JP2016016973A - Sheet processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve quality and productivity in binding process.SOLUTION: A sheet processing device includes a sheet loading part for loading sheets until a plurality of pieces of sheets to be bound are aligned, a sheet moving part which, in a state of abutting with a sheet loaded anew on the sheet loading part, by pressing and moving while the sheet is loaded toward a predetermined position, moves the sheet loaded anew on the sheet loading part toward the predetermined position, a hydration part which, in a state where the sheet moving part is abutting with the sheet loaded on the sheet loading part, is provided to face a binding position of the sheet, and while the sheet moving part is abutting with the sheet loaded anew on the sheet loading part, adds water to the binding position of the sheet, and a sheet binding part which press-contacts a plurality of pieces of sheets loaded at the predetermined position by pinching from a sheet surface at the binding position added with water, for collective binding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a sheet binding process.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is often configured as a multifunction machine that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, or a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like.

  Also, as such a multi-function machine, a multi-function machine equipped with a binding processing device that forms an image on a plurality of sheets and then binds a bundle of sheets made up of the plurality of image-formed sheets is known. Yes. As a method of binding a sheet bundle in such a binding processing apparatus, a method using a metal needle (hereinafter referred to as “needle-bound binding”) is widely used.

  However, in the case of binding with a needle, it is necessary to separate the metal needle and the sheet when discarding the bound sheet bundle.

  Therefore, in recent years, a method of binding without using a metal needle (hereinafter referred to as “needleless binding”) has become widespread and widely used. As a method of binding a sheet bundle with such a needleless binding, a sheet bundle is sandwiched between a set of meshing concave and convex teeth, and the fibers are entangled between the sheets by engaging the concave and convex teeth and crimping the sheet bundle in that state. There is known a binding method (hereinafter referred to as “crimping method”).

  However, such a crimping method has a problem in that the force to bind the sheet bundle is weaker than that of the needle-bound binding, and the sheet bundle bound by the crimping method is more easily peeled than the sheet bundle bound by the needle-bound binding. is there.

  Therefore, there is a technology in which moisture is added to the part to be bonded of each sheet to be bound and then stacked, and the sheet end of the stacked sheet is aligned and then the part containing moisture in the sheet bundle is crimped with uneven teeth. Proposed already known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, fibers can be entangled more strongly between sheets, and as a result, the force for binding the sheet bundle can be improved.

  However, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, moisture cannot be accurately contained only in the portion to which the sheet bundle is crimped, and moisture is contained in addition to the portion to be crimped of the sheet bundle, There is a problem that the finished bundle of sheets is deteriorated and the quality of the binding process is lowered.

  In addition, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the sheets to be bound are loaded after moisture is contained, the sheet edge alignment becomes worse due to increased friction between the sheets, There is a problem that the finished bundle of sheets is deteriorated and the quality of the binding process is lowered.

  Furthermore, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, each process performed in the binding process, such as a process for adding moisture to the sheet (hereinafter referred to as “hydration process”) and a process of binding the sheet bundle. Among these, since the water treatment process is performed independently of other processes, there is a problem that the productivity of the binding process is reduced by the time required for the water treatment process.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to improve the quality and productivity of the binding process.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention is a sheet processing apparatus that binds a plurality of sheets together, and stacks the sheets until the sheets to be bound are aligned. In the state where the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit is in contact with the sheet stacking unit, the sheet is moved while being pushed toward a predetermined position while being stacked. A sheet moving unit that moves the stacked sheets to the predetermined position, and the sheet moving unit so as to face the binding position of the sheets in a state where the sheet moving unit is in contact with the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A water adding portion that adds water to the binding position of the sheet while the sheet moving portion is in contact with the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking portion; Characterized in that it and a sheet binding unit which binds together by crimping across a sheet surface the plurality of sheets stacked in the stapling position, which is hydrolyzed to a location.

  According to the present invention, the quality and productivity of the binding process can be improved.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. It is sectional drawing which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the main scanning direction. It is sectional drawing which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the main scanning direction. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is sectional drawing which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the main scanning direction. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. According to the embodiment of the present invention It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view from the sub scanning direction of the sheet bundle bound by the binding processing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the timing at the time of the binding processing unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention performing horizontal alignment operation | movement and water addition operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the timing at the time of the binding processing unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention performing horizontal alignment operation | movement and water addition operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the timing at the time of the binding processing unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention performing horizontal alignment operation | movement and water addition operation | movement. 1 is a transparent view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention from a sheet surface. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation from the main scanning direction. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 4 during the paper transport operation according to the embodiment of the present invention from the main scanning direction. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a perspective view of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper processing surface of the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end. It is a figure which shows the binding process part which concerns on embodiment of this invention from a paper conveyance direction rear end.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus including a binding processing unit that binds a plurality of sheets such as sheets together will be described as an example.

  The binding processing unit according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of sheets by interleaving fibers between sheets by sandwiching a bundle of sheets with a set of meshing concavo-convex teeth and then engaging the concavo-convex teeth and crimping the sheet bundle. Are bound together (hereinafter referred to as “crimping method”).

  In addition, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment is configured to bind a bundle of sheets after moisture is included in a portion to be pressed of each sheet to be bound. Therefore, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment can strongly entangle fibers between sheets, and can improve the force for binding a bundle of sheets.

  In addition, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment performs a horizontal misalignment for aligning both ends in the sheet width direction of sheets newly stacked on the binding processing unit and both ends in the sheet width direction of sheets already stacked. A correction guide is provided, and each time a sheet is stacked on the binding processing unit, the horizontal misalignment correction guide is moved against the sheet while being pressed from the sheet width direction to perform horizontal alignment. At this time, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment performs the vertical alignment for aligning the front end in the paper transport direction of the paper newly stacked on the binding processing unit and the front end in the paper transport direction of the stack of paper already stacked. As a part of the transport process, the process is performed by abutting the front end of the paper in the paper transport direction on the stack unit for stacking stacked paper, and therefore no special process is required.

  In the binding processing unit configured as described above, one of the gist according to the present embodiment is provided with a hydration unit that moves to a position facing the crimping portion of the paper at the same time that the lateral misalignment correction guide contacts the paper. When the lateral misalignment correction guide starts to come into contact with the paper for horizontal alignment, at the same time, moisture is contained in the press-bonded portion of the paper from the water adding portion.

  That is, the gist of the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment is to perform the operation of adding the paper newly stacked in the binding processing unit to the press-bonding portion of the paper simultaneously with the horizontal alignment operation.

  Thereby, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment can perform the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation at the same time, and can reduce the binding processing time by the time required for the water addition operation. Therefore. According to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, the productivity of the binding processing can be improved.

  In addition, since the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment adds water after the sheets are stacked on the binding processing unit, the sheets can be stacked with low friction between the sheets. Both ends are neatly aligned, and the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  Further, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment can add water only to the crimping portion of the paper with high accuracy, and does not add water to other portions than the crimping portion, so that the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a simplified overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a paper feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a binding processing unit 4, and a scanner unit 5. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier by providing a communication function and the like.

  The paper feeding unit 2 feeds paper to the image forming unit 3. The image forming unit 3 generates drawing information of CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Key Plate) based on the input image data, and applies the sheet of paper fed from the paper feeding unit 2 based on the generated drawing information. The image forming output is executed, and the image-formed paper is conveyed to the binding processing unit 4 or discharged to the printing paper discharge tray 301.

  The binding processing unit 4 performs a binding process on a plurality of image-formed sheets conveyed from the image forming unit 3, thereby binding the plurality of sheets together and binding-binding sheets. The bundle is conveyed to the binding processing discharge tray 401 or the sheet conveyed from the image forming unit 3 is discharged to the binding processing discharge tray 401 as it is. Note that the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment sandwiches a sheet bundle with a pair of meshing concave and convex teeth instead of staples and adhesives, and in this state meshes the concave and convex teeth to crimp the sheet bundle. It is comprised so that it may be bound by entwining fibers between. That is, in the present embodiment, the binding / folding processing unit 4 functions as a sheet processing apparatus.

  The scanner unit 5 reads a document by a linear image sensor in which a plurality of photodiodes are arranged in a line and a light receiving element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor is arranged in parallel. This will digitize the manuscript.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. In addition to the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an engine for realizing a scanner, a printer, a folding process, a binding process, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the same configuration as a general server, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, and an I / F 50. 90 is connected. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 60, an operation unit 70, and a dedicated device 80 are connected to the I / F 50.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 30 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium and stores a program such as firmware. The HDD 40 is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like.

  The I / F 50 connects and controls the bus 90 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 60 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 70 is a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse for the user to input information to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The dedicated device 80 is hardware for realizing dedicated functions in the paper feeding unit 2, the image forming unit 3, the binding processing unit 4, and the scanner unit 5. The paper feed unit 2 is a paper feed mechanism that feeds paper to the image forming unit 3. The image forming unit 3 is a plotter device that executes image forming output on a paper surface.

  The binding processing unit 4 is a binding processing mechanism that executes a binding process on a plurality of sheets on which images have been formed by the image forming unit 3. The configuration of the binding processing mechanism included in the binding processing unit 4 is one of the gist according to the present embodiment. The scanner unit 5 is a reading device that reads an image displayed on a sheet.

  In such a hardware configuration, a program stored in a storage medium such as the ROM 30, the HDD 40, or an optical disk (not shown) is read into the RAM 20, and the CPU 10 performs an operation according to the program loaded into the RAM 20, whereby the software control unit Is configured. A functional block that realizes the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured as described above and hardware.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the electrical connection is indicated by a solid arrow, and the flow of a sheet or a document bundle is indicated by a broken arrow.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 100, a paper feed table 200, a print engine 300, a print paper discharge tray 301, a binding processing engine 400, a binding processing paper discharge tray 401, It has a scanner engine 500, a document table 501, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 502, a document discharge tray 503, a display panel 600, and a network I / F 700. The controller 100 includes a main control unit 110, an engine control unit 120, an image processing unit 130, an operation display control unit 140, and an input / output control unit 150.

  The paper feed table 200 is a paper feed unit provided in the paper feed unit 2 and feeds paper to a print engine 300 that is an image forming unit. The print engine 300 is an image forming unit that is provided in the image forming unit 3 and draws an image by executing an image forming output on the paper conveyed from the paper feed table 200. A specific aspect of the print engine 300 according to the present embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming mechanism. The image-formed paper on which an image is drawn by the print engine 300 is conveyed to the binding processing engine 400 or discharged to the print discharge tray 301. The print engine 300 is realized by the dedicated device 80 shown in FIG.

  The binding processing engine 400 is provided in the binding processing unit 4 and performs binding processing on a plurality of image-formed sheets conveyed from the print engine 300, thereby binding the plurality of sheets together. The bundle of sheets subjected to the binding process is conveyed to the binding process discharge tray 401 or the sheet conveyed from the print engine 300 is discharged as it is to the binding process discharge tray 401. Note that the binding processing engine 400 according to the present embodiment sandwiches a sheet bundle with a set of meshing concave and convex teeth instead of staples and adhesives, and in this state meshes the concave and convex teeth to crimp the sheet bundle. It is comprised so that it may be bound by entwining fibers between.

  The scanner engine 500 is a document reading unit that is provided in the scanner unit 5 and includes a photoelectric conversion element that converts optical information into an electric signal. The scanner engine 500 is set on a document that is automatically conveyed by the ADF 502 or a document table glass (not shown). This is a document reading unit that optically scans and reads a document to generate image information.

  The ADF 502 is provided in the scanner unit 5 and automatically conveys a document set on the document table 501 to the scanner engine 500, and after the document is read by the scanner engine 500, the document is discharged to a document discharge tray 503. The scanner engine 500 and the ADF 502 are realized by the dedicated device 80 shown in FIG.

  The display panel 600 is an output interface that visually displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and is an input when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus 1 or inputs information to the image forming apparatus 1 as a touch panel. It is also an interface. That is, the display panel 600 includes a function for displaying an image for receiving an operation by the user. The display panel 600 is realized by the LCD 60 and the operation unit 70 shown in FIG.

  The network I / F 700 is an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other devices such as an administrator terminal and a PC (Personal Computer) via the network. The network I / F 700 is an Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus). ) Interface, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) (registered trademark), FeliCa (registered trademark), and other interfaces are used. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment receives image data for a print request and various control commands such as a print request from a terminal connected via the network I / F 700. The network I / F 700 is realized by the I / F 50 shown in FIG.

  The controller 100 is configured by a combination of software and hardware. Specifically, a software control unit and an integrated circuit configured by loading a control program such as firmware stored in a non-volatile storage medium such as the ROM 30 or the HDD 40 into the RAM 20 and performing an operation by the CPU 10 according to the program. The controller 100 is configured by hardware such as the above. The controller 100 functions as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The main control unit 110 plays a role of controlling each unit included in the controller 100, and gives a command to each unit of the controller 100. Further, the main control unit 110 controls the input / output control unit 150 and accesses other devices via the network I / F 800 and the network. The engine control unit 120 controls or drives driving units such as the print engine 300, the binding processing engine 400, the scanner engine 500, and the ADF 502.

  The image processing unit 130 outputs drawing information based on image information described by PDL (Page Description Language), for example, document data or image data included in an input print job, under the control of the main control unit 110. Generate as information. This drawing information is information such as CMYK bitmap data, and is information for drawing an image to be formed in the image forming operation by the print engine 300 as an image forming unit.

  The image processing unit 130 processes image data input from the scanner engine 500 to generate image data. The image data is information stored in the image forming apparatus 1 as a result of the scanner operation or transmitted to another device via the network I / F 700 and the network. Note that the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can directly input drawing information instead of image information, and can execute image forming output based on the directly input drawing information.

  The operation display control unit 140 displays information on the display panel 600 or notifies the main control unit 110 of information input via the display panel 600. The input / output control unit 150 inputs signals and commands input via the network I / F 700 and the network to the main control unit 110.

  Next, an operation when the binding processing unit 4 performs the binding process in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating the binding processing unit 4 during the sheet transport operation from the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the binding processing unit 407 according to the present embodiment from the main scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the binding process, first, when the image-formed paper 201 is transported from the image forming unit 3, the pair of entrance transport rollers 402. Is started, the image-formed sheet 201 conveyed from the image forming unit 3 is received by the entrance conveying roller pair 402, and the sheet 201 is conveyed toward the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403.

  The binding processing unit 4 further conveys the sheet 201 conveyed by the entrance conveyance roller pair 402 toward the discharge roller pair 404 by the first normal / reverse rotation roller pair 403 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the binding processing unit 4 transports the paper 201 conveyed by the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 toward the binding processing discharge tray 401 by the discharge roller pair 404.

  When the paper processing unit 4 conveys the paper 201 by a predetermined distance by the paper discharge roller pair 404, the paper processing unit 407 binds the paper 201 by reversing the rotation direction of the paper discharge roller pair 404 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the conveyed paper 201 is stacked by the binding processing unit 407.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the binding processing unit 4 rotates the contact roller 460 while contacting the paper surface of the paper 201 that has been transported to the binding processing unit 407, thereby rotating the front end of the paper 201 in the paper transport direction. Is abutted against the stack portion 410. As a result, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the front end in the paper transport direction of the paper 201 that has been transported and the paper transport direction of the paper stack 202 that has been stacked first. The front end can be aligned, that is, vertical alignment can be performed.

  When the paper 201 is newly stacked on the stacking unit 410 and the paper support plate 430 in this manner, the binding processing unit 4 then has the newly stacked paper 201 and the previously stacked paper bundle 202. Both ends of the direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction (hereinafter referred to as “paper width direction”) are aligned, that is, horizontal alignment is performed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the binding processing unit 4 moves the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 toward the reference plate 450 in the main scanning direction while pressing the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 against the end of the sheet 201 in the sheet width direction. Then, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the paper 201 stacked on the stack unit 410 and the paper support plate 430 and the paper stack 202 previously stacked are aligned. That is, in the present embodiment, the stack unit 410 and the sheet support plate 430 function as a sheet stacking unit, and the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 functions as a sheet moving unit. Although the reference plate 450 according to the present embodiment is fixed, the reference plate 450 may be configured to move in the main scanning direction, similarly to the lateral misalignment correction guide 440.

  Here, the operation when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs horizontal alignment will be described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment from the sub-scanning direction during the horizontal alignment operation.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 17A to 17C, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment includes a lateral displacement correction guide 440 that includes a hydration portion 441, a water absorption tube 443, and a contact detection sensor 444, and a correction guide. A water storage tank 442 is provided outside.

  The hydration unit 441 is provided so as to face the crimping portion of the paper 201 in a state where the lateral deviation correction guide 440 is in contact with the paper 201, and detects that the lateral deviation correction guide 440 has contacted the paper 201. When detected by the contact detection sensor 444, the water is drawn from the water storage tank 442 through the water absorption tube 443, and the liquid droplets are discharged to the pressure-bonded portion of the paper 201. Note that the hydration unit 441 does not eject droplets when the lateral displacement correction guide 440 is not in contact with the sheet 201. The water absorption tube 443 is made of a flexible resin or the like. Further, the water storage tank 442 is constituted by a removable cartridge.

  The hydration unit 441 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as an inkjet head used in an inkjet image forming apparatus, and is generated by vibrating a piezoelectric element provided in each nozzle inside the nozzle. A droplet is discharged by a pressure change. Therefore, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can eject fine droplets, and the liquid does not easily penetrate into the paper due to the surface tension, and the liquid can be infiltrated into the paper. It becomes.

  As described above, the reason why the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment discharges droplets to the crimped portion of the paper 201 will be described. The binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment uses a crimping method in which fibers are entangled between sheets by sandwiching a bundle of sheets with a pair of meshing concavo-convex teeth and then pressing the bundle of sheets by engaging the concavo-convex teeth in that state. It is configured to bind multiple sheets of paper together, but in the case of the crimping method, it is possible to strongly entangle the fibers between the sheets by adding moisture to the crimping part and then crimping it. This is because the force for binding 202 can be improved.

  At this time, as described above, the hydration portion 441 is provided so as to face the crimping portion of the paper 201 in a state where the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 is in contact with the paper 201. It becomes possible to eject droplets with high accuracy. In the present embodiment, in this way, the hydration portion 441 is provided so as to face the crimping portion of the paper 201 in a state where the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 is in contact with the paper 201, and the crimping portion of the paper 201 is provided. One of the main points is to discharge droplets with high accuracy.

  When performing the horizontal alignment, the binding processing unit 4 configured in this manner first aligns the sheets 201 newly stacked on the stack unit 410 and the sheet support plate 430 as shown in FIG. In order to do this, the lateral deviation correction guide 440 is moved in the main scanning direction toward the reference plate 450.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 17B, the binding processing unit 4 detects that the contact with the sheet 201 is detected by the contact detection sensor 444 when the lateral deviation correction guide 440 contacts the sheet 201. Simultaneously with the contact, a droplet is ejected from the hydration portion 441. At this time, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment includes the water adding portion 441 so as to face the crimping portion of the paper 201 in a state where the lateral deviation correction guide 440 is in contact with the paper 201. It is possible to accurately discharge droplets to the crimping portion.

  As shown in FIG. 17C, the binding processing unit 4 moves in the main scanning direction toward the reference plate 450 while pressing the lateral deviation correction guide 440 as it is against the edge of the paper 201 in the paper width direction. The paper 201 stacked on the stack unit 410 and the paper support plate 430 and the paper stack 202 previously stacked are horizontally aligned.

  Then, the binding processing unit 4 remains in a state where the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 is in contact with the end of the laterally aligned sheet bundle 202 in the sheet width direction, that is, the distance between the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 and the reference plate 450. Is stopped at a position (hereinafter referred to as a “horizontal alignment position”) that coincides with the sheet width of the sheet bundle 202 until the predetermined addition time elapses, and then the lateral shift correction guide 440 is stopped. The horizontal alignment is completed by retracting to the home position.

  The binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the horizontal alignment operation shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C each time a sheet 201 is newly stacked on the binding processing unit 407, thereby binding processing unit. Both ends of the sheet bundle 202 stacked in 407 in the sheet width direction can be aligned.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 17C, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is applied to the crimping portion of the sheet 201 in a state where the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 is in contact with the sheet 201. When the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 starts to contact the paper 201 in order to make the horizontal alignment, the liquid droplets are discharged from the hydrolytic unit 441 to the pressure-bonding portion of the paper 201 at the same time. It is configured.

  In other words, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment is configured to perform a horizontal aligning operation of the paper 201 newly stacked on the binding processing unit 407 and simultaneously perform a water adding operation to the crimped portion of the paper 201.

  With this configuration, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can simultaneously perform the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation, and shortens the binding processing time by the time required for the water addition operation. It becomes possible. Therefore. According to the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, the productivity of the binding process can be improved.

  Further, since the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment adds water after the sheets are stacked on the binding processing unit 407, the sheets 201 can be stacked in a state where the friction between the sheets is low. Both ends in the paper transport direction are neatly aligned, and the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  In addition, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment can add water only to the crimping portion of the paper 201 with high accuracy and does not add water other than the crimping portion, so that the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  When all the sheets to be bound are stacked on the binding processing unit 407 and the horizontal alignment is completed, the binding processing unit 4 moves the crimp binding unit 420 to the binding position as shown in FIGS. Then, as shown in FIGS. 21 (a) and 21 (b), the binding processing unit 4 sandwiches the sheet bundle with a pair of meshing concave / convex teeth at the binding position, and meshes the concave / convex teeth in this state to form the paper bundle. The sheet bundle 202 is bound by crimping. As shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, the sheet bundle 202 pressed in this manner is bound by the fibers being entangled with each other in the crimping portion A. That is, in the present embodiment, the crimp binding unit 420 functions as a sheet binding unit. At this time, since the crimping portion A of the sheet bundle 202 contains moisture, the binding processing unit 4 according to this embodiment can improve the binding force of the sheet bundle 202.

  Next, the timing when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation, that is, the timing when the operations shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C are performed. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 25 and 26 are diagrams illustrating timings when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation. In FIG. 25, the time required to hydrate the required amount of water (hereinafter referred to as “water addition time”) is the horizontal alignment position after the horizontal deviation correction guide 440 starts to contact the paper. It is a figure shown about the case below the time (henceforth "the horizontal alignment time required") until it moves to (1). FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a case where the required water addition time is longer than the required horizontal alignment time from when the horizontal misalignment correction guide 440 starts to contact the paper until it moves to the horizontal alignment position.

  When the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation, first, a necessary amount of moisture is determined based on the type of paper, the thickness of the paper, and the number of sheets to be bound. Estimate the time required for water to be added (addition time required). This is because the required amount of water changes according to the type of paper, the thickness of the paper, and the number of sheets to be bound. Therefore, the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment stores in advance information that sets the time required for each type of paper, the thickness of the paper, and the number of papers to be bound in a nonvolatile storage medium such as the ROM 30 or the HDD 40. I remember it. As described above, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the optimum amount of water depending on the type of paper, the thickness of the paper, and the number of papers to be bound. Even so, the binding strength can be surely ensured.

  As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs a horizontal misalignment correction guide in order to horizontally align the sheets 201 newly stacked on the stack unit 410 and the sheet support plate 430. 440 is moved in the main scanning direction toward the reference plate 450.

  When the lateral displacement correction guide 440 comes into contact with the paper 201 while the lateral displacement correction guide 440 is being moved, the binding processing unit 4 recognizes that the contact with the paper 201 has occurred as shown in FIGS. Detection is performed by the contact detection sensor 444, and at the same time, a droplet is discharged from the hydration unit 441. At this time, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment includes the water adding portion 441 so as to face the crimping portion of the paper 201 in a state where the lateral deviation correction guide 440 is in contact with the paper 201. It is possible to accurately discharge droplets to the crimping portion.

  At this time, the binding processing unit 4 compares the required horizontal alignment time and the required water addition time by the main control unit 110, and when the required horizontal alignment time is longer than the additional water required time, as shown in FIG. Even after the time elapses, the lateral displacement correction guide 440 continues to abut on the sheet 201 and continues to be added. That is, in the present embodiment, the main control unit 110 functions as a time comparison unit.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 25, when the lateral displacement correction guide 440 reaches the lateral alignment position, the binding processing unit 4 stops the addition by retracting the lateral displacement correction guide 440 to the home position, and completes the lateral alignment. To do. Therefore, in the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, when the required horizontal alignment time is longer than the required water addition time, the actual water addition time (hereinafter referred to as “actual water addition time”) is It will be longer than the time required for water addition and will continue to add water for the same time as the time required for horizontal alignment.

  On the other hand, the binding processing unit 4 compares the required horizontal alignment time with the required water addition time by the main control unit 110, and when the required horizontal alignment time is shorter than the required additional water time, as shown in FIG. Even if 440 reaches the horizontal alignment position, that is, even if the horizontal alignment time has elapsed, the water addition time is not reached. Therefore, when the required horizontal alignment time is shorter than the required water addition time, the binding processing unit 4 moves the horizontal misalignment correction guide 440 until the required additional time elapses as shown in FIG. The actual hydration time is extended to the required hydration time by stopping at the lateral alignment position while being in contact with the sheet bundle for the time difference from the alignment time.

  When the required horizontal alignment time is shorter than the required water addition time, the binding processing unit 4 moves the horizontal shift correction guide 440 toward the reference plate 450 in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. It may be configured to extend the actual water addition time to the required water addition time by extending the horizontal alignment time required.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation at the same time. Only the binding processing time can be shortened. Therefore. According to the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, the productivity of the binding process can be improved.

  Next, an aspect when the image forming apparatus 1 conveys a sheet so that the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the binding process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 28 is a transparent view showing the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment from the sheet surface.

  As shown in FIG. 28, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the paper transport center C3 in the main scanning direction when transporting the paper in the image forming unit 3 transports the paper in the binding processing unit 4. The image forming unit 3 and the binding processing unit 4 are configured so as to be closer to the hydration unit 441 in the main scanning direction than the sheet conveyance center C4 in the main scanning direction.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can always stack the sheets 201 on the side shift correction guide 440 side, as shown in FIGS. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the horizontal misalignment correction guide 440 is always brought into contact with the sheet 201 newly stacked in the binding processing unit 407 when the binding processing unit 407 performs horizontal alignment. It becomes possible.

  Next, an operation when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment transports a plurality of sheets to the binding processing unit 407 in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked will be described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 41 are cross-sectional views illustrating the binding processing unit 4 during the sheet transport operation from the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  When the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment transports a plurality of sheets to the binding processing unit 407 in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked, first, as shown in FIG. 32, the first sheet on which an image has been formed from the image forming unit 3. When the first sheet 201a is conveyed, the rotation of the inlet conveyance roller pair 402 is started, and the first sheet 201a on which the image has been formed conveyed from the image forming unit 3 is received by the inlet conveyance roller pair 402. The sheet 201a is conveyed toward the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the binding processing unit 4 transports the sheet 201 a by the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 until the rear end in the transport direction of the sheet 201 a passes through the branching claw 409. And the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 is blocked, and instead, the branch claw is connected so that the path connecting the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 and the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405 is communicated. 409 is switched. At this time, the binding processing unit 4 detects the position of the sheet 201a by the first sensor 408a or the second sensor 408b.

  When the branching claw 409 is switched, the binding processing unit 4 reverses the rotation direction of the first normal / reverse rotation roller pair 403 to reverse the rotation direction of the first normal / reverse rotation roller pair 405, as shown in FIG. Transport toward

  As shown in FIG. 35, the binding processing unit 4 further conveys the sheet 201 conveyed by the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 to the downstream side in the conveying direction by the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405, When the rear end of the sheet 201a in the transport direction passes through the branching claw 409, the rotation of the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405 is stopped. In this way, the binding processing unit 4 prestacks the first sheet 201a by the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405.

  When the sheets 201a are prestacked, the binding processing unit 4 next blocks the path connecting the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 and the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair as shown in FIG. The branch claw 409 is switched so that a path connecting the inlet conveyance roller pair 402 and the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 is connected.

  When the branching claw 409 is switched, the binding processing unit 4 receives the image-formed second sheet 201b conveyed from the image forming unit 3 by the entrance conveying roller pair 402 as shown in FIG. 201b is conveyed toward the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403.

  As shown in FIG. 38, the binding processing unit 4 includes a leading end in the transport direction of the second sheet 201b and a leading end in the transport direction of the first sheet 201a prestacked by the second pair of forward and reverse rotation rollers 405. And the rotation of the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405 is started at the timing when the branching claws 409 are aligned at the branching point of the path, and the sheet 201a is moved by the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405. A pair of entrance conveying rollers 402 conveys the toner toward the first pair of forward and reverse rotating rollers. At this time, the binding processing unit 4 detects the position of the paper 201b by the first sensor 408a or the second sensor 408b.

  As shown in FIGS. 39 to 41, the binding processing unit 4 performs the same operation as that shown in FIGS. 33 to 35 in a state where the first sheet 201 a and the second sheet 201 b overlap. The first sheet 201a and the second sheet 201b are prestacked by the second pair of forward and reverse rotating rollers 405 in a state where the first sheet 201a and the second sheet 201b are overlapped.

  The binding processing unit 4 performs the same operation as that shown in FIGS. 32 to 41 until all the sheets for the number of sheets to be prestacked are prestacked. When pre-stacking, the plurality of sheets are simultaneously conveyed to the binding processing unit 407 by the same operation as that shown in FIGS.

  In this way, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment conveys the sheets to the binding processing unit 407 in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked. Note that the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment, when prestacking a plurality of sheets stacked, as described with reference to FIGS. 32 to 41, the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405. 42, as shown in FIG. 42, the sheet is further pre-stacked by the pre-stack unit 406 by conveying the sheet further downstream in the conveying direction by the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405. May be.

  At this time, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment moves the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 by a predetermined distance n in the sheet width direction for each sheet, to the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405. As shown in FIGS. 43 to 45, a plurality of sheets are stacked so that the sheets stacked on the lower side of the binding processing unit 407 are closer to the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 as illustrated in FIGS. 43 to 45. And pre-stack. That is, in this embodiment, the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair 403 functions as a sheet conveying unit.

  Therefore, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can continuously add water sequentially from the sheets stacked on the lower side of the binding processing unit 407 by performing only one horizontal alignment operation. For this reason, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment only needs to perform the horizontal alignment operation once for a plurality of sheets, so that it is not necessary to perform the horizontal alignment operation one by one, and the binding processing time is accordingly increased. Can be further shortened.

  Next, another operation when the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment transports a plurality of sheets to the binding processing unit 407 in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked will be described with reference to FIGS. 46 and 47. It is a perspective view of the binding process part 407 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the binding process part 407 which concerns on this embodiment on a paper surface.

  When the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment transports a plurality of sheets to the binding processing unit 407 in a state where a plurality of sheets are stacked, the leading end of the second sheet 201b in the transport direction is at the stage of the operation shown in FIG. At the branch point of the path by the branching claw 409, the timing shifted to the downstream side in the transport direction by a predetermined distance m from the front end in the transport direction of the first sheet 201a prestacked by the second pair of forward and reverse rotation rollers 405. As a matter of course, the rotation of the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405 is started, the sheet 201a is moved by the second forward / reverse rotating roller pair 405, the sheet 201b is moved by the inlet transport roller pair 402, and the first forward / reverse rotating roller pair. Transport toward

  With such an operation, as shown in FIGS. 46 and 47, the binding processing unit 4 has a plurality of sheets so that the sheets stacked on the lower side of the binding processing unit 407 are positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction. It is designed to pre-stack by stacking paper.

  Therefore, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment stacks each sheet by shifting it by a predetermined distance m. Therefore, the binding processing unit 4 is stacked below the binding processing unit 407 by performing only one horizontal alignment operation. It becomes possible to add water continuously in order from the paper that is being printed. For this reason, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment only needs to perform the horizontal alignment operation once for a plurality of sheets, so that it is not necessary to perform the horizontal alignment operation one by one, and the binding processing time is accordingly increased. Can be further shortened.

  Next, another configuration of the lateral shift correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 48 (a) and 48 (b). 48A and 48B are diagrams showing another configuration of the lateral deviation correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 48A, in the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment, when the filler 445 contacts the paper 201, the filler 445 rotates around the filler rotation fulcrum 445a. At this time, the filler protrusion 445 b that supports the hydration portion 441 moves in a direction to retract from the hydration portion 441.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 48B, the lateral misalignment correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment rotates the hydration portion 441 around the hydration portion rotation fulcrum 441 a, so that the hydration portion 441 is placed on the paper surface of the paper 201. Add water by contact. Thereafter, when the lateral displacement correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment starts to retract to the home position, the hydration unit 441 returns to the original state and retracts from the paper surface of the sheet 201. The binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment changes the required amount of water depending on the type of paper, the thickness of the paper, and the number of papers to be bound. Is configured to change the number of times of contact with the paper 201 or the contact time. Therefore, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is the same as the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment in accordance with the type of sheet, the thickness of the sheet, and the number of sheets to be bound. Since it becomes possible to perform water addition, it becomes possible to ensure binding strength reliably under any circumstances.

  As described above, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can perform the addition operation when the lateral deviation correction guide 440 starts to contact the paper 201 without the contact detection sensor 444. The manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is configured to drive the hydration unit 441 by moving the lateral deviation correction guide 440, a drive mechanism such as an actuator for driving the hydration unit 441. The manufacturing cost does not increase.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 49, the hydration unit 441 according to the present embodiment has different contact positions depending on the number of stacked sheet bundles 202. The hydrating portion rotation fulcrum 441a is positioned between the maximum height and the height in the stacked state. Therefore, the hydration unit 441 according to the present embodiment can suppress the displacement of the position where the hydration unit 441 contacts even if the number of stacked sheet bundles 202 is different.

  Next, another configuration of the lateral deviation correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of the lateral deviation correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment.

  The lateral misalignment correction guide 440 according to the present embodiment includes a hydration lock mechanism 446 as shown in FIG. 50 in addition to the configurations of FIGS. 48 (a) and 48 (b). The hydration lock mechanism 446 further includes a push portion 446 a and a lock portion 446 b, and is a so-called “alternate mechanism” that pushes the push portion 446 a against the wall 447 to push the lock portion 446 b into and out of the hydration lock machine 446. It is comprised by.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 51A, the binding unit 4 according to the present embodiment supports the hydration protrusion 441b when the lock 446b is out of the hydration lock machine 446, as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if the filler protrusion 445 b moves in the direction of retracting from the hydration portion 441, the hydration portion 441 does not contact the paper 201. The binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment performs the horizontal alignment operation in this state when water is not required.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 51 (b), the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment retracts the lock portion 446 from the hydration projection 441b when the lock portion 446b is in the hydration lock machine 446. Therefore, when the filler protrusion 445b moves in the direction of retracting from the hydration portion 441, the hydration portion 441 contacts the paper surface of the paper 201 and hydrates.

  Thus, since the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can switch whether or not to perform the hydration operation as necessary, for example, the binding processing unit 4 that does not require hydration and hydration is required. It is possible to comprise so that it may have both the crimping | compression-bonding system to do. Further, since the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is configured to cause the hydration lock mechanism 446 to function by moving the lateral deviation correction guide 440, an actuator or the like for causing the hydration lock mechanism 446 to function is used. A drive mechanism is not required and the manufacturing cost is not increased.

  As described above, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment includes the addition portion that moves to a position facing the crimping portion of the sheet at the same time that the lateral deviation correction guide abuts on the sheet, and is aligned horizontally. Therefore, when the lateral misalignment correction guide starts to contact the paper, at the same time, moisture is contained in the press-bonded portion of the paper from the water adding portion.

  That is, the gist of the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment is that the sheet is newly stacked on the binding processing unit, and at the same time the water is added to the crimping portion of the sheet.

  Thereby, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can simultaneously perform the horizontal alignment operation and the water addition operation, and can reduce the binding processing time by the time required for the water addition operation. Therefore. According to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, the productivity of the binding processing can be improved.

  In addition, since the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment adds water after the sheets are stacked on the binding processing unit, it is possible to stack the sheets with low friction between the sheets. Both ends in the direction are neatly aligned, and the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  In addition, the binding processing unit 4 according to the present embodiment can add water only to the crimping portion of the paper with high accuracy, and does not add water to other portions than the crimping portion, so that the finished bundle of sheets is excellent. Therefore, according to the binding processing unit according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the quality of the binding processing.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the paper feeding unit 2, the image forming unit 3, the binding processing unit 4, and the scanner unit 5 are provided in the image forming apparatus 1 has been described. However, each unit is a different and independent device. The image forming system or the sheet processing system may be configured by connecting these devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper feed unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Binding processing unit 5 Scanner unit 10 CPU
20 RAM
30 ROM
40 HDD
50 I / F
60 LCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 Operation part 80 Dedicated device 90 Bus 100 Controller 110 Main control part 120 Engine control part 130 Input / output control part 140 Image processing part 150 Operation display control part 200 Paper feed table 201 Paper 202 Paper bundle 300 Print engine 301 Paper discharge tray for printing 400 Binding processing engine 401 Binding processing discharge tray 402 Entrance conveyance roller pair 403 First forward / reverse rotation roller pair 404 Discharge roller pair 405 Second forward / reverse rotation roller pair 406 Pre-stack unit 407 Binding processing unit 408a First Sensor 408b second sensor 409 branching claw 410 stacking portion 420 crimping binding portion 430 paper support plate 440 lateral displacement correction guide 441 water addition portion 441a water addition portion rotation fulcrum 441b water addition portion protrusion 442 water storage tank 443 water absorption tube 44 Contact sensing sensor 445 Filler 445a filler rotation fulcrum 445b filler projection 446 hydrolytic locking mechanism back 446a push portions 446b locking part 447 wall 450 the reference plate 460 roller 500 scanner engine 501 platen 502 ADF
503 Document output tray 600 Display panel 700 Network I / F

JP 09-104183 A JP 2001-301356 A

Claims (10)

A sheet processing apparatus for binding a plurality of sheets together,
A sheet stacking unit that stacks the sheets until the plurality of sheets to be bound are aligned;
The sheet is newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit by moving the sheet while pressing it toward a predetermined position in a state of being in contact with the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A sheet moving unit that moves the sheet to the predetermined position;
The sheet moving unit is provided so as to face the binding position of the sheet in contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit, and the sheet moving unit is newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit. While being in contact with the sheet, a hydration part that hydrates to the binding position of the sheet,
A sheet binding unit that binds and binds the plurality of sheets stacked at the predetermined position together by being clamped from the sheet surface at the binding position where the water has been added;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: The travel time required for the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit to reach the predetermined position after starting to move to the predetermined position, and newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit Estimating the hydration time required for hydration to the binding position of the sheet, comprising a time comparison unit for comparing the estimated movement time and the hydration time,
The sheet moving unit, when the estimated hydration time is longer than the estimated movement time, the sheet newly loaded on the sheet stacking unit over the estimated hydration time The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is moved to a predetermined position. The travel time required for the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit to reach the predetermined position after starting to move to the predetermined position, and newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit Estimating the hydration time required for hydration to the binding position of the sheet, comprising a time comparison unit for comparing the estimated movement time and the hydration time,
The hydration unit is estimated after the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit reaches the predetermined position when the estimated hydration time is longer than the estimated movement time. The sheet is newly added to the sheet stacking unit and added to the binding position of the sheet that has reached the predetermined position for a time difference between the addition time and the estimated movement time. The sheet processing apparatus according to 1 or 2.   When the estimated water addition time is longer than the estimated movement time, the sheet moving unit is estimated after the sheets newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit have reached the predetermined position. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet continues to abut on the sheet that has been newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit and has reached the predetermined position for a time difference between the addition time and the estimated movement time. The sheet processing apparatus according to the description. A sheet conveying unit that conveys and stacks the sheet on the sheet stacking unit;
The sheet conveyance unit stacks and conveys a plurality of sheets and stacks the sheets on the sheet stacking unit so that the sheets stacked first on the sheet stacking unit are positioned on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A sheet conveying unit that conveys and stacks the sheet on the sheet stacking unit;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying unit stacks the sheet closer to the sheet moving unit than the predetermined position. A sheet conveying unit that conveys and stacks the sheet on the sheet stacking unit;
7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying unit stacks the sheets that are stacked first on the sheet stacking unit so as to be closer to the sheet moving unit. .   While the sheet moving unit is in contact with the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit, the adding unit contacts the binding position of the sheet to add the sheet to the binding position of the sheet. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus.   9. The hydration unit includes stopping hydration when the sheet moving unit is in contact with the sheet newly stacked on the sheet stacking unit. 9. The sheet processing apparatus according to 1.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hydration unit is provided in the sheet moving unit.