JP2009161349A - Sheet stacking device, image forming system, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance workability after taking a saddle-stitch booklet out of a stacking tray. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming system has an image forming device for forming an image on a sheet with an image forming means, a sheet processing device for saddle-stitching or face-to-face folding a booklet (a bundle of sheets) 25 formed of a plurality of sheets, which are respectively formed with an image by the image forming device, and a sheet stacking device for stacking the bundles of sheets processed by the sheet processing device in a nearly horizontal direction, sequentially shifting them in order. When sequentially shifting the booklets 25 in order so as to stack them in the nearly horizontal direction on a stacking tray 12 of a tray unit 15 structuring the sheet stacking device, the feed amount of the booklets 25 to be loaded at a transition point is changed so as to change an interval between the booklets 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus for stacking a bundle of sheet-like recording media (hereinafter simply referred to as “sheets”), and an image forming apparatus including the sheet stacking apparatus. In this way, the present invention relates to the respective devices that are loaded.

  In recent years, as an image forming apparatus system, an optional apparatus capable of performing various post-processing on a sheet after image formation has been set. Among post-processing, an increasing number of so-called saddle-stitched booklets can be created in which the central portion of a sheet bundle is stapled and then folded in half to form a booklet. The saddle-stitched booklet is discharged and stacked as it is, or is discharged and stacked after the edges are trimmed by a edge cutter called a trimmer. However, in the saddle stitching process, the flow of the sheet is different from the stipple process that binds the other end portions, and the sheet discharge outlet for discharging is often dedicated to saddle stitching. Saddle-stitched booklet is created by folding a bundle of bound sheets at the center, or by stacking the folded sheets at the center and then binding the center, creating a swell in the booklet, like edge binding, After creating a booklet, it is difficult to stack the booklet. Therefore, there are many things that use a stacking method in which they are arranged in a horizontal direction while shifting little by little obliquely.

As this type of technology, for example, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is known. This document includes an unloading unit that sequentially unloads a plurality of booklets, a transfer unit that sequentially unloads a plurality of booklets that are sequentially unloaded from the unloading unit, and the transfer unit. And a transfer control unit that controls the transfer amount per booklet in the transfer unit to a transfer amount corresponding to the amount of booklets loaded on the stacker. A booklet loading device is disclosed.
JP 2007-119089 A

  However, the conventional stacking method in which parts are stacked and stacked one after another cannot be shifted and stacked like edge binding, so for example, when multiple jobs of the same paper size are executed In some cases, it is difficult to recognize the change of the job on the stacking tray. For example, FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a stacking form of the saddle stitch booklet 25 on the saddle stitch stacking tray according to the conventional example, and shows the cutting device 11 and the saddle stitch booklet stacking tray 12 as viewed from above. As can be seen from the figure, if the same size booklet 25 is shifted and stacked in order, the change of the job cannot be distinguished. Therefore, when taking out the booklet from the stacking tray 12 and sorting it, it is necessary to check the change of the job by checking the difference between the booklets 25. As a result, unnecessary time is required for sorting, and there is a problem in workability after paper discharge.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve workability after taking out the saddle stitch booklet from the stacking tray.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first means discharges the sheet bundle while sequentially shifting the sheet bundle, and stacks the sheet bundle in the substantially horizontal direction while sequentially shifting the sheet bundle. Means is provided for changing the feed amount of the sheet bundle to be stacked at the turn of the job. In this case, the sheet bundle may be saddle-stitched or folded, and further may be a sheet bundle subjected to saddle stitching and saddle stitching.

  The second means performs an saddle stitching process and a middle folding process on an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by the image forming means, and a sheet bundle that includes a plurality of sheets formed by the image forming apparatus. In an image forming system having a sheet processing apparatus to be applied and a sheet stacking apparatus that sequentially shifts and stacks sheet bundles processed by the sheet processing apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction, the sheet stacking apparatus sequentially shifts the sheet bundle. When stacking in a substantially horizontal direction, there is provided a means for changing the feed amount of the sheet bundle to be stacked at the change of job.

  In this case, the means for changing the feed amount changes the feed amount based on a signal from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, whether or not the change of the feed amount can be executed by an input operation from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus main body is set, and the changed feed amount is set by an input operation from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus main body. The Further, when the setting is a setting for changing the sheet bundle feeding amount between jobs in advance, the feeding amount is unchanged between jobs having different sheet bundle sheet sizes. When the setting is a setting for changing the sheet bundle feeding amount between jobs in advance, the feeding amount is unchanged between jobs having different sheet bundles. The means for changing the feed amount disables transmission of a signal for instructing a change in the feed amount and makes the feed amount unchanged. Further, the second means may be provided with means for sending the sheet bundle to a position where the sheet stacking device detects the fullness of the sheet bundle at the turn of the job and setting the full state.

  The third means is characterized in that the image forming apparatus includes the sheet stacking apparatus according to the first means.

  In the embodiment described later, the sheet stacking device is the tray unit 54, the means for changing the sheet bundle feed amount is the tray transport motor 59, or in addition to this, the control circuit 95 of the cutting device 11, and the image forming apparatus. Image forming is performed on the control circuit on one apparatus side, the operation panel is indicated by reference numeral 20, the means for setting the full state is the full sensor 56, the control circuit 95 of the cutting apparatus 11, and the sheet stacking apparatus is formed on the tray unit 59 and the cutting unit 11. The apparatus corresponds to reference numeral 1, and the image forming system corresponds to the image forming apparatus 1, the inserter apparatus 3, the paper folding apparatus 6, the bookbinding apparatus 7, the post-processing apparatus 9, and the cutting apparatus 11.

  According to the present invention, since the feed amount of the sheet bundle to be stacked is changed at the change of the job, the change of the job becomes clear and workability after the saddle stitch booklet is taken out from the stacking tray can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 1, the image forming system according to this embodiment basically includes an image forming apparatus 1, an inserter apparatus 3, a paper folding apparatus 6, a bookbinding apparatus 7, a post-processing apparatus 9, and a cutting apparatus 11.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP-Multi Function Peripheral), and includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 2 and an operation panel 20 with a liquid crystal display device 20b. An inserter device 3 is connected to the downstream side. The inserter device 3 has two paper trays 4 and 5, and can form a sheet on which an image has been formed, or a sheet that cannot pass through the image forming apparatus 1 independently, before or after the sheet output from the image forming apparatus 1, or arbitrarily Can be inserted between sheets.

  A paper folding device 6 capable of various types of folding such as Z-folding and tri-folding is connected downstream of the inserter device 3. Further, a bookbinding device 7 is connected downstream of the paper folding device 6. The bookbinding device 7 is a bookbinding machine such as a tape binding machine, a ring binding machine, or a case binding machine. The booklet bound by them is discharged to the bookbinding tray 8. A post-processing device 9 is connected downstream of the paper folding device 6. As will be described later, the post-processing device (finisher) 9 includes a punch device and a stipple device, and can perform punch punching and stipple binding. Further, the post-processing device 9 in the image forming system has a function capable of creating a saddle stitch booklet. Ordinary paper discharge and staple end-bound paper are discharged to the post-processing tray 10.

  Further, a cutting device 11 is connected downstream. The cutting device 11 has a function of receiving a booklet that is saddle-stitched by the post-processing device 9 and cutting and aligning the edge of the booklet. The cut booklet is discharged to the stacking tray 12 and stacked.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration between the cutting apparatus 11 and the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 95 of the cutting device 11 includes a microcomputer having a CPU 96, an I / O interface 97, and the like, and signals from the switches and sensors of the operation panel 20 of the image forming apparatus 1 main body. Input to the CPU 96 from the control circuit side of the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, detection information from various sensors in the cutting apparatus 11 is input to the CPU 96 via the I / O interface 97. In this image forming system, operation inputs of all systems are performed from the operation panel 20 of the image forming apparatus 1, and the system is controlled based on operation information from the operation panel 20. When considering the independent use of each system component device, for example, an operation panel 21 is provided in the post-processing device 9 separately from the image forming device 1, and the stacking operation is controlled based on operation information from the post-processing device 9. It is also possible to configure as described above.

  The CPU 96 drives a driving element (not shown) of the cutting apparatus 11 based on operation information input from the image forming apparatus 1 side, and performs necessary display. Note that the inserter device 3, the paper folding device 6, the bookbinding device 7 and the post-processing device 9 positioned upstream of the cutting device 11 also have the same control configuration as the cutting device 11 shown in FIG. It is connected to upstream devices and downstream devices via communication terminals TXD and RXD. As a result, the devices 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11 connected from the image forming apparatus 1 to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 1 are controlled. The image forming apparatus 1 and each of the devices 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11 are controlled by a program written in a ROM (not shown) by a CPU mounted on each of the devices 3, 6, 7, 9, and 11. This is performed by expanding the data into a RAM that is not to be stored and executing the program while storing necessary information in the RAM.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a stacking form of saddle stitch booklets on the saddle stitch stacking tray in the present embodiment. The figure shows the cutting device 11 and the saddle stitch booklet stacking tray (post-processing tray) 12 as viewed from above. Even when a booklet 25 of the same size is loaded, the space between the booklets 25 is left every time each job is switched (reference W), so that the change of job can be easily identified.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the mechanical configuration of the cutting device 11 and the saddle stitch stacking tray 12 attached to the cutting device 11 in this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof.

  In the image forming system shown in FIG. 1, sheets fed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 or the inserter apparatus 3 are saddle-stitched and bound as a sheet bundle by the post-processing apparatus 9 to form a booklet 25. The booklet 25 is discharged from the post-processing device 9 with the back side (folding side) at the tip. The cutting device 11 is located adjacent to the rear stage of the post-processing device 9 and receives the discharged saddle stitch booklet 25.

  The cutting device 11 includes a paper feeding unit 31, a positioning unit 44, a cutter unit 41, and a tray unit 54.

  The paper feed unit 31 includes an inlet guide plate 32, paper feed guides 33 and 34, a carry-in sensor 35, and a paper feed side transport motor 36. The saddle-stitched booklet 25 is fed into the paper feed unit 31 from the entrance guide plate 32 and is conveyed while being sandwiched between the upper and lower paper feed guides 33 and 34. The paper feed guides 33 and 34 are a belt having a round cross section on the upper paper feed guide 34 and a flat belt on the lower paper feed guide 33, and the booklet 25 is conveyed between the two. In order to correspond to the booklets 25 having various thicknesses, the upper paper feed guide 34 swings around a fulcrum on the entrance side, and the interval between the upper and lower guides is increased depending on the thickness of the booklet 25. .

  The positioning unit 44 includes a transport mechanism 44a, a tip stopper 44b, and a claw unit 44c, and further, a positioning side inlet roller pressure motor 45, a positioning side inlet roller pressure sensor 46, and a positioning HP sensor in connection with these drivings. 47, a claw unit press motor 48, a stopper HP sensor 49, a claw unit moving motor 50, a claw unit paper sensor 51, a positioning-side carry-out motor 52, and a discharge sensor 53 are provided.

  The booklet 25 conveyed from the paper supply unit 31 is conveyed to the positioning unit 44. The positioning unit 44 has a transport mechanism 44a using a flat belt, similarly to the paper feed guide 33 below the paper feed unit 31, and on the upper side is a movable tip for adjusting the size of the booklet 25 and the cutting width. It has a stopper 44b. As a result, the back of the booklet 25 is brought into contact with the claw (claw unit) 44c of the front end stopper 44b whose position is determined in advance by the size information of the booklet 25 transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 or the cutting position adjustment information. And the cutting position is put out. Furthermore, after positioning, it has a press mechanism including a claw unit press motor 48 for crushing and flattening the booklet 25, and crushes the booklet 25 to prepare for cutting.

  A cutter unit 41 is disposed between the paper feeding unit 31 and the positioning unit 44. The cutter type is a so-called guillotine system, which is a movable blade having an acute angle and a shearing angle in the upper blade, and a fixed blade having an obtuse edge of about 90 degrees in the lower blade. The booklet 25 whose cutting position is determined by the positioning unit 44 is cut when the upper blade of the cutter unit 41 driven by the cutter motor 42 descends. In order to prevent the stack of paper from being displaced during cutting, it has a pressing mechanism. When the upper blade is lowered, the pressing mechanism strongly presses and holds one side near the cutting portion of the booklet 25, and then The upper blade descends to cut the booklet 25. Reference numeral 43 denotes a home position sensor for detecting the home position of the cutter.

  The cutting waste cut by the cutter unit 41 is dropped by gravity as it is and then dropped into the trash box 37 installed under the cutting portion. The recycle bin 37 is provided with a sensor 38 for detecting the fullness of the cutting waste in the recycle bin and a sensor 39 for detecting the set of the recycle bin.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tray unit 54 includes a paper discharge lever 55, a first full sensor 56, a second full sensor 57, a remaining paper sensor 58, and a tray transport motor 59. The booklet 25 with the cut edge is released from the pressing pressure, is transported to the paper discharge section by the transport mechanism below the positioning unit 44, and is discharged onto the stacking tray 12 by a paper discharge roller (not shown). On the stacking tray 12, a pair of flat belts 24 and a driving mechanism for the flat belts 24 are provided so that the booklet 25 can be conveyed and the stacking posture can be adjusted, and the belt 24 moves each time the booklet 25 is discharged. The booklet 25 is conveyed little by little. By changing the movement amount of the belt 24 according to the size and thickness of the booklet 25, the amount of overlap between the booklets 25 can be adjusted, and the stacking posture can be maintained or the stacking amount can be secured. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a pair of flat belts 24 is used, but one wide flat belt or three or more flat belts may be used. If the number of belts is large, the belt may not be a flat belt, and the number and shape of the belts are not limited as long as the booklet 25 can be conveyed in a stacked state.

  The paper discharge lever 55 at the paper discharge port is provided with a second full sensor 57 for detecting the paper discharge amount by detecting the rotation angle of the lever, and a first full sensor provided in front of the front end of the stacking tray 12. The fullness of the booklet 25 on the tray is detected based on the detection relationship with the full sensor 56. Specifically, the full signal is output when the discharge lever 55 detected by the second full sensor 57 reaches a certain angle after the first full sensor 56 is turned on.

  In the present embodiment, not only the amount of belt movement between normal booklets 25 but also the amount of movement between jobs is changed by the signal from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the stacking interval between jobs is adjusted, and the stacking tray 12 It is possible to discriminate between the jobs of the booklet 25 loaded on the.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in the cutting apparatus 11 and the stacking tray 12 configured as described above. In the present embodiment, if the size of the booklet 25 is different from that of the previous job, the booklet 25 is not fed between jobs (can be selected). Each time one copy is ejected, the booklet 25 feed between copies is executed, and after the final part of the job is ejected, the booklet 25 feed between jobs is executed according to the set conditions.

  Specifically, when the job is started in the saddle stitching mode (step S101), printing is started on the image forming apparatus side (step S102), and when the printed sheet is carried into the post-processing apparatus 9, the sheet alignment is performed. A saddle stitch is performed (step S103). Next, the sheet is sent to the cutting device 11, and the cutting of the fore edge is performed by the cutter unit 41 as described above (step S104). After cutting, the booklet 25 is carried out to the tray unit 54 side by the transport mechanism (step S105).

  The operations from step S102 to step S105 are repeated up to the final booklet 25 of the job. When the final sheet of the job is reached (step S106-YES), the instruction information from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 is confirmed. In this confirmation, if the setting is not made so as to leave an interval between jobs on the stacking tray 12 (NO in step S107), the process for making an interval between jobs stops, and if the setting is made to make an interval (step S107- Further, it is checked whether or not the size of the booklet 25 of the previous job and the current job is the same based on the information from the main body of the image forming apparatus (step S108). If the sizes are not the same, the jobs can be distinguished from each other. Therefore, the job is stopped to leave an interval between jobs. It is confirmed whether or not (step S109). If it is not set to leave an interval, the process for making an interval between jobs stops, and if it is set to make an interval, tray feeding between jobs is executed (step S110), and this process is made with an interval between jobs. Finish. After a predetermined interval between jobs, the booklet 25 of the next job is discharged, and is discharged onto the stacking tray 12 with a space W as shown in FIG.

  The interval between the jobs (feed amount of the booklet 25) is set based on, for example, a program of the image forming apparatus 1 or set based on a value input from the numeric keypad 20a of the operation panel 20 shown in FIG. The interval information thus transmitted is transmitted to the cutting device 11 as a signal. In the cutting device 11, the control device 95 controls the tray conveyance motor 59 of the tray unit 54, and sends the booklet 25 so that the interval is increased. Note that it is possible to set whether or not to change the feed amount from the operation panel 20. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, setting is made so that input is possible using, for example, the sort / shift key 20c in the post-processing of the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 20b of the operation panel 20.

  In addition, when the setting is made to change the sheet bundle feeding amount between jobs in advance by the above setting, in other words, when the booklet 25 is set to be spaced between jobs, between jobs with different sheet sizes of the sheet bundle, Since the change of the job can be recognized, the feed amount is not changed. Similarly, the feed amount is unchanged between jobs with different numbers of sheets in the booklet (sheet bundle) 25. Thereby, more booklets 25 can be stacked. In order to make the feed amount unchanged, the image forming apparatus 1 recognizes the sheet size or the number of sheets. Therefore, an input for changing the booklet interval between jobs is made from the operation panel 20 of the image forming apparatus 1. Even if it is, control is performed so that a signal for instructing a change in feed amount is not transmitted from the control device side of the image forming apparatus 1 to the control device 95 side of the cutting device 11. That is, control is performed such that transmission of a signal for instructing a change in feed amount is disabled and the feed amount is not changed.

  On the other hand, when one job is to be handled independently, the booklet 25 is sent to a position where the full sensor 56 of the tray unit 54 detects that the loaded booklet 25 is full at the turn of the job. To be processed as Normally, when it is full, the process is stopped and a full notification is given. By this notification and stop processing, the user can take out only the booklet 25 loaded on the stacking tray 12 and is not confused with other jobs, so that workability can be improved. It becomes.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the finisher 9. In FIG. 8, a finisher 9 is attached to a side portion of the bookbinding apparatus 7, and the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 bypasses each apparatus through a conveyance path provided in the upper part of each apparatus and finishes. 9 is carried in. The paper passes through a transport path A having post-processing means (in this embodiment, a punch unit 451 as a punching means) for post-processing a single sheet, and is guided to a transport path B leading to the upper tray 453 and to the shift tray 454. It is configured to be distributed by a branch claw 315 and a branch claw 316 to a conveyance path D that leads to a conveyance path C and a processing tray F (hereinafter also referred to as a staple processing tray) that performs alignment, stapling, and the like.

  The paper guided to the staple processing tray F through the transport paths A and D and aligned and stapled by the staple processing tray is guided to the shift tray 454 by the branching guide plate 354 and the movable guide 355 as deflection means. The sheet C is arranged so as to be distributed to a path C, a processing tray G to be folded (hereinafter also referred to as a middle folding processing tray), and the sheet subjected to folding or the like in the middle folding processing tray G passes through the conveyance path H and is cut by the cutting device 11. Led to. A branching claw 317 is disposed in the conveyance path D and is held in the state shown in the figure by a low-load spring (not shown). After the trailing edge of the sheet passes through this, the conveyance rollers 309 and 310, the staple discharge roller 311 is configured such that at least the conveying roller 309 is reversed and the trailing edge of the sheet is guided to the sheet accommodating portion E by the pre-stack roller 308 and stays, and then can be superimposed and conveyed on the next sheet. . By repeating this operation, it is possible to convey two or more sheets in a superimposed manner.

  In a common conveyance path A upstream of the conveyance path B, the conveyance path C, and the conveyance path D, an inlet sensor 401 that detects a sheet received from the image forming apparatus, an inlet roller 301, a punch unit 451, and a punch downstream thereof. A waste hopper 452, a conveyance roller 302, a branch claw 315, and a branch claw 316 are sequentially arranged. The branch claw 315 and the branch claw 316 are held in the state shown in FIG. 1 by a spring (not shown). By turning on a solenoid (not shown), the branch claw 315 is rotated upward and the branch claw 316 is rotated downward. The paper is distributed to the conveyance path B, the conveyance path C, and the conveyance path D.

  In this paper post-processing apparatus, punching (punch unit 451), paper alignment + edge binding (jogger fence 353, edge binding stapler S1), paper alignment + saddle binding (jogger fence 353, saddle stitching stapler) S2), paper sorting (shift tray 454), center folding (folding plate 374, folding roller 381), and the like can be performed.

  The shift tray paper discharge unit located at the most downstream portion of the finisher 9 includes a shift paper discharge roller 306, a return roller 313, a paper surface detection sensor 403, and a shift tray 454. The shift mechanism and the shift tray lifting mechanism are used. Shift operation and tray lifting operation are performed. The return roller 313 is a sponge roller for contacting the paper discharged from the shift paper discharge roller 306 and abutting the rear end of the paper against the end fence. The return roller 313 is rotated by the rotational force of the shift paper discharge roller 306. A tray lift limit switch is provided in the vicinity of the return roller 313. When the shift tray 454 is lifted and the return roller 313 is pushed up, the tray lift limit switch is turned on and the tray lift motor is stopped. This prevents overrun of the shift tray 454. Also, a paper surface detection sensor 403 is provided in the vicinity of the return roller 313 as paper surface position detecting means for detecting the paper surface position of the paper discharged from the shift tray 454 or the paper bundle.

  In the staple processing tray F for performing the staple processing, the sheets are discharged by the staple discharge roller 311 and sequentially stacked on the staple processing tray F. In this case, alignment in the vertical direction (paper conveyance direction) is performed by the tapping roller 312 for each sheet, and alignment in the horizontal direction (direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction—also referred to as the sheet width direction) is performed by the jogger fence 353. The end-face stitching stapler S1 is driven by a staple signal from the control device between the end of the job, that is, from the last sheet of the sheet bundle to the first sheet of the next sheet bundle, and the binding process is performed. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is immediately sent to the shift paper discharge roller 306 by the discharge belt 352 on which the discharge claw 352a protrudes, and is discharged to the shift tray 454 set at the receiving position.

  The home position of the discharge claw 352a is detected by the discharge belt HP sensor 402. The discharge belt HP sensor 402 is turned on / off by a discharge claw 352a provided on the discharge belt 352. On the outer periphery of the discharge belt 352, two discharge claws 352a are arranged at opposing positions, and the sheet bundle stored in the staple processing tray F is alternately moved and conveyed. On the drive shaft of the discharge belt 352 driven by the discharge motor, the discharge belt 352 and its drive pulley are arranged at the alignment center in the paper width direction, and a plurality of discharge rollers 356 are arranged and fixed symmetrically with respect to the drive pulley. Has been. Further, the peripheral speed of these discharge rollers 356 is set to be higher than the peripheral speed of the discharge belt 352.

  The hitting roller 312 is given a pendulum motion by a hitting SOL (solenoid) around the fulcrum, and intermittently acts on the paper fed to the staple processing tray F to hit the paper against the rear end fence 351. The hitting roller 312 rotates counterclockwise. The jogger fence 353 is driven via a timing belt by a jogger motor capable of forward and reverse rotation, and reciprocates in the paper width direction. The end-face stitching stapler S1 is driven via a stapler movement timing belt by a forward / reversely movable stapler moving motor, and moves in the sheet width direction (direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction) in order to bind a predetermined position of the sheet end.

  The saddle stitching stapler S2 is arranged such that the distance from the trailing edge fence 351 to the needle striking position of the saddle stitching stapler S2 is equal to or longer than the distance corresponding to half the length in the conveyance direction of the maximum sheet size that can be saddle stitched, and Two are arranged symmetrically with respect to the alignment center in the paper width direction and fixed to the stay. Since the saddle stitching stapler S2 itself is a known configuration, a detailed description thereof is omitted here. However, when performing saddle stitching, the jogger fence 353 aligns the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction and strikes the trailing edge fence 351. After the conveyance direction of the sheet is aligned by the roller 312, the discharge belt 352 is driven and the trailing end of the sheet bundle is lifted by the discharge claw 352 a, and the central portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle is located at the binding position of the saddle stitching stapler S 2. And then stop at this position to execute the binding operation. Then, the bound sheet bundle is conveyed to the middle folding processing tray G side and folded in half. In the figure, reference numeral 404 denotes a paper presence / absence sensor that detects the presence / absence of paper on the staple processing tray F.

  The sheet bundle that has undergone saddle stitching in the staple processing tray F is folded in the middle of the sheet. This middle folding is performed in the middle folding processing tray G. For this purpose, it is necessary to transport the bound sheet bundle to the middle folding processing tray G. In this embodiment, a sheet bundle deflecting unit is provided on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the staple processing tray F, and conveys the sheet bundle to the middle folding processing tray G side.

  The sheet bundle deflection mechanism includes a branch guide plate 354 and a movable guide 355. The branch guide plate 354 is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around the fulcrum, and a rotatable pressure roller 357 is provided on the downstream side thereof. The branch guide plate 354 is pressurized toward the discharge roller 356 side by a spring (not shown). The movable guide 355 is swingably supported on the rotation shaft of the discharge roller 356, and is driven to swing around the rotation shaft of the discharge roller 356 by a drive source (not shown). In the drawing, the right end is brought into contact with each other to form a path along the outer peripheral surface of the discharge roller 356, and the sheet bundle is guided to the middle folding processing tray G side.

  The finisher 9 also includes a control circuit similar to that shown in FIG. 2 and is controlled by the CPU.

  In the finisher 9 configured as described above, the non-stipple mode (1), the non-stipple mode (2), the sort / stack mode, the staple mode, and the saddle stitch binding mode are set. The non-stipple mode (1) is a mode in which the sheet is discharged from the conveyance path A through the conveyance path B without being bound to the upper tray 453. The non-stipple mode (2) is a mode in which the paper is discharged from the conveyance path A to the shift tray 454 via the conveyance path C without binding. The sort / stack mode is a mode in which the paper is discharged from the transport path A to the shift tray 454 via the transport path C. At this time, the shift tray 454 is swung in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction at every section separation. In this mode, the sheets discharged onto the shift tray 454 are sorted. In the staple mode, the end face of the sheet bundle is bound, the sheet is conveyed to the staple processing tray F via the conveyance path A and the conveyance path D, and after alignment and binding processing are performed on the staple processing tray F, the sheet passes the conveyance path C. In this mode, the sheet is discharged to the shift tray 454. In the saddle stitch binding mode, the sheet is conveyed to the staple processing tray F through the conveyance path A and the conveyance path D, and after alignment and center binding are performed in the staple processing tray F, the sheet is further folded in the middle folding processing tray G. In this mode, the folded sheet bundle is discharged to the lower tray 203 via the conveyance path H. In this mode, both the branch claw 15 and the branch claw 16 rotate counterclockwise, and the path from the transport path A to D is opened. Further, the branch guide plate 354 and the movable guide plate 355 are closed, and the sheet bundle is guided to the center folding processing tray G, and the center folding is performed.

  The folded sheet bundle is carried out to a cutting device 11 connected to the rear stage of the finisher 9. In the cutting apparatus 11, the sheet bundle (booklet) that has been saddle-stitched and folded as described above is cut into small edges, and the booklet with the cut edges is discharged to the cutting tray 12.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is assumed to be a copying machine equipped with a scanner. However, in addition to this, a printer not equipped with a scanner, or functions of a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile are combined. You can use a digital multifunction device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
1) Since the feed amount of the booklet 25 on the stacking tray 12 is changed at the change of the job of the booklet 25, the stacking interval of the booklet 25 is changed on the stacking tray, and the boundary of the job can be easily understood. Thereby, the workability | operativity after that can be aimed at.

2) By changing the feed amount of the booklet 25 at the turn of the job by a signal from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, this function can be added with the conventional hardware configuration, and a high-performance system is greatly costly. It becomes possible to provide without up.

3) By changing the feed amount of the booklet 25 at the turn of the job by the shift ON signal or sort ON signal from the image forming apparatus 1 main body, the conventional hardware configuration, the conventional communication / command configuration Thus, this function can be added, and a high-functional system can be provided without increasing the cost.

4) Since it is possible to select whether or not to change the feed amount of the booklet 25 at the turn of the job by an operation from the operation panel 20 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, it is processed according to the user's preference. A method can be selected. As a result, a user-like system can be configured.

5) The change in the feed amount of the booklet 25 at the transition of the saddle stitching job can be achieved without increasing the cost of a user-like and high-functional system by using the sort / shift key 20c of the operation panel 20 of the system of the image forming apparatus 1 main body. Can be provided.

6) At the turn of the saddle stitching job, the booklet 25 can be sent to the position where fullness is detected on the stacking tray 12 and processed as a full state. Therefore, at the end of the job, the completion of the job can be notified as full. It becomes possible. As a result, a user-like system can be configured.

7) Since the feed amount of the booklet 25 at the turn of the saddle stitching job can be set from the operation panel 20 of the system of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the feed amount of the booklet 25 between jobs is determined from the user side. Is possible. As a result, it is possible to increase the loading capacity according to the user's preference, or to make an interval, so that a more user-like system can be configured.

8) When the saddle-stitch booklet 25 has different sheet sizes or between saddle-stitched jobs with different sheet numbers, the booklet 25 between jobs is set even when the feed amount of the booklet 25 between jobs is changed. Since it is possible to select not to send a signal for changing the feed amount, even when the booklet 25 is set to change the interval between the jobs with different booklet 25 sizes or between the saddle stitching jobs with different number of sheets, It is possible to set so as not to change the interval, whereby the load capacity can be increased, the processing method can be selected according to the user's preference, and a more functional and easy-to-use system can be provided.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, It cannot be overemphasized that all the technical matters contained in the technical idea described in the claim are object.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which mainly shows the control structure of a cutting device. It is a top view which shows an example of the stacking form of the saddle stitch booklet on the saddle stitch stacking tray in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline of the mechanical structure of the saddle stitching stacking tray attached to the cutting apparatus and cutting apparatus in this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the outline of the saddle stitching stacking tray attached to the cutting apparatus and cutting apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure in the cutting apparatus and stacking tray in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the liquid crystal display screen of the operation panel in FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the finisher. It is a top view which shows the example of the stacking form of the saddle stitch booklet 25 on the saddle stitch stacking tray which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 2 ADF
Reference Signs List 3 Inserter device 6 Paper folding device 7 Bookbinding device 8 Bookbinding tray 9 Post-processing device (Finisher)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Cutting apparatus 12 Stacking tray 20 Image forming apparatus operation panel 20a Numeric keypad 20b Liquid crystal display device 21 Inserter apparatus operation panel 25 (Saddle stitching) Booklet 54 Tray unit 56, 57 Full sensor 59 Tray conveyance motor

Claims (12)

In a sheet stacking device that discharges a sheet bundle while sequentially shifting the stack, and stacks it in a substantially horizontal direction.
A sheet stacking apparatus comprising: means for changing a feeding amount of a sheet bundle to be stacked at a change of a job when the sheet bundle is sequentially shifted and stacked in a substantially horizontal direction. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A sheet stacking apparatus, wherein the sheet bundle is a folded sheet bundle. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A sheet stacking apparatus, wherein the sheet bundle is a saddle-stitched and folded sheet bundle. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by image forming means;
A sheet processing apparatus that performs a saddle stitching process and a middle folding process on a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets image-formed by the image forming apparatus;
A sheet stacking apparatus that sequentially shifts a stack of sheets processed by the sheet processing apparatus and stacks them in a substantially horizontal direction;
In an image forming system having
An image forming system comprising: means for changing a feed amount of a sheet bundle to be stacked at a change of a job when the sheet stacking apparatus sequentially shifts the sheet bundle and stacks the sheet bundle in a substantially horizontal direction. The image forming system according to claim 4.
The image forming system characterized in that the means for changing the feed amount changes the feed amount based on a signal from the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming system according to claim 5.
The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the change of the feed amount is executable is set by an input operation from an operation panel of the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming system according to claim 5.
The changed feed amount is set by an input operation from an operation panel of the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming system according to claim 7.
2. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the setting is a setting for changing a sheet bundle feeding amount between jobs in advance, the feeding amount is unchanged between jobs having different sheet bundle sheet sizes. The image forming system according to claim 7.
2. An image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the setting is a setting for changing a sheet bundle feeding amount between jobs in advance, the feeding amount is not changed between jobs having different sheet bundles. The image forming system according to claim 8 or 9,
The image forming system characterized in that the means for changing the feed amount disables transmission of a signal for instructing a change in the feed amount, and makes the feed amount unchanged. The image forming system according to claim 4.
An image forming system comprising: a means for sending the sheet bundle to a position where the sheet stacking device detects that the sheet bundle is full at the turn of the job, and setting the sheet bundle to a full state.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1.