JP2010215355A - Sheet processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing device for preparing a sealed letter hardly damaging other sealed letters and itself. <P>SOLUTION: This sheet processing device includes a conveying roller conveying a sheet, a stapler 601 performing processing in one end of the sheet in a conveying direction, and folding conveyance paths 740, 750 folding the sheet processed by the stapler 601 into three in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. When the sheet is folded into three in order to make the sealed letter by sealing the end of the sheet, the folding conveyance paths 740, 750 perform folding processing to the one end side of the sheet processed by the stapler 601, and then, perform the folding processing to the other end side of the sheet in the conveying direction so as to cover the one end. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus capable of selectively processing a sheet, and an image forming system including the sheet processing apparatus.

  Conventionally, a sheet processing apparatus capable of performing folding processing such as folding, Z-folding, inner three-folding (C-folding), outer three-folding (envelope Z-folding) on a sheet or sheet bundle such as paper, An image forming system including the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus has been put into practical use.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet folding apparatus capable of folding both a C-fold and an Z-fold with an image surface of the sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus with a simple configuration. . Further, a sheet processing apparatus that can perform staple binding on a sheet bundle that has been subjected to three-fold processing such as Z-folding is also disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a three-fold sealed letter in which a printed sheet can be folded in three by a user and an end portion is adhered to form an envelope. Patent Document 3 discloses that in a booklet-like delivery bound by a binding portion provided at one end portion, a sealing portion is formed at the end portion on the fore edge side and the sealing portion is bonded. Has been.

  A combination of folding processing for these sheets (or sheet bundles), sealing processing by bonding, and binding processing to fold a staple-bound sheet (or sheet bundle) into three, and then bond and seal the processing. It becomes.

JP 09-073360 JP-A-11-254863 JP 2006-272955 A

  However, as described above, when the folding process, the sealing process, and the stapling process are combined, the binding position of the needle desired by the user may differ between the folding process and the sealing process. That is, in a sealed sheet bundle, if the binding needle is exposed at the outer peripheral portion of the sheet bundle, there is a possibility that it will be caught by another sealed letter, the other sealed letter may be damaged, or itself may be damaged. However, if the design is such that the end of the needle is always folded inward, there may be a case where the product desired by the user cannot be obtained during the folding / stapling without sealing.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of producing a sealed letter that is less likely to damage other sealed letters and that is not easily damaged by itself.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a processing unit that performs processing on one end of the sheet in the conveying direction, and a direction that is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet processed by the processing unit. A folding means for folding the sheet in three to seal the end of the sheet and seal it, the folding means is configured to have the one end processed by the processing means. After the folding side is folded, the other conveyance direction end side of the sheet is folded so as to cover the one end.

  According to the present invention, when the sheet processed by the processing unit is sealed, the sheet is folded so that one end of the sheet processed by the processing unit is covered with the other end. Thereby, since one end of the sheet processed by the processing means is covered with the other end, the other end covering the one end is sealed, so that the other sealed letter is sealed. It is possible to create a sealed letter that is not easily damaged and that is not easily damaged.

Overall configuration of image forming system Block diagram of the entire image forming system Finisher cross section Cross section of sealed letter Finisher block diagram Block diagram of sealed device Plan view of the operation display device Schematic cross-sectional view of a sheet processing apparatus showing the flow of one sheet when folding three of them Schematic cross-sectional view of a sheet processing apparatus showing the flow of a plurality of sheets when folding in three Illustration of outer tri-fold product Illustration of the tri-fold product Illustration of sealed letter Schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of folding and conveying a sheet in a sealing machine Schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of folding and conveying a sheet in a sealing machine Schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of folding and conveying a sheet in a sealing machine Explanatory drawing of the seal used for sealing the sheet Illustration of sticker sticker with sealer Illustration of sticker sticker with sealer Illustration of sticker sticker with sealer The top view showing the setting screen of various processing modes in the operation display section The top view showing the setting screen of various processing modes in the operation display section Flow chart showing the flow of folding mode setting Explanatory drawing of outer trifold product that has been bound Explanatory drawing of the three-fold product (sealed letter) that has been bound

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

  Here, an image forming system including an image forming apparatus main body and a sheet processing apparatus will be described as an example. Further, the sheet processing apparatus exemplifies a sheet processing apparatus in which the finisher and the sealing apparatus are configured as individual apparatuses.

(Overall configuration of image forming system)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the image forming system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus main body 10 and a sheet processing apparatus (sheet processing unit) 20. The sheet processing apparatus 20 includes a finisher 500 and a sealing apparatus 700. The image forming apparatus main body 10 includes an image reader 200 that reads an image of a document and a printer 300 that records an image on a sheet.

  A document feeder 100 is mounted on the image reader 200. The document feeder 100 feeds documents set upward on the document tray one by one in order from the first page, conveys them to the reading position on the platen glass 102 through a curved path, and then discharges them to the outside. The sheet is discharged toward the tray 112. When the original passes through the reading position on the platen glass 102, the image of the original is read by the scanner unit 104 held at a position corresponding to the reading position. This reading method is generally referred to as document scanning. Specifically, when the document passes through the reading position, the reading surface (image surface) of the document is irradiated with light from the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and the reflected light from the document passes through the mirrors 105, 106, and 107. Through the lens 108. The light that has passed through the lens 108 forms an image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 109.

  By transporting the document so as to pass through the reading position in this way, document scanning is performed in which the direction perpendicular to the document transport direction is the main scanning direction and the transport direction is the sub-scanning direction. That is, when the original passes through the reading position, the entire original image is read by conveying the original in the sub-scanning direction while reading the original image by the image sensor 109 line by line in the main scanning direction. The image optically read in this way is converted into image data by the image sensor 109 and output. Image data output from the image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined processing in an image signal control unit 202 (see FIG. 2) described later and then input as a video signal to the exposure control unit 110 of the printer 300.

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

  When reading a document without using the document feeder 100, first, the user lifts the document feeder 100 and places the document on the platen glass 102. Then, the original is read by scanning the scanner unit 104 in the sub-scanning direction. That is, when reading an image of an original without using the original feeder 100, original fixed reading is performed.

  The exposure control unit 110 of the printer 300 modulates and outputs a laser beam based on the input video signal, and the laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 constituting the image forming unit while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a. . An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 111. Here, as will be described later, the exposure control unit 110 outputs a laser beam so that a correct image (an image that is not a mirror image) is formed during document fixed reading.

  The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 111 is visualized as a developer image by the developer supplied from the developing device 113. In addition, at the timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation, the sheet is fed from each of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual feeding portion 125, or the double-sided conveyance path 124. This sheet is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116. The developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is transferred onto the sheet fed by the transfer unit 116.

  The sheet on which the developer image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 117. The fixing unit 117 fixes the developer image on the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is discharged from the printer 300 to the outside (the finisher 500 and the sealing device 700) via the switching member 121 and the discharge roller 118.

  Here, when the sheet is discharged with its image forming surface facing downward (face down), the sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 117 is once guided into the reversing path 122 by the switching operation of the switching member 121. After the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the switching member 121, the sheet is switched back and discharged from the printer 300 by the discharge roller 118. Hereinafter, this discharge form is called reverse discharge. This reverse discharge is performed when forming an image read using the document feeder 100 or when forming an image in order from the first page, such as when forming an image output from a computer. The order of the discharged sheets is the correct page order.

  In addition, when a hard sheet such as an OHP sheet is fed from the manual feeding unit 125 and an image is formed on the sheet, the image forming surface is faced up without leading the sheet to the reverse path 122 (face up). ) By the discharge roller 118.

  Further, when double-sided recording for image formation is set on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided to the reverse path 122 by the switching operation of the switching member 121 and then conveyed to the double-sided conveyance path 124. Then, control is performed so that the sheet guided to the duplex conveyance path 124 is fed again between the photosensitive drum 111 and the transfer unit 116 at the timing described above.

  The sheet discharged from the printer 300 is sent to a finisher 500 and a sealing apparatus 700 that constitute the sheet processing apparatus 20. The finisher 500 performs offset processing, binding processing, and punch processing. The sealed device 700 performs a trifold or sealed processing. Then, a sheet or a sheet bundle as a final product in which each process is selectively performed is discharged and stacked on the stack tray 770 of the sealing device 700.

(Image forming system controller)
Next, the configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming system will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an overall block diagram showing a configuration of a controller that controls the entire image forming system of FIG.

  The controller (control means) has a CPU circuit unit 150 as shown in FIG. The CPU circuit unit 150 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 10 and incorporates a CPU (not shown), a ROM 151, and a RAM 152. The CPU circuit unit 150 comprehensively controls each of the blocks 101, 201, 202, 301, 401, 501, 701 by a control program stored in the ROM 151. The RAM 152 temporarily stores control data and is used as a work area for arithmetic processing associated with control.

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

  The image signal control unit 202 converts each analog image signal from the image sensor 109 into a digital signal, performs each process, converts the digital signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 301. The image signal control unit 202 performs various processes on the digital image signal input from the computer 210 via the external I / F 209, converts the digital image signal into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the printer control unit 301. The processing operation by the image signal control unit 202 is controlled by the CPU circuit unit 150. The printer control unit 301 drives the above-described exposure control unit 110 based on the input video signal.

  The operation display device control unit 401 exchanges information between the operation display device 400 (see FIG. 1) and the CPU circuit unit 150. The operation display device 400 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 10 and includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions related to image formation, a display unit for displaying information indicating a setting state, and the like. The operation display device control unit 401 outputs a key signal corresponding to the operation of each key to the CPU circuit unit 150 and displays corresponding information on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

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

  Similarly, the sealed device control unit 701 is mounted on the sealed device 700, and controls the drive of the sealed device by exchanging information with the CPU circuit unit 150. This control content will also be described later.

(Finisher control unit)
Next, the configuration of the finisher control unit 501 that drives and controls the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the finisher 500 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the finisher control unit 501 includes a CPU circuit unit 560, a ROM 561, a RAM 562, and the like. Data exchange is performed by communicating with a CPU circuit unit 150 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 10 and a CPU circuit unit 790 provided in the sealed document device 700 via a communication IC (not shown) and a network 160. Based on instructions from the CPU circuit unit 150, various programs stored in the ROM 561 are executed to control the drive of the finisher 500.

  The sheet conveyance unit 571 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 560 and performs sheet conveyance control by various rollers in the finisher 500. The punch control unit 572 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 560 and controls punching processing by the punch unit 550. The processing tray control unit 573 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 560 and controls processing such as sheet alignment and binding in the processing tray.

(Sealing machine controller)
Next, the configuration of the sealed device control unit 701 that drives and controls the sealed device 700 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the sealed device 700 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sealed device control unit 701 includes a CPU circuit unit 790, a ROM 791, a RAM 792, and the like. Data exchange is performed by communicating with a CPU circuit unit 150 provided in the image forming apparatus main body 10 and a CPU circuit unit 560 provided in the finisher 500 via a communication IC (not shown) and a network 160, and an instruction from the CPU circuit unit 150 Based on the above, various programs stored in the ROM 791 are executed to control the drive of the sealed device 700.

  The first folding control unit 781 controls the first folding in the folding conveyance path 740, and the second folding control unit 782 controls the second folding in the folding conveyance path 750. Communicate and control.

  Further, the sheet conveying unit 780 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 790 and performs sheet conveyance control by various rollers in the sealing apparatus 700. The sticker sticking control unit 783 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 790 and controls sealing processing by the sealer 760. The stack tray control unit 784 communicates with the CPU circuit unit 790 and controls the stack tray 770 to move up and down.

(Operation display device)
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the operation display device 400 in the image forming system of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, various keys are arranged on the operation display device 400. Reference numeral 402 denotes a start key for starting an image forming operation. Reference numeral 403 denotes a stop key for interrupting the image forming operation. Reference numerals 404 to 412 and 414 denote numeric keys for setting a numerical value. Reference numeral 413 denotes an ID key, 415 denotes a clear key, and 416 denotes a reset key. Reference numeral 417 denotes a user mode key for setting various devices. Further, the operation display device 400 is provided with an operation display unit 420 having a touch panel formed on the top thereof, and a soft key can be created on the screen.

  The image forming system has processing modes such as non-sorting, sorting, stapling sorting (binding mode), punching mode, folding mode, and sealed mode as processing modes. Such setting of the processing mode is performed by an input operation from the operation display device 400 or the computer 210. For example, when setting the processing mode, if the “processing” soft key is selected on the initial screen shown in FIG. 7, a menu selection screen is displayed on the operation display unit 420, and the processing mode is set using this menu selection screen. Is set.

(Finisher)
Next, the configuration of the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the finisher 500 of FIG.

  The finisher 500 sequentially takes sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 10 and selectively performs the following predetermined processing. Examples of the predetermined process include the following. Shift sort processing, processing to align a plurality of captured sheets and bundle them together into one bundle, stapling processing for binding the rear end of the bundle of bundled sheets with a stapler, and punching a punch unit near the rear end of the captured sheet Punch processing, sort processing, non-sort processing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the finisher 500 takes in the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 10 to the inside by a pair of entrance rollers 502. The sheet taken inside by the entrance roller pair 502 is sent toward the buffer roller 505 through the transport roller pair 503. An entrance sensor 531 is provided in the middle of the transport path between the entrance roller pair 502 and the transport roller pair 503.

  Further, a punch unit 550 as a punching unit is provided in the middle of the conveyance path between the conveyance roller pair 503 and the buffer roller 505. The punch unit 550 temporarily stops the sheet being conveyed by the conveying roller pair 504, and performs punching processing at one end portion in the sheet conveying direction by a punch blade (not shown) built in the punch unit 550.

  Further, a buffer roller 505 capable of winding a predetermined number of sheets conveyed via the conveying roller pair 504 is provided downstream of the punch unit 550. Then, the sheet is wound around the pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514 while the buffer roller 505 is rotating, and is conveyed in the direction in which the buffer roller 505 rotates.

  A switching member 510 is disposed on the downstream side of the pressing roller 514. The switching member 510 is a switching member for separating the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 from the buffer roller 505 and guiding it to the conveyance path 522 or to the buffer path 523 while the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 is wound. is there.

  When the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the buffer path 523, the switching member 510 does not operate, and the sheet is sent to the buffer path 523 while being wound around the buffer roller 505. A buffer path sensor 532 for detecting a sheet on the buffer path 523 is provided in the middle of the buffer path 523. When the sheet wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the conveyance path 522, the switching member 510 operates to peel the sheet from the buffer roller 505 and be guided to the conveyance path 522.

  The sheet guided to the conveyance path 522 is stacked on the processing tray 630 via the conveyance roller pairs 506 and 507. The sheets stacked in a bundle on the processing tray 630 are subjected to alignment processing and stapling processing by alignment members 641 provided on the front side and the back side as necessary, and then are discharged by discharge rollers 680a and 680b. Discharged outside. The discharge roller 680b is supported by a swing guide 650, and the swing guide 650 swings so that the discharge roller 680b contacts the uppermost sheet on the processing tray 630 by a swing motor (not shown). When the discharge roller 680b is in contact with the uppermost sheet on the processing tray 630, the discharge roller 680b cooperates with the discharge roller 680a to discharge the sheet bundle on the processing tray 630 toward the outside of the apparatus. It is possible.

  The above-described stapling process is performed by a stapler 601 serving as stapling means. The stapler 601 is configured to be movable along the outer periphery of the processing tray 630, and can bind one end in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 630 (staple processing). That is, the sheet bundle can be bound at the last position (rear end) of the sheet with respect to the sheet conveyance direction (left direction in FIG. 3). Further, the various rollers in the finisher 500 constitute a conveying unit that conveys the sheet.

(Sealing machine)
Next, the configuration of the sealing apparatus 700 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 13 to 15. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the sealing apparatus 700 in FIG.

  Sealing device 700 includes a reversing process for reversing the front and back of a sheet or sheet bundle, a folding process such as inner three-fold or outer three-fold, and a sealing material such as an adhesive or a seal at the sheet end after the inner three-fold process. Attaching and applying is selectively performed as a sealing process for creating a simple sealed letter.

  Here, the inner three-fold is a process in which two places are valley-folded so that one surface of the sheet is inside (see FIG. 11). On the other hand, the outer three-folding is a process of folding the valley so that one surface of the sheet is inside, and folding the mountain so that it is outside (see FIG. 10).

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the sealing device 700, the sheet discharged from the finisher 500 is taken into the sealing device 700 by the entrance roller pair 710. The sheet taken inside by the entrance roller pair 710 is guided to the through conveyance path 731 or the reverse path 730 by the switching member 725. Inversion processing is performed when the folding order needs to be changed depending on the processing mode. The processing mode conditions for sending to the reverse path 730 will be described later.

  When performing the reversing process, the switching member 725 is switched to guide the sheet to a reversing path 730 as a reversing unit. The reversing path 730 is located upstream of the folding means, which will be described later, and is composed of switching members 725 and 726, a roller pair 711, and the like, and reverses the front and back of the sheet on which the image is formed. The sheet guided to the reverse path 730 passes through a path sensor 705 and is conveyed a predetermined distance, and then the roller pair 711 is stopped to stop the conveyance of the sheet. Then, the switching member 726 is opened, and the roller pair 711 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the sheet is reversed and fed to the roller pair 712. As will be described later, the reversing path 730 reverses the front and back of the sheet so that folding processing is performed so that the image surface of the sheet is inward by a folding unit downstream in the conveyance direction.

  On the other hand, when the reversal process is not performed, the sheet is conveyed to the through conveyance path 731 and conveyed to the roller pair 712 by conveying with the switching member 725 closed.

  The sheet conveyed by the roller pair 712 is guided to the conveyance path 732 or the folding conveyance path 740 by the switching member 727. When the sheet is not subjected to folding processing such as inner three-fold or outer three-fold, the sheet is guided to the conveyance path 732 and the conveyance path 733 by conveying the sheet with the switching member 727 closed.

  On the other hand, when a folding process such as inner three-fold or outer three-fold is performed on the sheet, the switching member 727 is opened, and the sheet is guided to a folding conveyance path 740 serving as a first folding unit. The folding conveyance path 740 includes a folding roller 741, a leading end regulating plate 742, and a thrust plate 743, and performs a first folding process on the sheet. The tip regulating plate 742 is moved by a stepping motor (not shown). The position of the tip regulating plate 742 is controlled by an input pulse to the stepping motor. When the inner three-fold is performed, the front end regulating plate 742 is positioned at 1/3 of the length in the sheet conveying direction (hereinafter referred to as sheet length) from the folding center (position of the thrust plate 743) upward in FIG. Wait at In the case of performing the outer three-fold, the front end regulating plate 742 stands by at a position of 2/3 of the sheet length from the folding center (position of the thrust plate 743) toward the upper side in FIG.

  The pushing plate 743 is driven to the left in FIG. 4 by a motor (not shown), and plays a role of feeding the sheet conveyed to the folding conveyance path 740 to the folding roller 741. The folding roller 741 sandwiches the sheet fed by the thrust plate 743 and performs the first folding process. As described above, in the folding conveyance path 740 for performing the first folding process, the folding process is performed in which one end of the sheet in the conveyance direction is folded from the center in the sheet conveyance direction.

  Here, the folding conveyance will be described by taking the inner fold as an example. As shown in FIG. 13A, the sheet P guided to the folding conveyance path 740 by the switching member 727 is conveyed until the leading end of the sheet P hits the leading end regulating plate 742 as shown in FIG. . After abutting against the leading edge regulating plate 742, as shown in FIG. 13C, the abutting plate 743 is driven to feed the sheet P to the folding roller 741. The sheet P sent to the folding roller 741 is sent to a folding conveyance path 750 as a second folding unit in a state where the position of 1/3 of the sheet length is folded.

  Similar to the folding conveyance path 740, the folding conveyance path 750 includes a folding roller 751, a leading end regulating plate 752, and a pushing plate 753, and performs a second folding process on the sheet. The front end regulating plate 752 waits at the position of 1/3 of the sheet length from the folding center (position of the thrust plate 753) to the left in FIG. 4 regardless of whether it is folded inside or outside. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the sheet P guided to the folding conveyance path 750 is conveyed until it abuts against the leading end regulating plate 752. After abutting against the leading edge regulating plate 752, as shown in FIG. 14B, the abutting plate 753 is driven to feed the sheet P to the folding roller 751. As shown in FIG. 14C, the sheet P sent to the folding roller 751 is sent to the conveyance path 733 in a state where the sheet P is folded into three. As described above, in the folding conveyance path 750 for performing the second folding process, the folding process for folding the other conveyance direction end of the sheet from the center in the conveyance direction is performed downstream of the folding conveyance path 740 in the conveyance direction.

  Here, as described above, the folding process for the sheet is performed using the configuration of the folding roller and the veneer, but the configuration for performing the folding process on the sheet is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a loop is generated by abutting the sheet against the leading edge regulating plate, the generated loop is fed into a roller pair, and the sheets are sequentially folded.

  The sheet P sent to the conveyance path 733 is discharged out of the apparatus by the roller pairs 722 and 723 as shown in FIG. 15A when the sealing process is not performed. As shown, it is stacked on a stack tray 770.

  On the other hand, when the sealing process is performed, a sealing process is performed in which a sealer 760 provided in the conveyance path 733 is used to apply a sealing material such as a seal to the sheet P to create a simple sealed letter. The conditions for performing the sealing process will be described later.

  Here, the sealer 760 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 16 shows a seal S to be attached to a sheet in order to seal the folded sheet. The seal S is attached to the sealer 760 in a state where one side is an adhesive surface and the opposite side of the adhesive surface is a peeling surface and is vertically stacked as shown in FIG. Here, the seal as described above is used, but a long tape having an adhesive surface may be cut and affixed to the sheet. Alternatively, an apparatus using a tape-like label seal made of release paper and a seal may be used. Further, an adhesive or the like may be used as a sealing material.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the sheet P folded in three is fed to the position of the sealer 760, and is temporarily stopped by a pair of rollers 721 and 722 with reference to an input of a conveyance path sensor (not shown). At this time, as shown in FIG. 17, the folded sheet P is stopped at a position where the folded end portion of the sheet P to be bonded faces the seal of the sealer 760. After stopping the sheet P, the seal pressing plate 762 is raised by a motor (not shown) so as to sandwich the sheet P, and similarly, the seal pressing plate 761 is lowered by a motor (not shown). The seal S1 on the uppermost surface of the seal bundle pushed up by the seal pressing plate 762 is caught by the claw at the tip of the seal housing unit 763 and is adhered to the sheet P in a bent state as shown in FIG. After the center portion of the seal S1 is bonded to the sheet P by the seal pressing plates 761 and 762, when the seal pressing plates 761 and 762 are returned to the initial positions, only the seal S1 is discharged from the seal storage unit 763. When the conveyance of the sheet P is resumed by the roller pairs 721 and 722, as shown in FIG. 19, the sheet P is conveyed in a state where the seal S1 is pasted and sealed. The sealed sheet P is discharged to the outside by the roller pairs 722 and 723 and stacked on the stack tray 770.

  The stack tray 770 sequentially stacks the sheets discharged by the discharge roller pair 723. The position of the uppermost surface of the stack tray 770 is detected by a sensor (not shown) so that the uppermost surface is always constant, and is moved up and down by a motor (not shown). In addition, the various rollers in the sealing apparatus 700 constitute a conveying unit that conveys the sheet.

(Sheet flow in sheet processing apparatus)
Next, the flow of sheets in the sealing apparatus 700 and the finisher 500 will be described along the tri-fold mode and the sealing mode.

(Sheet flow in tri-fold mode)
In the sealing device 700, the flow of the sheets in the three-fold mode in which the sheets are folded in three and stacked on the stack tray 770 are shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, FIGS. 13 to 15, FIGS. b) and will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows how to fold the outer three folds (Z fold) and the product, and FIG. 11 shows how to fold the inner three folds (C fold) and the product. The user can set which folding processing is performed on the operation display unit 420.

  As shown in FIG. 20B, when the folding mode is set to “outside trifold” in the display unit (S1003 in FIG. 22), the sheet is folded in three and is sequentially stacked on the stack tray 770. Go.

  First, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 10 is conveyed into the finisher by the inlet roller pair 502 in the finisher 500. It is conveyed to the processing tray 630 through each roller pair 503 to 506. At this time, if the number of sheets constituting one part of the product is 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the sheet is discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b while the swing guide 650 is closed. When the number of sheets constituting one part of the deliverable is two or more, as shown in FIG. 9, the sheet is temporarily discharged to the processing tray 630 while the swing guide 650 is open. The sheet discharged onto the processing tray 630 starts to move on the processing tray 630 toward the stopper 631 by its own weight. The movement of the sheet is configured to be assisted by an assisting member such as a paddle 660 or a return belt (not shown). When the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper 631 and the sheet stops, the sheet discharged by the aligning member 641 is aligned. After the sheets corresponding to the number of sheets constituting one part are stacked on the processing tray 630, the swing guide 650 is closed, and the sheets are discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b. When “staple mode” is designated in addition to “folding outside” on the operation display unit 420 (see FIG. 20A), the stapler 601 performs the stapling process on the sheet on the processing tray 630. The stapled sheet is closed by the swing guide 650, and discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b.

  The sheet discharged from the finisher 500 is conveyed into the sealing device 700 by the inlet roller pair 710 of the sealing device 700. Here, as shown in FIG. 20B, when the orientation of the image plane of the sheet (hereinafter referred to as “image orientation”) is set to “outward” on the display unit, the sheet is passed through the through conveyance path by the switching member 725. 731. On the other hand, when the image orientation is set to “inward”, the sheet is guided to the inversion path 730 by the switching member 725, and the inversion process is performed. Next, the sheet is fed into the folding conveyance path 740 and the folding conveyance path 750 by the switching member 727, and the folding process is sequentially performed. After the folding process twice, the sheet is conveyed to a conveyance path 733, discharged to the outside by the discharge roller pair 723, and stacked on the stack tray 770.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 21A, when the folding mode is set to “inner three-fold” on the display unit, the inner three-fold is performed on the sheet in the same manner as the outer three-fold, and the stack tray 770 is formed. Are loaded sequentially.

  The sheet discharged from the finisher 500 is conveyed into the sealing device 700 by the pair of entrance rollers 710 of the sealing device 700 as in the case of the outer three-fold. Here, when the image orientation is set to “outward”, the sheet is guided to the through conveyance path 731 by the switching member 725. On the other hand, when the image orientation is set to “inward”, the sheet is guided to the inversion path 730 by the switching member 725, and the inversion process is performed. Thereafter, the sheet is sent to the folding conveyance path 740 and the folding conveyance path 750 by the switching member 727, and the folding process is sequentially performed. After the folding process twice, the sheet is conveyed to a conveyance path 733, discharged outside the apparatus by a discharge roller pair 723, and stacked on the stack tray 770.

  For example, as described above, when the folding mode is set to “inner fold”, the image direction is set to “outward”, and “staple sort”, a product as shown in FIG. 23 is obtained.

(Sheet flow in sealed mode)
About the flow of the sheet in the sealed mode, in which a process for creating a simple sealed letter is performed by sealing the edge of the sheet with a sealing material such as a seal after the sheet is folded in three in the sealing apparatus 700 , FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 12, and FIG.

  FIG. 12 shows a product created in the sealed mode. A seal S is affixed to the end of the sheet that has been folded in three by a sealer 760, and the sheet is sealed. For example, the user can post the sealed sheet as mail by printing the postal code, address, and address on the front side of the sealed sheet and printing the sender's name on the back side (the side where the sticker is affixed). And can be mailed.

  In addition to “sealing”, processing such as stapling and punching can also be specified. For example, when only “sealed” is set, a product as shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. On the other hand, when “sealing” and “staple sort” are set, a product in which an end portion with staples as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B is folded inward is obtained.

  First, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 10 is conveyed into the finisher by the inlet roller pair 502 in the finisher 500. It is conveyed to the processing tray 630 through each roller pair 503 to 506. At this time, if the number of sheets constituting one part of the product is 1, as shown in FIG. 8, the sheet is discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b while the swing guide 650 is closed. When the number of sheets constituting one part of the deliverable is two or more, as shown in FIG. 9, the sheet is temporarily discharged to the processing tray 630 while the swing guide 650 is opened. The sheet discharged onto the processing tray 630 starts to move on the processing tray 630 toward the stopper 631 by its own weight. This movement of the sheet is configured to be assisted by an assisting member such as a paddle 660 and a return belt (not shown). When the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper 631 and the sheet stops, the sheet discharged by the aligning member 641 is aligned. After the sheets corresponding to the number of sheets constituting one part are stacked on the processing tray 630, the swing guide 650 is closed, and the sheets are discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b. When “staple sort” is specified together with “sealing” on the operation display unit 420 (see FIG. 20A), the stapler 601 performs the stapling process on the sheet on the processing tray 630. The stapled sheet is discharged to the sealing device 700 by the discharge rollers 680a and 680b with the swing guide 650 closed.

  The sheet discharged from the finisher 500 is conveyed into the sealing device 700 by the inlet roller pair 710 of the sealing device 700. In the case of sealing, the switching member 725 guides the sheet to the reversal path 730 so that the image direction of the sheet is “inward”, and performs reversal processing for reversing the front and back. The sheet reversed in the reversing path 730 is sent to the folding conveyance path 740 and the folding conveyance path 750 by the switching member 727, and sequentially folded. In this folding processing, first, the folding processing path 740 performs folding processing on one end side in the conveyance direction of the bound sheets. Thereafter, in the folding conveyance path 750, the other end side in the sheet conveying direction is folded so as to cover the sheet end on the side subjected to the folding process. After the two folding processes, the sheet is conveyed to the conveyance path 733 and sent to the sealer 760.

  A seal is affixed to the end of the sheet sent to the sealer 760 by the sealer 760 and sealed. At this time, the sealer 760 is folded as described above, and a seal is affixed to the other end in the transport direction covering the one end in the transport direction of the bound sheet. Seal the sheet. After the sealing process by the sealer 760, the sheet is discharged out of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 723 and stacked on the stack tray 770.

  In the following description, one end in the conveyance direction of the bound sheets is referred to as a processing end, and the other end in the conveyance direction that covers the processing end is referred to as a non-processing end.

  Here, only the stapling process has been described, but when the sealing process and the punching process are selected together, the sheet flow is similar to the above, and the sealing process is performed so that the punch holes are folded inside the sheet. I do.

(Determine folding order)
Determination of the sheet folding order will be described with reference to FIGS. 20A to 21B and the flowchart of FIG.

  When the user presses the “Process” key shown in FIG. 7 on the operation display unit 420 of the image forming apparatus body 10, the screen shown in FIG. 20A is displayed, and the setting of the folding mode is started (FIG. 22). S1001). The user designates stapling, folding, and punching from this screen. When the “fold” key is pressed on the screen of FIG. 20A, a fold mode selection screen as shown in FIG. 20B to FIG. 21B is displayed (S1002 in FIG. 22).

  In S1002, the user designates one of the folding modes in “selection of folding mode” shown in FIGS. 20B to 21B, and the CPU circuit unit 150 stores the setting of the folding mode in the RAM 152. In S1003, if the folding mode specified in the above-described folding mode setting is “outside trifold”, the process proceeds to S1004, if “inside trifold” is designated, the process proceeds to S1008, and if “sealed” is designated, the process proceeds to S1011.

  First, a case will be described in which it is determined in S1003 that “outside trifold” is set. In step S <b> 1004, the user selects whether the orientation of the image plane is inward or outward (FIG. 20B), and the CPU circuit unit 150 stores the image orientation setting in the RAM 152.

  In step S1005, if the image orientation selected in step S1004 is “inward”, the CPU circuit unit 150 receives document data in order to reverse the orientation of the image formed by the image forming apparatus body 10. The Then, when the video signal is generated by the image signal control unit 202, the image orientation is set to be converted (S1006). After the setting of S1006 or when the image orientation is determined to be “outward” in S1005, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the sealing device 700 does not pass through the reverse path 730 of the sealing device 700. 790 is notified (S1007).

  Next, the case where it is determined in S1003 that “trifold-in-fold” has been selected will be described. In step S <b> 1008, the user selects whether the orientation of the image plane is inward or outward (FIG. 20B), and the CPU circuit unit 150 stores the image orientation setting in the RAM 152.

  In S1009, if the image orientation selected in S1008 is “outward”, the CPU circuit unit 150 of the sealing device 700 does not pass through the reverse path 730 of the sealing device 700 during sheet conveyance after image formation. The CPU circuit unit 790 is notified (S1007).

  In step S1009, if the image orientation selected in step S1008 is “inward”, the CPU circuit unit 150 performs the sealing process so that the folding process is performed after the sheet is reversed via the reverse path 730 of the sealing apparatus 700. The CPU 700 is notified to the CPU circuit unit 790 of the device 700 (S1010).

  Next, the user sets “sealed” as the folding mode setting as shown in FIG. 21B from the operation display unit 420 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 (S1002), and “sealed” is selected in S1003. A case where it is determined that the determination has been made will be described. When “sealed” is designated, in S1011, as shown in FIG. 21B, masking (grayed out) is performed so that designation of image orientation cannot be selected. Then, the CPU circuit unit 150 notifies the CPU circuit unit 790 of the sealing device 700 so as to pass through the reverse path 730 of the sealing device 700 during sheet conveyance after image formation (S1010).

  The setting of the folding mode is terminated (S1012), and the determination of folding is terminated. When the job is started, the folding order is switched depending on the orientation of the image plane and whether or not the reversal path 730 is passed as described above, and the sheet is discharged onto the stack tray 770.

  As described above, when “sealing” is designated, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus main body 10 and the binding process is performed by the finisher 500 is first reversed in the reverse path 730 of the sealing apparatus 700. The front and back are reversed. As a result, folding processing is performed by the folding means downstream in the transport direction so that the image surface of the sheet is on the inside. The reversed sheet is subjected to the first folding process (first position) in the folding conveyance path 740. Here, folding processing is performed on one end side of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, which is the side subjected to the binding process. Thereafter, the sheet is subjected to a second folding process (second place) in a folding conveyance path 750. Here, the other end side in the sheet conveying direction is folded so as to cover the sheet end (processing end) on the side subjected to the folding process. In this way, the sheet is folded in three with the image surface facing inward and the processing end covered with the non-processing end. Then, the non-processing end portion that covers the processing end portion of the sheet is sealed with a sealer 760.

  Here, a sealer 760 is provided in the apparatus as an apparatus for sealing, and when “sealing” is designated, the sealer 760 always attaches a seal. However, even when the sheet or sheet bundle discharged to the stack tray 770 without the sealer 760 is pasted manually or by an offline sealer, the “sealing” mode is provided, The folding order may be determined as described above. Further, even if the sealer 760 is provided, it is possible to select whether or not the sealing material 760 is stuck.

P ... Sheet S ... Seal 10 ... Image forming apparatus main body 20 ... Sheet processing apparatus 400 ... Operation display device 500 ... Finisher 550 ... Punch unit 601 ... Stapler 630 ... Processing tray 700 ... Sealing device 711 ... Roller pair 730 ... Reverse path 725 , 726 ... switching members 740, 750 ... folding conveying paths 741, 751 ... folding rollers 742, 752 ... tip regulating plates 743, 753 ... thrust plates 760 ... sealers 761, 762 ... seal pressing plates 763 ... seal housing units

Claims (7)

Conveying means for conveying the sheet;
Processing means for performing processing on one end of the sheet in the conveyance direction;
Folding means for folding the sheet processed by the processing means in three in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction;
Have
When the sheet is folded in three to seal and seal the end of the sheet, the folding means folds the one end side processed by the processing means, and then the one end A sheet processing apparatus that performs folding processing on the other conveyance direction end portion side of the sheet so as to cover the portion. The folding means includes a first folding means for folding the one end side from the center in the sheet conveying direction, and the other end from the center in the sheet conveying direction downstream from the first folding means in the conveying direction. A second folding means for folding the side;
The one end side is folded by the first folding means, and then the other end side is folded by the second folding means so as to cover the one end. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1. A reversing unit that is upstream of the folding unit in the conveying direction and reverses the front and back of the sheet on which the image is formed;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reversing unit reverses the front and back of the sheet so that the folding unit performs a folding process in which an image surface of the sheet is inward. A sealing means for sealing the three-folded sheet by sealing an end portion of the sheet folded by the folding means with a sealing material;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing unit seals the other end portion that covers the one end portion.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a stapling unit that performs a stapling process on the one end portion.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a punching unit that performs a punching process on the one end portion. An image forming system comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet processing unit that selectively performs processing on a sheet on which an image is formed.
An image forming system comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 as the sheet processing unit.