JP2007320665A - Sheet folding device and post-treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet folding device and a post-treatment device capable of preventing any defective folding of a sheet bundle. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet folding device comprises conveying guides 4, 6 for guiding a sheet bundle P along a conveying passage, a folding blade 5 provided on the conveying passage in a projecting manner, and roller pairs 7 for folding the sheet bundle P by holding the sheet bundle P pressed by the folding blade 5 by a nip. The conveying guides 4, 6 have evacuation parts 9, 11 on the folding blade side, and when the sheet bundle P is pressed by the folding blade 5, the evacuation parts 9, 11 are moved in the conveying passage opening direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding apparatus and a post-processing apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a conveyance guide 101 that guides a sheet bundle 102 along a conveyance path, a folding blade 105 that is provided so as to protrude from the conveyance path, and a folding roller that folds the sheet bundle 102 pressed by the folding blade 105. A technique including the pair 103 is disclosed (see FIG. 14).

JP 2004-83184 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, when the sheet bundle 102 is pushed by the folding blade 105, a deflection 113 is formed in the folding blade side portion 101a of the conveyance guide 101, and the deflection 113 is strongly pressed against the folding blade side 101a of the conveyance guide. . Then, a component force acts on the deflection 113 in the direction along the guide surface, and the sheet bundle 102 follows the guide surface against the frictional force between the sheet bundle 102 and the folding blade side 101a of the conveyance guide by the component force. In the case of a sheet having a low frictional force, the sheet 109 on the folding blade side and the sheet 107 sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers are separated from each other, and the folding roller pair side Only the sheet 107 is sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers 103, and the remaining sheet 109 is not subjected to the folding process.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet folding apparatus and a post-processing apparatus that can prevent a folding failure of a sheet bundle.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a conveyance guide that guides a sheet bundle along the conveyance path, a folding blade that is provided so as to protrude in the conveyance path, and a folding blade that is pushed by the folding blade. And a pair of folding rollers for folding the sheet bundle by sandwiching the sheet bundle in the nip, the conveyance guide has a retracting portion on the folding blade side, and when the sheet bundle is pushed by the folding blade, the retracting portion opens the conveyance path. It is characterized by moving to.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the retracting portion opens the transport path, the retracting portion of the transport guide has one end near the folding blade and far from the folding blade. It is located at a position farther from the transport path than the other end, and the transport path side surface of the retracted portion is inclined with respect to the transport direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the retracting portion of the conveyance guide includes a rotating shaft and a biasing member, and the rotating shaft is provided at the other end. The biasing member biases the retracting portion toward the conveyance path, and when the sheet bundle is pushed by the folding blade, one end of the retracting portion of the biasing member is caused by the pressing force of the deflection formed on the sheet bundle. It is characterized by rotating in the direction of opening the conveyance path against the urging force.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, the retracting portion of the conveyance guide includes an interlocking mechanism that interlocks with the movement of the folding blade, and when the folding blade protrudes, the interlocking mechanism operates. The retreating part moves in a direction to open the conveyance path.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the retracting portion of the transport guide is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction and the downstream side in the transport direction with the folding blade interposed therebetween. It is characterized by being.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a binding processing unit that performs a binding process of a sheet bundle and the sheet folding device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects are provided.

  In the present invention, when the sheet bundle is pushed by the folding blade, the sheet bundle bends and tries to come into pressure contact with the conveyance guide. However, since the retraction portion of the conveyance guide moves so as to open the conveyance path, the distance in the width direction of the conveyance path between the portion sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers of the sheet bundle and the bending portion becomes long and is pushed by the folding blade. The pressing force against the conveyance guide due to the deflection of the formed sheet bundle is reduced. Therefore, the component force acting in the direction along the guide surface of the conveyance guide is reduced, and slippage of the sheet bundle caused by the component force can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet on the folding blade side and the sheet sandwiched between the pair of folding rollers from separating and the sheet bundle from being scattered, and the entire sheet bundle can be securely sandwiched between the folding rollers to prevent the sheet bundle from being folded badly.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the folding processing tray when the folding blade is operated to start the folding operation of the sheet bundle, and FIG. 2 is the folding processing tray in which the folding blade is operated to perform the folding operation of the sheet bundle. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the folding blade moving mechanism before starting, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the folding blade moving mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the folding blade moving mechanism. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet bundle stacked on the staple processing tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet bundle stacked on the staple processing tray. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet bundle bound by the staple processing tray is deflected by the sheet bundle deflecting mechanism, and FIG. 8 shows the sheet bundle bound by the staple processing tray. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a state when the sheet bundle is fed into the folding processing tray, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a state when the sheet bundle is fed into the folding processing tray. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the folding operation of the sheet bundle is started by operating the folding blade. FIG. 11 shows the second folding roller after the folding blade is operated on the folding processing tray to start the folding operation of the sheet bundle. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The post-processing device PD according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the post-processing device PD is attached to the side portion of the image forming apparatus, and mainly includes a sheet introducing portion A and a staple processing tray F that performs a binding process (stipple process) on a sheet bundle. And a folding processing tray 1 for performing folding processing.

  In the paper introduction unit A, an inlet sensor 41 that detects a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus, and an inlet roller 43, a punch unit 45, a conveying roller 47, and branch claws 49 and 51 are sequentially arranged on the downstream side thereof. The branching claws 49 and 51 are held by springs, and when the solenoid is turned on, one branching claw 49 rotates upward, and the other branching claw 51 rotates downward, so that the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance path. B, the sheet is distributed to the second conveyance path C and the third conveyance path D. The sheet guided to the first transport path B is discharged to the upper tray 59, and the sheet guided to the second transport path C is discharged to the shift tray 61. The sheet guided to the third conveyance path D is guided to the staple processing tray F by the conveyance rollers 53 and 55 and the staple discharge roller 57.

  Next, the staple processing tray F will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the staple processing tray F includes a staple discharge roller 21 that guides the sheet into the tray, a rear end fence 23 against which the sheet guided into the tray is abutted, and the longitudinal direction (conveying direction) of the sheet. The hitting roller 22 that performs alignment, the jogger fence 20 that performs alignment in the sheet width direction, the binding processing stapler S2 that performs binding processing at the center of the sheet bundle P, and the discharge claw that discharges the sheet bundle P for which binding processing has been completed. 24a, a discharge belt 24 having a discharge claw 24a, a discharge roller 27 for driving the discharge belt 24, a branch guide plate 25 and a movable guide 26 as sheet bundle deflecting means. The branch guide plate 25 is rotatable around a fulcrum and includes a pressure roller 28 that pressurizes the discharge roller 27 at a downstream position of the branch guide plate 25. The movable guide 26 is rotatably attached to the discharge roller 27.

  Next, the operation in the staple processing tray F will be described with reference to FIGS. In the staple processing tray F, the sheets sequentially discharged by the staple discharge roller 21 are aligned, and the aligned sheet bundle P is conveyed downstream by a predetermined distance set for each sheet size by the discharge claw 24a. In the center, the binding processing is performed by the binding processing stapler S2 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The leading edge of the sheet bundle P is sandwiched between the discharge roller 27 and the pressure roller 28, the branch guide plate 25 and the movable guide 26 are rotated, and are guided to the folding processing tray 1 by driving the discharge claw 24a (FIG. 7, FIG. 7). (See FIG. 8). The sheet bundle P guided to the processing tray 1 is conveyed to the movable rear end fence 30 by the conveyance upper roller 29 and the conveyance lower roller 13. The sheet bundle P abutted against the movable rear end fence 30 is released from the pressure applied by the lower conveyance roller 13. Thereafter, the sheet bundle P is guided to a nip of a folding roller 7 to be described later and subjected to folding processing.

  Next, the folding processing tray 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a folding processing tray (sheet folding device) 1 includes conveyance guides 4 and 6 for guiding a sheet bundle P along a conveyance path, a folding blade 5 provided so as to protrude in the conveyance path, A folding roller pair 7 is provided that folds the sheet bundle P by sandwiching the sheet bundle P pushed by the blade 5 in the nip 7c. One guide (conveying guide on the folding blade side) 4 of the conveying guides 4 and 6 has retracted portions 9 and 11, and the retracting portions 9 and 11 of the conveying guide are on the upstream side in the conveying direction with the folding blade 5 interposed therebetween. , Provided on the downstream side in the transport direction.

  The retraction portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are supported around the rotation shafts 9d and 11d with respect to the conveyance guide main bodies 3a and 3b, and the retraction portions 9 and 11 are folded on the rotation shafts 9d and 11d. Springs (biasing members) 9e and 11e for biasing in the direction are provided. When the sheet bundle P is pushed by the folding blade 5, the retracting portions 9 and 11 are rotated by the pressing force of the flexible portions P2 and P3 formed on the sheet bundle P and become inclined with respect to the conveying direction, and the retracting portion 9 , 11 close to the folding blade 5 (one end) 9a, 11a is located farther from the conveyance path than the base ends (the other end) 9b, 11b far from the folding blade 5. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, the folding blade 5 is supported by fitting the long hole portion 14 a to each of two shafts standing on the front and rear side plates, and the shaft portion 14 b and the long hole portion 16 b of the link arm 16 are fitted. The folding blade 5 reciprocates left and right as the link arm 16 swings about the fulcrum 16a. The long hole portion 16c of the link arm 16 and the shaft portion 15b of the folding blade drive cam 15 are fitted together, and the link arm 16 swings as the folding blade drive cam 15 rotates. When the folding blade drive cam 15 is rotated in the direction of the arrow from the retracted position of the folding blade 5 shown in FIG. 3, the folding blade 5 moves in the direction of the arrow and protrudes into the conveyance path of the processing tray 1 to the state shown in FIG. Become. In FIG. 4, when the folding blade drive cam 15 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the folding blade 5 moves in the direction of the arrow, and the folding blade 5 is retracted from the conveyance path.

  Next, the operation and effect of the folding processing tray (sheet folding device) 1 in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet bundle P subjected to the binding process in the staple processing tray F is conveyed to a predetermined position in the conveyance path (a position where the leading edge of the sheet bundle hits the movable rear end fence 30). When the sheet bundle P reaches a predetermined position in the conveyance path, the link arm 16 swings due to the rotational movement of the folding blade drive cam 15, and the folding blade 5 moves from the retracted position to the protruding position in the conveyance path. In the sheet bundle P pushed by the folding blade 5, the portion P <b> 1 pushed by the folding blade 5 is guided to the nip 7 c of the folding roller pair 7. At this time, deflections P2 and P3 are formed on one guide side 4 of the sheet bundle P, and the retraction portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide rotate against the biasing force of the spring by the pressing force of the deflections P2 and P3. To do. At this time, the retraction portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are inclined with respect to the conveyance direction, and the deflection P2 of the sheet bundle P at a position farther to the retraction side of the folding blade 5 than the guide surfaces of the conveyance guide main bodies 3a and 3b. P3 contacts the conveyance path side surfaces 9c and 11c of the retraction portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide.

  The sheet bundle P guided to the nip 7 c of the pair of folding rollers 7 is subjected to nip folding, and then the folding is strengthened by the second folding roller 31 shown in FIG. 10 and discharged to the lower tray 33 by the lower paper discharge roller 32. Is done. At this time, when the rear end of the sheet bundle is detected by the folding portion passage sensor 34, the folding plate 5 and the movable rear end fence 30 return to the home position.

  In the present embodiment, the retraction portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are moved in the direction to open the conveyance path by being pushed by the deflections P2 and P3 of the sheet bundle P, so that the nip of the folding roller pair 7 formed in the sheet bundle P The distance T in the conveyance width direction between the portion P1 sandwiched between the flexible portions P2 and P3 and the deflection portions P2 and P3 is the nip portion P1 and the deflection portion formed in the sheet bundle P when the conveyance guide retracting portions 9 and 11 close the conveyance path. It becomes longer than the distance S in the conveyance width direction with P2 and P3, and the pressing force against the conveyance guide by the deflections P2 and P3 of the sheet bundle P becomes small. Therefore, the component force acting in the direction along the conveyance surface of the conveyance guides 4 and 6 is reduced, and slippage of the sheet bundle P caused by the component force can be prevented. Therefore, the sheet on the folding blade and the sheet sandwiched between the folding roller pair 7 are not separated and the sheet bundle P does not vary, and the folding blade side sheet is prevented from being peeled off from the binding portion and fed into the folding roller pair 7. it can. The entire sheet bundle can be securely sandwiched between the folding rollers 7, and the folding failure of the sheet bundle P can be prevented.

  At the position where the retracting portions 9 and 11 open the transport path, the distal end portions 9a and 11a of the retracting portions 9 and 11 are located farther from the transport path than the base end portions 9b and 11b, and the retracting portions 9 and 11 are Since it is slanted with respect to the conveyance direction, the deflections P2 and P3 abut against the conveyance path side surfaces 9c and 11c of the retreat portions 9 and 11, and the pressing force of the deflections P2 and P3 is applied to the conveyance path side surfaces 9c and 11c of the retraction portions 9 and 11. And the deflections P2 and P3 can be prevented from shifting to both ends in the conveying direction of the sheet bundle P.

  Since the retreat portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction with the folding blade 5 sandwiched therebetween and the downstream side in the conveyance direction, the deflection portions P2 and P3 of the sheet bundle P are disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction. 9 and the conveyance path side surface 11c of the retreating portion 11 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and can further prevent the deflections P2 and P3 from shifting to both ends in the conveyance direction.

  Since the distal end portions 9a and 11a of the retracting portion are configured to rotate in the direction of opening the conveyance path against the biasing force of the springs 9e and 11e, the biasing force can be adjusted by changing the type of the springs 9e and 11e. Further, it is possible to prevent the front end portions 9a and 11a from opening due to the urging force being too strong, and conversely, the front end portions 9a and 11a from being opened with a small pressing force due to the urging force being too weak.

  Next, other embodiments will be described. In the following description, parts having the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description of the parts is given. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing the main part of the folding processing tray according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13A is a view showing the folding blade in the retracted position, and FIG. 13B is the folding blade in the protruding position. It is a figure which shows time. In FIG. 13, the retracting portion 9 of the transport guide at the upstream position in the transport direction is shown and described. However, the retracting portion 11 of the transport guide at the downstream position in the transport direction is the same as the retracting portion 9 at the upstream position. Since there is an effect, the description is omitted.

  The retracting portion 9 of the transport guide includes interlocking mechanisms 70 and 72 that interlock with the movement of the folding blade 5. The interlocking mechanisms 70, 72 include a first link 72 connected to the distal end portion 9 a of the retracting portion 9, and a second link 70 connected to the folding blade 5 and rotating around the shaft 71. When the folding blade 5 moves from the retracted position (FIG. 13A) in the protruding direction (Q shown in FIG. 13B), the first link 72 moves in the P direction shown in FIG. 9 moves in the direction of opening the conveyance path, and the retracting portion 9 is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction.

  On the other hand, when the folding blade 5 moves from the protruding position in the retracting direction (V shown in FIG. 13A), the first link 72 moves in the U direction shown in FIG. 13A, and the retracting portion 9 moves in the transport direction. Parallel to it.

  In the present embodiment, the retracting portion 9 of the conveyance guide moves in conjunction with the movement of the folding blade 5, so that the retracting portion 9 can be moved regardless of the pressing force of the sheet bundle P, and the retracting portion 9 can be reliably Can be moved to the retracted position.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the retracting portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are configured such that the tip portions 9a and 11a rotate about the rotation shafts 9d and 11d. Instead, the retracting portions 9 and 11 may move in the direction of opening the conveyance path in a posture substantially parallel to the conveyance direction.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the retracting portions 9 and 11 of the conveyance guide are provided with the springs 9e and 11e on the rotating shafts 9d and 11d, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the tip portions 9a and 9a of the retracting portions 9 and 11 11a may be provided with a spring that urges the folding roller pair 7 in the direction.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the retracting portion 9 of the conveyance guide is moved by the urging force of the spring or the interlocking mechanism with the folding blade 5, but is not limited to this, and the folding blade 5 A detection sensor for detecting the movement of the transfer guide and an actuator for driving the retraction portion 9 of the conveyance guide, and when the detection sensor detects the movement of the folding blade 5, the retraction portion 9 of the conveyance guide automatically moves. good.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, the folding processing tray 1 performs the folding process on the sheet bundle P that has been subjected to the binding process, but is not limited thereto, and the sheet bundle P that is not subjected to the binding process. Folding processing may be performed on.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a folding process tray when a folding operation of a sheet bundle is started by operating a folding blade. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the folding processing tray before the folding operation of the sheet bundle is started by operating the folding blade. It is sectional drawing of the moving mechanism of a folding blade, and is a figure which shows before starting folding operation. It is sectional drawing of the moving mechanism of a folding blade, and is a figure which shows the time of returning to an initial position after completion | finish of folding operation. It is sectional drawing which shows the sheet | seat bundle stacked on the staple processing tray. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating when a sheet bundle stacked on a staple processing tray is bound. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet bundle that has been bound by a staple processing tray is deflected by a sheet bundle deflection mechanism. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state when a sheet bundle that has been bound by a staple processing tray is deflected by a sheet bundle deflecting mechanism and fed to a folding processing tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state when a sheet bundle is fed into a folding processing tray. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a folding process tray when a folding operation of a sheet bundle is started by operating a folding blade. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a folding blade is actuated by a folding roller and then folded by a second-stage folding roller after starting a folding operation of a sheet bundle. It is sectional drawing of the post-processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the folding processing tray which concerns on a modification, (a) is a figure which shows when a folding blade exists in a retracted position, (b) is a figure which shows when a folding blade exists in a protrusion position. It is sectional drawing explaining operation | movement of the folding processing tray which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet folding device 4, 6 Conveyance guide 5 Folding blade 7 Folding roller pair 9, 11 Retraction part of conveyance guide 9a, 11a The front-end | tip part (one edge part) of a retraction part
9b, 11b The base end of the retracting part (the other end)
9c, 11c Transport path side surface of retracted portion 9d, 11d Rotating shaft 9e, 11e Spring (biasing member)
70, 72 Interlocking mechanism P Sheet bundle

Claims (6)

  A conveyance guide that guides the sheet bundle along the conveyance path, a folding blade that is provided so as to protrude in the conveyance path, and a pair of folding rollers that fold the sheet bundle by sandwiching the sheet bundle pressed by the folding blade in the nip. The sheet folding apparatus, wherein the conveying guide has a retracting portion on the folding blade side, and when the sheet bundle is pushed by the folding blade, the retracting portion moves in a direction to open the conveying path.   At the position where the retracting portion opens the transport path, the retracting portion of the transport guide has one end near the folding blade located farther from the transport path than the other end far from the folding blade, and transports the retracting portion. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the road side surface is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction.   The retraction portion of the conveyance guide includes a rotation shaft and an urging member, the rotation shaft is provided at the other end, and the urging member urges the retraction portion toward the conveyance path. When the folding blade is pressed by the folding blade, one end of the retracting portion is rotated in a direction to open the conveyance path against the biasing force of the biasing member due to the pressing force of the deflection formed on the sheet bundle. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 2.   3. The retracting portion of the conveyance guide includes an interlocking mechanism that interlocks with the movement of the folding blade, and when the folding blade protrudes, the retracting portion moves in the direction of opening the transporting path by the action of the interlocking mechanism. The sheet folding apparatus according to 1.   The sheet folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a retraction portion of the conveyance guide is provided on an upstream side in the conveyance direction and a downstream side in the conveyance direction with the folding blade interposed therebetween. A post-processing device comprising: a binding processing unit that performs binding processing of a sheet bundle; and the sheet folding device according to claim 1.

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