JP2007118518A - Booklet finishing equipment, postprocessor, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide booklet finishing equipment which enables the loading of many booklets by properly maintaining an aligned state when the booklets are loaded in a stacked state, a postprocessor, and an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: The booklet finishing equipment comprises: a clamping jaw 11 for clamping the booklet, made by folding paper, in the state of avoiding the spine of the booklet; and a roller 13 which performs first and second modes (A) and (B) while mutually switching them. In the first mode (A), a spine of the booklet is flattened by being squeezed from one end thereof to the other end thereof along the spine. In the second mode (B), the spine is flattened by being squeezed in a direction opposite to the direction of being squeezed in the first mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a booklet finishing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system that finish a booklet produced by folding paper.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming systems represented by printers and copiers are provided with a post-processing device for producing a booklet as a post-processing for paper on which an image is formed. As a method for producing a booklet in a post-processing apparatus, there is a method of folding a sheet into a booklet. However, a booklet produced by this method has a curvature near the back, and the booklet tends to open. The quality is not good. Thus, as a booklet finishing apparatus for finishing a booklet, there is an apparatus that performs a square fold process for flattening by crushing the back of the booklet (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the principle of square fold processing. The booklet 511 produced by folding the paper is sandwiched from both sides of the cover by the clamping unit 512 so as to avoid the booklet spine 511a. A roller 513 is pressed against the back 511a of the booklet sandwiched by the sandwiching portion 512, and a portion of the back where the roller 513 is pressed is crushed. By moving the roller 513 from one end of the booklet spine 511a to the other end, the booklet spine 511a is flattened. According to the above-mentioned square fold processing, the opening of the booklet is reduced and the quality of the binding is improved. The squarefolded booklet is then stacked and stacked on a stacking tray or the like.
JP 2001-260564 A JP 2004-345863 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-168012 JP 2004-196524 A JP 2004-209886 A JP 2004-210436 A

  However, the above-described square fold processing has a problem that the thickness of the booklet is uneven, and the alignment state is disturbed when a plurality of booklets are stacked and stacked.

  FIG. 12 is a view showing the booklet after the spine is flattened.

  Part (b) of FIG. 12 shows the booklet viewed from the cover side, and part (a) and part (c) show the booklet viewed from the left and right sides, respectively. As shown in FIG. 12, the back of the booklet is not evenly flattened, and the degree of flattening gradually decreases as it goes from one end side to the other end side of the booklet. As a result, the thicknesses w1 and w2 on one end side and the other end side of the back of the booklet are greatly different on the left and right sides of the booklet.

  FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are views showing a state in which a plurality of booklets whose backs are flattened are stacked in a partially overlapping state.

  Part (b) of FIG. 13 shows a loaded booklet viewed from the back side, and part (a) and part (c) show the booklet viewed from the left and right sides, respectively. FIG. 14 is a plan view of a stacked booklet. As shown in FIG. 13, the thickness deviation of each booklet accumulates as the booklets are stacked and stacked. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, when the booklet is sequentially stacked in the direction a, the newly loaded booklet is shifted in the direction b, and the booklet stacked in the middle jumps out in the direction c. It becomes easy. Thus, since the thickness of the back of the booklet is not uniform, the alignment state when the booklet is stacked and stacked is disturbed. Therefore, the amount of booklets that can be loaded is significantly limited.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a booklet finishing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system that finishes a booklet that is well aligned and can be stacked in a stack when stacked. Objective.

The booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a holding unit that holds a booklet produced by folding paper while avoiding the back of the booklet,
A first mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine from one end of the spine to the other end along the spine of the booklet; and a direction in which the spine is crushed in the first mode; Is characterized in that it includes a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between them.

  When paying attention to one booklet, the direction in which the thickness of the booklet increases is the same as the direction in which the forming unit crushes the spine for the following reason. That is, the end side where the forming part has started to crush the back of the booklet is sufficiently crushed by the forming part, and thus the thickness is thin. However, as the forming part crushes the spine along the back, the booklet itself held by the holding part shifts due to the force applied from the forming part, and gradually escapes in the direction of the force applied from the forming part. End up. For this reason, as the forming portion crushes the spine, the degree of crushing decreases. Therefore, the thickness of the booklet becomes thicker at the end on the side where the forming portion has crushed the spine. In the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, the forming unit crushes the spine in a direction opposite to the direction in the first mode and the first mode in which the back of the booklet is crushed from one end to the other end. Both the second mode and the second mode are executed while being switched to each other. As a result, if one end of the spine is the first end and the other end is the second end, the booklet finishing apparatus has a booklet having a thickness on the first end side that is thicker than the thickness on the second end side, Both booklets having a thickness on the first end side thinner than that on the second end side are finished. When such booklets are stacked in a stacked state, thickness deviations for each booklet cancel each other. For this reason, the aligned state is maintained well, and a large number of booklets can be stacked.

  Here, in the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the forming unit switches the first mode and the second mode for each booklet.

  By switching between the first mode and the second mode for each booklet, a booklet having a thickness on the first end side larger than a thickness on the second end side, and a thickness on the first end side A booklet that is thinner than the second end side is alternately finished for each book. When such a plurality of booklets are stacked in a stacked state, the aligned state is maintained better, and a larger number of booklets can be stacked.

In addition, the post-processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above-described object includes a booklet production unit that produces a booklet by collecting and folding sheets on which images are formed;
A sandwiching part for sandwiching the booklet produced by the booklet production part avoiding the back of the booklet;
A first mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine from one end of the spine to the other end along the spine of the booklet; and a direction in which the spine is crushed in the first mode; Is characterized in that it includes a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between them.

An image forming system of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet,
A booklet production unit for producing a booklet by accumulating and folding paper on which images are formed by the image forming unit;
A sandwiching part for sandwiching the booklet produced by the booklet production part avoiding the back of the booklet;
A first mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine from one end of the spine to the other end along the spine of the booklet; and a direction in which the spine is crushed in the first mode; Is characterized in that it includes a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between them.

  It should be noted that the post-processing apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention are only shown in its basic form here, but this is merely for avoiding duplication, and the post-processing apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention. Includes not only the above basic form but also forms corresponding to the above-described booklet finishing apparatuses.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a booklet finishing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system that finishes a booklet that is maintained in an aligned state and can be stacked in a large number when stacked and stacked are realized. To do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a booklet finishing apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention is incorporated.

  The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 that forms an image on a sheet, and a post-processing apparatus 5 that performs post-processing of the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 2. Connected to the image forming apparatus 2 are a large-capacity paper feeding device 3 that stores a large amount of paper and a print server 4 that assists the printing function of the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method and conveys it to the post-processing apparatus 5. In addition, the image forming apparatus 2 includes a control circuit 26 that controls the overall operation of the image forming system 1.

  The post-processing device 5 includes an inserter 6 that additionally inserts a cover, a booklet finisher 7 that forms a booklet by bundling, folding, and folding a booklet, a trimmer 8 that trims the sides of the booklet, and the booklet back is formed flat. A square fold device 10 for performing square fold processing and a stacker 9 for loading booklets are provided.

  The square fold device 10 includes a stop plate 12 for positioning the booklet, a clamping jaw 11 for holding the booklet positioned by the stop plate 12, a roller 13 for crushing and flattening the back of the booklet, and a booklet after the flattening. The punch 14 which opens a hole, and the unloading roller 15 which unloads a booklet to a stacker are provided.

  The stop plate 12 is movable between a position where the booklet is transported and a position where the booklet is retracted from the transported path. When the stop plate 12 is in a position to block the booklet path, the conveyed booklet is abutted against the stop plate 12 and positioned. The clamping jaw 11 holds the booklet positioned by the stop plate 12 from the cover side, and suppresses the booklet while the roller 13 crushes the back of the booklet. The roller 13 is flattened by crushing the back of the booklet sandwiched between the clamping jaws 11 along the back. Although details will be described later, there are two modes for flattening the back of the booklet by the roller 13. The clamping jaw 11 corresponds to an example of a clamping portion according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a control circuit 26 that controls the operation of the entire image forming system. Although not shown, the control circuit 26 is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the overall operation of the image forming system based on a program, a ROM that stores programs and tables, and a temporary storage area in the CPU. A RAM to be provided and an interface circuit for relaying signals between the outside of the control circuit 26 and the CPU are provided. A user personal computer 40 is externally connected to the image forming apparatus 2.

  When an image formation instruction is sent to the control circuit 26 from the operation panel or the externally connected personal computer 40 of the user, the control circuit 26 controls the image forming apparatus 2 to cause the sheet to form an image. At the same time, the control circuit 26 controls operations of the booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, the square folding device 10, and the stacker 9. For example, the control circuit 26 controls driving of the clamping jaw 11, the stop plate 12, the roller 13, the punch 14, and the carry-out roller 15 incorporated in the square folding device 10. The control circuit 26 and the square fold device 10 constitute an example of a booklet finishing device according to the present invention. Further, the combination of the control circuit 26 and the roller 13 corresponds to an example of the forming portion referred to in the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the square fold process.

  The square folding process is executed by operating the clamping jaw 11, the stop plate 12, the roller 13, the punch 14, and the carry-out roller 15 based on the control of the control circuit 26. The control circuit 26 performs a square fold process control process as part of the image forming / binding process of the entire image forming system 1.

  The square folding process is started when the booklet produced by the booklet finisher 7 is conveyed to the square folding apparatus 10. When the square folding process is started, first, the clamping jaw 11 holds the booklet (step S11).

  Next, the roller 13 moves along the back of the booklet while pressing against the back of the booklet (step S12). The roller 13 switches the flattening mode for each booklet and moves according to the switched mode.

  When the movement of the roller 13 is finished, the clamping jaw 11 releases the booklet (step S13), and the carry-out roller 15 carries the booklet to the stacker (step S14). This completes the square folding process for one booklet.

  4, 5, and 6 are diagrams illustrating a state of the square folding apparatus in each step of the square folding process.

  The booklet P1 produced by the booklet finisher 7 and passed through the trimmer 8 is conveyed to the square folding device 10 with the booklet spine P1a at the top. At this time, since the stop plate 12 is at a position 12a that closes the path of the booklet, the conveyed booklet P1 hits the stop plate 12 and stops. Thereby, booklet P1 is positioned.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of clamping jaws 11 sandwich the booklet positioned by the stop plate 12 from the sides of both covers. Here, the stop plate 12 at the position 12a for closing the booklet path and the clamping jaw 11 are arranged with a gap of a predetermined width in the direction in which the booklet is conveyed. Therefore, the back portion P1a of the booklet protrudes from the clamping jaw 11 in accordance with the width of the gap between the stop plate 12 and the clamping jaw 11, and the clamping jaw 11 holds the booklet P1 while avoiding the back P1a. It will be.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the stop plate 12 moves to a position 12 b retracted from the path through which the booklet P <b> 1 is conveyed, and then the roller 13 is moved to the back of the booklet P <b> 1 held between the clamping jaws 11. It moves along the spine P1a of the booklet while pressing against P1a with a force sufficient to crush the spine P1a. Thereby, the spine P1a of the booklet is crushed and flattened.

  Regarding the movement of the roller 13, as shown in FIG. 6, there are two flattening modes. In the first mode (A), the roller 13 is a first end which is one end of the booklet spine P1a. It moves from P1b to the second end P1c which is the other end. Thereby, the spine P1a of the booklet is crushed from the first end P1b to the second end P1c. On the other hand, in the second mode (B), the roller 13 moves from the second end P1c to the first end P1b, opposite to the moving direction in the first mode. As a result, the booklet spine P1a is crushed from the second end P1c to the first end P1b in the opposite direction to that in the first mode. Thus, in the first mode and the second mode, the moving direction of the roller 13 is opposite to each other. A plurality of booklets are sequentially conveyed to the square folding device 10, and the roller 13 switches between the first mode and the second mode for each booklet conveyed. Run while.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how the back of the booklet is flattened as the roller moves.

  Part (a) of FIG. 7 includes a position A immediately after the roller 13 starts to crush the spine from the first end P1b of the booklet spine P1a, and a position immediately before the crushing ends at the second end P1c. B is shown. Each of part (b) and part (c) in FIG. 7 shows a cross section of booklet P1 at position A and position B shown in part (a).

  At the position A immediately after the roller 13 starts crushing the spine P1a from the first end P1b, the portion of the booklet spine P1a has a clamping jaw according to the width of the gap between the stop plate 12 and the clamping jaw 11. 11 protrudes. For this reason, the roller 13 can crush the booklet spine P1a according to the amount protruding from the clamping jaw 11. As a result, at the position A, as shown in part (b) of FIG. 7, the booklet spine P1a is strongly crushed so as to have the corner P1d and is sufficiently flattened.

  However, as the roller 13 moves along the booklet spine P1a, the booklet P1 gradually shifts between the clamping jaws 11 in the direction Y of the force by the force with which the roller 13 is pressed. Since the booklet P1 is fixed only by clamping the clamping jaw 11, it is difficult to completely prevent the booklet from shifting. Therefore, at the position B immediately before the roller 13 finishes crushing at the second end P1c, the booklet spine P1a is pushed into the clamping jaw 11 when viewed from the position of the roller 13, and the roller 13 I have run away from. For this reason, the extent to which the roller 13 crushes the booklet spine P1a is small. As a result, at position B, as shown in part (c) of FIG. 7, the back P1a of the booklet remains the curved surface P1e and is not sufficiently flattened.

  As a result, the portion of the booklet P1 where the roller 13 begins to crush the spine P1a is less prone to open the booklet after the square folding process, and the booklet is thin. On the other hand, in the portion of the booklet P1 immediately before the roller 13 finishes crushing the spine P1a, the booklet tends to open after the square folding process, and the booklet is thick. In this way, the thickness of the booklet P is biased, and the thickness increases from the first end P1b side to the second end P1c side of the spine.

  In the square fold device 10 of the present embodiment, the roller 13 executes both the first mode and the second mode while switching each other for each booklet conveyed. That is, a plurality of booklets are sequentially conveyed to the square folding device 10, but the moving direction of the rollers 13 is reversed for each book. Therefore, according to the square fold device 10 of the present embodiment, the booklet having the thickness on the first end P1b side larger than the thickness on the second end P1c side, and the thickness on the first end P1b side being the second. Both booklets thinner than the end P1c side are finished alternately for each booklet.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of booklets subjected to square folding are stacked on the stacker.

  The plurality of booklets subjected to the square folding process are carried out from the carry-out roller 15 of the square folding device 10 onto the stacker 9. The stacker 9 is provided with a transfer belt 92 stretched around two drive rollers 91. The transfer belt 92 intermittently moves each time a booklet is carried out from the carry-out roller 15, thereby conveying the booklet P in a partially overlapped state. A stacking tray 93 extending obliquely upward is provided at the leading end of the transfer belt 92 in the transfer direction, and the first booklet transferred by the transfer belt 92 is stacked so as to run on the stacking unit 93 before long. , Raised along the loading tray 93. Subsequent booklets are stacked so as to ride on the previously transferred booklet and are raised along the surface of the previously transferred booklet. In this way, the booklet transferred by the transfer belt 92 is raised when the movement is restricted by the stacking tray 93, and the raised booklets are sequentially stacked while being supported by the transfer belt 92.

  FIGS. 9 and 10 are views showing a state in which a plurality of booklets whose backs are flattened by the square fold device 10 are stacked in a partially overlapping state.

  Part (b) of FIG. 9 shows the booklet P loaded on the stacker 9 as seen from the back side, and part (a) and part (c) show the booklet as seen from the left side and right side, respectively. Show. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the booklet P loaded on the stacker 9. As shown in FIG. 9, the thickness of each booklet stacked on the stacker 9 is uneven. However, since the booklets loaded on the stacker 9 are opposite in thickness increasing direction for each booklet, the thickness unevenness of the booklets is canceled out by the overlapping booklets. Therefore, the alignment state is maintained satisfactorily, and the situation where the booklet slips out or jumps out is suppressed. As a result, a large number of booklets can be loaded.

  In the present embodiment, the roller 13 has been described as executing both the first mode and the second mode while switching each other for each booklet conveyed. The forming unit is not limited to this, and the roller 13 may switch both the first mode and the second mode for each of a plurality of booklets. However, when the mode is switched for each booklet, the effect of the present invention that the booklet alignment state is well maintained is higher.

  In the present embodiment, the roller 13 of the square folding device 10 has been described as moving in parallel to the booklet spine P1a, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a wide roller may be moved in an oblique direction with respect to the back of the booklet to shorten the moving distance of the roller.

  Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated that the roller 13 moved along the back of a booklet, this invention is not limited to this. The forming unit may be any unit that crushes the spine along the back of the booklet. For example, the position of the roller may be fixed and the booklet may be moved.

  In the present embodiment, the roller 13 is described as having a cylindrical shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the forming unit may be a roller having a truncated cone shape or a shape in which truncated cones are combined.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the clamping jaw 11 is described as holding the booklet from both cover sides, but the holding portion of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sandwiching unit may sandwich the booklet with two rollers. In the present embodiment, the clamping jaws 11 are described as a pair. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the booklet may be sandwiched between a plurality of pairs of members.

  Further, the stacker 9 used in the present embodiment is provided with a belt for transferring a booklet, but various forms can be adopted as a booklet stacking section for loading a booklet. For example, the booklet stacking unit may include only a tray without a belt and stack the booklets on the tray. Moreover, the form which the part which a booklet rides on and the part which transfers a booklet move integrally may be sufficient. Further, as the booklet stacking device, the booklet may be stacked in a laid state without being stacked in a state where the booklet is raised.

  In addition, the stacker 9 used in the present embodiment stacks the booklet that has been carried out without rotating the posture of the booklet, but the booklet stacking unit overlaps the booklet with the backs of the booklets aligned. In order to avoid this, it is also possible to adopt a stacking device in which the posture of the booklet is alternately changed so that the back and the front edge of the booklet are alternately overlapped. In this case, the roller 13 switches, for example, the first mode and the second mode for each of a plurality of booklets.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 26 is described as being incorporated in the image forming apparatus 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control circuit may be mounted in the square fold apparatus. .

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet finishing apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a square fold process. It is a figure which shows the state of the square folding apparatus in each process of a square folding process. It is a figure which shows the state of the square folding apparatus in each process of a square folding process. It is a figure which shows the state of the square folding apparatus in each process of a square folding process. It is a figure which shows a mode that the back of a booklet is planarized with the movement of a roller. It is a figure which shows a mode that the several booklet processed square fold is loaded on a stacker. It is a figure which shows the state with which the several booklet with which the spine was flattened was stacked in the state where a part overlapped. It is a figure which shows the state with which the several booklet with which the spine was flattened was stacked in the state where a part overlapped. It is a figure which shows the principle which flattens the back of a booklet by a prior art. It is a figure which shows the booklet after a spine is planarized. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of booklets whose backs are flattened are stacked in a partially overlapping state. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of booklets whose backs are flattened are stacked in a partially overlapping state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2 Image forming apparatus 5 Post-processing apparatus 9 Stacker 10 Square folding apparatus 11 Clamping jaw 12 Stop plate 13 Roller 14 Punch 15 Unloading roller P1 Booklet P1a Booklet back P1b Back first end P1c Back second End of

Claims (4)

A holding part for holding a booklet produced by folding paper, avoiding the back of the booklet, and
A first mode in which the back is flattened by crushing the back from one end to the other end of the booklet along the back of the booklet; and a direction in which the back is crushed in the first mode; A booklet finishing apparatus comprising: a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between the two modes.   The booklet finishing apparatus, wherein the forming unit switches between the first mode and the second mode for each booklet. A booklet production unit that produces a booklet by collecting and folding paper with images formed;
A holding part for holding the booklet prepared by the booklet preparation part while avoiding the back of the booklet; and
A first mode in which the back is flattened by crushing the back from one end to the other end of the booklet along the back of the booklet; and a direction in which the back is crushed in the first mode; A post-processing apparatus comprising: a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between the two modes. An image forming unit for forming an image on paper;
A booklet production unit for producing a booklet by accumulating and folding paper on which images are formed by the image forming unit;
A holding part for holding the booklet prepared by the booklet preparation part while avoiding the back of the booklet; and
A first mode in which the back is flattened by crushing the back from one end to the other end of the booklet along the back of the booklet; and a direction in which the back is crushed in the first mode; An image forming system comprising: a molding unit that executes both of the second mode in which the spine is flattened by crushing the spine in the opposite direction while switching between the two modes.

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