capable of advancing and retracting freely for a nip part formed by a pair of first rolls 143c composed of a pair of rolls bringing mutual peripheral faces into contact and protruding toward the nip part at a tip in the direction of advance, a blade member 143a in which the protruding part 143a_1 is butted on a paper arranged by letting a surface face the nip part when advancing toward the nip part, the protruding part 143a_1 enters the nip part by advancing furthermore, and a paper folded double is fed into the nip part, and a soft region 143c_2 which has lower hardness than that of other parts and makes a round in the peripheral direction of a peripheral face in a part for nipping the protruding part 143a-1 entering the nip part on respective peripheral faces of the pair of the first rolls 143c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a pair of rolls in contact with each other's peripheral surfaces, and feeds a sheet folded in two into a nip formed by contact between the peripheral surfaces of the pair of rolls. The present invention relates to a folding processing apparatus that folds a sheet in two by sandwiching the sheet folded in two.

  For example, a fold processing apparatus having a pair of rolls is used as an apparatus for easily performing operations such as folding a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copier into two. Here, since a nip pressure is generated in the nip portion formed by such a pair of rolls, it is necessary to devise in order to feed the sheet folded in two into the nip portion. Therefore, the folding processing apparatus includes the following blade member and a pair of rolls corresponding to such a blade member, which feeds a sheet folded in two into the nip portion, which can be moved forward and backward with respect to the nip portion. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

First, the blade member is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes toward the nip portion at the forward end in the forward direction. On the other hand, each of the pair of rolls is provided with a circumferentially-circulating groove in a portion of the circumferential surface facing each other, and a gap is formed in the portion where the groove is provided when the circumferential surfaces are in contact with each other. The nip portions and the gaps are alternately arranged. When the blade member advances toward the nip portion, the above-described protrusion enters the gap. When the sheet is disposed between the blade member and the nip portion, the protruding portion of the blade member that moves forward toward the nip portion hits the sheet, and the blade member further moves forward so that the protruding portion enters the gap. Then, the sheet folded in two is fed into the nip portion.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-58567 (first page, FIG. 4)

  However, no nip pressure is applied to the portion of the sheet that passes through the gap. In other words, the folding apparatus as described above has a problem in that a portion that receives the nip pressure and a portion that does not receive the nip pressure are generated in the sheet, and wavy wrinkles are formed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a folding processing apparatus that can suppress wrinkling and fold a sheet in two.

The folding processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a pair of rolls that contact each other's peripheral surfaces, and is folded in two at a nip formed by the peripheral surfaces of the pair of rolls contacting each other. In a fold processing apparatus that folds the sheet into two by feeding the sheet and holding the sheet folded in two with the pair of rolls,
Protruding part that protrudes toward the nip part is provided at the front end in the advancing direction, and when the advancing toward the nip part, the protruding part has a surface thereof It has a blade member that hits the sheet arranged facing the nip portion and further advances to enter the nip portion, and a blade member that feeds the folded sheet into the nip portion,
Each of the pair of rolls has a flat peripheral surface, and a portion of the peripheral surface sandwiching the protruding portion that has entered the nip portion has a lower hardness than the other portion, and makes one round in the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface. It is characterized in that a soft region is provided.

  According to the folding processing apparatus of the present invention, when the blade member feeds the sheet into the nip portion, the protruding portion is the soft member provided on the peripheral surface of each of the pair of rolls of the nip portion. Enter the area where the areas touch each other. Then, since this soft area is pushed away by the protrusion and is recessed, the blade member can advance to the back until the sheet is fed into the nip portion. Further, since the soft region is pushed away by the projecting portion and dents, the sheet is sandwiched, so that the sheet passing through the nip portion can receive a nip pressure even in a portion passing between the soft region. . As a result, the sheet receives the nip pressure almost uniformly, and the generation of wrinkles as described above is suppressed. In other words, according to the folding processing apparatus of the present invention, the generation of wrinkles can be suppressed and the sheet can be folded in two.

Further, the folding processing apparatus of the present invention, "the blade member is provided at the front end in the forward direction, a plurality of the protrusions are arranged in parallel with the nip part,
Each of the pair of rolls may have a configuration in which the soft region is provided at a plurality of portions of the peripheral surface sandwiching each of the plurality of protrusions that have entered the nip portion.

  The force for feeding the sheet into the nip portion is applied to the sheet from the protruding portion of the blade member. According to the folding processing apparatus of the above configuration, force is applied to a plurality of locations on the sheet, so that the sheet can be fed into the nip portion and folded in a more stable state.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a folding processing apparatus that suppresses the generation of wrinkles and folds a sheet into two.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a post-processing apparatus including an embodiment of the present invention.

  A post-processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus that receives a sheet P on which an image is formed from an image forming apparatus (not shown) as a sheet to be processed, and performs a folding process and a stapling process on the sheet P. A final processing apparatus 10, a folding device 20, an interposer 30, and an interface module 40. Further, the final processing device 10 includes a paper discharge device 11, a punching device 12, a top tray 13, and a booklet 14. As will be described later, the booklet 14 included in the final processing device 10 includes: An embodiment of the folding processing apparatus of the present invention is provided.

  In the example of FIG. 1, a sheet P on which an image is formed is transferred to an interface module 40 from an image forming apparatus (not shown).

  The interposer 30 is provided with a paper tray 31 for the user to set paper P. The paper P set in the paper tray 31 is taken in by the pickup roll 32 and is carried to the interface module 40 by the transport roll 33. The movement of the paper P inside the interposer 30 is monitored by a paper sensor 34 disposed inside the interposer 30.

  Inside the interface module 40, a sheet conveyance path 42 is formed by a plurality of conveyance rolls 41 and a guide member (not shown) disposed between the conveyance rolls 41, and is delivered from the image forming apparatus or the interposer 30. The paper P is transported through the paper transport path 42 to the folding device 20 arranged at the rear stage of the interface module 40. The passage of the paper P in the paper transport path 42 is monitored by a plurality of paper sensors 43 arranged in the paper transport path 42.

  In the folding device 20, for example, the folding paper transport path 21 through which the paper P passes when the user designates to perform a folding process such as Z-folding, and the paper P are placed in the folding device 20. Two types of conveyance paths, that is, a normal conveyance path 22 for carrying the sheet as it is to the final processing apparatus 10 arranged in the subsequent stage, are formed by a plurality of conveyance rolls 23 and a guide member (not shown). The passage of the paper P is monitored by a plurality of paper sensors 24 arranged in the. Further, a Z-folding roll pair 25 is arranged in the middle of the folding paper transport path 21, and the paper P transports the folding paper transport path 21 when the user designates Z-folding processing. However, it is folded by being nipped by the Z-folding roll pair 25. The folding device 20 is also provided with a storage unit 26 in which the folded paper P is stored.

  As described above, the final processing device 10 includes the paper discharge device 11, the punch device 12, the top tray 13, and the booklet 14, and the paper transport path 15 connecting these elements includes a plurality of transports. It is formed by a roll 16 and a guide member (not shown). A plurality of paper sensors 17 are arranged in the paper transport path 15 to monitor the passage of the paper P.

  The paper P delivered to the final processing device 10 first passes through the punching device 12 and is subjected to punching processing when designated by the user. The paper P that has passed through the punching device 12 is conveyed to the paper discharging device 11 when the user gives an instruction to perform stapling processing. Further, the sheet P instructed by the user to be stapled on a plurality of sheets P and then folded in two is conveyed to the booklet 14. Further, the paper P that is not particularly instructed to be processed is conveyed to the top tray discharge port 18 and discharged from the top tray discharge port 18 to the top tray 13.

  When designated by the user, the booklet 14 forms a bundle of sheets by stapling the center of the overlapped sheets P, and further executes a folding process for folding the bundle of sheets P into two at the center. And a paper storage mechanism 141, a stapler 142, a bending mechanism 143, a tamper 144, a discharge roll 145, and a booklet tray 146. Here, the folding mechanism 143 provided in the booklet 14 corresponds to an embodiment of the folding processing apparatus of the present invention.

  The sheet storage mechanism 141 includes an end guide 141a and an end guide moving mechanism 141b. The plurality of sheets P conveyed to the booklet 14 are received by the end guide 141a and overlapped in a standing state. When a predetermined number of sheets P such as a plurality of sheets P forming one booklet accumulate on the end guide 141a, the end guide moving mechanism 141b moves the end guide 141a, and the sheet placed on the end guide 141a. First, P is conveyed toward the stapler 142.

  When the plurality of sheets P are conveyed to a position where the stapler 142 can sandwich the center of the sheet P, the tamper 144 first aligns the edges of the plurality of sheets P. Then, the stapler 142 sandwiches the center of the aligned plurality of sheets P and drives staples into the center, so that these sheets P are bound to form a sheet bundle. When the sheet bundle is formed, the end guide 141 a is moved again to carry the sheet bundle toward the folding mechanism 143.

  The bending mechanism 143 includes a blade 143a, a blade moving mechanism 143b, a first roll pair 143c, and a second roll pair 143d. Here, the blade 143a and the first roll pair 143c correspond to examples of the blade member and the pair of rolls according to the present invention, respectively.

  The blade 143a is configured to be moved forward and backward with respect to the nip portion of the first roll pair 143c by the blade moving mechanism 143b, and the sheet is moved to a position where the center of the sheet bundle is disposed in front of the blade 143a. When the bundle is carried, the blade 143a moves forward toward the nip portion of the first roll pair 143c, the blade 143a is abutted against the center of the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is folded into two. As the blade 143a further moves forward, the folded sheet bundle is fed into the nip portion of the first roll pair 143c, and is sandwiched and completely folded by the first roll pair 143c. The folded sheet bundle is sandwiched again by the second roll pair 143 d and then discharged onto the booklet tray 146 by the discharge roll 145.

  Here, the feature of the present invention in the present embodiment is the structure of the blade 143a and the first roll pair 143c. Hereinafter, the blade 143a and the first roll pair 143c will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the blade and the first roll pair shown in FIG.

  In the blade 143a shown in FIG. 2, three protruding portions 143a_1 protruding toward the nip portion of the first roll pair 143c are arranged in a comb shape at the forward end in the forward direction. These protrusions 143a_1 correspond to an example of the protrusions according to the present invention. Then, when the sheet bundle Pg is disposed between the blade 143a and the first roll pair 143c and the blade 143a advances toward the nip portion, the protruding portion 143a_1 hits the center of the sheet bundle Pg, and the sheet bundle Pg is divided into two. Fold it into one. When the blade 143a further advances, the protruding portion 143a_1 enters the nip portion as indicated by the arrow A, and feeds the sheet bundle Pg folded in two into the nip portion.

  On the other hand, the first roll pair 143c is configured such that the following two roll bodies 143c_1 are arranged so that their peripheral surfaces are in contact with each other. That is, the roll body 143c_1 has a flat peripheral surface, and the protrusions described above, which have lower hardness than the other parts, are located at three portions of the peripheral surface that sandwich the protrusions 143a_1 that have entered the nip portion. A band-shaped soft region 143c_2 that is wider than the width of 143a_1 is provided. In this embodiment, the soft region 143c_2 on the peripheral surface of the roll body 143c_1 is formed of sponge rubber having a hardness of approximately 30 degrees, and the region 143c_3 other than the soft region 143c_2 is formed of rubber having a hardness of 60 degrees or more. Has been. When the protruding portion 143a_1 enters the nip portion together with the sheet bundle Pg, the soft region 143c_2 is pushed and deformed.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the soft region of the roll body is pushed and deformed by the protruding portion and the sheet bundle.

  In FIG. 3, the cross section of the roll body 143c_1 in which the soft region 143c_2 is deformed by the protrusion 143a_1 that has entered the nip portion together with the sheet bundle Pg is shown together with the cross section of the blade 143a including the protrusion 143a_1. As a result of the deformation of the soft region 143c_2, the protrusion 143a_1 of the blade 143a can enter the nip portion until the tip reaches a line L connecting the centers of the roll bodies 143c_1 as shown in FIG. Of course, the portion of the sheet bundle Pg that is abutted against the protruding portion 143a_1 is fed into the nip portion, and other portions that are not abutted against the protruding portion 143a_1 are also abutted against the protruding portion 143a_1. It is pulled by the part that has been pushed and fed into the nip.

  Here, the portion of the sheet bundle Pg sent to the nip portion that is not abutted against the protruding portion 143a_1 is nipped by the region 143c_3 other than the soft region 143c_2 of the roll body 143c_1 shown in FIG. As described above, since this region 143c_3 is formed of a relatively hard rubber, a sufficient nip pressure is applied to a portion of the sheet bundle Pg that is nipped by this region 143c_3. On the other hand, as described above, the soft region 143c_2 formed by the relatively soft sponge rubber is deformed by the protrusion 143a_1 and the sheet bundle Pg. However, since the elastic force due to deformation acts in the soft region 143c_2, the nip pressure is also applied to the portion of the sheet bundle Pg that is nipped by the soft region 143c_2. As a result, the sheet bundle Pg receives the nip pressure almost uniformly and is folded into two.

  Further, each of the two roll bodies 143c constituting the first roll pair 143c is driven to rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the two arrows B1 and B2 while being interlocked with each other by a motor (not shown). The sheet bundle Pg folded in a folded manner is sent to a second roll pair 143d (see FIG. 1) arranged at the subsequent stage of the first roll pair 143c. In the present embodiment, the second roll pair 143d is composed of two roll bodies each having a peripheral surface formed of a relatively hard rubber having a hardness of 60 degrees or more, and is folded in two. The sheet bundle Pg is further completely folded by the second roll pair 143d.

  As described above, according to the folding mechanism 143 described above, the sheet can be folded in two while suppressing the generation of wrinkles.

  In the above, as an example of the folding processing apparatus of the present invention, a staple process is performed on the center of the overlapped sheets to form a sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is further folded into two at the center. Although the folding mechanism 143 provided in the booklet 14 to be executed has been illustrated and described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the folding processing apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of rolls in contact with each other's peripheral surfaces. In this case, one or a plurality of sheets folded in two are fed into the nip formed by the contact of the peripheral surfaces of the pair of rolls, and the sheet folded in two is sandwiched by the pair of rolls. What is necessary is just to fold a sheet into two.

  Further, in the above, as an example of the folding processing apparatus of the present invention, the blade 143a that protrudes toward the nip portion and has three protrusions 143a_1 disposed in a comb-like shape, and the three protrusions 143a_1 are sandwiched 3 Although the bending mechanism 143 provided with the pair of roll bodies 143c provided with the soft region 143c_2 in one portion has been illustrated and described, the present invention is not limited to this. A folding apparatus of the present invention includes a blade having four or more protrusions as described above, and a pair of roll bodies in which a soft region is provided in a portion sandwiching the four or more protrusions. Or a blade having only one or two protrusions and a pair of roll bodies provided with a soft region at a portion sandwiching the one or two protrusions. good.

It is a figure which shows an example of the post-processing apparatus provided with one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows typically the braid | blade and 1st roll pair which are shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the soft area | region of a roll body is pushed and deform | transformed by a protrusion part and a paper bundle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Post-processing apparatus 10 Final processing apparatus 11 Paper discharge apparatus 12 Punch apparatus 13 Top tray 14 Booklet 141 Paper storage mechanism 141a End guide 141b End guide moving mechanism 142 Stapler 143 Bending mechanism 143a Blade 143a_1 Protruding part 143b Blade moving mechanism 143c Roll pair 143c_1 Roll body 143c_2 Soft region 143c_3 Region other than soft region 143c_2 143d Second roll pair 144 Tamper 145 Discharge roll 146 Booklet tray 15 Paper transport path 16 Transport roll 17 Paper sensor 18 Top tray outlet 20 Folding device 21 Folding device 21 Transport path 22 Normal transport path 23 Transport roll 24 Paper sensor 25 Z-fold roll pair 26 Storage section 30 Interposer 1 paper tray 32 pick-up roller 33 transport roll 34 paper sensor 40 interface module 41 transport roll 42 the paper transport path 43 paper sensor

Claims (2)

Provided with a pair of rolls in contact with each other's peripheral surfaces, a sheet folded in two is fed into a nip formed by contact of the peripheral surfaces of the pair of rolls, and folded into two with the pair of rolls In the folding processing apparatus that folds the sheet into two by sandwiching the sheet,
A protrusion that protrudes toward the nip is provided at the front end in the forward direction, and the protrusion has a surface that is the surface of the nip when it moves forward toward the nip. A blade member that abuts against a sheet disposed facing the nip portion and further advances to enter the nip portion, and feeds the folded sheet into the nip portion;
Each of the pair of rolls has a flat peripheral surface, and a portion of the peripheral surface sandwiching the protruding portion that has entered the nip portion has a lower hardness than the other portion, and makes one round in the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface. A folding apparatus characterized in that a soft region is provided. The blade member is provided with a plurality of the projecting portions arranged in parallel to the nip portion at the front end in the forward direction,
2. The pair of rolls, wherein each of the pair of rolls is provided with the soft region at a plurality of portions sandwiching each of a plurality of protrusions that have entered the nip portion of the peripheral surface. Folding device.

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