JP3746353B2 - Sheet bundle binding processing apparatus, sheet post-processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus provided in a sheet post-processing apparatus that collates and aligns sheets on which an image has been formed by image forming processing such as a copying machine or a printer, and the sheet bundle binding apparatus. The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the sheet post-processing apparatus .
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A sheet post-processing apparatus that receives an image-formed sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus and performs various post-processing such as sorting, binding, folding, stamping, and punching is widely known. Among them, a sheet post-processing apparatus in which a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus that binds a sheet bundle is incorporated as a unit is common.
When a staple sheet cartridge containing multiple layers of staple sheets is set in the main body, the sheet bundle binding processing device sends the staple sheets to the clinch position by repeating the clinch operation by the needle feeding means that moves in conjunction with the clinch operation. There are known methods that can do this.
[0003]
However, in the conventional apparatus, when the staple sheet cartridge is set, the first few strokes (5 to 6 strokes) after setting are used for the needle feeding means to feed the staple sheet to the clinch position, and during that time, the blank is empty. It will be a hit. That is, there is a problem that the binding process cannot be performed.
In addition, when a sheet bundle is continuously bound, conventionally, when a new needle sheet is used after removing a needle sheet that is in use due to some trouble such as a paper jam on the way, the new needle sheet is not in the clinch position. If the sheet post-processing device can recognize that the staple sheet is in the staple sheet cartridge, it is determined that the binding process is possible, and the binding process can be continued, so that a new staple sheet is sent to the clinch position. Among the sheet bundles, several bundles (5 to 6 bundles) are idled, and there is a problem that a sheet bundle that has not been subjected to the binding process occurs during the binding process.
[0004]
Therefore, a technical improvement for enabling the binding process from the first stroke is desired.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-43092 discloses a technique related to automatic staple needle replenishment.
In the sheet post-processing apparatus having means for binding sheets (paper) stored in bins while sequentially moving along a plurality of bins, this publication describes the following.
The stapling means moves stepwise to a position corresponding to each bin, and sequentially binds the sheets stored in the bin. When the staples are exhausted during a series of staple processing, the detection unit immediately detects the staples, and the staple unit moves to a predetermined needle replenishment position, for example, the uppermost part of the movement path so as to be convenient for needle replenishment. Thereafter, when the operator replenishes the needle, the stapling means moves to the position where the needle has run out, and the stapling process is continued.
[0005]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho 62-59002 discloses the presence or absence of the near end of the needle sheet for the problem that the needle is relieved without being aware that the needle has been lost during use, and then the needle is replenished. There is a disclosure that it is possible to give an instruction to the operator to replenish the needle before the needle is completely removed by providing the detecting means for detecting.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the former case, the needle replenishment is provided by providing a movement control unit of the staple unit itself at the time of staple replenishment, in response to the problem that it is difficult to replenish the needle if there is no staple at a position other than the predetermined needle replenishment position during the staple processing. However, this is not a technique for solving the problem that the first few strikes are blank. The latter is the same.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to solve the problem that the first few shots are idle when a new staple sheet cartridge is set (including when the staple sheet is replaced by jamming or the like), and efficient binding processing A sheet bundle binding processing apparatus, a sheet post-processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object is to clinch the needle sheet cartridge that stores and stacks the needle sheets, the set detection means that detects whether or not the needle sheet cartridge is set in the installation space, and the needle sheet in the needle sheet cartridge. Regardless of this, a needle feeding means for sending out toward the clinch position and a clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position, the set detecting means newly detects the setting of the needle sheet cartridge. In this case, the first means for controlling the feeding of the needle sheet to the clinch position by driving the needle feeding means is solved.
In the first means, when the needle sheet cartridge is set and the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means detects the absence of the needle, the first means performs control to drive the needle feeding means. It is solved by the means.
[0009]
The subject is a sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus for processing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, the needle sheet cartridge storing needle sheets stacked therein, and the needle sheet cartridge comprising: A set detecting means for detecting whether or not the needle is set in the installation space, a needle feeding means for feeding the needle sheet toward the clinch position regardless of the clinch operation, and a clinch position needle for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position. There is provided presence / absence detecting means, and when the set detecting means newly detects the setting of the needle sheet cartridge, the needle feeding means is driven by a command from the paper post-processing device and the needle sheet is sent to the clinch position. This is solved by the third means performed.
In the third means, when the needle sheet cartridge is set and the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means detects no needle, the needle feeding means is instructed by a command from the paper post-processing device. This is solved by the fourth means in which the control for driving is performed.
The above problem is solved by a fifth means comprising a needle sheet cartridge for storing and storing the needle sheets, and a needle feeding means for feeding the needle sheets in the needle sheet cartridge toward the clinch position regardless of the clinch operation. Is done.
The above problem is solved by a sixth means including any one of the first to fifth means.
The above-described problem is solved by a seventh means including a paper post-processing device of a sixth means.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the entire sheet post-processing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an entire sheet post-processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0011]
A sheet post-processing apparatus 2 is connected to the downstream side of the image forming apparatus 1. The paper on which the image has been formed is sent out to the paper post-processing device 2 by the paper discharge roller 3 of the image forming apparatus 1.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 2 includes an inlet sensor 4 and a switching claw 5 at an inlet portion thereof. When the switching claw 5 rotates clockwise and opens upward, the sheet is directed to the proof conveyance path 6. The proof conveyance path 6 is provided with a conveyance roller 7 and a discharge roller 8, and the paper is discharged to the proof tray 9 by these rollers 7 and 8.
On the other hand, when the switching claw 5 rotates counterclockwise and opens downward, the sheet is directed to the sort / staple conveyance path 10. The sort / staple conveyance path 10 is provided with a plurality of sets of conveyance rollers 11 and further with discharge rollers 12. A punch unit 13 is also provided so that punching (punching) can be performed on the paper conveyed through the sort / staple conveyance path 10 as necessary.
A number of sorter bins 15 that can be moved up and down by the helical cam shaft 14 are provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the discharge rollers 12, and the sheets can be discharged to the sorter bins 15 at positions facing the discharge rollers 12 for sorting. It is like that. Further, in the vicinity of the discharge roller 12 and the sorter bin 15, a sheet bundle binding processing device 100 indicated by a one-dot chain line is disposed.
[0012]
Next, an embodiment of the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how the needle sheet cartridge is mounted in the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the needle sheet cartridge and the bottom of the space where the needle sheet cartridge is installed, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the lowest needle | hook sheet | seat of the laminated | stacked needle | hook sheet | seat is sent out to a clinch position.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 100 is provided with an installation space 102 in which a needle sheet cartridge 101 on which a large number of needle sheets 105 are stacked is set. As described above, a push button type set detection device 103 for detecting the setting of the needle sheet cartridge 101 is provided.
Further, on both sides of the set detection device 103, a needle sheet feeding device having a plurality of rollers 104, 104 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the lowest needle sheet 105 is placed on the roller 104 and fed in parallel to the clinch position 106 located ahead in the feed direction.
Near the clinch 106, a clinch position needle presence / absence detection device 108 that detects the presence / absence of the needle 107 at the clinch position by transmitted light is provided. When the clinch position needle presence / absence detection device 108 detects the presence of the needle 107, the sheet bundle is detected. The binding processing apparatus 100 is in a state in which binding processing is possible.
[0013]
FIG. 5 is an operation timing chart of the needle sheet feed control according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the needle sheet feed control according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the needle sheet feeding operation will be described based on the processing steps (S1 to S5) of FIG. 6 with reference to FIG.
First, when the staple sheet cartridge 101 is set in the space 102 in the sheet bundle binding apparatus 100, the set detection apparatus 103 detects that the staple sheet cartridge 101 is set (Y in S1). After that, when the clinch position needle presence / absence detection device 108 further detects the absence of the needle 107 (N in S2), the plurality of rollers 104 of the needle sheet feeding device rotate to move the lowermost needle sheet 105 to the clinch position 106. (S3).
When the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting device 108 detects the presence of the needle 107 (Y in S4), the needle sheet feeding device is stopped and the sheet bundle binding processing device 100 is ready to be clinched (S5).
Therefore, when the staple sheet cartridge 101 is first set in the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 100, or when the staple sheet 105 is replaced in the middle, when the clinching operation is performed for the first time, the staple 107 is always present at the clinching position 106. The binding process can be performed without blank shots.
[0014]
Here, the set detection means is a mechanical switch provided at the bottom of the installation space, the needle feeding means is a roller 104 provided on both sides of the installation space, on which the needle sheet 105 is placed and conveyed, and further the needle The presence / absence detecting means is constituted by a photo sensor.
[0015]
In such an embodiment, the needle sheet cartridge 101 that stores the needle sheets 105 in a stacked manner, the set detection device 103 that detects whether or not the needle sheet cartridge 101 is set in the installation space 102, A needle sheet feeding device (104) for feeding the needle sheets 105 in the needle sheet cartridge 101 one by one toward the clinch position 106, and a clinch position needle presence / absence detecting device 108 for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position 106. In addition, when the set detection device 103 newly detects the setting of the needle sheet cartridge 101, the needle sheet feeding device (104) is driven to control the feeding of the needle sheet 105 to the clinch position 106. Is set, or when the needle sheet 105 is replaced on the way, Since it sends automatically the sheet 105 to clinch position 106, it is possible to obtain a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 100 capable of performing the binding processing from the beginning by eliminating blank beating.
In the embodiment, when the needle sheet cartridge 101 is set and the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting device 108 detects the absence of the needle, the control for driving the needle sheet feeding device (104) is performed. Since it is performed, the above-described effects are exhibited.
[0016]
In the above-described embodiment, the sheet post-processing apparatus having the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 100 and processing sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus, the needle that stores the needle sheets 105 in a stacked manner. A sheet cartridge 101, a set detection device 103 for detecting whether or not the needle sheet cartridge is set in the installation space 102, a needle sheet feeding device (104) for feeding the needle sheets 105 one by one toward the clinch position 106, A clinch position needle presence / absence detecting device 108 for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position 106 is provided, and when the set detecting device 103 newly detects the setting of the staple sheet cartridge 101, the needle is received by a command from the paper post-processing device. Since the sheet feeding device (104) is driven to control the needle sheet 105 to the clinching position, the sheet feeding device (104) is controlled. Since the sheet post-processing device provided with the bundle binding processing device 100 is controlled so that the binding processing is possible, even if the staple sheet 105 is changed during the continuous binding processing, it is ensured. It is possible to obtain a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 100 that can obtain a bound sheet bundle and improve the workability of the binding process.
In the embodiment, when the needle sheet cartridge 101 is set and the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting device 108 detects the absence of the needle, the needle sheet feeding device is instructed by a command from the paper post-processing device. Since the control for driving (104) is performed, the above-described effects are obtained.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first, second , and fifth aspects of the invention, when the needle sheet cartridge is set, or when the needle sheet is replaced in the middle, the needle sheet is automatically sent to the clinching position regardless of the clinching operation. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus that can perform binding processing without blank shots.
According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, the sheet post-processing device side provided with the sheet bundle binding processing device is controlled so that the staple sheet can be sent out toward the clinch position and can be bound and processed regardless of the clinching operation. Therefore, when continuously performing the binding process, even if the needle sheet is replaced in the middle, a sheet bundle that is securely bound without any blanking from the beginning can be obtained, and the workability of the binding process can be improved. A bundle binding apparatus can be obtained.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper post-processing apparatus that exhibits the operational effects of the first to fifth aspects of the invention.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that exhibits the function and effect of the sixth aspect of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an entire sheet post-processing apparatus to which a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a needle sheet cartridge is mounted in the embodiment of the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a needle sheet cartridge and a bottom portion of a space in which the needle sheet cartridge is installed.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lowest needle sheet of a plurality of stacked needle sheets is sent to a clinch position.
FIG. 5 is an operation timing chart of needle sheet feed control according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of needle sheet feed control according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Sheet bundle binding processing apparatus 101 Needle sheet cartridge 102 Needle sheet cartridge installation space 103 Set detection apparatus 104 Roller 105 Needle sheet 106 Clinch position 107 Needle 108 Clinch position Needle presence detection apparatus

Claims (7)

A needle sheet cartridge for storing and stacking needle sheets, a set detecting means for detecting whether or not the needle sheet cartridge is set in an installation space, and a clinch position in which the needle sheets in the needle sheet cartridge are not clinched. A needle feeding means for feeding toward the head, and a clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position,
The sheet bundle binding processing apparatus, wherein when the set detection unit newly detects the setting of the needle sheet cartridge, the needle feeding unit is driven to control to feed the needle sheet to the clinch position.   2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein when the clinching position needle presence / absence detecting means detects the absence of a needle in a state where the needle sheet cartridge is set, a control for driving the needle feeding means is performed. Bundling processing device. A sheet post-processing apparatus having a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus for processing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus,
Needle sheet cartridge for storing and stacking needle sheets, set detecting means for detecting whether or not the needle sheet cartridge is set in an installation space, and needle feed for feeding the needle sheet toward the clinch position without clinching operation And a clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a needle at the clinch position,
When the set detection means newly detects the setting of the needle sheet cartridge, the needle feeding means is driven by a command from the paper post-processing device, and the needle sheet is controlled to be sent to the clinch position. Sheet bundle binding processing device.   4. The needle feeding means is driven by a command from the paper post-processing device when the clinch position needle presence / absence detecting means detects the absence of a needle in a state where the needle sheet cartridge is set. A sheet bundle binding processing device characterized in that control is performed. A sheet bundle binding processing apparatus comprising: a needle sheet cartridge that stores and stores needle sheets; and a needle feeding unit that feeds the needle sheets in the needle sheet cartridge toward a clinch position without a clinching operation. . A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 6.

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