JP2017214190A - Sheet binding device, image formation device and sheet binding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such the problem that, when a binding needle for a staple mechanism is run out, a sheet bundle to be stapled is discharged without being stapled and a user has to stable the sheet bundle manually.SOLUTION: A sheet binding device can execute binding a sheet bundle with a staple-less stapler that does not use a needle when a binding needle for a staple mechanism is run out.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle on which images are formed, an image forming apparatus having a sheet binding function, and a sheet binding method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of sheets imaged by an image forming apparatus such as a printer are stapled by a stapling mechanism and stacked on a bin of a stacker, a stapling position is marked when there is no stapling member, for example, a binding needle. Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). By doing so, the position of staple binding when the user manually staples later is clearly indicated, and the usability is improved.

JP 2000-86072 A

  However, with the conventional technology that only indicates the location of stapling, the sheet is not stapled, and there remains a problem that the operation of manually stapling the sheet marked with the stapling position is still necessary. This causes problems such as the need for realignment of sheets and scattering of sheet bundles. Also, there is a problem that even if the sheets stacked on the stacker are not noticed as a mark indicating the stapling position, it is not possible to know where the stapling is planned. Further, in the case of Patent Document 1, there are problems that the planned portion of the stapling position is marked with toner, so that the amount of toner consumption increases, and the user mistakes the mark as dirty.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem remaining in the conventional technology. When a sheet bundle cannot be bound with a binding member, the binding processing without using a binding member (hereinafter referred to as “eco-staple processing”). The object is to provide a sheet binding device, an image forming apparatus, and a sheet binding method that can be effectively used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a first binding means for binding a sheet bundle using a binding member;
A second binding means for binding the sheet bundle without using a binding member;
Control means for causing the second binding means to perform the binding process in response to the fact that the binding process by the first binding means is impossible;
A sheet binding apparatus is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first binding means for binding the sheet bundle on which the image is formed using the binding member;
A second binding means for binding the sheet bundle without using a binding member;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a selecting unit that enables selection of a binding process by the second binding unit from a plurality of methods in response to the fact that the binding process by the first binding unit is impossible. Is provided.

  According to the present invention, when the sheet bundle cannot be bound by the binding member, the binding process that does not use the binding member can be effectively used.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system. The internal block diagram of a post-processing apparatus. (A), (b) is a detailed block diagram of an eco stapler. The block diagram of a control apparatus. Staple processing flowchart Needle stapler control flowchart Flowchart of processing for determining whether to perform “main binding control” or “temporary binding control” by the eco stapler according to the content selected by the user Flowchart of book binding control by eco stapler Flow chart of temporary binding control by eco stapler The figure which shows the screen which makes a user select book binding or temporary binding

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Embodiment]
<Configuration of image forming system>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 200 such as a copier or a multifunction peripheral, a document reading apparatus 300, an operation apparatus 600 including a numeric keypad input unit 601, and a sheet processing apparatus 500 including a sheet binding function.

  The document reading apparatus 300 includes a document table, and reads a document placed on the document table to generate image data. The image data is sent to the image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200 performs image forming processing based on the image data sent from the document reading apparatus 300, and forms an image on a sheet material such as paper. The sheet material on which the image is formed is conveyed (discharged) from the image forming apparatus 200 to the sheet processing apparatus 500. The sheet processing apparatus 500 performs post-processing on the sheet material conveyed (discharged) from the image forming apparatus 200. In the present embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus 500 performs a binding process for a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheet materials are bundled. The operation device 600 is an input interface for a user to input an instruction to the image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the sheet processing apparatus 500. A series of processing such as document reading, image formation, and binding processing is performed in accordance with a user instruction. The operation device 600 also includes a display, and provides various information to the user. The operation device 600 is configured as a touch panel, for example.

<Configuration of sheet processing apparatus>
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the sheet processing apparatus 500. The sheet processing apparatus 500 is a sheet binding processing apparatus, and includes a stapler that uses a binding member such as a binding needle as a first binding processing mechanism that performs binding processing of a sheet bundle. Further, the sheet processing apparatus 500 includes an eco-stapler as a second binding processing mechanism that performs a binding process that does not use a binding member such as a binding needle by a method different from the stapler. The sheet processing apparatus 500 sequentially takes in the sheet materials discharged from the image forming apparatus 200 and performs post-processing. The post-processing includes a process of bundling a plurality of sheet materials into a sheet bundle, a staple stapling process for binding the sheet bundle with a binding member, and a stapleless staple process for binding the sheet bundle without using the binding member (also referred to as an eco-stapling process). .), Sort processing for aligning the end of the sheet bundle, non-sort processing for not aligning the end of the sheet bundle, and the like.

  The sheet processing apparatus 500 takes in the sheet material conveyed (discharged) from the image forming apparatus 200 by the entrance roller pair 502. The sheet material taken in from the inlet roller pair 502 is conveyed to the buffer roller 505 by the conveying roller pairs 503 and 504. A conveyance sensor 531 provided between the entrance roller pair 502 and the conveyance roller pair 503 detects passage of the sheet material.

  The buffer roller 505 is provided with pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514 on the outer periphery thereof, and a predetermined number of conveyed sheet materials can be stacked and wound. During the rotation of the buffer roller 505, the sheet material is wound around the buffer roller 505 by the pressing rollers 512, 513, and 514. The buffer roller 505 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the sheet material wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed in the rotation direction of the buffer roller 505.

  A switching flapper 511 is provided between the pressing roller 513 and the pressing roller 514. A switching flapper 510 is provided on the downstream side of the pressing roller 514. By the operations of the switching flapper 511 and the switching flapper 510, the sheet material wound around the buffer roller 505 is conveyed to any one of the non-sort path 521, the buffer path 523, and the sort path 522. In the case of being conveyed to the non-sort path 521 and the sort path 522, since a predetermined number of sheets are stacked by the buffer roller 505, they are conveyed as a sheet bundle.

When the sheet bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the non-sort path 521, the switching flapper 511 operates. The switching flapper 511 has its tip moved to the buffer roller 505 side, peels off the sheet bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 and guides it to the non-sort path 521. The sheet bundle guided to the non-sort path 521 is discharged to the sample tray 701 via the conveyance roller pair 509. A conveyance sensor 533 for detecting the passage of the sheet bundle is provided on the path of the non-sort path 521. When the sheet bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the buffer path 523, both the switching flapper 510 and the switching flapper 511 are used. It does not operate and each tip is located away from the buffer roller 505. The sheet bundle is conveyed to the buffer path 523 while being wound around the buffer roller 505. A conveyance sensor 532 that detects passage of the sheet bundle is provided on the buffer path 523.

  When the sheet bundle wound around the buffer roller 505 is guided to the sort path 522, the switching flapper 511 does not operate and the switching flapper 510 operates. The switching flapper 510 moves toward the buffer roller 505, peels off the sheet bundle wound around the buffer roller 505, and guides it to the sorting path 522. The sheet bundle guided to the sort path 522 is discharged onto the processing tray 630 via the conveyance roller pair 506 and 507. A conveyance sensor 534 that detects passage of a sheet bundle is provided on the path of the sort path 522.

  The processing tray 630 is provided with a rear end regulating plate 691 against which the sheet bundle is abutted. The rear end regulating plate 691 is movable with respect to the sheet bundle conveyance direction (length direction). The discharged sheet bundle is pulled back to the rear end side in the conveying direction by a knurled belt 661 and a paddle 660 that are driven in synchronization with the conveying roller pair 507. It is pulled back until it abuts against the rear end regulating plate 691, and alignment processing in the transport direction is performed. The sheet bundle discharged to the processing tray 630 is subjected to eco-staple processing or needle stapling processing.

  The eco stapler 550 is a stapleless binding processing mechanism that performs a binding process on a stacked sheet bundle without using a binding member such as a needle. The stapler 602 is a staple binding mechanism that performs a binding process on a stacked sheet bundle using a binding member such as a needle. The eco-stapler 550 and the stapler 602 can be moved along the outer periphery of the processing tray 630 in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and can be bound at a binding position set by the user.

  The processing tray 630 is provided with an alignment member 641 so as to sandwich the sheet bundle. The alignment member 641 is movable in a direction (width direction) orthogonal to the sheet bundle conveyance direction. The alignment member 641 performs alignment processing in the width direction on the sheet bundle discharged onto the processing tray 630. As described above, the sheet processing apparatus 500 performs the alignment process in the conveyance direction and the width direction each time the sheet materials are stacked on the processing tray 630 one by one, even when a large amount of sheet materials are bound. It is possible to provide a sheet bundle in which the deviation of the sheet material is reduced.

  The sheet bundle subjected to the alignment process and the binding process is discharged onto the stacking tray 700 by a discharge roller pair 680 including discharge rollers 680a and 680b. The discharge roller 680b is supported by the swing guide 650. The swing guide 650 swings so that the discharge roller 680b contacts the uppermost part of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 630. When the discharge roller 680b is in contact with the top of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 630, the discharge roller pair 680 discharges the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 630 toward the stacking tray 700. Paper becomes possible.

  The appearance tray 670 protrudes upward when the sheet bundle is stacked on the processing tray 630. As a result, the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveying roller pair 507 is prevented from drooping or returning poorly, and the sheet bundle on the processing tray 630 is aligned.

  The stacking tray 700 can be moved up and down. The paper surface detection sensor 540 detects the uppermost surface of the stacking tray 700 or the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 700. Depending on the detection result of the paper surface detection sensor 540, the stacking tray 700 is controlled to move up and down so that the uppermost surface of the sheet bundle is at a certain position. The paper presence / absence detection sensor 541 detects the presence / absence of a sheet material on the stacking tray 700. The sample tray 701 is not movable up and down like the stacking tray 700, and is fixed at the position shown in FIG.

<Eco stapler configuration>
FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the eco stapler 550. 3A is a perspective view of the eco-stapler 550, and FIG. 3B is a diagram when the eco-stapler motor M13 is removed from the eco-stapler 550 and viewed from the direction of the arrow 560 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the eco stapler 550 includes an eco staple motor M13, gears 551 and 555, step gears 552 to 554, and a rotation shaft 556. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the eco stapler 550 includes a cam 557, a roller 558, an upper arm 559, a frame 1013, a lower arm 1012, a shaft 1011, an upper tooth 1010, and a lower tooth 1014.

  The rotation of the eco staple motor M13 is transmitted to the gear 555 via the gear 551 and the step gears 552 to 554. The gear 555 is attached to the rotation shaft 556, and the rotation shaft 556 is also rotated by the rotation of the gear 555. A cam 557 is attached to the rotation shaft 556. The cam 557 moves the upper arm 559 up and down via the roller 558 by the rotation of the rotation shaft 556.

  Upper arm 559 is provided with upper teeth 1010, and swings about axis 1011 as cam 557 rotates. The lower arm 1012 is fixed to the frame 1013 and provided with lower teeth 1014. By swinging the upper arm 559, the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014 are engaged with each other. During the eco-stapling process, a sheet bundle is sandwiched between the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014. When the upper teeth 1010 and the lower teeth 1014 mesh with each other in this state, the eco stapler 550 pressurizes the sheet bundle.

  The pressed sheet bundle is stretched to expose the surface fibers, and further pressed to fasten the fibers of the sheet material intertwined with each other. Since the binding process is performed in this manner, the sheet bundle can be bound without using a binding member such as a needle.

<Control configuration of image forming system>
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a control device for controlling the operation of the image processing system. The image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the operation apparatus 600 are mainly controlled by the image forming control unit. The image formation control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203. The CPU 201 controls the image forming apparatus 200, the document reading apparatus 300, and the operation apparatus 600 by using the RAM 203 as a work area and appropriately reading and executing programs from the ROM 202.

The communication controller 210 receives an image formation instruction or the like from the host computer 211. The host computer 211 is a personal computer connected to the image forming system via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) so that data can be transmitted and received. The communication controller 210 sends the received instruction to the image formation control unit. The CPU 201 of the image formation control unit controls the operations of the motors 110, 111, and 102 d, the laser scanner 100, the fixing motor 108, and the fixing device 107 in the image forming apparatus 200 based on instructions sent from the communication controller 210. . Thus, an image is formed on the sheet material in accordance with an image formation instruction from the host computer 211 and the like. In addition to the host computer 211, such an instruction can be directly input from the operation device 600 to the image formation control unit. The CPU 201 of the image formation control unit can send and receive data to and from the sheet processing apparatus 500 via a communication interface (IF) 908.

  The sheet processing apparatus 500 is controlled mainly by the sheet processing control unit 951. The sheet processing control unit 951 includes a CPU 952, a ROM 953, and a RAM 954. The CPU 952 controls the sheet processing apparatus 500 by using the RAM 954 as a work area based on data received from the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication interface (IF) 916, and reading and executing a program as appropriate from the ROM 953. Do.

  The sheet processing apparatus 500 includes an inlet motor M1, a buffer motor M2, a paper discharge motor M3, solenoids S1 and S2, and conveyance sensors 531 to 534 for conveying a sheet material. The entrance motor M1 drives the entrance roller pair 502 and the transport roller pairs 503 and 504. The buffer motor M2 drives the buffer roller 505. The paper discharge motor M3 drives the conveyance roller pair 507 and 509. The solenoid S1 drives the switching flapper 511. The solenoid S2 drives the switching flapper 510.

  In addition, the sheet processing apparatus 500 performs post-processing such as sorting processing, a bundle discharge motor M4, a swing motor M8, a retracting tray motor M11, a tray lifting motor M12, a paper surface detection sensor 540, and a paper presence / absence detection sensor. 541. The bundle discharge motor M4 drives the discharge roller pair 680. The swing motor M8 drives the swing guide 650. The in / out tray motor M11 drives the in / out tray 670. The tray lifting / lowering motor M12 lifts and lowers the stacking tray 700.

  The sheet processing apparatus 500 includes a front alignment motor M5, a rear alignment motor M6, a paddle motor M7, a staple staple motor M9, a staple staple moving motor M10, and an eco staple motor M13 for performing a binding process. The front alignment motor M5 and the rear alignment motor M6 drive the alignment member 641. The paddle motor M7 drives the paddle 660. The needle staple motor M9 drives the needle stapler 602. The staple staple moving motor M10 moves the staple stapler 602. The eco staple motor M13 drives the eco stapler 550 as described with reference to FIG. The sheet processing apparatus 500 also includes a needle presence / absence detection unit 914 that detects the presence / absence of a needle in the stapler 602.

  The sheet processing apparatus 500 receives an instruction for post-processing performed by the host computer 211 or the operation apparatus 600 from the image forming apparatus 200 via the communication interface 916. The sheet processing control unit 951 performs post-processing based on the received instruction. Particularly in the present embodiment, binding processing is instructed as post-processing. The sheet processing control unit 951 controls each unit used for the binding processing, such as the staple staple motor M9, the staple staple moving motor M10, and the eco staple motor M13, in accordance with a binding processing instruction. Further, the alignment member 641 is driven by the eco-staple alignment plate driving motor M14 to align the sheets.

<Needle binding processing procedure>
Prior to the image forming process and subsequent post-processing, various settings for the job are made. If the job is a print job from an external computer or the like, the setting information may be input as a part of the job. The input setting is stored in the RAM 203, and if it is a setting for post-processing, it is stored in the RAM 954 of the sheet processing control unit 916. For example, in the case of a copy job, setting can be performed by the user via the operation unit 600, for example. In any case, the setting items may include settings for binding processing. The setting of the binding process includes, for example, a setting of whether to perform a needle binding process or a needleless binding process, a setting of a binding position, a setting of a binding direction, and the like. The procedure of FIG. 5 is executed by, for example, the sheet processing control unit 951, particularly the CPU 952. In this case, display on the operation unit 600 is performed via the communication interface and the image forming apparatus 200. 5 may be executed by the CPU 201 of the image formation control unit. In this case, the detection result of the presence / absence of the needle by the needle presence / absence detection unit 914 is notified to the CPU 201 via the communication interface.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control when performing the staple binding process of the present embodiment. This procedure may be executed, for example, when printing is started or during printing. Here, it is assumed that the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus 200 to the sheet processing apparatus 500 and executed by the sheet processing control unit 951b immediately before performing the binding process.

  The sheet processing control unit 951 determines with reference to the setting information whether it is a staple binding process (S101). If it is determined that it is not the staple binding process, the sheet is discharged without performing the binding process. However, other processes such as sheet alignment performed by the sheet processing apparatus 500 are performed according to the setting information. On the other hand, if it is determined that the staple binding process is performed, it is determined whether there is a staple (hereinafter referred to as a needle) of the stapler (S102). This determination is performed based on the state detected by the needle presence / absence detection unit 914, for example. If it is determined that there is a needle, a staple binding process is performed (S103). If it is determined that there is no needle, the user is notified by displaying the screen shown in FIG. 10 that there is no needle (S104). On the notification screen of the operation unit 600, the user can select whether the binding is the main binding, the temporary binding, or the alignment processing by the eco stapler. In FIG. 10, a main binding button 1101, a temporary binding button 1102, and an alignment button 1103 are displayed on the screen.

  When the user selects any one, the input of the selection is accepted, and processing corresponding to the selection is executed (S105). The difference between main binding and temporary binding is the difference in binding force. The eco stapler 550 can normally bind five sheets so as not to peel off, and the rotation speed of the eco stapler motor M13 at that time is, for example, six. These six rotations are assumed to be main binding. In the case of five or more sheets, the binding force is weakened and may be easily peeled off. However, the object of the present invention is not to bind the sheet bundle firmly when there is no needle. Since it is to prevent, the binding force may be weak. Therefore, in the case of a bundle of five or more sheets, temporary binding with a weak binding force is performed by the eco stapler 550. Since the binding force of the eco stapler 550 is weakened as the number of sheets increases, the number of rotations of the eco stapler motor M13 can be reduced as the number of sheets increases.

  In the procedure shown in FIG. 5, the user is notified each time the absence of a needle is detected, and the user must input necessary parameters, which is troublesome when the number of copies to be bound is large. Therefore, once the user selection process is performed in S105, information indicating that the user has been selected for the job is set, and the input various settings are held until the job is completed. If it is determined in step S102 that there is no needle, information indicating that the user has been selected is tested before step S104. If the user has been selected, a process corresponding to the user selection is executed. For example, if the user has been selected, step S302 and subsequent steps in FIG. 7 are called. When the job is completed or staples are replenished, the information indicating that the user has been selected and the user setting received in step S105 are cleared. Thus, if there is no binding needle, the binding process according to the user selection is executed until the job is completed or the needle is replenished.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control of the stapler, and shows details of step S103. If the needle binding process is set and it is determined that there is a needle, the needle binding process is performed at a location designated by the user (S201).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for performing the main binding or temporary binding processing or the alignment processing by the eco-stapler according to the content selected by the user, and shows details of step S105. When the user selects one and confirms the selection, a selection result is input (S301). It is determined whether the input is selection of main binding (S302). If it is determined that main binding is selected, the limit binding number of main binding is set to a predetermined number, for example, five (S303), and main binding is performed. Processing is performed (S304). If it is determined in step S302 that the binding is not actual binding, it is determined whether temporary binding is selected (S305). If it is determined that temporary binding has been selected, the limit binding number of temporary binding is set to a predetermined number, for example, 15 (S306), and temporary binding processing is performed (S307). If it is neither main binding nor temporary binding, alignment processing is performed (S308). The alignment process is a process for aligning the sheet positions. Note that the number of sheets set in steps S303 and S306 may be set by the user. However, in that case, the number of sheets to be bound is mechanically limited, so it is desirable to set it within the upper limit.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of step S304 in which processing is performed when the user selects bookbinding by the eco stapler. In the main binding process, first, it is determined whether or not the number of printed sheets exceeds the main binding limit number (5 sheets in this example) by the eco stapler (S401). If it exceeds, the main binding process is performed at the set location so as to be output in a plurality of copies (S403). If not, it is determined whether the sheet is the last sheet to be closed (S402). If it is not the last sheet, the main binding process is not performed and printing is continued. If it is the final sheet, the binding is performed at the set position, and the printing is finished. In the case of Yes in S402, after the main binding, the process proceeds to the end step. In this way, the number of sheets designated by the stapleless staple is bound. If the specified number of bindings exceeds the upper limit, binding is performed for each upper limit.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of step S307 in which processing is performed when the user selects temporary binding by the eco stapler. In the temporary binding process, it is determined whether the number of printed sheets has reached the temporary binding limit number (15 in this example) by the eco stapler (S501). If it is determined that it has reached, temporary binding is performed at a set number of rotations of the eco-stapler that is weaker than that of the main binding process so that 15 sheets are temporarily bound and output (S502). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to continue printing (S503). When it is determined that printing is to be continued, the process returns to step S501 to determine again whether the temporary binding limit number by the eco stapler has been reached.

  On the other hand, if it has not reached 15 sheets, it is determined whether printing is the final sheet (S504). If it is not the final sheet, printing is continued without performing temporary binding processing. If it is the final sheet, temporary binding processing is performed on the set location with a binding force corresponding to the number of sheets.

  First, it is determined whether the number of sheets to be bound is 10 sheets or more (and less than 15 sheets) (S505). When the number is 10 sheets or more, temporary binding is performed at a rotation speed 4 that is stronger than the case of 15 sheets (S506). If the number is less than 10, it is determined whether the number of sheets to be bound is 5 or more (and less than 10 sheets) (S507). If the number is 5 or more, temporary binding is performed at a rotational speed 5 stronger than S506 (S508). ). If the number of sheets to be bound is less than 5 (No in S507), the main binding is possible because the main binding is possible.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when stapling using a binding member such as a needle is set and there is no binding member, the main binding or temporary binding using eco-stapling without the binding member is performed. Inform the user that binding is possible. When the user selects a desired process, a binding process corresponding to the selection can be performed.

  When the screen of FIG. 10 is displayed in step S104 of FIG. 5, the presence or absence of the needle may be repeatedly tested in step S102 until the input is confirmed. In this way, if the needle is replenished while the screen of FIG. 10 is displayed, the staple staple can be continued.

  In the present embodiment, the case where there is no binding member is described as a case where needle binding is impossible. However, the case where the binding member cannot be stapled due to the binding member being jammed or the stapler is broken is included. Can do.

  In this embodiment, the operation device as the selection unit is described according to the example connected to the image forming apparatus. However, the sheet binding device may be provided with an operation unit as the selection unit.

200 ... Image forming apparatus, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... ROM, 203 ... RAM, 500 ... Post-processing device, 550 ... Eco stapler, 602 ... Needle stapler, 951. .. Post-processing control unit, 952 ... CPU, 953 ... ROM, 954 ... RAM

Claims (11)

First binding means for binding a sheet bundle using a binding member;
A second binding means for binding the sheet bundle without using a binding member;
Control means for causing the second binding means to perform the binding process in response to the fact that the binding process by the first binding means is impossible;
A sheet binding apparatus comprising:   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that there is no binding member used by the first binding unit, the binding process by the first binding unit is disabled. Sheet binding device.   3. The sheet according to claim 1, further comprising selection means for selecting a binding method by the second binding means in response to the fact that the binding process by the first binding means is impossible. Binding device.   The selection means can select whether the second binding means performs the binding process with at least the first binding force or performs the binding process with the second binding force weaker than the first binding force. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 3.   When the selection unit selects that the binding process is performed with the second binding force, the control unit binds the sheet bundle with the strength according to the number of sheets to be bound. 5. The sheet binding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the means is controlled. A first binding means for binding the sheet bundle on which an image is formed using a binding member; and a second binding means for binding the sheet bundle without using a binding member;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a selection unit configured to select a binding process by the second binding unit from a plurality of methods in response to the binding process by the first binding unit being impossible. The selection means is capable of selecting whether to perform the binding process with at least the first binding force by the second binding means or to perform the binding process with a second binding force weaker than the first binding force.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a control unit that causes the second binding unit to perform a binding process with a binding force according to a selection result by the selection unit.   When the selection unit selects that the binding process is performed with the second binding force, the control unit binds the sheet bundle with the strength according to the number of sheets to be bound. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.   9. The control unit according to claim 7 or 8, wherein when it is determined that there is no binding member used by the first binding unit, binding processing by the first binding unit is impossible. The image forming apparatus described in 1. A sheet binding method for a sheet binding apparatus, comprising: a first binding unit that binds a sheet bundle using a binding member; and a second binding unit that binds the sheet bundle without using a binding member,
A sheet binding method for a sheet binding apparatus, wherein the second binding unit performs a binding process in response to the fact that the first binding unit cannot perform the binding process. A sheet binding method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first binding unit that binds a sheet bundle on which an image is formed using a binding member; and a second binding unit that binds the sheet bundle without using a binding member. ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a selection step of selecting a binding process by the second binding means from a plurality of methods in response to the fact that the binding process by the first binding means is impossible. Sheet binding method.

Images