JP2008132617A - Gluing bookbinding device, gluing controlling method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to coat a proper amount of glue even under the condition that the viscosity of the glue becomes high by adding no structure for keeping the viscosity of the glue constant. <P>SOLUTION: When the viscosity of the glue G in a glue container 525 is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the distance L between the outer peripheral surface of a glue coating roller 524 and the under side of a paper bundle 540 is made narrower. Or, when the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525 is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the travelling speed V of a gluing unit 585 is made slower. As a result, the coating of the proper amount of the glue can be possible even when the viscosity of the glue becomes high by adding no structure for keeping the viscosity of the glue constant. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gluing bookbinding apparatus, a gluing control method, and a program, and in particular, is applied to a gluing bookbinding apparatus that creates a booklet by gluing a back of a sheet bundle and bonding a cover to the back. The present invention relates to a gluing control method and a program for causing a computer to execute the gluing control method.

  Conventionally, as a bookbinding device, image-formed sheets are stacked, glued to one side that is the back of the sheet bundle, and a sheet that is approximately twice the size of the sheet bundle is used as the cover sheet. There is a case binding device that bonds. In addition, there is a top glue binding apparatus that does not use a cover and only glues one side of the back of the sheet bundle.

  Conventionally, for such gluing, a bookbinding apparatus in which a container containing glue is moved along one side of a sheet bundle fixed at a predetermined position to apply glue to the sheet bundle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ) In addition, in order to turn solid glue into a liquid, a bookbinding apparatus (for example, refer to Patent Document 2) that heats the inside of the container containing the glue with a heater or the like, and the viscosity of the glue that has become liquid in the container is made constant. There is a bookbinding apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 3) that mixes diluents to maintain.

Further, there is a warp gluing bookbinding apparatus separately from the gluing bookbinding apparatus. In the warp gluing bookbinding apparatus, a device for controlling the pressure of a roller pair for applying the glue to the warp according to the density and viscosity of the glue (for example, Patent Documents). 4).
JP 2004-209869 A JP 2001-71661 A JP 2001-121055 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-97951

  However, in the conventional bookbinding apparatus in which the glue is heated by the heater, the moisture of the glue evaporates by heating, and the viscosity of the glue increases as the amount of moisture decreases. Normally, the viscosity of the paste is reduced by replenishing the paste in the paste container. However, if heating is continued without replenishing the paste, the viscosity of the paste increases. When the viscosity of the glue increases, it becomes more difficult for the glue to adhere to the stack of paper compared to when the viscosity is low. As a result, the amount of glue applied is reduced, and it is easier to take out the generated bound paper. Problems occur.

  In addition, like the above-described conventional bookbinding apparatus, there is a way to mix a diluent with glue to keep the viscosity of the glue constant. However, there are configurations for storing the diluent and for mixing the diluent into the paste container. There is a problem that it is necessary and incurs high costs.

  Further, in the above-described conventional bookbinding apparatus in which the glue is pressed and applied to the warp, the above problem can be relatively avoided by pressing even when the viscosity of the glue is slightly increased. However, since the glue applying member is pressed against the back of the sheet bundle and brought into contact with the sheet bundle, another problem arises that the sheet breaks and the quality of the product is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an appropriate amount of glue is applied even when the viscosity of the glue increases without adding a configuration for keeping the viscosity of the glue constant. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gluing bookbinding apparatus, a gluing control method, and a program which can be performed.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the gluing bookbinding apparatus that creates a booklet by gluing the back portion of the sheet bundle and bonding the cover to the back portion, along the back portion of the sheet bundle. The glue applying means for applying the glue to the back portion while moving, the changing means for changing the distance between the glue applying means and the back portion of the sheet bundle, and the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means. There is provided a gluing bookbinding apparatus characterized by comprising: a detecting means for detecting the control means; and a control means for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected by the detecting means.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in the gluing bookbinding device that creates a booklet by gluing the back of the sheet bundle and attaching a cover to the back, while moving along the back of the sheet bundle, Glue application means for applying glue to the back, change means for changing the movement speed of the glue application means along the back of the sheet bundle, and detection for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue application means There is provided a gluing bookbinding apparatus characterized by comprising: means; and control means for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected by the detecting means.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the glue applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle, and the distance between the glue applying means and the back of the sheet bundle In the glue control method applied to the glue binding apparatus for creating a booklet by gluing the back of the sheet bundle and attaching a cover to the back. There is provided a gluing control method comprising: a detecting step for detecting a viscosity of the glue to be detected; and a control step for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected in the detecting step.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the paste applying means for applying glue to the back portion while moving along the back portion of the sheet bundle, and the back portion of the sheet bundle of the glue applying means. A gluing control method applied to a gluing bookbinding apparatus for gluing to a back portion of the sheet bundle and gluing a cover to the back portion to create a booklet. There is provided a gluing control method characterized by comprising a detection step for detecting the viscosity of glue to be applied and a control step for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected in the detection step.

  Furthermore, a program is provided for causing a computer to execute the gluing control method.

  According to the present invention, the glue applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle, and the changing means for changing the distance between the glue applying means and the back of the sheet bundle. And detecting the viscosity of the paste applied by the paste applying means. Then, when the detected viscosity is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the changing unit is configured to set the distance to a first value, and when the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value, the distance is set to be less than the first value. A small second value is set.

  The apparatus further comprises: glue applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle; and changing means for changing the moving speed of the glue applying means along the back of the sheet bundle. The viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means is detected. When the detected viscosity is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the changing unit is caused to set the moving speed to a first value. When the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value, the moving speed is set to the first value. A second value slower than the value is set.

  Accordingly, an appropriate amount of glue can be applied even when the viscosity of the glue increases without adding a configuration for keeping the glue viscosity constant.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a glue binding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus main body 10, a gluing bookbinding apparatus 500, and a post-processing apparatus 400 such as a finisher. The image forming apparatus main body 10 includes an image reader 200 that reads an image from a document, and a printer 350 that forms the read image on a sheet.

  A document feeder 100 is mounted on the image reader 200 of the image forming apparatus main body 10. The document feeder 100 feeds documents set upward on the document tray one by one in order from the first page in the left direction on the paper surface of FIG. Then, the platen glass 102 is conveyed to the right through the flow reading position via the curved path, and then discharged toward the external discharge tray 112. When the document passes through the sink reading position on the platen glass 102 from the left to the right, the document image is read by the scanner unit 104 held at a position corresponding to the sink reading position. This reading is generally performed by a method called document flow reading. Specifically, when the original passes through the reading position, the original reading surface is irradiated with the light from the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and the reflected light from the original passes through the mirrors 105, 106, and 107 to the lens. To 108. The light that has passed through the lens 108 forms an image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 109.

  In this way, by conveying the document so that it passes from the left side to the right side of the flow reading position, the document reading scan in which the direction orthogonal to the document conveying direction is the main scanning direction and the conveying direction is the sub-scanning direction. Is done. In other words, when the original passes through the flow reading position, the original is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction while reading the original image by the image sensor 109 line by line in the main scanning direction, thereby reading the entire original image. . The optically read image is converted into image data by the image sensor 109 and output. The image data output from the image sensor 109 is input to the exposure control unit 110 of the printer 350 as a video signal.

  It is also possible to read the document by transporting the document onto the platen glass 102 by the document feeder 100 and stopping it at a predetermined position, and scanning the scanner unit 104 from left to right in this state. This reading method is a so-called fixed original reading method.

  When reading a document without using the document feeder 100, the user first lifts the document feeder 100 and places the document on the platen glass 102. Then, the original is read by scanning the scanner unit 104 from left to right. That is, when reading a document without using the document feeder 100, a fixed document reading is performed.

  The exposure control unit 110 of the printer 350 modulates and outputs a laser beam based on the video signal input from the image reader 200. The laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. Here, the exposure control unit 110 outputs a laser beam so that a correct image (an image that is not a mirror image) is formed during document fixed reading. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111 is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 113.

  On the other hand, sheets fed by the pickup rollers 127 and 128 from the upper cassette 114 or the lower cassette 115 provided in the printer 350 are conveyed to the registration rollers 126 by the sheet feeding rollers 129 and 130. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the registration roller 126, the registration roller 126 is driven at an arbitrary timing. In addition, the paper is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser beam irradiation. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is transferred by the transfer unit 116 onto the fed paper. The sheet onto which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 117, and the fixing unit 117 fixes the developer image on the sheet by heating and pressurizing the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is discharged from the printer 350 toward the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 10 (the glue binding apparatus 500) via the flapper 121 and the discharge roller 118.

  Here, when the sheet is discharged with its image forming surface facing down (face down), the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is once guided into the reverse path 122 by the switching operation of the flapper 121. Then, after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the flapper 121, the sheet is switched back and discharged from the printer 350 by the discharge roller 118. This paper discharge form is called reverse paper discharge. This reverse paper discharge is performed when images are formed in order from the first page, such as when an image read using the document feeder 100 is formed, or when an image output from a computer is formed. The paper order after the paper discharge is the correct page order.

  Further, when a hard sheet such as an OHP sheet is fed from the manual sheet feeding unit 125 and an image is formed on this sheet, the image forming surface is faced up without leading the sheet to the reverse path 122 (face-up). ) By the discharge roller 118. Further, when double-sided recording for image formation is set on both sides of the paper, the paper is guided to the reverse path 122 by the switching operation of the flapper 121 and then transported to the double-sided transport path 124 and then guided to the double-sided transport path 124. Control is performed so that the fed paper is fed again between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116 at the timing described above.

  The paper discharged from the printer 350 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 is sent to the glue binding apparatus 500.

  The operation display device 600 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state, and the like.

(Overall system block diagram)
Next, the configuration of the controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller includes a CPU circuit unit 150. The CPU circuit unit 150 includes a CPU (not shown), a ROM 151, and a RAM 152. A control program is stored in the ROM 151, and the blocks 101, 201, 202, 209, 304, 601, 501 are collectively controlled by the CPU executing them. The RAM 152 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for CPU arithmetic processing.

  The document feeder control unit 101 controls driving of the document feeder 100 based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150. The image reader control unit 201 performs drive control on the above-described scanner unit 104, the image sensor 109, and the like, and transfers an analog image signal output from the image sensor 109 to the image signal control unit 202.

  The image signal control unit 202 performs each process after converting the analog image signal from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal, converts the digital signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 304. Further, the digital image signal input from the computer 210 via the external I / F 209 is subjected to various processes, and the digital image signal is converted into a video signal and output to the printer control unit 304. The processing operation by the image signal control unit 202 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 150. The printer control unit 304 drives the above-described exposure control unit 110 based on the input video signal.

  The bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 is mounted on the glue binding apparatus 500 and performs drive control of the entire glue binding apparatus 500 by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150. This control content will be described later.

  The operation display device control unit 601 exchanges information between the operation display device 600 and the CPU circuit unit 150. The key signal output from the operation display device 600 is output to the CPU circuit unit 150 via the operation display device control unit 601. In addition, a signal from the CPU circuit unit 150 is sent to the operation display device 600 via the operation display device control unit 601, and corresponding information is displayed on the display unit based on this signal.

(Configuration of glue binding apparatus)
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 shown in FIG.

  The gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 includes a paper stacking unit A, a gluing unit B, an adhesive unit C, a cutting unit D, and a bookbinding discharge unit E. In the paper stacking unit A, a sheet bundle is created by stacking recording sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus as a bookbinding mode. In the pasting unit B, pasting is performed on the stacked bundle. In the bonding part C, the glued stack and the cover are bonded. In the cutting part D, in order to align the bookbinding end surfaces, the three directions other than the gluing surface are cut after bonding the cover. In the bookbinding discharge unit E, the completed bookbinding is discharged.

  Next, a flow of a series of bookbinding operations will be described. Here, only the outline of a series of bookbinding operations will be described, and a detailed description of each part will be described later.

  The paper stacking unit A is a part that stacks the recording paper discharged from the image forming apparatus on the stacking tray 520 to create a paper bundle 540 in the bookbinding mode. The sheet bundle 540 produced by the sheet stacking section A is conveyed to the pasting section B, and the glue is applied to the lower surface of the sheet bundle by the glue container 525, the glue application roller 524, and the glue application roller control motor 522. The bonding section C is responsible for bonding the glued sheet bundle 540 to the cover sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 and delivering it as a booklet 570 to the trim gripper 512. Then, the booklet 570 is conveyed to the cutting part D by the trim gripper 512. In the cutting unit D, the cutter control motor 527 moves the cutter 528 in the horizontal direction to cut the booklet 570. The trimmed scraps that have been trimmed fall into the scrap receiving box 533, and when a series of trimming operations are completed, the trimmed scraps are collected in the scrap box 532. The booklet 570 that has been cut in the cutting unit D is conveyed from the cutting unit D to the bookbinding discharge unit E, and the booklet 570 is discharged.

  The above flow is a series of bookbinding operations in the bookbinding mode. In addition to the bookbinding mode, a normal discharge mode in which no bookbinding is performed can be selected.

  A switching flapper 521 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveying roller pair 505. The switching flapper 521 is a flapper for selectively guiding the sheet sent by the conveying roller pair 505 to the sheet stacking tray 520 or the post-processing device 400.

  In the normal discharge mode, the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 400 by the conveyance roller pairs 505, 510, 511, 513, and 514 and the paper discharge roller 515. The post-processing device 400 can perform processing as a bundle, that is, post-processing such as bundle discharge processing, binding processing, folding processing, and bookbinding processing.

  In the bookbinding mode, the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 is discharged to the paper stacking tray 520 by the conveying roller pairs 506, 507, and 508 and the stacking unit discharge roller 509, and is aligned to be the paper. A bundle 540 is obtained.

(Control configuration of glue binding apparatus)
Next, the configuration of the bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 that controls the glue binding apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 that controls the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  The bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 includes a CPU 590, a ROM 591, and a RAM 592 as shown in FIG. The bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 150 provided on the image forming apparatus main body 10 side via a communication IC (not shown) to exchange data. Then, based on an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150, the CPU 590 executes various programs stored in the ROM 591 to perform drive control of the glue binding apparatus 500.

  Further, the bookbinding apparatus control unit 501 monitors various sensors and drives a load. The stacking control unit 580, the gluing control unit 581, the adhesion control unit 582, the cutting control unit 583, and the paper discharge control unit 584 drive the gluing unit B, the bonding unit C, the cutting unit D, and the bookbinding paper discharge unit E, respectively.

(Paper flow)
Next, the flow of sheets and cover sheets in the glue binding apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow until the paper P reaches the paper stacking unit A in the glue binding apparatus 500.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 takes in the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 into the inside by the transport roller pair 505, and the paper P is guided to the transport path (a). When this sheet P is the middle sheet of the sheet bundle, the sheet P taken in by the conveying roller pair 505 is guided to the conveying path (b) by the switching flapper 521 and is conveyed to the conveying roller pairs 506, 507, 508, 509. It is conveyed by. The paper P is discharged from the conveyance roller pair 509 to the paper stacking tray 520.

  When all the sheets P that are the middle sheets of the sheet bundle are discharged to the sheet stacking tray 520, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet bundle 540 in the middle sheet bundle state is gripped by the glue gripper 523, and the sheet stacking is performed. It is moved upward from the part A to the pasting part B. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow from the paper stacking unit A to the upper side of the gluing unit B in the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sheet bundle 540 that has moved above the gluing part B is rotated in the vertical direction while being gripped by the gluing gripper 523, and the side surface serving as the back cover of the sheet bundle 540 is the gluing part B. It becomes the position to face. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the rotation of the sheet bundle 540 and the feeding of the cover sheet Pc performed in the gluing unit B of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  After that, as will be described in detail later, the glue container 525 and the glue application roller 524 move along the sheet bundle 540, whereby the end of the sheet bundle 540 is glued. During this time, a cover sheet Pc serving as a cover sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus 10 and conveyed to the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500. The paper Pc taken in by the pair of transport rollers 505 is switched by the switching flapper 521 and is guided from the transport path (a) to the transport path (c), and is transported by the transport roller pairs 510, 511, 513, and 514. Be transported.

  In the transport path (c), a sensor (not shown) is provided on the downstream side of the transport roller pair 513. As shown in FIG. 8, when the sensor detects the front end portion of the cover sheet Pc, the cover sheet Pc is predetermined. After being transported by the distance, the transport of the cover sheet Pc is stopped. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the conveyance of the cover sheet Pc performed in the gluing unit B of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  When the cover sheet Pc stops in the transport path (c), the rear end of the cover sheet Pc can pass through the switching flapper 521. Therefore, when the sheet bundle is continuously created, the switching flapper 521 is switched even while the cover sheet Pc is in the transport path (c). Then, a sheet for the next sheet bundle is received from the image forming apparatus 10, and the sheet is conveyed from the conveyance path (a) to the sheet stacking tray 520 via the conveyance path (b).

  Thereafter, the portion of the cover sheet Pc that is adhered to the sheet bundle 540 to which the glue is applied and then conveyed downstream will be described in detail later.

  In the above description, an example in which the cover sheet Pc is conveyed from the image forming apparatus 10 is shown. However, an inserter 300 is provided on the upper part of the glue binding apparatus 500 as shown in FIG. It is possible to insert from. This will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the feeding of the cover sheet Pc from the inserter 300 to the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 and the upward movement of the gluing portion B of the sheet bundle 540.

  The sheets to be used as the intermediate sheets are sequentially fed from the image forming apparatus 10, are made into a sheet bundle 540 by the sheet stacking tray 520, and are moved above the pasting portion B by the pasting gripper 523.

  On the other hand, while the sheet bundle 540 is moved above the gluing portion B in this way, in the inserter 300, the sheet feed roller 301 takes out the uppermost one of the covers stacked on the sheet feed tray 310. The taken cover sheet Pc is transported by transport roller pairs 303, 503, and 504, and is guided from the transport path (d) to the transport path (c) by the switching flapper 521 as shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating conveyance of the cover sheet Pc fed from the inserter 300 in the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  Next, the configuration and operation of each part of the glue binding apparatus 500 will be described in detail.

(Gluing part B of the gluing bookbinding device)
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the glue part B of the glue bookbinding apparatus 500. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an outline of the gluing operation in the gluing part B of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the gluing unit B includes a gluing gripper 523 that grips the paper bundle 540, a glue container 525 that stores glue, a glue application roller 524 that applies glue to the paper bundle 540, and a glue application roller control motor 522. Consists of The glue container 525, the glue application roller 524, and the glue application roller control motor 522 constitute the glue unit 585.

  The glue application roller 524 immersed in the glue container 525 is always in rotation by the rotation of the glue application roller control motor 522. The gluing unit 585 is moved by a driving means (not shown) in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface of the sheet bundle 540 gripped in an upright state by the gluing gripper 523. The glue is applied to the sheet bundle 540 by the reciprocating movement of the glue unit 585.

  As shown by an arrow D1 in FIG. 12, the gluing unit 585 starts moving from the initial position on the back side of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 in FIG. 3, and stops at a predetermined position on the front surface of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 in FIG. . At this time, the gluing unit 585 does not glue the lower surface of the sheet bundle 540.

  The gluing unit 585 stopped at the predetermined position moves up to a position where the glue application roller 524 contacts the lower surface of the sheet bundle 540 as indicated by an arrow D2 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the glue application roller 524 rotates, and the glue G in the glue container 525 adheres to the glue application roller 524 and forms a glue layer Gr on the outer periphery of the glue application roller 524. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a gluing operation in the gluing unit 585.

  In a state where the glue layer Gr is in contact with the sheet bundle 540, the glue unit 585 moves from the front side to the back side of the glue binding apparatus 500 in FIG. 3 as indicated by an arrow D3 in FIG. Glue is applied to the lower side of 540.

  FIG. 14 is a top view of the glue container 525, and FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of the glue container 525.

  A plate-like heater 526 is disposed at the bottom of the glue container 525. The glue container 525 is divided by a partition wall 519 into a compartment 525a in which the glue application roller 524 is disposed and a glue replenishment compartment 525b, and a cutout is provided in a part of the partition wall 519. The glue container 525 contains glue melted in a liquid state by the heater 526. When the amount of glue in the glue container 525 decreases, the compartment 525b is replenished with solid glue. The replenished solid paste is dissolved in a liquid state by the heater 526 and sent from the compartment 525b to the compartment 525a through the notch in the partition wall 519.

  As shown in FIG. 15, a glue temperature detection thermistor 535 is disposed at a low position on the inner wall of the compartment 525a, and a glue amount detection thermistor 536 is disposed at a high position. When the glue liquid level falls below the glue amount detection thermistor 536, a difference is generated between the temperature detected by the glue amount detection thermistor 536 and the temperature detected by the glue temperature detection thermistor 535 below the glue liquid level. This is used to detect that the amount of glue in the glue container 525 has decreased, and notify the user. The user who has received this notification replenishes the compartment 525b with solid glue.

  Further, in order to keep the glue in the glue container 525 in a melted state, it is necessary to keep the temperature of the glue within a predetermined temperature range, and the glue temperature detection thermistor 535 is provided in the glue container 525. Detect glue temperature. Then, if the detected temperature rises above a predetermined upper limit temperature, the temperature of the heater 526 is lowered, and if the detected temperature falls below the predetermined lower limit temperature, the paste temperature adjustment control is performed so as to raise the temperature of the heater 526.

  By the way, in the glue container 525, as described above, heating by the heater 526 is performed in order to melt the solid glue into a liquid and to keep the liquid glue in a predetermined temperature range. If heating is repeated without the paste being consumed and the solid paste being replenished, the moisture content of the paste decreases and the viscosity of the paste increases. When the viscosity of the glue increases, the glue layer Gr formed on the outer periphery of the glue application roller 524 becomes difficult to adhere to the sheet bundle 540. Therefore, a plurality of glue application methods are prepared, the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525 is detected, and the glue application method for the sheet bundle 540 is selected according to the detected viscosity.

  Specifically, after the gluing unit 585 moves from the front side to the back side of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500, a plurality of positions are prepared for stopping on the lower side of the sheet bundle 540 for gluing operation. That is, a plurality of distances L (FIG. 13) from the outer peripheral surface of the glue application roller 524 to the lower surface of the sheet bundle 540 are prepared, and the distance L is selected according to the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525. To do. For example, 1 mm and 2 mm are prepared as the distance L, 2 mm is selected when the viscosity of the glue is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and 1 mm is selected when it is larger than the predetermined threshold value. That is, when the viscosity of the glue is high, the glue application roller 524 and the sheet bundle 540 are brought close to each other so that the amount of the glue layer Gr (FIG. 13) on the glue application roller 524 in contact with the sheet bundle 540 is increased. , The adhesive is easily attached to the sheet bundle 540.

  In the above configuration, the distance L from the outer peripheral surface of the glue application roller 524 to the lower side surface of the sheet bundle 540 is switched according to the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525. The configuration may be as follows. That is, the gluing unit 585 rises to the lower side of the sheet bundle 540 and stops at a predetermined position, and then moves from the front side to the back side of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500 in order to glue the sheet bundle 540. A plurality of moving speeds V are prepared. And the moving speed V is selected from among them according to the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525. For example, 300 mm / s and 200 mm / s are prepared as the moving speed V, 300 mm / s is selected when the viscosity of the glue is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, and 200 mm / s is selected when it is larger than the predetermined threshold value. . That is, when the viscosity of the glue is high, the moving speed of the glue unit 585 is slowed to increase the time during which the glue layer Gr on the glue application roller 524 contacts the sheet bundle 540, whereby the glue is applied to the sheet bundle 540. Make it easy to adhere.

  In the two configurations described above, the viscosity of the glue is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and the distance L or the moving speed is switched according to the result. Instead, it is proportional to the viscosity of the glue. Then, the value of the distance L or the moving speed may be set.

  Furthermore, the above two configurations may be combined.

  Next, a method for determining the viscosity of the glue will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing changes in the viscosity of the glue with time. Here, a first determination method for determining the viscosity of the paste by estimating the viscosity of the paste based on the elapsed time from when the paste container 525 is replenished with the solid paste will be described.

  As described above, when the glue is continuously heated without performing the bookbinding process, or when the amount of glue consumed is small even if the bookbinding process is performed, the solid glue is not replenished. Over time, the viscosity of the glue increases.

  That is, after the previous replenishment of the solid paste, if the predetermined time T1 has elapsed without the current replenishment of the solid paste, it is determined that the viscosity of the paste has exceeded a predetermined threshold. According to this determination, the distance L or the moving speed is switched.

  After that, bookbinding processing is performed, and it is detected by the glue amount detection thermistor 536 and the glue temperature detection thermistor 535 that the amount of glue in the glue container 525 has decreased, and as a result, the solid glue is replenished when time T2 has elapsed. Suppose. Accordingly, it is determined that the newly refilled glue and the glue remaining in the glue container 525 are mixed, the viscosity of the glue is lowered, and the glue viscosity is returned to a predetermined threshold value or less.

  When the bookbinding process is continuously performed after the solid glue is replenished at the elapse of time T2, the solid glue is replenished before the viscosity of the glue exceeds a predetermined threshold (at time T3). Therefore, it is determined that the adhesive viscosity is a predetermined threshold value.

  At the two timings when the fixed glue is replenished at the time T2 and the time T3, the glue viscosity before replenishment is different from each other. For this reason, the first determination method for determining that the viscosity of the paste has exceeded a predetermined threshold value after the elapse of the predetermined time T1 has a difficulty in determination accuracy. In the second discrimination method described below, such a difficulty in determination accuracy is overcome.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the glue container 525 that employs the second discrimination method for discriminating the viscosity of glue.

  Here, a rotating member 599 composed of four wings is provided in the glue container 525, and this rotating member 599 is driven at a constant speed by a motor (not shown). 17A is a side sectional view of the glue container 525 including the rotating member 599, and FIG. 17B is a plan view showing the rotating member 599.

  When the motor tries to drive the rotating member 599 at a constant speed, the motor load increases as the viscosity of the glue increases. Therefore, the motor drive current when driving at a constant speed is detected, and the viscosity of the glue is detected based on this current value.

(Adhesive part C of the glue binding apparatus)
FIG. 18 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the bonding portion C of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  The bonding portion C includes conveyance guides 560 and 561, a pressure member 563, and folding members 562 and 564. The conveyance guides 560 and 561 are for receiving and conveying the cover sheet 550 supplied from the image forming apparatus 10 and stopping it at a predetermined position. The pressure member 563 is for pressing the cover sheet 550 against the glue application surface of the sheet bundle 540. The folding members 562 and 564 are used when the sheet bundle 540 is wrapped with the cover sheet 550.

  Next, the operation of the bonding portion C will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 19 to 25 are diagrams showing a process of wrapping the sheet bundle 540 with the cover sheet 550, which is performed in the bonding portion C. FIG.

  After the pasting operation on the sheet bundle 540 is finished, the pasting gripper 523 that grips the sheet bundle 540 is lowered from the pasting portion B by a driving unit (not shown). Then, the glue application surface of the sheet bundle 540 is adhered to the cover sheet 550 prepared in the horizontal direction by the conveyance guides 560 and 561 (see FIG. 18).

  After the bonding, the gluing gripper 523 is lowered, and the bonding portion of the cover sheet 550 placed on the pressure member 563 is pressed and bonded to the bonding surface of the sheet bundle 540. Before the pressure application surface is pressed by lowering the sheet bundle 540, the upper part of the conveyance guide 560 and the upper part of the conveyance guide 561 are retracted to prevent interference with the sheet bundle 540 (see FIG. 19).

  After bonding the cover sheet 550 to the sheet bundle 540, the folding members 562 and 564, the lower part of the conveyance guide 560, and the lower part of the conveyance guide 561 are raised obliquely upward by the driving means (not shown) leaving the pressure member 563, Move from the broken line position to the solid line position. As the folding members 562 and 564 rise obliquely upward, the cover sheet 550 is pushed upward, the cover sheet 550 is bent from the side edge portion of the glue application surface, and the sheet bundle 540 is wrapped (see FIG. 20).

  After the cover processing of the cover sheet 550 is completed, the folding members 562 and 564, the lower part of the conveyance guide 560, and the lower part of the conveyance guide 561 are retracted from the broken line position to the solid line position by a driving unit (not shown). At the same time, the pressure member 563 is also moved in the horizontal direction by a driving means (not shown). By the horizontal movement of the pressure member 563, a space is secured in which the booklet 570 (the combined product of the sheet bundle 540 and the cover 550) can be lowered by the lowering means (not shown) of the glue gripper 523 (see FIG. 21). .

  The booklet 570 is lowered below the conveyance guide 560 and the conveyance guide 561 by the lowering means of the gluing gripper 523, and is lowered to a position where the lower end of the booklet 570 contacts the trim unit delivery rollers 565 and 566 (see FIG. 22). .

  Thereafter, the glue gripper 523 that grips the booklet 570 releases the grip of the booklet 570, and the booklet 570 is simultaneously conveyed downward by the trim unit delivery rollers 565 and 566 (see FIG. 23).

  The booklet 570 is transported downward by the trim unit delivery rollers 565 and 566 and transported to a predetermined position, and then the transport of the booklet 570 is stopped. Thereafter, the trim gripper 512 grips the booklet 570 by driving means (not shown) (see FIG. 24).

  Then, a lowering means (not shown) of the trim gripper 512 lowers the booklet 570 downward and lowers the booklet 570 to the position of the cutting part D. At this time, the pressing member 563 that has moved in the horizontal direction moves to a position where the cover can be pressed in the bonding portion C (see FIG. 25).

(Cutting part D of glue binding apparatus)
Next, the operation of the cutting unit D of the glue binding apparatus 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 26 to FIG. 29 are diagrams showing steps of shaping the booklet 570 performed in the cutting unit D, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 25, after the booklet 570 is moved to the cutting part D by the trim gripper 512, the trim gripper 512, the cutter 528, and the cutting waste receiving box 533 are interlocked to cut each end of the booklet 570. .

  That is, before cutting by the cutter 528, the cutting waste receiving box 533 moves below the booklet 570 (see FIG. 26), and the cutter 528 cuts one side of the booklet 570 (see FIG. 27). At this time, the cutting waste is stored in the cutting waste receiving box 533 waiting under the booklet 570. Thereafter, the cutter 528 is driven in the reverse direction to move to the retracted position, and the cutting waste receiving box 533 also moves to the retracted position (see FIG. 28).

  The above-described cutting for the booklet 570 is performed on the three sides of the fore edge and top and bottom. That is, since the booklet 570 is moved with the spine end portion down, the rotatable trim gripper 512 is rotated 90 degrees to rotate the booklet 570 by 90 degrees, and then the booklet 570 is trimmed. (See FIG. 29). Next, the trim gripper 512 is rotated 90 degrees in the same direction, and the front edge of the booklet 570 is cut. Further, the trim gripper 512 is rotated 90 degrees in the same direction, and the top side of the booklet 570 is cut. Thereby, the cutting of the three sides of the booklet 570 excluding the end portion of the spine cover is completed.

  Note that the booklet 570 is further rotated 90 degrees by the trim gripper 512, as shown in FIG. 30E, in order to convey the cut booklet 570 to the bookbinding discharge unit described later with the spine portion down. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a procedure for rotating the booklet 570 by the trim gripper 512 in the cutting part D of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  The cutting waste receiving box 533 moves between a retracted position when the cutting operation is not performed and a waste receiving position during the cutting operation. The retracted position of the cutting waste receiving box 533 is located above the cutting waste box 532. Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the bottom plate portion of the cutting waste receiving box 533 is configured to be openable, and when moved to the retracted position, the bottom plate portion of the cutting waste receiving box 533 is opened and the cutting waste receiving box 533 is opened. The inside cutting waste is stored in the cutting waste box 532. FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a cutting waste receiving box 533 and a cutting waste box 532 in the cutting section D of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

(Binding discharge section E of the glue binding apparatus)
FIG. 32 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the bookbinding discharge portion E of the gluing bookbinding apparatus 500.

  The bookbinding discharge unit E includes a trim gripper 512, a bookbinding discharge unit entrance roller 515, a bookbinding stacking plate 529, a bookbinding support plate 530, a stacking stabilization plate 534, and a discharge conveyance belt 531. The trim gripper 512 conveys the booklet 570 from the cutting unit D to the bookbinding discharge unit E. The bookbinding discharge unit entrance roller 515 conveys the booklet 570 to the bookbinding discharge unit E. The bookbinding stack 529 temporarily stacks the conveyed booklet 570. The bookbinding support plate 530 and the stacking stabilization plate 534 are for stably supporting the booklet 570 in the vertical direction. The discharge conveyance belt 531 is for moving the bookbinding support plate 530 in the horizontal direction.

  Next, the operation of the bookbinding discharge unit E will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 33 to 35 are diagrams showing a process of discharging the booklet 570 performed in the bookbinding discharge unit E. FIG.

  The booklet 570 after the cutting operation is conveyed to a bookbinding discharge unit entrance roller 515 directly under the cutting unit D by a lowering unit of a trim gripper 512 (not shown). The booklet 570 is conveyed by the bookbinding discharge unit entrance roller 515, while the trim gripper 512 releases the support of the booklet 570 and moves to a predetermined position of the bonding unit C. At this time, in the bookbinding discharge section E, the bookbinding stack 529 is tilted to the right in the plane of FIG. 32, and the booklet 570 is stacked on the bookbinding stack 529 by the bookbinding discharge section entrance roller 515 (FIG. 32). reference).

  Thereafter, the bookbinding stacking plate 529 that has fallen stands upright in the vertical direction, and the booklet 570 is supported in a vertical state by the bookbinding support plate 530. Then, the stacking stability plate 534 below the discharge conveyance belt 531 is moved upward by a lifting means (not shown), and the booklet support plate 530 and the stacking stabilization plate 534 support the booklet 570 (see FIG. 33).

  Thereafter, the bookbinding support plate 530 is moved to the left in the paper surface of FIG. 34 by the discharge conveyance belt 531 to secure a discharge space when the next booklet 571 is conveyed (see FIG. 34).

  By securing a discharge space for the next booklet 571 and performing the above-described discharge operation on the booklet 571, the booklet 571 is stacked vertically next to the booklet 570 (see FIG. 35).

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525 is higher than a predetermined threshold, the distance L from the outer peripheral surface of the glue application roller 524 to the lower side of the sheet bundle 540 is narrowed. Like that. Alternatively, when the viscosity of the glue G in the glue container 525 is higher than a predetermined threshold, the moving speed V of the glue unit 585 is slowed down. Accordingly, an appropriate amount of glue can be applied even when the viscosity of the glue increases without adding a configuration for keeping the glue viscosity constant.

[Other Embodiments]
The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a glue binding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the glue binding apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the bookbinding apparatus control part which controls a glue binding apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow until a paper P reaches a paper stacking unit A in the gluing bookbinding apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow from a paper stacking unit A to an upper part of a gluing unit B in a gluing bookbinding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the rotation of the sheet | seat bundle | flux performed in the gluing part B of the gluing bookbinding apparatus, and paper feed of the cover sheet Pc. It is a figure which shows conveyance of the cover sheet Pc performed in the gluing part B of a gluing bookbinding apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the feeding of a cover sheet Pc from the inserter to the glue binding apparatus and the upward movement of the glue part B of the sheet bundle. It is a figure which shows conveyance with the glue binding apparatus of the cover sheet Pc supplied from the inserter. It is a figure which shows the structure of the gluing part B of a gluing bookbinding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the gluing operation | movement in the gluing part B of a gluing bookbinding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the gluing operation | movement in a gluing unit. It is a top view of a paste container. It is a sectional side view of a paste container. It is a figure which shows the change of the viscosity of the glue with progress of time. It is a figure which shows the structure of the glue container which employ | adopted the 2nd discrimination method which discriminate | determines the viscosity of glue. It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of the adhesion part C of a glue binding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 1st process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover. It is a figure which shows the 2nd process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover sheet. It is a figure which shows the 3rd process of wrapping a sheet bundle with a cover sheet performed in the adhesion part. It is a figure which shows the 4th process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover sheet. It is a figure which shows the 5th process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover sheet. It is a figure which shows the 6th process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover sheet. It is a figure which shows the 7th process performed in the adhesion part C to wrap a sheet bundle with a cover sheet. It is a figure which shows the 1st process performed in the cutting part D to shape a booklet. It is a figure which shows the 2nd process of shaping the booklet performed in the cutting part D. FIG. It is a figure which shows the 3rd process performed in the cutting part D which shapes a booklet. It is a figure which shows the 4th process performed in the cutting part D, and shape | molds a booklet. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the rotation of the booklet by the trim gripper in the cutting part D of the glue binding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the cutting waste receptacle box and the cutting waste box in the cutting part D of a glue binding apparatus. It is a sectional side view which shows the structure of the bookbinding discharge | emission part E of a glue binding apparatus. It is a figure which shows the 1st process performed in the bookbinding discharge | emission part E which discharges | emits a booklet. It is a figure which shows the 2nd process of discharging a booklet performed in the bookbinding discharge part E. FIG. It is a figure which shows the 3rd process of discharging a booklet performed in the bookbinding discharge part E. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 100 Document feeding apparatus 200 Image reader 300 Inserter 350 Printer 400 Post-processing apparatus 500 Gluing bookbinding apparatus 512 Trim gripper 520 Paper stacking tray 522 Gluing roller control motor 523 Gluing gripper 524 Glue application roller (glue application means)
525 Glue container 527 Cutter control motor 528 Cutter 529 Bookbinding stack 530 Bookbinding support plate 532 Cut waste box 533 Cut waste receiving box 534 Stack stabilization plate 535 Glue temperature detection thermistor 536 Glue amount detection thermistor 581 Glue control unit (change means, detection means) , Control means)
599 Rotating member (detection means)
600 Operation display device

Claims (12)

In a gluing bookbinding device that creates a booklet by gluing the back of a stack of paper and attaching a cover to the back.
Glue application means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle;
Changing means for changing the distance between the glue applying means and the back of the sheet bundle;
Detecting means for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
A gluing bookbinding apparatus, comprising: control means for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected by the detecting means.   The control means causes the changing means to set the distance to a first value when the viscosity detected by the detecting means is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the change is made when the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value. 2. The gluing bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance is set to a second value smaller than the first value. In a gluing bookbinding device that creates a booklet by gluing the back of a stack of paper and attaching a cover to the back.
Glue application means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle;
Changing means for changing the moving speed of the glue applying means along the back of the sheet bundle;
Detecting means for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
A gluing bookbinding apparatus, comprising: control means for operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected by the detecting means.   The control means causes the changing means to set the moving speed to a first value when the viscosity detected by the detection means is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and when the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value, The gluing and binding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a changing unit is configured to set the moving speed to a second value that is slower than the first value.   The detection means estimates the viscosity of the glue based on the elapsed time from the time when the solid glue is replenished in the glue container storing the glue applied by the glue application means, and the estimated viscosity is calculated. 4. The gluing bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity is to be detected. The detection means includes
Agitating means for agitating the glue contained in a glue container in which the glue to be applied by the glue applying means is stored;
A drive motor for driving the stirring means;
Current detection means for detecting a load current value of the drive motor,
The gluing bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the detection means converts a load current value detected by the current detection means into a viscosity of the glue. A paste applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle; and a changing means for changing a distance between the glue applying means and the back of the paper bundle. In the gluing control method applied to the gluing bookbinding apparatus that creates a booklet by gluing the back of the back and adhering a cover to the back,
A detecting step for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
And a control step of operating the changing means according to the viscosity detected by the detection step.   In the control step, when the viscosity detected in the detection step is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the changing unit is configured to set the distance to a first value, and when the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value, the change is performed. The gluing control method according to claim 7, further comprising: causing the distance to be set to a second value smaller than the first value. A glue applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle, and a changing means for changing the moving speed of the glue applying means along the back of the sheet bundle, In a gluing control method applied to a gluing bookbinding apparatus that performs gluing on the back of a bundle of sheets and attaches a cover to the back to create a booklet,
A detecting step for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
And a control step of operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected in the detection step.   In the control step, when the viscosity detected in the detection step is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the changing unit is configured to set the moving speed to a first value, and when the viscosity is higher than the predetermined value, The gluing control method according to claim 9, wherein a changing unit is configured to set the moving speed to a second value slower than the first value. A paste applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle; and a changing means for changing a distance between the glue applying means and the back of the paper bundle. In a program for causing a computer to execute a gluing control method applied to a gluing bookbinding apparatus that creates a booklet by gluing the back of the back and attaching a cover to the back.
A detecting step for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
And a control step of operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected by the detection step. A glue applying means for applying glue to the back while moving along the back of the sheet bundle, and a changing means for changing the moving speed of the glue applying means along the back of the sheet bundle, In a program for causing a computer to execute a gluing control method that is applied to a gluing bookbinding apparatus that creates a booklet by gluing the back of a sheet bundle and bonding a cover to the back.
A detecting step for detecting the viscosity of the glue applied by the glue applying means;
A control step of operating the changing means in accordance with the viscosity detected in the detection step.

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