JP2007119088A - Booklet loading device, post-treatment device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a booklet loading device capable of loading a large number of booklets. <P>SOLUTION: The booklet loading device is provided with a conveying out roller 11 for successively conveying out a plurality of booklets; a transfer belt 12 for successively aligning/transferring the plurality of booklets successively conveyed out from the conveying out roller 11 in such a state that a part is superposed; a loading tray 13 for standing the booklet by restricting movement of the booklets transferred by the transfer belt 12 and loaded with the erected booklets; and a control circuit 26 for discontinuing loading to the loading part when the loading amount of booklets corresponding to the thickness of the booklet are loaded on the loading part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a booklet stacking apparatus that loads a plurality of booklets, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a booklet stacking apparatus that is provided in an image forming system represented by a printer or a copying machine and stacks a plurality of booklets that have been bound (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a stacking device that is connected to a printer and stacks and stores printed and bound folding sheets. This stacking device includes a conveyor belt that conveys the folded folded paper and a paper storage tray that collects and stores the paper. According to this, the conveyor belt also performs the paper storage function, and the stacking capacity of the folded paper increases.
Japanese Patent No. 3370284 JP 2000-255882 A JP 2000-153958 A

  When such a stacking apparatus is connected to a small image forming system, it is desired that the stacking apparatus can be installed in a small installation area, and a space for stacking booklets is limited. Therefore, in the conventional booklet stacking apparatus, the stacking is stopped when the number of stacked booklets reaches a predetermined limit. This prevents a situation where the booklet overflows from the booklet stacking device or a situation where the alignment is disturbed.

  By the way, in recent image forming systems, various types of booklets can be bound. For example, a booklet can be configured by selecting a paper type and a bookbinding method. However, when such a booklet is loaded by the above-described loading device, the situation where the booklet overflows is prevented, but depending on the type of the booklet, loading is stopped while leaving a large amount of room for loading. As a result, the amount of booklets to be loaded becomes smaller than the amount that can be loaded.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a booklet stacking apparatus capable of stacking a large number of booklets according to the type of booklet.

The booklet stacking apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a carry-out unit that sequentially carries out a plurality of booklets,
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
When a booklet having a loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is loaded on the stacking unit, the booklet is provided with a stop unit that stops loading on the stacking unit.

  In the booklet stacking apparatus of the present invention, a booklet having a stacking amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is stacked on the stacking unit. How much of a certain type of booklet overflows or is not aligned depends on the size of the booklet, but also on the thickness of the booklet. According to the booklet loading apparatus of the present invention, since the loading amount depends on the thickness of the booklet, it is possible to load the booklet to the limit that does not cause overflow of the booklet or disorder of alignment according to the type of the booklet. It becomes possible. Therefore, a large number of booklets can be loaded using the loading space.

  Here, the thickness of the booklet can be directly measured by a sensor or the like. However, the cancellation unit obtains information representing at least one of the thickness, the number of sheets, and the size of the sheets constituting the booklet, and the loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is based on the information. It is preferable that it is what is desired.

  Since the thickness of the booklet depends on the thickness, number, and size of the paper that makes up the booklet, the stacking amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is based on information representing at least one of the thickness, number, and size. Can be obtained indirectly. Even if the thickness of the booklet is not directly known, the booklet stacker can determine the appropriate load amount according to the type of booklet based on the known information, making full use of the load space. Many booklets can be loaded.

  Further, in the booklet stacking apparatus of the present invention, the canceling unit obtains information indicating the presence or absence of a square fold process for forming the back of the booklet flatly for the booklet, and loads based on the thickness of the booklet. The quantity is preferably determined based on this information.

  The thickness of the booklet depends largely on whether or not the booklet is square-folded. Therefore, if the booklet thickness cannot be directly determined by calculating the loading capacity based on the information indicating the presence or absence of square-folding. Even if it exists, the suitable loading amount according to the kind of booklet can be calculated | required, and many booklets can be loaded according to the kind of booklet.

Further, in the booklet stacking apparatus of the present invention, the booklet stacking apparatus is connected to a bookbinding apparatus in which bookbinding conditions are designated and booklets are bound according to the designated bookbinding conditions,
It is preferable that the cancellation unit obtains a load amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet based on the bookbinding conditions designated for the bookbinding apparatus.

  In the bookbinding apparatus, a bookbinding condition for binding a booklet is designated. Depending on the type of booklet, even if the booklet stacker does not directly know the thickness of the booklet by using the bookbinding conditions already specified for the bookbinding device to be connected, Many booklets can be loaded.

A post-processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing of a sheet on which an image is formed,
A bookbinding apparatus that is designated with bookbinding conditions and binds a booklet from the paper according to the designated bookbinding conditions;
A booklet loading device connected to the bookbinding device,
The booklet loading device
An unloading section for sequentially unloading a plurality of booklets;
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
The loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is obtained based on the bookbinding conditions specified in the bookbinding apparatus, and when the booklet with this loading amount is loaded on the loading unit, loading on the loading unit is stopped. It is provided with the cancellation part.

An image forming system of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper,
An image forming system comprising a post-processing device that performs post-processing of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming device,
The post-processing device is
A bookbinding apparatus that is designated with bookbinding conditions and binds a booklet from the paper according to the designated bookbinding conditions;
A booklet loading device connected to the bookbinding device,
The booklet loading device
An unloading section for sequentially unloading a plurality of booklets;
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
The loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is obtained based on the bookbinding conditions specified in the bookbinding apparatus, and when the booklet with this loading amount is loaded on the loading unit, loading on the loading unit is stopped. It is provided with the cancellation part.

  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 various forms corresponding to the above-described forms of the booklet stacking apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a booklet stacking apparatus, a post-processing apparatus, and an image forming system capable of stacking a large number of booklets according to the type of booklet are realized.

  Embodiments of a booklet stacking apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet stacking apparatus according to 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 having a paper tray 31 for storing a large amount of paper, and a print server 4 for assisting the printing function of the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes an operation panel 21 for inputting information by a user's operation, and paper trays 22, 23, 24, and 25 for storing different types of paper. From the operation panel 21, paper attributes stored in the paper trays 22 to 25 and the inserter 6, selection of paper used at the time of image formation, and bookbinding information of a booklet are input.

  The post-processing device 5 includes an inserter 6 that additionally inserts a cover, a booklet finisher 7 that creates a booklet by bundling paper, saddle-stitching and folding, a trimmer 8 that trims the sides of the booklet, and flats the booklet back. A square fold device 9 for performing the square fold processing and a stacker 10 for loading a booklet are provided. The booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, and the square fold device 9 constitute an example of a bookbinding device according to the present invention.

  The square fold device 9 is a device that forms a back flat by sandwiching a booklet from both sides so that the back portion protrudes and crushing the protruding back portion. In general, the back is formed flat by moving the roller while pressing it against the back portion. The square fold device 9 incorporates a carry-out roller for carrying the booklet onto the stacker 10 as will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stacker provided in the image forming system shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 also shows a carry-out roller 11 incorporated in the square fold device 9. The unloading roller 11 sequentially unloads the booklet that has passed through the square folding device 9 onto the stacker 10.

  The stacker 10 is provided with a stacking tray 13 on which booklets are stacked. The stacking tray 13 has a rectangular frame portion disposed on the upper surface of the stacker 10 and a rising portion 13a extending obliquely upward from one side of the frame. A transfer belt 12 for transferring a booklet is provided inside the frame portion of the stacking tray 13. The transfer belt 12 is stretched around two drive rollers 14. When the drive roller 14 is driven by a motor (not shown), the upper surface of the transfer belt 12 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.

  The booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out roller 11 are placed on the transfer belt 12. The transfer belt 12 moves intermittently in synchronization with the timing when one booklet is carried out from the carry-out roller 11. The booklet on the transfer belt 12 is transferred toward the rising portion 13 a of the stacking tray 13 as the transfer belt 12 moves.

  Here, the amount of movement of the transfer belt 12 per booklet, that is, the amount of movement of the transfer belt 12 from the delivery of one booklet to the next booklet is based on the length of the side along the booklet movement direction. Is also small. For this reason, the plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out roller 11 are arranged on the transfer belt 12 in a state where a part thereof is overlapped. The transfer belt 12 transfers the booklet in a state where this part is overlapped. The transfer belt 12 corresponds to an example of a transfer unit according to the present invention. In addition, the combination of the stacking tray 13 and the transfer belt 12 constitutes an example of a stacking unit according to the present invention. The carry-out roller 11 corresponds to an example of a carry-out unit referred to in the present invention.

  The first booklet transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow by the transfer belt 12 is stacked on the rising portion 13a of the stacking tray 13 and is raised along the rising portion 13a. Thereafter, the transferred booklet is stacked on the previously transferred booklet and raised along the surface of the previously transferred booklet. In this way, the booklet transferred by the transfer belt 12 is raised by the movement being restricted by the stacking tray 13, and the raised booklet is sequentially stacked while being supported by the transfer belt 12.

  A sensor 15 for detecting the booklet is disposed near the front end of the transfer belt 12 in the direction of transferring the booklet. The sensor 15 detects that the first booklet arranged on the transfer belt 12 has reached the vicinity of the front end of the transfer belt 12. By counting the number of booklets carried out from the carry-out roller 11 after the sensor 15 detects the booklet, the number of booklets loaded so as to ride on the rising portion 13a is controlled as the booklet loading amount. It will be.

  FIG. 3 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.

  The control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message that prompts the user to input information indicating the thickness of each size of paper stored in the paper trays 22 to 25, the paper tray 31, and the inserter 6. In addition, a message prompting the user to input information indicating the size of the paper stored in the inserter 6 is displayed on the operation panel 21. When the user inputs information by operating the operation panel 21, the input information is supplied from the operation panel 21 to the control circuit 26. Thereby, the control circuit 26 obtains information from the user. Further, prior to starting image formation, the control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message for prompting input of information indicating the size of the sheets constituting the booklet, the number of sheets, and the type of processing in bookbinding. . When the user inputs information by operating the operation panel 21, the input information is supplied from the operation panel 21 to the control circuit 26. As a result, the control circuit 26 obtains information indicating the size of the sheets constituting the booklet, the number of sheets, and the type of processing in bookbinding from the user. Here, the type of processing in bookbinding is, for example, presence or absence of square-fold processing. The number of sheets and the type of processing in bookbinding correspond to an example of bookbinding conditions in the present invention.

  When an image formation instruction is sent to the control circuit 26 from the operation panel 21 or the externally connected user's personal computer 40, the control circuit 26 controls the image forming apparatus 2 to form an image on the paper. . At the same time, the control circuit 26 controls the operations of the booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, the square folding device 9, and the stacker 10. For example, the control circuit 26 controls the rotation of a motor that drives the driving roller 14 of the stacker 10 to move the transfer belt 12 and transfer the booklet. Further, as will be described later, when a booklet having a stacking amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is stacked on the stacking tray 13, the control circuit 26, the image forming apparatus 2, the stacker 10, the booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, and The operation of the square folding device 9 is controlled to stop image formation on a sheet, booklet bookbinding, and booklet stacking on the stacking tray 13. The control circuit 26, the stacker 10, and the carry-out roller 11 constitute an example of a booklet stacking apparatus according to the present invention. Further, the control circuit 26 corresponds to an example of a cancellation unit referred to in the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which booklets are stacked on the stacker 10.

  FIG. 4 shows the state in which the booklet is stacked on the stacker 10 from the first state (a) to the eighth state (h). In the first state (a), the booklet P1 is unloaded from the unloading roller 11 onto the transfer belt 12 in the direction of the arrow s with the booklet spine at the top. The transfer belt 12 starts moving in the direction of the arrow t in synchronization with the timing when the back of the booklet P1 touches the transfer belt 12. The transfer belt 12 temporarily stops moving in the second state (b) after the booklet P1 is completely separated from the carry-out roller 11 and a while has passed. The booklet P <b> 1 is transferred from the start to the stop of the transfer belt 12. In the third state (c), the next booklet P2 is carried out from the carry-out roller 11. In the fourth state (d), the transfer belt 12 starts moving in synchronization with the timing when the back of the booklet P2 touches the transfer belt 12, and the booklet P2 is completely separated from the carry-out roller 11, and a certain time has elapsed. Then, the movement is temporarily stopped in the fifth state (e). Thus, the transfer belt 12 moves intermittently in synchronization with the timing when the booklet is conveyed from the carry-out roller 11. The booklet is transported by the movement of the transfer belt 12 from the time when it is separated from the carry-out roller 11 and completely placed on the transfer belt 12. Here, each time a booklet is carried out from the carry-out roller 11, the distance d1 to which the booklet is transferred is controlled by the control circuit 26 to be smaller than the length of the side along the booklet movement direction. For this reason, the booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out roller 11 are arranged in a state of being partially overlapped on the transfer belt 12 (fifth state (e)), and the transfer belt 12 holds the booklet in this state. Transport. In the sixth state (f), the third booklet P3 is arranged on the transfer belt 12. When the booklet is further carried out, the booklet P1 at the head eventually reaches the vicinity of the tip of the transfer belt 12 and is detected by the sensor 15. The number of booklets carried out from the carry-out roller 11 after the booklet P <b> 1 is detected by the sensor 15 is controlled as a stacking amount loaded on the stacker 10. Thereafter, in the seventh state (g) in which the booklet is further carried out, the booklet P1 arranged at the head in the transfer direction of the transfer belt 12 rides on the rising portion 13a of the stacking tray 13 and is raised. The next booklet P2 is raised on the booklet P1. In this way, the booklet transferred by the transfer belt 12 is caused by the movement being restricted by the stacking tray 13. The raised booklet is sequentially stacked while being supported by the previously transferred booklet and the transfer belt 12. In the eighth state (h), the (N + 1) th booklet is arranged on the transfer belt 12.

  Here, there is a limit to the amount of booklets that can be stacked on the stacker 10, and this limit varies depending on the thickness of the booklet. However, the thickness of the booklet is not the thickness in a state where a load is applied from both cover pages of the booklet toward the booklet, but the load after being discharged from the carry-out roller 11 as shown in FIG. It means the thickness when it is not. The thickness of this booklet depends on the thickness, number of sheets, and size of the paper constituting the booklet. For example, even if the thickness and number of sheets constituting the booklet are the same, the booklet thickness decreases as the booklet size increases. This is because, as shown in FIG. 9, a force that prevents the page from being opened is exerted by the moment of the weight of the booklet itself. Furthermore, the thickness of this booklet also depends on the bookbinding method. For example, the thickness of a booklet that is square-folded to form the booklet spine flat is much smaller than the thickness of a booklet that is not square-folded. The presence or absence of the square fold processing particularly affects the thickness of the back portion of the booklet. As shown in the eighth state (h) in FIG. 4, when a booklet having a thick back portion is loaded without being subjected to square folding, the booklet is raised each time the booklet is loaded. If the angle increases and the stacking continues, the booklet will eventually fall in the direction opposite to the transfer direction. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the booklet stacked due to continued stacking falls and the alignment is disturbed. If the booklet alignment is disturbed as shown in FIG. 5, it takes time to take out the booklet from the stacker 10 and align it again. Therefore, the booklet stacking amount is limited to a range in which the alignment is not disturbed.

  On the other hand, when a booklet with a square fold process and a small back portion is loaded, the change in the angle at which the booklet is raised is small even if the stacking progresses. Hard to fall down. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which booklets with square fold processing are stacked. The booklet with square fold processing can increase the loading capacity compared to the booklet without square fold processing.

  Therefore, the stacker 10 of the present embodiment loads a booklet with a load amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet. As shown in the table of FIG. 8, the stacking amount according to the thickness of the booklet is based on information indicating the thickness, number of sheets, and size of the paper constituting the booklet, and information indicating the presence or absence of square folding. Desired.

  Here, a process for obtaining the stacking amount according to the thickness of the booklet and a process for stacking the booklet having the obtained stacking amount will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing image formation / bookbinding processing in the image forming system 1.

  When the image forming / binding process starts, first, the control circuit 26 performs a paper information acquisition process (step S11). The control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message that prompts the user to input information representing the thickness of each size of paper stored in the paper trays 22 to 25, the paper tray 31, and the inserter 6. In addition, a message prompting the user to input information indicating the size of the paper stored in the inserter 6 is displayed on the operation panel 21. When the user operates the operation panel 21 to input information indicating thickness and size, the input information is supplied to the control circuit 26.

  Next, the control circuit 26 performs bookbinding condition setting processing (step S12). The control circuit 26 displays a message on the operation panel 21. This message prompts the user to input information regarding the number of sheets constituting the booklet, the paper tray to be used, and the presence or absence of the square fold process for forming the booklet back flat. When the user operates the operation panel 21 to input information on the number of sheets, the sheet size, and the presence / absence of the square fold process, the input information is supplied to the control circuit 26. In this way, the control circuit 26 obtains information indicating the thickness, number of sheets, and size of the paper constituting the booklet, and information indicating the presence or absence of the square fold process for forming the booklet back flat. Further, the tray for storing the paper of the corresponding size is selected from the information of the selected paper size.

  Next, the control circuit 26 performs a process of determining a stacking amount that can be stacked on the stacker 10 (step S13). The control circuit 26 obtains the information obtained in steps S11 and S12, that is, information representing the thickness, number of sheets, and size of the paper constituting the booklet, and information representing the presence or absence of the square fold process for forming the booklet back flat. Is applied to the table shown in FIG. 8 to obtain the corresponding load amount. The obtained load amount is set as a load limit.

FIG. 8 is an example of a table showing the relationship between the stacking amount and the thickness, number, size, and presence / absence of the square fold process for forming the back of the booklet flatly, and the sheet constituting the booklet. This table is stored in the ROM of the control circuit 26. In the leftmost three columns of the table, conditions such as the paper size, the thickness of the content paper excluding the cover of the paper, and the number of sheets are shown in order from the left. In the top two rows of the table, in order from the top, conditions such as the presence or absence of square folding and the thickness of the cover of the paper are shown. Based on these conditions, the table shows the number of books loaded according to the thickness of the booklet. Here, for example, when the paper size is A4 size, the paper thickness is 80 g / m ² , the number of sheets is 5 without cover, and there is no square fold, the alignment of the stacked booklets is easily disturbed. Limited to 20. On the other hand, if the other conditions are the same and the square fold is present, the loading capacity is 160 books. In this way, the stacking amount is not uniformly limited in accordance with the booklet that is easily aligned, but is determined to be an appropriate amount according to the thickness of the booklet. Therefore, a large number of booklets can be stacked according to the type of booklet. Further, the stacking amount according to the thickness of the booklet is obtained indirectly based on information such as the thickness, number of sheets, size, and the presence / absence of a square fold process for forming the back of the booklet flatly. It should be noted that a column indicated as prohibited in the table means that a booklet under the conditions corresponding to this column cannot be properly stacked. The control circuit 26 reads in advance the table shown in FIG. 8 at the stage of step S12. In step S12, when the user inputs information on the prohibited condition, the control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message that prompts the user to input information under other conditions.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the description will be continued.

  In step S14, the control circuit 26 performs bookbinding / stacking processing. The control circuit 26 controls the operations of the image forming apparatus 2, booklet finisher 7, trimmer 8, and square fold device 9 based on the information obtained in steps S 11 and S 12, and prints one booklet to a sheet. Image formation and bookbinding. In addition, the control circuit 26 moves the transfer belt 12 of the stacker 10 at a timing when the booklet is carried out by the carry-out roller 11 of the square folding device 9. Thereby, the booklet carried out from the carry-out roller 11 is conveyed by the transfer belt 12. The control circuit 26 increments the booklet count representing the number of booklets by 1 each time the booklet is carried out from the carry-out roller 11. However, if the sensor 15 of the stacker 10 does not detect the booklet, it is determined that the booklet has not reached the vicinity of the front end of the transfer belt 12, or that the stacked booklet has been removed by the user, and the booklet count is zero. To clear. That is, the booklet count indicates the number of booklets stacked on the stacker 10 after reaching the vicinity of the front end of the transfer belt 12.

  Next, the control circuit 26 determines whether or not the booklet count value has reached the stacking limit determined in step S13 (step S15). If it is determined in this step that the booklet count value has not reached the stacking limit (No in step S15), the control circuit 26 repeats the processing from step S14. On the other hand, if it is determined that the value of the booklet count has reached the stacking limit (Yes in step S15), the control circuit 26 ends the process shown in FIG. At this time, a booklet having a load amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is loaded on the stacking tray 13.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since a booklet having a load amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is stacked on the stacker 10, the booklet is limited to a limit that does not cause overflow of the booklet or disturbance of alignment according to the type of the booklet. Can be loaded. Therefore, a large number of booklets can be loaded using the loading space. Further, since the control circuit 26 obtains the load amount based on the information indicating at least one of the thickness, the number of sheets, and the size, and the information indicating the presence / absence of the square folding process, the thickness of the booklet is not directly known. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain an appropriate load amount corresponding to the type of booklet based on the known information.

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

  In the present embodiment, the carry-out roller 11 is described as being incorporated in the square fold device 9, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the carry-out roller may be incorporated in a stacker.

  In the present embodiment, for the paper constituting the booklet, information indicating the thickness, the number of sheets, and the size, and information indicating the presence or absence of the square folding process are obtained, and the thickness of the booklet is determined based on the obtained information. Although described as what is to be obtained, the present invention is not limited to this, and the thickness of the booklet may be obtained by measurement by providing a thickness sensor or the like.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the movement of the transfer belt 12 is intermittently performed in synchronization with the transport of the booklet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one booklet is included. It is only necessary that the distance traveled is controlled each time it is unloaded from the unloading unit. For example, the movement of the transfer belt 12 is not limited to being intermittent, and may be continuous.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet stacking apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stacker provided in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows a mode that a booklet is loaded on the stacker. It is a figure which shows a mode that the booklet loaded because it continued loading fell and alignment was disordered. It is a figure which shows a mode that the booklet with a square fold process was loaded. 3 is a flowchart showing image formation / bookbinding processing in the image forming system 1; It is an example of the table which shows the relationship of the presence or absence of the square fold process which shape | molds the thickness of a sheet | seat which comprises a booklet, the number of sheets, size, and the back of a booklet flatly, and a stacking amount. It is the figure which showed a mode that the height of the booklet from which size differs was different.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2 Image forming apparatus 5 Post-processing apparatus 9 Square folding apparatus 10 Stacker 11 Unloading roller 12 Transfer belt 13 Stacking trays 22-25, 31 Paper tray 26 Control circuit

Claims (6)

An unloading section for sequentially unloading a plurality of booklets;
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
A booklet stacking apparatus, comprising: a canceling unit that stops loading on a stacking unit when a booklet having a stacking amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is stacked on the stacking unit.   The cancellation unit obtains information representing at least one of the thickness, the number of sheets, and the size of the sheets constituting the booklet, and obtains a loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet based on the information. The booklet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The cancellation unit obtains information indicating the presence or absence of a square fold process for forming the back of the booklet flatly for the booklet, and obtains a loading amount based on the thickness of the booklet based on the information. The booklet stacking apparatus according to claim 1. The booklet stacking device is connected to a bookbinding device that is designated with bookbinding conditions and binds booklets according to the designated bookbinding conditions;
The booklet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stopping unit calculates a stacking amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet based on a bookbinding condition specified for the bookbinding apparatus. A post-processing device that performs post-processing of a sheet on which an image is formed,
A bookbinding apparatus that is designated with bookbinding conditions and binds a booklet from the paper according to the designated bookbinding conditions;
A booklet stacking device connected to the bookbinding device;
The booklet loading device is:
An unloading section for sequentially unloading a plurality of booklets;
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
A loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is obtained based on bookbinding conditions specified in the bookbinding apparatus, and when the booklet with the loading amount is loaded on the loading unit, loading on the loading unit is stopped. A post-processing device comprising a cancellation unit. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
An image forming system comprising a post-processing device that performs post-processing of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming device,
The post-processing device includes:
A bookbinding apparatus that is designated with bookbinding conditions and binds a booklet from the paper according to the designated bookbinding conditions;
A booklet stacking device connected to the bookbinding device;
The booklet loading device is:
An unloading section for sequentially unloading a plurality of booklets;
A plurality of booklets sequentially carried out from the carry-out unit, a transfer unit that sequentially arranges and transfers the booklets in a partially overlapped state, and
The booklet is raised by restricting the movement of the booklet transferred by the transfer unit, and a loading unit on which the raised booklet is loaded;
A loading amount corresponding to the thickness of the booklet is obtained based on bookbinding conditions specified in the bookbinding apparatus, and when the booklet with the loading amount is loaded on the loading unit, loading on the loading unit is stopped. An image forming system comprising a stop unit.

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