JP2007302377A - Sheet processing device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device, capable of creating a saddle-stitched booklet having a covered binding part at low cost without causing enlargement of the device. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet processing device 3000 is provided with sheet holding means 239 and 237 to hold a plurality of sheets as sheet bundles, a sheet bundle saddle-stitching means 240 to saddle-stitch the sheet bundles arranged by a sheet alignment means 244, a sheet bundle pushing means 240 to push a saddle-stitched part of the sheet bundle, and sheet bundle folding means 242 and 243 to fold the sheet bundle at a pushed position. A sheet folding means 400 is provided to adjust the folding position of the sheet in such a way that folded parts of the sheets are disposed at the saddle-stitching position when the sheet bundle held by the sheet holding means 239 and 237 is saddle-stitched by the sheet bundle saddle-stitching means 240. The sheets folded by the sheet folding means 400 are carried to the sheet holding means 239 and 237. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that processes an image-formed sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of a sheet processing apparatus, after aligning a plurality of sheets on which image formation has not been performed and aligning the aligned sheet bundle, the saddle stitching position is set at the nip of the pair of folding rollers. Some of them create a booklet by inserting and folding a sheet bundle. In this case, in order to create a bag binding portion on a desired page of a booklet, a sheet folding end of the bag binding portion is fixed with an adhesive or a double-sided tape (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-117378

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, an adhesive or a double-sided tape is used to fix the sheet folding end of the booklet bag binding portion. Therefore, it is necessary not only to prepare an adhesive and a double-sided tape, but also to have an apparatus for applying an adhesive and applying a double-sided tape to a sheet. For this reason, there arises a problem that the sheet processing apparatus is increased in size and the production cost of the booklet is increased.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of producing a saddle stitch booklet having a bag binding portion at low cost without increasing the size of the apparatus.

To achieve the above object, the present invention aligns a sheet bundle by aligning end positions of a plurality of sheets held by the sheet holding means and a sheet holding means for holding a plurality of sheets as a sheet bundle. Sheet aligning means, sheet bundle saddle stitching means for saddle stitching the sheet bundle aligned by the sheet aligning means, and sheet bundle thrusting means for striking the saddle stitched portion of the sheet bundle saddle-stitched by the sheet bundle saddle stitching means And a sheet bundle folding means that folds the sheet bundle at a position projected by the sheet bundle pushing means to create a booklet, and a sheet processing apparatus comprising:
Sheet folding means for adjusting a folding position of the sheet so that a folded portion of the sheet is disposed at the saddle stitching position when the sheet bundle held by the sheet holding means is saddle stitched by the sheet bundle saddle stitching means; And a conveying means for conveying at least the sheet folded by the sheet folding means to the sheet holding means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to create a saddle stitch booklet having a bag binding portion at low cost without causing an increase in size of the apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a copying apparatus 1000 as an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the copying apparatus 1000 includes a document feeding unit 100, an image reader unit 200, a printer unit 300, and a sheet processing apparatus 3000 as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

  It is assumed that the document is set on the tray 1001 of the document feeding unit 100 in an upright state when viewed from the user and in a face-up state (the surface on which the image is formed is upward). Is the left edge of the document. Documents set on the tray 1001 are conveyed by the document feeding unit 100 one by one from the first page in order in the left direction (arrow direction) with the binding position at the leading edge. Then, the document is conveyed on the platen glass 102 from the left to the right in the drawing through a curved path, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 112.

  At this time, the scanner unit 104 of the image reader unit 200 is held in a predetermined position, and when the document is transported on the platen glass 102 from the left to the right in the drawing, the document is scanned on the scanner unit 104. After passing, the document reading process is performed. This reading method is referred to as document scanning. When the document is conveyed on the platen glass 102, the document is irradiated by the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108. The image sensor 109 reads the image data of the document based on the reflected light that has been guided, and the read image data is subjected to predetermined image processing and output to the exposure control unit 110 of the printer unit 300.

  It is also possible to perform document reading processing by temporarily stopping the document conveyed on the platen glass 102 and moving the scanner unit 104 from the left to the right in the drawing in the stopped state. This reading method is referred to as fixed document reading.

  Further, when the document reading process is performed without using the document feeding unit 100, the user lifts the document feeding unit 100, sets the document on the platen glass 102, and operates a reading start button and the like. In this case, the above-described original fixed reading is performed.

  The exposure control unit 110 of the printer unit 300 outputs a laser beam corresponding to the image signal. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a, whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the laser beam scanned on the photosensitive drum 111 is formed.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by the developing unit 113 and visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the sheet (recording paper) P is conveyed to the transfer unit 116 from the cassette 114, the cassette 115, the manual sheet feeding unit 125 or the double-sided conveyance path 124. Then, the visualized toner image is transferred to the sheet P in the transfer unit 116. The sheet P after the transfer is subjected to a fixing process by the fixing unit 117.

  Then, the sheet P that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is once guided to the path 122 by the flapper 121, and after the trailing end of the sheet P has passed through the flapper 121, the sheet P is switched back and conveyed to the discharge roller 118 by the flapper 121. Then, the sheet P is discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118. Accordingly, the sheet P can be discharged from the printer unit 300 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing downward (face down). This is called reverse paper discharge.

  In this way, by discharging the sheet P from the printer unit 300 face down, the page order can be aligned when performing image forming processing in order from the first page. For example, the page order can be aligned when image forming processing is performed using the document feeder 100 or when image forming processing is performed based on image data transmitted from a computer.

  When image forming processing is performed on a hard sheet such as an OHP sheet fed from the manual sheet feeding unit 125, the surface on which the toner image is formed is faced up (face up) without guiding the sheet to the path 122. ) And discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118.

  When image forming processing is performed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided from the fixing unit 117 to the discharge roller 118, and the sheet is switched back immediately after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the flapper 121. Guide to path 124.

  Next, a sheet processing apparatus that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus 3000 includes a folding processing unit 400 that is a sheet folding unit, a finisher 500, a saddle stitcher 800, an inserter 900 that is a sheet feeding unit, and a trimmer 2000 that is a booklet cutting unit. ing.

  The folding processing unit 400 has a conveyance path 131 for introducing the sheet P discharged from the printer unit 300 and guiding it to the finisher 500 side. On the conveyance path 131, conveyance roller pairs 130 and 133 are provided. A switching flapper 135 provided in the vicinity of the conveying roller pair 133 is for switching the traveling direction of the sheet P conveyed by the conveying roller pair 130 to the folding path 136 side or the finisher 500 side.

  When the folding process of the sheet P is performed, the switching flapper 135 is switched to the folding path 136 side, and the sheet P is guided to the folding path 136. On the other hand, when the folding process is not performed, the switching flapper 135 is switched to the finisher 500 side, and the sheet P discharged from the printer unit 300 is sent directly to the finisher 500 side via the conveyance path 131.

  In the folding processing unit 400, when the bag binding and binding button 11 and the C folding button 15 or the bag binding and binding button 11 and the bag folding button 16 are pressed on the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 16) described later, the C folding is performed. Processing or bag folding processing is performed.

  First, a case where the C-folding process is performed will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the sheet P conveyed to the folding path 136 has its leading end abutted against the stopper 137 to form a loop, and this loop is folded by the pair of folding rollers 140 and 141 and subjected to the C-folding process. . Here, the stopper 137 is attached to the downstream side of the folding path 136 so as to be movable along the folding path, and the moving force is applied by a driving device (not shown). The driving device is controlled by a folding processing control unit 401 described later based on operation signals of the bookbinding button 11 and the C-fold button 15 operated by the user on the operation panel 10.

  The folding processing control unit 401 controls the driving device to position the stopper 137 so that the folded portion of the sheet P is arranged at the saddle stitcher 800 of the saddle stitcher 800 serving as the sheet bundle saddle stitching unit. The folding position of the sheet P is adjusted. For example, the folding processing control unit 401 controls the position of the stopper 143 so that the relationship between the upper left L2 and L3 in FIG. Adjust the position.

  Further, when the trim processing button 18 is pressed on the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 16) and the end portion on the side away from the booklet saddle stitching position is cut by the trimmer 2000, L3 is set to, for example, the normal C-folding time. Increase the length by 5 mm. Thereby, even if trim processing is performed, the C-fold bag portion is prevented from being cut. Therefore, when the user selects trim processing on the operation panel 10, the folding processing control unit 401 controls the driving device of the stopper 137 so that the stopper 137 is disposed at a position raised by 5 mm from the normal C folding mode. To do.

  The size of the sheet P that can be C-folded is 1.2L1 or more and 1.5L1 or less if the size of the sheet that is not subjected to the folding process is L1 (see the upper right in FIG. 11). If the size of the sheet P to be subjected to C-folding is less than 1.2L1, it is difficult to secure the region of the bag portion. On the other hand, if the size exceeds 1.5L1, the folding position of the C-fold is not subjected to the folding process. There is a possibility of protruding more.

  As a preferable combination of sheet sizes capable of C-folding, for example, when the bookbinding sheet size is LTR-R, the sheet size that can be bound in a standard size is LGL. If a sheet having the same sheet width and a length of 1.5 times in the conveyance direction can be prepared, such as LTR-R and LGL, the user can easily create a C-fold bag binding. Become.

  Then, the sheet P subjected to the C-folding process by the pair of folding rollers 140 and 141 is sent to the transport path 131 through the transport path 138 and the transport path 145 with the folded portion as the head, and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 133. Is done.

  Next, a case where bag folding processing is performed will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet P conveyed to the folding path 136 has its leading end abutted against the stopper 137 to form a loop, and this loop is folded by the folding roller pairs 140 and 141 to be subjected to the first folding process. The The sheet P that has been subjected to the first folding process proceeds to the conveyance path 138 with the folded portion at the beginning, and when the leading edge hits the stopper 143, as shown in FIG. A loop is formed at the sheet base end side position. This loop is folded by the pair of folding rollers 141 and 142 to perform the second folding process. Here, the stopper 143 is disposed so as to be movable along the transport path 138 and to be movable back and forth with respect to the transport path 138. The movement force of the stopper 143 along the conveyance path 138 is applied by a first driving device (not shown), and the movement force of the stopper 143 in the forward / backward direction with respect to the conveyance path 138 is applied by a second driving device (not shown).

  The first and second driving devices of the stopper 143 and the driving device of the stopper 137 are controlled by the folding processing control unit 401 based on the operation signals of the bag binding button 11 and the bag folding button 16 operated by the user on the operation panel 10. Is done.

  The folding processing control unit 401 controls each driving device of the stoppers 143 and 137 so that the folding unit of the sheet P is disposed at the saddle stitching position of the sheet bundle by the stapler 240 of the saddle stitcher 800 to position the stopper. The folding position of the sheet P is adjusted. For example, the folding processing control unit 401 adjusts the positions of the stoppers 143 and 137 by controlling the driving devices of the stoppers 143 and 137 so that the relationship between L1b and L2b in the upper left in FIG. 13 is L1b / 2 <L2b. Then, the folding position of the sheet P in the first and second folding processes is adjusted.

  Further, when the trim processing button 18 is pressed on the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 16) and the end portion on the side away from the booklet saddle stitching position is cut by the trimmer 2000, L1b is set, for example, from the normal bag folding. Shorten by 5 mm. Thereby, even if trim processing is performed, the bag-folded bag portion is prevented from being cut. Therefore, when the user selects trim processing on the operation panel 10, the folding processing control unit 401 controls the driving device of the stopper 137 so that the stopper 137 is disposed at a position 5 mm higher than in the normal bag folding mode. To do.

  The size of the sheet P that can be folded is set to 1.7 Lb or more and 2.0 Lb or less if the size of the sheet that is not subjected to the folding process is Lb (see the upper right in FIG. 13). When the size of the sheet P to be folded is less than 1.7 Lb, it is difficult to secure the region of the bag portion. On the other hand, when the size exceeds 2.0 Lb, the folding position in the second folding process of the bag folding is the folding process. There is a possibility of protruding from the end of the sheet that is not applied.

  As a preferable combination of sheet sizes that can be folded, for example, when the bookbinding sheet size is A4, the sheet size that can be bound in a standard size is A3. If sheets with the same sheet width and double length in the conveying direction can be prepared, such as A4 and A3, and B5 and B4, the user can easily create a bag-folded bag binding. It becomes.

  The sheet P folded by the folding rollers 140 and 141 and the folding rollers 141 and 142 is sent to the conveyance path 131 through the conveyance paths 144 and 145 with the folded portion as the head, and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 133. Discharged.

  The sheet P discharged after being folded by the folding processing unit 400 and the sheet directly discharged from the printer unit 300 via the conveyance path 131 are sent to the saddle stitcher 800 side or the finisher 500 side via the conveyance unit 333. Is sent to.

  The conveying unit 333 includes an inlet roller pair 232 that conveys the sheet P discharged from the discharge roller pair 133 to the downstream side. A switching flapper 235 for guiding the sheet P to the saddle stitcher 800 side or the finisher 500 side is provided downstream of the inlet roller pair 232. A conveyance roller pair 510 and a conveyance roller pair 511 are provided on the downstream side of the switching flapper 235. Driving of the inlet roller pair 232, the switching flapper 235, the transport roller pair 510, and the transport roller pair 511 is controlled by the finisher control unit 501.

  When the bag binding button 11 is not pressed on the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 16), the finisher control unit 501 guides the switching flapper 235 toward the finisher 500 as shown in FIG. Switch to. Further, the finisher control unit 501 normally drives the inlet roller pair 232 and the transport rollers 510 and 511. As a result, the sheet P is guided to the buffer roller 513 on the finisher 500 side via the inlet roller pair 232, the transport roller pair 510, and the transport roller pair 511. In this case, the sheet P is guided to the finisher 500 side regardless of whether or not the folding processing unit 400 performs the folding process.

  Further, the finisher control unit 501 temporarily switches the flapper 235 to the finisher P when the bag binding button 11 is pressed on the operation panel 10 and the C-fold button 15 or the bag-fold button 16 is pressed. It switches so that it may guide to 500 side (refer FIG. 7). Then, after detecting that the trailing edge of the sheet P has passed through the switching flapper 235 by a sensor (not shown) or the like, the conveyance path on the finisher 500 side and the conveyance path 234 on the saddle stitcher 800 side are communicated with the switching flapper 235. (See FIG. 8).

  At the same time, the conveyance roller pair 510 and 511 is driven in reverse. In this case, both the conveying roller pair 510 and 511 are driven as a pair of rollers, thereby preventing deviation of the folded portion of the sheet P. The sheet P is switched back by reverse rotation driving of the pair of conveyance rollers 510 and 511, and the sheet P with the folded portion disposed at the rear end is guided to the conveyance path 234 of the saddle stitcher 800.

  On the other hand, when the bag binding button 11 is pressed on the operation panel 10 but the C-fold button 15 and the bag-fold button 16 are not pressed, the finisher control unit 501 shows the switching flapper 235 in FIG. Switch as follows. As a result, the sheet directly discharged from the printer unit 300 via the conveyance path 131 without being folded is fed from the pair of entrance rollers 232 along the arcuate guide surface of the switching flapper 235 to the saddle stitcher 800. Guided to the transport path 234.

  Next, the saddle stitcher 800 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the sheet P guided to the conveyance path 234 of the saddle stitcher 800 is selected by the upper and lower flappers 236 according to the size, and the storage guide 237 of the saddle stitcher 800 is selected. It is carried in. The sheet P carried into the storage guide 237 is conveyed until the leading end contacts the sheet positioning member 239. The sheet positioning member 239 is movable along the conveyance direction of the sheet P, and positions the leading end position of the sheet P. Then, this sheet carrying-in operation is repeated one by one, and stacking is completed when the end of the final sheet P comes into contact with the sheet positioning member 239. Here, the storage guide 237 and the sheet positioning member 239 constitute the sheet holding means of the present invention. 9 shows a state in which the sheet P that has been subjected to the C-folding process is stacked on the storage guide 237, and FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the sheet P that has been subjected to the bag folding process has been stacked on the storage guide 237. Show.

  After the stacking is completed, the aligner 244 aligns the sheet bundle. The aligning device 244 is disposed opposite to the sheet surface of the sheet bundle on the leading end side of the sheet bundle held by the storage guide 237. When aligning the sheet bundle, the aligning device 244 slides along the width direction of the sheet bundle in a state where the sheet bundle is always pressed in the stacking direction of the sheets P. Thereby, the leading end positions of the plurality of sheets P held by the storage guide 237 are aligned, and the sheet bundle is aligned. Here, the aligning device 244 is disposed at a position where the alignment operation portion on the leading end side of the sheet bundle held by the storage guide 237 is separated from the folded portion of the folded sheet P. For this reason, even when a sheet P that has been subjected to folding processing and a sheet that has not been subjected to folding processing are mixedly loaded in the storage guide 237, only the sheets that have not been subjected to folding processing are stacked on the storage guide 237. It is possible to ensure the same sheet bundle consistency.

  After the alignment of the sheet bundle by the aligning device 244 is completed, the sheet bundle is saddle-stitched by a stapler 240 that is a sheet bundle saddle stitching means provided between the aligning device 244 and the upper and lower flappers 236. Two staplers 240 are arranged in the width direction of the sheet bundle. An anvil 240a is provided at a position facing the stapler 240 with the sheet bundle interposed therebetween, and the stapler 240 cooperates with the anvil 240a to bind the center of the sheet bundle.

  Here, the folding position of the sheet P that has been subjected to the C-folding or bag-folding process is adjusted by the above-described folding processing unit 400 so that the folded portion of the sheet P is disposed at the saddle stitch position of the sheet bundle by the stapler 240. ing. Therefore, when the saddle stitching process is performed by the stapler 240, the folded portion of the sheet P that has been subjected to the C-folding or bag-folding process is bound at the same time as the saddle stitching.

  After the saddle stitching process of the sheet bundle is completed, the sheet bundle is folded by a pair of folding rollers 242 and 243 which are sheet bundle folding means provided at the same position as the aligning device 244 on the downstream side of the stapler 240. At a position facing the nip position of the pair of folding rollers 242 and 243 with the sheet bundle interposed therebetween, a protruding member 241 serving as a sheet bundle pushing means is provided.

  When the sheet bundle is folded by the pair of folding rollers 242, 243, the sheet positioning is performed so that the saddle stitch position of the sheet bundle is shifted from the binding position of the stapler 240 to the nip position of the pair of folding rollers 242, 243. The member 239 is lowered. In this state, when the protruding member 241 protrudes the saddle stitching position of the sheet bundle, the saddle stitching position is pushed out to the nip position of the pair of folding rollers 242, 243, and the sheet bundle is driven by driving the pair of folding rollers 242, 243. It is folded around the saddle stitch position.

  The sheet bundle folded by the pair of folding rollers 242 and 243 is discharged to the discharge tray 246 via the discharge roller 245. As a result, a saddle stitch booklet having a C-fold or bag-fold bag binding portion is created, and the saddle stitch booklet is sent to the trimmer 2000 with the saddle stitch position at the head.

  Next, the trimmer 2000 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the trimmer 2000 is held in a standby state in which the loaded booklet 2020 is pressed between the pusher plate 2019 and the stack tray 2021 by a spring (not shown). When information on the sheet size of the booklet 2022 to be received next is issued from the printer control unit 301 in the standby state, the stopper 2014 is driven by a stopper motor (not shown).

  By such driving, the stopper 2014 is moved to an optimal position for cutting the end portion on the side away from the saddle stitching position of the booklet 2022 by the cutter 2007 according to the sheet size. The booklet 2022 passes through the entrance roller 2002 and is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 2003, 2005, 2006, 2011, and 2012 until it comes into contact with the stopper 2014, and skew correction is performed by the corresponding contact.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the booklet 2022 passes the entrance sensor 2004, the pusher plate 2019 is retracted to the right side of the figure by a pusher motor (not shown) in order to discharge the cut booklet 2022 to the already loaded position. Driven. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the press plate 2009 is lowered to uniformly cut the end portion on the side separated from the saddle stitching position of the booklet 2022 in contact with the stopper 2014, and the driven rollers 2008, The booklet 2022 is pressurized by 2010. In such a pressurized state, the cutter 2007 is lowered by a cut motor (not shown), whereby the end portion on the side away from the saddle stitching position of the booklet 2022 is cut (see FIG. 5A).

  When cutting is completed, as shown in FIG. 5B, the cutter 2007 is retracted upward by the cutter motor, the press plate 2009 is raised, and the stopper 2014 is retracted downward by a stopper release motor (not shown). The booklet 2022 that has been cut is transported downstream by transport rollers 2011 and 2012, and is then discharged between the holder plate 2018 and the pusher plate 2019 via discharge rollers 2016, 2015, and 2017. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the holder plate 2018 is lowered by the holder motor, and in conjunction with this, the pusher plate 2019 pushes the booklet 2022 to the already loaded position by the pusher motor. After the extrusion, as shown in FIG. 6, the holder plate 2018 is raised and the trimmer 2000 enters the standby state again.

  If trim processing is not selected on the operation panel 10 (see FIG. 16) and the booklet is not cut, the booklet 2022 is discharged without operating the cutter 2007. FIG. 17 shows an example of a saddle stitch booklet 2022A having a C-fold bag binding portion, and FIG. 18 shows an example of a saddle stitch booklet 2022B having a bag folding bag binding portion.

  Next, the finisher 500 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the finisher 500 aligns a plurality of sheets P guided from the transport unit 333 to the finisher path to form a sheet bundle, and staples the rear end side of the sheet bundle (binding process). Sheet processing such as sorting processing, non-sorting processing, and bookbinding processing is performed.

  The sheet guided to the finisher path from the transport unit 333 is transported toward the buffer roller 513 via the transport roller pair 510. Note that both the transport roller pair 510 and the buffer roller 513 can rotate forward and backward.

  A punch unit 512 is provided between the conveying roller pair 510 and the buffer roller 513. The punch unit 512 is driven as necessary, and performs punching processing in the vicinity of the rear end of the sheet P conveyed via the conveyance roller pair 510. The buffer roller 513 can wind a predetermined number of sheets P conveyed via the conveying roller 510. By operating the pressing roller 515 while the buffer roller 513 is rotating, the sheet P is wound around the peripheral surface of the buffer roller 513, and the wound sheet is conveyed in the rotation direction of the buffer roller 513.

  A switching flapper 517 is provided in the middle of the buffer path 516 formed on the peripheral surface portion of the buffer roller 513, and a switching flapper 520 is provided below the switching flapper 517.

  The switching flapper 517 is for separating the sheet P wound around the buffer roller 513 from the buffer roller 513 and guiding it to the non-sort path or the sort path 521 on the sample tray 701 side.

  The switching flapper 520 is for separating the sheet wound around the buffer roller 513 from the buffer roller 513 and guiding it to the sort path 521. The switching flapper 520 is also for guiding the sheet P wound around the buffer roller 513 to the buffer path 516 while being wound.

  The sheet P guided to the non-sort path by the switching flapper 517 is discharged onto the sample tray 701 via the discharge roller pair 519. On the other hand, the sheet P guided to the sort path 521 by the switching flapper 517 is stacked on a processing tray 630 as an intermediate tray via a pair of conveying rollers 523 to form a sheet bundle. The sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 630 is subjected to alignment processing and stapling processing according to the setting in the operation unit 1 (see FIG. 14), and then discharged onto the stack tray 700 by the discharge rollers 610a and 610b. Is done. The stapling process is performed by the stapler 601, and the stack tray 700 is capable of self-propelling in the vertical direction.

  Next, the inserter 900 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inserter 900 is provided above the finisher 500, and inserts a sheet (insert sheet) different from the normal sheet P into the first page, last page, or intermediate page of the sheet P. It has a function. For example, the inserter 900 has a function of inserting an insert sheet or a cover sheet between sheets on which images are formed by the printer unit 300.

  The inserter 900 feeds the sheet I set on the insert tray 901 (see FIG. 3B) to the finisher side 500 or the saddle stitcher 800 side via the conveying means 333 described above without passing through the printer unit 300. To do. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the cover or insert sheet I is set by the user on the insert tray 901 of the inserter 900 in a face-up state (surface is in an upward state). The sheet bundle I stacked on the insert tray 901 by the user is sequentially separated one by one and fed to the finisher side 500 or the saddle stitcher 800 side via the conveying means 333.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the insert sheet bundle I placed on the insert tray 901 is conveyed by a paper feed roller 902 to a separation unit including a conveyance roller 903 and a separation belt 904. In FIG. 3A, reference numeral 923 denotes an alignment plate that aligns the sheet bundle I on the insert tray 901.

  The sheet bundle I is separated one by one from the uppermost portion by the conveying roller 903 and the separation belt 904, and the separated sheet is pulled out by the drawing roller pair 905 that is close to the separating portion, and the sheet conveying path by the conveying roller 921. 922 along. The conveyed sheet is conveyed from the discharge port 922a to the conveyance inlet 230a of the sheet conveyance path 230 and guided to the inlet roller pair 232 of the conveyance unit 333, and the conveyance path switching operation by the conveyance unit 333 is performed in the same manner as described above. Is called. As a result, the sheet fed from the inserter 900 is guided to the finisher side 500 or the saddle stitcher 800 side via the conveying means 333.

  Note that the sheet conveyance path 922 and the sheet conveyance path 230 in the vicinity of the discharge port 922a face in the vertical direction, and the discharge port 922a and the carry-in port 230a merge at positions facing each other.

  An auxiliary tray 930 is attached to the distal end portion of the inserter tray 901 via a support shaft 931 so as to be rotatable. 3A shows a state in which the auxiliary tray 930 is closed and rotated to the sheet stacking surface side of the inserter tray 901 and is disposed at the storage position. FIG. 3B shows the auxiliary tray 930 in the sheet stacking surface side of the inserter tray 901. Shows a state in which it is pivoted open in a direction away from the operating position and arranged at the operating position. When using the inserter 900, as shown in FIG. 3B, the auxiliary tray 930 is rotated and placed at the operating position.

  The auxiliary tray 930 includes a placement plate 930a and a rib 930b provided integrally on the back surface of the placement plate 930a. The rib 930b has such a height that the sheet cannot be fed (placed) when the auxiliary tray 930 is in the storage position shown in FIG. 3A (see FIG. 3C). As described above, by making the sheet incapable of feeding in the storage state of the auxiliary tray 930, it is possible to prevent a paper feeding failure that occurs when a large size sheet is fed in a state where the auxiliary tray 930 is forgotten to be opened.

  The rib 930b can function as a handle when the auxiliary tray 930 is rotated. Further, when the inserter 900 is not used, the auxiliary tray 930 can be closed to reduce the size of the apparatus and improve the visibility of the lower sample tray 701 (see FIG. 2).

  Further, by feeding a C-folded or bag-folded sheet, the folding position of which has been adjusted in advance, from the inserter 900 to the saddle stitcher 800 via the conveying means 333, the C-folded or bag-folded bag binding portion is formed in the same manner as described above. A saddle stitch booklet can be created.

  Next, control means of the copying apparatus 1000 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 4000 includes a CPU circuit unit 150 having a CPU (not shown). Based on the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the setting in the operation unit 1, the CPU circuit unit 150 is based on the document feed control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 301, the external I / F203 is controlled. Further, the CPU circuit unit 150 controls the folding processing control unit 401 and the finisher control unit 501 that control the driving of the sheet processing apparatus 300 based on the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the user setting in the operation unit 1.

  The document feeding control unit 101 controls the document feeding unit 100, the image reader control unit 201 controls the image reader unit 200, and the printer control unit 301 controls the printer unit 300. The folding processing control unit 401 controls the folding processing unit 400, and the finisher control unit 501 controls the finisher 500, the inserter 900, the saddle stitcher 800, the transport unit 333, and the trimmer 2000.

  The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and a work area for operations associated with control. Further, the image reader control unit 201 outputs an image of the document read by the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 202. The printer control unit 301 outputs the image data from the image signal control unit 202 to the exposure control unit 110. An external I / F 203 is an interface of an external computer 204, develops print data from the computer 204 into a bitmap image, and outputs it as image data to the image signal control unit 202.

  The operation unit 1 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. The operation unit 1 outputs a key signal corresponding to each key operation of the user to the CPU circuit unit 150 and displays corresponding information on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the operation unit 1 has an operation panel 10 for the user to select the type of sheet processing. On the operation panel 10, for example, a touch-type bag binding and bookbinding button 11, a C-fold button 15, a bag-fold button 16, and a trim processing button 18 are arranged.

  Next, referring to FIG. 15, the sheet P subjected to the folding process in the folding processing unit 400 and the sheet directly discharged from the printer unit 300 via the conveyance path 131 are sent via the conveyance unit 333 to the saddle stitcher 800. A sheet processing operation when creating a booklet by transporting to the above will be described.

  First, before the sheet processing is started, when the bag binding and bookbinding button 11 and the C-fold button 15 or the bag-fold button 16 are selected on the operation panel 10, the CPU circuit unit performs proper imposition within the bag unit. An instruction is issued from 150 to the image signal control unit 202. At the same time, the CPU circuit unit 150 instructs the folding processing control unit 401 to stand by at a position where the stopper 137 of the folding processing unit 400 is raised 5 mm from the normal C-folding or bag folding mode.

  Then, when the sheet is sent to the conveying means 333, it is identified whether or not the sheet is folded by the folding processing unit 400 (S21). In the case of a sheet that has been subjected to folding processing, the sheet is fed back to the saddle stitcher 800 with the folding unit disposed at the rear end by the conveyance means 333 (S22). On the other hand, in the case of a sheet that has not been folded, the sheet is not fed back to the saddle stitcher 800 without being controlled by the conveying means 333 (S23).

  The sheets sent to the saddle stitcher 800 are carried into the storage guide 237 and stacked (S24). This sheet carry-in operation is repeated one by one, and when the final sheet is carried into the storage guide 237 (S25), stacking of the sheet bundle is completed (S26).

  After stacking, the aligning device 244 is operated at a position apart from the folded portion of the folded sheet of the sheet bundle held by the storage guide 237, thereby performing the sheet bundle alignment process (S27). ).

  After the alignment of the sheet bundle is completed, the stapler 240 performs a sheet bundle saddle stitching process (S28). Here, the folding position of the sheet that has been subjected to the C-folding or bag-folding process is adjusted by the above-described folding processing unit 400 so that the folded portion of the sheet is disposed at the saddle stitch position of the sheet bundle by the stapler 240. . Accordingly, when the saddle stitching process of the sheet bundle is performed by the stapler 240, the folded portion of the sheet that has been subjected to the C-folding or bag-folding process is bound at the same time as the saddle stitching.

  After the sheet bundle saddle stitching process is completed, the sheet bundle is shifted so that the sheet bundle saddle stitching position is located at the nip position between the pair of folding rollers 242, 243 from the staple position of the stapler 240 (S29). In this state, when the protruding member 241 protrudes the saddle stitching position of the sheet bundle, the saddle stitching position is pushed out to the nip position between the pair of folding rollers 242 and 243 (S30), and the sheet bundle is bound by the pair of folding rollers 242 and 243. It is folded around the saddle stitching position (S31).

  The sheet bundle folded by the pair of folding rollers 242, 243 is discharged to the discharge tray 246 via the discharge roller 245 (S32). Thus, a saddle stitch booklet having a C-fold or bag-fold bag binding portion is created. After that, the saddle stitch booklet is sent to the trimmer 2000 with the saddle stitch position at the top. In the trimmer 2000, it is identified whether or not the trim processing button 18 is selected on the operation panel 10 (S33).

  When the trim processing button 18 is selected on the operation panel 10, the end on the side away from the saddle stitching position of the booklet is cut by the trimmer 2000 (S34). The cut booklet is discharged between the holder plate 2018 and the pusher plate 2019 via the discharge rollers 2016, 2015, and 2017 (S35). On the other hand, when the trim processing button 18 is not selected on the operation panel 10, the booklet is not cut by the trimmer 2000, and is interposed between the holder plate 2018 and the pusher plate 2019 via the discharge rollers 2016, 2015, and 2017. It is discharged (S35).

  As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, simultaneously with the saddle stitching process of the sheet bundle by the stapler 240, the folding process of the folded portion of the sheet P subjected to the C-folding or bag-folding process can be performed. . Thereby, in order to fix the folded portion of the sheet, it is possible to eliminate the need for an adhesive application processing apparatus and a double-sided tape affixing processing apparatus, which have been conventionally required. As a result, it is possible to produce a saddle stitch booklet having a bag binding portion at low cost without causing an increase in size of the sheet processing apparatus.

  Further, the aligning device 244 is operated at a position apart from the folded portion of the folded sheet of the sheet bundle held by the storage guide 237. Thereby, even when the sheet P subjected to the folding process and the sheet not subjected to the folding process are mixedly loaded in the storage guide 237, only the sheet not subjected to the folding process is stacked on the storage guide 237. It is possible to ensure the same sheet bundle consistency.

  Further, when the trim processing button 18 is selected on the operation panel 10 and the booklet is cut by the trimmer 2000, the folding position of the sheet at the folding processing unit 400 is adjusted so that the C-folded or bag-folded bag portion is not cut. is doing. As a result, when trim processing is performed, the end (small edge) on the side away from the saddle stitching position of the booklet can be cut cleanly, and a high-quality booklet can be created.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to what was illustrated to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is arranged on the upstream side of the sheet processing apparatus is illustrated. However, this is not always necessary, and an apparatus other than the image forming apparatus is installed on the upstream side of the sheet processing apparatus. You may arrange.

1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a copying apparatus as an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing except the folding process part of the sheet processing apparatus. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the inserter of the sheet processing apparatus, in which FIG. 1A is a state in which an auxiliary tray is closed, FIG. 2B is a state in which the auxiliary tray is opened, and FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the trimmer of a sheet processing apparatus, (a) is a standby state, (b) is the state which the booklet passed the entrance sensor, (c) is pressing the booklet with the press plate. State. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the trimmer of a sheet processing apparatus, (a) is the state which cut | judged the edge part of a booklet, (b) is the state which discharged | emitted the booklet, (c) is the booklet which already loaded the booklet Extruded to the side. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which raised the holder board of the trimmer. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a conveyance path for guiding a sheet subjected to folding processing in a folding processing unit to a saddle stitcher. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a sheet switchback operation in a conveyance path for guiding a sheet subjected to a folding process by a folding processing unit to a saddle stitcher. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the saddle stitcher in the case of a C fold sheet | seat. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of the saddle stitcher in the case of a bag folding sheet | seat. It is a figure for demonstrating C-folding operation | movement in a folding process part. It is a figure for demonstrating the bag folding operation | movement in a folding process part. It is a figure for demonstrating the bag folding operation | movement in a folding process part. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the copying apparatus. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a sheet processing operation when a sheet is conveyed to a saddle stitcher via a conveying unit to create a booklet. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel of the copying apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the saddle stitch booklet which has a C-fold bag binding part. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the saddle stitch booklet which has a bag folding bag binding part.

Explanation of symbols

P sheet 237 storage guide (sheet holding means)
239 Sheet positioning member (sheet holding means)
240 Stapler (sheet bundle saddle stitching means)
241 Extruding member (sheet bundle pushing means)
242 and 243 Folding roller pair (sheet bundle folding means)
244 Alignment device (sheet alignment means)
333 Conveying means 400 Folding processing unit (sheet folding means)
900 Inserter (sheet feeding means)
1000 Copier (image forming device)
2000 Trimmer (Booklet cutting means)
2022A C-fold bag binding booklet 2022B Bag-fold bag binding booklet 3000 Sheet processing device

Claims (5)

Sheet holding means for holding a plurality of sheets as a sheet bundle;
Sheet aligning means for aligning end positions of a plurality of sheets held by the sheet holding means to align the sheet bundle;
Sheet bundle saddle stitching means for saddle stitching the sheet bundle aligned by the sheet alignment means;
Sheet bundle thrusting means for striking a saddle stitch portion of the sheet bundle that has been saddle stitched by the sheet bundle saddle stitching means;
In a sheet processing apparatus comprising: a sheet bundle folding means that folds a sheet bundle at a position projected by the sheet bundle pushing means to create a booklet;
A sheet folding means for adjusting a folding position of the sheet so that a folded portion of the sheet is disposed at the saddle stitching position when the sheet bundle held by the sheet holding means is saddle-stitched by the sheet bundle saddle stitching means; A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a conveying unit configured to convey at least the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit to the sheet holding unit. Booklet cutting means for cutting an end of the booklet created by the sheet bundle folding means on the side away from the saddle stitching position is provided, and the sheet folding means prevents the folded portion of the sheet from being cut by the booklet cutting means. To adjust the folding position of the sheet,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. The sheet bundle aligning operation portion by the sheet aligning means is disposed at a position away from the folded portion of the sheet,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. A sheet feeding unit that feeds and conveys the sheet; conveys and holds a previously folded sheet from the sheet feeding unit to the sheet holding unit;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the surface of a sheet,
An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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