JP2786993B2 - Bookbinding device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus for binding an image-formed sheet by binding, and more particularly, for example, to a plurality of apparatuses necessary for continuously forming an image and a sheet-forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus that is applied to an online apparatus that connects a bookbinding apparatus that performs bookbinding and a sorting storage device that sorts and sorts bookbinding finished products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed are glued together and automatically performed continuously, an online apparatus in which a plurality of apparatuses for performing necessary jobs are connected is used. I have.

For example, the above-mentioned online apparatus includes a document setting unit for setting a document, an optical system for scanning the document, and a paper feed unit for storing and feeding a large number of sheets. A paper device, an image forming apparatus that forms a surface image of a fed sheet, a bookbinding apparatus that binds an image-formed sheet, a sorting storage device that sorts and stores a bound finished product or a single sheet, and the like are sequentially connected. Made of things.

[0004] When bookbinding is performed in a bookbinding apparatus, there is a glue binder that glues and binds the aligned sheet bundle in the sheet alignment tray. The bind tape used for this is a type formed by applying hot-melt glue to a tape-like sheet, and is heated and melted by a heater and brought into contact with the sheet bundle to glue the sheet bundle.

Further, the sheets are stored in one alignment tray, and the sheets are aligned by bringing the sheets into contact with the abutting members.
Then, the sheet bundle and the bind tape in contact with the sheet bundle have been heated by one tape heating unit.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional bookbinding apparatus, it takes a long time from setting the bind tape to the tape heating means to fusing it, and further bringing the melted bind tape into contact with the sheet bundle. Even when heated, the heat was deprived of the sheet bundle, and sufficient bonding could not be performed. That is, it takes a long time to heat the sheet bundle at room temperature to the gluing temperature.

Further, since an image forming apparatus which forms an image at high speed and with a short sheet interval is applied to the image forming apparatus, if only one sheet aligning tray is used, it takes a long time to align the sheets. Since the sheets are continuously supplied, the productivity of the apparatus is reduced, and when the time required for heating the sheet bundle is added to the above, the productivity is further reduced.

Further, providing two alignment trays occupies a space and increases costs.

In an online bookbinding apparatus of a conventional image forming apparatus, a sheet bundle aligning unit, a conveying unit, and a stacker are arranged in series from a sheet carrying-in unit, and a conveying system is a handling system. According to this method, in the bookbinding operation, the single sheets sequentially fed in from the carry-in entrance are aligned in a sheet bundle by the aligning means, and then the bind tape is bound by heating with a heater, and the finished bound product is sent to the stacker to be stacked. It has become. When the specified number of books are completed or the stacker is full, the stacker is unloaded, the tray of the stacker protrudes outside the machine, the operator removes the book, and the tray is automatically stored inside the machine. Then, the device enters the standby state again. At this time, the apparatus stops the bookbinding operation until unloading from the unloading is completed and the apparatus enters the standby state again, and the productivity is reduced.

In addition, simple bookbinding such as a stapler or a folder, which is a finishing device provided upstream of the bookbinding device, similarly stops, and the operating rate of the machine decreases.

On the other hand, the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on a stacker or a paper discharge tray, but the operator must manually sort them. However, in order to minimize these efforts, there has recently been an increasing demand for sorting devices such as sorters, mailboxes and multi-client sorters.

However, in the bookbinding apparatus having the above-described modules arranged in series, the productivity changes depending on the bookbinding work time because the transporting means operates in series with the bookbinding work. It is not preferable that the productivity of the entire apparatus is reduced by the bookbinding apparatus which takes the longest tact time in an online image forming apparatus, even from the viewpoint of cost and productivity of a high-speed image forming apparatus.

In an online apparatus, when an image forming means and another finisher are arranged upstream of the bookbinding apparatus and a sorting apparatus is arranged downstream of the bookbinding apparatus, the sorting apparatus includes a single sheet, a staple bundle sheet, and a folder. A simple bookbinding product that binds a sheet bundle that does not rely on the bindery tape method, such as a bundle of sheets, must pass through a transport unit in the bookbinding apparatus. In the conventional serial type bookbinding apparatus, the final process is a stacker, so that the bookbinding apparatus and the booklet created by another finisher are mixed in the same stacker, or the job is separated from each other. I had no choice but to make it work. For this reason, the sorting device cannot be provided downstream.

According to the present invention, the sheets are accurately aligned in the sheet alignment tray to form a proper sheet bundle, and the heating of the sheet bundle, the setting of the bind tape to the tape heating means and the heating are efficiently performed. And to convey sheets and sheet bundles not related to the bookbinding device straight from the first carry-in port to the first discharge port. And providing a second discharge port so that a sorting apparatus can be connected online on the downstream side, and a bookbinding apparatus with high productivity that can respond to the image forming speed of the image forming apparatus is provided. It is intended to do.

Also, a bookbinding apparatus is provided in which sheets and sheet bundles not related to the bookbinding apparatus are carried in from the first carry-in port and guided to the second discharge port so that the sorting apparatus can be connected online on the downstream side. It is intended to do so.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first carrying-in port for carrying in a sheet, a sheet carrying path for carrying the carried-in sheet, and a sheet discharging provided downstream of the sheet carrying path. A first discharge port, an alignment tray for storing a sheet conveyed in the sheet conveyance path by branching means, and an alignment tray for transferring the aligned sheet from the alignment tray.
Transport means for transporting the aligned sheet bundle to a rear contact position provided at a position substantially on a straight line in the edge alignment direction; and supplying a bind tape to the aligned end of the sheet bundle at the rear contact position to provide a rear surface. Tape heating binding means for abutting and heating and binding the sheet by the heating means; transfer means for transferring the bound bookbinding product; and a second discharge port for discharging the transferred bookbinding completed product. It is characterized by having. Further, in the present invention, the bookbinding apparatus is an online apparatus, and an image forming apparatus main body is arranged upstream of the first carry-in port, and a sorting apparatus is arranged downstream, so that the bookbinding apparatus can operate in the bookbinding apparatus. When the bookbinding operation is not required, the sheet is conveyed to the first discharge port without branching from the first carry-in port, and when a bookbinding operation is required, a branching unit for branching the sheet is provided. It is characterized in that the bookbinding operation is activated upon activation.

[0017]

According to the above arrangement, a sheet which is image-formed by the image forming means located on the upstream side of the online apparatus and is conveyed from the sheet carrying path to the inside of the sheet conveying path does not require a bookbinding operation of the bookbinding apparatus. Is the first
Is discharged from the discharge port of the apparatus, and is loaded on a loading tray provided at the discharge port, or when an on-line sorting device is provided, is transferred to a sorting device provided downstream.

When a bookbinding operation is required for a sheet conveyed from the sheet first conveyance entrance, the sheet conveyed into the sheet conveying path is branched by a branching means, stored in a matching tray, and aligned. Thereafter, the aligned sheet bundle is transported from the alignment tray to a back contact position provided at a position substantially on a straight line in the edge alignment direction of the sheet bundle by the transporting means. Further, at the back contact position, the binding tape is supplied to the aligned end portion of the sheet bundle by the tape heating binding means, and the sheet is heated and bound by the heating means. The finished product is transferred by the transfer means and discharged from the second discharge port.

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

In FIG. 1, an online device 1 includes a reading / feeding device 201, an image forming device 202, and a bookbinding device 2.
03 and the sorting / storage device 204 are continuously connected.

The reading / feeding device 201 has a document setting unit 2 on which a document (not shown) is set and an optical system 3 for reading and scanning the document setting unit 2 at the upper part, and a plurality of sheets S of different sizes stacked on the lower part. And paper feed units 9 and 10 for feeding sheets S are provided.

The fed sheet S is transferred to the sheet conveying path 11
Is conveyed to the sheet conveying path 12 of the image forming apparatus 202 via the Reference numeral 13 denotes a laser scanner that scans a laser beam based on image information read by the optical system 3, and reference numeral 15 denotes an image forming unit that is scanned by the laser scanner 13 to form a toner image. The sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 15 is conveyed to the sheet conveying path 19 of the subsequent bookbinding device 203 by the conveying belt 16 and the conveying roller pair 17.

The bookbinding apparatus 203 includes a sheet aligning tray 41 for storing and aligning the conveyed sheet S branched from the sheet conveying path 19, a first abutting member 59 to which the leading end of the sheet is abutted, and an aligned sheet. It includes a tape heating device 56 for heating the bundle and the bind table, a vertically movable carriage 60 for transporting the finished book, and stackers 71 and 72 for storing the finished book.

In the sorting and storage device 204, reference numeral 25
Is an elevator for transmitting the sheet material S conveyed on the sheet conveying path 23 to the conveying path 26; 27 is a conveying roller pair disposed at each of a plurality of branch portions of the conveying path 26; 2 shows a discharge roller pair that discharges the discharged sheet material S to a discharge tray 30 that discharges the sheet material S in a corresponding manner.
Further, the finished bookbinding product discharged from the bookbinding apparatus 203 is supplied to the discharge port 32 via the elevator 25 and the conveying roller pair 31.
Can be discharged from the aircraft.

It should be noted that the bookbinding device is a sorting and storing device 204.
Are not in contact with each other, a loading tray (not shown) for loading the discharged sheets on the first discharge port 19b, and the discharged bookbinding product on the second discharge port 139. And a stacking tray (not shown).

Next, details of the bookbinding apparatus 203 are shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the bookbinding apparatus 203 has a sheet conveying path 19 for the sheet material S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 202, and has a first entrance 19a at both ends, and a first entrance 19a.
Are formed respectively. Along the sheet conveyance path 19, a carry-in roller 20, a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 21, a discharge roller 22, and the like are arranged from the upstream side. In the vicinity of the downstream side of the carry-in roller 20, a flapper 36 (branching means) is provided.
Are branched into a guide portion 33. When the branching means 36 is operated to guide the sheet material S to any one of the guide portions 33, or when both are not operated, the sheet material S is conveyed in the conveyance path 19 as it is.

On the downstream side of the guide portion 33, an upper guide plate 4
The sheet aligning tray 41 having the sheet material S is provided at a leading end side of the sheet aligning tray 41 with which the sheet material S abuts. The sheet material S conveyed to the sheet alignment tray 41 by the pair of conveying rollers 39 is pushed by one end (a sweeping member (sweeping means) made of a belt rotatable around the upper left end in the drawing as a swing center). It is moved toward the contact member 59 and is aligned.

The alignment of the sheet in the width direction is performed by the width shifting means 50 by shifting the sheet to a reference side (not shown). A fan (blower device) 46 disposed above the upper guide plate 43 presses the sheet material S carried into the alignment tray 41 with air to prevent the folded sheet material S from bulging. Reference numeral 53 denotes a clamp member 53 for holding a specified number of sheet bundles.

Reference numeral 42 denotes an auxiliary guide plate 55 for a sheet bundle. A stop finger (operates when a single sheet bundle is stored, temporarily stores the first few sheets of the next sheet bundle). Is shown).

Further, the carriage 60 for transporting the sheet bundle S ₁ was completely bound has the components as follows.

That is, the carriage 60 has a housing 601 supported by a rotatable chain or the like so as to be movable up and down, a transport belt 603 provided on the housing 601 so as to be rotatable in the forward and reverse directions, and an attachment to the transport belt 603. The supporting shaft 606 is moved to a position where the pushing member 602 moves and the trailing end of the sheet bundle conveyed by the auxiliary guide plate 42 abuts to support the sheet bundle and retract from the position of the sheet bundle end. A sheet bundle rear end support plate 604 rotatable about the center, a sheet bundle support bar 605 supported by a link 607 that bends and extends to a position for receiving a bound sheet bundle, and a horizontal position are provided. The sheet bundle support bar 605 is rotatable about a support shaft 606.

The sheet bundle trailing end support plate 604 is moved to a position for supporting the sheet bundle edge after the clamp member 53 separates the sheet bundle from the tape heating device 56, and the clamp member 53 is separated from the sheet bundle. By doing so, the sheet edge is abutted to support the sheet bundle. The pushing member 602 rotates together with the transport belt 603 of the carriage 60 and pushes and moves the end of the bookbinding product placed on the transport belt 603.

Reference numeral 77A denotes a first tape reel R _1.
(See FIG. 3), 77B shows a second tape reel R _2, respectively, bind tape 77 fed out from either of the tape reel, is cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 79.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 65 denotes a fan for cooling the bookbinding completed product, and air flows in the direction of arrow 66. Reference numerals 71 and 72 denote stackers for storing bookbinding finished products conveyed by the carriage 60, 70 denotes a guide rail for guiding the stackers 71 and 72 so that they can be pulled out, and
Reference numeral 73 denotes a caster that movably supports the bookbinding apparatus, and reference numeral 75 denotes a leveler that adjusts the height of the bookbinding apparatus.

Next, will be described with reference to FIGS. 3-7, the operation of the case of supplying the bind tape 77 from the tape reel R _1.

The carriage C for transferring the bind tape 77 is movable in the direction of an arrow 502 (see FIG. 2) between a tape supply position 501 shown in FIG. 3 and a back contact position H for performing bookbinding. As shown in FIG.
The leading end of the bind tape 77 fed out is located at the position of the cutter 79.

The bind tape 77 is cut to a length of a predetermined amount by the cutter 79 is supplied to the carriage C in a C ₁ position by the conveying rollers 82, a plurality of rollers 83a in the carriage shown in FIG. 5, 83 b, 83c Is transported and held.

The carriage C to which the bind tape 77 has been supplied moves from the position C _{1 to the} position C ₂ (FIGS. 3 and 6), and is fed out in the direction of the arrow by the rotation of the roller 83. It is moved to the tape heating device 56 at the position H. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the bind tape 77 unreeled from the carriage C is set at c on the tape heating device 56.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show a state in which the sheet is carried into the aligning tray 41 and the aligned sheet bundle is transferred to the rear contact position H.

In FIG. 8, when one bookbinding sheet bundle is loaded into the sheet alignment tray 41 and aligned, the clamp member 53 operates in the direction of arrow G to clamp the sheet bundle S1. When binding a plurality of copies, the stop fingers 55 are simultaneously operated to complete the alignment and
Until the sheet bundle S1 clamped by the clamp member 53 is carried out of the alignment tray 41, several sheets (S2,...) From the beginning of the next bundle of sheets are temporarily stored.

FIG. 9 shows that the abutment member 59 is retracted to the retracted position, and the clamp member 53 moves the sheet bundle S1 from the inside of the alignment tray 41 to the rear contact position H. The clamp member 53 clamps the sheet bundle S1 and linearly moves toward the back contact position H (so as not to apply excessive stress to the sheet bundle). At this time, in cooperation with the movement of the clamp member 53, the auxiliary guide plate 42 moves from the lower portion of the alignment tray 41 to the vicinity of the back contact position H at substantially constant speed in parallel with the sheet bundle S1 and the lower surface of the sheet bundle S1. Guide.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the sheet bundle S 1 has been carried out of the alignment tray 41 by the clamp member 53. When the sheet bundle S1 is carried out of the alignment tray 41 by the clamp member 53, the abutment member 51 returns to the abutment position, and the stop finger 55 retreats from the storage position to the retreat position and stores several sheets. Is positioned in the alignment tray and the sheet S3 continuously placed in the alignment tray is aligned.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the sheet bundle S1 is set to the back contact position H by the clamp member 53. The sheet bundle S1 is clamped by the clamp member 53 and is moved linearly (without applying excessive stress) while being guided on the lower surface by the auxiliary guide plate 42, and is set at the rear contact position H.

The distance between the abutment 51 and the heater 56 is longer than the size of the bundle to be bound.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the tape heating device 56.

In the figure, the tape heating device 56 has a back heater 56a for heating the bind tape 77. The side heaters 51 and 52 provided on both sides of the tape heating device 56 have heaters 51a and 52a at the inner ends, respectively.
Rollers 51b and 52b are provided on the side. In the vicinity of the side heaters 51 and 52, guide portions 86a and 87a are provided at inner ends.
The tape guides 86 and 87 are provided, respectively, and are rotatable about support shafts 88 and 89 to which a base is fixed.

FIGS. 13 to 22 show the operating state of the tape heating device. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the bind tape 77 is guided by the tape guide by the tape supply means (not shown) and is supplied to the back contact position H. Is shown.

When the bind tape 77 is supplied to the back contact position H by the tape supply means (not shown), the back heater 56 moves to the tape side and starts preheating the bind tape 77 (FIG. 14).

FIG. 15 shows a state in which the sheet bundle S1 aligned from the alignment tray 41 by the sheet bundle conveying means 53 is transferred to the rear contact position H and the rear surface of the sheet bundle is bound. At this time, in the vicinity rear end of the sheet bundle S _1, regulating guides on-bottom 90a, 90b are guiding the sheet bundle. This is to prevent the sheet S from spreading due to the curl of the sheet S, its own weight, and the heat of the heating means.

When the binding on the back of the sheet bundle is completed,
As shown in FIG. 16, while the side heaters 51 and 52 retract the tape guides 86 and 87, the bind tape 7
Start the side binding while lifting the end of 7. At this time, the upper / lower guides 86, 87 are retracted from the leading end of the sheet as the side heaters 51, 52 move.

FIG. 17 shows a state where the side of the sheet S is bound. Side heaters 51 and 52
As shown in FIG. 17, the sheet S is bound in the direction indicated by the arrow and presses both sides of the leading end of the sheet S via the binding tape 77 to perform side binding. At this time, the upper and lower portions of the tape guide and the regulation guide are retracted to the illustrated positions as described above.

When the binding on the seat side is completed, in order to finish the bent portion of the bind tape 77,
As shown in FIG. 18, the side heaters 51 and 52 apply ironing in the direction of the arrow while pressing the side of the sheet S.

Next, the side heaters 51 and 52 move in the direction of the arrow, and the pressurization by the side heaters 51 and 52 is released (FIG. 19).

When the pressurization by the side heaters 51 and 52 is released, the clamp member 53 serving as the sheet bundle conveying means is turned on.
The finished book S ₁ is retreated from the rear abutment position H, the finished book is transferred to a transfer position to the carriage 60 (see FIG. 23) (Figure 20).

Side heaters 51 and 52 and rear heater 5
FIG. 6A shows that the next binding tape 77 is supplied when the bookbinding finished product is retracted from the back contact position H.
1 Return to the standby position as shown in FIG.

FIG. 23 shows the lower surface of the auxiliary guide plate 42.
7 shows a state in which the bookbinding completed product is located at a delivery position to the carriage 60 by the clamp member 53 while being guided by the clamp member 53.

In the carriage 60, while the sheet bundle is bound at the back contact position H, the sheet bundle support rod 605 and the sheet bundle rear end support plate 604 in the carriage rotate about the rotation axis. The sheet bundle supporting rod 605 supports the lower surface of the sheet bundle together with the auxiliary guide plate 42 (the sheet bundle supporting rod moves in the direction D shown in FIG. 2).

After bookbinding is completed, the bound sheet bundle is moved in the direction C (FIG. 2) by the clamp member 53 and separated from the heater. After that, with the end of the sheet bundle pulled up,
The sheet bundle rear end support plate moves between the heaters.

FIG. 24 shows that the clamp member 53 is a sheet bundle S
₁ , the end of the sheet bundle abuts on the trailing end support plate 604 of the sheet bundle to support the sheet bundle in the direction B (FIG. 2).

The sheet bundle support rod further moves in the direction D (FIG. 2), and the lower surface of the sheet bundle is supported only by the sheet bundle support rod. Thereafter, the clamp and the auxiliary guide plate return to the alignment tray (FIG. 24).

Since the sheet bundle is raised by the sheet bundle support rod 605 above the locus of the movement of the auxiliary guide plate 42, the clamp member 53 and the auxiliary guide plate 42 do not rub against the lower surface of the sheet bundle. It is possible to return to the alignment tray 41.

After the clamp member 53 and the auxiliary guide plate 42 return to the aligning tray 41, the sheet bundle support rod 605 and the sheet bundle rear end support plate 604 rotate in the E direction (FIG. 2) to remove the sheet bundle. Horizontal position (Fig. 2
5). In the horizontal position, the sheet bundle is
Ground to 1.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show stackers 7 respectively.
1 and 72 show a state in which bookbinding completed products are stored. The bookbinding completed product on the carriage 60 is stored in the stackers 71 and 72 by the transport belt 61 and the rear end pushing member 604.

When the finished book on the carriage 60 is not stored in the stackers 71 and 72, the finished book is discharged from the second outlet 139 outside the machine as shown in FIG. In FIG. 29, a bookbinding completed product discharged from the bookbinding device 203 is transferred to an elevator 25 at a lower portion in the sorting and storing device 204, and the booklet is completed on a predetermined discharge tray 30 by the vertical movement of the elevator 25. Goods are stored. When it is not necessary to store the completed bookbinding product in the discharge tray 30, the elevator 25 located at the lowest position is used.
Is discharged out of the sorting and storing device 204 as it is.

FIG. 30 is a side view of the stackers 71 and 72. The stacker 72 has a handle 141 and can be engaged with a lock device in the device. Reference numeral 146 indicates an indicator. Similarly, the handle 242 and the lock device 145 are also provided on the other stacker 71 side.
And an indicator 146 are provided.

The two stackers are provided as described above, so that when one of the finished booklets is being conveyed to one of the stackers, the other stacker can be manually pulled out.
It is possible to take out the completed bookbinding product in the full stacker without stopping the bookbinding operation of the apparatus.

When a sheet bundle for unbound book or a sheet is discharged from the main body through the bookbinding apparatus to the sorting and storing apparatus, the carriage 60 moves below the bookbinding apparatus. Then, the unbound sheet bundle or sheet is stacked in the stacker 7.
2 and is discharged from a second discharge port 139 through a left lower transport path 92-a carriage 60-a right lower transport path 93. in this way,
With this configuration, when the unbound sheet bundle is discharged to the outside of the sorting and storing apparatus 204, the sheet bundle does not need to pass through the transport path 26 of the sorting and storing apparatus 204, so that the sheet bundle can be discharged to the outside of the apparatus. it can.

[0072]

As described above, when binding a sheet which is formed by the image forming means located on the upstream side of the on-line apparatus and is conveyed from the sheet carrying path into the sheet conveying path, the aligned sheet bundle is bound. When the sheet bundle is conveyed to the rear abutment position, excessive stress is applied to the sheet bundle by providing the rear contact position for heating and binding the sheet bundle at a position substantially in a straight line in the edge alignment direction of the sheet bundle. Can be prevented. Further, when the bookbinding operation of the bookbinding apparatus is not required, the paper can be discharged out of the apparatus without passing through a complicated transport unit in the bookbinding apparatus, so that the possibility of paper jam is reduced. Further, since the paper does not pass through a useless transport route, productivity is improved, and loss of the first copy time is reduced.

[0073]

[0074]

When the finished book is not stored in the stacker, the finished book is discharged out of the machine through the second outlet, so that the finished book sample can be easily checked.

When a sorting device is connected downstream by an online connection, a loading port of the sorting device is provided at a position opposite to the discharge port, and is transferred from the bookbinding device to the sorting device and transferred. Becomes As a result, the sheet transfer path that requires the bookbinding process and the sheet transport path that does not require the bookbinding process are divided, so that even if the bookbinding job and other jobs are confused, they can be automatically used properly, and speedy. A high-speed system online device has become feasible.

This is because, for example, the original document is usually supplied as a walk-up machine or an operator as a center machine, which is a form of use of an online device.
While operating according to the usage method using the DF device, the image information transmitted from the FAX line or other communication line is quickly formed without stagnating for a long time in the time of the slightly vacant gap, and the output is output. Can be performed.
This is an important condition for a high-speed online image forming apparatus requiring the highest operation rate and productivity, and a remarkable effect satisfying this is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an operation side of an online device to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the tape supply unit.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same tape supply unit.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the same tape supply unit.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the tape supply unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the tape supply unit.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the sheet bundle of the alignment tray and a tape heating device for binding the sheet bundle.

FIG. 9 is an operation view of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an operation view of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the tape heating device and the side heater.

FIG. 12 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 17 is an operation view of FIG.

FIG. 18 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 19 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 20 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 21 is an operation diagram of FIG. 11;

FIG. 22 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a side view of a carriage unit that conveys a sheet bundle after bookbinding is completed.

FIG. 24 is an operation diagram of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is an operation view of FIG.

FIG. 26 is an operation view of FIG.

FIG. 27 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 28 is an operation diagram of FIG.

FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional side view of the bookbinding device and the sorting device.

FIG. 30 is a vertical sectional side view of the stacker unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

S ₁ , S ₂ sheet C carriage C ₁ carriage at tape supply position C ₂ carriage at rear contact position H rear contact position 19 sheet transport path 19a first carry-in port 19b first discharge port 36 flapper (branching means) 41 Alignment Tray 42 Auxiliary Guide Plate 46 Fan (Blower) 49 Sweep Member 50 Width Adjuster (Side Aligner) 51 Side Heater 53 Clamp Member 55 Stop Finger (Sheet Storage Unit) 56 Tape Heater (Tape Heater) 59 abutment member 60 carriage 71 stacker 77A (R ₁₎ a first tape reel 77B (R ₂₎ a second tape reel 77 bind tape 79 cutter 91 second entrance 92 left lower transport path 93 right lower transport path 139 Second outlet 147 Indicator 605 Sheet Bundle support rod (receiving means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ota 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hirozo Sakakibara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Yuji Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kimiaki Hayakawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 56) References JP-A-5-270721 (JP, A) JP-A-3-151288 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 37/04 B42C 1/12 B42C 9/02 B42C 11/06 G03G 15/00 534

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first carry-in port for carrying in the sheet, a sheet carrying path for carrying the carried-in sheet, a first discharge port provided downstream of the sheet carrying path for discharging the sheet, An alignment tray for branching and storing sheets conveyed in the sheet conveying path by a branching unit; and providing the aligned sheets from the alignment tray at a position on a substantially straight line in the end alignment direction of the aligned sheet bundle. Conveying means for conveying to a back contact position, a tape heating binding means for supplying a bind tape to the aligned end of the sheet bundle at the back contact position and causing the heating means to heat bind the sheet with the back means, A bookbinding apparatus, comprising: transfer means for transferring the bound bookbinding product; and a second outlet for discharging the transferred bookbinding product. 2. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookbinding apparatus is an online apparatus, and an image forming apparatus main body is arranged upstream of the first carry-in port, and a sorting apparatus is arranged downstream of the first loading port. When no work is required, the sheet is conveyed to the first discharge port without branching from the first carry-in port, and when a bookbinding operation is required, the branching means for branching the sheet is activated. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bookbinding operation is performed.