JP2019167172A - Binding device and image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a recording material bundle pressed by a mechanism that has a simpler configuration than a sheet pressing part that moves linearly in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle.SOLUTION: A binding device includes a set of binding parts for pressing and binding a recording material bundle from one side and the other side of the thickness direction, a first support part for supporting the recording material bundle from one side by performing a rotational movement toward the recording material bundle around a predetermined fulcrum and a second support part for supporting the recording material bundle from the other side so as to face the first support part when binding by a pair of binding parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a binding device and an image processing device.

  In Patent Document 1, the sheet bundle T is moved into the accumulation region of the accumulated sheet bundle T, and the sheet bundle T is bound by forming a deformation in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle T. The binding unit 511C retracts outside the stacking area, the lower frame 512 that supports the sheet bundle T when the binding unit 511C binds the sheet bundle T, and the sheet when the binding unit 511C moves into the stacking area of the sheet bundle T. The protruding member 512C that separates the bundle T from the lower frame 512 and the moving mechanism press the sheet bundle T between the lower frame 512 before the binding unit 511C binds the sheet bundle T, and the protruding member 512C is A recording material post-processing apparatus including a moving frame 511 </ b> A that is retracted toward the frame 512 side is disclosed.

JP 2012-41163 A

In order to improve the stability of the binding process, for example, there is a technique of pressing a recording material bundle from the thickness direction by a sheet pressing unit before performing the binding process. In such a case, the sheet pressing portion needs to move in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle. However, in order to realize movement in the thickness direction, it is necessary to adopt a complicated configuration for the sheet pressing portion.
An object of the present invention is to realize pressing of a recording material bundle by a mechanism having a simpler structure than a paper pressing portion that moves linearly in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of binding portions that press and bind the recording material bundle from one side and the other side in the thickness direction, and rotational movement toward the recording material bundle around a predetermined fulcrum. By doing so, a first support part that supports the recording material bundle from one side and a second support part that supports the recording material bundle from the other side so as to face the first support part when binding by the set of binding parts. A binding device having a support portion.
The invention according to claim 2 is the binding device according to claim 1, wherein the first support part moves in conjunction with movement of the binding part on the one side.
The invention according to claim 3 is the binding device according to claim 2, wherein the one side is above the recording material bundle in the thickness direction.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the second support portion supports the recording material bundle from the other side so as to face the first support portion by performing rotational movement about a predetermined fulcrum. The binding device according to claim 3, wherein:
The invention according to claim 5 is the binding device according to claim 4, wherein the second support portion moves in conjunction with movement of the binding portion on the other side.
The invention according to claim 6 is the binding device according to claim 5, wherein the fulcrum of the first support part and the fulcrum of the second support part are different fulcrums.
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the fulcrum of the first support part and the fulcrum of the second support part are fulcrums different from the binding part fulcrum of the set of binding parts. This is a binding device.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the binding portion fulcrum moves with a moving component in a loading / unloading direction which is a direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters / exits with respect to a pressing region for pressing the recording material bundle, The fulcrum of the first support part and the fulcrum of the second support part are located on the upstream side of the binding part fulcrum with respect to the binding part fulcrum when the binding part fulcrum is located on the most downstream side in the movement direction. The binding device according to claim 7, wherein
The invention according to claim 9 further includes a restriction mechanism that restricts relative movement between the first support part and the binding part on the one side, and the restriction mechanism causes the first support part to 2. The binding device according to claim 1, wherein movement with the binding portion on one side is relatively restricted.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the restriction mechanism is configured such that the first support portion is attached to the binding portion on the one side so as to be interlocked, and the predetermined fulcrum is provided at one end of the restriction mechanism, The other end of the restriction mechanism is provided with the first support portion and a transmission groove for transmitting the movement of the binding portion on the one side to the first support portion. This is a binding device.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the pair of binding portions move in a pressing direction having a component perpendicular to an entering / exiting direction in which a recording material or a recording material bundle enters and exits by another fulcrum, and the transmission groove is The binding device according to claim 10, wherein the binding device is formed along a direction having a component in the entry / exit direction.
The invention according to claim 12 is characterized in that the restriction mechanism further includes a restriction groove for restricting the movement of the binding portion on the one side before the first support portion contacts the recording material bundle. The binding device according to claim 9.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, when the first support portion presses the recording material bundle and the binding portion on the one side hits the recording material bundle, the restriction groove is on the one side. 13. The binding device according to claim 12, wherein movement of the binding portion to the downstream side in the entering / exiting direction, which is a direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters / exits, is restricted.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the first support portion retracts in a direction away from the recording material bundle when the binding portion on the one side hits the recording material bundle after pressing the recording material bundle. The binding device according to claim 12, wherein the binding device moves.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the restriction groove is provided so as to be connected to the transmission groove at an end portion rather than a transmission groove that transmits the movement of the binding portion on the one side to the first support portion. The binding device according to claim 12, wherein
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the restriction groove is formed along a direction having a component in a pressing direction which is a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a recording material or a recording material bundle enters and exits. A binding device according to claim 12.
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the transmission groove that transmits the movement of the binding portion on the one side to the first support portion is a direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters and exits from the restriction groove. Is formed on the downstream side of the transmission groove, the end of the transmission groove on the most upstream side in the entrance / exit direction is connected to the end of the restriction groove on the uppermost side in the pressing direction, and the binding portion on the one side is connected to the binding path. When moving toward the binding position along, the transmission groove restricts the movement in the pressing direction having the component in the pressing direction, and the restriction groove restricts the movement in the entering / exiting direction having the component in the entering / exiting direction. The binding device according to claim 16, wherein the binding device abuts against the recording material bundle.
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport unit that transports a recording material on which an image is formed, a storage unit that stores a recording material bundle including the recording material transported by the transport unit, and a storage unit A binding device that binds the stored recording material bundle, and the binding device is an image processing device configured by the binding device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording material bundle can be pressed by a mechanism having a simple configuration as compared with the sheet pressing portion that moves linearly in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle.
According to the invention of claim 2, the recording material bundle can be pressed in conjunction with the binding operation.
According to the invention of claim 3, even when the second support portion on the other side does not move or the amount of movement is smaller than that of the first support portion on the one side, the stability of the binding process can be improved. it can.
According to the invention of claim 4, the operation of pressing the recording material bundle from the lower side can be simplified.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the press of the recording material bundle can be interlocked with the binding operation.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the change in the angle at which the one end portion of the first support portion and the one end portion of the second support portion, which move to press the recording material bundle, face each other is changed between the first support portion and the first support portion. Compared to the case where the two support portions are the same fulcrum, the size can be reduced.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the movement of the support portion and the binding portion is not hindered.
According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the angle of the first support portion and the second support portion that move to press the recording material bundle with respect to the recording material bundle is bound to the fulcrum of the first support portion and the fulcrum of the second support portion. Compared with the case where it is on the downstream side of the fulcrum, it can be made more parallel.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the relative positions of the first support portion and the binding portion can be controlled more finely than in the case where no restriction mechanism is provided.
According to invention of Claim 10, a 1st support part and a binding part can be moved relatively.
According to invention of Claim 11, a 1st support part and a binding part can be moved relatively.
According to the invention of claim 12, after the recording material bundle is supported, the first support portion is not interlocked with the movement of the binding portion.
According to the invention of claim 13, even if the binding portion moves after the recording material bundle is supported, the first support portion is not moved in the loading / unloading direction.
According to the invention of claim 14, the support of the recording material bundle does not hinder the binding process.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the first support portion can be restricted in a manner that is continuous with the movement of the binding portion.
According to the invention of claim 16, after the recording material bundle is supported, the first support part is not interlocked with the movement of the binding part.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the relative movement from the exit / entry direction to the pressing direction can be realized during the pressing from the retreat.
According to the invention of claim 18, the binding process is performed after the recording material bundle is pressed by a mechanism having a simpler structure than the sheet pressing portion that moves linearly in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle on which the image is formed. An image processing apparatus can be provided.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the recording material processing system to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the post-processing apparatus to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the case where the binding processing apparatus with which this Embodiment is applied is seen from upper direction. It is a perspective view of the binding unit to which this embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the binding structure of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the location which contacts the recording material bundle of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the press structure of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the housing | casing of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the binding part in the other side of the thickness direction of the recording material bundle of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied, a 2nd support part, and the cleaning part. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the binding part in the thickness direction of the recording material bundle of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied, the 1st support part, and the cleaning part. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the structure of the 1st support part of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied, and a 2nd support part. It is a figure for demonstrating the initial state before the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied contacts a recording material bundle. It is a figure for demonstrating the state in which the cleaning part of the binding unit to which this Embodiment is applied cleans a binding part. To describe the state of the binding portion, the first support portion, the second support portion, and the cleaning portion immediately before the first support portion and the second support portion of the binding unit to which this embodiment is applied comes into contact with the recording material bundle. FIG. To describe the state of the binding portion, the first support portion, the second support portion, and the cleaning portion when the first support portion and the second support portion of the binding unit to which the exemplary embodiment is applied contact the recording material bundle. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Recording Material Processing System 200>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a recording material processing system 200 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied.
The recording material processing system 200 that functions as one of the image processing apparatuses includes an image forming apparatus 1 that forms an image on a recording material (sheet) such as paper in an image forming unit using an electrophotographic method, and the like. A post-processing device 2 is provided as a binding device that performs binding processing on a plurality of sheets on which images are formed by the forming device 1. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 or the post-processing apparatus 2 can be grasped as an image processing apparatus as a single unit, and the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 2 can be grasped as an image processing apparatus. Further, as described above, the post-processing apparatus 2 can be grasped as a single binding apparatus, and the image forming apparatus 1 and the post-processing apparatus 2 can be grasped as a binding apparatus. Furthermore, only the functional part that performs binding from the post-processing device 2 may be taken out and grasped as a binding device.

<Image forming apparatus 1>
The image forming apparatus 1 includes four image forming units 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K (also collectively referred to as “image forming unit 100”) that perform image formation based on each color image data. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a laser exposure device 101 that exposes the photosensitive drums 107 provided in the respective image forming units 100 and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt 102 onto which the toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming units 100 are transferred, and the color toner images formed by the image forming units 100 to the intermediate transfer belt. A primary transfer roll 103 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) to 102 is provided. Further, a secondary transfer roll 104 that batch-transfers (secondary transfer) each color toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 to a sheet, a fixing device 105 that fixes each secondary-transferred color toner image on the sheet, and an image. A main body control unit 106 that controls the operation of the forming apparatus 1 is provided.

In each image forming unit 100, charging of the photosensitive drum 107 and formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 107 are performed. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed, and a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107.
Each color toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 107 is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 by the primary transfer roll 103. Each color toner image is conveyed to a position where the secondary transfer roll 104 is installed as the intermediate transfer belt 102 moves.

The paper storage units 110 </ b> A to 110 </ b> D of the image forming apparatus 1 store different sizes and different types of paper. Then, for example, the paper is taken out from the paper storage unit 110 </ b> A by the pickup roll 111 and conveyed to the registration roll 113 by the conveyance roll 112.
Then, in accordance with the timing at which each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is conveyed to the secondary transfer roll 104, the opposite transfer portion (secondary transfer portion) where the secondary transfer roll 104 and the intermediate transfer belt 102 face each other. Thus, the sheet is supplied from the registration roll 113.
Each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is collectively electrostatically transferred (secondary transfer) onto the sheet by the action of the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 104.

Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image of each color is transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 102 and conveyed to the fixing device 105. In the fixing device 105, each color toner image is fixed on the sheet by a fixing process using heat and pressure, and an image is formed on the sheet.
The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged from the sheet discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 by the transport roll 114 and is supplied to the post-processing apparatus 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
The post-processing device 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 and performs post-processing such as punching and binding on the paper on which the image is formed.

<Post-processing device 2>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the post-processing device 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing device 2 that functions as one of the image processing devices includes a transport unit 21 connected to a paper discharge unit T of the image forming device 1, and a sheet conveyed by the transport unit 21. Is provided with a finisher unit 22 that performs predetermined processing. Various transport paths of the transport unit 21 and the finisher unit 22 function as one of transport units that transport the recording material on which an image is formed. Further, the conveyance path before and after the image formation of the image forming apparatus 1 also functions as one of the conveyance units.

  Further, the post-processing device 2 includes a paper processing control unit 23 (see FIG. 1) that controls each mechanism unit of the post-processing device 2. The paper processing control unit 23 is connected to the main body control unit 106 (see FIG. 1) via a signal line (not shown), and transmits and receives control signals and the like. Further, the post-processing device 2 includes a stacker unit 80 on which sheets (sheet bundles) that have been processed by the post-processing device 2 are stacked.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 21 of the post-processing apparatus 2 is provided with a punch function unit 30 that punches (punches) 2 holes or 4 holes. Further, the transport unit 21 is provided with a plurality of transport rolls 211 that transport the paper after the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1 toward the finisher unit 22.

  The finisher unit 22 is provided with a binding processing device 300 that performs a binding process on a sheet bundle as an example of a recording material bundle. The binding processing apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment performs binding processing on a bundle of sheets by interlacing fibers constituting the sheet without using staples (needles). Note that the binding processing device 300 can be grasped as one of the binding devices.

  The binding processing apparatus 300 is provided with a paper stacking unit 70 that supports paper from below and stacks a required number of sheets to generate a paper bundle. The sheet stacking unit 70 functions as one of storage units that store recording material bundles in which the recording materials conveyed by the conveyance unit are bundled. The binding processing apparatus 300 is provided with a binding unit 500 that performs a binding process on a sheet bundle. Note that the paper stacking unit 70 has a mode in which sheets are stored as a sheet bundle in addition to a mode in which sheets are stored one by one to store a sheet bundle.

  Further, the binding processing device 300 is provided with an unloading roll 71 and a moving roll 72. The carry-out roll 71 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing and sends the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit 70 to the stacker unit 80. The moving roll 72 is provided so as to be movable around the rotation shaft 72 a, and is located at a position retracted from the carry-out roll 71 when the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 70. Further, when the generated sheet bundle is sent to the stacker unit 80, it is pressed against the sheet bundle on the sheet stacking unit 70.

The post-processing device 2 executes the process for the sheet after the sheet processing control unit 23 receives an instruction signal to execute the process for the sheet from the main body control unit 106. Then, the post-processing device 2 first supplies the transport unit 21 with the paper on which image formation has been performed by the image forming device 1. In the transport unit 21, punching is performed by the punch function unit 30 in response to an instruction signal from the sheet processing control unit 23, and then the sheet is transported toward the finisher unit 22 by the transport roll 211. On the other hand, when there is no punching instruction from the paper processing control unit 23, the paper is sent to the finisher unit 22 without being punched by the punch function unit 30.
The sheet sent to the finisher unit 22 is conveyed to the sheet stacking unit 70 provided in the binding processing apparatus 300. Then, the sheet slides on the sheet stacking unit 70 using the inclination angle given to the sheet stacking unit 70, hits the sheet regulating unit 74 provided at the end of the sheet stacking unit 70, and stops. . When the sheet hits the sheet regulating unit 74, a sheet bundle in which the rear end portions of the sheets are aligned is generated on the sheet stacking unit 70. In the present embodiment, a rotating paddle 73 that moves the paper toward the paper restricting portion 74 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a view of the binding processing device 300 as viewed from above.
First moving members 81 are provided at both ends of the paper stacking unit 70 in the width direction.
The first moving member 81 presses the side edges of the sheets constituting the sheet bundle and aligns the positions of the end portions of the sheets constituting the sheet bundle. The first moving member 81 moves in the width direction of the sheet bundle and moves the sheet bundle in the width direction of the sheet bundle. When the sheets are stacked on the sheet stacking unit 70, the first moving member 81 is pressed against the side of the sheet, and the position of the side of the sheet is aligned. When the binding position of the sheet bundle is changed, the sheet bundle is pressed by the first moving member 81 and the sheet bundle moves in the width direction of the sheet bundle.

  Further, the binding processing apparatus 300 includes a second moving member 82 that moves in the vertical direction of the drawing and moves the sheet bundle in a direction orthogonal to the width direction of the sheet bundle, and the first moving member 81 and the second moving member 82. A moving motor M1 for movement is provided.

As indicated by an arrow 4A in FIG. 3, the binding unit 500 is provided to be movable in the width direction of the paper. The binding unit 500 performs a binding process (two-point binding process) at, for example, two points ((A) position and (B) position) located at different locations in the width direction of the sheet bundle.
Further, the binding unit 500 moves to the position (C) in FIG. 3 and performs a binding process (one-point binding) at the corner of the sheet bundle. The binding unit 500 moves linearly between the position (A) and the position (B), but the binding unit 500 rotates, for example, 45 ° between the position (A) and the position (C). Move with it.

  The sheet restricting portion 74 has a facing portion 70C that is disposed facing the bottom plate 70A. The facing portion 70C comes into contact with the uppermost sheet in the sheet bundle and regulates the movement of the sheet in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. Further, in the present embodiment, the binding process by the binding unit 500 is performed at a location where the paper regulation unit 74 and the second moving member 82 are not provided. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, between the paper restricting portion 74 and the second moving member 82 located on the left side of the drawing and between the paper restricting portion 74 and the second moving member 82 located on the right side of the drawing. , The binding process by the binding unit 500 is performed. Further, the binding process is performed at a location (corner portion of the sheet bundle) adjacent to the sheet regulation unit 74 on the right side of the drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 70A is provided with three notches 70D. Thereby, interference between the paper stacking unit 70 and the binding unit 500 can be avoided. Further, when the binding unit 500 moves, the second moving member 82 moves to a position indicated by reference numeral 4B in FIG. Thereby, interference with the binding unit 500 and the 2nd moving member 82 is avoided.

<Structure of the binding unit 500>
Next, the binding unit 500 to which this embodiment is applied will be described.
The binding unit 500 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied functions as a binding device that binds recording material bundles (paper bundles) without using a needle. For example, the sheet bundle is bound by pressing the sheet bundle of 2 to 10 sheets using the upper teeth and the lower teeth. At this time, in order to improve the stability of the binding process, it is necessary to move the sheet pressing portion in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle and to press the sheet bundle from the thickness direction before performing the binding process. However, in order to realize movement in the thickness direction in the sheet pressing portion, the sheet pressing portion needs to employ a complicated configuration, for example, a moving mechanism that moves a dedicated sheet pressing portion in the thickness direction.
In the binding unit 500 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied, the recording material bundle can be pressed from the thickness direction by a mechanism having a simple configuration as described later.

  First, the structure of the binding unit 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a binding unit 500 to which the present embodiment is applied. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the binding structure 50 of the binding unit 500, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the binding assisting unit 700 of the binding unit 500. 7 is a diagram for explaining the push-out link 60 in the binding structure 50 of the binding unit 500, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the housing 90 of the binding unit 500. Further, FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the upper contact portion 710 of the binding unit 500 and its surroundings, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the lower contact portion 720 of the binding unit 500 and its surroundings. FIG. 11 and FIG. 11 are conceptual diagrams for explaining the structures of the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720 of the binding unit 500.

As shown in FIG. 4, the binding unit 500 to which this embodiment is applied includes a binding structure 50 that binds a sheet bundle without a needle, and a sheet stacking unit 70 (see FIG. 2) before performing the binding operation of the binding structure 50. ) And the binding auxiliary unit 700 for cleaning paper dust attached to the binding structure 50 before and after performing the binding operation of the binding structure 50, and the operations of the binding structure 50 and the binding auxiliary unit 700. And a housing 90 that supports the binding structure 50, the binding assisting unit 700, and the driving unit 800.
In the following description, the width direction of the sheet bundle shown in FIG. 3 is simply referred to as “width direction”, and the thickness direction of the sheet bundle is described as “vertical direction”. Further, the transport direction of the transported sheet bundle will be referred to as “in / out direction”, and the direction in which the binding structure 50 presses the sheet bundle from one and the other in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle will be simply referred to as “pressing direction”. Here, the “pressing direction” is a direction when pressing in the “vertical direction”.

First, the binding structure 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.
The binding structure 50 has an upper tooth 61 at one end, an upper arm 51 for pressing and deforming the sheet bundle in the thickness direction, and a lower tooth 62 facing the upper tooth 61 at one end, and in the thickness direction. And a lower arm 52 for pressing and deforming the sheet bundle. The binding structure 50 includes a shaft arm 53 that connects the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52. Further, the binding structure 50 includes an extrusion link 60 that moves the lower arm 52 in the vertical direction. Here, the upper teeth 61 and / or the upper arms 51 function as binding portions on the upper side (one side), and the lower teeth 62 and / or the lower arms 52 serve as binding portions on the lower side (the other side). Function. Further, the shaft arm 53 functions as a binding portion fulcrum.
In the following description, an area where the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 press the sheet bundle is referred to as a “pressing area”, and the action point when the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 engage and press the sheet bundle to bind them. This will be described as “pressing action point”.

The upper arm 51 has one end portion 511 having upper teeth 61 and the other end portion 512 bent integrally from the one end portion 511 and extending in a C shape. Further, the upper arm 51 has a support portion 513 that supports the upper arm 51 in the vicinity of the bending point between the one end portion 511 and the other end portion 512 that are bent.
The other end portion 512 has a link connection hole 515 serving as a starting point for pushing out the lower arm 52 by the push-out link 60 toward the upper arm 51. A shaft lever lower 64 (described later) is inserted into the link connecting hole 515. The link connecting hole 515 and the shaft lever lower 64 serve as a starting point for the movement of the push-out link 60. In addition, the support portion 513 is provided with a rotation center hole 516 (see FIG. 9) serving as the rotation center of the upper arm 51.

The lower arm 52 has an arm structure and has one end 521 having lower teeth 62 and the other end 522 extending from the one end 521 in substantially one direction.
On the side of the one end 521 having the lower teeth 62, a recess 523 is provided to oppose the action point of the push link 60 for pushing the lower arm 52 toward the upper arm 51. A shaft lever upper 63 which will be described later is provided at the action point of the push-out link 60. The cross section of the recess 523 forms a curved shape having a diameter equal to or larger than that of the shaft lever upper 63. The lower arm 52 has a lower end 62 substantially vertically below the one end 521. Is provided. The recess 523 and the shaft lever upper 63 are action points of movement of the push-out link 60.

The other end 522 of the lower arm 52 is provided with a rotation center hole 526 serving as the rotation center of the lower arm 52, and coaxially with the rotation center hole 516 (see FIG. 9) serving as the rotation center of the upper arm 51. The lower arm 52 is rotatably held by the shaft arm 53. The shaft arm 53 has small-diameter portions 531 at both ends, and the small-diameter portions 531 are long hole-shaped notches provided in the casing 90 (the left guide 91 and the right guide 92). The arm guide 953) is engaged.
Thus, the shaft arm 53 is configured to be movable with a component of movement in the loading / unloading direction, which will be described later, and holds the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 so as to be movable in the loading / unloading direction (the direction in which the sheet bundle enters and leaves). ing.

  In the following description, a trajectory in which the upper arm 51 and the upper teeth 61 and the lower arm 52 and the lower teeth 62 move along the binding path by the movement of the shaft arm 53 is simply referred to as a “movement trajectory”. The movement of the upper arm 51 and the upper teeth 61 and the lower arm 52 and the lower teeth 62 along the binding path is referred to as a “pressing direction movement” as a movement in the pressing direction in which the sheet bundle is pressed. The movement in the entrance / exit direction with respect to the pressing area to be pressed will be described as “movement in / out direction”.

  Next, the push-out link 60 that operates with the link connecting hole 515 (see FIG. 5) provided in the upper arm 51 as a starting point will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.

  The push-out link 60 in the binding structure 50 moves the lower arm 52 in the vertical direction by the expansion and contraction operation of the lever 56 and the link 57. A spindle 58 is provided at a joint (joint) between the lever 56 and the link 57.

  The lever 56 includes a connecting portion 561 that is connected to the spindle 58 and a main body portion 562 that extends from the connecting portion 561. A contact surface 563 that comes into contact with a cam 54 described later is provided at one end of the main body 562, and a push-up portion 564 that pushes up the lower arm 52 is provided at the other end of the main body 562. A shaft lever upper 63 that contacts the lower arm 52 is attached to the push-up portion 564. The shaft lever upper 63 has a cylindrical shape, and a small-diameter portion 631 having a small diameter is formed at both ends, and a notch (not shown) provided in a guide member (a left guide 91 and a right guide 92 described later). It is engaged with a push-up guide 963) which will be described later. The shaft lever upper 63 having a cylindrical shape is in contact with the concave portion 523 (see FIG. 5) which is a curved shape of the lower arm 52, and has contact with the cylindrical shape and the curved shape. It is

  The link 57 has a connecting portion 571 connected to the spindle 58 at one end, and a starting point connecting portion 572 connected to the link connecting hole 515 of the upper arm 51 by the shaft lever lower 64 at the other end. The starting point connecting portion 572 functions as a starting point of the pushing link 60 that is a pushing portion, and the shaft lever upper 63 functions as an operating point of the pushing link 60. The push-out link 60 that is a push-out portion pushes the one end 521 of the lower arm 52 toward the one end 511 of the upper arm 51 by changing the distance from the starting point that is the starting point of the push to the action point.

  The spindle 58 has a cylindrical shape, and plate-like portions 581 having flat portions provided at both ends thereof are formed in notches (spindle guide 958) provided in guide members (left guide 91 and right guide 92). Is engaged.

  The shaft lever lower 64 that connects the upper arm 51 and the push-out link 60 has a cylindrical shape, and small diameter portions 641 are provided at both ends of the cylinder, and are provided in the guide members (the left guide 91 and the right guide 92). It engages with a notch (lower guide 964).

Next, the binding assisting unit 700 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6.
The binding auxiliary unit 700 includes an upper contact portion 710 that presses the sheet bundle from above in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle, and a lower contact portion 720 that supports the sheet bundle from below in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. The upper contact portion 710 is provided with an upper tooth cleaning portion 810 that cleans the upper teeth 61, and the lower contact portion 720 is provided with a lower tooth cleaning portion 820 that cleans the lower teeth 62. The upper tooth cleaning unit 810 is attached to the upper contact portion 710 so that the direction of the cleaning tip has an upper component, and the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is the lower contact portion 720 so that the direction of the cleaning tip has a lower component. Is attached.

  The upper contact portion 710 can be interlocked with the movement of the upper arm 51 and is slidably connected to the upper arm 51 by an upper connecting portion 750 fixed to the upper arm 51. Further, the other end of the upper contact portion 710 is provided to be rotatable with respect to a hole (guide 971) provided in the guide member (the left guide 91 and the right guide 92) by the rotation center shaft 717.

  Further, the lower contact portion 720 can be interlocked with the movement of the lower arm 52 and slidably connected to the lower arm 52 by a lower connecting portion 770 fixed to the lower arm 52. . The other end of the lower contact portion 720 is provided to be rotatable with respect to a hole (guide 972) provided in the guide member (the left guide 91 and the right guide 92) by the rotation center shaft 727.

Next, the housing 90 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8.
The housing 90 is disposed on the outer side of each of the left guide 91 and the right guide 92 that guide the movement of each structure of the binding unit 500, and the left guide 91 and the right guide 92. A right housing 94 is provided.

  The left guide 91 and the right guide 92 have a spindle guide 958 that guides the movement of the plate-like portion 581 of the spindle 58 and a push-up guide 963 that guides the movement of the small diameter portion 631 of the shaft lever upper 63. Further, a lower guide 964 for guiding the movement of the small diameter portion 641 of the shaft lever lower 64 and an arm guide 953 for guiding the movement of the small diameter portion 531 of the shaft arm 53 are provided. Further, a guide 971 that rotatably supports the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710 and a guide 972 that rotatably supports the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower contact portion 720 are provided. Further, cam rotation shaft holes 959 and 969 that rotatably support a rotation shaft of the cam 54 described later are provided.

  The spindle guide 958, the push-up guide 963, the lower guide 964, and the arm guide 953 have a shape of a long hole, and allow a member to move in a direction along the shape of the long hole. Each elongated hole has an entry / exit direction component and / or a pressing direction (vertical direction) component. However, the push-up guide 963 and the lower guide 964 particularly allow the movement of the component of the vertical direction component, and the spindle guide 958. In particular, the arm guide 953 allows the movement of the component in the direction of entry / exit.

  The guide 971 and the guide 972 are circular holes, the guide 971 rotatably supports the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710, and the guide 972 can rotate the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower contact portion 720. I support it. In the present embodiment, the guide 971 and the guide 972 are formed in the vicinity of the arm guide 953. Specifically, the guide 971 is formed between both ends of the arm guide 953 above the arm guide 953 and in the entrance / exit direction, and the guide 972 is below the arm guide 953 and at the entrance / exit direction of the arm guide 953. It is formed on the upstream side of the most upstream end. Therefore, the rotation center shaft 717 and the rotation center shaft 727 (rotation fulcrum) engaged with the arm guide 953 are shafts when the shaft arm 53 (pressing fulcrum) is located on the most downstream side of the arm guide 953 in and out. It is located upstream of the arm 53 in the entrance / exit direction.

  Thus, the upper abutment portion 710 and the lower abutment portion 720 that rotate by the guides 971 and 972 that are circular holes are the upper arm 51 and the lower arm that are moved by the arm guide 953 having the shape of a long hole. 52 has a different movement trajectory. As a result, the upper abutment portion 710 and the lower abutment portion 720 to which a cleaning unit described later is attached are different from the movement locus of the binding portion having the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62. The upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 can be cleaned using the difference in the movement trajectory.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drive unit 800 includes a motor 83 serving as a drive source and gears 84 that transmit the drive. Further, the binding unit 500 includes a cam 54 for generating a non-uniform motion and a rotating shaft that transmits a driving force obtained from the motor 83 via the gears 84 to the cam 54. In the present embodiment, the cam 54 contacts the shaft arm 53 and the push-out link 60 (the contact surface 563 of the lever 56), and these perform a predetermined motion according to the shape of the cam 54.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cam 54 has two eccentric cams having different outer diameter shapes in the width direction (thickness direction of the cam 54) formed on the same axis. The two eccentric cams have a cam valley portion having a common eccentric amount and a cam crest portion having a different eccentric amount.

<Further detailed description of the binding assistant 700>
Next, the configuration of the binding assisting unit 700 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, 9 and 10.
The upper contact portion 710 constituting the binding assisting portion 700 functions as a first support portion that supports the sheet bundle from above (one side) and also functions as a restriction mechanism. The upper abutting portion 710 has an arm structure, and supports one end portion 711 that supports the upper tooth cleaning portion 810, the other end portion 712 extending from the one end portion 711 in one direction, the one end portion 711, and the other end portion. And a central portion 713 for connecting 712. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper contact portion 710 is provided with a notch 714 that allows the vertical movement of the binding structure 50 in the center portion in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 functions as a first support portion that supports the sheet bundle from above (one side) so that the sheet bundle can be pressed from above. A plane extending in the width direction and the entrance / exit direction is formed. An upper tooth cleaning unit 810 is provided on the downstream side of the one end portion 711 in the exit / entry direction, and a notch 715 is provided on the upstream side in the exit / entry direction of the one end portion 711 to allow the upper teeth 61 to move in the vertical direction. ing.

  The other end 712 of the upper contact portion 710 is provided with a rotation center shaft 717 serving as a rotation center (rotation fulcrum) of the upper contact portion 710. The rotation center shaft 717 functions as a predetermined fulcrum (rotation fulcrum) of the upper contact portion 710 (first support portion).

  Here, the upper contact portion 710 is not formed in a straight line from the one end portion 711 toward the other end portion 712, but the central portion 713 has a plurality of bending points and is formed in a substantially M shape. ing. An interlocking groove 730 is formed in the upstream portion (portion close to the one end portion 711) of the central portion 713 in the exit / entry direction. The upper connecting portion 750 is fixed to one end 511 of the upper arm 51, and a small diameter portion 751 having a cylindrical shape provided in the upper connecting portion 750 is inserted into the interlocking groove 730. Thus, the upper contact portion 710 is connected to the upper arm 51 so as to be interlocked with the movement of the upper arm 51.

  The interlocking groove 730 extends from the mounting groove 731 to the one end 711 side (upstream side in the exit / entry direction) from the mounting groove 731, which is a groove for inserting the small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750, and this one end 711. A parallel groove 732 which is a groove formed substantially parallel to a plane extending in the direction of entering and exiting, and extending along the direction having a component in the pressing direction by bending from the parallel groove 732 on the one end 711 side. And an orthogonal groove 733 which is a groove formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of 711. Here, the interlocking groove 730 functions as a restriction mechanism. Moreover, the parallel groove 732 functions as a transmission groove, and the orthogonal groove 733 functions as a restriction groove.

  The small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750 moves along the mounting groove 731 of the interlocking groove 730, the parallel groove 732, and the orthogonal groove 733. Similarly to the movement of the small diameter portion 751, the one end portion 511 and the upper teeth 61 of the upper arm 51 move. When the one end portion 511 and the upper teeth 61 of the upper arm 51 move along the parallel groove 732, the movement in the pressing direction having a component in the pressing direction is restricted by the parallel groove 732. In addition, the small diameter portion 751 enters the orthogonal groove 733 from the parallel groove 732 and moves along the orthogonal groove 733, which means that the component in the exit direction of the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51 and the upper teeth 61. It is equivalent to the movement in the entering / exiting direction being restricted by the orthogonal groove 733.

  Thereafter, the upper teeth 61 of the upper arm 51 move to reach the binding position and abut against the sheet bundle. At this time, the small diameter portion 751 along the orthogonal groove 733 is at the lowermost end of the orthogonal groove 733. However, it is located in the middle position of the orthogonal groove 733 having a margin, that is, between the uppermost end and the lowermost end of the orthogonal groove 733 in the pressing direction. For this reason, when the upper teeth 61 abut against the sheet bundle, there is an allowance for the upper abutting portion 710 that has been in contact with the sheet bundle before that to move away from the sheet bundle (upward in the pressing direction). ing. That is, when the upper teeth 61 are strongly pressed against the sheet bundle, the periphery of the pressed portion of the sheet bundle is lifted and a lifting force is also applied to the upper contact portion 710, but there is a margin in the length of the orthogonal groove 733. Therefore, the upper contact portion 710 can be lifted and the upper teeth 61 can be prevented from being pressed.

  The lower contact portion 720 functions as a second support portion that supports the sheet bundle from below (the other side) and also functions as a restriction mechanism. The lower contact portion 720 has an arm structure, and includes an end portion 721 that supports the lower tooth cleaning portion 820, an other end portion 722 that extends in one direction from the one end portion 721, and one end portion 721 and the other end portion 722. And a central portion 723 to be connected. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower contact portion 720 is provided with a notch 724 that allows the binding structure 50 to move in the vertical direction at the center in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720 functions as a second support portion that supports the sheet bundle from below (the other side), so that the sheet bundle can be pressed from below. A plane extending in the width direction and the entrance / exit direction is formed. A lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is provided on the downstream side of the one-end portion 721 in the exit / entry direction, and a notch 725 that allows the lower teeth 62 to move in the vertical direction is provided on the upstream side of the one-end portion 721 in the exit / entry direction. ing.

  A rotation center shaft 727 serving as a rotation center (rotation fulcrum) of the lower contact portion 720 is provided at the other end portion 722 of the lower contact portion 720. The rotation center shaft 727 functions as a predetermined fulcrum (rotation fulcrum) of the lower contact portion 720 (second support portion).

  An interlocking groove 740 is formed in the central portion 723 of the lower abutting portion 720 in the upstream portion (portion close to the one end portion 721) in the entrance / exit direction. The lower connecting portion 770 is fixed to one end 521 of the lower arm 52, and a small diameter portion 771 having a cylindrical shape provided in the lower connecting portion 770 is inserted into the interlocking groove 740. As a result, the lower contact portion 720 is connected to the lower arm 52 so as to be interlocked with the movement of the lower arm 52.

  The interlocking groove 740 includes a mounting groove 741 that is a groove for inserting the small-diameter portion 771 of the lower connecting portion 770, a plane that extends from the mounting groove 741 toward the one end 721, and extends in the direction in which the one end 721 enters and exits. A parallel groove 742 which is a groove formed substantially in parallel, and a groove which is bent and extends from the parallel groove 742 on the one end 721 side and which is formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the one end 721. And an orthogonal groove 743. Here, the interlocking groove 740 functions as a restriction mechanism. The parallel grooves 742 function as transmission grooves, and the orthogonal grooves 743 function as restriction grooves.

  The small diameter portion 771 (the one end portion 521 and the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52) of the lower connecting portion 770 moves along the attachment groove 741, the parallel groove 742, and the orthogonal groove 743 of the interlocking groove 740. Similar to the movement of the small diameter portion 771, the one end 521 and the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52 move. Then, when the one end 521 and the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52 move along the parallel groove 742, movement in the pressing direction having a component in the pressing direction is restricted by the parallel groove 742. Further, the small-diameter portion 771 enters the orthogonal groove 743 from the parallel groove 742 and moves along the orthogonal groove 743. This means that the components in the exit direction of the one end portion 521 and the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52 are reduced. It is equivalent to having the movement in the entrance / exit direction restricted by the orthogonal groove 743.

  Thereafter, the lower teeth 62 of the lower arm 52 move to reach the binding position and abut against the sheet bundle. At this time, the small diameter portion 771 along the orthogonal groove 743 is at the uppermost end of the orthogonal groove 743. In other words, it is located at an intermediate position of the orthogonal groove 743 having a margin, that is, between the uppermost end and the lowermost end of the orthogonal groove 743 in the pressing direction. For this reason, when the lower teeth 62 abut against the sheet bundle, there is an allowance for the lower contact portion 720 that has been in contact with the sheet bundle before that to move away from the sheet bundle (downward in the pressing direction). ing. That is, when the lower teeth 62 are strongly pressed against the sheet bundle, the periphery of the pressed portion of the sheet bundle is lifted and a lifting force is also applied to the lower contact portion 720, but there is a margin in the length of the orthogonal groove 743. Therefore, the downward contact portion 720 is allowed to move downward due to the lifting of the sheet bundle, and the pressing by the lower teeth 62 is not hindered.

<Configuration of Upper Teeth Cleaning Unit 810 and Lower Teeth Cleaning Unit 820>
The upper tooth cleaning part 810 has a tip 811 for cleaning the upper teeth 61 and an attachment end 812 for attachment to one end 711 of the upper contact part 710. In the present embodiment, the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 is formed by a brush structure, and the tip 811 of the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 faces upward and has a tooth pattern having teeth extending downward and parallel to the entrance / exit direction. The upper teeth 61 to be formed are cleaned. At the time of cleaning, the tip 811 of the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 having a brush structure is bent by contact with the upper teeth 61, and paper dust attached to the upper teeth 61 is removed.
The upper tooth cleaning unit 810 is located upstream of the upper teeth 61 in the direction of entering and exiting before the sheet bundle is conveyed and the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 are open. Then, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 come into contact with the upper teeth 61 during the binding operation. Thereafter, when the sheet bundle is pressed by the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720, the upper contact portion 61 is positioned downstream of the upper teeth 61.

The lower tooth cleaning part 820 has a tip 821 for cleaning the lower teeth 62 and an attachment end 822 for attachment to one end 721 of the lower contact part 720. In the present embodiment, the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is formed by a brush structure, and the tip 821 of the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 faces downward and has a tooth pattern having teeth extending upward and parallel to the entrance / exit direction. The lower teeth 62 to be formed are cleaned. At the time of cleaning, the tip 821 of the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 having a brush structure is bent by the contact with the lower teeth 62, and paper dust attached to the lower teeth 62 is removed.
The lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is located upstream of the lower teeth 62 in the exit / entry direction when the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 are open before the sheet bundle is conveyed. Then, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 come into contact with the lower teeth 62 during the binding operation. Thereafter, when the sheet bundle is pressed by the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720, the upper contact portion 710 is positioned downstream of the lower teeth 62 in the exit / entry direction.

  In the present embodiment, the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 and the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 are formed by a brush structure. However, instead of the brush structure, for example, a sheet metal structure in which a bend is formed according to a tooth shape is formed. You can also According to this sheet metal structure, when cleaning, the tip 811 of the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 bites into the upper teeth 61 according to the shape of the teeth of the upper teeth 61, whereby the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 adheres to the upper teeth 61. The powder is removed, and the tip 821 of the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 bites into the lower teeth 62 in accordance with the shape of the teeth of the lower teeth 62, whereby the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 removes the paper dust attached to the lower teeth 62.

<Configuration of the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720>
Next, the configuration of the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720 will be described with reference to FIG.
The rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710, that is, the fulcrum of the upper contact portion 710, is positioned by a guide 971 that is a circular hole provided in the housing 90 (see FIG. 4). As described above, the guide 971 is formed above the arm guide 953 and between both ends of the arm guide 953 in the entrance / exit direction, and the rotation center axis 717 of the upper contact portion 710 (the fulcrum of the upper contact portion 710). ) Is in the same positional relationship as the guide 971.
The position of the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is moved on a partial arc of a circle having the rotation center axis 717 as the center and R1 as the radius by the rotation of the upper contact portion 710. As shown in FIG. 11, R1 is the center of the plane of the one end 711 that contacts and presses the sheet bundle from the rotation center shaft 717 (hereinafter, the center of the plane of the one end 711 is simply referred to as “one end 711”). ).

Similarly, the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower contact portion 720, that is, the fulcrum of the lower contact portion 720, is positioned by a guide 972 that is a circular hole provided in the housing 90 (see FIG. 4). Yes. As described above, the guide 972 is formed below the arm guide 953 and on the upstream side of the most upstream end of the arm guide 953 in the entrance / exit direction. The fulcrum of the contact portion 720 is also in the same positional relationship as the guide 972.
The position of the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 is moved on a partial arc of a circle centered on the rotation center axis 727 and having a radius of R2 by the rotation of the lower contact portion 720. As shown in FIG. 11, R2 is the center of the plane of the one end 721 that contacts and presses the sheet bundle from the rotation center shaft 727 (hereinafter, the center of the plane of the one end 721 is simply referred to as “one end 721”). ). R2 is shorter than R1.

Next, the positional relationship between the one end 711 of the upper abutting portion 710 and the one end 721 of the lower abutting portion 720 will be described in detail by dividing the initial state and the pressing state for pressing the sheet bundle.
Here, the initial state means that the shaft arm 53 is located on the most downstream side in the direction of entering and exiting the arm guide 953 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Is the maximum state. Further, as shown in the broken line in FIG. 11, the presser state means that the shaft arm 53 is located on the most upstream side in the direction of entering and exiting the arm guide 953, and the one end 711 and the lower contact portion 720 of the upper contact portion 710. The one end 721 of the sheet is in a state where the sheet bundle is pressed from both sides in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle.

  In the initial state, both the rotation center shaft 717 and the rotation center shaft 727 are located upstream of the shaft arm 53. Further, the flat surface of the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is inclined upward. Here, the inclination rate of the flat surface of the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is H1 / D1. H1 is the distance in the vertical direction from the initial state of the one end 711 to the presser state when the inclination rate is determined. Further, D1 is a distance in the exit / entry direction of the one end 711 when the plane of the one end 711 in the initial state is extended when the inclination rate is determined. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, D1 is longer than H1, and D1 is about four times H1. Therefore, the value of H1 / D1 is about 1/4, and the angle θ1 (inclination rate) at which the one end 711 inclines from the shaft arm 53 is about 14 ° with respect to the exit / entry direction. The inclination rate of about 14 ° can be interpreted as being small for securing the opening size H1 by the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710. That is, the inclination rate of the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is formed to be small, and the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is relatively parallel to the exit / entry direction.

  In addition, one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720 is inclined downward. At this time, the inclination rate of the one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720 is set to H2 / D2. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, D2 is formed to be extremely long compared to H2, for example, D2 is about 65 times H2. Therefore, the value of H2 / D2, which is the inclination rate of the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720, is close to 0, and the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is substantially parallel to the exit / entry direction.

  On the other hand, in the presser state, the shaft arm 53 moves to the upstream side in the entrance / exit direction. In this moved state, the rotation center shaft 717 is located on the downstream side of the shaft arm 53, and the rotation center shaft 727 is located on the upstream side of the shaft arm 53. Further, the plane of the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 and the plane of the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 press the sheet bundle in a state parallel to the loading / unloading direction.

  In the process of shifting from the initial state to the presser state, the flat surface of the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is changed from a state almost parallel to the entering / exiting direction, and the flat surface of the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 is The presser state is changed from a state that is extremely parallel to the entering / exiting direction. Therefore, although the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 and the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 approach each other due to the rotational movement, the two flat portions are in a state of being nearly parallel to the exit / entry direction. The sheet bundle can be pressed while keeping it.

  Here, the vertical movement amount H2 at the one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720 is smaller than the vertical movement amount H1 at the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710. Therefore, the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710 is provided downstream of the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower contact portion 720 in the entrance / exit direction. In other words, at one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 and one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720, the pressing position in the entering / exiting direction is the same, and the length R2 of the lower contact portion 720 is the upper contact portion 710. It is configured to be shorter than the length R1.

Furthermore, in order to make the initial state of the one end 711 of the upper abutting portion 710 nearly parallel to the exit / entry direction, it is necessary to reduce the inclination rate (H1 / D1) of the one end 711. To that end, it is necessary to lower H1 and / or lengthen D1.
Here, as described above, the movement of the one end 711 of the upper abutting portion 710 is interlocked with the movement of the one end 511 of the upper arm 51, and the movement of the one end 511 of the upper arm 51 is coupled to the shaft. This is done by moving the arm 53. For this reason, the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 moves in conjunction with the movement of the shaft arm 53. Therefore, in order to shorten the above H1, in the initial state, it is preferable to dispose the shaft arm 53 on the downstream side of the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710 in the entrance / exit direction.
Further, by increasing D1, the plane of the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 is moved along the thickness direction of the sheet bundle from a state that is more parallel to the loading / unloading direction, and from above in the thickness direction to below. The sheet bundle can be pressed toward

<Operation of the binding unit 500>
Next, the operation of the binding unit 500 to which this exemplary embodiment is applied will be described.
The operation of the binding unit 500 is performed by the movement of the cam 54 that receives the drive of the motor 83 via the gears 84 under the control of the paper processing control unit 23. In the present embodiment, the movement of the binding unit 500, that is, the movement of the binding structure 50 and the binding auxiliary portion 700 is possible by the rotation of the single cam by the cam 54.

  Specifically, the cam 54 comes into contact with the shaft arm 53 and the pushing link 60 by the rotation of the cam 54. In this process, the cam 54 first comes into contact with the shaft arm 53, and the shaft arm 53 moves from the downstream side to the upstream side of the arm guide 953 (see FIG. 8) in accordance with the shape change of the cam 54. By this movement, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move from the retracted position to the protruding position (binding position), that is, move from the downstream side to the upstream side in the loading / unloading direction. Thereafter, the cam 54 is released from contact with the shaft arm 53 and starts to contact the push-out link 60. By the contact with the push-out link 60, the push-out link 60 extends from the compressed state, and the lower teeth 62 attached to the lower arm 52 are pushed out toward the upper teeth 61 attached to the upper arm 51. On the other hand, the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51 to which the upper teeth 61 are attached is pushed toward the lower arm 52 as the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51 moves downward by the movement of the shaft lever lower 64. . In this manner, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move in the vertical direction.

<Operation of Binding Assistant 700>
Next, the operation of the binding assisting unit 700 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12-1 to 12-4. FIG. 12A is a diagram for explaining an initial state before the binding assisting unit 700 comes into contact with the sheet bundle, and FIG. 12B is an upper tooth cleaning unit 810 and a lower tooth cleaning unit of the binding assisting unit 700. FIG. 820 is a view for explaining a state where 820 cleans upper teeth 61 and lower teeth 62. 12C is a diagram for explaining the state of each component of the binding assisting portion 700 immediately before the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720 of the binding assisting portion 700 come into contact with the sheet bundle. 12-4 is a diagram for explaining each component of the binding assisting portion 700 when the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720 of the binding assisting portion 700 are in contact with the sheet bundle.

  The binding assisting unit 700 is interlocked with the movement of the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 described above. In the initial state of the binding assisting portion 700 before the rotation of the cam 54, the peak portion (long diameter portion) of the cam 54 is in contact with the shaft arm 53, as shown in FIG. The push link 60 is not in contact. In this initial state, the shaft arm 53 is pressed against the cam 54, and the shaft arm 53 is positioned on the most downstream side in the direction in which the arm guide 953 enters and exits. Therefore, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 supported by the shaft arm 53 are also in the most retracted position in the entry / exit direction.

  Further, since the peak portion (long-diameter portion) of the cam 54 is not in contact with the push-out link 60, the push-out link 60 is in the most compressed state. At this time, since the lower arm 52 is not in contact with the push-out link 60, the lower arm 52 is located at the lowest position of its own movable range. On the other hand, at this time, the shaft lever lower 64 (the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51) is positioned on the uppermost side in the vertical direction of the lower guide 964, and the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51 also has its own movable range. It is located on the uppermost side. In this way, the opening of the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 is maximized.

  Further, at this time, the upper contact portion 710 connected to the upper arm 51 is located at the uppermost side of its movable range together with the upper arm 51. Further, since the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710 does not move in the loading / unloading direction and the vertical direction, the upper connecting portion is positioned with the shaft arm 53 positioned at the most downstream end in the loading / unloading direction of the arm guide 953. The small diameter portion 751 of 750 is also located on the most downstream side of the parallel groove 732 of the upper contact portion 710. And the one end 711 of the upper contact part 710 is located in the most upstream side of the exit / entry direction with respect to the upper tooth 61 (one end 511). In this case, the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 attached to the one end 711 is located upstream of the upper teeth 61 attached to the one end 511 of the upper arm 51. At this time, before the cleaning is started, the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 does not contact the upper teeth 61.

  Similarly, at this time, the lower contact portion 720 connected to the lower arm 52 is located at the lowest side of its movable range together with the lower arm 52. Further, since the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower abutting portion 720 does not move in the loading / unloading direction and the vertical direction, the lower connecting portion is positioned with the shaft arm 53 positioned at the most downstream end in the loading / unloading direction of the arm guide 953. The small diameter portion 771 of 770 is also located on the most downstream side of the parallel groove 742 of the lower contact portion 720. And the one end 721 of the downward contact part 720 is located in the most upstream side of the entrance / exit direction with respect to the lower tooth 61 (one end 521). In this case, the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 attached to the one end 721 is located upstream of the lower teeth 62 attached to the one end 521 of the lower arm 52. In addition, this time is before starting cleaning, and the lower tooth cleaning part 820 does not contact the lower teeth 62.

  Thereafter, the rotation of the cam 54 changes the contact position between the cam 54 and the shaft arm 53 as shown in FIG. 12B, and the shaft arm 53 moves along the arm guide 953 to the upstream side of the arm guide 953 in and out direction. Move towards. Then, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move along the binding path. Specifically, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move toward the upstream side from the most retracted state in the entry / exit direction, and the distance between both faces gradually decreases. At that time, the cam 54 is not in contact with the push-out link 60, and the lower arm 52 is not in contact with the push-out link 60.

  At this time, since the rotation center shaft 717 of the upper contact portion 710 does not move in the loading / unloading direction and the vertical direction, when the upper arm 51 moves toward the upstream side in the loading / unloading direction, the small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750 is obtained. Moves along the parallel groove 732 of the upper contact portion 710 toward the upstream side of the parallel groove 732, and the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 slides relative to the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51. To do. At this time, since the upper tooth cleaning part 810 is attached to the one end 711 of the upper contact part 710, the direction in which the upper and lower teeth 61 attached to the one end 511 of the upper arm 51 enter in the exit / entry direction. Slides relatively from the upstream side to the downstream side, contacts the upper teeth 61, and further slides. In the process in which the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 and the upper tooth 61 come into contact with each other and further slide, the tip 811 of the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 contacts the upper tooth 61 and the tip 811 is bent to clean the upper tooth 61. .

  Similarly, since the rotation center shaft 727 of the lower contact portion 720 does not move in the loading / unloading direction and the vertical direction, when the lower arm 52 moves toward the upstream side in the loading / unloading direction, the small diameter portion 771 of the lower connection portion 770 becomes The lower contact portion 720 moves along the parallel groove 742 toward the upstream side of the parallel groove 742, and the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 slides relative to the one end portion 521 of the lower arm 52. At this time, since the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is attached to the one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720, the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 slides relative to the lower tooth 62 attached to the one end 521 of the lower arm 52. Then, it comes into contact with the lower teeth 62 and slides further. In the process of further sliding movement in contact with the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 and the lower tooth 62, the tip 821 of the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 contacts the lower tooth 62, and the tip 821 is bent to clean the lower tooth 62.

  Thereafter, the rotation of the cam 54 further changes the contact position between the cam 54 and the shaft arm 53, as shown in FIG. 12C, and the shaft arm 53 moves further along the arm guide 953 in the direction of the arm guide 953. Move to the side. The upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 also move toward the upstream side from the position shown in FIG. 12-2, and the distance between both faces becomes further shorter.

  Further, when the upper arm 51 moves toward the upstream side in the entrance / exit direction, the small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750 that is integral with the upper arm 51 is parallel to the parallel groove 732 along the parallel groove 732 of the upper contact portion 710. It moves toward the upstream side of the entrance / exit direction. For this reason, the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 continues to slide relative to the one end 511 of the upper arm 51. Therefore, the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 attached to the one end 711 continues to slide relative to the upper tooth 61 attached to the one end 511 of the upper arm 51, and moves relative to the upper tooth 61. The state transitions from the contact state to the separated state, and the cleaning of the upper teeth 61 before the binding processing of the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 is completed.

  Similarly, when the lower arm 52 moves toward the upstream side in the entry / exit direction, the small-diameter portion 771 of the lower connecting portion 770 that is integral with the lower arm 52 becomes parallel to the parallel groove 742 of the lower contact portion 720. It further moves toward the upstream side of the entrance / exit direction of 742. For this reason, the one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720 continues to slide relative to the one end 521 of the lower arm 52. Therefore, the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 attached to the one end 721 continues to slide relative to the lower teeth 62 attached to the one end 521 of the lower arm 52, and moves relative to the lower teeth 62. The state transitions from the contact state to the separated state, and the cleaning of the lower teeth 62 before the binding processing of the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 is completed.

  Thereafter, by further rotation of the cam 54, as shown in FIG. 12-4, the peak portion (long-diameter portion) of the cam 54 is not in contact with the shaft arm 53, and the shaft arm 53 moves in and out of the arm guide 953. The upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 are most projected to the upstream side in the entrance / exit direction. On the other hand, the peak portion (long-diameter portion) of the cam 54 comes into contact with the push-out link 60, and the push-out link 60 shifts from the compressed state to the stretched state due to the contact between the cam 54 and the push-out link 60. The lower arm 52 is connected (contacted) to the lower arm 52, and then the lower arm 52 is pushed upward by continuing the extension operation. In the middle of extension after the push-out link 60 is connected (contacted) with the lower arm 52, the lower contact portion 720 moves in the upward direction (the lower surface of the sheet bundle) in conjunction with the lower arm 52. .

When the push-out link 60 extends, at this timing, the shaft lever lower 64 (the other end portion 512 of the upper arm 51) moves downward in the vertical direction of the lower guide 964, and one end portion of the upper arm 51 is moved. 511 also moves downward. In the downward movement process of the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51, the upper contact portion 710 moves in the downward direction (the upper surface of the sheet bundle) in conjunction with the upper arm 51.
Then, by further rotation of the cam 54, the one end portion 711 of the upper contact portion 710 and the one end portion 721 of the lower contact portion 720 are connected to the upper tooth 61 and the lower arm 52 attached to the one end portion 511 of the upper arm 51. Prior to the lower teeth 62 attached to the one end 521 of the sheet, the sheet is brought into contact with the sheet bundle and pressed.

  In this case, the small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750 enters the orthogonal groove 733 from the parallel groove 732 of the upper contact portion 710, and the pressing direction has a component in the pressing direction by the parallel groove 732 of the small diameter portion 751. The restriction of movement is eliminated by the orthogonal groove 733. That is, the restriction of the pressing direction of the upper contact portion 710 is canceled by the small diameter portion 751, and the upper contact portion 710 presses the sheet bundle by its own weight.

Thereafter, when the rotation of the cam 54 continues, the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 (the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52) further close the opening from the middle of the extension of the push-out link 60 to the most extended state. That is, the upper teeth 61 move downward and the lower teeth 62 move upward.
When the upper teeth 61 (upper arm 51) move downward, the small diameter portion 751 of the upper connecting portion 750 moves along the orthogonal groove 733 of the upper contact portion 710. As a result, the upper teeth 61 further move toward the sheet bundle while the upper contact portion 710 is in contact with the sheet bundle. Then, the upper teeth 61 move further downward, pass through the notch 715 (see FIG. 6) formed in the one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710, and start the binding operation of the sheet bundle.

Similarly, when the lower teeth 62 (lower arm 52) move upward, the small diameter portion 771 of the lower connecting portion 770 moves along the orthogonal groove 743 of the lower contact portion 720. As a result, the lower teeth 62 further move toward the sheet bundle while the lower contact portion 720 is in contact with the sheet bundle. Then, the lower teeth 62 further move upward, pass through a notch 725 (see FIG. 6) formed in one end 721 of the lower contact portion 720, and start the binding operation of the sheet bundle.
Thereafter, the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 are engaged with each other by further rotation of the cam 54, and the sheet bundle is pressed and bound. Further, when the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 abut against the sheet bundle, one end 711 of the upper contact portion 710 receives a part of the sheet bundle lifted by the pressure from the upper teeth 61, that is, the sheet. Receiving the lifting force from the peripheral part of the pressed part of the bundle, the sheet is retracted in the direction away from the sheet bundle (above the pressing direction).
Similarly, as the one end 711 of the upper abutting portion 710 is retracted, the one end 721 of the lower abutting portion 720 is a part of the sheet bundle lifted by the pressure from the lower teeth 62, that is, the sheet bundle. In response to the lifting force from the peripheral portion of the pressed position, the sheet is retracted in a direction away from the sheet bundle (downward in the pressing direction).

  After the binding operation for the sheet bundle is finished in this way, when the cam 54 further rotates, the contact position between the cam 54 and the push-out link 60 changes, and the push-out link 60 starts to shift from the expanded state to the compressed state. And the press with the upper tooth 61 and the lower tooth 62 is cancelled | released, and it returns to the state of FIGS. 12-3. Thereafter, when the cam 54 continues to rotate, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move to the downstream side in the entrance / exit direction, and the state shown in FIG. spread. At this time, when the upper teeth 61 and the lower teeth 62 are retracted to the downstream side in the entrance / exit direction, the upper teeth 61 and the upper teeth cleaning unit 810 come into contact with each other, and the upper teeth cleaning unit 810 contacts the upper teeth 61. On the other hand, the tip 811 of the upper tooth cleaning unit 810 comes into contact with the upper teeth 61 in the process of sliding from the downstream side to the upstream side in the entrance / exit direction, and bends to clean the upper teeth 61. Similarly, when the lower teeth 62 and the lower teeth cleaning unit 820 are in contact with each other and the lower teeth cleaning unit 820 slides further from the downstream side in the direction of entry and exit with respect to the lower teeth 62, the lower tooth cleaning unit 820 is moved. The tip 821 contacts the lower teeth 62 and bends to clean the lower teeth 62. Thereafter, the upper arm 51 and the lower arm 52 move downstream in the loading / unloading direction, return to the initial state shown in FIG. 12A, and wait until the next binding operation starts.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to press the sheet bundle when binding the sheet bundle, the upper abutting portion 710 is provided that is connected to the movement of the upper arm 51 having the upper teeth 61. A lower abutting portion 720 is provided so as to be interlocked with the movement of the lower arm 52 having the lower teeth 62, and the upper abutting portion 710 and the lower abutting portion 720 are configured to press the sheet bundle. At this time, the upper abutting portion 710 and the lower abutting portion 720 are rotationally moved about a certain fulcrum, thereby simplifying the mechanism for pressing. Further, the fulcrum points of the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720 that rotate and move at different positions are sufficiently far from the presser positions of the upper contact portion 710 and the lower contact portion 720. Provided. Accordingly, it is possible to shift from the initial state to the presser state while the plane of the one end portion 711 of the upper abutting portion 710 and the plane of the one end portion 721 of the lower abutting portion 720 are kept almost parallel. Thus, it is possible to satisfactorily press the sheet bundle in the vertical direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Post-processing apparatus, 21 ... Transport unit, 22 ... Finisher unit, 50 ... Binding part, 51 ... Upper arm, 52 ... Lower arm, 53 ... Shaft arm, 54 ... Cam, 56 ... Lever 57 ... Link, 70 ... Paper stacking unit, 80 ... Stacker unit, 90 ... Case, 100 ... Image forming unit, 500 ... Binding unit, 511 ... One end, 512 ... Other end, 513 ... Supporting unit, 515 ... Link connection hole, 516 ... rotation center hole, 521 ... one end, 522 ... other end, 300 ... binding processing device, 700 ... binding assisting part, 710 ... upper contact part, 717 ... rotation center axis, 720 ... downward contact Contact part, 727 ... rotation center axis, 800 ... drive part, 810 ... upper tooth cleaning part, 811 ... tip, 820 ... lower tooth cleaning part, 821 ... tip, 953 ... arm guide

Claims (18)

A set of binding portions that press and bind the recording material bundle from one side and the other side in the thickness direction;
A first support portion that supports the recording material bundle from one side by performing a rotational movement toward the recording material bundle around a predetermined fulcrum;
A binding device comprising: a second support portion that supports the recording material bundle from the other side so as to face the first support portion when binding by the pair of binding portions.   The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the first support portion moves in conjunction with movement of the binding portion on the one side.   3. The binding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the one side is above the recording material bundle in the thickness direction.   4. The second support portion supports a recording material bundle from the other side so as to confront the first support portion by performing a rotational motion around a predetermined fulcrum. The binding device described.   The binding device according to claim 4, wherein the second support portion moves in conjunction with movement of the binding portion on the other side.   The binding device according to claim 5, wherein the fulcrum of the first support portion and the fulcrum of the second support portion are different fulcrums.   The binding device according to claim 6, wherein the fulcrum of the first support part and the fulcrum of the second support part are fulcrums different from the binding part fulcrum of the pair of binding parts. The binding portion fulcrum moves with a moving component in the entrance / exit direction, which is the direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters / exits with respect to the pressing area that presses the recording material bundle,
The fulcrum of the first support part and the fulcrum of the second support part are located upstream of the binding part fulcrum with respect to the binding part fulcrum when the binding part fulcrum is located on the most downstream side in the movement direction. The binding device according to claim 7, wherein the binding device is located. A regulation mechanism that regulates relative movement between the first support portion and the binding portion on the one side;
The binding device according to claim 1, wherein movement of the first support portion and the binding portion on the one side is relatively restricted by the restriction mechanism. The restriction mechanism is attached to the first support portion so as to be interlocked with the binding portion on the one side,
The predetermined fulcrum is provided at one end of the restriction mechanism, and the transmission of transmitting the movement of the first support part and the binding part on the one side to the first support part at the other end of the restriction mechanism. The binding device according to claim 9, wherein a groove is provided. The set of binding portions move in a pressing direction having a component perpendicular to an exit / entry direction in which a recording material or a recording material bundle enters and exits by another fulcrum,
The binding device according to claim 10, wherein the transmission groove is formed along a direction having a component in the entrance / exit direction.   The binding device according to claim 9, wherein the restriction mechanism further includes a restriction groove for restricting movement of the binding portion on the one side before the first support portion contacts the recording material bundle. When the binding portion on the one side abuts against the recording material bundle after the first support portion presses the recording material bundle, the restriction groove is a recording material or recording material bundle on the binding portion on the one side. The binding device according to claim 12, wherein movement to the downstream side in the entry / exit direction, which is a direction in which the item enters / exits, is restricted. The first support portion is configured to retreat in a direction away from the recording material bundle when the binding portion on the one side hits the recording material bundle after pressing the recording material bundle. Item 13. A binding device according to item 12.   13. The restriction groove is provided so as to be connected to the transmission groove at an end portion rather than a transmission groove for transmitting movement of the binding portion on the one side to the first support portion. The binding device described.   13. The binding device according to claim 12, wherein the restriction groove is formed along a direction having a component in a pressing direction which is a direction perpendicular to an entering / exiting direction of the recording material or the recording material bundle. The transmission groove for transmitting the movement of the binding portion on the one side to the first support portion is formed on the downstream side of the entry / exit direction, which is the direction in which the recording material or the recording material bundle enters / exits, relative to the restriction groove, The end of the groove on the most upstream side in the entry / exit direction is connected to the end of the restriction groove on the uppermost side in the pressing direction,
When the binding portion on the one side moves toward the binding position along the binding path, the transfer groove restricts the movement in the pressing direction having the component in the pressing direction, and then the entrance / exit direction is controlled by the restriction groove. 17. The binding device according to claim 16, wherein movement in the direction of entry / exit having the above component is restricted and hits against the recording material bundle.   A transport unit that transports a recording material on which an image is formed, a storage unit that stores a recording material bundle including the recording materials transported by the transport unit, and a binding that binds the recording material bundle stored in the storage unit An image processing apparatus comprising the binding device, wherein the binding device includes the binding device according to claim 1.