JP2020040403A - Binding processing device, sheet processing device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet processing device provided with a configuration allowing a binding process without creating damaging fiber in a sheet upon binding sheets by deep drawing in a concave-convex shape.SOLUTION: A sheet processing device binding sheets by press-deforming a part of a sheet bundle PB of a plurality of stacked sheet into a concave-convex shape is provided with a fixed tooth pattern 261A allowing the part of the sheet bundle PB to be formed into a press-deformed part in the concave-convex shape and a movable tooth pattern 261B detachable to the fixed tooth pattern 261A, both of which are placed opposite to each other across a binding position in the sheet bundle, wherein top surfaces of the fixed tooth pattern 261A and the movable tooth pattern 261B are provided with end parts continuously connected to a surface in a horizontal direction used as a top surface and formed in round shapes respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

  The present invention relates to a binding processing device, a sheet processing device, and an image forming system, and more particularly, to a binding processing mechanism for a sheet after image formation.

Sheets printed out by an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a printing machine are not only ejected from the image forming apparatus, but also partially stapled with a stapler while a predetermined number of sheets are combined. Post-processing may be applied.
As an apparatus for this purpose, a sheet processing apparatus connected to a sheet discharge unit of the image forming apparatus is used.

Staples are generally used for the binding process. However, in recent years, apparatuses that do not use metal products such as staples have been desired from the viewpoint of resource saving, ecology, and recyclability.
As one of the above-described apparatuses, a binding process between sheets is performed by performing a concave / convex deep drawing such as a tooth pattern on a sheet group by using a tooth member capable of pinching and pressing a group of sheets stacked together. A binding device has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a binding processing device capable of preventing a sheet bundle in contact from being damaged, torn, and wrinkled, and stabilizing a binding force of the sheet bundle.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is directed to a binding processing apparatus that presses and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of pressure-bonding teeth having a plurality of protrusions, wherein each of the pair of pressure-bonding teeth includes an arrangement of the protrusions. A tooth surface formed along a direction perpendicular to the direction, and a side surface formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, and a side at which the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a round shape. When viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other, the one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersects the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth. The binding processing device is characterized in that:

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the sheet bundle which abuts can be prevented from being damaged, torn, and wrinkled, and the binding force of the sheet bundle can be stabilized.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus using a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a plan view illustrating an example of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of the sheet processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet processing apparatus centered on the branch claw when the branch claw in FIG. 3 is in a sheet conveyance state. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet processing apparatus centered on the branch pawl when the branch pawl in FIG. 3 switches back the sheet. It is a figure showing a state at the time of non-binding of a binding implement. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of the binding device of FIG. 6 at the time of binding. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state at the time of completion of an initial operation when online binding is performed by the sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state immediately after the first sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus from the state of FIG. 8 and is carried into the sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when the trailing edge of the sheet has separated from the nip of the entrance roller and has passed the branch path from the state of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet is switched back from the state of FIG. 10 and the transport direction of the sheet is adjusted. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a first sheet is made to wait in a branch path from the state of FIG. 11 and a next second sheet is carried in. FIG. FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when a second sheet is carried in from the state of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the final sheet is aligned from the state in FIG. 13 to form a sheet bundle. FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when performing a binding operation from the state of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when a sheet bundle is discharged from the state of FIG. 15. FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating one of tooth forms used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing, in addition to the tooth patterns shown in FIG. 17, opposing tooth patterns. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining each step of a binding process performed by the sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an external view for demonstrating the characteristic part of the tooth type | mold shown in FIG. FIG. 18 is a view for setting up the tooth configuration shown in FIG. 17. 21 is a diagram showing a sheet bundle bound by the tooth pattern shown in FIG. 20. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram comparing the state of paper fibers when a conventional tooth mold is used and when a tooth mold according to the present embodiment is used. It is a perspective view for explaining the 1st modification which is another example of a tooth model. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet bundle is inclined at an end of the sheet due to curl due to heat during fixing. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first modified example of the crimped teeth having the uneven shape of the binding tool used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second modified example of the crimped teeth having the uneven shape used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the invention. It is a figure showing the 4th example of shape of the crimping tooth of the uneven shape used for the paper processing device concerning the present invention. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a state in which an upper compression tooth and a lower compression tooth having the teeth shown in FIG. 26 are engaged. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a form of wrinkling of a sheet bundle when the pressure-bonding teeth having the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 29 are used. It is a figure which shows the generation | occurrence | production spot of a wrinkle. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the press-fit tooth of the uneven | corrugated shape in the principal part modification of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a crimped tooth having an uneven shape in another modified example of a main part of the binding tool used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the example of FIG. 33. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating another modification of the example in FIG. 33. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the crimped tooth of the uneven | corrugated shape in still another example regarding the principal part of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 37 is a side view of FIG. 36. FIG. 38 is a plan view showing a cross section of the example of FIG. 36 in the case of temporarily cutting at the cut surface shown in FIG. 37. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the press-fit tooth of the uneven | corrugated shape in still another example of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view illustrating another example of the image forming apparatus having the sheet binding device. It is an outline sectional view showing another composition of a sheet binding device. FIG. 42 is an enlarged perspective view (A) of the periphery of the support portion of the uneven member in the sheet binding device shown in FIG. 41 and an upper perspective view (B) showing the sheet binding device with the upper support stand removed. FIG. 42 is a perspective view illustrating a binding state of the sheet binding device illustrated in FIG. 41.

A feature of the embodiment of the present invention lies in a configuration in which wrinkles or tears that may occur on sheets such as sheets during binding processing are prevented, and a decrease in binding strength is suppressed. It should be noted that in the following description, a sheet and a sheet bundle may be referred to as a sheet and a sheet bundle.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples shown in the drawings.
First, before describing the features of the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of a sheet processing system according to the present embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing two aspects of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101 and a sheet processing apparatus (finisher) 201 as a sheet processing apparatus.
The sheet processing apparatus 201 is a so-called transport path binding apparatus in which a binding device is provided in a sheet transport path from the image forming apparatus 101.
FIG. 1A shows a mode in which the image forming apparatus 101 is installed in the transport path, and FIG. 1B shows a mode in which the image forming apparatus 101 is installed outside the transport path.
The sheet processing apparatus 201 has an alignment function of overlapping and aligning sheets in a transport path, and a binding function of binding the aligned sheet bundle in the transport path.
1A is also referred to as an in-body processing apparatus because post-processing is performed inside the body of the image forming apparatus 101.

The image forming apparatus 101 includes an image forming engine unit 101A including an image processing unit and a paper feeding unit, a reading engine unit 103 that converts an image into image data by reading an image, and an automatic document feeding unit that automatically sends a document to be read to the reading engine unit 103. An ADF (ADF) 104 is provided.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1A, the paper after image formation is discharged into the body of the image forming apparatus 101, and in the configuration shown in FIG. Each of the paper discharge units is provided so that paper is discharged.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet processing apparatus 201 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view.
In the figure, a paper processing apparatus 201 includes an entrance sensor 202, an entrance roller 203, a branching claw 204, a binding tool 210 corresponding to a deep drawing mechanism, and a paper ejection roller 205 from the entrance side along a paper transport path 240. .
The entrance sensor 202 detects the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the presence or absence of a sheet discharged from the sheet discharging roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101 and conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 201.
As the entrance sensor 202, for example, a reflection type optical sensor is used. Note that a transmissive optical sensor can be used instead of the reflective optical sensor.
The entrance roller 203 is located at the entrance of the sheet processing apparatus 201, has a function of receiving a sheet discharged by the discharge roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101, and carrying the sheet into a binding position where deep drawing is performed. Further, a drive source (drive motor) that can control the stop, rotation, and transport amount using a control unit (not shown) is also provided.
The entrance roller 203 abuts the leading end of the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 side to the nip between the pair of rollers and also performs skew correction.

A branch claw 204 is disposed downstream of the entrance roller 203.
In FIG. 3, a branch claw 204 is provided to guide the rear end of the sheet to the branch path 241.
In this case, after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed the branching claw 204, the branching claw 204 rotates clockwise in the drawing, and conveys the sheet in a direction opposite to the loading direction. Thus, the trailing end of the sheet is guided to the branch path 241 side. As will be described later, the branch claw 204 is driven by a solenoid to perform a swing operation.
Note that a motor may be used instead of the solenoid. The branch claw 204 is driven in a counterclockwise direction in the figure, and when rotated, can press a sheet or a sheet bundle against the conveying surface of the branch path 241. As a result, the branch claw 204 can be fixed by the branch path 241 where sheets or a bundle of sheets can be accumulated.

The paper discharge roller 205 is located immediately before the last exit of the transport path 240 of the paper processing apparatus 201 and has a function of transporting, shifting, and discharging the paper. Further, similarly to the entrance roller 203, a drive source (drive motor) capable of controlling the stop, rotation, and conveyance amount of the paper discharge roller 205 is provided, and this drive source is controlled by a control unit (not shown).
The shift of the paper discharge roller 205 is performed by a shift mechanism 205M shown in FIG.
The shift mechanism 205M includes a shift link 206, a shift cam 207, a shift cam stud 208, and a shift home position sensor 209.

In FIG. 2, a shift link 206 is provided at a shaft end 205a of the paper discharge roller 205 and receives a moving force at the time of shifting.
The shift cam 207 has a shift cam stud 208 and is a rotating disk-shaped component.
Due to the rotation of this part, the paper discharge roller 205 movably inserted into the shift link slot 207a via the shift cam stud 208 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction (hereinafter also referred to as “paper width direction”). Let it.
This movement is a so-called shift. The shift cam stud 208 has a function of converting the rotational movement of the shift cam 207 into the axial linear movement of the discharge roller 205 in conjunction with the shift link slot 207a. The shift home position sensor 209 detects the position of the shift link 206, uses the position detected by the shift home position sensor 209 as a home position, and executes the rotation control of the shift cam 207 based on the home position. This control is executed by the control unit.

2, a binding device 210 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a binding device 210) that forms a deep drawing mechanism includes a sheet end detection sensor 220, a binding device home position sensor 221, and a guide rail 230 for moving the binding device.
The binding device 210 is a binding unit that binds the stacked sheet bundle PB, and is a so-called stapler.
In the present embodiment, a function is provided in which a sheet is deformed by being sandwiched and pressed by a pair of tooth mold portions (hereinafter, also referred to as a tooth mold) 261 opposed to each other with the binding position interposed therebetween, thereby binding paper fibers and binding. Thus, this type of binding is also referred to as pressure binding.

In addition to this binding method, a hand stapler using a binding tool such as half-punching, cutting, bending, cutting and bending and passing through a hole is also known.
In any case, it greatly contributes to resource saving by suppressing supply consumption or making it easier to recycle and being able to shred it as it is. Therefore, even in a sheet processing apparatus, a so-called finisher, it is desired to mount a stapler capable of performing binding processing on a single sheet of paper, such as pressure binding, without using metal needles.
A hand stapler for performing pressure bonding is disclosed in the following publication.
For example, a binding device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36-13206 (Reference Document 1) is known, and as a hand stapler that cuts and bends and further passes through a hole and binds, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 37-7208 (Reference Document 2) ) Is known.

  The paper edge detection sensor 220 is a sensor that detects the side edge of the paper, and aligns the paper based on the sensor detection position when aligning the paper. The binding device home position sensor 221 is a sensor that detects the position of the binding device that is movable in the paper width direction, and sets a position where the binding device 210 is located at a position where it does not interfere with the conveyance of the maximum size sheet, The position is detected.

The guide rail 230 is a rail that guides the movement of the binding tool 210 so that the binding tool 210 can move stably in the sheet width direction.
The guide rail 230 is installed such that the binding tool 210 can move from the home position over the entire width orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction of the conveying path 240 of the sheet processing apparatus 201.
The binding tool 210 is moved along the guide rail 230 by a moving mechanism including a drive motor (not shown). At the time of the movement, a paper passing space is formed on the binding tool home position sensor 221 side of the binding tool 210 so that the binding tool 210 does not interfere with the sheet P or the sheet bundle PB.

In FIG. 3, a conveyance path 240 is a conveyance path for conveying and discharging the received sheet, and penetrates from the entrance side to the exit side of the sheet processing apparatus 201.
The branch path 241 is a transport path that is carried in from the rear end side by switchback of the sheet, and branches off from the transport 240. The branch path 241 is provided for superimposing and aligning the conveyed sheets, and functions as a stacking unit. The abutment surface 242 is a reference surface provided at the end of the branch path 241 to abut and align the rear end of the sheet.
In the present embodiment, the tooth mold 261 is a pressure supporting member having a shape in which a pair of concave and convex mesh with each other. The tooth mold 261 has the pressure binding function by sandwiching and pressing the sheet bundle.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams showing the main parts of the sheet processing apparatus 201 centering on the branching pawl 204.
FIG. 4 shows details of a related mechanism when the branch pawl 204 is in sheet conveyance, and FIG.
In FIG. 4, the branch claw 204 is provided to be swingable within a preset angle range with respect to the support shaft 204b in order to switch the paper transport path to either the transport path 240 or the branch path 241. The branch claw 204 is located at a position where the sheet received from the right side in the drawing can be transported downstream without resistance, that is, the position shown in FIG. 4 is a home position. It is under pressure.

The spring 251 is hung on the branch pawl movable lever section 204a, and the plunger of the branch solenoid 250 is connected to the branch pawl movable lever section 204a. Note that, after the sheet is conveyed to the branch conveyance path 241 in the state of FIG. 5 and the state of FIG. 4 is reached, the branch path conveyance surface 241 and the branch claw 204 hold the sheet in the branch conveyance path 241 in the supporting state. can do.
When the branch solenoid 250 is turned on, the branch claw 204 rotates in the direction of arrow R1 in FIG. 5 to close the transport path 240 and open the branch path 241 to guide the paper to the branch path 241. Can be.

6 and 7 are diagrams showing details of the binding tool 210 according to the present embodiment.
The binding device 210 includes, as a main part, a fixed tooth form 261 having an uneven pressurized deformation portion on a part of a sheet bundle and a tooth form 261 having a movable tooth form capable of coming in contact with and separating from the fixed tooth form. Have. Further, in addition to the tooth form 261, the binding tool 210 includes a pressing lever 262, a link group 263, a drive motor 265, an eccentric force 266, and a cam home position sensor 267 as constituent elements.
The tooth mold 261 is a pressurizing member having a shape that meshes with the upper and lower pairs. The tooth form 261 is located at the operating end of the plurality of link groups 263, and comes into contact with and separates from each other by the pressing and releasing operations of the pressing lever 262, which is the operating end.

The pressure lever 262 is rotated by the rotating eccentric force 266. The eccentric force 266 is rotated by receiving a driving force from a driving motor 265, and the rotation position of the cam is controlled based on detection information of the cam home position sensor 267.
The rotation position defines the distance between the rotation shaft 266a of the eccentric force 266 and the cam surface, and the pressing amount of the pressure lever 262 is determined based on this distance.
The home position is the position at which the cam home position sensor 267 detects the filler 266b to be detected by the eccentric force 266. As shown in FIG. 6, when the rotational position of the eccentric force 266 is at the home position, the tooth form 261 is in an open state. In this state, the binding process cannot be performed, and the sheet bundle can be received.

  In the case of binding a sheet bundle, as shown in the inside of the ellipse in FIG. 6, the sheet is placed between the fixed tooth form of the tooth form 261 and the movable tooth form capable of coming and going with respect to the tooth form 261 in the opened state. The bundle is inserted, and the drive motor 265 is rotated. When the drive motor 265 starts rotating, the eccentric force 266 rotates in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. The cam surface of the eccentric force 266 is displaced in accordance with this rotation, and the pressing lever 262 is shown in FIG. It rotates in the direction of the middle arrow R3. The rotational force increases through a link group using a lever, and is transmitted to the tooth form 261 at the working end.

When the eccentric force 266 rotates by a predetermined amount, the upper and lower tooth molds 261 mesh with each other, sandwiching the sheet bundle and applying pressure. The paper bundle is deformed by this pressurization, and fibers of adjacent papers are entangled and bound.
Thereafter, the drive motor 265 rotates in the reverse direction and stops at the detection information of the cam home position sensor 267. As a result, the upper and lower tooth molds 261 return to the state shown in FIG. 6, and the sheet bundle can be moved. Further, the lever 262 has a spring property, and when an overload is applied, the lever 262 bends to release the overload.

8 to 16 are operation explanatory diagrams showing the online binding operation by the binding tool 210 of the sheet processing apparatus 201. FIG. In each of the drawings, (A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view. Also, in the present embodiment, online binding means that the sheet processing apparatus 201 is installed in the sheet discharging device of the image forming apparatus 101 as shown in FIG. This means that the sheets are continuously received and aligned, and the binding process is performed.
On the other hand, manual binding, which will be described later, refers to binding of the image forming apparatus 101 or separately printed paper by the binding tool 210 of the paper processing apparatus 201. Since manual binding is not performed in a continuous operation from the discharge of the image forming apparatus 101, offline binding is also included.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state when the initial operation of the online binding operation is completed. When the output of the sheet on which the image is formed is started from the image forming apparatus 101, each unit moves to the home position, and the initial is completed. FIG. 8 shows the state at this time.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state immediately after the first sheet Pl is discharged from the image forming apparatus 101 and is carried into the sheet processing apparatus 201.
Before the sheet Pl is carried into the sheet processing apparatus 201 from the image forming apparatus 101, the control unit (not shown) of the sheet processing apparatus 201 controls the sheet processing from the control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 101. Receives mode information and paper information about the mode. Then, based on the information, the apparatus enters the reception standby state. The sheet information includes, for example, a sheet size, a sheet type, a sheet thickness, and the number of booklets (of sheets to be bound).

  As the control mode, three modes of a straight mode, a shift mode, and a binding mode are set. In the straight mode, the entrance roller 203 and the paper discharge roller 205 start rotating in the paper transport direction in the receiving standby state, and the papers Pl,..., IPn are sequentially transported and discharged, and after the final paper Pn is discharged, The entrance roller 203 and the discharge roller 205 stop. Note that n is a positive integer of 2 or more.

  In the shift mode, the entrance roller 203 and the paper discharge roller 205 start rotating in the transport direction in the reception standby state. In the shift discharge operation, the sheet Pl is received and conveyed, and when the rear end of the sheet Pl passes through the entrance roller 203, the shift cam 207 rotates by a fixed amount and the discharge port 205 moves in the axial direction. At this time, the paper Pl also moves with the movement of the paper discharge roller 205. Further, when the sheet Pl is discharged, the shift cam 207 rotates to return to the home position, and prepares for carrying in the next sheet P2. This shift operation of the paper discharge roller 205 is repeated until the discharge of the paper Pn of the same part is completed. As a result, the sheet bundle PB for a part (one book) is discharged and stacked in a state shifted to one side. When the first sheet P1 of the next set is carried in, the shift cam 207 rotates in the opposite direction to the previous set, and the sheet Pl moves to the opposite side to the previous set and is discharged.

In the binding mode, the entrance roller 203 is stopped in the waiting state for reception, and the paper discharge roller 205 starts rotating in the transport direction. Further, the binding tool 210 moves to a standby position retracted by a certain amount from the sheet width and waits.
In this case, the entrance roller 203 also functions as a registration roller. That is, when the first sheet Pl is carried into the sheet processing device 201 and the entrance sensor 202 detects the leading end of the sheet, the leading end of the sheet strikes the nip of the entrance roller 203.
Then, the sheet Pl is conveyed by the sheet discharging roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101 by a distance that causes a certain amount of bending. After the conveyance by the distance, the rotation of the entrance roller 203 is started. Thereby, the skew correction of the paper Pl is performed. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the state at this time.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the trailing edge of the sheet has separated from the nip of the entrance roller 203 and has passed the branch path 241.
The conveyance amount of the sheet Pl is counted from the detection information by the entrance sensor 202 at the rear end of the sheet, and the position information of the sheet conveyance position is grasped by the CPU 201a. When the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the nip of the entrance roller 203, the entrance roller 203 stops rotating for receiving the next sheet P2. At the same timing, the shift cam 207 rotates in the direction of arrow R4 in FIG. 10 (clockwise direction in the figure), and the paper discharge roller 205 starts moving in the axial direction with the paper Pl nipped. As a result, the sheet Pl is conveyed while skewing in the direction of arrow Dl in FIG. Thereafter, when the sheet edge detection sensor 220 attached or incorporated in the binding device 210 detects the sheet P, the shift cam 207 stops and then reversely rotates, and the shift cam 207 stops while the sheet edge detection sensor 220 is not detecting the sheet P. I do. Then, when the above operation is completed, the paper discharge roller 205 stops at a predetermined position where the rear end of the paper has passed the front end of the branch claw 204.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet Pl is switched back to align the transport direction of the sheet Pl.
From the state shown in FIG. 10, the branch pawl 204 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R5 to switch the transport path to the branch path 241, and then the paper discharge roller 205 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the sheet Pl is switched back in the direction of arrow D <b> 2, the rear end of the sheet is carried into the branch path 241, and is further hit against the hitting surface 242.
The rear end of the sheet is aligned based on the abutting surface 242 by the rear end of the sheet. When the sheets Pl are aligned, the sheet discharging roller 205 stops. At this time, the paper discharge roller 205 slips when the paper Pl abuts against the abutting surface 242, so that no conveying force is applied. That is, when the sheet Pl is switched back and abuts against the abutting surface 242, and the rear end of the sheet is aligned with the abutting surface 242 as a reference, the paper Pl is further conveyed to prevent the sheet from buckling.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the first sheet Pl is put on standby in the branch path 241 and the next second sheet P2 is carried in.
After the preceding first sheet Pl is aligned with the abutment surface 242 as a reference, the branch claw 204 is rotated in the direction of arrow R6 in the figure. As a result, the contact surface 204c, which is the lower surface of the branch claw 204, strongly presses the rear end of the sheet located in the branch path 241 against the surface of the branch path 241 and stands by without moving. When the succeeding second sheet P2 is carried in from the image forming apparatus 101, the skew correction is performed by the entrance roller 203 in the same manner as the preceding sheet Pl. Next, at the same time as the rotation of the entrance roller 203 starts, the paper discharge roller 205 also starts to rotate in the transport direction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state when the second sheet P2 is carried in.
The operations shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are also performed when the second sheet P2 and the third and subsequent sheets P3,..., Pn are conveyed from the state of FIG. Then, the sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 are sequentially moved to a preset position and superimposed, and the aligned sheet bundle PB is stacked (stacked) in the conveyance path 240.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the final sheet Pn is aligned to form a sheet bundle PB.
When the operation is completed with the last sheet Pn as a sheet bundle PB in an aligned state in FIG. With this operation, the bending that occurs when the trailing edge of the sheet abuts against the abutting surface 242 is eliminated. Thereafter, the branch pawl 204 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R5 in the figure to separate the contact surface 204c from the branch path 241 to release the pressing force on the sheet bundle PB. As a result, the binding force of the branch claw 204 is released from the sheet bundle PB, and the sheet bundle PB can be conveyed by the sheet discharging roller 205.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state during the binding operation.
From the state of FIG. 14, the paper discharge roller 205 is rotated in the transport direction, and the sheet bundle PB is transported by a distance where the position of the tooth form 261 of the binding tool 210 matches the binding position of the sheet bundle PB, and stopped at that position. Thus, the processing position of the sheet bundle PB in the transport direction matches the position of the tooth mold 261 in the transport direction. Then, the binding tool 210 is moved in the direction of the arrow D3 shown in the figure by the distance where the position of the tooth pattern 261 of the binding tool 210 and the processing position of the sheet coincide, and then stopped. Thereby, the processing position in the width direction of the sheet bundle PB matches the position of the tooth mold 261 in the transport direction and the width direction. At this time, the branch claw 204 rotates in the direction of the arrow R6 shown in the figure, and returns to the paper receiving state. Thereafter, the binding device drive motor 265 is turned on, and the sheet bundle PB is pressed by the tooth mold 261 and squeezed to perform pressure binding. In the present embodiment, an example in which the binding tool 210 for performing pressure bonding is used is illustrated. However, using a binding tool such as half punching, cutting, bending, cutting, and passing through a hole, is used. Needless to say, it is good.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet bundle PB is discharged.
The sheet bundle PB bound as shown in FIG. 15 is discharged by rotation of the discharge roller 205. After the sheet bundle PB is discharged, the shift cam 207 is rotated in the direction of arrow R7 to return to the home position (the position in FIG. 8). At the same time, the binding tool 210 is moved in the direction of arrow D4 in the figure to return to the home position (the position in FIG. 8). As a result, the binding operation of the part (one book) of the sheet bundle PB is completed. If there is the next copy, the operation of FIGS. 8 to 16 is repeated to create a part of the sheet bundle PB which is similarly crimped and bound.

The configuration used for the features of the present embodiment for the above configuration will be described below.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the tooth mold 261 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 turned upside down from the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
In the figure, the tooth mold 261 has a plurality of tooth portions 261A extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support shaft serving as a swing fulcrum along the axial direction of the support shaft.
As shown in FIG. 18, the tooth mold 261 is formed such that the top surfaces of the tooth portions on the fixed side and the movable side are shifted so as to be able to mesh with each other vertically.

Next, a description will be given of a binding process performed using the binding tool 210 serving as a binding unit.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a pressure binding method for the end binding portion.
In the same figure, a tooth pattern 261 used for the binding tool 210 has pressure-bonding teeth having irregularities (lower irregularities 261A, upper irregularities 261B) arranged at positions facing the sheet bundle PB (see FIG. 14) (see FIG. 14). FIG. 19A).
Move either crimping tooth (or both) and apply force. (FIGS. 19B to 19C)
As the pressing force is increased, the paper is deformed under pressure into an uneven shape, the shape is transferred, and the binding is completed. (FIG. 19D)
In this pressure binding, paper can be bound by fitting of unevenness or entanglement or adhesion of fibers between papers. The crimped teeth 261A, 261B have an uneven surface with an inclined surface at an arbitrary angle.
Also, the shapes of the apexes and valleys of the uneven shape are different, and when the crimping teeth 101 and 102 are engaged, although not shown, for example, the top surface of the upper crimping tooth 261A and the valley of the lower crimping tooth 261B are in contact with each other. Not to be. As a result, the sheet bundle 6 is pressure-bonded only at the slope portion, and binding can be performed efficiently.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing features of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 20 (B), at least a part of the fixed-side and movable-side tooth forms (in FIG. 20, the fixed-side tooth forms have tooth portions 261A) are rounded. It is formed in a shape (round form).
In the configuration shown in FIG. 20B, the top surface is formed by a horizontal surface 261A1 and a curved surface 261A2 that is continuous with the horizontal surface 261A1, and the continuous end, that is, the ridgeline 261A3 is not an edge but a round shape.
Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 20B, the top surface 261A1 continuous with the curved surface 261A2 is also rounded, and the four sides of the top surface 261A1 and the ridge line continuous with the curved surface 261A2 are also rounded.

FIG. 21A is a diagram viewed from a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the teeth of the tooth mold 261 are arranged, and in FIG. 21A, a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tooth molds mesh with each other (the direction indicated by the arrow). The shape is formed in an R shape. FIG. 21B is an enlarged view of a region indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 21A, and corresponds to a direction indicated by an arrow (20B) in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the top surface 261A1 is formed in a round shape so as to bulge toward the center from a ridgeline 261A3 which is an end portion continuous with the curved surface 261A2.
Further, the ridgeline located at the end connecting the curved surface 261A2 and the bottom of the tooth mold, in other words, the top and bottom, is also rounded.

By adopting such a round shape, if the top end is round, even if pressure is concentrated on the top side end of the paper when pressing the tooth mold against the paper, the round shape will The concentration of pressure is alleviated, and wrinkles and tears of the paper can be prevented.
Also, after the binding operation is completed by pressing the sheet with the tooth mold, even if pressure concentrates on the end connecting the top and bottom of the sheet, the rounded shape reduces the concentration of pressure, so that wrinkling of the sheet also occurs. And tearing is prevented.

The ridge portion formed into a round shape at a continuous position of each surface of the tooth mold 261 is formed by cutting or resin molding using a mold.

FIG. 22 shows a sheet bundle on which the binding process has been performed using the above-described tooth mold 261.
FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of one of the binding processing positions in the sheet bundle (indicated by reference numeral (22) in FIG. 22).
In FIG. 23, (A) shows the case where the ridge line of the conventional tooth form has an edge shape, and (B) shows the case where the tooth form according to the present embodiment is used.

In FIG. 23, when the ridgeline of the tooth shape as shown in FIG. 23A has an edge shape, the fibers of the bound sheet have been broken. On the other hand, as shown in (B), when the tooth pattern according to the present embodiment is used, the fibers of the bound paper are not broken.
Thus, when the tooth form according to the present embodiment is used, since the paper is not broken, the fibers are bound by the pressing operation at the time of the binding process, so that the binding portion is in a strong state.
Moreover, since a wide area is pushed and moved by using the top surface 261A1 which is a horizontal surface, unlike the case where the end of the top surface is an acute angle, the fiber is less likely to be broken by the concentrated load.
Therefore, when the tooth form according to the present embodiment is used, the stress is likely to be generated by the pressing force at the time of the binding process due to the remaining fibers, and this reduces the shape restoring property due to bending and maintains the binding state. Become.

  In the above configuration, the strength at the binding portion can be increased by a simple configuration that only changes the structure of the tooth mold used for the binding process, and the shape restoration properties that are likely to occur on the paper are weakened and the papers are separated. Can be prevented.

Next, a modified example of the tooth mold portion will be described.
In the modified examples described below, in addition to forming a part of the end portion of the tooth mold portion into a round shape as described above, it may be used as a damage reducing portion that can prevent wrinkles or tears of the paper by chamfering. Put it in front.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the lower crimping tooth 311. In the following description of the embodiment, the lower uneven teeth 311 are mainly shown and described as the pressure-bonded teeth, but the same applies to the upper uneven teeth 310.
In the drawing, reference numeral 301 denotes a tooth surface, reference numeral 302 denotes a side surface, reference numeral 303 denotes a side connecting the base indicated by reference numeral 306 to the tips of the teeth 10a and 11a, reference numeral 4 denotes an end of the tip of the teeth 310a and 311a, and reference numeral 305 denotes a tooth. It is a root portion corresponding to the bottom of the tooth surface of the tip. The base 306 is a portion where the root portion 305 is integrated.

  When the sheet bundle PB is sandwiched between the upper and lower uneven teeth 10 and the lower uneven tooth 11, the tip end 4 of the teeth 310a and 311a touches the sheet bundle PB. Contact the surface.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 25, the sheet bundle PB is inclined at the end of the sheet bundle PB due to curl due to heat at the time of fixing. If the sheet bundle PB is not parallel to the end portion 304 of the tooth 311a when the sheet bundle PB is sandwiched, the end 4 of the tooth tip of the tooth 311a is not in line contact with the sheet bundle PB but in point contact. Becomes The sheet bundle PB also comes into contact with the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end 4 of the tooth tip, and the sheets forming the sheet bundle PB are scratched, torn, and wrinkled. It is difficult to adjust this inclination, and the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end 304 of the tooth tip always touches the sheet bundle PB.

<First Modified Example of Crimping Teeth>
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the crimping teeth.
The lower uneven tooth 311 in this example is rounded as a damage reducing portion on the side 3 connecting the base 306 to the tip end 304 of the tooth 311a and the tip end 304 as shown in FIG. This prevents the paper bundle PB abutting on the end portion 304 of the tooth tip from being damaged or torn, and also causes the paper bundle PB sandwiched between the upper and lower teeth 310 and the lower uneven teeth 311 to generate wrinkles. Can also be prevented.
That is, it is understood that the binding force of the sheet bundle PB can be stabilized.
This is because the side 303 connecting the base 306 of the lower concave-convex teeth 311 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip is rounded in order to reduce damage to the paper.
That is, a sudden pressure change from a portion where the sheet bundle PB is in contact with the teeth 310a and 311a of the upper and lower teeth 310 and the lower uneven teeth 311 with a large force to a portion where the sheet is not in contact is alleviated.
Then, the tip end portion 304 of the teeth 310a and 311a is prevented from being scratched or torn on the sheet abutting, thereby preventing the occurrence of wrinkles. Also, the sheet bundle PB sandwiched between the crimping teeth 10 and 11 is prevented from bending and generating wrinkles. Can be prevented.
Instead of rounding a predetermined portion, a chamfered portion may be provided as a damage reducing portion. In addition, the damage reducing unit may be provided at least at one position of the side 303 to reduce damage to the sheet or the sheet bundle PB to be bound, and the arrangement of the present embodiment and the embodiment described below will be described. The installation mode is not limited.

<Second Modified Example of Crimping Teeth>
FIG. 27 is a view showing a second modified example of the crimped teeth having the uneven shape used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. The lower uneven tooth 311 in this example has a quadrangular pyramid shape, but the basic configuration such as rounding of the side 303 and the end portion 304 of the tooth tip and the form of the root portion 305 are the same as those of the first modified example. is there.

<Third Modified Example of Crimping Teeth>
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the unevenly-shaped pressure-bonding teeth used in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention. The lower uneven teeth 311 in this example have a shape in which the side surface 302 halves the cone vertically, but the basic configuration such as the rounding of the tip end 304 and the form of the tooth base 305 is as follows. This is the same as the first modification.

<Meshing state of crimping teeth>
FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a state in which the upper and lower uneven teeth 310 and the lower uneven teeth 311 having the teeth shown in FIG. 26 are engaged. The force of the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the tip end 304 of the teeth 310a and 311a pushing the sheet bundle PB is large on the end 304 side of the tooth tip and small on the side close to the base 306.

<Binding state by damage reduction unit>
As shown in FIG. 30, the bound sheet bundle PB has an uneven shape due to the engagement of the upper and lower teeth 310 and the lower uneven teeth 311, and the vicinity thereof is caused by the bending of the sheet S ′ used for the sheet bundle PB. Wrinkles occur.
When the binding is performed near the end face of the sheet S ′, no wrinkle is generated because there is no paper on the end face side of the sheet S ′, and the wrinkle is generated at the center side of the sheet S ′.
In the usage form as shown in FIG. 30, rounding or chamfering is performed on the side where wrinkles occur in the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip, so that the rounding or surface mounting process at the time of binding is performed. Reduce costs.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing wrinkle occurrence locations.
The bound sheet bundle PB is given an uneven shape by the binding device, and in the binding device in which the teeth 311a are arranged side by side, the sheet bundle S shrinks in the direction in which the teeth 311a are arranged. In the arrangement of the arranged teeth 311a, the deformation amount increases near the outer teeth, and wrinkles are likely to occur. In addition, as the uneven portion of the sheet is deformed, the surrounding sheet is also likely to be deformed, and the wrinkles are extended along the tooth streak of the tooth 311a (the direction in which the end portion 304 of the tooth tip extends). In the figure, X indicates wrinkles formed along the tooth streaks, and Y in the figure indicates wrinkles generated in the absence of teeth.

Next, another embodiment regarding the tooth pattern used for the binding tool will be described.
In the example shown in FIG. 32, rounded or chamfered outer teeth (tooth described as “R present” in the drawing) in the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the tip end 304 of the tooth tip are wrinkled. The inner teeth should not be rounded or chamfered.
As a result, the same configuration as that in which there is no edge portion that causes pressure concentration on the sheet at the end portion 304 is obtained, so that rounding or surface mounting processing steps when processing the binding tool can be reduced and cost can be reduced. I have to.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example different from the example illustrated in FIG. 32.
In the example shown in the drawing, a plurality of shapes (for example, different radii of curvature) are rounded or chamfered on the side 303 connecting the base 306 and the end portion 304 of the pressure tooth tip as a damage reducing portion.
This makes it possible to more effectively prevent pressure concentration at the time of pressing, and to more efficiently prevent the sheet bundle S1 in contact from being damaged or torn, and to stabilize the binding force of the sheet bundle S.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a modification of the configuration shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in the figure, a plurality of (three types in the illustrated example) chamfered shapes are provided on the side 303 as the damage reducing portion.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing another modification of the configuration shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in the figure, when the roundness of the side 303 where the tooth surface 301 and the side surface 302 intersect is constant, the force applied to the abutting sheet bundle PB is large near the end 304 of the tip of the tooth 311a, and the base 306 It is small in the vicinity. For this reason, tears, scratches, and wrinkles of the sheet are likely to occur near the end 304.
Therefore, on the side 303, the vicinity of the end 304 of the tooth tip is rounded more than the vicinity of the base 306 (in the figure, it is described as large R. In the figure, the portion with a small roundness is described as small R).
Thereby, the force near the end portion 304 of the tooth tip where a large force is applied is dispersed, so that the paper is less likely to be damaged or torn, and the paper bundle S is more effectively prevented from being bent and wrinkled. The binding force of the sheet bundle PB can be further stabilized.

By the way, as a cause of the wrinkles and tears of the paper, a sudden pressure change may occur at the boundary between the base 306 and the end 304 of the tooth tip.
In other words, a large force is applied to a portion of the sheet bundle S that is to be bound in contact with the tooth surface 301. Therefore, no force is directly applied to the portion not in contact with the tooth surface 301, and a sharp pressure difference is generated at a boundary 303 between the base 6 and the end 304 of the tooth tip. As a result, the paper may be damaged, torn, and wrinkled.

In addition, paper tears, scratches, and wrinkles are likely to occur near the tooth surface 301 of the side 303 from the base 306.
In FIG. 36, in view of this point, the radius of curvature of the side 303 is increased by increasing the radius of curvature closer to the tooth surface 301 (shown as “R” in the figure), and decreasing the radius of curvature closer to the side surface. (Shown as R small in the figure).
FIG. 37 is a side view of FIG. 36. By using such a configuration, the force can be gradually reduced from the tooth surface 301 to the side surface, and a rapid change in the pressure difference near the side 303 can be reduced. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the sheet from being scratched or torn, to prevent the sheet bundle S sandwiched between the crimping teeth 310 and 311 from generating a wrinkle, and to stabilize the binding force of the sheet bundle PB.

  FIG. 38 is a plan view showing a cross section of the lower concavo-convex tooth 311 described with reference to FIG. 36 when temporarily cut along the cut surface shown in FIG. The radius of curvature is increased nearer the tooth surface 301 (shown as large in the figure), and the radius of curvature is reduced near the side surface 302 as small R in the figure.

As described above, in the teeth 311a arranged as described above, the deformation amount increases near the outer teeth, and wrinkles are likely to occur.
Further, a force is applied to the sheet bundle PB at a position where the outer teeth 311a of the arranged teeth 311a contact the sheet bundle PB. However, since there are no teeth outside the sheet bundle PB, the force is directly applied to the sheet bundle S. Will not join. The force difference causes wrinkles in the sheets and the sheet bundle S, and the deformation due to the wrinkles extends along the tooth stripe (the direction in which the end 4 of the tooth tip extends).
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the outermost teeth (tooth marked “R large” in the figures) at the outermost side where wrinkles occur in the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end 304 of the tooth tip are rounded or chamfered. Is larger than the inner teeth, ie, the largest. This reduces the pressure applied to the paper from the inner teeth to the outer teeth, effectively prevents wrinkles from occurring, and stabilizes the binding force of the paper bundle.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, nor is it limited to the image forming apparatus of the type shown in the drawings, and many modifications may be made within the technical spirit of the present invention. It is possible by someone with knowledge.

  In addition, as for the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the configuration of the binding unit used in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1, the configurations shown in FIGS. 40 to 43 can be used.

40, the image forming apparatus 101 includes an image reading unit 170 and an image forming unit 115. A document table 102 made of a transparent glass plate fixedly provided is provided above the image reading unit 170. A document D placed on a document table 102 at a predetermined position with the image surface facing down is pressed and fixed by a document pressure plate 103. An optical system including a lamp 104 for illuminating the original D and reflection mirrors 105, 106, and 107 for guiding a light image of the illuminated original D to the image processing unit 108 is provided below the original table 102. . The lamp 104 and the reflection mirrors 105, 106, and 107 move at a predetermined speed to scan the document D.

  The image forming unit 115 includes the photosensitive drum 28, a primary charging roller 161, a rotary developing unit 151, an intermediate transfer belt 152, a transfer roller 150, a cleaner 126, and the like. The photoconductor drum 28 is irradiated with a light image from the laser unit 109 based on the image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof. The primary charging roller 161 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 before laser light irradiation. The rotary developing unit 151 attaches toner of each color of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28, and forms a toner image. Form. The toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 152, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 152 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 150. The cleaner 126 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 28 after transferring the toner image.

  The rotary developing unit 151 uses a rotary developing method, has a developing device 151K, a developing device 151Y, a developing device 151M, and a developing device 151C, and is rotatable by a motor (not shown). When a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28, the developing is performed by rotating the developing device 151K to a developing position close to the photosensitive drum 28. Similarly, when a full-color toner image is formed, the rotary developing unit 151 is rotated, and each developing device is arranged at a developing position, and development is sequentially performed for each color.

  The toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 28 by the rotary developing unit 151 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 152. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 152 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 150. The sheet S is supplied from a sheet cassette 127.

  A fixing device 122 is provided downstream of the image forming unit 115, and fixes a toner image on the conveyed sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 122 is selectively subjected to a binding process by a sheet binding device 100 described later. Then, the sheet or the sheet bundle is discharged by the discharge roller pair 210 to the discharge section 125 outside the apparatus.

  FIG. 41 is a schematic sectional view of the sheet binding apparatus. FIG. 42A is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the support portion of the uneven member in the sheet binding device. FIG. 42 (B) is a top perspective view showing the sheet binding apparatus with the upper support stand removed. FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a binding state of the sheet binding apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 41, the sheet binding device 400 is a sheet binding device that binds a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets without using a binding member such as a staple. The sheet binding device 400 has a pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402 for binding a sheet bundle. The pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 are provided so as to be movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle, and join the sheets by sandwiching the sheet bundle to form irregularities in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. Bind.

  The lower uneven member (hereinafter, referred to as a lower uneven member) 401 is supported by a lower support stand (hereinafter, referred to as a lower support stand) 409 with screws or the like. Similarly, an upper concave / convex member (hereinafter, referred to as an upper concave / convex member) 402 is supported by an upper support table (hereinafter, referred to as an upper support table) 410 with screws or the like. Further, each of the concave and convex members 401 and 402 has a concavo-convex shape composed of a series of convex portions and concave portions, and the arrangement pitch of the concavo-convex shapes is the same. Here, the arrangement pitch is a pitch between adjacent convex portions 402a (or convex portions 401a) or a pitch between concave portions 402b (or 201b).

  As shown in FIG. 42B, two guide pins for abutting and positioning the corners of the sheet bundle between the concave and convex members 401 and 402 against the lower support 409 supporting the lower concave and convex members 401. 211 is provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 42 (A), a guide hole 410a that movably engages and guides each guide pin 411 of the lower support 409 in the upper support 410 supporting the upper uneven member 2. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 42B, the guide pins 411 guide the upper support 410 so as to be movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle, and prevent the upper support 210 from slipping out of the guide pins 211. And a stopper portion 411a. The upper support 410 is urged upward by a compression spring 421 provided on the lower support 409. The top dead center of the upper support 410 that is urged upward is determined when the upper support 410 abuts the stopper 411a of the guide pin 211 that is larger than the diameter of the guide hole 210a. On the other hand, the bottom dead center of the upper support 410 is determined when the lower uneven member 401 and the upper uneven member 202 contact each other.

  As shown in FIG. 42, the pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402 include a fixed concave and convex member fixed at a predetermined position and a movable concave and convex member movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle with respect to the fixed concave and convex member. Become. Here, of the pair of concave / convex members 401 and 402, the lower concave / convex member 401 is a fixed concave / convex member in which the lower support 409 is attached to the frame 414 and fixed at a predetermined position. On the other hand, the upper uneven member 402 is configured such that the upper support 410 can move in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle along the guide pins 411 and can move in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle relative to the lower uneven member 401. It is a moving uneven member. Sheet binding means is constituted by the pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402, the lower support 409, the upper support 410, the moving arm 412, and the frame 414. One end of a moving arm 412 supported rotatably about a shaft 212 a with respect to a frame 414 is in contact with the upper surface of an upper support 410 supporting the upper uneven member 401. The moving arm 412 moves the upper support table 410 at the retreat position where the space H between the concave and convex members 401 and 402 is opened by the maximum distance by the action of the compression spring 421 and the guide pin 411 along the guide pin 211. This is a moving unit that moves to a binding position where the concave and convex members 401 and 402 mesh with each other. Here, the binding position is a first position at which the sheet bundle is sandwiched and bound by the pair of concave / convex members 401 and 402, and the retracted position is a position where the upper concave / convex member 402 is located at the first position with respect to the lower concave / convex member 401. This is the second position further retracted in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle.

As described above, the upper support 410 and the moving arm 412 are usually installed in a state where the interval H between the pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402 is widened by the maximum distance by the action of the compression spring 421 and the guide pin 411. I have. At the other end of the moving arm 412, as shown in FIG. 41, a pressing pin 412b for pressing the connecting arm 413 supported rotatably about the shaft 413a with respect to the frame 414 is provided. ing. An arm plate 415, which is an elastic member, is attached to an upper portion of the connection arm 413. A cam 416 is in contact with the upper surface of the free end of the arm plate 415. The vertical position of the arm plate 415 is determined by the phase of the cam 416.
In FIG. 41, a cam 416 is rotated by a drive transmitted from a cam drive motor 420 via a motor gear 419, a drive transmission gear 418, and a cam drive shaft 417.

Therefore, when the cam 416 is rotated, the connection arm 41 to which the arm plate 415 is attached is connected.
3 and the moving arm 412 rotate, and the upper support 410 having the upper uneven member 402 moves in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle along the guide pins 411 with respect to the lower support 409 having the lower uneven member 401. . That is, when the cam 416 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 41 to the state shown in FIG. 43, the moving arm 412 is rotated against the force of the compression spring 421, and the upper and lower uneven members 402 and 201 are engaged. The upper support 210 is moved to the binding position.
At this time, the pressing force applied between the uneven members 401 and 402 is a constant pressing force (here, about 100 kg). Further, when the cam 416 is continuously rotated from the state shown in FIG. 43 to the state shown in FIG. 41, the upper support base 410 having the upper concave / convex member 402 is moved by the urging force of the compression spring 421 to the stopper portion of the guide pin 411. It is moved to the retreat position abutting on 411a. As described above, the binding process by the pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402 is performed by one rotation of the cam 416.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image forming system 101 Image forming apparatus 201 Paper processing apparatus 261 Tooth mold 261A Tooth 261A1 Horizontal surface 261A2 Curved surface R large Part with large radius of curvature R small Part with small radius of curvature
S Paper bundle S 'Paper X Wrinkles formed along tooth streaks Y Wrinkles generated where there are no teeth

JP 2010-208854 A JP-T 2007-536141 A

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is directed to a binding processing apparatus that presses and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of pressure-bonding teeth having a plurality of protrusions, wherein each of the pair of pressure-bonding teeth includes an arrangement of the protrusions. intersects Rutotomoni formed along a direction perpendicular to the direction, and the tooth surface inclined arrangement direction of the convex portion, and a side surface formed along the arrangement direction of the convex portion, the side surface and the tooth surface A ridge, and the ridge has a rounded shape, and when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of pressure teeth are engaged with each other, the ridge is one of the pair of pressure teeth. The binding processing device is characterized in that the other ridge of the pair of crimping teeth intersects.

Claims (11)

In a binding processing device that binds and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of compression teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, and side surfaces formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged,
A side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a round shape,
When viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other, the one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersects the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth. A binding processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. In a binding processing device that binds and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of compression teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, a side surface formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, the tooth surface, and the side surface. And the side where
A side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a round shape,
One side of the pair of crimping teeth and the other side of the pair of crimping teeth intersect when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other. A binding processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. In a binding processing device that binds and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of compression teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, and side surfaces formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged,
A side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a chamfered shape,
When viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other, the one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersects the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth. A binding processing device characterized by the above-mentioned. In a binding processing device that binds and binds a sheet bundle between a pair of compression teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, a side surface formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, the tooth surface, and the side surface. And the side where
A side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a chamfered shape,
One side of the pair of crimping teeth and the other side of the pair of crimping teeth intersect when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other. A binding processing device characterized by the above-mentioned.   The binding processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein shapes of the pair of crimping teeth when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged are the same.   The side surface of at least one crimping tooth of the pair of crimping teeth is formed bilaterally symmetric when viewed from a direction in which the convex portions are arranged. Binding device.   The binding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the side has a larger radius of curvature on the top side of the projection than on the bottom side of the projection.   When looking at the pair of crimping teeth from the direction in which the protrusions are arranged in a state where the tooth surfaces of the pair of crimping teeth are in contact with each other, the shape of the range in which one and the other of the pair of crimping teeth overlap with each other is The binding processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the binding processing device is a hexagon. A moving means for moving one or both of the pair of crimping teeth in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle,
9. The sheet bundle according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the pair of crimping teeth are moved in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle by the moving unit to compress and bind the sheet bundle. 10. Binding device. A binding processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Conveying means for conveying the sheet,
Stacking means for stacking the conveyed sheets,
A sheet processing apparatus for binding a sheet bundle accumulated in the accumulation means by the binding processing apparatus.   An image forming system comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10.

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