JP2015196571A - Sheet conveyance device and sheet conveyance method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet conveyance device and a sheet conveyance method capable of properly conveying sheets even when the sheets have different sizes or thicknesses upon the conveyance of the sheets while sucking the sheets.SOLUTION: In a sheet conveyance device, a negative pressure generation part which generates a negative pressure is included in a suction box 71, a suction opening part 95 is provided on a sheet conveyance surface in the suction box 71, a closure member 103 which can close the suction opening part 95 and is provided with a suction opening communication part 115 communicating with the suction opening part 95 is provided, the suction opening part 95 communicates with the suction opening communication part 115 at a plurality of points divided in a conveyance direction F of a sheet and the width direction W orthogonal to the conveyance direction F and, thereby, the sheet can be conveyed by using the suction opening part 95 at the position in accordance with at least any of the size, thickness and conveyance position of the sheet.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus and a sheet conveying method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet conveying apparatus including a suction conveyance unit that sucks and conveys sheets stacked on a stacking table is known. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-228561 describes a transport device that includes an opening adjustment member that can cover a part of an air suction vent that sucks a sheet. This opening amount adjusting member is movable in the width direction of the sheet.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-1437437

However, since the opening amount adjusting member can move only in the width direction of the sheet in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when conveying various sheets having different sizes and thicknesses, the sheet is appropriately sucked and conveyed. May not be possible.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and a sheet conveying method capable of properly conveying a sheet even when the sheet is conveyed while being sucked even if the size and thickness of the sheet are different. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention is a sheet conveying apparatus including a suction conveying unit that sucks and conveys sheets on the stacking table, and the suction conveying unit sucks the sheet into the suction box. It includes a conveying belt for conveying and a negative pressure generating portion for generating a negative pressure in the suction box. The suction box is provided with a suction opening on the sheet conveying surface and can close the suction opening. A plurality of locations where a closing member provided with a suction opening communication portion communicating with the opening portion is provided, and the suction opening portion is divided into the suction opening communication portion along the sheet conveyance direction and the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction By being communicated with each other, the sheet can be conveyed by using a suction opening at a location corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet.

In the above-described configuration, the suction box is provided with a negative pressure release opening for releasing the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator at a position different from the suction opening formation position.

In each of the above-described configurations, a moving unit is provided for moving the closing member relative to the suction box to a plurality of different positions, and switching the sheet so that the sheets are conveyed in different suction states at each position.

Further, in each configuration described above, the closing member is provided in contact with the suction box.

The sheet conveying method according to the present invention is a sheet conveying method for conveying a sheet stacked on a stacking table while sucking the sheet, and sucking the sheet at a suction opening provided in a suction box while conveying the belt. A suction opening provided in a closing member capable of closing the suction opening at a suction opening at a predetermined position divided along the sheet transport direction and the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. By communicating the sections, the sheet is transported using a part of the suction openings corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and transport position of the sheet.

Further, in the above configuration, when the suction opening for sucking the sheet is closed by the closing member, the negative pressure generated in the suction box by the operation of the negative pressure generator is used as the negative pressure release opening provided in the suction box. Release by releasing the part.

According to the present invention, the sheet conveying device communicates with the suction opening communicating portion at a plurality of locations divided along the sheet conveying direction and the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. Since the sheet can be conveyed using the suction opening at a location corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position, the size and thickness of the sheet when conveying while sucking the sheet Even if they are different, the sheet can be conveyed properly.

Also, when the suction box is provided at a position different from the suction opening forming position, the suction opening for releasing the negative pressure by the negative pressure generating part is provided when the suction opening is closed by the closing member. Subsequent sheets on the loading table are sucked from the gap between the suction box and the closing member, and can be made difficult to be conveyed together with the preceding sheet.

Then, when the moving member for moving the closing member relative to the suction box to a plurality of different positions and switching the sheet so as to convey the sheet in a different suction state at each position, the closing member is moved by the moving unit. It is possible to move easily and convey the sheet properly.

Further, when the closing member is provided inscribed in the suction box, the suction opening can be efficiently closed by the closing member.

A sheet conveying method according to the present invention is provided in a suction box and sucks a sheet by a conveying belt while sucking the sheet at a plurality of suction openings divided along a sheet conveying direction and a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The suction opening communicating portion provided in the closing member capable of closing the suction opening is communicated with the suction opening at a predetermined location, so that at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet is obtained. Since the sheet is conveyed using the suction opening corresponding to the sheet, the sheet can be conveyed properly.

Further, when the suction opening for sucking the sheet is closed by the closing member, the negative pressure generated in the suction box by the operation of the negative pressure generating part is opened at the negative pressure release opening provided in the suction box. In the case of releasing by this, when the suction opening is closed by the closing member, the subsequent sheet on the stacking table is sucked from the gap between the suction box and the closing member, and can be made difficult to be conveyed with the preceding sheet. .

It is a model longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sheet processing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the suction conveyance part of the said sheet processing apparatus. It is a bottom view of the suction conveyance part of the said sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. It is a top view of the upper box body of the said suction conveyance part. It is a bottom view of the right bottom board of the said suction conveyance part. It is a top view of the upper obstruction | occlusion member of the said suction conveyance part. It is a bottom view of the lower obstruction | occlusion member of the said suction conveyance part. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a top view which shows an example of the processing pattern of a sheet | seat. It is a bottom view of the lower obstruction | occlusion member of the suction conveyance part concerning other embodiment. It is a usage condition figure of the suction conveyance part concerning other embodiments. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a bottom view of the baseplate and closing member of the suction conveyance part concerning another embodiment. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part. It is a bottom view of the baseplate and closing member of the suction conveyance part concerning another embodiment. It is a usage condition figure of the said suction conveyance part.

[Overall configuration of sheet processing equipment]
An embodiment of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction F of the sheet S is referred to as the width direction W, and the right side when viewing the downstream side from the upstream side in the conveyance direction F is referred to as the right side of the apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus D includes a supply unit 3 at an upstream end portion in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S of the apparatus main body 1, and a workpiece Q is placed at a downstream end portion in the conveyance direction F. A substantially horizontal transfer path 5 is configured between the supply unit 3 and the mounting unit 2.

The conveyance path 5 includes a conveyance unit 4 in which a plurality of upper and lower pairs of conveyance rollers 9 to 17 are installed. The transport rollers 9 to 17 are arranged at intervals in the transport direction F. A processing unit that processes the transported sheet S is installed in the transport path 5. In FIG. 1, a cutting unit 19 and a crease processing unit 21 are provided as processing units. The cutting unit 19 includes three slitter processing units 20 and a cutter processing unit 22.

Each of the slitter processing unit 20, the crease processing unit 21, and the cutter processing unit 22 is configured as a detachable unit, and is configured to be detachable at a desired position in the apparatus main body 1 by a cassette method. Therefore, according to the type of processing, other processing such as a mechanism for changing the arrangement order of the processing units 20, 21, 22 or performing crease processing along the transport direction F, a chamfering mechanism, a perforation forming mechanism, and the like. It can be replaced with a processing unit or added.

  A reading unit 26 and a rejection mechanism 25 are disposed on the upstream side of the slitter processing unit 20, and a paper piece dropping mechanism 27 is disposed on the downstream side of the slitter processing unit 20. In addition, a paper piece collection unit 23 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body 1.

  The transport rollers 9 to 17 constituting the transport unit 4 are respectively connected to roller drive units 41 to 44 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and the roller drive units 41 to 44 are electrically connected to the control unit 45. It is connected. The control unit 45 includes a CPU, a storage device such as a RAM and a ROM, and the operation panel 46 and the reading unit 26 are electrically connected to the interface of the control unit 45. The operation panel 46 is configured to serve as both a setting unit and a display unit for setting various types of processing information including information related to the sheet S cutting process. The reading unit 26 constitutes the setting unit.

  The transport path 5 further includes a plurality of light transmission type detection units 31 to 35 that detect the front edge (downstream edge) or the rear edge (upstream edge) Sb of the sheet S or the processed product Q. Each of them is electrically connected to the interface of the control unit 45. The first detection unit 31 on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S is disposed between the suction conveyance unit 62 of the supply unit 3 and the supply roller 8, and the next second detection unit 32 is the slitter processing unit 20. The next third detection unit 33 is arranged in the middle of the slitter processing unit 20, and the next fourth detection unit 34 is arranged in the vicinity of the upstream side of the crease processing unit 21, and is most downstream. The fifth detection unit 35 on the side is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the placement unit 2 so as to be inclined.

  The first detection unit 31 is gripped by the front edge Sa of the sheet S in the stage before the sheet S sucked and conveyed by the suction conveyance unit 62 of the supply unit 3 or the supply roller 8. The trailing edge Sb of the conveyed sheet S is detected and used for calculating the position of the sheet S that is subsequently conveyed on the conveyance path 5 on the basis of the detected position of the sheet S.

  The second detection unit 32 and the third detection unit 33 detect clogging of the sheet S and the processed product Q. The fourth detection unit 34 is provided with a first detection unit 31 in preparation for a case where the conveyance path 5 becomes long and accumulation of misalignment (conveyance error) in the conveyance direction F of the workpiece Q on the conveyance path 5 occurs. In order to correct the obtained sheet position information and make the sheet position information more accurate, it is installed auxiliary. The fifth detection unit 35 detects the discharge of the processed product Q to the placement unit 2. Further, the fifth detection unit 35 detects a jam or the like of the processed product Q in the placement unit 2.

[Supply unit 3]
The supply unit 3 includes a loading table 61, a supply roller 8, a suction conveyance unit 62, and a separation air blowing unit 63. In the supply unit 3, a predetermined number of sheets S stacked on the stacking table 61 are supplied to the conveyance path 5 one by one in order from the top using the suction conveyance unit 62 and the pair of upper and lower sheet feed rollers 8.

On the loading table 61, sheets S are stacked. The loading table 61 can be moved up and down by lifting means (not shown). When the sheet S is supplied, the elevating means raises the stacking table 61 so that the uppermost sheet S has a predetermined height that can be sucked and conveyed by the suction conveying unit 62.

A pair of upper and lower supply rollers 8 are installed, and a lower paper feed roller 81 of the paper feed rollers 8 is connected to a paper feed drive unit 47, and the paper feed drive unit 47 is electrically connected to the control unit 45. Has been.

The separation blower 63 blows air by a fan (not shown) toward the front edge Sa of the sheet S on the stacking table 61, separates the uppermost sheet S from the plurality of stacked sheets S, and attracts it to the suction conveyance unit 62. And transport.

The suction conveyance unit 62 is provided above the front portion of the stacking table 61. 2 is a plan view of the sheet conveying apparatus constituting the suction conveying unit 62, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the sheet conveying apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. The suction conveyance unit 62 includes a conveyance belt 64, rollers 65 and 66, a negative pressure generation unit 68, a suction detection unit 69, a suction box 71, and a closing member 103.

The suction conveyance unit 62 can be installed at a predetermined angle θ from the conveyance direction F of the sheet S according to the type, thickness, conveyance speed, and the like of the sheet S. As described above, the suction conveyance unit 62 is inclined and can be conveyed while the right edge Sr of the sheet S is in contact with the right side plate 18 installed in the apparatus main body 1. The inclination angle θ is preferably about 0 ° to 30 °.

The inclination angle θ of the sheet conveying apparatus can be adjusted manually or automatically. The means for adjusting the inclination angle and the adjustment method are not particularly limited. For example, the pin 68 fixed to the apparatus main body 1 is inserted into the pin hole 82 provided at the right end of the suction box 71 of the suction conveyance mechanism. A configuration in which the suction conveyance mechanism is rotated as indicated by an arrow Y in FIGS.

The suction conveyance unit 62 is inclined with respect to the conveyance direction F by a predetermined angle θ, the conveyance belt 64 is moved toward the right side plate 18, and the sheet S is conveyed while being in contact with the right side plate 18. The right edge Sr can be positioned at a position where the right edge 18 abuts against the right side plate 18. Accordingly, the position in the width direction W of the sheet S can be based on the right edge Sr of the sheet S. Further, since the right edge Sr of the sheet S is conveyed in parallel to the right side plate 18, the skew of the sheet S can be suppressed. Then, by adjusting the inclination angle θ of the suction conveyance unit 62, the magnitude of the force applied to the sheet when the sheet S is brought into contact with the right side plate 18 according to the type, thickness, etc. of the sheet S can be adjusted. For example, damage to the sheet S due to contact with the right side plate 18 or friction and generation of wrinkles can be suppressed.

2 and 3 show the case where the suction conveyance unit 62 is inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the conveyance direction F. However, in FIGS. 5 to 20, the inclination angle θ is 0 ° for convenience of explanation. The case where the conveyance part 62 is installed in parallel with the conveyance direction F is shown.

The conveyance belt 64 conveys the sheet S while sucking the sheet S into the suction box 71. The conveyor belt 64. It is formed in an endless shape, and a plurality of sheets are arranged in parallel in the width direction W of the sheet S. Each conveyor belt 64 is hung on a pair of rollers 65 and 66 that are opposed to each other in the front-rear direction. A plurality of the pair of rollers 65 and 66 are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the sheet S. The roller 65 is fixed to the shafts 73 and 74 at the upstream position in the transport direction and the roller 66 at the downstream position, respectively.

A shaft 73 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S is connected to an output shaft 79 of a belt drive motor 78 via a gear 76 and a power transmission belt 77. As a result, when the belt drive motor 78 is driven, the output shaft 79 is rotated, the shaft 73 is rotated via the power transmission belt 77 and the gear 76, the roller 65 is rotated, and the transport belt 64 is circulated. And the roller 66 is driven to rotate.

The negative pressure generator 68 is configured by a fan 68 a installed on the upper left side of the suction box 71 and generates a negative pressure in the suction box 71. The suction part 81 of the negative pressure generation part 68 is connected to a negative pressure generation opening 91 formed on the upper surface of the suction box 71, and the air in the suction box 71 is driven by driving the negative pressure generation part 68. Is sucked.

The suction detection unit 69 detects that the sheet S has been sucked into the suction box 71. The suction detection unit 69 includes a swing member 83 and an optical sensor 84. The swing member 83 is installed at a substantially central portion in plan view of the suction box 71 and is inserted through a suction detection opening 93 formed so as to penetrate the suction box 71 up and down. The rocking shaft 85 is swung up and down and back and forth around the axis. And the rocking | swiveling member 83 is rock | fluctuated, and it installs in the upper and lower sides of the suction box 71 so that each can protrude. Therefore, the upper box body 87 constituting the suction box 71, the lower closing member 107 constituting the closing member 103, and the bottom plate 88 are provided with detection openings 93a, 93b, 93c through which the swinging member 83 is inserted, respectively. It has been.

When the sheet S is sucked to the lower surface of the suction box 71 by driving the negative pressure generating unit 68, the lower end 83 a of the swing member 83 is pushed up by the sucked sheet S and swings upward, Retreat to the inside of 71. As the swing member 83 swings, the upper end portion 83b of the swing member 83 housed in the suction box 71 enters the bifurcated portion of the optical sensor 84, and the optical sensor 84 transmits light. Change from state to shaded state. This detection result is transmitted to the control unit 45.

The suction box 71 is formed in a thin and flat, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the right side portion is installed inside the plurality of conveyor belts 64. The suction box 71 is formed in a hollow shape by combining an upper box body 87 and a bottom plate 88. The upper box 87 has a lower surface opening and is formed in a box shape so as to cover the upper side of the bottom plate 88. The bottom plate 88 includes a right bottom plate 89 and a left bottom plate 90.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the upper box body 87, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the right bottom plate 89. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper box 87 is formed with a negative pressure generating opening 91 communicating with the suction portion 81 of the negative pressure generating portion 68 in the left portion. Further, in the vicinity of the upstream side in the conveying direction F of the opening 91 for generating negative pressure, there is a moving motor opening 94 through which the output shaft 109 of the moving motor 114 of the moving unit 104 for moving the closing member 103 described later is inserted. Is provided. A detection opening 93 a for inserting the swing member 83 of the suction detection unit 69 is formed in a substantially central portion of the upper box 87.

Further, the upper box 87 is provided with a plurality of negative pressure releasing openings 96 divided along the width direction W. The negative pressure release opening 96 is provided in alignment between the plurality of conveyor belts 64 that run around, and is formed in an elongated rectangular shape in plan view. The negative pressure release opening 96 is completely closed by the suction opening 95 of the bottom plate 88 when it is no longer necessary to suck and convey the sheet S, such as after the sheet S is sandwiched between the supply rollers 8 on the downstream side. Then, the suction box 71 is released when the negative pressure generating unit 68 is driven to become negative pressure, thereby releasing the negative pressure in the suction box 71 by the negative pressure generating unit 68. The negative pressure release opening 96 is formed at the right end portion of the upper box 87. FIG. 5 shows a case where three negative pressure release openings 96 are formed in an elongated shape.

The right bottom plate 89 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a plurality of suction openings 95 divided along the conveyance direction F of the sheet S and the width direction W orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. Similar to the negative pressure release opening 96, the suction opening 95 is provided in alignment between the plurality of conveyor belts 64 that circulate, and is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom. The suction opening 95 includes an upstream suction opening 97 and a downstream suction opening 98.

The upstream suction opening 97 is provided at the upstream side position in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S in the right bottom plate 89. The downstream suction opening 98 is provided at a position downstream of the upstream suction opening 97 in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S. FIG. 6 shows a case where nine upstream suction openings 97 are juxtaposed from the right end portion to the left end portion of the right bottom plate 89. Further, the case where five downstream suction openings 98 are formed at a position slightly to the right of the right bottom plate 89 is shown.

The front end of the upstream suction opening 97 has eight upstream suction openings 97a and 97c excluding the upstream suction opening 97b located at the center in the width direction W, and the sheets stacked on the stacking base 61 shown in FIG. It is substantially directly above the installation position of the butting plate 101 against which the front edge Sa of S abuts. The central upstream suction opening 97b is formed longer on the downstream side in the transport direction F than immediately above the abutting plate 101. The front end portion of the central upstream suction opening 97b forms a detection opening 93c through which the swing member 83 of the suction detection unit 69 is inserted. Further, the length Lh of the downstream suction opening 98 in the transport direction F is shorter than the length Lg of the upstream suction opening 97 in the transport direction F. Further, the upstream suction opening 97 is installed in a wider range in the width direction W than the downstream suction opening 98. The length is shortened.

Further, guide pins 99 and 100 for guiding the movement of the closing member 103 are provided upright on the right portion of the right bottom plate 89 and in the substantially central portion and the left portion of the conveyance direction and slightly upstream in the conveyance direction. The guide pins 99 and 100 are inserted into horizontally long guide windows 121 and 122 (see FIG. 8) provided on a lower closing member 107 (described later) of the closing member 103.

As shown in FIG. 4, a closing member 103 capable of closing the suction opening 95 and the negative pressure release opening 96 is installed inside the suction opening 95 forming portion of the suction box 71. The closing member 103 is provided with a plurality of suction opening communicating portions 115 and negative pressure releasing opening communicating portions 116 respectively communicating with the respective suction openings 95 and the negative pressure releasing openings 96. The closing member 103 is moved relative to the suction box 71 by the moving unit 104. Then, the closing member 103 is moved by a predetermined amount in the width direction W inside the suction box 71 by the moving unit 104 at a predetermined timing, and a necessary part of the suction opening 95 is communicated with the suction opening communication unit 115. Opened. The remaining suction opening 95 is not communicated with the suction opening communicating portion 115, so that the suction opening 95 is closed. The suction opening communication portion 115 includes an upstream suction opening communication portion 117 and a downstream suction opening communication portion 118. Further, the negative pressure releasing opening 96 can be opened by communicating with the negative pressure releasing opening communicating portion 116 by the movement of the closing member 103 by the moving portion 104, and can be closed by not making the communicating.

The closing member 103 includes an upper closing member 106 that is in sliding contact with the lower surface of the upper box 87 and a lower closing member 107 that is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the bottom plate 88. The upper closing member 106 and the lower closing member 107 are connected by a connecting member 105 such as a screw shown in FIG. 4 and are moved together as the moving unit 104 is driven.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the upper closing member 106, and FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the lower closing member 107. In the upper closing member 106, two negative pressure release holes as shown in FIG. 7 are provided at positions corresponding to the positions where the two negative pressure release openings 96 on the left side of the upper box 87 shown in FIG. An opening communication portion 116 is formed. The negative pressure release opening 96 and the negative pressure release opening communication portion 116 have the same size and the same shape, and the same opening area. When the lower closing member 107 is moved to the position of the second state, which will be described later, by the moving unit 104, and the negative pressure release opening communication portion 116 is overlapped with the corresponding negative pressure release opening 96 (see FIG. 10A). ), The negative pressure release opening 96 is fully opened.

Further, the lower closing member 107 shown in FIG. 8 has the upstream suction opening communicating portion 117 and the downstream at positions corresponding to the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c and the downstream suction opening 98 of the right bottom plate 89 shown in FIG. A suction opening communication portion 118 is formed. The two upstream suction opening communication portions 117c on the left side of the plurality of upstream suction opening communication portions 117 have the same size and shape as the corresponding upstream suction opening portions 97 of the right bottom plate 89, and the length in the transport direction F is Lg is Ls in the width direction W. Further, all the downstream suction opening communicating portions 118 have the same size and shape as the corresponding downstream suction opening 98 of the right bottom plate 89.

On the other hand, the length Lu in the width direction W of the six upstream suction opening communicating portions 117a, 117b, and 117d on the right side other than the two on the left side is longer than the length Ls of the upstream suction opening 97 in the width direction W. It is formed and the opening area is widened. Further, the upstream suction opening communication portions 117b and 117d provided in the central portion in the width direction W are further divided into the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S, and the downstream upstream suction opening communication portion 117d is adjacent to the upstream suction opening communication portion 117d. The two upstream suction opening communicating portions 117 are combined into one, and are formed in a convex shape when viewed from the bottom. Further, the length Lg in the conveyance direction F of the three upstream suction openings communicating portions 117a and 117c on the right side and the left side in the width direction W is the same as that of the upstream suction opening 97, but two upstream suctions in the center in the width direction W are provided. The conveyance direction lengths Li and Lj of the opening 117b and the upstream suction opening communication portion 117d formed in a convex shape are shorter than the conveyance direction length Lg of the upstream suction opening 97.

The convex upstream suction opening communicating portion 117d is located at a substantially central portion of the lower closing member 107, and constitutes a detection opening 93b in which the swing member 83 of the suction detection portion 69 is installed. As described above, the upstream suction opening communicating portion 117d is formed long in the width direction W, so that even when the closing member 103 moves in the width direction W in the suction box 71, the right bottom plate 89 shown in FIG. The detection opening 93c is always kept open without being blocked.

Further, corresponding to the standing positions of the guide pins 99 and 100 of the bottom plate 88, the guide windows 121 and 122 are provided on the right portion of the lower closing member 107, the substantially central portion in the transport direction, and the left portion and slightly upstream in the transport direction. Is provided. Guide pins 99 and 100 erected on the right bottom plate 89 are respectively inserted into the guide windows 121 and 122, and the movement of the closing member 103 in the width direction W by the moving unit 104 is guided. An installation hole 123 for installing a connection pin 113 of the moving unit 104 to be described later is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction F of the left guide window 122.

The moving unit 104 includes a moving motor 114, a rotating body 119, a link member 111, and a position detecting unit 110 shown in FIGS. The moving motor 114 is installed and fixed on the upper left side of the upper surface of the upper box 87. The output shaft 109 of the moving motor 114 is inserted into a moving motor opening 94 provided in the upper box 87.

The rotating body 119 is installed at a position below the moving motor 114, and is fixed coaxially to the output shaft 119 of the moving motor 114. The rotating body 119 includes an upper large-diameter portion 119a and a lower small-diameter portion 119b. A notch 120 is formed in a part of the outer periphery of the large-diameter portion 119a above the rotating body 119.

The left end portion 111a of the link member 111 is rotatably connected to a small diameter portion 119b below the rotating body 119 using an eccentric pin 112 fixed to the lower surface of the small diameter portion 119b. The right end portion 111 b of the link member 111 is rotatably connected to the lower closing member 107 by a connecting pin 113 fixed to the installation hole 123 in the left portion of the lower closing member 107.

The position detection unit 110 is configured by an optical sensor. The position detection unit 110 is electrically connected to the control unit 45. The position detection unit 110 detects and controls the change of the optical sensor from the light shielding state to the light passing state when the edge of the notch 120 formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 119 passes through the bifurcated portion of the optical sensor. A detection signal is transmitted to the unit 45. Thus, the control unit 45 detects the rotation angle of the rotating body 119 and detects the position of the closing member 103 in the width direction W.

9 to 12 show that the closing member 103 is moved in the width direction W in the suction box 71 so that the plurality of suction openings 95 of the suction box 71 are at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet S. The state opened and closed according to this is shown. 9 to 12, the closing member 103 is moved to four positions with respect to the suction box 71, thereby opening and closing the plurality of suction openings 95 in four patterns. In FIGS. 9 to 12, the suction opening 95 and the negative pressure release opening 96 communicate with the suction opening communication portion 115 and the negative pressure release opening 96, respectively, as white areas that are not painted, A state in which the portion 95 and the negative pressure release opening 96 are closed by the closing member 103 is indicated by a shaded pattern.

FIG. 9 shows a first state in which the closing member 103 is located on the leftmost side. FIG. 9A shows the positional relationship between the upper box body 87 and the upper closing member 106, and FIG. 9B shows the positional relationship between the right bottom plate 89 and the lower closing member 107. In this first state, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the negative pressure release opening 96 of the upper box 87 is displaced from the negative pressure release opening communication part 116 by a predetermined amount. All the pressure release openings 96 are closed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the first state, all the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c are overlapped with and communicated with the corresponding upstream suction opening communicating parts 117a, 117b, 117c. Yes. Therefore, the upstream suction opening 97 is fully open and opened. On the other hand, since the downstream suction opening 98 is displaced from the downstream suction opening communication part 118 by a predetermined amount, the downstream suction opening 98 is entirely closed.

FIG. 10 shows a second state in which the closing member 103 has moved to the right by one from the first state shown in FIG. In the second state, as shown in FIG. 10A, regarding the positional relationship between the upper box body 87 and the upper closing member 106, the negative pressure release opening 96 of the upper box body 87 has a negative pressure release opening. Since the communication portion 116 overlaps and communicates, the negative pressure release opening 96 is all open.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the positional relationship between the right bottom plate 89 and the lower closing member 107, the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c of the right bottom plate 89 are connected to the upstream suction opening communication portions 117a, 117b, Only the central upstream suction opening 97b constituting the detection opening 93b through which the swing member 83 of the suction detection unit 69 is inserted communicates with 117c and 117d. Further, the downstream suction opening 98 is also entirely out of position with the downstream suction opening communicating portion 118. Therefore, in the second state, only the detection opening 93b on the downstream side of the central upstream suction opening 97b is opened in the right bottom plate 89, and the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b other than this portion are opened. 97c and the downstream suction opening 98 are all closed.

FIG. 11 shows a third state in which the closing member 103 has moved further to the right by one than the second state shown in FIG. In the third state, regarding the positional relationship between the upper box body 87 and the upper closing member 106 shown in FIG. 11A, the negative pressure release opening 96 of the upper box body 87 is connected to the negative pressure release opening communication section 116. Since the position is further shifted to the right side, all of the negative pressure release openings 96 are closed.

Further, in the positional relationship between the right bottom plate 89 and the lower closing member 107 shown in FIG. 11B, the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c of the right bottom plate 89 are connected to the upstream suction opening communicating portions 117a, 117b, 117c, and 117d. Similar to the second state, only the downstream portion of the upstream suction opening 97b constituting the detection opening 93b communicates with the upstream suction opening communication portion 117d. On the other hand, all of the downstream suction openings 98 communicate with the downstream suction opening communication portion 118. Therefore, all the downstream suction openings 98 are open and fully open.

FIG. 12 shows a fourth state in which the closing member 103 moves further to the right by one than the third state shown in FIG. 11 and the closing member 103 is located on the most right side with respect to the suction box 71. In the fourth state, regarding the positional relationship between the upper box body 87 and the upper closing member 106 shown in FIG. 12A, the negative pressure release opening 96 of the upper box body 87 is connected to the negative pressure release opening communication section 116. Since the position is further shifted to the left, all the negative pressure release openings 96 are closed.

In the positional relationship between the right bottom plate 89 and the lower closing member 107 shown in FIG. 12 (b), the six upstream suction openings 97a, 97b on the right side overlap and communicate with the upstream suction opening communication parts 117a, 117b, 117d. The left three upstream suction openings 97c are displaced from the upstream suction opening communication part 117c. Further, the downstream suction opening 98 is completely displaced from the downstream suction opening communicating portion 118. Thus, in the fourth state, the left six upstream suction openings 97a and 97b including the detection opening 93b are open, but the left three upstream suction openings 97c and all the downstream suction openings 98 are Blocked.

[Reading unit 26]
The reading unit 26 constitutes a setting unit that automatically reads and sets the processing information, apart from manual input of various processing information by the operation panel 46. Specifically, the image of the position mark M1 printed at the front end corner of the sheet S as shown in FIG. 13 is read, and the processing standard F in the width direction W perpendicular to the transport direction F and the transport direction F of the sheet S is read. A CCD sensor that detects the position and reads the image of the barcode M2 printed on the front end portion of the sheet S to acquire various processing information to be applied to the sheet S is used. As the processing information, for example, in addition to the total length Lf and the total width Lw in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S, the slitter processing unit 20 as the cutting unit 19 and the position information of the cutting lines T and K by the cutter processing unit 22, the crease processing unit The position information of the broken line C by 21, the information on the size, number, and arrangement of the processed material Q obtained by these processings.

[Reject mechanism 25]
The reject mechanism 25 shown in FIG. 1 operates on the sheet S when the position mark M1 or barcode M2 printed on the sheet S is unclear and cannot be read by the reading unit 26. The impossible sheet S is dropped and collected by the tray 25a.

[Slitter processing unit 20]
The slitter processing unit 20 has three units arranged in the conveyance direction F, and each unit has two pairs of cutting blades 36 each composed of upper and lower rotary blades arranged at intervals in the width direction W. Yes. By rotating the lower rotary blades with the driving force of the rotary blade driving unit 48, cutting along the transport direction F by the transport unit 4 is performed, and a cutting line T is formed on the sheet S. . The positions in the width direction W of the two sets of upper and lower cutting blades 36 can be arbitrarily changed.

In the uppermost stream unit 20a, a margin dropping member 55 is installed on the downstream side of the cutting blade 36. In the most upstream unit 20a, unnecessary paper pieces Ja (see FIG. 13) mainly at the left and right edges of the sheet S are cut off. The margin dropping member 55 guides and drops the paper pieces Ja at the left and right end edges cut by the cutting blade 36 to the paper piece collection unit 23.

[Paper drop mechanism 27]
The paper piece dropping mechanism 27 performs the cutting of the sheet S along the conveyance direction F by the conveyance unit 4 in the unit 20b at the center in the conveyance direction F and the most downstream unit 20c among the three units of the slitter processing unit 20. Thus, the paper piece Jb that is about the size of the sheet S that has been cut along the conveyance direction F and is no longer necessary is removed below the conveyance path 5. The paper piece dropping mechanism 27 can be configured to move, for example, with the movement of the cutting blade 36 of the most downstream unit 20c in the width direction W. When the sheet S passes through the paper piece dropping mechanism 27, the paper piece dropping mechanism 27 is configured to move. Jb is guided to the paper piece collection unit 23 and dropped.

[Crease processing unit 21]
The crease processing section 21 includes a lower mold 39 having an upper end concave portion and an upper mold 38 having a lower end convex portion that fits into the concave portion. The upper mold 38 is attached to a folding drive section 49 such as a motor. It is connected via a power transmission mechanism. That is, the upper mold 38 is lowered by the driving force of the folding mold driving unit 49, thereby forming a fold in the width direction W perpendicular to the transport direction F with respect to the sheet S.

[Cutter processing unit 22]
In the cutter processing unit 22, the sheet S is cut in a direction that intersects the conveyance direction F. In the present embodiment, the cutter processing unit 22 cuts the sheet S in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. The cutter processing unit 22 includes a pair of cutting blades 24 extending in the width direction W and including an upper movable blade 71 and a lower fixed blade 73 facing each other. The upper movable blade 71 approaches and separates from the lower fixed blade 73, thereby cutting the sheet S at a predetermined position set along the width direction W orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. The upper movable blade 71 is connected to a cutting drive unit 50 such as a motor via a power transmission mechanism.

[Place 2]
The mounting unit 2 includes a mounting table 57 and a stopper 58. On the mounting table 57, the processed product Q discharged by the transport unit 4 is mounted. The mounting table 57 can be moved up and down by a lifting means (not shown), and is adjusted so that the processed product Q on the mounting table 57 is located at a position lower than the discharge height of the processed product Q by the transport roller 17 by a predetermined amount. The Therefore, as the processing of the sheet S proceeds and the load amount of the processed material Q increases, the mounting table 57 is gradually lowered.

[Paper piece collection unit 23]
The paper piece collection unit 23 includes a paper piece storage box 54 and guides 59 and 60. The paper piece storage box 65 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an upper opening. The paper piece storage box 65 collects and stores the paper piece J that has been cut off by the cutting unit 19 and is no longer necessary. The guides 59 and 60 are cut by the cutting unit 19 and guide unnecessary paper pieces J that fall to the paper piece storage box 65.

[Control unit 45]
The control unit 45 controls the operation of the entire sheet processing apparatus D. And the control part 45 acquires the information from the detection parts 31-35, and based on the processing information of the sheet | seat S set by the operation panel 46 or the reading part 26, the supply part 3, the conveyance part 4, and the mounting part 2 and driving of each processing unit are controlled to perform processing of the sheet S.

[Sheet processed product arrangement pattern]
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating an example of an arrangement pattern of the processed products Q of the sheet S. FIG. In the arrangement pattern of the processed products Q shown in the figure, four processed products Q having a fold are manufactured from one sheet S. Basically, four cutting lines T extending in parallel with the conveyance direction F, two folding lines C extending in the width direction W, and four cutting lines K are set. The two folding lines C and the four cutting lines K are obtained by cutting the sheet S in parallel with the conveyance direction F along the cutting line T and removing the long paper pieces Ja and Jb cut from the sheet S. The two processed products Qc arranged in the width direction W are simultaneously subjected to crease processing or cutting processing.

In the processed product arrangement pattern shown in FIG. 13, there are four cutting lines T parallel to the conveying direction F by the slitter processing unit 20, so that the central unit 20 b or the most downstream of the slitter processing unit 20. Only one of the units 20c is moved to a predetermined position in the width direction W to perform the cutting process, and the other is moved to the outside of the conveyance path 5 of the sheet S to be on standby.

Various types of processing information to be applied to the sheet S regarding the arrangement pattern of the processed products Q are set by the user using the operation panel 46 or recorded on the barcode M2 of the sheet S. The The various processing information includes the length, thickness, type of the sheet S in the conveyance direction length Lf and the width direction length Lw, the arrangement, the number and dimensions of the processed material Q, and the sheet S. Information regarding processing of the sheet S such as the size and number of unnecessary pieces of paper J to be processed and information regarding the sheet S itself are included.

[Overview of overall work of sheet processing equipment]
(1) The user inputs various processing information from the operation panel 46 shown in FIG. Instead of this manual input or in cooperation with the manual input, the processing information can be automatically input by reading the barcode M2 or the like by the reading unit 26.

(2) The separation blower 63 blows air toward the front end edges Sa of the plurality of sheets S stacked on the stacking table 61 of the supply unit 3 in FIG. Is sucked and transported by the suction transport unit 62 and supplied to the transport path 5 by the paper feed roller 8.

(3) When the sheet S is conveyed by the conveying unit 4 and reaches the reading unit 26, the position mark M1 of the sheet S and the barcode M2 as necessary are read and various processing information to be applied to the sheet S. Is acquired.

(4) In the reject mechanism 25, if the reading by the reading unit 26 is impossible and the processing conditions are unknown, the reject mechanism 25 operates on the sheet S and drops the unreadable sheet S to the tray. Collect at 25a.

(5) In the slitter processing unit 20, the sheet S is cut by the cutting blade 36 along a plurality of cutting lines T parallel to the conveyance direction F. Unnecessary paper pieces Ja at both left and right edges cut out from the sheet S by the most upstream unit 20a are moved downward by the margin dropping member 55 to the lower paper piece collection unit 23, guided by the guide 59, and supplied to the paper piece storage box. 65.

(6) In the paper piece dropping mechanism 27, the unnecessary paper piece Jb cut from the sheet S by the central unit 20b and the most downstream unit 20c in the slitter processing unit 20 is moved downward to the lower paper piece collection unit 23. And stored in the paper piece storage box 65.

(7) In the crease mechanism 21, a crease is formed at the fold line C in the width direction W.

(8) In the cutter mechanism 22, the sheets S are sequentially cut along the respective cutting lines K, and the paper pieces Jc that have become unnecessary after being cut from the sheets S move downward, are guided by the guide 60, and are collected by the paper piece collection unit 23. The The processed product Q obtained by the cutting and crease processing is conveyed to the paper receiving unit 2 and stacked.

As described above, when the sheet S is processed, when the sheet S is conveyed while being sucked by the suction conveyance unit 62 of the supply unit 3, the sheet S is appropriately conveyed depending on the size and thickness of the sheet S. May be difficult to do.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sheet S can be conveyed using the suction opening 95 according to at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet S. For this reason, the closing member 103 is moved by the moving unit 104, and the suction opening 95 is divided into the suction opening communication unit 115 along the conveyance direction F of the sheet S and the width direction W orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. By communicating at a plurality of locations, the sheet is conveyed using the suction opening 95 corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet S.

A portion of the suction opening 95 corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and transport position of the sheet S is divided into the suction opening communication section 115 along the sheet transport direction and the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. By communicating with each other at a plurality of positions, the sheet S is sucked and transported using a part of the suction openings corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and transport position of the sheet.

First, the case where the suction conveyance of the sheet S is performed according to the size of the sheet S will be described. In order to perform the suction conveyance of the sheet S in accordance with the size of the sheet S, the suction opening 95 at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet S is opened to communicate with the suction opening communication portion 115 and can be sucked. And Further, the separation blower 63 is driven to blow the air toward the front edge Sa of the sheet S on the stacking table 61, and the upper and lower sheets S are separated.

For example, according to the input processing information, the conveyance direction length Lf of the sheet S is longer than a predetermined value, and the width direction length Lw of the sheet S is shorter than a predetermined value. When transporting the sheet S, the control unit 45 drives the negative pressure generating unit 68 to generate a negative pressure in the suction box 71 and moves the closing member 103 to the position of the fourth state shown in FIG. Move.

As the predetermined value used when determining the size of the sheet S, a value selected or calculated based on various ideas can be used. In the present embodiment, the predetermined value in the transport direction F is the distance from the front end portion 97i of the upstream suction opening 97 that is substantially directly above the installation position of the abutting plate 101 to the nip portion 8i of the supply roller 8. Le. The predetermined value in the width direction W is the length in the width direction W from the right side plate 18 of the apparatus main body 1 to the range where some upstream suction openings 97a and 97b are installed, that is, the sheet S of the right side plate 18. The opening width length Lv is the distance from the contact surface of the right edge Sr to the right edge of the seventh upstream suction opening 97c1 from the right.

When the closing member 103 is in the position of the fourth state shown in FIG. 12, some of the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b on the right side open to communicate with the upstream suction opening communication parts 117a, 117b, 117d. The upstream suction opening 97c is not communicated with the corresponding upstream suction opening communicating portions 117a and 117c but is closed.

Accordingly, when the width direction length Lw of the sheet S is shorter than the opening width length Lv, instead of using all the upstream suction openings 97, some suction openings corresponding to the size of the sheet S are used. The sheet S can be sucked and conveyed using the portion 95. Then, the right upstream suction openings 97a and 97b close to the right side plate 18 are opened, and the other left upstream suction opening 97c provided at a position away from the right side plate 18 is closed, thereby conveying the sheet S. The position and the position of the suction opening 95 used for the suction can be matched, and the suction transport can be performed appropriately.

When the sheet S is sucked into the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b, as shown in FIG. 4, the swinging member 83 protruding downward from the lower surface of the suction box 71 is pushed up and swung. Evacuate inside. Accordingly, the upper part of the swing member 83 moves upward while moving upward, and the optical sensor 84 of the suction detection unit 69 shown in FIG. 2 is switched from the light passing state to the light blocking state.

When the detection result of the sheet S suction of the suction detection unit 69 is sent to the control unit 45, the control unit 45 drives the belt drive motor 78 when a predetermined time elapses from when the suction is detected, The conveyor belt 64 is caused to travel. The length of the predetermined time from when the suction detection unit 69 detects the suction of the sheet S to when the belt drive motor 78 starts to be driven is sufficient even if the sheet S is sufficiently sucked and the transport belt 64 is run. Is the time required for proper transport without dropping, and is measured and set in advance.

When the belt drive motor 78 is driven, the output shaft 79 rotates, the shaft 73 is rotated via the power transmission belt 77 and the gear 76, and the transport belt 64 is driven. As the conveyance belt 64 travels, the sheet S is conveyed to the downstream side while being sucked by the sheet conveyance surface of the suction box 71, and then the sheet S is nipped by the supply roller 8 when the supply roller 8 is reached. And transported. The control unit 45 detects the belt drive motor at a timing after a predetermined time has elapsed since the front edge Sa of the sheet S was detected by the first detection unit 31 and when the sheet S would be sandwiched between the supply rollers 8. 78 is stopped, and the travel of the conveyor belt 64 is stopped. At the same time, the control unit 45 drives the moving motor 114, rotates the rotating body 119 by a predetermined angle, and moves the closing member 103 to the left by the link member 111 by a predetermined amount, whereby the second state shown in FIG. The position of

In the second state, as shown in FIG. 10B, only the detection opening 93b is communicated with the upstream suction opening communication portion 117d of the lower closing member 107 and is in an open state. The other upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c of the right bottom plate 89 are closed without communicating with the upstream suction opening communicating parts 117a, 117b, and 117c, and the downstream suction opening 98 is not communicated with the downstream suction opening communicating part 118. ing.

As described above, after the front end portion Sc of the sheet S is sandwiched between the supply rollers 8, all the suction conveyance sections 95 except for the detection opening 93b are closed so that the sheet S is not attracted to the sheet conveyance surface. To do. Thus, the succeeding sheet S on the stacking table 61 is sucked to the sheet transport surface and is prevented from being transported by the supply roller 8 together with the preceding sheet S being transported.

Further, due to the blockage of the suction conveyance unit 95, the inside of the suction box 71 becomes negative pressure, and the subsequent sheet S on the stacking table 61 may be sucked from the gap between the bottom plate 88 and the lower blocking member 107. For this reason, in the present embodiment, when the suction conveyance unit 95 is closed so that the sheet S is not attracted to the sheet conveyance surface, as shown in FIG. The pressure release opening 96 is opened in communication with the negative pressure release opening communication part 116, and the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating part 68 is released. Accordingly, it is possible to more reliably prevent the subsequent sheet S from being sucked from the gap between the bottom plate 88 and the lower closing member 107.

As described above, in the second state, the suction of the sheet S is interrupted, but the sheet S is already nipped by the supply roller 8 installed on the downstream side and is transported to the downstream side. Even if the suction is interrupted and the sheet S is separated from the sheet S transport surface of the suction box 71, the transport of the sheet S can be continued.

Thereafter, when the succeeding uppermost sheet S on the stacking table 61 is conveyed, the control unit 45 drives the moving motor 114 to rotate the rotating body 119 in the clockwise direction in FIG. Then, the closing member 103 is returned from the position in the second state to the position in the fourth state on the right, and the sheet S is sucked and conveyed again using the suction openings 97a and 97b shown in FIG.

Further, in the case of transporting a large sheet S in which the transport direction length Lf is longer than the arrival transport length Le and the width direction length Lw of the sheet S is longer than the opening width length Lv, the control unit 45 includes a moving unit. As shown in FIG. 9, 104 is set to the first state in which the closing member 103 is positioned at the leftmost position. In this first state, the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c communicate with all the upstream suction opening communication parts 117a, 117b, 117c, and 117d, thereby opening the state. Therefore, the sheet S on the stacking table 61 can be sucked in a wide range in the width direction W. Thus, even when the size of the sheet S is large, the sheet S can be appropriately sucked and conveyed.

As described above, when the sheet S having the width direction length Lw longer than the opening width length Lv is sucked and conveyed, similarly to the case of the sheet S having the width direction length Lw shorter than the opening width length Lv, the sheet S Is sucked into the suction opening 95, the controller 45 causes the conveyor belt 64 to travel when a predetermined time has elapsed after the suction detector 69 detects the suction of the sheet S. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the first detection unit 31 detects the front edge Sa of the sheet S, the closing member 103 is moved to the second state position shown in FIG. The second state is maintained until the suction conveyance of the subsequent sheet S on the stacking table 61 is started.

In addition, when sucking and transporting a small sheet S in which the transport direction length Lf is shorter than the arrival transport length Le and the width direction length Lw is shorter than the opening width length Lv, the controller 45 increases the size of the sheet S. In order to suck the sheet S using a part of the suction openings 95 according to the above, the moving member 104 moves the closing member 103 to the rightmost position shown in FIG. Accordingly, some of the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b on the right side close to the right side plate 18 are opened to communicate with the suction opening communication parts 117b, 117c, and 117d formed with a long length Lu in the width direction W. The left upstream suction opening 97c is closed without communicating with the left suction opening communication portion 117c having a short length Ls in the width direction W.

When the suction is detected by the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b in which the sheet S is opened and the suction detection unit 69 detects the suction of the sheet S, the control unit 45 causes the belt drive motor 78 to operate for a predetermined time after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection time. The sheet is driven to travel the transport belt 64 and transport the sheet S to a predetermined position. This predetermined position is a position where the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the installation position of the downstream suction opening 98.

Then, when the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the downstream end of the downstream suction opening 98, the control unit 45 drives the moving motor 114 to move the closing member 103 to the position of the third state shown in FIG. To the left by a predetermined amount. As a result, all the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c except for the detection opening 93b are closed, and all the downstream suction openings 98 are opened. In this way, the suction opening 95 that is opened and suckable is switched from the upstream side to the downstream side at the timing when the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the position where the downstream suction opening 98 is provided.

This is because the front end portion Sc of the sheet S in the middle of conveyance does not reach the installation position of the supply roller 8 and is not sandwiched between the supply rollers 8 because the conveyance direction length Lf of the sheet S is short. This is to prevent the rear end portion of the sheet S from passing below the suction opening 97, reducing the suction force, and preventing suction conveyance.

Therefore, when the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the position where the downstream suction opening 98 is provided, the suction opening 95 communicates with the suction opening communication portion 115 and can be sucked. Switching to the section 98, the sheet S is conveyed while maintaining the suction force of the sheet S. By doing in this way, even if it is the sheet | seat S whose conveyance direction length Lf is shorter than predetermined conveyance direction length Le, it can carry out suction conveyance appropriately.

Thereafter, after a predetermined time has elapsed from when the first detection unit 31 detects the front edge Sa of the sheet S, the control unit 45 drives the moving motor 114 to move the closing member 103 to the position of the third state shown in FIG. To the position of the second state shown in FIG. As a result, all the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c and the downstream suction opening 98 except for the downstream side portion of the upstream suction opening 97b constituting the detection opening 93b of the bottom plate 88 are closed. On the other hand, the negative pressure releasing openings 96 formed in the upper box 87 are all opened. The sheet S is already nipped by the supply roller 8 and is supplied to the conveyance path 5 on the downstream side.

Furthermore, when supplying the sheet S in which the conveyance direction length Lf of the sheet S is shorter than the arrival conveyance length Le and the width direction length Lw is longer than the opening width length Lv, the control unit 45 first performs the sheet S. In order to perform suction conveyance using the suction opening 95 according to the size of the suction member, the closing member 103 is set to the first state shown in FIG. 9, and suction conveyance is performed using all the other upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c. can do.

When the front end portion Sc of the sheet S is conveyed downstream by the conveying belt 64 and conveyed to the position where the downstream suction opening 98 is provided, the control unit 45 drives the movement motor 114 for a predetermined time. Then, the closing member 103 is moved from the position in the first state to the position in the third state. Thus, the sheet is conveyed using the suction opening 95 according to the size of the sheet S.

Here, since the downstream suction opening 98 is shorter than the upstream suction opening 97 in the width direction W of the installation range and is provided in a narrow range, when the sheet S is sucked into the downstream suction opening 98, Suction cannot be performed over the entire length Lw of the sheet S in the width direction. However, when the length Lf in the conveyance direction of the sheet S is shorter than the arrival conveyance length Le, the weight of the sheet S becomes lighter than when it is long. Therefore, the downstream suction opening 98 can sufficiently suck the sheet S without suction using the suction opening 95 over the entire width direction W of the sheet S.

Further, as another suction conveyance method, the control unit 45 is the most similar to the case shown in FIG. 12 as in the case where the width direction length Lw of the sheet S is shorter than the opening width length Lv. It is also possible to transport the sheet S in a state where the closing member 103 is moved to the right position and the left three upstream suction openings 97c are closed. As described above, when the conveyance direction length Lf of the sheet S is shorter than the arrival conveyance length Le, the weight of the sheet S is lighter than that when the sheet S is long. Even when suction is performed using the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b corresponding to the portions, the sheet S can be sufficiently sucked and can be conveyed properly.

Then, when the sheet S after a predetermined time has elapsed from the detection of the front edge Sa of the sheet S by the first detection unit 31, the control unit 45 moves the closing member 103 to the second state shown in FIG. 10. In this position, the sheet S is conveyed downstream, and the suction conveyance is temporarily stopped until the subsequent sheet S on the stacking table 61 is to be sucked and conveyed.

Next, the case where the suction conveyance of the sheet S is performed according to the thickness of the sheet S will be described. In order to perform the suction conveyance of the sheet S according to the thickness of the sheet S, the suction opening communication portion 115 communicates more suction openings 95 when the sheet S is thicker than when the sheet S is thin. It can be opened and used for suction conveyance.

For example, when the sheet S is a large sheet S in which the conveyance direction length Lf is longer than the arrival conveyance length Le, the width direction length Lw is longer than the opening width length Lv, and the sheet S is thick First, the control unit 45 positions the closing member 103 at the position of the first state shown in FIG. 9, and all the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c are connected to the upstream suction opening communication parts 117a, 117b, 117c, and 117d. The sheet S can be sucked.

On the other hand, when the thickness of the sheet S is thin even when the length S of the sheet S is the same as the above in the conveyance direction length Lf is longer than the arrival conveyance length Le and the width direction length Lw is longer than the opening width length Lv. The control unit 45 positions the closing member 103 at the position of the fourth state shown in FIG. 12, and communicates only some of the upstream suction openings 97a and 97b provided on the right side with the upstream suction opening communication parts 117a and 117b. However, the other upstream opening 97c provided on the left side may be closed and not used for suction. This is because when the thickness of the sheet S is thin, it may be possible to suck the sheet S and properly convey it even when some suction openings 95 are used.

Next, a case where the suction conveyance of the sheet S is performed according to the conveyance position of the sheet S will be described. In order to perform the suction conveyance of the sheet S in accordance with the conveyance position of the sheet S, the suction opening portion 95 corresponding to a part of the sheet S such as the front end portion Sc or the rear end portion of the sheet S is provided as the suction opening communication portion 115. It can be made to communicate and open, and it can be in the state which can be attracted | sucked.

For example, when transporting a larger sheet S in which the transport direction length Lf of the sheet S is longer than the arrival transport length Le and the width direction length Lw is longer than the opening width length Lv, the control unit 45 first displays The closing member 103 is positioned at the position of the first state shown in FIG. 9, and all of the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, 97c are communicated with the upstream suction opening communicating parts 117a, 117b, 117c, 117d, and are opened. It is conveyed by the conveyor belt 64 while sucking the air.

When the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the position where the downstream suction opening 98 is provided, the control unit 45 moves the closing member 103 to the position of the third state shown in FIG. As a result, all the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c except for the downstream portion of the upstream suction opening 97b constituting the detection opening 93c are closed, and all the downstream suction openings 98 are opened, so that the suction opening communicating portion The suction opening 95 opened by communicating with 118 is switched from the upstream side to the downstream side at the timing when the front end portion Sc of the sheet S reaches the position where the downstream suction opening 98 is provided.

Even after the sheet S is conveyed while being sucked into the downstream suction opening 98 and is sandwiched between the supply rollers 8, the sheet S is sucked into the downstream suction conveyance unit 98 with the closing member 103 remaining in the third state. The state is kept as it is. As a result, the lower surface of the sheet S can be made difficult to contact the upper end of the abutting plate 101 and the like, and the damage and damage of the sheet S due to the impact at the time of contact and the friction at the time of conveyance and the peeling of the ink can be suppressed. Can do.

When the sheet S is conveyed by a predetermined amount using both the suction conveyance unit 62 and the supply roller 8 in the third state, and the trailing edge Sb of the sheet S reaches the downstream side from the installation position of the suction detection unit 69, the sheet The swinging member 83 released from the push-up by S swings about the swinging shaft 85 and descends. Then, the upper end portion 83 b of the swing member 83 comes out of the bifurcated portion of the optical sensor 84, the optical sensor 84 is changed from the light shielding state to the light passing state, and the detection result is transmitted to the control unit 45. Further, the lower end portion 83 a of the swing member 83 housed in the suction box 71 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the suction box 71.

When the control unit 45 receives the detection result that the optical sensor 84 of the suction detection unit 69 is light-transmitted and the sheet S is not sucked by the lower surface of the suction box 71, the control unit 45 turns the moving motor 114 for a predetermined time. By driving, the closing member 103 is moved from the third state position shown in FIG. 11 to the second state position shown in FIG. Thus, the upstream suction openings 97a, 97b, and 97c and the downstream suction opening 98 are closed, and the suction conveyance operation is temporarily stopped until the conveyance of the subsequent sheet S on the stacking table 61 is started.

As described above, in the sheet conveying apparatus D, the suction opening 95 is communicated with the suction opening communicating portion 115 at a plurality of locations divided along the conveyance direction F of the sheet S and the width direction W orthogonal to the conveyance direction F. Thus, since the sheet S can be conveyed using the suction opening 95 at a location corresponding to at least one of the size, thickness, and conveyance position of the sheet S, the sheet S is conveyed while being sucked. Sometimes, the sheet S can be properly conveyed even if the size and thickness of the sheet S are different. Further, since the closing member 103 is provided in contact with the suction box 71, the suction opening 95 can be easily closed by the closing member 103.

Next, other embodiments of the shape, size, pattern, and the like of the suction opening 95 and the negative pressure release opening 115 according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of a lower closing member 107d according to another embodiment. In FIG. 14, the lengths Lr, Lq, Lp, Lo in the width direction W of the suction opening communicating portions 115d, 115e are different between the odd number and the even number from the right end. The length Lr in the width direction W of the odd-numbered upstream suction opening communicating portion 117d from the right end is formed shorter than the length Lq of the even-numbered upstream suction opening communicating portion 117e. For the downstream suction opening communication portions 118d and 118e, the length Lp in the width direction W of the odd-numbered downstream suction opening communication portions 118d from the right end is longer than the length Lo of the even-numbered downstream suction opening communication portions 118e. Is also formed long.

When the right bottom plate 89d having the same shape as the right bottom plate 89 shown in FIG. 6 is closed using the lower closing member 107d, as shown in FIG. 15A, the odd-numbered upstream suction opening 97d from the right end of the right bottom plate 89d. In addition, the downstream suction opening 98d can be opened, and the even-numbered upstream suction opening 97e and the downstream suction opening 98e can be closed. In the state shown in FIG. 15A, a relatively easy sheet S such as a small sheet S or a thin sheet S can be sucked and conveyed using a small number of suction openings 95d. it can.

Then, by moving the lower closing member 107d to the left in the width direction W, as shown in FIG. 15B, all the suction openings can be opened at once. In this state, when a relatively difficult sheet S such as a large sheet S or a thick sheet S is transported, it can be sucked and transported using all the suction openings 95d and 95e.

Further, in FIG. 16, the lower closing member 107d is moved to the right by a predetermined amount from the state shown in FIG. 15A to close all the suction openings 95d and 95e except the suction detector 93c. Than this. The suction openings 94d and 95e can be closed at the timing at which the suction conveyance of the sheet S is temporarily stopped.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, in the above-described embodiment, the suction openings 95, 95 d, 95 e and the suction opening communication portions 115, 115 d, 1115 e are the conveyance direction F of the sheet S and the width direction W perpendicular to the conveyance direction F. However, instead of this, it may be formed integrally.

In a right bottom plate 89f shown in FIG. 17A as another embodiment, the suction opening 95f is integrally formed without being divided in the transport direction F. Further, the length Lt in the width direction W of the suction opening 95f is formed longer than the length Ls in the width direction of the suction opening 95 shown in FIG. 6, and is installed in a range wider than the gap between the adjacent conveyor belts 64. Thus, the sheet S can be sucked and transported even if the length Lt in the width direction of the suction opening 95f is longer than the length of the gap between the adjacent transport belts 64. I do not care. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 17, since the suction detection opening is not provided, it is preferable to provide a separate suction detection unit.

The suction opening 95f of the right bottom plate 89f can close and open the suction opening 95f at a predetermined location divided in the transport direction F using, for example, a closing member 103f shown in FIG. The closing member 103f shown in FIG. 17B is provided with suction opening communication portions 115f and 115g that are alternately shifted by a predetermined length on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction F.

FIG. 18 shows a state in which the right bottom plate 89f shown in FIG. 17 (a) is closed by the closing member 103f shown in FIG. 17 (b). In FIG. 18A, the suction opening 95f on the downstream side in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S is communicated with and opened to the suction opening communication portion 115g provided on the downstream side of the lower blocking member 107f in the sheet S conveyance direction F. ing. The suction opening 95f on the upstream side portion of the sheet S in the conveyance direction F is closed without being connected to the suction opening communication portion 115f provided on the upstream side of the lower closing member 107f in the sheet S conveyance direction F.

On the other hand, in FIG. 18B, the position where the suction opening portion 95f communicates with the suction opening communication portion 115f by moving the closing member 103f to the left by a predetermined amount in the width direction W from FIG. The suction opening 95f communicates with the suction opening communicating portion 115f provided on the upstream side of the sheet S and is opened. The suction opening 95f at the downstream side portion in the conveyance direction F of the sheet S is not communicated with the suction opening communicating portion 115g but is closed. As a result, even if the suction opening 95f is not divided in the transport direction F, the communication location can be switched according to the transport position of the sheet S, and the sheet S can be transported properly.

FIG. 19A shows a case where the suction opening 95 h is integrally formed in the width direction W of the sheet S. In the right bottom plate 89h illustrated in FIG. 19A, the suction opening 95h is integrally formed without being divided in the sheet Sno width direction W. The right bottom plate 89h can close and open the suction openings 95h at predetermined locations divided in the width direction W using, for example, a closing member 103h shown in FIG. 19 (b). The closing member 103h shown in FIG. 19B is divided by a predetermined length on the right side and the left side in the width direction W, and the positions thereof are shifted to alternately provide suction opening communication portions 115h and 115i. By moving the closing member 103h along the conveyance direction F of the sheet S perpendicular to the width direction W, the suction openings 95h at the locations divided in the width direction W are communicated with the suction opening communication portions 115h and 115i. Can do.

That is, as shown in FIG. 20A, by moving the closing member 103h along the conveyance direction F, the suction opening 95h and the right side portion of the sheet S divided into two in the width direction W The suction opening communicating portion 115h is communicated and opened or, as shown in FIG. 5B, the suction opening 95h communicates with the suction opening communicating portion 115i provided on the left side at the left side in the width direction W. It can be switched. Accordingly, the sheet S can be conveyed using the suction opening 95h at a location corresponding to the size, thickness, conveyance position, or the like of the sheet S.

And the suction opening part concerning this invention may be divided | segmented into three or more by the conveyance direction or the width direction. In this case, the sheet can be transported more appropriately by sequentially switching so as to use the suction openings at necessary locations according to the size and transport position of the sheet. Further, the state of communication of the suction openings 95, 95, 95d, 95e, 95f, and 95h with the suction opening communication portions 115, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g, 115h, and 115i is not limited to the above-described ones, but is open or closed The combination of the positions of the suction openings to be performed may be in another state.

In the above-described embodiment, the sheet S is transported using the suction opening 95 according to any of the size, thickness, or transport position of the sheet S. However, the size, thickness, size, and Select a suction opening to be used for suction by combining two or more of the three elements of size, thickness, and transport position, such as transport position, thickness and transport position, size and thickness, and transport position. May be.

Further, the closing member is installed inside the suction box, but may be outside the suction box as long as it is provided adjacent to the suction box. Further, although the negative pressure release opening 96 is provided on the upper surface of the suction box 71, the negative pressure release opening may be provided, and if the position is different from the suction opening formation position of the suction box, You may provide in other positions, such as the front and back of a suction box, or a side surface on either side, and a left bottom plate.

Further, the closing member 103 has moved in the width direction W or the conveyance direction F with respect to the suction box 71, but may be moved in the vertical direction or the rotation direction using other mechanisms such as hinges and lifting means.

It is also possible to appropriately change the number of rotations of the fan of the negative pressure generating unit 68 and adjust the amount of suction of the sheet by the negative pressure generating unit according to the size, thickness, or conveying position of the sheet.

Various processing information is manually set by the user from the operation panel 46 or automatically input by reading the barcode M2 by the reading unit 26, but communicates with an external information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. It may be set. A plurality of sheet arrangement patterns may be stored in advance in the storage unit by manual input from the operation panel, and each pattern may be called and set by a number or the like.

In addition, the processing apparatus includes the slitter processing unit 20, the cutter processing unit 22, and the crease processing unit 21, but may include at least one of a slitter processing unit and a cutter processing unit. The present invention is also applied to a sheet processing apparatus in which the processing mechanisms (including perforation forming mechanism, rounding forming mechanism, etc.) are appropriately combined, and also to a sheet processing apparatus in which the number of processing mechanisms and conveying rollers is different from that of the above embodiment. Needless to say, this is applicable. Further, the arrangement pattern of the sheets is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 13, and various other patterns can be set for the number of cutting lines T and K and the number of folding lines C.

F Conveying direction S Sheet
W Width direction 61 Loading platform 62 Suction transport section 64 Transport belt 68 Negative pressure generating section 71 Suction box 95, 95d, 95e, 95f, 95h Suction opening 96 Negative pressure release opening 103 Closing member 104 Moving section 115, 115d, 115e, 115f, 115g, 115h, 115i Suction opening communicating portion

Claims (6)

This is a sheet transport device equipped with a suction transport unit that sucks and transports sheets on the loading table. The suction transport unit generates a negative pressure in the suction box and a transport belt that transports the sheet while sucking it into the suction box. And a negative pressure generating section, the suction box is provided with a suction opening on the sheet conveying surface,
The suction opening can be closed, and a closing member provided with a suction opening communicating portion communicating with the suction opening is provided.
The suction opening communicates with the suction opening communicating portion at a plurality of locations divided along the sheet conveyance direction and the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, so that the size, thickness or conveyance position of the sheet can be controlled. A sheet conveying apparatus configured to be able to convey a sheet using a suction opening at a location corresponding to at least one of them. The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the suction box is provided with a negative pressure release opening for releasing the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator at a position different from the suction opening formation position. 3. The sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit configured to move the closing member relative to the suction box to a plurality of different positions, and to switch the sheet so as to convey the sheet in a different suction state at each position. Conveying device. The sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closing member is provided in contact with the suction box. A sheet conveying method for conveying a sheet stacked on a loading table while sucking the sheet, the sheet being conveyed by a conveying belt while sucking the sheet at a suction opening provided in a suction box, and a sheet conveying direction and By connecting a suction opening communicating portion provided in a closing member capable of closing the suction opening to a suction opening at a predetermined location divided along the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, the size of the sheet is obtained. A sheet conveying method for conveying a sheet by using a part of suction openings according to at least one of thickness and conveying position. When the suction opening for sucking the sheet is closed by the closing member, the negative pressure generated in the suction box by the operation of the negative pressure generating part is opened by opening the negative pressure releasing opening provided in the suction box. The sheet conveying method according to claim 5, wherein the sheet conveying method is canceled.

Images