JP2010083109A - Adhesive application device, bookbinding device equipped therewith and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily remove a heat-meltable adhesive contained in a vessel when the heat-meltable adhesive is deteriorated due to aging or the other reason, and to replace it with a new adhesive. <P>SOLUTION: The adhesive application device includes the containing vessel having an application roll applying the adhesive, an adhesive replenishing means supplying the adhesive to the vessel, and a control means controlling the application operation of the application roll means and the replenishing operation of the adhesive replenishing means. The control means is configured to perform an "adhesive application mode", an "adhesive replenishing mode" and an "adhesive replacing mode", respectively. The adhesive replacing mode is configured to perform the adhesive replacing operation supplying the adhesive to the adhesive containing vessel after the adhesive contained in the adhesive containing vessel is discharged to the outside of the vessel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to a back-binding end surface of a bundle of sheets that are stacked and bundled in a bundle, or a bookbinding device incorporating the adhesive, and easily replaces a deteriorated adhesive in an adhesive container. The present invention relates to an improvement in control mode.

In general, this type of bookbinding apparatus is used as a terminal device of an image forming system such as a printer or a printing machine, and after stacking image-formed sheets in the order of pages and aligning them in a bundle, the edges are glued and bound to a cover sheet. It is widely used as an automatic bookbinding system to be combined, or as a bookbinding apparatus that aligns print sheets supplied from a paper feed port and binds them to a cover sheet. In particular, recently, as on-demand printing such as electronic publishing, there is known a system that simultaneously executes printing and bookbinding processing for printing a predetermined document and binding it automatically and displaying it as a booklet.

  As such a system, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus configuration for automatically bookbinding finishing a sheet output from an image forming system. In this document, a sheet output from an image forming system is received from the sheet discharge outlet, guided to a sheet carry-in path, and accumulated on a loading tray provided downstream of the path, and the horizontal posture accumulated in the tray The sheet bundle is turned 90 degrees and guided to the glue application position in a vertical posture to apply the adhesive glue. An apparatus that binds and binds the sheet bundle glued to the back binding portion onto a cover sheet supplied from an image forming system or an inserter device is disclosed.

Conventionally, the adhesive glue in such a bookbinding system is filled with a solid adhesive in a glue container, melted with a heating device in the container, impregnated in an application roller, and applied to the end face of a sheet bundle with an application roller. ing. That is, a method is generally employed in which a hot-melt adhesive is heated and melted in a glue container, and the adhesive is applied to the end face of the sheet bundle with a water-containing rotating roller disposed in the container. For this reason, the adhesive container is provided with a remaining amount sensor for detecting the remaining amount of adhesive and a temperature sensor for detecting the adhesive temperature. When the adhesive amount is consumed below a predetermined amount by the remaining amount sensor, a new adhesive is applied from the hopper. The medicine is replenished.
JP 2004-209869 A

In the bookbinding apparatus as described above, a hot melt adhesive in which a viscosity modifier or the like is added to an ethylene resin agent is used. It is known that the adhesive performance and viscosity temperature characteristics deteriorate when the adhesive is left in the bookbinding apparatus for a long time or repeatedly solidified and melted. For example, when left in a container in a bookbinding apparatus for a long time, adhesion performance or viscosity temperature characteristics may deteriorate under environmental conditions such as temperature changes. Accordingly, even when the adhesive thus deteriorated is heated to a predetermined temperature, a predetermined viscosity (viscosity) may not be obtained, or a predetermined adhesive property may not be obtained.

Conventionally, the adhesive deteriorated in the container in this way is disposed of the bundle of bookbinding sheets processed using this as a defective process, or the user judges the deterioration from the color of the adhesive and the like in the container. After removing the adhesive from the tank, a new adhesive is replenished. However, the temperature of the adhesive is high, and a dangerous work is forced.

Therefore, when the adhesive contained in the container deteriorates, the present inventor automatically removes the adhesive from the container by removing the adhesive from the container and then providing an adhesive replacement mode for replenishing the new adhesive. Led to the idea of removing it. In this case, the inventors have come up with an idea of simply removing the adhesive from the container.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding apparatus which can be easily removed and replaced with a new adhesive when the hot-melt adhesive contained in a predetermined container deteriorates over time or for other reasons. It is a difficult issue.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding apparatus that can easily remove the adhesive by impregnating the adhesive deteriorated in the container into a removal sheet and taking it out of the container.

To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration. A storage container provided with an application roll for applying an adhesive, an adhesive supply means for supplying the adhesive to the storage container, a control means for controlling the application operation of the application roll means and the supply operation of the adhesive supply means With. The control means is configured to execute an “adhesive application mode”, an “adhesive replenishment mode”, and an “adhesive replacement mode”, respectively. At this time, the adhesive replacement mode is configured to execute an adhesive replacement operation for supplying the adhesive to the adhesive storage container after the adhesive stored in the adhesive storage container is removed from the container. The specific configuration will be described below.

An adhesive container having an application roll means for applying an adhesive to the edge of the sheet bundle, a capacity detection sensor arranged in the adhesive container for detecting a lower limit amount of the adhesive, and the adhesive container Adhesive supply means for supplying an adhesive, and control means for controlling the application operation of the application roll means and the supply operation of the adhesive supply means. The control means is configured to execute an adhesive application mode, an adhesive replenishment mode, and an adhesive replacement mode. At this time, in the adhesive application mode, the application roll unit is operated to apply an adhesive to the sheet bundle, and in the adhesive replenishment mode, the amount of adhesive is less than a predetermined amount by the capacity detection sensor. At that time, the above-mentioned adhesive replenishing means is operated to perform a replenishment operation for supplying the adhesive to the adhesive container,
The adhesive replacement mode is configured to execute an adhesive replacement operation for supplying an adhesive to the adhesive storage container after the adhesive stored in the adhesive storage container is removed from the container.

In the adhesive replacement mode, the adhesive stored in the adhesive storage container is either (1) applied to the removal sheet and excluded from the container, or (2) discharged to the drain path and out of the container. Configure to eliminate.

The control means executes the adhesive replacement mode based on external instruction information, and selectively executes the adhesive application mode or the adhesive replenishment mode based on detection information from the capacitance detection sensor. Mode selection means is provided.

The instruction information from the outside is input information from the input means for exchanging the adhesive or detection information from the adhesive color discriminating means arranged in the adhesive container.

The adhesive container is provided with a heating means for heating and melting the internal adhesive and a temperature detection sensor, and the control means controls the heating temperature of the heating means based on the detected temperature from the temperature detection sensor. Configure. The control means sets the heating temperature in the adhesive replacement mode to be higher than the heating temperature in the adhesive replenishment mode.

The adhesive storage container includes a removal sheet holding unit that holds the removal sheet in a state of being engaged with the application roll unit, and a removal sheet carrying path for carrying out the removal sheet held by the removal sheet holding unit to the outside of the apparatus. The control means is configured to apply the adhesive remaining in the adhesive container to the removal sheet held by the removal sheet holding means, and then carry it out from the removal sheet carry-out path.

The adhesive storage container is provided with conveyor means for carrying out the remaining adhesive, and the control means is configured to carry out the adhesive remaining in the adhesive storage container by the conveyor means to the outside of the container. .

An adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle that is partly accumulated in a bundle;
A bookbinding apparatus comprising a cover binding means for attaching a cover sheet to a sheet bundle from the adhesive application device, wherein the adhesive application device has the above-described configuration.

Image forming means for sequentially forming images on sheets, stacking means for stacking and stacking sheets from the image forming means, and an adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle from the stacking means A cover binding means for attaching a cover sheet to a sheet bundle from the adhesive applicator, and the adhesive applicator has the above-described configuration.

The present invention provides an adhesive replacement mode in the control means for controlling the application operation of the application roll and the supply operation of the adhesive supply means when applying the adhesive in the storage container to the sheet bundle with the application roll,
This adhesive exchange mode has the following effects because a new adhesive is supplied to the storage container after the adhesive stored in the storage container is removed from the container.

When the adhesive in the storage container deteriorates with time, the adhesive in the container is taken out of the container and replenished with new adhesive. When it occurs, it is disposed as a bookbinding failure, but the user can easily replace the old and new adhesives by judging from the bookbinding state or the color of the adhesive, etc. Bookbinding quality can be maintained.

Furthermore, the present invention is easy to work by simultaneously disposing the removed sheet after heat-melting the adhesive deteriorated in the storage container, applying the impregnated sheet to the water-absorbing removal sheet and then impregnating it. Can be processed.

In the present invention, since the adhesive changing mode for replacing the adhesive in the container is provided in the control means for controlling the application operation and the replenishment operation of the adhesive in this way, the adhesive deteriorated due to a change with time in the container. The agent can be easily replaced with a new adhesive, so that bookbinding defects can be reduced and bookbinding quality can be kept stable.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming system using the same, and FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the bookbinding apparatus.

The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A that sequentially prints sheets, a bookbinding apparatus B attached downstream of the image forming apparatus A, and a post-processing apparatus disposed downstream of the bookbinding apparatus B. C. Then, the sheet formed with the image forming apparatus A is bound by the bookbinding apparatus B. Further, the sheet not subjected to bookbinding is configured to pass through the bookbinding apparatus B and to post-process the print sheet by the post-processing apparatus C.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
First, the image forming apparatus A can employ various structures such as a copying machine, a printer, and a printing machine, but the illustrated one shows an electrostatic printing apparatus. In the image forming apparatus A, a paper feed unit 2, a printing unit 3, a paper discharge unit 4, and a control unit are built in a casing. A plurality of cassettes 5 corresponding to the sheet size are prepared in the sheet feeding unit 2, and a sheet having a size designated by the control unit is fed out to the sheet feeding path 6. A registration roller 7 is provided in the sheet feeding path 6 and the sheet is fed to the downstream printing unit 3 at a predetermined timing after the leading edges of the sheets are aligned.

The printing unit 3 is provided with an electrostatic drum 10. A print head 9, a developing device 11, a transfer charger 12, and the like are disposed around the electrostatic drum 10. The print head 9 is composed of, for example, a laser light emitter, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 10. A toner ink is attached to the latent image by the developing device 11 and printed on a sheet by the transfer charger 12. . This print sheet is fixed by the fixing device 13 and carried out to the paper discharge path 17. The paper discharge unit 4 is provided with a paper discharge port 14 and a paper discharge roller 15 formed in the casing 1. Reference numeral 16 denotes a circulation path. The print sheet from the paper discharge path 17 is turned upside down on the switchback path and then sent to the registration roller 7 again to form an image on the back surface of the print sheet. In this way, the print sheet on which one side or both sides are formed is carried out from the paper discharge port 14 by the paper discharge roller 15.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a scanner unit which optically reads a document image to be printed by the print head 9. As is generally known, the platen 23 on which a document sheet is placed and set, a carriage 21 that scans a document image along the platen 23, and an optical device that photoelectrically converts an optical image from the carriage 21. It comprises a reading means (for example, a CCD device) 22. In the illustrated example, a document feeder 25 for automatically feeding a document sheet to the platen is provided on the platen 23.

[Configuration of bookbinding device]
Next, the bookbinding apparatus B attached to the image forming apparatus A will be described. The bookbinding apparatus B includes a stacking unit 40 (hereinafter referred to as “stacking tray 41”) for stacking and aligning printing sheets in a bundle in the casing 30, and an adhesive for applying adhesive paste to the sheet bundle from the stacking tray 41. It comprises an agent applying means 55 and a cover binding means 60 for binding the cover sheet to the sheet bundle to which the adhesive is applied. The stacking tray 41 is provided with a sheet carry-in path 32 (hereinafter referred to as a middle paper transport path) on the upstream side and a bookbinding path 33 on the downstream side. The stacking unit 40 includes a stacking tray 41 arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and stacks and stores print sheets from the sheet discharge port 32 b of the intermediate sheet transport path 32.

A forward / reverse roller 42a and a carry-in guide 42b are provided above the stacking tray 41. A print sheet from the paper discharge port 32b is guided onto the stacking tray by the carry-in guide 42b and stored by the forward / reverse roller 42a. The forward / reverse roller 42a stores the print sheet in the stacking tray 41 by forward rotation, and controls the rear end of the sheet against the regulating member 43 disposed at the rear end of the tray (right end in FIG. 1) by reverse rotation. The stacking tray 41 is provided with alignment means (not shown) and aligns both side edges of the printing sheets stored on the tray to the reference position. With such a configuration, the printing sheets from the intermediate paper conveyance path 32 are sequentially stacked on the stacking tray and aligned in a bundle.

[Description of transport route]
Next, the conveyance path of each sheet will be described. Inside the casing 30, there is a carry-in path 31 having a carry-in entrance 31a continuous with the paper discharge port 14 of the image forming apparatus A, and a cover-sheet carry path 34 continuous with the carry-in path 31. Is arranged to cross. Further, an intermediate paper conveyance path 32 for guiding the sheet to the stacking unit 40 is connected to the carry-in path 31 via a path switching flapper 36, and the sheet from the carry-in entrance 31 a is conveyed to the stacking tray 41.

On the other hand, the stacking tray 41 is provided with a bookbinding path 33 that vertically cuts the apparatus and conveys the sheet bundle in a substantially vertical direction. The bookbinding path 33 and the cover transport path 34 intersect each other, and a cover binding means 60 described later is arranged at the intersection. The carry-in path 31 configured as described above is connected to the paper discharge port 14 of the image forming apparatus A described above, and receives a print sheet from the image forming apparatus A. In this case, the image forming apparatus A carries out a print sheet (saddle stitching sheet) on which content information is printed and a print sheet (cover sheet) on which a title used as a cover is printed. Therefore, the carry-in path 31 is branched into a middle sheet conveyance path 32 and a cover sheet conveyance path 34, and each print sheet is distributed and conveyed to each path via a path switching flapper 36.

On the other hand, an inserter device 26 is connected to the carry-in path 31 so that cover sheets that are not subjected to printing processing by the image forming apparatus A are separated from the paper feed tray 26a one by one and supplied to the carry-in path 31. is there. The inserter device 26 is provided with one or a plurality of stages of paper feed trays 26a. A paper feed means for separating and feeding stacked sheets one by one at the front end of the tray, and a downstream side of the paper feed means. A paper feed path 27 is provided, and the paper feed path 27 is connected to the carry-in path 31 via a path switching piece 28. Further, a transport roller 31b is disposed in the carry-in path 31, a transport roller 32a is disposed in the intermediate paper transport path 32, and a grip transport means 47, a turntable unit 65a described later, and a carry-out roller 66 are disposed in the bookbinding path 33. Further, a transport roller 34a is disposed in the cover transport path 34, and a transport roller 38a is disposed in the post-processing path 38, and is connected to a drive motor.

The above-described stacking tray 41 is connected to the intermediate paper transport path 32, and a bookbinding path 33 is disposed on the downstream side of the stacking tray 41. The bookbinding path 33 performs a bookbinding process while sequentially transferring saddle stitched sheets (hereinafter simply referred to as “sheet bundle”) accumulated in a bundle. The illustrated bookbinding path 33 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and a sheet bundle posture deflection position D, an adhesive application position E, a cover binding position F, and a cutting processing position G are sequentially arranged on the downstream side in this order. The cover binding position F is arranged so that the above-described cover transport path 34 intersects, and a cover sheet is supplied to the cover binding position F.

In the bookbinding path 33, an adhesive application means 55 is disposed at an adhesive application position E. The adhesive application means 55 includes a glue container 56 that contains a heat-meltable adhesive, an application roll 57, and a roll rotation motor MR. The application roll 57 and the roll rotation motor MR are incorporated in the glue container 56. It is. The glue container 56 is supported so as to be movable along the sheet bundle set at the adhesive application position E, and is moved back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the sheet bundle in FIG. Apply adhesive.

[Configuration of glue container]
The configuration of the glue container 56 will be described with reference to FIG. 4A is a perspective explanatory view of the glue container 56, FIG. 4B is an explanatory view of a central longitudinal section thereof, and FIG. 4C is an explanatory view of a section orthogonal to (b). As shown in FIG. 6B, the container body 56 is divided into a liquid adhesive storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a liquid agent storage chamber) 56a and a solid adhesive storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a solid agent storage chamber) 56b. An application roll 57 is rotatably disposed in the liquid agent storage chamber 56a, and a roll rotation motor MR is connected to the center support shaft 57x. A paste sensor 56c for detecting the remaining amount of adhesive is disposed in the liquid agent storage chamber 56a. The glue sensor 56c shown in the drawing also serves as an adhesive temperature sensor, and detects the temperature of the liquefied adhesive in the liquid storage chamber 56a, and at the same time, determines the remaining amount of adhesive by the temperature difference of the part immersed in the adhesive. It comes to detect. Further, a heating element (heating means) 50 such as an electric heater is embedded in the paste container body.

The glue sensor 56c is disposed at a position for detecting whether or not the amount of adhesive in the container has reached a predetermined amount or less, and the detected position is that the maximum amount of adhesive required for at least one application remains in the container. It is set to detect near-empty. In this other container, an empty sensor 56e for detecting the empty state of the adhesive amount is disposed. These adhesive amount detection sensors and the heating means 50 are connected to a control CPU 75 to be described later to monitor the amount of adhesive in the liquid agent storage chamber and control the melting temperature of the adhesive. Further, a stirring rotator 56d is built in the solid agent storage chamber.

[Configuration of sheet bundle conveying means]
In the bookbinding path 33, grip conveying means 47 for transferring sheets from the stacking tray 41 to the adhesive application position E is disposed. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip conveying means 47 deflects the sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulation tray 41 from a horizontal posture to a vertical posture, conveys the sheet bundle along a bookbinding path 33 arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and adheres it. It is conveyed and set at the agent application position E. Therefore, the stacking tray 41 is moved from the stacking position (solid line in FIG. 2) to the transfer position (chain line in FIG. 2), and the sheet bundle is transferred to the grip conveying means 47 prepared at the transfer position.

A cover binding means 60 is disposed at the cover binding position F of the bookbinding path 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover sheet binding position F is arranged so that the above-described cover sheet conveyance path 34 intersects, and a cover sheet is supplied from the cover sheet conveyance path 34. The sheet bundle from the agent application position E is bound and bound. For this reason, at the cover binding position F, there are provided a back plate 61 for backing up the cover sheet, a back folding plate 62 for press-molding a joint (back) between the sheet bundle and the cover sheet, and a folding roll 63. Yes. The back binding plate 61, the back folding plate 62, and the folding roll 63 constitute a cover binding means 60.

Next, a cutting means 65 is arranged at a cutting processing position G located on the downstream side of the folding roll 63. The cutting means 65 includes a turntable unit 65a that deflects the top and bottom direction of the sheet bundle, a cutting edge press unit 65b that presses and supports the cutting edge of the sheet bundle to be cut, and a cutting blade unit 65c. The turntable unit 65a is configured to turn in a state in which the sheet bundle sent from the folding roll 63 is nipped, and simultaneously conveys and sets the sheet bundle to the cutting processing position G. The cutting edge press unit 65b includes a pressing member that is movable in a direction orthogonal to the bookbinding path so as to press and support the cutting edge of the sheet bundle, and is configured to press and support the sheet bundle. Reference numeral 65c includes a flat blade-shaped cutting blade, a blade receiving member that faces the cutting blade with a sheet bundle interposed therebetween, and a cutter motor that drives the cutting blade.

The cutting means 65 cuts and aligns a predetermined amount of the peripheral edge excluding the back portion of the sheet bundle that has been bound into a booklet. An unloading roller 66 and a storage stacker 67 are disposed on the downstream side of the cutting processing position G. The storage stacker 67 stores the sheet bundle in an inverted state as shown in the figure. The storage stacker 67 is provided with a fullness detection sensor Sf, which detects the full state of the sheet bundle stored in the storage stacker 67 and warns the operator of the removal.

Further, below the cutting processing position G, a waste storage box 68 is provided in parallel with the storage stacker 67, and stores a piece of paper cut by a cutting blade. Therefore, a sweeper means 69 is provided immediately below the cutting processing position G. The sweeper 69 is swung in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not shown), and when cutting a sheet bundle, the sweeper 69 is directly below the cutting processing position G. The cutting piece is guided to the waste storage box 68 at the position, and after cutting, the sheet stack is retracted from the cutting processing position G so that the sheet bundle can be stored in the storage stacker 67. The waste storage box 68 is provided with a full detection sensor (full detection sensor) Sf and a near full sensor Sn for detecting the storage amount of the cut piece of paper stored inside. The near-full sensor Sn is arranged so as to detect a sheet piece corresponding to one time for cutting the peripheral edge of the sheet bundle so as not to become full during the cutting of the sheet bundle.

"Configuration of adhesive application means"
The structure of the adhesive application means 55 provided with the glue container 56 mentioned above is demonstrated according to FIG. The adhesive application means 55 includes the above-described glue container 56, an application roll 57 rotatably mounted in the container, a roll rotation motor MR that rotationally drives the application roll 57, and the glue container 56 as a sheet bundle. And a drive motor MS that reciprocates along. The conceptual diagram is shown in FIG. 3, and the glue container 56 is formed in a short length (dimension) with respect to the lower end edge (back cover part at the time of bookbinding) S1 of the sheet bundle, At the same time, it is supported by the guide rail 52 (see FIG. 3) of the apparatus frame so as to move along the lower edge S1 of the sheet bundle. The glue container 56 is connected to a timing belt 53 attached to the apparatus frame, and a driving motor MS is connected to the timing belt 53.

As described above, the configuration in which the glue container 56 itself moves along the sheet bundle is shown. This is because the glue container 56 is configured in a tray shape longer than the length of the sheet bundle, and only the application roll 57 is arranged in the left-right direction in FIG. You may make it move. The illustrated application roll 57 is made of a heat-resistant porous material, and is configured to impregnate the glue and swell the glue layer around the roll.

Therefore, the glue container 56 is reciprocated by the drive motor MS between the home position HP, a return position RP for starting the backward movement along the sheet bundle, and a replenishment position EP for replenishing the adhesive. Each position (HP, RP, EP) is set to the positional relationship shown in FIG. 3, and the return position RP is set to a position corresponding to the sheet width size information. That is, the paste container 56 that reciprocates along the sheet bundle has a home position HP set at the right limit position in the figure, and a return position RP set on the opposite side across the sheet bundle. The replenishment position EP is set at the left limit position separated from the return position RP. When the apparatus is turned on (initial), it is set to the home position HP, and after a predetermined time from the preceding sheet grip signal of the grip sensor Sg of the grip conveying means 47 (sheet bundle reaches the adhesive application position E). It moves from the home position HP toward the return position RP at the estimated time). Simultaneously with this movement, the application roll 57 starts to rotate by the roll rotation motor MR. 3 is a home position sensor of the glue container 56.

With the rotation of the drive motor MS, the glue container 56 starts to move along the guide rail 52 from the right side to the left side in FIG. In this outward path, the application roll 57 is pressed against the sheet bundle to disperse the sheet end, and in the return path from the return position RP to the home position HP, a predetermined gap is formed with the sheet end to apply the adhesive. The feed amount of the above-mentioned grip conveying means 47 is adjusted by a lifting motor (not shown). The application amount adjustment by the sheet bundle feeding amount is based on the bundle thickness information from the sheet bundle thickness detecting means, when the bundle thickness is thick, the gap is increased to set a large application amount, and when the bundle thickness is thin. The gap is reduced and the coating amount is set small. In this way, instead of adjusting the feeding amount of the sheet bundle by controlling the lifting motor of the grip conveying means 47, roll position adjusting means for adjusting the position of the application roll 57 up and down may be provided. Further, the drive motor MS moves to the replenishment position EP which is retracted at a distance from the operation position for applying the adhesive to the sheet bundle in response to the retract instruction signal, and the adhesive is supplied from the adhesive replenishment hopper means 54 disposed at the replenishment position EP. It is supposed to receive the supply of.

[Configuration of adhesive supply means]
A configuration for supplying the adhesive to the above-described glue container 56 will be described with reference to FIG. The glue container 56 applies adhesive to the sheet bundle when reciprocating between the home position HP and the return position RP. The glue container 56 is replenished with a distance from the return position RP. The position (retracted position; the same applies hereinafter) is configured to be movable to EP. An adhesive replenishing means 54 is disposed at the replenishment position EP. As shown in FIG. 5, the adhesive supply means 54 includes a hopper 54h containing a solid adhesive, a measuring drum 54d built in the hopper, and a supply passage 54p. Then, a predetermined amount of the adhesive stored in the hopper is sent to the replenishment passage 54p by the rotation of the measuring drum 54d, and is supplied from the replenishment passage to the paste container 56 located at the replenishment position EP.

A vacuum duct means 58 is disposed at a position adjacent to the supply passage 54p. The vacuum duct means 58 includes a duct (vacuum passage) 58b having a vacuum port 58a, a vacuum fan 58c, and a fan motor Mf1, and sucks the evaporated component of the adhesive in the glue container. The vacuum fan 58c is provided with a filter (not shown) for filtering the evaporated component of the adhesive.

[Configuration of adhesive removing means]
The present invention includes an adhesive removing means 59 for removing the residual adhesive in the above-mentioned glue container to the outside. The adhesive removing means 59 includes the conveyor means 59V shown in FIG. 5A (first embodiment) or FIG. 5B to remove the deteriorated adhesive remaining in the liquid adhesive containing chamber. It is comprised by the adhesive agent removal sheet bundle shown (2nd Embodiment).

The first embodiment of the adhesive removing means 59 is disposed at the replenishment position EP as shown in FIG. 5A, and includes a conveyor sheet 59c, a winding shaft 59r, and a supply shaft 59w. This conveyor sheet 59c is formed in a roll shape with water-containing paper, cloth, etc., and its base end is wound around a supply shaft 59w and its tip is wound around a winding shaft 59r. A drive motor MC is connected to the winding shaft 59r. The conveyor sheet 59c is configured to come into contact with the peripheral surface of the application roll 57 by an intermediate roller 59m. Accordingly, when the application roll 57 is rotated clockwise in the drawing at the replenishment position (retracted position) EP and the winding shaft 59r is rotated counterclockwise at the same time, the conveyor sheet 59c moves from the supply shaft 59w to the winding shaft, and the middle The adhesive impregnated in the coating roll 57 at the roller position absorbs water and is wound around the winding shaft 59r. As a result, the adhesive in the paste container is carried out to the outside.

In the second embodiment of the adhesive removing means 59, the adhesive is applied to the sheet bundle rich in water content in a plurality of layers, and the adhesive in the glue container is removed by repeating the application. For example, the bundle of water-containing removed sheets is set on the above-described stacking tray 41, and the removed sheet bundle is set at the adhesive application position E by the grip conveying means 47. Then, the control CPU 75 described later performs control so as to continue the adhesive application operation while ignoring the above-described remaining amount detection signal of the glue sensor 56c. Thereby, all the adhesive in the glue container is applied (consumed) to the removal sheet bundle. The adhesive application operation is terminated by an empty detection signal from the above-described empty sensor 56e, and the removed sheet bundle is carried out of the apparatus after the adhesive is cooled and solidified. In this case, the removal sheet bundle can use, for example, a sheet carried out from the image forming apparatus A without preparing a special water-absorbing sheet.

[Configuration of post-processing equipment]
The bookbinding apparatus B is provided with a post-processing apparatus C, and the post-processing apparatus C is provided with a post-processing path 38 that is continuous with the cover sheet transport path 34 as shown in FIG. Post-processing devices such as a stapling unit, a punch unit, and a stamp unit are arranged in the post-processing path 38, and a print sheet from the image forming apparatus A is received via the cover sheet transport path 34. Then, the stamping process is performed and the sheet is carried out to the paper discharge tray 37. Further, the sheet from the image forming apparatus A is stored in the paper discharge tray 37 without performing such post-processing.

[Configuration of control means]
Next, the structure of the control means for replenishing the above-mentioned adhesive will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a control block diagram. In a system in which the image forming apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B are connected as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the control CPU 70 provided in the image forming apparatus A has a control panel 71 and mode setting means. 72 is provided. A control CPU 75 is provided in the control unit of the bookbinding apparatus B, and the control CPU 75 calls a bookbinding process execution program from the ROM 76 and executes each process in the bookbinding path 33. The control CPU 75 also receives a post-processing mode instruction signal, a job end signal, other information required for bookbinding, and a command signal from the control CPU 70 of the image forming apparatus A.

The control CPU 75 reads a bookbinding processing program from the ROM 76, and performs a sheet stacking operation 75a, an adhesive temperature control operation (temperature control means) 79, an adhesive application operation 75b, a cover binding operation 75c, a cutting operation 75d, and a bookbinding stack operation 75e. Each is configured to run. The control CPU 75 is provided with an adhesive replenishment control means 77 for monitoring and replenishing the remaining amount of adhesive in the glue container during the bookbinding operation. This control means 77 comprises an adhesive amount monitoring means 77a and an adhesive replenishment operation control section 77b. The adhesive amount monitoring means 77a determines whether or not the amount of adhesive in the container is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount from the detection signal of the glue sensor 56c at appropriate times during the bookbinding operation (steps St001 and St004 described later). This determination is made by comparing the detection signal of the glue sensor 56c with a reference value.

The adhesive replenishment operation control unit 77b includes a drive motor MS that reciprocates the glue container 56, a shutter plate winding motor (not shown) that opens and closes a shutter plate provided in the vacuum port 58a, and a heating unit 50. The fan motor Mf1 of the vacuum duct means 58 and the drive motor MC of the conveyor means 59V are connected to each other so as to control driving.

Therefore, in the process of executing the bookbinding processing program from the ROM 76, the control CPU 75 executes the adhesive application mode, the adhesive replenishment mode, and the adhesive replacement mode, respectively, under predetermined conditions. In this adhesive application mode, the application roll 57 is operated to apply an adhesive to the sheet bundle. In the adhesive replenishment mode, a replenishment operation is performed in which the adhesive replenishment control unit 77 is operated to supply the adhesive to the glue container 56 when the amount of adhesive is less than a predetermined amount by the capacitance detection sensor. In the adhesive replacement mode, the adhesive stored in the glue container 56 is removed from the container, and then an adhesive exchange operation for supplying the glue to the glue container 56 is executed. The contents of each mode execution will be described later.

The bookbinding operation by the control CPU 75 and the adhesive replenishment operation by the adhesive replenishment control means 77 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The image forming conditions and the post-processing mode are set on the control panel 71 of the image forming apparatus A (St001). The post-processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “bookbinding processing mode”, “steple mode”, “stamp mode”, “punch mode”, “jog mode”, or the like. In the printout mode, an image formed sheet is carried out and stored in a paper discharge tray 37 (the illustrated one is provided in the post-processing apparatus) without bookbinding and post-processing. In the bookbinding mode, sheets on which images are formed are aligned and collected, and are combined with the cover sheet and stored in the storage stacker 67. In the staple mode, the image-formed sheet is stapled by the staple unit provided in the post-processing apparatus C, the stamp mode performs the stamping process, the punch mode performs the punch process, and the jog mode performs the sorting process. The process is executed by the processing apparatus C, and then stored in the paper discharge tray 37.

Therefore, when the “bookbinding process mode” is selected in step St001, the control CPU 75 issues an adhesive amount monitoring instruction signal, and performs an adhesive amount determination and replenishment operation described later. Next, the image forming apparatus A executes an image forming operation and carries out the image-formed sheet from the paper discharge port 14 (St002). Upon receiving a paper discharge instruction signal from the image forming apparatus A, the control CPU 75 of the bookbinding apparatus B drives the transport motor of the intermediate paper transport path 32 to carry in the sheet from the carry-in port 31a and carry it out from the paper discharge port 32b. . The sheets sent to the paper discharge port 32b are stacked on the stacking tray 41 and stacked and aligned (St003). Next, when receiving a job end signal (St004) from the image forming apparatus A, the control CPU 75 issues an adhesive amount monitoring instruction signal St004a, and performs the adhesive amount determination and replenishment operation described later.

Simultaneously with the adhesive amount monitoring instruction signal, the control CPU 75 conveys the sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulation tray to the downstream bookbinding path 33 by the grip conveying means 47 (St005). As shown in FIG. 1, the stack of sheets 41 is lowered from the stacking position to the unloading position, and the grip transport unit 47 grips the sheet bundle at the unloading position. Next, the grip conveying means 47 turns the sheet bundle approximately 90 degrees to deflect the posture of the sheet bundle from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture. The grip conveying means 47 transfers the deflected sheet bundle so that the lower end edge thereof is positioned at the adhesive application position E.

Next, the control CPU 75 transports the cover sheet from the cover transport path 34 before and after the transfer of the sheet bundle to the adhesive application position E, and feeds and sets the cover sheet to the cover binding position F (St006). The cover sheet is supplied from the image forming apparatus A or supplied from the inserter device 26. Next, the control CPU 75 executes a glue application operation. In this operation, as shown in FIG. 3, the glue container 56 at the home position HP is moved along the lower end surface of the sheet bundle and returned at the return position RP. Then, the application roll 57 is pressed against the sheet bundle in the forward operation to separate the sheet end, and the adhesive is applied in the backward operation (St007).

Next, the control CPU 75 operates the grip conveying means 47 to transfer the sheet bundle to which the adhesive is applied to the cover binding position F on the downstream side. At the cover binding position F, the cover sheet is joined in an inverted T shape. At this time, the cover sheet is supported by the back plate 61. In this state, the cover sheet is folded back with the back folding plate 62 sandwiching the sheet bundle. The cover binding process is executed by this series of operations (St008).

Next, the control CPU 75 waits for a predetermined cooling time to elapse (St009). After a predetermined cooling time has elapsed, the control CPU 75 retracts the back plate 61 and the back folding plate 62 from the bookbinding path 33, rotationally drives the folding roll 63, and transfers the sheet bundle to the downstream cutting position G (St010). . Next, the control CPU 75 operates the cutting means 65 to cut and align the top portion, the ground portion, and the fore edge portion of the sheet bundle in sequence by a predetermined amount (St011). After the cutting of the sheet bundle is completed, the control CPU 75 stores the bound sheet bundle in the storage stacker 67 (St012).

[Adhesive amount monitoring means]
On the other hand, when an “adhesive amount monitoring instruction signal” is issued at the end of each operation in steps St001 and St004, the adhesive amount monitoring means 77a provided in the control CPU 75 is (1) the adhesive sensor 56c described above. It is monitored whether or not the near empty of the adhesive amount is detected, and at the same time, (2) whether or not an adhesive replacement instruction signal is issued from the control panel 71 is monitored. This adhesive amount monitoring means 77a receives the detection signal of the aforementioned empty sensor 56e. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the adhesive amount monitoring means 77a generates an adhesive amount exchange signal from the control panel 71 when the adhesive amount does not reach near empty by the detection signal of the glue sensor 56c (St014). If not (St015), the adhesive application mode is executed, the adhesive amount replenishment mode is executed when the adhesive amount is near empty, and the adhesive replacement mode is executed when the adhesive amount exchange signal is issued. .

[Adhesive application mode]
In this mode, as described with reference to FIG. 3, the control CPU 75 moves the glue container 56 to the home position HP. Then, the drive motor MS is rotationally driven to move the glue container 56 from the home position toward the return position RP. In this forward path, the application roll 67 stops the bottom edge of the sheet bundle in a stopped state. Next, when the glue container 56 reaches the return position, the control CPU 75 rotates the application roll 67 in a predetermined direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) and reverses the drive motor MS. Then, the glue container 56 returns from the return position RP to the home position HP. In this return path, the adhesive impregnated in the application roll 57 is applied to the end face of the sheet bundle. When the glue container 56 returns to the home position HP, the control CPU 75 stops the rotation of the coating roll 57 and transports the sheet bundle toward the downstream cover binding position F by the grip conveying means 47.

[Adhesive supply mode]
In this mode, the control CPU 75 issues a signal prohibiting the bookbinding operation, and prohibits the subsequent operation in step St006 described above. Next, the control CPU 75 moves the glue container 56 to the replenishment position (retracted position) EP separated from the return position RP (St016). Around this time, the control CPU 75 operates the fan motor Mf1 of the vacuum duct means 58 described above. Then, the evaporated component of the adhesive in the paste container 56 is sucked from the vacuum passage (duct) 58b and collected by, for example, a filtration filter (St017). Next, the control CPU 75 rotates the measuring drum 54d to send a predetermined amount of adhesive from the hopper 54h to the supply path 54p (St018). Then, the adhesive is supplied to the solid agent storage chamber 56b of the paste container 56 (St019).

  Next, the control CPU 75 operates the heating means 50 of the paste container 56 to heat and melt the adhesive in the paste container (St020). Then, it waits for a melting time for the adhesive in the container to reach a predetermined temperature (St021). At this time, the evaporated component generated by the melting of the adhesive is sucked and removed from the vacuum duct means 58. Next, the adhesive replenishment control means 77 moves the glue container 56 to the home position HP (St022). The adhesive replenishment control means 77 issues a binding operation permission signal. After issuing this permission signal, the process returns to step St007 described above, and the subsequent bookbinding operation is continued.

[Adhesive exchange mode]
In this mode, the case where the adhesive removing means 59 is the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this adhesive exchange mode, the control CPU 75 issues a signal prohibiting the bookbinding operation, and prohibits the subsequent operation in step St006 described above (St030).

[Embodiment 1]
Therefore, the control CPU 75 moves the glue container 65 to the standby position EP in the first embodiment (St031). Then, the fan motor Mf1 of the vacuum duct means 58 is operated (St032). Thereafter, the control CPU 75 rotates the application roll 57 (clockwise in FIG. 4) (St033), and rotates the drive motor MC of the conveyor means 59V (St034). Then, the winding shaft 59r connected to the drive motor MC rotates and winds the conveyor sheet 59c. By the rotation of the winding shaft 59r, the central portion of the conveyor sheet 59c absorbs and removes the adhesive impregnated on the peripheral surface of the coating roll 57. Therefore, the control CPU 75 continues the rotation of the drive motor MC until the empty sensor 56e detects the absence of the adhesive, and upon receiving the empty detection (St035) of the sensor 56e, the control CPU 75 stops the rotation of the coating roll 57 (St036). Thereafter, the control CPU 75 executes an adhesive supply mode. Since this replenishment mode is the same as the operation described above, the description thereof is omitted.

[Embodiment 2]
In the adhesive replacement mode, when the adhesive removing means 59 is the above-described second embodiment, the control CPU 75 moves the glue container 56 to the home position HP (St037) and places the adhesive removing sheet (bundle) at the adhesive application position. The feeding is set to E (St038). As described above, the removed sheet bundle is supplied with a normal intermediate paper sheet from the image forming apparatus A, a water absorbent sheet is supplied from the inserter unit 26, or a water absorbent sheet is placed on the stacking tray 41. . Then, an adhesive is applied to the removal sheet bundle prepared at the adhesive application position E. Therefore, the control CPU 75 rotates the application roll 57 (St039) and reciprocates the glue container 56 between the home position HP and the return position RP (St040, St041). When the empty sensor 56e detects the absence of the adhesive by repeating this (St042), the control CPU 75 stops the rotation of the coating roll 57. Thereafter, the control CPU 75 executes an adhesive supply mode.

In the above embodiment, the case where the adhesive replacement mode is executed based on a user's adhesive replacement instruction operation from the control panel 71 has been described. For example, the adhesive color in the glue container is a sensor (CCD sensor or the like). The control CPU 75 may be provided with an adhesive color discriminating means that senses the change time and discriminates the replacement time from the adhesive color. In the above-described adhesive replacement mode, the heating temperature by the heating means 50 is set to be higher than the heating temperature in the above-described adhesive replenishment mode. This makes it possible to absorb a large amount of the adhesive on the above-described conveyor sheet or removal sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with a bookbinding apparatus incorporating an adhesive application device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory view of a bookbinding apparatus in the apparatus of FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing of the application | coating operation | movement of the glue container in the apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the glue application apparatus in the apparatus of FIG. 2, (a) is the perspective explanatory drawing, (b), (c) is sectional explanatory drawing. The structure of the adhesive removal means in the apparatus of FIG. 2 is shown, (a) shows the first embodiment, and (b) shows the second embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part in the apparatus of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of bookbinding processing in the apparatus of FIG. The flowchart which shows the adhesive amount monitoring operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart which shows the adhesive agent replacement | exchange operation | movement in the flowchart of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

47 Grip conveying means 50 Heating element (heating means)
54 Adhesive supply means 54h Hopper 54d Weighing drum 54p Supply passage 55 Adhesive application means 56 Glue container 56a Liquid adhesive storage chamber (liquid storage chamber)
56b Solid adhesive container (solid agent container)
56c Glue sensor 56d Stirring rotator 56e Empty sensor 57 Application roll 58 Vacuum duct means 58a Vacuum port 58b Duct (vacuum passage)
58c Vacuum fan 59 Adhesive removing means 59V Conveyor means 59c Conveyor sheet 59r Winding shaft 59w Supply shaft 60 Cover binding means 65 Cutting means 67 Storage stacker 70 Control CPU (image forming apparatus)
71 Control panel 72 Mode setting means 75 Control CPU (bookbinding apparatus)
76 ROM
77 Adhesive replenishment control means 77a Adhesive amount monitoring means 77b Adhesive replenishment operation control section 79 Temperature control means Mf1 Fan motor

Claims (9)

An adhesive container having an application roll means for applying an adhesive to the edge of the sheet bundle;
A capacity detection sensor for detecting the lower limit amount of the adhesive in the adhesive storage container;
An adhesive supply means for supplying an adhesive to the adhesive container;
Control means for controlling the application operation of the application roll means and the supply operation of the adhesive supply means;
An adhesive application device comprising:
The control means is configured to execute an adhesive application mode, an adhesive replenishment mode, and an adhesive replacement mode,
The adhesive application mode performs an application operation of operating the application roll means to apply an adhesive to a sheet bundle,
The adhesive replenishment mode performs a replenishment operation of operating the adhesive replenishing means to supply the adhesive to the adhesive container when the amount of adhesive is not more than a predetermined amount by the capacitance detection sensor,
The adhesive replacement mode is configured to execute an adhesive replacement operation for supplying the adhesive to the adhesive storage container after the adhesive stored in the adhesive storage container is removed from the container. An adhesive application device characterized by the above. In the adhesive replacement mode, the adhesive stored in the adhesive storage container is either (1) applied to the removal sheet and excluded from the container, or (2) discharged to the drain path and out of the container. The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive application device is configured to be excluded. The control means executes the adhesive replacement mode based on instruction information from the outside,
2. The adhesive application according to claim 1, further comprising mode selection means for selectively executing the adhesive application mode or the adhesive replenishment mode based on detection information from the capacitance detection sensor. apparatus. 4. The adhesive application apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the external instruction information is input information from an input means for exchanging an adhesive, or detection information from an adhesive color discrimination means arranged in the adhesive storage container. An adhesive applicator characterized by the above. The adhesive storage container is provided with a heating means for heating and melting the internal adhesive and a temperature detection sensor,
The control means is configured to control the heating temperature of the heating means based on the detected temperature from the temperature detection sensor,
2. The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the heating temperature in the adhesive replacement mode to be higher than the heating temperature in the adhesive replenishment mode. In the adhesive container, a removal sheet holding unit that holds the removal sheet in a state of being engaged with the application roll unit,
A removal sheet carry-out path for carrying out the removal sheet held by the removal sheet holding means to the outside of the apparatus is arranged,
The control means is configured to apply the adhesive remaining in the adhesive storage container to the removal sheet held by the removal sheet holding means, and then carry out the removal sheet from the removal sheet carrying-out path. The adhesive application device according to claim 1. In the adhesive storage container, conveyor means for carrying out the remaining adhesive is disposed,
2. The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to carry the adhesive remaining in the adhesive storage container out of the container by the conveyor means. An adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle that is partly accumulated in a bundle;
A cover binding means for attaching a cover sheet to the sheet bundle from the adhesive application device;
Consisting of
A bookbinding apparatus, wherein the adhesive application device has the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Image forming means for sequentially forming images on sheets;
Stacking means for stacking and stacking sheets from the image forming means;
An adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle from the stacking means;
A cover binding means for attaching a cover sheet to the sheet bundle from the adhesive application device;
Consisting of
An image forming apparatus comprising the adhesive application device having the configuration according to claim 1.