JP2020179530A - Binding part flattening device, sheet post-processing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a binding part flattening device for flattening a deep-drawn binding trace and reducing a fastening force, to solve the problem that a roller width is required to be secured widely because a position of a set sheet bundle is unstable, or wrinkles and damage are generated in the sheet bundle from resistance against a roller, depending on a force applied by an operator under conditions such as weak stiffness and high moisture content.SOLUTION: A binding part flattening device C1 comprises: an insertion part 104; a restriction part 105; a support part 102; a press roller 101; and a moving mechanism 103. A binding part Sb of a sheet bundle S can be inserted into the insertion part 104. The restriction part 105 restricts a position of the binding part Sb inserted into the insertion part 104. The support part 102 supports the binding part Sb. The press roller 101 presses the binding part Sb between itself and the support part 102. The moving mechanism 103 moves the press roller 101 along a surface of the binding part Sb.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

The present invention relates to a binding portion flattening device for flattening a binding portion having irregularities formed by a crimp binding treatment, and a sheet post-processing device and an image forming apparatus provided with a binding portion flattening device.

In recent years, there has been an increase in environmental friendliness, and by pressurizing a bundle of sheets between teeth with irregularities to form irregularities, a crimp binding process is performed in which the fibers of the sheet are entwined and bound. Deep drawing binding, eco-binding) devices are becoming widespread. Along with this, the sheet bundle that has been pressure-bonded is passed through the automatic document feeder (ADF) as a document again, so that when the sheet bundle is separated, the bound portion may be torn or wrinkled. there were.

In order to solve the above problem, after manually setting the sheet bundle between the roller pairs, pressure is applied to the roller pair, and the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the roller pairs with the uneven binding portion of the sheet bundle formed. A binding portion flattening device has been proposed in which the binding portion is flattened by manually pulling and the sheet can be peeled off without tearing by reducing the fastening force of the binding portion (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-119466

In the configuration described in Patent Document 1 described above, the positioning of the binding portion is difficult to stabilize when the sheet bundle is set between the roller pairs. Therefore, it is necessary to set a wide roller width in order to sufficiently flatten the binding portion with the roller pair. In addition, the roller pairs are pressure-welded with high pressure to flatten the binding portion. For this reason, when the sheet bundle is manually pulled out, if the sheet bundle is a sheet with a weak stiffness or a sheet with a high water content, wrinkles and damage may occur due to resistance with the roller pair depending on the force of the operator. It may occur in a bundle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a binding portion flattening device capable of saving space, reducing tearing of a sheet regardless of usage conditions and work variations of workers, and stably flattening a binding portion. There is.

In order to solve the above problems, the binding portion flattening device of the present invention has an insertion portion capable of inserting a binding portion of a sheet bundle in which a binding mark is formed by a crimp binding process of crimping a predetermined position of the sheet bundle, and the insertion portion. A regulating means for restricting the position of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion, a support means for supporting one surface of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion, and the other of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion. A pressing roller that can rotate while abutting on the surface, a moving mechanism that relatively moves the pressing roller and the binding portion so that the pressing roller is along the other surface, and a driving means that drives the moving mechanism. The first moving means includes the pressing roller and the binding portion, whereby the binding portion is moved between the pressing roller and the supporting means. It is characterized in that a flattening process of pressing and flattening is executed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to save space, reduce tearing of the sheet regardless of usage conditions and work variations of workers, and stably flatten the binding portion.

Explanatory drawing of the whole structure of the image formation system which concerns on embodiment. The explanatory view of the whole structure of the sheet post-processing apparatus in the image formation system of FIG. The enlarged view of the route main part of the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manual feed slit portion in the sheet post-processing device of FIG. Diagram of the layout of the sheet mounting surface of the processing tray and the setting surface of the manual feed slit portion. The figure which shows the movement locus of a staple unit and an eco-binding unit. The explanatory view which shows the arrangement relationship between the position where the sheet is aligned and the staple unit in the apparatus of FIG. The explanatory view of the differential mechanism of the binding device in the device of FIG. The explanatory view of the elevating mechanism of a stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. Explanatory drawing of a sheet bundle which flattens the binding part. Explanatory drawing of the first embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the second embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the third embodiment. Explanatory drawing of a fourth embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the fifth embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the sixth embodiment. The explanatory view of the 7th Embodiment. The explanatory view of the 8th and 9th embodiments. It is an operation explanatory view of the sheet bundle unloading mechanism, (a) shows the state which a sheet bundle is located at the processing position on a processing tray, (b) is the state in the process of transferring a sheet bundle from a processing position to the downstream side. (C) shows the state immediately before the sheet bundle is carried out to the stack tray on the downstream side. The configuration of the binding device according to the embodiment is shown, (a) is a configuration explanatory view of a staple unit, and (b) is a configuration explanatory diagram of an eco-binding unit. The block diagram which shows the control structure in the apparatus of FIG. The binding processing discharge operation flow diagram in the apparatus of FIG. Operation flow diagram of jog sorting and discharging mode. The flow diagram of the discharge mode in the apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is an operation flow diagram of the bookbinding process discharge mode, and (b) is an operation flow diagram of the printout discharge mode.

[Image forming device]
The image forming apparatus A in the image forming system 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The illustrated image forming apparatus A shows an electrostatic printing mechanism, and is composed of an image forming unit A1, a scanner unit A2, and a feeder unit (ADF) A3. The device housing 1 is provided with an installation leg 25 to be installed on an installation surface (for example, a floor surface). Further, inside the device housing 1, a feeding unit 2, an image forming unit 3 as an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, an discharging unit 4, and a data processing unit 5 are built in.

The feeding unit 2 is composed of cassettes 2a to 2c for storing sheets of a plurality of sizes for forming an image, and feeds a sheet of a size specified by the main body control unit 90 (see FIG. 21) to the feeding path 6. For this reason, a plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c are detachably arranged in the device housing 1, and each cassette has a built-in separation mechanism for separating the internal sheets one by one and a feeding mechanism for feeding out the sheets. .. The feeding path 6 is provided with a transport roller 7 for feeding sheets supplied from a plurality of cassettes 2a to 2c to the downstream side, and a resist roller pair 8 for aligning the tips of the sheets at the end of the path. ing.

The large-capacity cassette 2d and the manual feed tray 2e are connected to the above-mentioned feed path 6, and the large-capacity cassette 2d is composed of an optional unit for storing a sheet having a size to be consumed in large quantities, and the manual feed tray 2e Is configured to be able to supply special sheets such as thick sheets, coating sheets, and film sheets that are difficult to separate and feed.

The image forming unit 3 shows an electrostatic printing mechanism as an example, and includes a photoconductor 9 (drum, belt), a light emitter 10 that emits an optical beam to the photophore 9, a developer 11 (developer), and a cleaner (a developer). (Not shown) and are arranged around the rotating photoconductor 9. The illustrated one shows a monochrome printing mechanism, and a light emitter 10 optically forms a latent image on the photoconductor 9, and a developer 11 adheres toner and ink to the latent image.

Then, the sheet is sent from the feeding path 6 to the image forming unit 3 at the timing of forming an image on the photoconductor 9, the image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 12, and the fixing unit (roller) arranged in the discharging path 14 It is fixed at 13. A discharge roller 15 and a discharge port 16 are arranged in the discharge path 14, and the sheet whose image is formed by the image forming unit 3 is conveyed by the discharge roller 15 and discharged toward the sheet post-processing device B described later. It is discharged from 16.

The scanner unit A2 described above converts the platen 17 on which the image document is placed, the carriage 18 that reciprocates along the platen, the light source mounted on the carriage 18, and the reflected light from the document on the platen into the photoelectric conversion unit 19. It is composed of a reduction optical system 20 (combination of a mirror and a lens) that guides the image. FIG. 21 is a second platen (running platen), and the sheet sent from the feeder unit A3 is image-read by the carriage 18 and the reduction optical system 20 described above. Although the photoelectric conversion unit 19 has been photoelectrically converted, the image data is electrically transferred to the image forming unit 3.

The feeder unit A3 includes a feed tray 22, a feed path 23 that guides the sheet fed from the feed tray 22 to the traveling platen 21, and an discharge tray 24 that stores the document whose image has been read by the traveling platen 21. It is configured.

The image forming apparatus A is not limited to the above-mentioned mechanism, and a printing mechanism of an offset printing mechanism, an inkjet printing mechanism, and an ink ribbon transfer printing mechanism (thermal transfer ribbon printing, sublimation type ribbon printing, etc.) can be adopted.

[Sheet post-processing device]
The sheet post-processing device B serves as a device for post-processing the sheet carried out from the discharge port 16 of the image forming device A, and (1) has a function of loading and accommodating the image-formed sheet (first and third processing units B1, B3; printout mode), (2) a function of partially storing the image-formed sheets (third processing unit B3; jog sorting mode), and (3) collecting and binding the image-formed sheets. A function to process (first processing unit B1; binding processing mode) and (4) a function to align the image-formed sheets, perform binding processing, and then fold and finish the bookbinding (second processing unit B2; binding processing). Mode) and.

The sheet post-processing device B does not need to have all the above-mentioned functions, and may be appropriately configured according to the device specifications (design specifications). Also in this case, a processing unit (first processing unit B1) for aligning and accumulating sheets, and a staple unit 47 and eco-binding as a post-processing means, a binding unit, and first and second binding units in this processing unit are used. A stack configuration in which the unit 51 is provided and is stored after being bound by the selected binding unit is required.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the sheet aftertreatment device B. The sheet post-processing device B has a carry-in port 26 connected to the discharge port 16 of the image forming device A, and a storage unit (first stack tray described later) after post-processing the sheets discharged from the discharge port 16 and carried in from the carry-in port 26. 49, 2nd stack tray 61, 3rd stack tray 71).

In the illustrated device, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in route 28 is post-processed from the first processing unit B1 as the post-processing means to the first stack tray 49 (hereinafter referred to as “first tray”) as the loading means. From the second processing unit B2 as the means to the second stack tray 61 as the loading means (hereinafter referred to as "second tray"), from the third processing unit B3 as the post-processing means to the third stack tray 71 as the loading means. Transfer to (hereinafter referred to as "third tray").

The first processing unit B1 is arranged at the route outlet (discharge port) 35 of the sheet carry-in route 28, and the sheets sent in sequence are aligned and accumulated, and after performing a binding process as a predetermined post-processing, the first processing unit B1 is performed. It is loaded and stored on a tray (first storage unit; the same applies hereinafter) 49. The second processing unit B2 is arranged at the route outlet 62 (32 ends of the second discharge path (second switchback path) described later) branched from the sheet carry-in route 28, and the sheets to be sequentially sent are aligned and accumulated to be predetermined. After performing the binding process as the post-treatment, the folding process as the predetermined post-treatment is performed, and the tray is loaded and stored in the second tray (second storage unit; the same applies hereinafter) 61. The third processing unit B3 is incorporated in the sheet carry-in path 28, and after the sheets to be conveyed are offset by a predetermined amount in the orthogonal direction and divided, the sheets are loaded and stored in the third tray (third storage unit; the same applies hereinafter) 71. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described in detail.

"Device housing"
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet post-processing device B is built in the device housing 27 and the device housing 27, and is sent from the sheet carry-in path 28 having the carry-in inlet 26 and the discharge port 35, and the sheet carry-in path 28. The first, second, and third trays 49, 61, which store the first processing unit B1, the second processing unit B2, the third processing unit B3, and the sheets sent from each processing unit, which post-process the sheets. It is equipped with 71. The illustrated device housing 27 is arranged at substantially the same height as the device housing 1 of the image forming device A located on the upstream side, and the discharge port 16 of the image forming device A and the carry-in port 26 of the sheet post-processing device B are arranged from the installation surface. And are connected.

The device housing 27 shown in FIG. 2 includes a device frame 70 (see FIG. 5) and an exterior cover 73 (see FIG. 4). The device frame 70 forms a frame of a box-shaped device as shown in the figure, and in the state of FIG. 1, the front side frame frame 70f located on the front side, the rear side frame frame 70r located on the back side, and It is composed of a stay member (connecting reinforcing member) that connects the frames on both sides. A sheet carry-in route 28, a processing tray 37 as a loading means, a first tray 49, and the like, which will be described later, are attached between the left and right side frame frames.

The exterior cover 73 is composed of a front cover 73f that covers the side frame frame 70f on the front side and a rear cover 73r that covers the side frame frame on the rear side. The device housing 27 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure and has a suitable shape in terms of design. Of course, the device frame 70 is not limited to the left and right side frames and the connecting stay structure, and various frame structures such as a monocoque structure are adopted. It is possible.

"Sheet delivery route"
The sheet carry-in route 28 is composed of a straight path that crosses the device housing 27 in a substantially horizontal direction, and crosses the carry-in inlet 26 that is connected to the discharge port (main body discharge port) 16 of the image forming apparatus A and the device from this carry-in port. It is provided with a discharge port 35 located on the opposite side. The sheet carry-in route 28 includes a transport roller 29 (seat transport portion such as a roller and a belt) for transporting the sheet from the carry-in port 26 toward the discharge port 35, and a discharge roller 36 (with a belt) arranged at the discharge port 35. The inlet sensor S1 for detecting the front and rear ends of the sheet carried into the route and the discharge sensor S2 for detecting the front and rear ends of the sheet at the discharge port 16 of the route are arranged.

The above-mentioned sheet carry-in route 28 is connected so as to distribute and transfer the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 to the first processing unit B1 and the second processing unit B2, and the second processing unit B2 is on the upstream side in the route discharge direction. The first processing unit B1 is connected to the downstream side. The substantially linear sheet carry-in route 28 is branched so as to transfer the sheet from the carry-in entrance 26 toward the second processing unit B2, and then is arranged on the downstream side of the discharge port 35 of the route. The route configuration is such that the route is guided to the processing unit B1.

Further, a third discharge path (printout discharge path) 30 for guiding the sheet not to be post-treated by the first and second processing units B1 and B2 to the third tray 71 is connected to the above-mentioned sheet carry-in route 28. It is configured to guide the sheet to the third tray (overflow tray) 71. A third processing unit B3 is built in the sheet carry-in route 28, and this processing unit performs jog sorting for offsetting and classifying the sheets carrying the route in the direction orthogonal to the discharge. That is, a third processing unit B3 is built in the sheet carry-in route 28, and the sheets jog-sorted by this processing unit are stored in the third tray 71.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet carry-in route 28 is arranged in the order of "third discharge path 30", "second discharge path 32", and "first discharge path 31" on the downstream side from the carry-in entrance 26, and is in the illustrated position. A first route switching unit 33 and a second route switching unit 34 are arranged in the vehicle. Further, the second discharge path 32 and the first discharge path 31 are composed of switchback passes that reverse the sheet transport direction and guide the sheet to each processing unit.

The third discharge pass 30 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in entrance 26 to the third tray 71, and the second discharge pass 32 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in entrance 26 to the second tray 61, and the first discharge The pass 31 guides the sheet sent from the carry-in entrance 26 to the first tray 49. Then, the sheet guided to the third tray 71 is jog-sorted by the third processing unit B3 in the route, and the sheet guided to the second tray 61 is bound by the second processing unit B2 to the first tray 49. The sheet to be guided is bound by the first processing unit B1.

The first path switching unit 33 is composed of a flapper guide that changes the seat transport direction, and is connected to a drive unit (electromagnetic solenoid, electromagnetic clutch, etc.) (not shown). The switching unit 33 selects whether to guide the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 to the third discharge path 30 or the first and second discharge paths 31 and 32.

The second route switching unit 34 selects whether to guide the sheet sent from the carry-in inlet 26 to the second processing unit B2 or to the first processing unit B1 on the downstream side thereof. A drive unit (not shown) is also connected to the second path switching unit 34. Further, in the sheet carry-in route 28, a punch unit 50 for punching a punch hole in the carried-in sheet is arranged.

[First processing unit]
The first processing unit B1 is composed of a processing tray 37 arranged on the downstream side of the sheet carry-in path 28 and collecting sheets sent from the discharge port 35, and a binding processing mechanism for binding the accumulated sheet bundles. It is composed. As shown in FIG. 2, a step is formed in the discharge port 35 of the sheet carry-in route 28, and the processing tray 37 is arranged below the step, and the transport direction is set between the discharge port 35 and the processing tray 37 from the discharge port. A first discharge path (first switchback path) 31 that is inverted to guide the sheet onto the tray is formed.

Between the discharge port 35 and the processing tray 37, a sheet loading mechanism for carrying the sheet from the discharge port 35 onto the processing tray 37 is provided, and the processing tray 37 is at a predetermined position (processing position) where the binding process is performed. A sheet positioning mechanism for positioning the sheets and a sheet bundle unloading mechanism for carrying out the bound sheet bundle to the first tray 49 on the downstream side are arranged. Each configuration will be described later.

The processing tray 37 shown in FIG. 2 bridge-supports the sheet sent from the discharge port 35 to the first tray 49 on the downstream side. That is, the sheet sent from the discharge port 35 is configured to bridge and support the front end portion on the uppermost sheet of the first tray 49 on the downstream side and the rear end portion on the processing tray 37. ..

[Second processing unit]
A second discharge path (second switchback path) 32 is branched and connected to the upstream side of the first discharge path (first switchback path) 31 (see FIG. 3) to the sheet carry-in route 28 described above. The sheet is guided from the second discharge path 32 to the second processing unit B2. The second processing unit B2 aligns and accumulates the sheets sent from the sheet carry-in route 28, binds the central portion, and performs an inward folding process (hereinafter referred to as "magazine finish"). A second tray 61 is arranged on the downstream side of the second processing unit B2 to store the bookbinding-processed sheet bundle.

The second processing unit B2 includes a guide member 66 for accumulating sheets in a bundle, a regulation stopper 67 for positioning the sheet at a predetermined position on the guide member 66 (the one shown is a tip regulation stopper), and the regulation stopper. A staple unit 63 (saddle stitch staple unit) that binds the central portion of the sheet positioned at 67, and a folding processing mechanism (folding roll pair 64 and folding blade 65) that folds the sheet bundle at the central portion after the binding process. It is composed of.

As disclosed in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644, etc., the saddle-stitched staple unit 63 has a sheet center portion (line) with a sheet bundle sandwiched between a head unit and an anvil unit. ) Is used to move the position and perform binding processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the folding processing mechanism adopts a configuration in which the folds of the sheet bundle are inserted into the folding roll pairs 64 which are pressed against each other by the folding blade 65 and folded by the rolling of the folding roll pairs 64. Such a mechanism is also disclosed in JP-A-2008-184324, JP-A-2009-051644 and the like.

The first processing unit B1 and the sheet carry-in route 28 shown in the drawing are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and the second discharge path 32 for guiding the sheet to the second processing unit B2 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and the sheets are aligned and accumulated. The guide member 66 is arranged in a substantially vertical direction. By arranging the sheet carry-in path 28 in the direction crossing the device housing 27 and arranging the processing paths (parts) 32 and B2 in the vertical direction in this way, the device can be slimmed down.

A second tray 61 is arranged on the downstream side of the second processing unit B2, and stores a bundle of sheets folded in a magazine shape. The illustrated second tray 61 is arranged below the first tray 49. This is because the frequency of use of the first tray 49 is higher than the frequency of use of the second tray 61, and the height position at which the sheet on the tray can be easily taken out is set in the first tray 49.

"Third processing unit"
A third discharge path 30 is formed on the upstream side of the first discharge path 31 and the second discharge path 32 in the sheet carry-in path 28, and guides the sheet from the carry-in port 26 to the third tray 71. Then, in the path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 to the third tray 71 (sheet carry-in path 28 or third discharge path 30), a roller shift mechanism (not shown) that offsets the sheet to be conveyed by a predetermined amount in the orthogonal direction is provided. Have been placed.

Then, the sheets to be carried out to the third tray 71 are displaced (offset) in the orthogonal direction so as to separate the sheets from the carry-in entrance 26, and are stored on the third tray 71. Since various mechanisms are known for this jog sorting mechanism, the description thereof will be omitted.

[Bypass slit part]
The device housing 27 includes a sheet processing mechanism unit that guides the sheet from the sheet carry-in path 28 to the processing tray 37, performs post-processing, and then stores the sheet in the stack tray 49, and externally covers the exterior cover 73 as shown in FIG. A manual slit portion 77 is provided for inserting and setting the created sheet bundle and binding the sheet bundle. It is convenient that the manual feed slit portion 77 is provided with a binding processing mechanism on the exterior of the sheet post-processing device B when, for example, the operator bundles and binds the image-read document sheets. For this reason, the operator sets the bundle of sheets in a part of the casing, and is equipped with a staple unit built in the casing and a mechanism for binding with other binding devices.

The manual feed slit portion 77 arranged for the above purpose is composed of a slit-shaped opening 77a, a set surface 77b, and a regulation surface 77c, and is a binding unit (post-processing) for binding a bundle of sheets set in the manual feed slit portion 77. Means) are arranged inside the device. As described above, the sheet post-processing device B is configured so that the sheet bundle set in the manual feed slit portion 77 can be bound by the first processing unit B1.

As shown in FIG. 4, a slit-shaped opening 77a is arranged in the front cover 73f so that the sheet bundle S can be inserted from the outside. The illustrated device is arranged at a position that supports the sheet bundle at positions adjacent to each other on the same plane as the processing tray 37 described with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet mounting surface 37a of the processing tray and the set surface 77b are arranged in substantially the same plane at positions adjacent to each other via the side frame frame 70f.

This is a sheet bundle in which the binding unit 47 (staple unit) whose position can be moved along the edge of the processing tray 37, which will be described later, is moved to the setting surface 77b arranged at a position adjacent to the processing tray 37 and manually set. This is for binding processing. Therefore, the set surface 77b is arranged so as to form the same plane as the sheet mounting surface 37a of the processing tray 37 described above.

The sheet bundle S manually inserted through the slit-shaped opening 77a is inserted into the slit portion 77 along the set surface 77b, and the position of the end surface is abutted against the regulation surface 77c of the processing position to be restricted. As a result, the sheet bundle S inserted from the outside is positioned at the processing position by supporting the lower surface thereof on the set surface 77b and abutting the position of the end surface thereof against the regulation surface 77c to regulate the sheet bundle S. A staple unit (binding unit) 47 is built in the inside of the set surface 77b and the regulation surface 77c, and the staple unit 47 is at a position (binding position) in which the device shown in the drawing processes the sheet bundle on the processing tray 37 described above. ) And the binding position for binding to the sheet bundle on the set surface 77b, which is supported by the guide rail so as to be movable, and the position is moved by the drive mechanism provided with the drive motor M3 (see FIG. 8).

"Structure of the first processing unit"
Each configuration of the sheet loading mechanism, the sheet positioning mechanism, the binding processing mechanism, and the sheet bundle unloading mechanism of the first processing unit B1 described above will be described.

"Sheet loading mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, between the discharge port 35 and the processing tray 37, a reversing transfer mechanism that switches back the sheet from the discharge port 35 in the direction opposite to the discharge direction and guides the sheet to the processing tray 37 side. A guide mechanism (seat guide member) 44 and a scraping rotating body 46 that guides the seat to the seat edge regulating portion 38 are arranged.

The reversing transfer mechanism includes an elevating roller 41 that moves up and down between an operating position that engages with a sheet that is carried onto the processing tray 37 and a standby position that is separated from the sheet, and a paddle rotating body 42 that transfers the sheet in the opposite direction of discharge. The elevating roller 41 and the paddle rotating body 42 are attached to the swing bracket 43.

A swing bracket 43 is arranged on the device frame 27b so as to be swingable around a rotary shaft 36x (the one shown is a discharge roller shaft), and the swing bracket 43 is bearing the rotary shafts of the lifting roller 41 and the paddle rotating body 42. It is supported. An elevating motor (not shown) is connected to the swing bracket 43, and the elevating roller 41 mounted and the paddle rotating body 42 move up and down between an operating position where the paddle rotating body 42 engages with the seat and a standby position separated from the seat. ..

Further, a drive motor (not shown) is connected to the elevating roller 41 to the paddle rotating body 42, and the drive is transmitted so that the elevating roller 41 rotates in the forward / reverse direction and the paddle rotating body 42 rotates in the reverse direction (opposite direction to discharge). There is. Further, a driven roller 48 that is in pressure contact with the elevating roller 41 is arranged on the processing tray 37, and a single sheet or a bundled sheet is niped and carried out to the downstream side.

A seat guide member 44 for guiding the rear end of the sheet carried onto the processing tray 37 toward the seat edge regulating portion 38 is arranged between the elevating roller 41 and the scraping rotating body 46 described later, and is shown in the drawing. The one is composed of a seat guide member 44 that moves up and down from the dotted line state to the solid line state in FIG. 3, and the seat guide member 44 retracts to the dotted line position when the sheet is carried out from the discharge port 35, and the rear end of the seat is discharged. After passing through the exit 35, the rear end of the sheet is guided onto the processing tray 37. Therefore, a drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the seat guide member 44, and moves up and down according to the timing of guiding the rear end of the seat from the discharge port 35 onto the processing tray 37.

"Sheet positioning mechanism"
A sheet positioning mechanism for positioning the sheet at the processing position is arranged on the processing tray 37, and the illustrated sheet positioning mechanism is based on the sheet edge regulating portion 38 that abuts and regulates the position of the rear end of the sheet and the side edge of the sheet. It is composed of a side edge matching portion 39 (see FIG. 7) positioned at a position (center reference, one side reference).

As shown in FIG. 3, the seat edge regulating portion 38 is composed of a stopper member that abuts and regulates the position of the rear end of the seat. Further, the side edge matching portion 39 will be described later according to FIG. 7, but in the illustrated device, the sheet is ejected from the sheet carry-in path 28 based on the center, and is positioned based on the same center according to the binding mode, or is positioned based on one side. To do.

"Side edge matching part"
As shown in FIG. 7, the side edge matching plates 39F and 39R have a regulation surface 39x that protrudes upward from the sheet mounting surface 37a of the processing tray 37 and engages with the side edge of the sheet, so that a pair of left and right sides face each other. Deploy. Then, the pair of side edge matching plates 39F and 39R are arranged on the processing tray 37 so as to be reciprocating with a predetermined stroke. This stroke is set by the size difference between the maximum size sheet and the minimum size sheet and the offset amount for moving the position (offset transfer) of the sheet bundle after matching in either the left or right direction.

That is, the moving strokes of the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R are set by the moving amount for matching different size sheets and the offset amount of the sheet bundle after matching. The offset movement of the side edge matching plates 39F and 39R moves the sheet carried out based on the center reference at the time of corner binding to the right side at the time of right corner binding and to the left side at the time of left corner binding. This offset movement is carried out one by one each time a sheet is carried into the processing tray 37 (for each carried-in sheet), or is moved for each bundle for binding processing after aligning the sheets into a bundle. Is adopted.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the side edge matching portion 39 is composed of a right side edge matching plate 39F (device front side) and a left side edge matching plate 39R (device rear side), and both side edge matching members. Is supported by the processing tray 37 so that the regulation surface 39x that engages with the seat side edge moves in the approaching direction or the separating direction from each other. The processing tray 37 is provided with a slit groove (not shown) penetrating the front and back surfaces, and a side edge matching portion 39 having a regulation surface 39x that engages with the seat side edge is slidably fitted to the upper surface of the tray from this slit. ing.

The side edge matching plates 39F and 39R are slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 80 (which may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and the rack 81 is integrally formed. Matching motors M1 and M2 are connected to the left and right racks 81 via pinions 82. The left and right matching motors M1 and M2 are composed of stepping motors, and position detection of the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R is performed by a position sensor (not shown), and each matching member is placed in either the left or right direction based on the detected value. , It is configured so that the position can be moved by the specified movement amount.

It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the side edge matching plates 39F and 39R are fixed to a timing belt and the belts are connected to a motor that reciprocates left and right by a pulley without using the rack-pinion mechanism shown in the figure.

With such a configuration, the control unit 95, which will be described later, sets the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R to predetermined standby positions (sheet width size + α position) based on the sheet size information provided by the image forming apparatus A or the like. Make it wait. Then, in the case of "multi-binding", the sheet is carried onto the processing tray 37, and the matching operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge abuts on the sheet edge regulating portion 38. In this matching operation, the left and right matching motors M1 and M2 are rotated by the same amount in opposite directions (approaching directions).

Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 37 are positioned with reference to the sheet center and stacked in a bundle. By repeating the loading operation and the matching operation of the sheets, the sheets are aligned in a bundle on the processing tray 37 and are aligned and accumulated. At this time, sheets of different sizes are positioned with reference to the center. Further, in the case of "corner binding", the sheet is carried onto the processing tray 37, and the matching operation is started at the timing when the sheet edge abuts on the sheet edge regulating portion 38. This matching operation causes the side edge matching plate on the binding position side and the side edge matching plate on the opposite side of the binding position to move differently. Then, the movement amount is set so that the sheet corner as a corner formed by the two adjacent sides of the sheet bundle is located at the preset binding position.

"Binding processing mechanism"
The processing tray 37 is provided with binding processing mechanisms 47 and 51 for binding the sheet bundles accumulated on the sheet mounting surface 37a. The sheet bundle on the processing tray 37 is positioned on the sheet mounting surface 37a at the processing position by a positioning mechanism (sheet edge regulating portion 38 and side edge matching portion 39). The binding processing mechanisms 47 and 51 include a first binding unit 47 (first binding means; the same applies to the "staple unit" and the following) for needle binding of sheet bundles with staples, and a second binding unit 51 (crimp binding means) for stitchless binding. , The second binding means; the same applies to the "eco-binding unit" and the following), and are configured to be selectively arranged at the binding position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the processing tray 37 is provided with binding units 47 and 51 for binding the rear ends of the sheets carried in from the discharge port 35, and the binding units are the sheets of the processing tray 37 as shown in FIG. It is composed of a staple unit (first binding unit) 47 and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 that can move in position along the rear end of the mounting surface 37a.

FIG. 6 shows a staple unit (first binding unit) 47 and an eco-binding unit (second binding unit) 51 arranged on the processing tray 37. In the illustrated device, the binding position Cp1 is set at the seat corner located on the left side in the drawing. The staple unit 47 and the eco-binding unit 51 reciprocally move to the binding position Cp1.

Therefore, the staple unit 47 moves along the first traveling rail 53 and the second traveling rail 54 formed on the device frame 27b with the first stroke SL1 having a predetermined length, and similarly, the eco-binding unit 51 moves with the device frame 57. It is arranged so as to move along the first guide rod 56a and the second guide rod 56b (see FIG. 20) arranged in the second stroke SL2 having a predetermined length.

FIG. 7 shows the sheets carried into the processing tray 37 and the moving strokes of the first and second binding units 47 and 51. Sheets of different sizes are carried into the processing tray 37 from the maximum size sheet to the minimum size sheet on a center basis. A pair of left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R align the sheets with reference to the binding side edges of the sheets (the left edge in the figure) (so that sheets of different sizes match). Therefore, the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R are connected to different matching motors M1 and M2, respectively, and the control unit 95 described later sets the amount of movement of the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R according to the seat size.

The control unit 95, which will be described later, aligns the sheets with reference to the center in a binding process other than the sheet corner binding process, for example, in the multi-binding mode described later. In this case, the left and right side edge matching plates 39F and 39R position the seat at the processing position by moving the same amount from the standby position toward the seat center.

Explaining according to FIG. 7, the staple unit 47 is the first stroke SL1 between the standby position Wp1 (first standby position) and the binding position Cp1, and the eco-binding unit 51 is the standby position Wp2 (second standby position) and the binding position. It moves in the second stroke SL2 with Cp1. That is, the staple unit 47 reciprocates between the standby position Wp1 and the binding position Cp1 along the traveling rails 53 and 54 (guide grooves, guide rods, etc.), and the eco-binding unit 51 reciprocates along the traveling rails 53 and 54 (guide grooves, guide rods, etc.). It reciprocates between the standby position Wp2 and the binding position Cp1 along (which may be present).

The binding position Cp1 is set at the seat corner (hereinafter referred to as "set binding position"), and the following relationship is established between the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 with respect to this position.
(1) Setting The first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 are set to be located on opposite sides of the binding position Cp1.
(2) The first standby position Wp1 is the outermost size sheet to be bound on the processing tray 37, or the binding position farthest from the set binding position Cp1 on the processing tray 37 (multi-binding position Ma or manual binding position Mp). Set to one of the maximum remote binding positions).
(3) The second standby position Wp2 is set to the outside of the sheet side edge (outside the sheet mounting area of the sheet mounting surface 37a) that matches the set binding position Cp1.
(4) The first stroke SL1 between the first standby position Wp1 and the set binding position Cp1 is set to be larger (longer) than the second stroke SL2 between the second standby position Wp2 and the set binding position Cp1.

By setting the first standby position Wp1 and the second standby position Wp2 on opposite sides with respect to the set binding position Cp1, when one binding unit moves in the approaching direction, the other binding unit moves in the away direction. (Reciprocal evacuation approach operation). Further, by setting SL1> SL2, the binding position (multi-binding position Ma) of the staple unit 47 can be set relatively freely. On the other hand, the eco-binding unit 51 performs binding processing only at a preset binding position. As a result, the total movement stroke length of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be set small, and the device can be miniaturized.

Then, in the control unit 95 described later, when the staple unit 47 is located at the set binding position Cp1, the eco-binding unit is at the standby position Wp2, and when the eco-binding unit 51 is located at the set binding position Cp1, the staple unit 47 is at the standby position Wp1. Move both binding units reciprocally so that they are positioned.

The reciprocal position movements of the first and second binding units 47 and 51 can be either (1) different in the amount of rotation according to the movement stroke with independent drive motors, or (2) with the staple unit 47 with the same drive source. Either a method of making the movement amount different from that of the eco-binding unit 51 is adopted.

FIG. 8 shows a mode in which the staple unit 47 and the eco-binding unit 51 move differently with the same drive source. A pair of left and right pulleys 58a and 58b are arranged on the device frame 27b along the moving direction of the staple unit 47 (horizontal direction in FIG. 7), and a timing belt 59 (toothed belt) is bridged between the two pulleys. A drive motor M3 (stepping motor) is connected to the pulley 58a of the above.

A transmission pinion 75 is connected to the other pulley 58b via a differential mechanism (transmission means) 74, and a rack 76 fixed to the frame of the eco-binding unit 51 meshes with this pinion. The differential mechanism 74 is composed of a gear mechanism having a transmission ratio suitable for the stroke difference between the first and second strokes SL1 and SL2, a slip clutch mechanism, or a combination of both mechanisms.

"Staple movement mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 3, the staple unit 47 is movably mounted on the device frame (chassis frame) 27b with a predetermined stroke. A first traveling rail 53 and a second traveling rail 54 are arranged on the device frame 27b. A traveling rail surface 53x is formed on the first traveling rail 53, and a traveling cam surface 54x is formed on the second traveling rail 54. The traveling rail surface 53x and the traveling cam surface 54x cooperate with each other to form a staple unit 47 (hereinafter referred to as this). In the section, it supports the "moving unit") so that it can reciprocate with a predetermined stroke, and at the same time controls its angular posture.

The first traveling rail 53 and the second traveling rail 54 are formed with a rail surface 53x and a traveling cam surface 54x so as to reciprocate within the moving range of the moving unit 47 (see FIG. 6). A timing belt 59 connected to the drive motor (traveling motor) M3 is fixed to the moving unit 47 (staple unit). The timing belt 59 is wound around a pair of pulleys 58a and 58b pivotally supported by the device frame 27b, and a drive motor M3 is connected to one of the pulleys. Therefore, the staple unit 47 reciprocates in the first stroke SL1 by the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor M3.

The moving unit 47 is engaged with the first and second traveling rails 53 and 54 as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, the moving unit 47 includes a first rolling roller 83 (rail fitting member) that engages with the traveling rail surface 53x and a second rolling roller 84 (rail fitting member) that engages with the traveling cam surface 54x. A cam follower member) is provided. At the same time, the moving unit 47 is formed with ball-shaped sliding rollers 47x (two locations in the figure) that engage with the support surface of the device frame 27b. Further, the moving unit 47 is formed with a guide roller 86 that engages with the bottom surface of the device frame 27b to prevent the moving unit 47 from floating from the device frame 27b.

From the above configuration, the moving unit 47 is movably supported on the device frame 27b by the sliding roller 47x and the guide roller 86. At the same time, the first rolling roller 83 travels on the traveling rail surface 53x, and the second rolling roller 84 travels along the traveling cam surface 54x while traveling along the rail surface 53x and the cam surface 54x.

"Stack tray lifting mechanism"
As shown in FIG. 9, the sheet post-processing device B is provided with the first tray 49 in the device frame 70. The first tray 49 is configured to move up and down according to the load capacity of the seats. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, guide rollers 85 are provided at two upper and lower positions at the base end of the first tray 49, and the guide rollers 85 are fitted and supported by the elevating guides 89 provided on the device frame 70. There is. The base end portion of the first tray 49 is connected to the elevating belt 87, and the elevating belt 87 is supported by a pair of upper and lower pulleys 88a and 88b. A drive motor (elevating motor) M7 is connected to one of the pulleys (drive side pulley) 88a. Therefore, by controlling the rotation of the drive motor M7, the first tray 49 moves up and down according to the load capacity of the seats.

"Sheet bundle unloading mechanism"
In the processing tray 37 described above, a sheet bundle unloading mechanism for carrying out the bound sheet bundle toward the first tray 49 on the downstream side is arranged. As a mechanism for transporting the sheet bundle to the downstream side, a mechanism for transporting the sheet bundle by a pair of rollers that are in pressure contact with each other (delivery roller mechanism) and an extrusion member that moves from the upstream side to the downstream side along the tray surface (sheet mounting surface 37a). A conveyor mechanism that pushes out the rear end of the sheet is known. The device shown employs both mechanisms.

FIG. 19 shows a sheet bundle unloading mechanism, and a sheet edge regulating portion (extruded protrusion) 38 for transferring from a processing position located upstream along the processing tray 37 to a stack tray (first tray) 49 on the downstream side, and a sheet. A conveyor mechanism is composed of a conveyor belt 38v for moving the end regulation portion 38 and a drive motor M6 thereof. A driven roller 48 is arranged on the processing tray 37 at its carry-out port (the boundary between the sheet mounting surface 37a and the first tray 49), and the elevating rollers 41 that are in pressure contact with the driven roller are arranged to face each other in the above-described configuration. The roller 48 and the elevating roller 41 constitute a carry-out roller mechanism.

Therefore, the processing tray 37 is provided with conveyor mechanisms 38, 38v for transferring the sheet bundle so as to push it from the upstream side to the downstream side, and unloading roller mechanisms 48, 41 for niping and carrying out the sheet bundle. It will be. FIG. 19A shows a state in which the sheet bundle is located at the processing position on the processing tray, and at this time, the conveyor mechanisms 38 and 38v and the unloading roller mechanisms 48 and 41 are in the operating state. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the sheet bundle is being transferred from the processing position to the downstream side, and the sheet bundle is downstream due to the position movement of the sheet edge regulating portion 38 and the rotation of the unloading roller mechanisms 48 and 41. Sent to the side. FIG. 3C shows a state immediately before the sheet bundle is carried out to the first tray 49 on the downstream side, and the sheet bundle is gradually moved downstream on the processing tray 37 by the rotation of the carry-out roller mechanisms 48 and 41 (). Sent (at low speed). At this time, the seat edge regulating unit 38 stands by at the indicated position and returns to the initial position (backward movement).

"First Embodiment of a binding portion flattening device"
The first embodiment of the binding portion flattening apparatus (deep drawing binding portion flattening mechanism, binding portion flattening mechanism) included in the image forming system 100 shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The binding portion flattening device C1 according to the first embodiment binds a sheet bundle S in which a deep drawing binding mark (binding mark) 201 is formed by a deep drawing binding process (crimp binding process) by the eco-binding unit 51 described above. The insertion portion 104 into which the portion Sb can be inserted and the binding portion Sb abut on two adjacent sides of the sheet bundle S inserted into the insertion portion 104 to regulate the positions of the two sides, that is, the positions of the seat corners. Thereby, the regulating portion 105 as a regulating means for regulating the position of the binding portion Sb formed in the seat corner and the support for supporting the lower surface in the gravity direction as one surface of the binding portion Sb inserted into the insertion portion 104. The two adjacent sides around the rotation axis 106 while abutting and pressing the support portion 102 as a means and the upper surface in the gravity direction as the other surface of the binding portion Sb (sheet bundle S) supported by the support portion 102. A pressing roller 101 that can rotate in a penetrating direction, that is, a penetrating direction that intersects both of the two sides, and the pressing roller along the upper surface of the binding portion Sb relative to the supporting portion 102. It has a moving mechanism 103 for moving.

In this way, the moving mechanism 103 moves the pressing roller 101 relative to the binding portion Sb inserted into the insertion portion 104 along the upper surface of the binding portion Sb. Specifically, the moving mechanism 103 includes a rack 103a that is attached to a roller base 101a that pivotally supports the pressing roller 101 and extends in the penetrating direction, and a guide rail (not shown) that guides the pressing roller 101 in the penetrating direction. The pressing roller 101 is moved with respect to the support portion 102 by being driven by a motor 103c as a driving means having a pinion 103b that has and meshes with the rack 103a. The motor and the moving mechanism 103 constitute a first moving device 130 as a first moving means.

When the flattening process (flattening portion of the binding portion) is performed, the deep drawing binding mark 201 is pressed by the pressing roller 101 as shown in FIG. 10 to perform the flattening process. Specifically, after the sheet bundle S is inserted into the insertion portion 104, the position of the binding portion Sb of the sheet bundle is regulated by abutting against the regulation portion 105 and the support portion 102, and the binding portion Sb is positioned. Then, between the first position deviated from one of the two adjacent sides in the penetrating direction via the deep drawing binding mark 201 and the second position deviated from the other of the two adjacent sides in the penetrating direction. By relatively moving the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 by the moving mechanism 103, the flattening process by the pressing roller 101 can be automatically performed while restricting the position of the sheet bundle.

As described above, when the binding portion flattening device C1 performs the flattening process, the binding portion Sb (sheet bundle) inserted into the insertion portion 104 by the first moving device 130 in the vertical view with respect to the lower surface of the sheet bundle S. The first position where the binding portion S) and the pressing roller 101 do not overlap, and the second position where the binding portion Sb (sheet bundle S) and the pressing roller 101 do not overlap on the opposite side of the first position with respect to the binding portion Sb. The pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 are relatively moved so that the pressing roller 101 passes through the binding portion Sb. In the binding portion flattening device C1 configured in this manner, the first moving device 130 moves the pressing roller 101 relative to the binding portion Sb, so that the binding portion Sb is moved by the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102. A flattening process is performed by pressing between and flattening. By doing so, damage such as wrinkles and tears of the sheet bundle can be reduced regardless of the usage conditions and work variations of the operator, and the binding portion can be stably flattened. Further, since the binding portion is flattened by moving the pressing roller 101 with respect to the binding portion Sb while the position of the binding portion Sb is regulated by the regulating portion 105, the sheet bundle is not positioned as compared with the case where the sheet bundle is not positioned. The width of the pressing roller can be reduced, and space can be saved.

In the binding portion flattening device C1, the regulating portion abuts on two adjacent sides of the sheet bundle to regulate the position of the binding portion, and the pressing roller moves in the direction of penetrating the two sides by the first moving device. Possible, but not limited to, the support is configured to support the lower surface of the binding that is inserted into the insertion. For example, the binding portion flattening device may be configured such that the regulating portion abuts on one side of the sheet bundle to regulate the position of the binding portion, or a binding portion abuts on three sides of the sheet bundle. It may be configured to regulate the position of.

Further, the binding portion flattening device may have a configuration in which the pressing roller moves along the direction of the binding mark to be pressure-bonded by the eco-binding unit 51. For example, when the direction of the binding mark is along one side of the sheet bundle, the pressing roller is configured to be movable in the direction along one side of the sheet bundle by the first moving device.

Further, the binding portion flattening device may be configured such that the supporting portion supports the upper surface of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion and the pressing roller abuts on the lower surface of the binding portion. Further, the insertion direction of the binding portion of the sheet bundle into the insertion portion may be a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In this case, the support portion and the pressing roller may have a positional relationship with the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion sandwiched between them.

"Second embodiment of the binding portion flattening device"
A second embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 12 will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening mechanism) C2 according to the second embodiment is formed by the rotating shaft 106 and the eco-binding unit 51 in a state where the binding portion Sb inserted into the insertion portion 104 is positioned. Specifically, they are arranged so as to intersect with the longitudinal direction 202 of the deep drawing binding mark 201, and specifically so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other. The regulation unit 105 has a first regulation unit 105a formed along one side of the sheet corner on which the deep binding trace 201 is formed, and a second regulation unit 105b formed along the other side. The first regulating portion 105a and the second regulating portion 105b come into contact with each other along their respective sides to regulate the position of the binding portion Sb.

According to the second embodiment, since the rotating shaft 106 and the longitudinal direction 202 of the deep drawing binding mark are arranged so as to intersect with each other, the width of the pressing roller 101 in the rotating shaft 106 direction can be suppressed to be small. Space saving is possible. In particular, when the rotation axis 106 and the longitudinal direction 202 of the deep drawing binding mark are orthogonal to each other, the minimum roller width can be set.

The binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening mechanism) is not limited to the one in which the rotation axis of the pressing roller and the longitudinal direction of the deep drawing binding mark intersect each other, and the rotation axis of the pressing roller. May be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the deep drawing binding mark.

"Third Embodiment of the binding portion flattening device"
A third embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 13 will be described. The same components as those of the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening mechanism) C3 according to the third embodiment further includes an insertion position which is a relative position that does not prevent the sheet bundle S from being inserted into the insertion portion 104, and a support portion 102. A second moving device 107 as a second moving means for relatively moving the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 between the pressing position, which is a relative position for pressing the deep drawing binding mark 201 of the sheet bundle S between the two. , And a control unit 95 for controlling the first mobile device 130 and the second mobile device 107.

The second moving device 107 has a separation position (insertion position) in which the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 are separated from each other by the thickness of the sheet bundle into which the binding portion Sb can be inserted into the insertion portion 104, and the pressing roller. The pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 are relatively moved between the contact position, which is the relative position where the 101 and the support portion 102 are in contact with each other. Specifically, the second moving device 107 moves the pressing roller 101 between the separation position and the contact position with respect to the support portion 102. The control unit that controls the first mobile device 130 and the second mobile device 107 may be the main body control unit 90.

According to the third embodiment, the pressing roller 101 is made to stand by at an insertion position that does not prevent the sheet bundle S from being inserted, and after the sheet bundle is inserted, the depth of the sheet bundle S with the support portion 102 is reached. The second moving device 107 moves the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 to the pressing position where the drawing binding mark 201 is pressed, and the first moving device 130 moves the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 from the first position via the deep drawing binding mark 201. The flattening process is performed by moving it relatively to the position. As described above, in the binding portion flattening device C3, when the flattening process is performed, the binding portion Sb is inserted into the insertion portion 104 by the control unit 95 with the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 located at separated positions. After that, at least while the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 are relatively moved between the first position and the second position so that the pressing roller 101 passes through the binding portion Sb, the pressing roller and the supporting portion The first moving device 130 and the second moving device 107 are controlled so that the 102 is relatively moved to the contact position. When the binding portion Sb of the sheet bundle S is not crimped by the second moving device 107, the binding portion flattening device C3 keeps the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 apart from each other, so that the pressing roller 101 is attached to the supporting portion 102. It is possible to prevent the pressing roller 101 from being deformed due to contact for a long time.

In the binding unit flattening device, when the flattening process is performed, the control unit has the binding unit Sb inserted into the insertion unit 104 with the pressing roller 101 and the support unit 102 located at separate positions. After the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 are relatively moved from the separated position to the abutting position by the second moving device 107, and the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 are relatively moved to the pressing position. The first moving device 130 may be configured to relatively move the pressing roller 101 and the supporting portion 102 so that the pressing roller 101 passes through the binding portion Sb. When configured in this way, the binding portion flattening device C3 can be retracted to a position that does not interfere with the insertion when the binding portion Sb of the sheet bundle S is inserted into the insertion portion 104 by the second moving device 107. Therefore, it is not necessary for the pressing roller 101 to move to a position where it does not overlap with the sheet bundle S in the penetrating direction, and the moving distance of the flattening process by the first moving device 130 can be minimized, which saves time. Space is possible.

"Fourth Embodiment of the binding portion flattening device"
A fourth embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 14 will be described. The same components as those of the first, second, and third embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening mechanism) C4 according to the fourth embodiment, the control unit (binding processing control unit) 95 is further subjected to a state in which the binding portion Sb is inserted into the insertion portion 104. The pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 are relatively moved from the first position to the second position via the deep drawing mark 201 by the moving device 130, and then from the second position via the deep drawing binding mark 201. Then, the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 are controlled to be relatively moved to the first position again.

According to the fourth embodiment, since the same sheet bundle can be flattened a plurality of times, more reliable flattening of the bound portion becomes possible.

"Fifth Embodiment of the binding portion flattening device"
A fifth embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 15 will be described. The same components as those of the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening device) C5 according to the fifth embodiment further detects as a detection means capable of detecting the presence or absence of insertion of the binding portion Sb into the insertion portion 104 (near the support portion 102). It includes a sensor 108. In the binding portion flattening device C5, after the control unit 95 relatively moves the pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 from the first position to the second position by the first moving device 130, the detection sensor 108 determines the binding portion flattening device C5. The pressing roller 101 and the support portion are relatively moved from the second position to the first position based on the detection of the change from the state in which the binding portion Sb is not inserted into the insertion portion 104 to the state in which the binding portion Sb is inserted. Let me.

According to the fifth embodiment, the control unit 95 inserts the binding portion Sb of the sheet bundle S into the insertion portion 104 when the pressing roller 101 is located at the first position during the flattening process. When the detection sensor 108 detects a change from a state without a sheet bundle to a state with a sheet bundle, the first moving device 130 moves the pressing roller 101 from the first position via the deep drawing binding mark 201 to the second. The pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 are relatively moved to the position, and when the flattening process is completed, the pressing roller 101 is made to stand by at the second position. After that, when the sheet bundle S is inserted again and the detection sensor 108 detects a change from the state without the sheet bundle to the state with the sheet bundle, the control unit 95 uses the first moving device 130 to push the pressing roller 101. The pressing roller 101 and the support portion 102 are controlled to move relatively from the second position to the first position via the deep drawing binding mark 201. That is, the processing time can be shortened by setting the position where the flattening process is completed as the standby position for starting the next flattening process.

"Sixth Embodiment of the binding part flattening device"
A sixth embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 16 will be described. The sheet post-processing device B6 according to the sixth embodiment includes a first processing unit B1 as a post-processing means for applying a predetermined post-processing to the sheet, and a first tray 49 as a loading means for loading the post-processed sheet. And a binding portion flattening device 301 for flattening the binding portion (deep drawing binding portion).

According to the sixth embodiment, since the sheet post-processing device B6 itself is provided with the binding portion flattening device 301, the position and size of the deep drawing binding marks 201 formed on the sheet bundle by the eco-binding unit 51 , The dimensions of each part including the width of the pressing roller 101 of the binding part flattening device 301 can be associated with each other to optimize the dimensions, which enables space saving and improves user convenience.

"7th Embodiment of the binding portion flattening device"
A seventh embodiment of the binding portion flattening device shown in FIG. 17 will be described. The image forming apparatus A7 according to the seventh embodiment has an image forming unit 3 as an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and a discharge tray as a loading means for loading a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 3. It includes 310 and a binding portion flattening device 301 for flattening the binding portion (deep drawing binding portion).

According to the seventh embodiment, since the image forming apparatus A7 itself is provided with the binding portion flattening apparatus 301, the feeder unit A3 of the image forming apparatus A7, the ease of catching the sheet in the feeding path 6, and the like It is possible to set the pressing force of the pressing roller 101 in the flattening process, the number of reciprocations in the penetrating direction, and the like in consideration of the above, reducing the occurrence of JAM and improving the convenience of the user.

"8th and 9th embodiments of the binding portion flattening device"
The eighth and ninth embodiments of the binding part flattening apparatus shown in FIG. 18 will be described. The sheet post-processing device B8 according to the eighth embodiment and the image forming device A9 according to the ninth embodiment have a motor M8 as a driving means for driving the moving mechanism 103 and a drive from the motor M8 to the moving mechanism 103. An electromagnetic clutch 109 is provided as a means for connecting and disconnecting forces. The seat post-processing device B8 can drive the first processing unit B1 by the driving force of the motor M8, and the electromagnetic clutch 109 selectively transmits the driving force to the moving mechanism 103 or the first processing unit B1. It is configured to be switchable to. Further, the image forming apparatus A9 can drive the transfer roller 7 by the driving force of the motor M8, and the electromagnetic clutch 109 can selectively switch whether the driving force is transmitted to the moving mechanism 103 or the transfer roller 7. It is configured in.

According to the eighth and ninth embodiments, the motor M8 for driving the moving mechanism 103 is also used as a power source for driving the first processing unit B1 and the transfer roller 7 of the image forming apparatus by switching the drive by the electromagnetic clutch 109. By doing so, the space of the device can be saved. The sheet post-processing device and the image forming device may be configured to drive the driving unit and the moving mechanism other than the above by the same driving means. For example, the sheet post-processing device is a second processing unit. , The third processing unit, each transport roller, each route switching unit, each tray elevating mechanism, or any other driving unit, and the moving mechanism may be configured to be driven by the same driving means. The image forming apparatus is configured to drive any of the transfer rollers other than the transfer roller 7, the resist roller pair, the elevating mechanism of the discharge tray, and other drive units, and the moving mechanism by the same drive means. May be good.

In any of the above-described embodiments, the first moving device of the binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening mechanism) is a pressing roller and a binding portion (support portion) so that the pressing roller is along the surface of the binding portion. As long as it is relatively movable, for example, the pressing roller and the binding portion may be configured to be relatively movable by moving the support portion with respect to the device frame.

Further, in any of the above-described embodiments, the second moving device of the binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening device) relatively moves the pressing roller and the supporting portion between the separation position and the contact position. If possible, for example, the support portion may be moved with respect to the device frame so that the pressing roller and the support portion can be relatively movable between the separated position and the contact position.

Further, in any of the above-described embodiments, the first moving device, the second moving device, and the detection sensor of the binding portion flattening device (binding portion flattening device) are configured to be controlled by the control unit 95. It may be configured to be controlled by the main body control unit 90.

"Structure of staple unit"
The configuration of the above-mentioned post-processing means and the staple unit as the first unit will be described with reference to FIG. 20 (a). The staple unit 47 is configured as a unit separately from the sheet post-processing device B. A box-shaped unit frame 47a, a drive cam 47d oscillatingly supported by the unit frame 47a, and a drive motor M4 that rotates the drive cam 47d are mounted on the unit frame 47a.

The staple head 47b and the anvil member 47c are arranged to face each other in the drive cam 47d at the binding position, and the staple head 47b is attached to the drive cam 47d by an urging spring (not shown) from the upper standby position to the lower staple position (anvil). It moves up and down to the member). A needle cartridge 52 is detachably attached to the unit frame 47a.

A straight blank needle is housed in the needle cartridge 52, and the needle feed mechanism supplies the needle to the staple head 47b. The staple head 47b contains a former member that bends a straight needle in a U shape, and a screwdriver that press-fits the bent needle into a bundle of seats. With such a configuration, the drive motor M4 rotates the drive cam 47d and stores it in the urging spring. Then, when the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the staple head 47b vigorously descends toward the anvil member 47c. In this operation, the staple needle is bent into a U shape and then inserted into the sheet bundle with a screwdriver. The tip is bent by the anvil member 47c and the sheet bundle is stapled.

Further, a needle feed mechanism is built in between the needle cartridge 52 and the staple head 47b, and a sensor (empty sensor) for detecting the absence of a needle is arranged in the needle feed mechanism. Alternatively, a cartridge sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the needle cartridge 52 is inserted is arranged on the unit frame 47a.

The illustrated needle cartridge 52 employs a structure in which staple needles connected in a band shape to a box-shaped cartridge are stacked and stored in a stacked manner, and a structure in which the staple needles are stored in a roll shape. Further, the unit frame 47a is provided with a substrate on which a circuit for controlling each of the above-mentioned sensors and a circuit for controlling the drive motor M4 are formed, and when the needle cartridge 52 is not housed or when the staple needle is empty, It is designed to emit a warning signal. In addition, this board controls the drive motor M4 so that the staple operation is executed by the staple needle signal, and when the staple head moves from the standby position to the anvil position and returns to the standby position again, an "operation end signal" is sent. It is configured to make a call.

"Composition of eco-binding unit"
The configuration of the above-mentioned post-processing means and the eco-binding unit 51 as the second binding unit will be described with reference to FIG. 20 (b). As a needleless binding means for binding a sheet bundle without using a metal needle (deep drawing binding process, crimp binding process, eco-binding process), the sheet bundle is combined with one surface by a pressure member having uneven surfaces that mesh with each other. A means of binding the sheets by pressing from the other surface, that is, from the front and back (press binding device, crimp binding device), and a means of forming a slit-shaped notch in the sheet bundle and folding the sheets together (cutting). Folding device; see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256008) and means for binding with a vegetable resin string (resin string binding device) and the like are known. These binding methods are known as eco-binding binding methods because they are bound using a sheet bundle without using a metal needle. Hereinafter, the eco-binding unit (press binding device) 51 will be described as an example thereof.

The eco-binding unit 51 deforms and binds (crimps) the sheets by pressing the predetermined positions of the sheet bundles from the front and back by the uneven surfaces formed on the pressure surfaces 51b and 51c that can be pressure-welded and separated from each other. .. FIG. 20B shows the eco-binding unit 51, in which the movable frame member 51d is swingably supported on the base frame member 51a, and the pressure surfaces 51b and 51c of both frames can be pressure-welded and separated by the support shaft 51x. Swing. A follower roller 60 is arranged on the movable frame member 51d, and a drive cam 68 arranged on the base frame member 51a is engaged with the follower roller 60.

A drive motor M5 arranged on the base frame member 51a is connected to the drive cam 68 via a reduction mechanism, and the drive cam 68 rotates due to the rotation of the drive motor M5, and the cam surface (the one shown in the figure is an eccentric cam) rotates. The movable frame member 51d is configured to swing.

The lower pressurizing surface 51c is arranged on the base frame member 51a, and the upper pressurizing surface 51b is arranged on the movable frame member 51d at opposite positions. An urging spring (not shown) is arranged between the base frame member 51a and the movable frame member 51d, and the movable frame member 51d is urged in a direction in which both pressure surfaces are separated from each other.

As shown in the enlarged view shown in FIG. 20B, the upper pressurizing surface 51b and the lower pressurizing surface 51c are formed with a protrusion on one side and a concave groove that meshes with the protrusion on the other side. The protrusions and recessed grooves are formed in a ridge (rib) shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper pressure surface 51b and the lower pressure surface 51c is deformed into a corrugated plate shape and adheres (crimps). A position sensor (not shown) is arranged on the base frame member 51a (unit frame), and is configured to detect whether the upper and lower pressurizing surfaces 51b and 51c are in the pressurizing position or in the separated position.

The press-binding device (eco-binding unit; second binding unit) 51 configured in this way can be moved to the first and second guide rods 56a and 56b (which may be grooves) arranged in the device frame 57. The sheet is reciprocated between the set binding position Cp1 and the second standby position Wp2 of the sheets arranged on the processing tray 37 as described above, and is formed by two adjacent sides of the sheet bundle of the sheet bundle. By performing a deep drawing binding process (crimp binding process) that crimps a predetermined position of the corner portion, that is, a position corresponding to the set binding position Cp1, an uneven binding mark is formed on the sheet bundle to form a sheet bundle. Binding.

[Explanation of control configuration]
The control configuration in the image forming system 100 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming system 100 shown in FIG. 21 includes a control unit 90 (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) as a control means of the image forming apparatus A and a control unit 95 (hereinafter referred to as “binding process”) as a control means of the sheet post-processing device B. It is equipped with a control unit). The main body control unit 90 includes a print control unit 91, a feed control unit 92, and an input unit (control panel) 93.

Then, the "image formation mode" and the "post-processing mode" are set from the input unit (control panel) 93. The image formation mode sets mode settings such as color / monochrome printing and double-sided / single-sided printing, and image formation conditions such as sheet size, sheet quality, number of printouts, and enlargement / reduction printing. Further, the "post-processing mode" is set to, for example, "printout mode", "staple binding processing mode", "eco-binding processing mode", "jog sorting mode" and the like. The device shown in the figure is provided with a "manual binding mode", in which the sheet bundle binding processing operation is executed offline separately from the main body control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus A.

Further, the main body control unit 90 transfers data such as post-processing mode information, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, the size information of the sheet for forming an image, and the thickness information of the sheet set in the binding processing control unit 95. At the same time, the main body control unit 90 transfers the job end signal to the binding processing control unit 95 each time the image formation is completed.

Explaining the post-processing mode described above, in the “printout mode”, the sheet from the discharge port 35 is accommodated in the first tray 49 via the processing tray 37 without binding processing. In this case, the sheets are stacked (loaded) on the processing tray 37, and the stacked sheet bundle is carried out to the first tray 49 by the jog end signal from the main body control unit 90.

In the "staple binding processing mode", the sheets from the discharge port 35 are collected on the processing tray 37 and aligned, and the sheet bundle is bound and then stored in the first tray 49. In this case, as a general rule, the sheet to be image-formed is designated by the operator as a sheet having the same thickness and the same size. This staple binding processing mode is specified by selecting one of "multi-binding", "right corner binding", and "left corner binding". Each binding position is as described above.

The above-mentioned "jog sorting mode" is divided into a group in which the sheets image-formed by the image forming apparatus A are offset and accumulated, and a group in which the sheets are accumulated without being offset, and the sheets are alternately offset in the third tray 71. Sheet bundles and sheet bundles that are not offset are stacked.

"Manual binding mode"
The exterior cover 73 is provided on the front side of the device with a manual feed slit portion 77 for setting a sheet bundle to be bound by the operator. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is arranged on the set surface 77b of the manual feed slit portion 77, and the binding processing control unit 95, which will be described later, moves the staple unit 47 to the manual binding position by a signal from this sensor. To do. Then, when the operator presses the operation switch, the binding process is executed.

Therefore, in this manual binding mode, the binding processing control unit 95 and the main body control unit 90 are controlled offline. However, when the manual binding mode and the staple binding mode are executed at the same time, the mode is set so that one of them has priority.

[Binding processing control unit]
The binding processing control unit 95 operates the sheet post-processing device B according to the post-processing mode set by the main body control unit 90. The illustrated binding processing control unit 95 is composed of a control CPU (control unit). The ROM 96 and the RAM 97 are connected to the control CPU 95, and the control program stored in the ROM 96 and the control data stored in the RAM 97 execute the discharge operation described later. Therefore, the control CPU 95 is connected to the drive circuits of all the motors described above included in the seat post-processing device B, and controls each motor to start, stop, and forward / reverse.

[Discharge operation mode]
The control unit (main body control unit) 90 of the image forming apparatus A sets a post-processing (finishing processing) mode of the image-formed sheet at the same time as the image forming conditions. The illustrated device is set to "staple binding mode", "eco binding mode", "jog sorting mode", "bookbinding finishing mode", "printout mode", "interrupt mode", and "manual binding mode". The operation of each mode will be described below.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow in which the sheet bundles accumulated in the processing tray 37 of the first processing unit B1 are staple-bound or eco-bound and stored in the first tray 49 on the downstream side. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the discharge mode in which the sheets are jog-sorted for each part, and is offset in the discharge orthogonal direction by the jog mechanism (roller shift mechanism; not shown) of the third processing unit (sheet carry-in route) B3 and then downstream. It is explanatory drawing of the operation flow housed in the 3rd tray 71 on the side. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a bookbinding process discharge mode in which the second processing unit B2 finishes binding the sheet.

"Staple binding mode and eco-binding mode in the first processing unit"
Explaining according to FIG. 22, the post-processing mode is set in the input unit (control panel) 93 of the image forming apparatus A (St01). The control unit 95 of the sheet post-processing device B moves the eco-binding unit 51 when the eco-binding process is specified (St05) based on the post-processing mode setting information (St02). Further, when the staple binding process is specified, the staple unit 47 is moved (St06).

When the staple binding process is executed, the staple unit 47 is moved to the set binding position Cp1 and the eco-binding unit 51 is moved to the second standby position Wp2. When the position of the binding unit is set as the home position, it is confirmed whether or not each binding unit is home and the unit is moved (St03).

Next, the image forming apparatus A forms an image and ejects the sheet (St07, St08). The sheet post-processing device B receives the image-formed sheet sent to the carry-in port 26 and conveys it to the downstream side (St09). At this time, when the punching process is specified (St10), the control unit 95 temporarily stops the sheet at the drilling position (St11). Then, the punch unit 50 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the discharge (St12), the side edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined drilling position, and then the punch unit 50 is stopped to execute the drilling operation (St13). ..

When the punching process is not specified, the control unit 95 receives the sheet from the carry-in port 26 side and conveys the sheet to the discharge port 35 of the route. Then, it is carried into the processing tray 37 (St14) and positioned at a predetermined position by the positioning mechanism (St15). The control unit 95 stacks and stores the sheets sent to the discharge port 35 on the sheet mounting surface 37a of the processing tray 37 (St07 to St15). Then, when the job end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St16), the control unit 95 transmits a binding processing instruction signal to the staple unit 47 or the eco-binding unit 51. Then, the staple unit 47 or the eco-binding unit 51 executes the binding process (St17).

When the control unit 95 receives the binding processing end signal from the first (or second) binding units 47 and 51, the control unit 95 stores the sheet bundle processed by the sheet bundle unloading means in the first tray 49 on the downstream side (St18). .. Then, the loading height is detected by a detection sensor (not shown) for the position of the upper surface of the sheet arranged on the first tray 49 (St19), and when the height exceeds a predetermined height, the first tray 49 is moved down (St20). Next, the control unit 95 determines whether or not there is a next job (St21), and completes the operation.

The jog sorting / discharging mode will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 95 temporarily stops the sheets (St22 to St24) sent to the carry-in inlet 26 of the sheet carry-in route 28 at the drilling position when the punching process is specified (St25) (St26). To do. Then, the punch unit 50 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the discharge (St27), the side edge of the sheet is detected by the sensor to determine a predetermined drilling position, and then the punch unit 50 is stopped to execute the drilling operation (St28). ..

The control unit 95 then rotates the roller unit in the discharge direction (St30) in order to carry the sheet from the third discharge path 30 to the third tray 71 (St29). Then, when the seat has an even number of pages (St31, St32), the roller unit is stopped (St33), and the seat is moved in the position in the discharge orthogonal direction by a preset offset amount (St34) with the seat niped. After that, the control unit 95 rotates the roller unit again in the discharge direction (St35). At this time, the first path switching unit 33 is shifted in the direction of guiding the sheet from the carry-in inlet 26 to the third discharge path 30, and the sheet is accumulated in the third tray 71 (St36).

The bookbinding process discharge mode will be described with reference to FIG. 24. The image-formed sheet as described above is guided to the sheet carry-in route 28. This sheet is guided from the carry-in entrance 26 to the second processing unit B2, and is abutted against the regulation stopper 67 to be regulated. At this time, the control unit 95 receives information on the discharge direction size of the sheet from the image forming apparatus A in advance and sets the position of the regulation stopper 67.

The sheets accumulated in the second processing unit B2 are bound by moving the binding device (saddle stitching device) to the center of the sheet in response to the job end signal from the image forming device A. When the binding process such as one place or two places is completed, the sheet bundle is moved to the folding position, and the folding roll pair 64 is rotated. The folding blade 65 is retracted when the folding blade 65 is inserted in the folding direction and the folding roll pair 64 is rotated by a predetermined amount. Then, the folded sheet is sent out in the discharge direction by the discharge roller 69 on the downstream side and stored in the second tray 61.

3 Image forming unit (image forming means)
7,8,15 Conveying roller (conveying means)
26 Carry-in entrance 27 Equipment housing 28 Sheet carry-in route 37 Processing tray (loading means)
37a Sheet mounting surface 47 Staple unit (post-treatment means)
49 1st stack tray (loading means)
51 Eco-binding unit (post-processing means)
61 Second stack tray (loading means)
70 Device frame 70f Side frame frame 70r Side frame frame 71 Third stack tray (loading means)
73 Exterior cover 73f Front cover (open / close cover)
73r Rear cover 77 Manual feed slit 77a Slit opening 77b Set surface 77c Regulation surface 90 Main body control unit (control means)
95 Control unit (control means)
101 Pressing roller 102 Supporting part (supporting means)
103 Moving mechanism 103c Driving means 104 Inserting part 105 Regulatoring part (regulating means)
106 Rotating shaft 107 Second moving device 108 Detection sensor (detection means)
109 Electromagnetic clutch 130 1st moving device (1st moving means)
201 Deep drawing binding marks (binding marks)
202 Longitudinal direction 301 Binding part flattening device A, A7, A9 Image forming device B, B6, B8 Sheet post-processing device B1 First processing unit (post-processing means)
B2 2nd processing unit (post-processing means)
B3 3rd processing unit (post-processing means)
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5 Binding part flattening device S Sheet bundle Sb Binding part

Claims (11)

An insertion part into which the binding part of the sheet bundle having a binding mark formed by the crimp binding process of crimping a predetermined position of the sheet bundle can be inserted,
A regulatory means for regulating the position of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion, and
A support means for supporting one surface of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion, and
A pressing roller that can rotate while abutting on the other surface of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion,
A first moving means having a moving mechanism for relatively moving the pressing roller and the binding portion so that the pressing roller is along the other surface, and a driving means for driving the moving mechanism.
The first moving means relatively moves the pressing roller and the binding portion to perform a flattening process of pressing the binding portion between the pressing roller and the supporting means to flatten the binding portion.
Binding part flattening device. The rotation axis of the pressing roller is arranged so as to intersect the longitudinal direction of the binding mark of the binding portion which is inserted into the insertion portion and whose position is regulated by the regulating means.
The binding portion flattening device according to claim 1. A second movement that relatively moves the pressing roller and the supporting means between a separation position where the pressing roller and the supporting means are separated from each other and a contact position where the pressing roller and the supporting means come into contact with each other. With more means,
The binding portion flattening device according to claim 1 or 2. When the flattening process is performed, the binding portion is inserted into the insertion portion while the pressing roller and the support means are located at the separated positions, and then the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion is used. The pressing roller is pressed so as to pass through the binding portion between the first position that has come off and the second position that has come off the binding portion on the opposite side of the first position with the binding portion in between. While the roller and the supporting means are relatively moved, at least the first moving means and the second moving means are moved so as to relatively move the pressing roller and the supporting means to the contact position. Equipped with control means to control,
The binding portion flattening device according to claim 3. The control means relatively moves the pressing roller and the supporting means from the first position to the second position by the first moving means, and then moves from the second position to the first position. The pressing roller and the supporting means are relatively moved.
The binding portion flattening device according to claim 4. Further provided with a detecting means capable of detecting the presence or absence of insertion of the binding portion into the insertion portion.
The control means relatively moves the pressing roller and the supporting means from the first position to the second position by the first moving means, and then binds the pressing roller and the supporting means to the insertion portion by the detecting means. When a change from the state in which the portion is not inserted to the state in which the portion is inserted is detected, the pressing roller and the supporting means are relatively moved from the second position to the first position.
The binding portion flattening device according to claim 4 or 5. The regulating means abuts on two adjacent sides of the bundle of sheets to regulate the position of the binding portion.
The pressing roller can be moved in a direction penetrating the two sides by the first moving means.
The supporting means supports the lower surface of the binding portion inserted into the insertion portion.
The binding portion flattening device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Post-treatment means for applying a predetermined post-treatment to the sheet, and
A loading means for loading a sheet that has been subjected to the predetermined post-treatment by the post-treatment means,
The binding portion flattening device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided.
Sheet post-processing device. The driving means of the first moving means drives the moving mechanism and the post-processing means.
The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 8. An image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and
A loading means for loading a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming means, and a loading means.
The binding portion flattening device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided.
Image forming device. A transport means for transporting a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming means is provided.
The driving means of the first moving means drives the moving mechanism and the conveying means.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10.

Images