JP2016210555A - Sheet binding device, sheet processing apparatus, image formation apparatus and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet binding device which can suppress reduction in sheet alignment quality due to the state where a binding margin portion supplied with water becomes a resistance when sheets which become a sheet bundle to be overlapped and bound are aligned.SOLUTION: A sheet binding device comprises: a sheet accumulation tray 23 on which conveyed sheets 5 are loaded; a first movable reference fence aligning the sheet ends in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheets 5; and a hitting roller. The sheet binding apparatus also comprises: a water addition part W1 which adds a moisture content to a binding margin where the sheet ends in the sheet width direction of the sheets 5 whose sheet ends in the sheet width direction are aligned protrude; and a first jogger fence 24 which aligns the rear side in the sheet width direction of the sheets 5 added with the moisture content by the water addition part W1. The sheet binding apparatus also comprises an end binding part which performs crimp-binding to the binding margins of the plurality of sheets 5 aligned by the first jogger fence 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle, a sheet processing apparatus including the sheet binding apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

Conventionally, a sheet binding device that stacks and aligns a plurality of sheets such as paper on which an image is formed, and binds the aligned sheet bundle, a sheet processing device and an image forming device including the sheet binding device, and at least one of them There is known an image forming system including
In addition, as a sheet binding device, the sheet bundle is bound by strongly meshing the sheet bundle with a crimp member having a pair of concave and convex shapes without using a metal needle, and the sheets are bound by pressing the sheets together. There is also known a sheet binding apparatus of a pressure binding type.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a sheet processing apparatus (form preparation apparatus) including a sheet binding apparatus of the following pressure binding type.
From the upstream side in the conveying direction of the sheets to be bound, water supply means (moisture supply device) that supplies water (moisture) to the binding margin of the sheet to improve the pressure bonding strength and the sheet that supplies water to the binding margin are overlapped and aligned, An aligning / stacking device for forming a sheet bundle and a crimping binding means for binding the sheet bundle are provided.
Then, in the binding margin provided in the vicinity of one sheet end in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, water is supplied from below by the water supply means, and the upper and lower surfaces are set so that the surface of the sheet supplied with water faces upward. After reversing on the reversing path, the sheets are stacked on the aligning / stacking device to align the sheet ends in the two directions. This operation is repeated a plurality of times, and a new sheet is stacked and aligned on the previously stacked sheets to form a sheet bundle, which is further conveyed to the binding unit and is crimped by the crimping and binding means.

The aligning / stacking device also includes a conveying direction aligning means (abutment member and first impeller) for aligning the sheet ends of the conveyed and stacked sheets in the conveying direction, and an orthogonal sheet orthogonal to the conveying direction. It has orthogonal direction alignment means (abutting member and second impeller) for aligning the ends.
And the operation of aligning the sheet edges of the aligning means is not performed at the same time (with each sweeper moving each sheet in a direction along the rotation direction, with each impeller sweeping the sheet and directing the sheet edge toward the contact member. (Operation does not overlap).
By aligning the sheets in this way, in Patent Document 1, the stacked sheets do not receive the operation of aligning the conveying direction aligning unit and the operation of aligning the orthogonal direction aligning unit at the same time. It is described that rotation does not occur and smooth alignment is achieved.

  However, in the sheet binding apparatus that supplies water to the conventional binding margin to improve the pressure bonding strength, a newly stacked sheet or a previously stacked sheet is shifted or rotated to form a sheet bundle that is stacked and bound. There was a risk that the quality of sheet alignment would deteriorate.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a stacking unit that stacks conveyed sheets, a conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed on the stacking unit, and the conveyance direction. A first aligning unit that aligns the sheet ends in one of the orthogonal directions orthogonal to each other, and the other of the transport direction and the orthogonal direction of the sheet whose sheet ends are aligned by the first aligning unit. Water supply means for supplying water to a predetermined region where the sheet end in the direction protrudes, second alignment means for aligning the sheet end in the other direction of the sheet supplied with water by the water supply means, Pressure-binding means for applying pressure-bonding to the predetermined region of the plurality of sheets in which the sheet edges in the other direction are aligned by the second aligning means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when aligning the sheet | seat used as the sheet bundle which overlaps and binds, the part of the binding margin which supplied water becomes resistance, and the sheet binding apparatus which can suppress that the alignment quality of a sheet falls can be provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment and an image forming apparatus provided in the image forming system. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment. The block diagram regarding control of a paper post-processing apparatus. Explanatory drawing of the operation | movement outline of a crimping tooth. Explanatory drawing of the meshing part of a crimping tooth. Structure explanatory drawing of the binding part using a crimping tooth. The state change of the fiber of the paper which added water, and the state explanatory drawing of the fiber of the paper at the time of pressure bonding. Explanatory drawing of the operation | movement outline | summary of a bundling part. Explanatory drawing of the state before the operation | movement which covers the stacking paper watering area | region of the paper bundle loaded with the paper stacking water area | region shutter, lowers a watering part, and aligns the paper edge of a paper conveyance direction. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state when the paper edge aligning operation in the paper transport direction is finished and the water adding portion is raised to add water. Explanatory drawing of a state when the hydration operation | movement by a hydration part is complete | finished and the operation | movement which descends a hydration part and aligns the paper edge of a paper width direction is started. Explanatory drawing when the operation | movement which retracts | restores a loaded paper addition area | region shutter from a loaded paper addition area | region after the operation | movement which aligns the sheet | seat edge of a sheet width direction is completed. Explanatory drawing of an example of the mechanism of a loaded paper water area | region shutter. Explanatory drawing of the structure which provided the 1st alignment position and the 2nd alignment position in the 1st bundling part. Explanatory drawing of the structure which provided the shutter in the watering part which adds water to a paper. Structure explanatory drawing of a hydration part. Explanatory drawing of the state at the time of the hydration member which the hydration part had, the hydration area | region of the paper to hydrate, and hydration. Explanatory drawing of the supply amount adjustment part which adjusts the moisture content in a hydration member.

Hereinafter, as an image forming system provided with a paper binding device as a sheet binding device to which the present invention is applied, an electrophotographic image forming device 2 and a paper post-processing device 3 as a sheet processing device provided with the paper binding device; An embodiment of the image forming system 1 including the above will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to the present embodiment and an image forming apparatus provided in the image forming system.

  The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 and a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 as a sheet processing apparatus mechanically coupled to the image forming apparatus 2 so as to be communicable. The image forming apparatus 2 forms an image on a sheet as a sheet, and the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 receives the sheet from the image forming apparatus 2 and performs various sheet processes on the received sheet.

  The various post-processing includes, for example, end binding processing, center folding processing, and the like. The center folding process includes a saddle stitching process. In the present embodiment, in the edge binding process and the saddle stitching process, the sheet post-processing device 3 binds the sheet bundle using a part of the sheet bundle as the sheet bundle without using the needle. The sheet post-processing device 3 that performs such various post-processing has a discharge mode, an end binding mode, a center folding mode, and a bag binding mode as operation modes. Also, a slide sort process for sliding the position of the paper to be ejected in units of jobs or pages, a punching process, or the like can be performed.

First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 2 includes an image forming unit 302 disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 201 a of the image forming apparatus 2 and a sheet feeding unit 303 disposed below the image forming unit 302. And have. In addition, the printer includes a paper discharge unit 304 disposed above the image forming unit 302 and a scanner 305 that is disposed above the apparatus main body 201a and that reads an original image. A sheet post-processing device 3 to be described later is installed on the left side of the apparatus main body 201a in FIGS.

  A relay transport unit serving as a paper relay transport device is provided in the in-body discharge section 207 having a discharge space 207 a formed on the lateral side of the paper discharge section 304 in the apparatus main body 201 a and below the scanner 305. 208 is provided. The relay conveyance unit 208 conveys the paper 5 from the paper discharge unit 304 to the paper post-processing device 3.

  Two paper feed cassettes 209 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 201a are installed in the paper feed unit 303, and the paper 5 of different paper types is accommodated in each of them.

  The sheet 5 is fed by a sheet feeding roller 211 from a sheet feeding cassette 209 to a conveyance path 210 that extends in a substantially vertical (vertical) direction from the sheet feeding unit 303 to the sheet discharging unit 304. Next, the image is transported in the transport path 210 by the transport roller 212, subjected to image formation and fixing processing by the image forming unit 302, and then discharged to the relay transport unit 208 by the paper discharge roller 213.

  The image forming unit 302 is provided with a photoconductor 215 as an image carrier that is driven to rotate counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow in the drawing, an optical writing device 216 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 215, and the like. ing. Further, a charging device 217 for uniformly charging the photoconductor 215 is disposed around the photoconductor 215 in the counterclockwise direction of the photoconductor 215. In addition, a developing device 218 that attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 215 to make a visible image, and a transfer device 219 that transfers the toner image formed by the developing device 218 to the conveyed paper 5 are arranged. It is installed. Furthermore, a cleaning unit 220 for removing the toner remaining on the photoconductor 215 after transfer and cleaning the photoconductor 215 is also provided.

  A fixing device 221 is provided between the transfer device 219 and the paper discharge unit 304 to heat and press the toner image transferred to the paper 5 by the transfer device 219 and fix the toner image on the paper 5.

  The optical writing device 216 performs optical writing by exposing the surface of the photoconductor 215 with laser light based on image data from the scanner 305 or image information input from a personal computer or the like. An electrostatic latent image is formed thereon.

  The paper 5 is selectively fed by one of the paper feed rollers 211 of the upper and lower paper feed cassettes 209, then separated one by one by a pair of separation rollers 222, and conveyed in the conveyance path 210 by the conveyance roller 212. Is done.

  Further, after the conveyance of the sheet 5 is temporarily stopped by the registration roller pair 223 provided on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the transfer device 219, the nip portion between the transfer device 219 and the photosensitive member 215 at a predetermined timing. Is fed by a pair of registration rollers 223. Then, a toner image is transferred from the photoreceptor 215 to the paper 5 at the nip portion.

  The scanner 305 includes a contact glass 225 on which a document is placed and a white pressure plate 226 that presses the document. Further, an illumination lamp 227 for irradiating light on the document placed on the contact glass 225, a scanning mirror 228 for reflecting reflected light from the surface of the document, and an optical path folding mirror pair 229a that moves at half the speed of the scanning mirror 228. , 229b. Further, an imaging lens 230 and a CCD (charge coupled device) 131 as an image sensor are provided.

  The relay transport unit 208 is provided with a paper discharge tray section 208a on the upper surface thereof, and a roller transport section 208b for transporting paper discharged to the paper post-processing apparatus 3 therein. Further, the relay conveyance unit 208 includes a first conveyance unit 232 that conveys the paper 5 discharged from the paper discharge roller 213 of the paper discharge unit 304 to the paper discharge tray unit 208a. Further, a second transport unit 233 that transports the paper 5 discharged from the paper discharge roller 213 to the roller transport unit 208b is provided. Further, a branching claw 234 is provided as a branching member that switches the path of the paper 5 discharged from the paper discharge roller 213 to the first transport unit 232 or the second transport unit 233.

  The first transport unit 232 is provided with a paper discharge roller 235 that is a first transport unit discharge roller that discharges the paper 5 to the paper discharge tray unit 208a. The roller transport unit 208 b that communicates with the second transport unit 233 includes a relay transport path 236 that communicates with the sheet post-processing device 3 in the relay transport unit 208. Also, two transport rollers 237 disposed on the relay transport path 236, and disposed on the most downstream side in the sheet transport direction of the relay transport path 236, and for the second transport unit that discharges the paper 5 to the paper post-processing device 3. A paper discharge roller 238 which is a paper discharge roller is provided.

In addition, the relay transport unit 208 is provided with a relay paper discharge sensor 314 for detecting a jam of the paper being transported through the relay transport path 236. The two transport rollers 237 and the paper discharge roller 238 are connected to each other via a driving force transmission mechanism such as a pulley and a belt, and are rotationally driven by a single relay transport motor 315.
Note that the image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes a control unit that controls the operation of each unit of the apparatus main body 201a and the communication with a connected device such as the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 in the image forming apparatus 2. Yes.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is compatible with an electrophotographic single color provided with one photoconductor 215, but is merely an example, for example, an intermediate transfer type color provided with a plurality of photoconductors. It may be an image forming device. In addition, a double-sided conveyance path or the like may be used to form images on both sides or one side of the paper.

Next, an outline of sheet binding processing of the sheet post-processing device 3 provided in the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram relating to control of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper post-processing device 3 is provided with a first transport path Pt1 for receiving the paper 5 discharged from the image forming device 2 and discharging the paper to the first paper discharge tray 10. It has been. Further, a second conveyance path Pt2 for branching from the first conveyance path Pt1 to perform end binding processing or the like on the sheet bundle 6 and a saddle-stitching middle folding process on the sheet bundle 6 connected to the second conveyance path Pt2. A third transport path Pt3 is also provided.
Each of the transport paths Pt1 to Pt3 is formed by, for example, a guide member.

  In the first transport path Pt1, an entrance roller 11, transport rollers 12, 13, and a first paper discharge roller 14 are sequentially arranged from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the first transport path Pt1. The entrance roller 11, the transport rollers 12 and 13, and the first paper discharge roller 14 are rotationally driven by a motor to transport the paper 5. An inlet sensor 15 is disposed upstream of the inlet roller 11. The entrance sensor 15 detects that the sheet 5 has been carried into the sheet post-processing device 3. A branch claw 17 is disposed downstream of the conveying roller 12. The branch claw 17 rotates and switches its position, thereby selectively feeding the paper 5 to either the downstream portion of the branch claw 17 in the first transport path Pt1 or the second transport path Pt2. invite. The branch claw 17 is driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

  In the discharge mode, the paper 5 carried into the first transport path Pt1 from the image forming apparatus 2 is transported by the entrance roller 11, the transport rollers 12, 13 and the first paper discharge roller 14 to the first paper discharge tray 10. Discharged. On the other hand, in the end binding mode and the middle folding mode, the sheet 5 carried into the first conveyance path Pt1 is conveyed by the entrance roller 11 and the conveyance roller 12, and the traveling direction is changed by the branching claw 17, and the second direction is changed. It is transported to the transport path Pt2.

  In the second transport path Pt2, transport rollers 20, 21, and 22 as transport means, a paper stacking tray 23 as stacking means, a first movable reference fence 29 that constitutes the first aligning means, and a hitting roller 30; The 1st jogger fence 24 which comprises a 2nd alignment means is arrange | positioned. Then, water is supplied by adding water to the sheets to be stacked, which will be described later (hereinafter referred to as water appropriately), and an end binding part (first binding part) as a water supply means and a pressure binding means. ) 25 is also arranged. The conveyance rollers 20, 21 and 22 are driven by a motor to convey the paper 5. The first jogger fence 24 as the sheet moving means for moving the paper 5 toward the regulating-side first jogger fence 24 as the abutting member provided to face and abut the end of the paper is driven by a motor. Is done.

  In addition, branch claws 26 and 27 are arranged downstream of the paper stacking tray 23. The branch claws 26 and 27 are rotated to switch their positions, thereby selecting the paper 5 to be either the downstream portion of the branch claw 17 in the first transport path Pt1 or the third transport path Pt3. To guide you. The branch claws 26 and 27 are driven by, for example, a motor or a solenoid.

  In the edge binding mode, the sheets are sequentially stacked on the sheet stacking tray 23. Thereby, a sheet bundle 6 in which a plurality of sheets 5 are laminated is formed. At this time, the paper 5 transported to the paper stacking tray 23 is transported offset from the stacked paper bundle 6 to the back side in the figure. Then, the trailing roller 30 is brought into contact with the first movable reference fence 29 which is a contact member provided on the paper stacking tray 23 by the tapping roller 30 so that the positions in the paper transport direction are aligned.

  Thereafter, water is added to the paper 5 by the water adding portion W1 for supplying water provided in the vicinity of the end binding portion 25 on the back side of the first movable reference fence 29. Further, the first jogger fence 24 aligns the positions in the paper width direction, which is the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, which is the transport direction of the stacked paper 5. Here, the first movable reference fence 29 is driven by a motor.

  Here, the sheet stacking tray 23, the first jogger fence 24, the first movable reference fence 29 and the hitting roller 30 are the first bundle as a bundling unit (alignment means) that stacks a plurality of sheets 5 to form a sheet bundle 6. The composing unit 28 is configured. The first bundling unit 28 includes a motor for driving the first jogger fence 24 on the side for moving the paper 5, a motor for driving the first movable reference fence 29, and a motor for driving the tapping roller 30.

Here, the two first jogger fences 24 provided opposite to each other, the first movable reference fence 29, and the hitting roller 30 constitute the aligning means provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment. The two first jogger fences 24 constitute the second aligning means, and the first movable reference fence 29 and the hitting roller 30 constitute the first aligning means.
Further, the minimum configuration as a paper binding device that aligns the paper edges in the paper transport direction using gravity as in the paper post-processing device 3 is the addition unit W1, the paper stacking tray 23, the first jogger fence 24, and the first One movable reference fence 29, a hitting roller 30, and an end binding portion 25 are formed. This is because when the conveyance of the paper 5 and the paper bundle 6 is performed manually, the conveyance roller 22 which is each conveyance means provided in the second conveyance path Pt2 and the like is not necessary. Similarly, it is desirable to use a device that performs other processing (for example, a sorting device) and a conveying means. In this embodiment, the paper binding device provided in the paper post-processing device 3 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the configuration is provided in the paper binding device alone or in the image forming apparatus 2. May be.

In the end binding portion 25, a pair of concave and convex crimping teeth is arranged with a sheet bundle sandwiched between them, and in the state where the sheet bundle 6 is present, one crimping tooth applies pressure in the direction of the other crimping tooth. The sheet bundle 6 is bound by the binding method. Details of the binding method will be described later.
The sheet bundle 6 with the end bound is transported to the first transport path Pt1 by the first movable reference fence 29, and then transported by the transport roller 13 and the first paper discharge roller 14 to the first paper discharge tray 10. Discharged. Here, the first paper discharge roller 14 is an example of a paper discharge unit that discharges a bundle of sheets bound by the end binding unit 25.

On the other hand, in the middle folding mode, the sheet 5 conveyed to the second conveyance path Pt2 is conveyed to the third conveyance path Pt3 by the conveyance rollers 20, 21, 22 and the first movable reference fence 29.
Conveying rollers 31 and 32 and a saddle stitch folding part 33 are arranged in the third conveying path Pt3, and the conveying rollers 31 and 32 are driven by a motor to convey the paper 5.
The saddle stitch folding part 33 includes a middle folding part 34, a saddle stitching part (second binding part) 35, and a second bundling part 36. The saddle stitch folding part 33 is an example of a binding part forming part.

  The sheets 5 conveyed to the third conveyance path Pt3 are sequentially accumulated in the second bundling unit 36 by the conveyance rollers 31 and 32. As a result, a sheet bundle 6 'in which a plurality of sheets are stacked is formed. That is, the second bundling unit 36 superimposes a plurality of conveyed sheets 5 to form a sheet bundle. At this time, the front end of the paper 5 comes into contact with the second movable reference fence 37, the paper transport direction position is aligned, and the position in the paper width direction is aligned by the second jogger fence. Then, the sheet bundle 6 ′ is bound (saddle-bound) in the vicinity of the center in the sheet conveyance direction by the saddle stitching portion 35, and the saddle-stitched sheet bundle 6 ′ is center-folded by the second movable reference fence 37. Is returned to. The second movable reference fence 37 is driven by a motor.

The sheet bundle 6 ′ moved to the center folding position is folded (center folded) by the center folding section 34 at the center in the sheet transport direction.
In the center folding portion 34, the blade 38 facing the center portion in the sheet transport direction of the sheet bundle 6 'positioned at the center folding position moves from right to left in FIG. 2 to bend the center portion in the sheet transport direction of the sheet bundle. While pushing, it pushes between a pair of press rollers 39,40. The blade 38 is driven by a motor.

Then, the folded sheet bundle 6 ′ is pressed from above and below by the pair of pressing rollers 39 and 40. The pair of pressing rollers 39 and 40 is driven by a motor.
The sheet bundle 6 ′, the pressing rollers 39 and 40, and the second sheet discharge roller 41 folded in this manner are discharged onto the second sheet discharge tray 42. The second paper discharge roller 41 is driven by a motor.

  Here, the entrance roller 11, the transport rollers 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, the first paper discharge roller 14, and the second paper discharge roller 41, together with the motor that drives them, the transport unit 51 Is configured. Further, the branch claws 17, 26, 27 constitute a path switching unit 52 together with a motor or a solenoid for driving them.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the sheet post-processing device 3 includes a control unit 61.
The control unit 61 is a computer having a CPU, a storage unit, a communication interface, and the like. The control unit 61 includes an inlet sensor 15, a processing unit 16, end binding units 25 and 49, a first bundling unit 28, and a saddle stitching. The folding unit 33, the transport unit 51, the path switching unit 52, and the like are connected.
The control unit 61 (CPU) drives and controls each unit of the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 according to a program stored in the storage unit. The control unit 61 is connected to the control unit of the image forming apparatus 2 so that data communication is possible.

  Further, as will be described in detail later, in the hydration unit W1, a supply amount that adjusts the amount of water (water content) between the hydration member that hydrates the paper and the supply unit that holds the water supplied to the hydration member. Although the adjustment unit is provided, the control unit 61 is also connected to the supply amount adjustment unit. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the amount of water to be hydrated by the hydrating member or to return the moisture to the supply unit.

Next, an outline of the crimping and binding method will be described with reference to FIGS.
4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of an outline of the operation of the crimping tooth. FIG. 4A is a state before starting the crimping, FIG. 4B is a state in which the sheet bundle 6 is sandwiched, and FIG. 4, a state in which the sheet bundle 6 has started to deform, and FIG. 4D shows a state in which the crimping of the sheet bundle 6 has been completed. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of the engagement portion of the crimping tooth. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the state where the upper crimping tooth 151 and the lower crimping tooth 152 are engaged, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the engagement portion. It is. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a binding portion using crimping teeth.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the end binding portion 25 and the saddle stitching portion 35 to which the crimp binding is performed, the crimp teeth having the projections and depressions (the upper crimp tooth 151 and the lower crimp tooth 152) are formed on the sheet bundle 6 (6 ′). It is arranged at a position facing it. Then, either one of the crimping teeth (or both) is moved and pressure is applied as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (c). As the pressure is increased, the uneven shape is transferred to the paper 5 as shown in FIG.
In such crimping binding, it is possible to bind the paper 5 by fitting the concaves and convexes of the pressure-bonding teeth, or tangling or fixing the fibers between the papers 5 (paper bundle 6).

Here, as shown to Fig.4 (a)-(d), the uneven | corrugated shape of a crimping tooth has a slope part of arbitrary angles.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the shapes of the concavo-convex shape of the concavo-convex shape and the valley portion are different, and when the pressure-bonded teeth are engaged, for example, The valleys of the lower pressure-bonding teeth 152 facing this are prevented from contacting each other. As a result, the sheet bundle is pressure-bonded only at the inclined surface portion, and it is possible to perform the crimping and binding efficiently.

Here, an example of the operation mechanism of the end binding portion 25 and the saddle stitching portion 35 having crimping teeth will be described with reference to FIG.
As this operation mechanism, the upper pressure-bonding tooth 151 is disposed on the upper tooth arm 161, and the lower pressure-bonding tooth 152 is disposed on the lower tooth arm 162, and the lower tooth arm 162 rotates around the arm rotation center portion 163. In the rotational operation, the cam drive gear 165 is rotated by rotating the gear 164 by the drive source, and the tooth push cam 166 fixed thereto is rotated in a non-linear manner to push down the opposite side of the lower pressure-bonding tooth 152. As a result, the lower crimping tooth 152 moves upward and comes into contact with the upper crimping tooth 151, so that the sheet bundle 6 (6 ′) is crimped on the inclined surface of the crimping tooth. In addition, a return spring 167 is installed to return the lower crimp tooth 152 to the original position.

Next, the reason why moisture is supplied to the binding margin (area) of the paper 5 by the water adding portion W1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the state of the fibers of the paper 5 (A, B) that has been hydrated, and the state of the fibers of the paper 5 (A, B) at the time of pressure bonding. FIG. FIG. 7B is an explanatory view of a state after addition, and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, in general, by hydrating the upper sheets A and B, the fiber entanglement of the sheets A and B shown in FIG. The state shown in FIG. And in this state, as shown in FIG.7 (c), pressurization of an uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth can increase the entanglement of the fiber of sheets, and can strengthen binding force.

  In addition, since the stiffness that affects the flexibility of the papers A and B themselves is weakened, it is possible for the concave and convex crimping teeth to penetrate deeply into the center of the paper bundle in the thickness direction, resulting in more fiber entanglement can do. Thereby, the number of sheets to be bound can be increased. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the binding force is increased by drying the hydrolyzed portion after binding.

In other words, the number of sheets and the binding force are strengthened by adding moisture, bonding after crimping, and drying to bond the fibers of the paper (hydrogen bonding).
In general, the binding force is affected by the type of paper (roughness of the eyes, the smoothness of the surface, and the fiber of the paper) and the surrounding environment (humidity and temperature) at the time of binding. In addition, in the case of a laser printer, it may be impossible to obtain a sufficient binding force due to the influence of the forming conditions for forming an image carried on paper, that is, a laser printer.
As described above, it is possible to obtain a sufficient binding force by including moisture in the binding margin.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, a characteristic configuration and an outline of the operation of the sheet binding device provided (provided) in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a plurality of examples.
Example 1
First, Example 1 of the sheet binding device provided in the sheet post-processing device 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an outline of the operation of the first bundling unit 28, FIG. 8 (a) is a perspective explanatory view, and FIG. 8 (b) is a diagram illustrating the first bundling unit 28 in FIG. 8 (a). It is side surface explanatory drawing seen from C direction.

  In the sheet binding device of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the sheet 5 conveyed to the sheet stacking tray 23 is offset from the sheet stack 6 stacked in advance (displacement). Area). Then, after the conveying direction is aligned, as shown in FIG. 8B, the water is added from the stacking surface side (sheet bundle 6 side) of the sheet stacking tray 23 toward the sheet 5 in the adding section W1. Thereafter, the offset-side first jogger fence 24 is moved toward the opposing regulating-side first jogger fence 24 to align the paper width direction, and then the sheet bundle at the end binding portion 25 6 is crimped.

  That is, in the sheet binding device of the present embodiment, the sheet stacking tray 23 on which the transported sheets 5 are stacked and the sheet end of the sheet 5 transported on the sheet stacking tray 23 in the sheet transport direction are aligned. One movable reference fence 29 and a hitting roller 30 are provided. Here, as shown in FIG. 8A, the sheet 5 is conveyed to a shift area on the sheet stacking tray 23. In addition, the sheet 5 in which the sheet end in the sheet transport direction is aligned (first) by the first movable reference fence 29 and the tapping roller 30 is the water region where the sheet end in the sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction protrudes (binding). A water addition part W1 for containing water (supplying water) is also provided. Then, the first jogger fence 24 aligns the sheet edges in the sheet width direction of the sheet 5 soaked with water in the water adding portion W1, and the plurality of sheets 5 in which the sheet ends in the sheet width direction are aligned by the first jogger fence 24. Also provided is an end binding portion 25 that performs crimping binding on the binding margin.

The following effects can be obtained by configuring the sheet binding device in this manner and performing the crimp binding of the sheet bundle 6.
In the conventional sheet binding device, after the sheets are stacked, the aligning operation for aligning the sheet edges in two directions is performed separately. However, the binding margin portion of the sheet is provided at a position where the sheet is offset, The portion that contains moisture in the portion has a higher coefficient of friction than the portion of other paper. For this reason, when stacking new paper on the previously stacked paper or aligning the edges of the paper, the binding margin of the previously stacked paper or newly stacked paper becomes a resistance, and a new stacking is made. There is a risk that the paper will rotate. For example, if the paper edges in the paper transport direction are not aligned, and the operation is performed to align the paper edges in the orthogonal direction, the paper edges in the paper transport direction may be misaligned or stacked in advance. Rotation of the paper, and the alignment quality of the paper that forms the paper bundle to be overlapped is deteriorated.

On the other hand, in the configuration of this embodiment, water is added (supplying water) in the water adding portion W1 after the paper ends in the paper transport direction are aligned. The sheet 5 does not contain any water from the water adding part W1. For this reason, the upper surface of the previously loaded paper 5 and the lower surface of the newly loaded paper 5 can reduce the deviation of the friction coefficient in the contact surface compared to the conventional configuration, and the rotation of any of the papers 5 can be reduced. Thus, it is possible to satisfactorily align the paper transport direction.
When the paper edges in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction are aligned, the paper edges in the paper transport direction are well aligned. For this reason, even if the binding margin of the paper 5 containing water in the water adding portion W1 becomes resistance, the rotation of any paper 5 can be reduced by the first movable reference fence 29 on the regulating side.
Therefore, when aligning the sheets 5 that form the sheet bundle 6 to be stacked and bound, the binding portion that contains moisture (supplied with water) becomes a resistance, and the sheet binding that can suppress a decrease in the alignment quality of the sheets 5 can be suppressed. An apparatus (paper post-processing apparatus 3) can be provided.

  Further, the portion of the paper 5 containing water in the water adding portion W1, particularly the portion of the surface containing water in the water adding portion W1, has a larger coefficient of friction than the portion of the back side surface and the other paper 5 portions. . For this reason, if the surface that contains water when aligning the paper edges in the paper transport direction is the top surface, when the new paper 5 is stacked or when the paper edges are aligned, The resistance of the lower surface of the newly stacked paper 5 is increased, and the newly stacked paper 5 is easily rotated. When the newly stacked sheets 5 rotate as described above, the sheet ends in the sheet width direction are aligned in a state where the sheet ends in the sheet transport direction are not aligned. It becomes easy for the edges to shift and for the sheets stacked in advance to rotate.

  On the other hand, in the sheet binding device of this embodiment, when the paper edges in the paper transport direction are aligned, the surface that contains water is the lower surface, and the water from the water adding portion W1 included on the upper surface of the previously stacked paper is added to the water. Since it penetrate | infiltrate from the lower surface which included the hydrology in the part W1, it is less than the lower surface of a back side. When aligning the paper edges in the paper transport direction, the lower surface of the newly loaded paper 5 does not contain any moisture from the water adding portion W1. For these reasons, the upper surface of the previously loaded paper and the lower surface of the newly loaded paper 5 have a friction coefficient bias in the mutual contact surface, and the configuration in which the moisture-containing surface is the upper surface is stacked. Less. Therefore, when the paper edges in the paper conveyance direction are aligned, the surface containing moisture becomes the lower surface, so that the newly stacked paper 5 is stacked rather than the configuration in which the moisture-containing surface is stacked on the upper surface. Can be made difficult to rotate, and the paper edges in the paper transport direction can be aligned better.

Further, in the present embodiment described above, the sheet edge of the sheet 5 conveyed on the sheet stacking tray 23 is first aligned in the sheet conveyance direction, and the addition portion is added to the binding margin of the sheet 5 with the sheet edge aligned. A description has been given of the configuration in which the paper edges are aligned in the paper width direction after water is added in W1.
Specifically, the sheet binding apparatus includes a conveyance roller 22 that conveys the sheet 5 to the sheet stacking tray 23 while being offset in the sheet width direction. Further, the first jogger fence 24 is a first jogger fence 24 on the moving side that moves the paper 5 in the paper width direction, and the first jogger fence 24 on the regulating side on which the paper (paper edge) moved by the first jogger fence 24 abuts. And one jogger fence 24.
Then, the end of the sheet 5 in the sheet transport direction of the sheets 5 loaded on the sheet stacking tray 23 is aligned with the first movable reference fence 29 and the tapping roller 30 first, and water is added to the hydration region (binding margin) at the hydration portion W1. The sheet 5 is moved in the sheet width direction by the first jogger fence 24 on the moving side. After the plurality of sheets 5 are brought into contact with the first jogger fence 24 on the regulating side after being moved in this way, the sheets are crimped to the predetermined region of the plurality of sheets by the crimping binding means such as the end binding portion 25. Has been bound.

However, the order of aligning the paper edges of the paper 5 is not limited to the order of the present embodiment, and the paper edges in either direction are completely aligned before the water content is added to the water content. In this case, the paper edges in the other direction orthogonal to one direction are aligned after the moisture is added.
However, in order to align the paper edge in the paper transport direction after the paper edge in the paper width direction is aligned first and moisture is added to the lower surface in the water addition portion W1, the water addition portion W1 is set to the alignment / binding area. It is necessary to provide on the upstream side or the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction. For this reason, when the paper edges in the paper width direction are aligned first, it is necessary to stop the binding margin of the newly loaded paper 5 so as to oppose the hydration portion W1, but only the paper 5 loaded on the top is bound. There is a possibility that the configuration for stopping the slag so as to face the hydration part W1 becomes complicated.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the sheet end in the sheet conveyance direction of the sheet 5 that has been conveyed so that the binding margin is opposed to the hydration portion W1 that is shifted in the sheet width direction with respect to the alignment / binding area. Can be aligned first. And after water | moisture content is included in the lower surface of the paper 5 which aligned the sheet | seat edge of the paper conveyance direction by the water addition part W1, the paper width direction can be aligned. For this reason, when the paper edges in the paper transport direction are aligned first, the binding margin of the newly loaded paper 5 is stopped so as to oppose the water adding portion W1. A simple configuration using the first movable reference fence 29 which is a contact member can be achieved.
Then, the sheet 5 shifted in the sheet width direction is moved with respect to the alignment / binding area by the first jogger fence 24 on the moving side so as to come into contact with the first jogger fence 24 on the regulating side as a contact member. Thus, the sheet width direction can be more reliably aligned.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet binding device that can suppress a decrease in the alignment quality of the sheet 5 with a simple configuration.

(Example 2)
Next, Example 2 of the sheet binding device provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
9 to 12 show a configuration in which the water adding portion W1 is moved up and down, and a loaded paper water covering a water adding region (hereinafter referred to as a loaded paper adding region) on the upper surface of the previously stacked paper bundle 6 (paper 5). It is explanatory drawing of a structure of the area | region shutter 86. FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a state before the operation of covering the stacked paper addition region of the bundle of sheets 6 stacked by the stacked paper addition region shutter 86, lowering the addition portion W1, and aligning the paper edges in the paper conveyance direction. It is. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the state when the paper edge aligning operation in the paper transport direction is finished and the hydration portion W1 is raised and hydration is performed, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a state when starting the operation | movement which descends and aligns the paper edge of a paper width direction. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram when the operation of retracting the loaded paper area shutter 86 from the loaded paper area after the operation of aligning the sheet edges in the sheet width direction is completed.

9, 10, and 11, which are perspective explanatory views of the operation, respectively, FIG. 9 (a), FIG. 10 (a), and FIG. 11 (a), and the state of the hydration part W <b> 1. 9A, FIG. 10A, and FIG. 11A, which are side views seen from the C direction, are shown. FIG. 12 is only a perspective explanatory view.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the mechanism of the loaded paper water region shutter 86.

The sheet binding device according to the present embodiment covers the upper surface of the loaded sheet water adding region containing water by adding the structure in which the water adding portion W1 is moved up and down and the previously stacked paper bundle 6 (paper 5). A loaded paper addition area shutter 86 as a second shutter member is provided.
Hereinafter, these configurations and operations will be described.
Note that the same configuration, operation, and effects as those described in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 9A, when a new sheet 5 is conveyed to the sheet stacking tray 23, the water adding portion W1 does not protrude to the conveyance surface of the sheet 5 as shown in FIG. 9B. It is configured to be able to move up and down. The vertical movement of the hydration part W1 is performed by rotating the vertical movement cam 83 via the belt 82 by the drive source 81. When the paper 5 enters the paper stacking tray 23, the hydration part W1 moves to the paper 5 It is lower than the transport surface (sheet passing surface).
At this time, the loaded paper addition area shutter 86 is loaded in advance as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B before the new paper 5 is conveyed onto the paper stacking tray 23. The sheet stack 6 has been moved to a position covering the loaded sheet addition region. For this reason, the paper 5 that has been transported and whose paper edges in the paper transport direction are aligned does not come into contact with the loaded paper water region of the paper bundle 6.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the paper edge of the new paper 5 comes into contact with the first movable reference fence 29 and the alignment in the paper transport direction is completed, as shown in FIG. The portion W1 rises so as to protrude to the conveyance surface and contacts the paper 5, thereby adding water to the paper 5.
Further, at this time, the loaded paper addition region shutter 86 is in a position covering the loaded paper addition region of the sheet bundle 6, and a part of the paper 5 whose paper transport direction is aligned is placed on the loaded paper addition region shutter 86. Thus, the lower surface of the sheet 5 and the stacked sheet addition area of the sheet bundle 6 are not in contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the paper width by the first jogger fence 24 on the offset side with respect to the water 5 that has been subjected to the water addition operation in which the water addition portion W <b> 1 comes into contact and performs a predetermined amount of water addition. Alignment operation of the paper edge in the direction is started. And before this operation | movement is started, as shown in FIG.11 (b), the control part 61 (refer FIG. 3) drives a drive source and descends the water addition part W1.
Further, at this time, the loaded paper addition area shutter 86 is located at a position covering the loaded paper addition area of the sheet bundle 6, and the loaded sheet addition area of the sheet bundle 6 containing moisture and having a higher frictional resistance than other portions. The sheet 5 does not come into contact with the area and does not become a resistance when aligning the sheet edges in the sheet width direction.
Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the alignment of the sheet edges in the sheet width direction is completed, the stacked sheet addition area shutter 86 is retracted from the position of the sheet bundle 6.

As described above, in the sheet binding device of this embodiment, the hydration unit W1 can move between the hydration position where the moisture is contained in the sheet 5 and the retreat position where the sheet 5 is evacuated when the sheet 5 does not contain moisture. .
Accordingly, the position of the water adding portion W1 when the paper 5 is moistened and the case where the water is not included can be selected. When the paper 5 is conveyed or when the paper edges of the paper 5 are aligned, the water adding portion W1 can be selected. 5 is brought into resistance and prevents the alignment quality of the paper 5 from deteriorating.

Further, the sheet binding device according to the present embodiment includes a loaded paper addition region shutter 86 that can be moved between a position where the moisture of the sheet bundle 6 stacked on the sheet stacking tray 23 covers the loaded region containing water and a retracted position. I have.
As a result, the loaded paper addition region of the previously stacked paper bundle 6 (paper 5) comes into contact with the paper 5 that attempts to align the paper edges in the paper transport direction and paper width direction, and becomes a resistance. It can suppress that alignment quality falls.

Here, an example of the mechanism of the loaded paper addition area shutter 86 will be described with reference to FIG.
The loaded paper water area shutter 86 covers the loaded paper water area so that the loaded paper water area of the previously stacked paper bundle 6 (stacked paper) does not become the resistance of the paper 5 to be aligned. is there. As shown in FIG. 13, the loaded paper addition region shutter 86 is provided with a rack at the bottom of the U-shape, and the upper surface of the loaded paper addition region of the sheet bundle 6 is driven by a drive source 88 via a gear 87. It can move to a covering position and a retracted position.

Example 3
Next, Example 3 of the sheet binding device provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in which a first alignment position and a second alignment position are provided in the first bundling unit 28, FIG. 14 (a) is a plan explanatory view, and FIG. 14 (b) is the first illustration. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when the operation of aligning the sheet end in the sheet width direction is started after aligning the sheet end in the sheet transport direction at the alignment position of FIG. FIG. 14C is an explanatory diagram when the sheet 5 descending due to the height difference from the second alignment position when aligning the sheet edges in the sheet width direction is brought into contact with the hydration portion W1 and added. FIG. 6D is an explanatory diagram when the alignment of the sheet edge in the sheet width direction is completed at the second alignment position.

In the sheet binding device of the present embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a first alignment position and a second alignment position are provided, and the height of the second alignment position when aligning the sheet edges in the sheet width direction is increased. The paper 5 descending due to the difference is configured to be brought into contact with the hydration portion W1 and hydrated.
A specific configuration and operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
Note that the same configuration, operation, and effects as those described in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 14A, after the alignment of the sheet ends in the sheet conveyance direction is finished, the sheet 5 is moved by the first jogger fence 24 toward the other first jogger fence 24, thereby The paper edges in the width direction are aligned.
In the sheet binding device of this embodiment, the first alignment position when aligning the sheet end in the sheet transport direction before starting the above-described operation for aligning the sheet end in the sheet width direction shown in FIG. 14 (d), and a second alignment position when the alignment of the sheet ends in the sheet width direction is completed.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14B to 14D, the paper stacking tray 23 of this embodiment includes a guide plate 101 and a paper bundle holding unit 102, and the guide plate 101 and the paper bundle holding unit. Reference numeral 102 denotes a step in the stacking direction of the sheet bundle.
A water addition portion W1 is disposed at a position about the middle height of the step, and as shown in FIG. 14B, the vicinity of the end of the right sheet 5 is loaded on the guide plate 101 in the drawing. By being in the state, the space where the paper 5 does not come into contact with the hydration portion W1 can be created.

When the alignment of the sheet edges in the sheet conveyance direction is completed, the first jogger fence 24 on the moving side moves to start the alignment in the sheet width direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14C, the sheet 5 falls from the guide plate 101, the vicinity of the side edge of the sheet 5 comes into contact with the hydration portion W <b> 1, and hydration can be performed on the sheet 5.
Then, the first jogger fence 24 further moves to align the sheet 5 in the sheet width direction after the addition of water, and the alignment of the sheet edge in the sheet width direction is completed as shown in FIG.

As described above, the sheet binding device according to the present embodiment is configured such that the first alignment position of the sheet 5 when aligning the sheet end in the sheet transport direction and the second alignment of the sheet 5 when aligning the sheet end in the sheet width direction. Position. More specifically, when aligning the end of the sheet in the sheet transport direction, the end of the sheet 5 is aligned with the first alignment position of the sheet 5 stacked on the guide plate 101 and the end of the sheet 5 in the sheet width direction. And a second alignment position of the sheets 5 stacked on the sheet bundle holding unit 102. Then, the first jogger fence 24 of the first bundling unit 28 that aligns the sheet edges in the sheet width direction moves to the second alignment position using the height difference between the first alignment position and the second alignment position. In the process of lowering and transporting the paper 5 to be conveyed, the water adding part W1 causes the paper 5 to contain moisture (supply water).
Thereby, without moving the hydration portion W1 as in the second embodiment, the hydration portion W1 becomes a resistance when the paper 5 is aligned, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in the alignment quality of the paper 5. Further, there is no need to provide a drive source for moving the water addition part W1.
It is also possible to provide a loaded paper addition area shutter 86 that can be moved between a position covering the loaded paper addition area and a retracted position of the sheet bundle 6 described in the second embodiment.

Example 4
Next, Example 4 of the sheet binding device provided in the sheet post-processing device 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in which a shutter is provided in the hydration part W1 that hydrates the paper 5, FIG. 15 (a) is a perspective explanatory diagram, and FIG. 15 (b) is a diagram in FIG. It is side surface explanatory drawing seen from C direction.

The sheet binding device of the present embodiment is provided with a shutter 111 as a first shutter member that can move to a position that covers the hydration portion W1 when the sheet 5 is not hydrated and a position that retracts when the hydration is performed.
Hereinafter, these configurations and operations will be described.
Note that the same configuration, operation, and effects as those described in the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a shutter 111 is provided on the paper conveyance surface of the hydration section W1, and when the paper 5 is aligned in the sheet conveyance direction, the shutter 111 irradiates the hydration section W1. Covering does not hinder the conveyance of the paper 5.
As shown in FIG. 15B, the shutter 111 is provided with a rack. When the drive source 112 rotates, the shutter 111 moves back and forth to cover or open the hydration portion W1.

As described above, the sheet binding device according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the shutter 111 that can be moved between the position where the water supply portion W1 covers the conveyance surface (supply position) where moisture is contained in the sheet 5 and the position where the sheet 5 is retracted.
As a result, when the paper 5 is conveyed, the hydration portion W1 comes into contact with the paper 5 and becomes a resistance, thereby preventing the alignment quality of the paper 5 from deteriorating.
It is also possible to provide a loaded paper addition area shutter 86 that can be moved between a position covering the loaded paper addition area and a retracted position of the sheet bundle 6 described in the second embodiment.

(Example 5)
Next, Example 5 of the sheet binding device provided in the sheet post-processing apparatus 3 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the hydration unit W1. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the hydration member 121 included in the hydration part W1, the hydration region of the paper 5 to be hydrated, and the state when hydration is performed, and FIG. b) is an explanatory view of a water addition region of the paper 5, and FIG. 17 (c) is an explanatory view of a state when water is added. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a supply amount adjustment unit 123 that adjusts the amount of water in the hydrating member 121.

The sheet binding device according to the present embodiment is characterized by a water addition portion W1.
Therefore, the configuration, operation, and effects similar to those of the above-described embodiments will be omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the hydration part W1 of the present embodiment includes a hydration member 121 that hydrates the paper 5 using a capillary phenomenon, a supply part 122 that holds water to be supplied to the hydration member 121, and a hydration member. It is comprised with the supply amount adjustment part 123 which adjusts the moisture content in 121. FIG. As a result, the water for hydrating the paper 5 is held by the supply unit 122, and only the necessary minimum water is supplied to the hydration member 121, so that unnecessary evaporation can be prevented. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the state where there is no water in the hydrating member 121 when the user supplies water to the supply unit 122 or when the image forming system 1 is started up, and the sheet binding process (crimp binding process) is performed immediately. it can.

  Incidentally, the supply unit 122 may be a cartridge type and can be easily replaced by the user. Further, a water inlet may be provided so that the user can inject water. In addition, in FIG. 16, a tube-shaped tube 124 is connected between the supply unit and the hydration unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. May be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the hydration member 121 includes a container-like member 131 that is smaller than the supply unit 122, and can store a certain amount of moisture 132 in the container-like member 131. Further, as shown in FIG. 17A, the container-like member 131 is provided with a brush-like member 133 utilizing a capillary phenomenon so that the hair tip contacts the paper 5. The brush-like member 133 is immersed in the moisture 132 in the container-like member 131, and a state in which moisture is present at the tip of the hair is created by a capillary phenomenon.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 17B and 17C, the water addition region 136, which is a region to which a predetermined amount of water is added, is provided for the pressure binding portion 135 that is a portion where the paper 5 is subjected to pressure binding. Water can be added from below the paper 5.
In this example, the configuration including the brush-like member 133 has been described, but the same effect can be obtained as long as a capillary phenomenon occurs. For example, it is good also as a structure which provided one or more thin tubular things. Since the hydration part W1 utilizes the capillary phenomenon, it is not necessary to provide another drive source for hydration to the paper 5, and the machine can be simplified.

The supply amount adjustment unit 123 includes a shutter mechanism between the supply unit 122 and the hydration member 121 in order to adjust the amount of water sent from the supply unit 122 to the hydration member 121 or from the hydration member 121 to the supply unit 122.
As shown in FIG. 18, the shutter mechanism is configured such that a part of the shutter part 141 is a rack-shaped part 141 a and the shutter part 141 is opened and closed by moving the gear 142 with a drive source 143. . Thereby, since the area of the opening region 144 of the pipe 124 changes, the amount of water sent from the supply unit 122 to the hydrating member 121 or from the hydrating member 121 to the supplying unit 122, that is, the amount of water in the container-like member 131 of the hydrating member 121. Can be adjusted.

As described above, in the sheet binding device according to the present embodiment, the hydration unit W1 uses the capillary phenomenon to add moisture to the paper 5 and the supply that holds the moisture supplied to the hydration member 121. Part 122. Moreover, it has the supply amount adjustment part 123 which adjusts the moisture content supplied to the hydration member 121 from the supply part 122. FIG.
Accordingly, since the water adding member 121 for supplying water to the paper 5 (supplying water) using the capillary phenomenon is provided, the water can be added from the paper stacking tray 23 side below the paper 5. Water leakage from the portion W1 to the paper 5 can be prevented.
In addition, since the amount of water supplied from the supply unit 122 to the hydrating member 121 can be adjusted by the supply amount adjusting unit 123, the amount of water corresponding to the type of the paper 5 to be bound can be included in the paper 5. Therefore, when aligning the paper 5, it is possible to prevent the portion of the paper 5 that excessively contains water from becoming resistance and preventing the alignment quality of the paper 5 from deteriorating.

  As described above, the present embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the configuration including the above-described paper binding device of the present embodiment, and the design does not depart from the gist. Changes may be made.

What was demonstrated above is an example, and there exists an effect peculiar for every following aspect.
(Aspect A)
A stacking unit such as a sheet stacking tray 23 for stacking sheets such as the sheet 5 that has been transported, and a sheet orthogonal to the transport direction such as a sheet transport direction of the sheet transported on the stacking unit. First alignment means such as a first movable reference fence 29 and a tapping roller 30 for aligning the sheet ends in one direction such as the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the orthogonal direction such as the width direction, and the sheet end by the first alignment means Water in a predetermined region such as a binding margin in which a sheet end in the other direction such as the sheet width direction in the transport direction and the orthogonal direction of the sheet in which the sheet is aligned is protruded. Water supply means such as a hydration part W1 for supplying water, second alignment means such as a first jogger fence 24 for aligning the sheet ends in the other direction of the sheets supplied with water by the water supply means, and the second Alignment means before Characterized by comprising a crimping binding means, such as end-binding portion 25 for performing compression binding with respect to the other plurality of sheets in which the direction of the sheet end are aligned in the predetermined area of the.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
In the conventional sheet binding device, after the sheets are overlapped, the aligning operation of aligning the paper edges in the two directions is performed separately, but the predetermined area for supplying water is provided at a biased position of the sheet, The portion of the predetermined area to which water is supplied has a higher coefficient of friction than the other sheet portions. For this reason, when stacking a new sheet on a previously stacked sheet or aligning the sheet edge, a part of a predetermined area of the previously stacked sheet or a newly stacked sheet becomes a resistance, and a new stacking is performed. There is a risk that the sheet will rotate. For example, if the sheet ends in the orthogonal direction are aligned when the sheet ends in the conveying direction are not aligned, the sheet ends in the conveying direction are shifted or the previously stacked sheets are rotated. As a result, the alignment quality of sheets that form a bundle of sheets that are stacked and bound is degraded.

On the other hand, in the sheet binding device of this aspect, the water supply means supplies water after aligning the sheet ends in one direction. Therefore, when aligning the sheet ends in one direction, the newly stacked sheets are not water. It does not contain any moisture from the supply means. For this reason, the upper surface of the previously stacked sheets and the lower surface of the newly stacked sheets can be less biased in the friction coefficient in the contact surface than the conventional configuration, reducing the rotation of any sheet, The sheet edges in one direction can be well aligned.
When aligning the sheet ends in the other direction, the one sheet end is aligned well. For this reason, even if the binding margin of the sheet supplied with water becomes resistance, a member such as the first movable reference fence 29 on the regulating side provided in the first aligning means that aligns the sheet ends in one direction can be used to Rotation can also be reduced.
Therefore, when aligning sheets as a bundle of sheets to be overlapped and bound, the sheet binding device to which water is supplied becomes a resistance, and a sheet binding apparatus that can suppress a decrease in sheet alignment quality can be provided.

(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), the second aligning unit such as the first jogger fence 24 includes a conveying unit such as a conveying roller 22 that conveys a sheet such as the sheet 5 onto the stacking unit such as the sheet stacking tray 23. Sheet moving means such as the first jogger fence 24 on the moving side for moving the sheet in the orthogonal direction such as the paper width direction, and the first jogger fence 24 on the regulating side with which the sheet moved by the sheet moving means abuts. The first aligning means such as the first movable reference fence 29 and the tapping roller 30 on the sheet end such as the sheet end in the conveying direction such as the sheet conveying direction of the sheet stacked on the stacking means. In a predetermined region such as a binding margin (water region) on the lower surface where the sheet end in the orthogonal direction such as the paper width direction protrudes with the water supply means such as the water portion W1. After the sheet supplied with water, for example, containing water is moved by the sheet moving means and brought into contact with the contact member, the plurality of sheets are contacted with the contact member, and then the plurality of sheets The predetermined region is subjected to pressure binding by the pressure binding means such as the end binding portion 25.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
The predetermined area of the sheet supplied with water by the water supply means, particularly the portion of the surface to which water has been supplied by the water supply means, has a higher coefficient of friction than the portion of the back side surface and other paper portions. For this reason, if the surface to which water is supplied when aligning the sheet edges in one direction is the upper surface, when stacking new sheets or aligning the sheet edges, the upper surface of the previously stacked sheets or newly The resistance of the lower surface of the stacked sheets increases, and the newly stacked sheets are easy to rotate. When the newly stacked sheets rotate in this way, the sheet ends in one direction are aligned with the sheet ends in one direction not aligned, and the sheet ends in one direction are aligned. Misalignment or rotation of the previously stacked sheets is facilitated.

  On the other hand, in the sheet binding device of this aspect, the surface to which water is supplied when aligning the sheet ends in one direction is the lower surface, and the water from the water supply means included in the upper surface of the previously stacked sheets is water supply means. Since it penetrates from the lower surface supplied with water, it is less than the lower surface on the back side. When aligning the sheet ends in one direction, the lower surface of the newly stacked sheet does not contain any moisture from the water supply means. For these reasons, the upper surface of the previously stacked sheet and the lower surface of the newly stacked sheet can be less biased in the coefficient of friction within the contact surfaces than the configuration in which the surface to which water is supplied is stacked. . Therefore, by aligning the sheet edges in one direction so that the surface to which water is supplied becomes the lower surface, the newly stacked sheets rotate more than the configuration of stacking with the surface to which water is supplied as the upper surface. It is possible to make the sheet ends in one direction better aligned.

  In order to align the sheet edge in the transport direction after aligning the sheet edge in the orthogonal direction first and supplying water to the lower surface by the water supply means, supply water to the alignment / binding area where the sheets are aligned and bound. It is necessary to provide the means on the upstream side or the downstream side in the transport direction. For this reason, when aligning the sheet edges in the orthogonal direction first, it is necessary to stop a predetermined area of the newly stacked sheets so as to face the water supply means. There is a possibility that the configuration for stopping so as to face the water supply means becomes complicated.

On the other hand, in the sheet binding apparatus according to this aspect, the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet transported by the transport unit so that the predetermined region faces the water supply unit provided to be shifted in the orthogonal direction with respect to the alignment / binding region. The edges can be aligned first. And after supplying water with a water supply means to the lower surface of the sheet which aligned the sheet end of the conveyance direction, the sheet end of the orthogonal direction can be aligned. For this reason, when the sheet end in the transport direction is aligned first, the binding side of the newly stacked sheets is stopped so as to face the water supply unit. The first movable reference fence 29 can be used in a simple configuration.
Then, the sheet shifted in the orthogonal direction with respect to the alignment / binding region can be moved by the sheet moving means so as to contact the contact member, and the orthogonal direction can be aligned more reliably.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a sheet binding device that can suppress a reduction in sheet alignment quality with a simple configuration.

(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the water supply means such as the water addition portion W1 retracts when a water supply position such as a water supply position for supplying water to a sheet such as the paper 5 and when water is not supplied to the sheet. It is possible to move to the retreat position.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.
The position of the water supply means can be selected when water is supplied to the sheet and when it is not. The water supply means contacts the sheet when the sheet is conveyed or when aligning the sheet edge such as the paper edge of the sheet. As a result, resistance can be prevented and deterioration of sheet alignment quality can be prevented.

(Aspect D)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the first alignment position by the guide plate 101 of the sheet such as the paper 5 when the first movable reference fence 29 and the first alignment means such as the tapping roller 30 align first. , A second alignment position by the sheet bundle holding unit 102 of the sheet when the second alignment means such as the first jogger fence 24 is aligned later, and the second alignment means is the first alignment means Using the difference in height between the alignment position and the second alignment position, the water supply means such as the hydration unit W1 supplies water to the sheet in the process of lowering and conveying the sheet moved to the second alignment position. It is characterized by doing.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the water supply unit becomes a resistance when aligning the sheets without moving the water supply unit as in (Aspect C), and the alignment quality of the sheet is deteriorated. Can be suppressed. Further, it is not necessary to provide a drive source for moving the water supply means.

(Aspect E)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), a shutter that is movable between a position that covers a supply position such as a conveyance surface that supplies water to a sheet such as paper 5 by the water supply means such as the hydration section W1 and a position that retreats. A first shutter member such as 111 is provided.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, when the sheet is conveyed, the water supply unit comes into contact with the sheet and becomes a resistance, thereby preventing the sheet alignment quality from being deteriorated.

(Aspect F)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), a position that covers a supply region such as a loaded paper addition region to which water of sheets such as the paper 5 stacked on the stacking means such as the paper stacking tray 23 is supplied A second shutter member such as a loaded paper addition area shutter 86 that can move to the retracted position is provided.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, the sheet supply area of the previously stacked sheets tries to align the sheet ends in the orthogonal direction such as the conveyance direction such as the sheet conveyance direction and the sheet width direction. It becomes possible to prevent the sheet alignment quality from deteriorating due to contact with the sheet.

(Aspect G)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect F), the water supply means such as the hydration part W1 includes a hydration member such as a hydration member 121 that supplies water to a sheet such as the paper 5 using a capillary phenomenon, A supply unit such as a supply unit 122 that holds water supplied to the hydrating member, and a supply amount adjusting unit such as a supply amount adjusting unit 123 that adjusts the amount of water supplied from the supply unit to the hydrating member It is characterized by.

According to this, as described in the present embodiment, since the water supply member that supplies water using the capillary phenomenon is provided, the water from the stacking means side such as the paper stacking tray 23 below the sheet is prevented. This makes it possible to prevent leakage of water (moisture) from the water supply means to the sheet.
In addition, since the amount of water supplied from the supply unit to the hydration member can be adjusted by the supply amount adjustment unit, the amount of water corresponding to the type of sheet to be bound can be supplied to the sheet, and when the sheets are aligned, The portion becomes a resistance, and the sheet alignment quality can be prevented from being deteriorated.

(Aspect H)
In a sheet processing apparatus such as a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 including a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle such as the sheet bundle 6, the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) is used as the sheet binding apparatus. It is characterized by having.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus that can achieve the same effects as the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G).

(Aspect I)
In an image forming apparatus such as a sheet processing apparatus such as a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 that performs processing on a sheet such as a sheet 5 or a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle such as a sheet bundle 6, the sheet processing As an apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus according to (Aspect H) or the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) is provided.
According to this, as described in the present embodiment, an image that can achieve the same effects as the sheet processing apparatus according to (Aspect H) or the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G). A forming apparatus can be provided.

(Aspect J)
An image forming apparatus such as an image forming apparatus 2 that forms an image on a sheet such as a sheet 5, a sheet processing apparatus such as a sheet post-processing apparatus 3 that performs processing on a sheet, or a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle such as a sheet bundle 6. In the image forming system such as the image forming system 1 provided with any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G) as the sheet processing apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus according to (Aspect H), or the sheet binding apparatus. The sheet binding apparatus is provided.

  According to this, as described in the present embodiment, an image that can achieve the same effects as the sheet processing apparatus according to (Aspect H) or the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect G). A forming system can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2 Image forming apparatus 3 Paper post-processing apparatus 5 Paper 6 Paper bundle 10 First paper discharge tray 11 Entrance roller 12, 13 Conveyance roller (Pt1)
14 First discharge roller 15 Inlet sensor 16 Processing unit 17 Branch claw 20, 21, 22 Transport roller (Pt2)
23 Paper stacking tray 24 First jogger fence 25 End binding part (first binding part)
26 Branching Claw 27 Branching Claw 28 First Bundling Section 29 First Moving Reference Fence 30 Tapping Roller 31, 32 Conveying Roller (Third Conveying Path)
33 Saddle Stitch Fold 34 Saddle Fold 35 Saddle Stitch (Second Stitch)
36 Second bundle unit 37 Second movable reference fence 38 Blade 39, 40 Press roller 41 Second paper discharge roller 42 Second paper discharge tray 51 Conveying unit 52 Path switching unit 61 Control unit 81 Drive source 82 Belt 83 Vertically moving cam 86 Loaded paper hydration area shutter 87 Gear 88 Drive source 101 Guide plate 102 Sheet bundle holding part 111 Shutter 112 Drive source 121 Water supply member 122 Supply part 123 Supply amount adjustment part 124 Pipe 131 Container-like member 132 Water 133 Brush-like member 135 Crimp binding Part 136 water addition area 141 shutter part (supply amount adjustment part)
141a Rack-shaped part 142 Gear (Supply amount adjusting part)
143 Drive source (supply amount adjustment unit)
144 Opening area 151 Upper crimping tooth 152 Lower crimping tooth 161 Tooth arm 162 Lower tooth arm 163 Arm rotation center 164 Gear (binding portion)
165 Cam drive gear (binding portion)
166 Cam (Binding part)
167 Spring (binding part)
201a Apparatus main body (image forming apparatus)
207 In-body discharge unit 207a Paper discharge space 208 Relay transfer unit 208a Paper discharge tray unit 208b Roller transfer unit 209 Paper feed cassette 210 Transfer path (image forming apparatus)
211 Feed roller 212 Transport roller 213 Discharge roller 215 Photoconductor 216 Optical writing device 217 Charging device 218 Development device 219 Transfer device 220 Cleaning unit 221 Fixing device 222 Separating roller pair 223 Registration roller pair 225 Contact glass 226 White pressure plate 227 Illumination lamp 228 Scanning mirrors 229a and b Mirror pair 230 Imaging lens 232 First transport unit 233 Second transport unit 234 Branching claw (image forming apparatus)
235 Discharge roller (for first transport unit)
236 Relay transport path 237 Transport roller 238 Paper discharge roller (for second transport section)
302 Image forming unit 303 Paper feed unit 304 Paper discharge unit (image forming apparatus)
305 Scanner 314 Relay paper discharge sensor 315 Relay transport motor Pt1 First transport path Pt2 Second transport path Pt3 Third transport path W1

Japanese Patent No. 3502204

Claims (10)

A stacking means for stacking the conveyed sheets;
A first aligning means for aligning the sheet ends in one direction of a transport direction of the sheet transported on the stacking means and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
A water supply means for supplying water to a predetermined region where the sheet end in the other direction out of the transport direction and the orthogonal direction of the sheet whose sheet end is aligned by the first alignment means;
Second aligning means for aligning the sheet end in the other direction of the sheet supplied with water by the water supply means;
A sheet binding apparatus, comprising: a crimp binding unit that performs crimp binding on the predetermined region of the plurality of sheets in which the sheet ends in the other direction are aligned by the second alignment unit. The sheet binding device according to claim 1,
A conveying means for conveying the sheet onto the stacking means;
The second aligning unit includes a sheet moving unit that moves the sheet in the orthogonal direction, and an abutting member on which the sheet moved by the sheet moving unit abuts.
The sheet end in the transport direction of the sheets stacked on the stacking unit is aligned by the first aligning unit, and water is supplied to a predetermined region on the lower surface where the sheet end in the orthogonal direction protrudes by the water supply unit. Is moved by the sheet moving means and brought into contact with the abutting member, and after the plurality of sheets are brought into contact with the abutting member, the pressure binding means is applied to the predetermined region of the plurality of sheets. A sheet binding device characterized in that crimping binding is performed. In the sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The sheet binding apparatus, wherein the water supply means is movable between a supply position for supplying water to the sheet and a retreat position for retracting when water is not supplied to the sheet. In the sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A first alignment position of the sheet when first aligned by the first alignment means, and a second alignment position of the sheet when aligned later by the second alignment means,
In the process in which the second aligning unit lowers and conveys the sheet moved to the second alignment position using the height difference between the first alignment position and the second alignment position, the water supply unit Supplies water to the sheet. In the sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A sheet binding device comprising: a first shutter member that is movable between a position for covering the supply position for supplying water to the sheet by the water supply means and a position for retracting. In the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A sheet binding apparatus comprising: a second shutter member that is movable between a position that covers a supply area to which water of sheets stacked on the stacking unit is supplied and a position that is retracted. In the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The water supply means includes a hydration member that supplies water to the sheet using a capillary phenomenon, a supply unit that holds water to be supplied to the hydration member, and a water amount that is supplied from the supply unit to the hydration member. A sheet binding device comprising: a supply amount adjustment unit for adjustment. In a sheet processing apparatus provided with a sheet binding device for binding a sheet bundle,
A sheet processing apparatus comprising the sheet binding apparatus according to claim 1 as the sheet binding apparatus. In an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing on a sheet or a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle,
An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8 as the sheet processing apparatus or the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 as the sheet binding apparatus. In an image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; and a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing on a sheet, or a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle.
An image forming system comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8 as the sheet processing apparatus or the sheet binding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 as the sheet binding apparatus.

Images