JP2008273099A - Sheet processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing apparatus which can raise productivity, and at the same time, can perform book-making by surely bonding sheets, and to provide an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When a book-making is performed by bonding sheets to each other under a state in which a plurality of sheets P are stacked, a controller 57 controls the adhesive discharging motion of a lower glue discharging nozzle 52 and an upper glue discharging nozzle 53 through a first actuator 54 and a second actuator 55, and the adhesive is selectively applied on the first surface and the second surface of the sheet P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for binding a sheet on which an image is formed with an adhesive.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine of these, an adhesive, for example, glue is applied to a predetermined position of a sheet on which an image is formed, thereby binding the sheets to each other and binding. Some have a sheet processing apparatus.

  In such a conventional sheet processing apparatus, as a method of applying glue (adhesive) to a sheet on which an image has been formed, the glue is applied by bringing a glue wheel whose glue is supplied to the outer peripheral surface into contact with the sheet. There are a method of applying to a sheet and a method of discharging glue onto a sheet using a glue discharge nozzle.

  Here, for example, in the case of a method of applying glue to a sheet using a glue discharge nozzle, in order to make the glue application position highly accurate, the sheet is stopped or the sheet conveyance speed is reduced when applying glue (for example, patents) Reference 1).

JP 2002-273298 A

  However, in such a conventional sheet processing apparatus, when the sheets are glued, the glue is applied only to one of the sheets, so the time between the application of the glue and the bonding of the two sheets When time is required, the paste may change in quality and a sufficient adhesive strength may not be obtained.

  Further, in order to guarantee the accuracy of the glue application position, it is necessary to reduce the sheet conveying speed for each sheet at the time of applying glue, which significantly reduces productivity.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can improve productivity and can reliably bind and bind sheets. It is intended to do.

  The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that applies an adhesive to a sheet, bonds the sheets in a stacked state, and binds the book, wherein the first adhesive application unit applies the adhesive to the first surface of the sheet; A second adhesive application portion provided opposite to the first adhesive application portion and applying an adhesive to a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet, the first of the sheet The first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled to selectively apply an adhesive to the surface and the second surface.

  As in the present invention, when the sheets are bonded to each other, the first and second adhesive application portions are controlled so that the adhesive is selectively applied to the first and second surfaces of the sheet. By doing so, productivity can be improved and bookbinding can be performed with the sheet adhered securely.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 100 is a copying machine, 101 is a copying machine body, 3 is an automatic document feeder (ADF) provided on the upper surface of the copying machine body 101, and 31 is a bookbinding process for sheets discharged from the copying machine body 101. The finisher is a sheet processing apparatus that performs the above.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 102 denotes an image reader unit (image input device) that converts a document into image data, and 103 includes sheet cassettes 21a to 21c, which output image data as a visible image on a sheet by a print command. A printer unit which is an image forming unit.

  In the copying machine 100 configured as described above, when an image is read and an image is formed, first, the document D stacked upward on the document tray 4 of the automatic document feeder 3 is sequentially placed one sheet from the top page. Feeds left one by one. Thereafter, the platen glass 2 is flowed from the left through a curved path and conveyed to the right through the reading position.

  Here, when the document D passes through the sink reading position on the platen glass 2 from the left to the right as described above, the document image is read by the scanner unit 104 held at a position corresponding to the sink reading position. This reading method is generally referred to as document scanning.

  Specifically, when the document D flows and passes through the reading position, the reading surface of the document D is irradiated with light from the lamp 5 of the scanner unit 104, and reflected light from the document is formed by the mirrors 6-8. The light is guided to the lens 9 through the bent optical path. The light that has passed through the lens 9 forms an image on the imaging surface on the image sensor (CCD element) 10 and is read as image data.

  In this way, by transporting the document D so as to pass through the flow reading position from left to right, the width direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the document D, is set as the main scanning direction, and the transport direction is the sub-scanning direction. Is scanned. That is, when the document D passes the reading position, the document image is read in the sub-scanning direction while reading the document image line by line by the image sensor 10 in the main scanning direction.

  Thereafter, the optically read original image is converted into image data by the image sensor 10 and output. The image data output from the image sensor 10 in this way is input as a video signal to an exposure control unit (not shown) provided in the printer unit 103 after being subjected to predetermined processing.

  The image reader unit 102 reads the document image by conveying the document onto the platen glass 2 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. Is also possible.

  Next, the exposure control unit of the printer unit 103 irradiates the photosensitive drum 13 whose surface is previously charged with laser light from the laser scanner 11 based on the input video signal. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 13. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 13 in this manner is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 14 thereafter.

  On the other hand, in parallel with the developer image forming operation, the sheet P is fed from each of the cassettes 21 a to 21 c, and the sheet P is conveyed to the registration roller 23 through the vertical path portion 22. Thereafter, the sheet P is skew-corrected by the registration roller 23 and then conveyed to a transfer unit constituted by the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer separation charger 24. When passing through the transfer portion, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 13 is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer separation charger 24.

  Next, the sheet P on which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 26, and is heated and pressed in the fixing unit 26, whereby the developer image is fixed on the sheet. After the developer image is fixed in this way, the sheet P is discharged from the printer unit 103 to the outside (finisher 31) via the discharge roller 27.

  On the other hand, the finisher 31 is for taking in a plurality of sheets from the copying machine main body 101 and bonding the plurality of taken-in sheets with glue, which is an example of an adhesive, for bookbinding. The finisher 31 includes a glue applying portion 41 that applies glue to the sheet P, an alignment unit and a pressing unit (not shown), and is formed by overlapping the sheets P to which the glue is applied while aligning them. And an alignment pressurizing unit 42 that pressurizes the glue application unit of the bundle.

  As a result, the paste is first applied to the sheet P conveyed from the copying machine main body 101 by the paste applying unit 41 in the finisher 31. Next, the sheet P on which glue has been applied by the glue applying unit 41 is conveyed to the aligning and pressing unit 42 by the paper discharge roller 50, and in this aligning and pressing unit 42, the sheet bundle is aligned and the glue applying unit is pressed. Is performed, the sheet bundle is glued and bound.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the glue application unit 41 of such a sheet processing apparatus 31.

  The adhesive application unit 41 is provided with lower and upper adhesive discharge nozzles 52 and 53 that discharge adhesive toward the front and back surfaces of the sheet P conveyed from the copier body 101. The glue application unit 41 is provided with a conveyance roller 59 for conveying the sheet P conveyed from the copying machine main body 101 to the lower and upper adhesive discharge nozzles.

  The lower glue discharge nozzle 52, which is the first adhesive application section, is glued toward the lower surface (back surface), which is the first surface of the sheet P conveyed by the conveying roller 59, by the operation of the first actuator 54. Is to be discharged. In addition, the upper glue discharge nozzle 53 that is the second adhesive application part is formed on the upper surface (front surface) that is the second surface on the opposite side of the sheet P conveyed by the conveying roller 59 by the operation of the second actuator 55. Glue is discharged toward you.

  Further, the glue application unit 41 is provided with a sheet sensor 58 for detecting the sheet P conveyed from the copying machine main body 101. When the sheet sensor 58 detects the conveyed sheet P, the detection signal is Input to the controller 57.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the control device 57 is connected to a driver 60, and the driver 60 is based on a signal from the control device 57, the motor 61 that is the drive source of the transport roller 59, and the first and first drivers. 2 Actuators 54 and 55 are driven. The control device 57 may be provided in either the sheet processing apparatus 31 or the copying machine main body 101.

  With this configuration, when the sheet sensor 58 detects the conveyed sheet P, the control device 57 drives the motor 61 to rotate the conveying roller 59 so that the sheet P is moved downward and upward in the glue discharge nozzle. Transport toward 52, 53.

  Thereafter, the control device 57 operates the first and second actuators 54 and 55 based on the detection signal from the sheet sensor 58, and the glue is conveyed by the conveying roller 59 from the lower and upper glue discharge nozzles 52 and 53. The sheet P is discharged onto the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet P. Thereby, glue is applied to the upper surface and the lower surface of the sheet P.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the glue discharge operation by the lower and upper glue discharge nozzles 52 and 53 is controlled by the number of sheets P to be bound.

  For example, when the number of sheets P to be bound is two, the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are not operated when the first sheet passes through the glue application unit 41. Glue is not discharged to both the lower surface and the upper surface. That is, the adhesive is not discharged to both the first surface and the second surface of the sheet.

  Further, when the second sheet passes through the glue application unit 41, only the first actuator 54 is operated, and the glue is applied only to the lower surface of the sheet from the lower glue discharge nozzle 52.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the glue N is not applied to the first sheet P1, and the glue N is applied only to the lower surface of the second sheet P2. In this state, the alignment pressurizing unit 42 aligns the sheet bundle and pressurizes the glue applying unit, thereby binding the two sheets P1 and P2. The glue N may be applied to the upper surface of the first sheet P1, and the glue N may not be applied to the second sheet P2.

  When the number of sheets P to be bound is an odd number of 3 or more, as shown in FIG. 4B, glue N is applied to both sides of the odd sheets P1, P3, and P5. Without applying the adhesive N, only the even number of sheets P2 and P4 are applied to both sides. In this state, the alignment pressurizing unit 42 aligns the sheet bundle and pressurizes the glue applying unit, thereby binding an odd number of sheets P1 to P5.

  Further, when the number of sheets P to be bound is an even number of four or more, as shown in FIG. 4C, glue N is applied to both sides for even-numbered sheets P2 and P4 other than the final sheet. Apply. Further, the adhesive N is applied only to the upper surface of the last sheet P5, and the double-sided adhesive N is not applied to the other sheets P1, P3, and P6. In this state, the alignment pressurizing unit 42 aligns the sheet bundle and presses the glue applying unit, thereby binding an even number of sheets P1 to P6.

  The number of sheets P to be bound is input to the control device 57 from an operation unit (not shown) provided in the copying machine main body 101 or a personal computer (not shown) connected to the copying machine main body 101.

  Next, the glue application operation according to the number of sheet bundles in the glue application unit 41 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the sheet P is fed to the glue application unit 41 and the sheet sensor 58 detects the sheet P (Y in S1), the control device 57 receives a detection signal from the sheet sensor 58, and the control device 57 detects this detection. Based on the signal, the glue application operation is started.

  Next, the control device 57 first determines whether the set number of sheets is three or more (S2). Then, when the set number is 3 or less (N in S2), that is, in the case of 2 sheets, glue is applied to the lower surface of the sheet (S3). If the set number is 3 or more (Y in S2), it is next determined whether the conveyed sheet is the last previous sheet (S4).

  Here, when the previous sheet is fed to the glue application unit 41, the automatic document feeder 3 has completed feeding all the documents. Therefore, the control device 57 determines the number of documents. By counting, it can be determined whether the sheet is the last sheet. Alternatively, based on the number of sheets set by an operation unit (not shown), the control device 57 can determine whether the conveyed sheet is the last sheet.

  Hereinafter, the case of binding an odd number of sheets and the case of binding an even number of sheets will be described.

  When binding an odd-numbered sheet, if the conveyed sheet is not the last preceding sheet or the last sheet (N in S4, N in S5), it is determined whether this sheet is an even-numbered sheet. (S6). Here, when the sheet is an even number (Y in S6), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are operated when the sheet passes through the glue application unit 41, and the lower and upper glue discharge nozzles 52 and 53 are operated. From both sides, a double-sided glue is applied to the lower and upper surfaces of the sheet (S7).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, the glue N is applied to both surfaces of the even-numbered sheet P2. When the number of sheets is an odd number (N in S6), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are not operated. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4B, the glue is not applied to the odd-numbered sheets P1 and P3. The glue N is applied to both surfaces of the even-numbered sheet and the glue is not applied to the odd-numbered sheet side until the final previous sheet is obtained in this way.

  Thereafter, when the conveyed sheet becomes the last previous sheet (Y in S4), it is determined whether the number of sheets to be bound next is an even number (S8). Here, when the number of sheets to be bound is an odd number (N in S8), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are operated, and the lower and upper adhesive discharge nozzles 52 and 53 are applied to the lower and upper surfaces of the last previous sheet. A paste is applied to the adhesive (S9). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B described above, the paste N is applied to both sides of the even-numbered sheet P4 which is the last preceding sheet.

  In the case of the final sheet (Y in S5), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are not operated. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4B, the paste is not applied to the final sheet P5.

  Next, a case where even-numbered sheets are bound will be described.

  In this case, it is determined whether the conveyed sheet is the last previous sheet (S4). If the sheet is not the last previous sheet or the last sheet (N in S4, N in S5), the next Whether the sheet is an even number is determined (S6). Here, when the sheet is an even number (Y in S6), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are operated when the sheet passes through the glue application unit 41, and the lower and upper glue discharge nozzles 52 and 53 are operated. The paste is applied to the lower and upper surfaces of the sheet (S7).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4C, the paste N is applied to both surfaces of the even-numbered sheets P2 and P4. When the number of sheets is an odd number (N in S6), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are not operated. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4C, the glue is not applied to the odd-numbered sheets P1 and P3. The glue N is applied to both surfaces of the even-numbered sheets and the glue is not applied to the odd-numbered sheets until the last previous sheet is obtained in this way.

Thereafter, when the conveyed sheet becomes the last preceding sheet (Y in S4), it is determined whether the next sheet to be bound is an even number (S8). Here, when the number of sheets to be bound is an even number (Y in S8), when the sheet passes through the glue application unit 41, only the second actuator 55 is operated, and the glue is applied only to the upper surface of the sheet from the upper glue discharge nozzle 53. (S10).
As a result, as shown in FIG. 4C, the glue N is applied only to the upper surface of the sheet P5 that is the odd-numbered sheet and the last previous sheet. In the case of the final sheet (Y in S5), the first and second actuators 54 and 55 are not operated. For this reason, no glue is applied to this sheet.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the sheets are bonded together in a state where a plurality of sheets are overlapped, the adhesive discharge operation of the lower and upper adhesive discharge nozzles 52 and 53 is controlled, and the lower surface of the sheet is controlled. The adhesive N is selectively applied to the upper surface. Specifically, of the bookbinding sheets, at least one of the two outermost sheets is not coated with glue and is sandwiched between the two outermost sheets. Glue is applied to the lower and upper surfaces of the even-numbered sheets among the sheets.

  In this way, by selectively applying the glue N to the lower and upper surfaces of the even-numbered sheets, the odd-numbered sheets can be conveyed to the aligning and pressing unit 42 without stopping, and production Can be improved.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, since glue is applied to every other sheet, every other sheet is conveyed to the aligning and pressing unit 42 without applying glue to the lower surface and the upper surface. The And since it becomes unnecessary to stop or decelerate the sheet conveyance speed, the productivity can be greatly improved.

  As described above, when binding the sheets to each other, the lower and upper adhesive discharge nozzles 52 and 53 are controlled so that the adhesive is selectively applied to the lower surface and the upper surface of the sheet, thereby improving productivity. In addition to being able to improve, it is possible to bind and bind the sheet reliably.

  In the above description, the case where the paste N is applied to the lower surface and the upper surface of the even-numbered sheet has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two sheets positioned on the outermost side of the sheet bundle, for example, P1 and P5 shown in FIG. And the other sheets P2 to P4 may be coated with glue N on the lower surface and the upper surface.

  And, by applying the glue N to each sheet in this way, that is, by applying the glue to both of the two sheets to be bonded, the glue and the glue are bonded, so that sufficient adhesive force is obtained. I can get it. As a result, it is possible to reliably bind and bind the sheets.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a copier that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of the paste application part provided in the said sheet processing apparatus. The control block diagram of the said paste application part. The figure explaining the application | coating method according to the number of bookbinding by the said glue application part. The flowchart explaining the glue application | coating operation | movement according to the number of sheet bundles in the said glue application part.

Explanation of symbols

31 Finisher 41 Glue Application Unit 42 Alignment Pressurization Unit 52 Lower Glue Discharge Nozzle 53 Upper Glue Discharge Nozzle 54 First Actuator 55 Second Actuator 57 Control Device 58 Sheet Sensor 59 Conveyance Roller 100 Copier 101 Copier Main Body 103 Printer Portion P Sheet

Claims (7)

In a sheet processing apparatus that applies an adhesive to a sheet and bonds and binds the sheets in a stacked state,
A first adhesive application section for applying an adhesive to the first surface of the sheet;
A second adhesive application portion that is provided opposite to the first adhesive application portion and applies an adhesive to a second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet;
With
The sheet processing apparatus, wherein the first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled to selectively apply an adhesive to the first surface and the second surface of the sheet.   2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled so as not to apply adhesive to both the first surface and the second surface of the sheet. Processing equipment.   Of the sheets to be bound, at least one of the two outermost sheets is not coated with glue, and is sandwiched between the two outermost sheets. The first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled so as to apply an adhesive to the first surface and the second surface of even-numbered sheets of the sheets. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   In the case where the number of sheets to be bound is an odd number of 3 or more, the first adhesive is applied so that the two sheets positioned on the outermost side of the bound sheets are not glued. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled.   When the number of sheets to be bound is an even number of 4 or more, glue is applied only to the outermost sheet side of the sheet to be bonded to the outermost sheet of the bound sheets. 4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled so as to be applied. 5.   Among the sheets to be bound, glue is applied to one side of each of the two outermost sheets, and the first surface and the first of the sheets sandwiched between the two outermost sheets The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive application unit and the second adhesive application unit are controlled so that adhesive is applied to two surfaces.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which bonds an image forming unit and a sheet on which an image is formed in the image forming unit.

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