JP4099130B2 - Image processing apparatus, image forming system, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is provided integrally or separately in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a printing machine, and performs predetermined processing, such as sorting, stacking, binding, and saddle stitching, on an image-formed sheet (recording medium). A sheet processing apparatus that performs bookbinding and discharges paper, an image forming system including the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus, a computer program for executing functions of a control unit of the sheet processing apparatus by a computer, and the computer program The present invention relates to a recorded recording medium.

  Image output (formation) devices such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles have become multifunctional, and those equipped with a storage device capable of storing a large amount of images have become mainstream. In response to the multi-functionality of such image output devices, post-processing devices such as binding to output recording paper are also becoming more multifunctional in recent years, in addition to the conventional end-face binding. There are also products that enable binding processing. Further, since one image output device is used by many users, productivity improvement is demanded, and a post-processing device is also provided that can perform folding processing and next sheet alignment and stapling processing in parallel.

  On the other hand, for example, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2 is known as this type of technology. Among these, Patent Document 1 is intended to provide a paper processing apparatus that is low in cost, high in productivity, and excellent in space saving. A staple processing tray and a paper in the staple processing tray are disclosed. A conveying path for conveying, a folding plate disposed below the staple processing tray, and a folding plate for folding the paper or the paper bundle, and a driving mechanism thereof; and the paper or the paper bundle from the staple processing tray to a folding position by the plate; And holding the folded paper tray, guides the paper to the staple processing tray through the transport path, and discharges the stapled paper bundle as it is, or transports the stapled paper bundle to the folded paper tray and folds the folding plate in the folded paper tray. Discloses a paper post-processing apparatus that performs folding processing and discharges paper.

In addition, Patent Document 2 aims to provide a finisher that can improve the workability of the jam processing inside the apparatus and can secure the accurate position of the moving member required for various processing on the paper, When a jam occurs, a moving means, such as a head unit of a stapling device that performs stapling processing at a desired position on the paper, is provided so as to be movable with respect to the paper transport path in order to perform post-processing on the paper on which the image is formed. By returning to the home position separated from the conveyance path by a predetermined distance and retracting it, a space for the user to put his / her hand around the jammed paper is formed, and the jam handling property is improved and the user touches each moving member. A finisher is disclosed that prevents the lens from moving to an irregular position.
JP 2003-95527 A JP-A-10-250915

  By the way, in general, in the paper post-processing apparatus as described above, when an abnormality such as a jam occurs during the folding, the alignment of the next paper and the stapling process, the location of the abnormality has occurred. All functions including the processing function are stopped immediately, or the post-processing means is returned to the home position to stop it, so paper and paper bundles that do not have problems are stopped in the middle of processing, and the user wants There was no post-processing. For this reason, the processing that is not related to the jam has to be completed and wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the art, and its purpose is to perform processing that is not related to abnormality when processing is performed in parallel at a location other than the location where the abnormality has occurred. Is to execute the current processing and complete the processing so that processing other than the location where the abnormality occurs and paper are not wasted.

To achieve the object, the first means includes stacking means for stacking sheets, binding means for performing binding processing on the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking means, and folding processing on the sheet bundle or the sheet. Folding means for carrying out the process, conveying means for conveying the paper to or from each of the parts, and means for carrying out the processes of the means in parallel, and when an abnormality occurs during the parallel processing, the means involved in the occurrence of the abnormality stop operation, the processing unit not involved and control means Ru is continued, reciprocating in the sheet processing apparatus for performing predetermined processing for the sheet after image formation, only folding rollers portion preset times And folding means for operating the sheet bundle or paper folded by the folding means to further fold the sheet bundle or paper, When in parallel stack processing running, if the abnormality in the part that performs sheet conveyance or stack processing occurs, the control means, and wherein changing the number of times folding to the preset To do.

  The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the control means changes the stop timing of the operation in accordance with the location where the abnormality has occurred.

  The third means is characterized in that the first or second means further comprises display means for displaying the abnormality occurrence location when the abnormality occurs.

  The fourth means is characterized in that, in the third means, the control means changes the timing of the abnormal part display according to the abnormality occurrence part.

  A fifth means is characterized in that, in the first to fourth means, the abnormality is occurrence of a jam.

Sixth means, in the first to fifth means, the changed additional folding number, characterized in that it is set below the number folding previously set.

A seventh means is characterized in that the image processing apparatus according to the first to sixth means and the image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium are provided integrally or separately to constitute an image forming system. To do.

The eighth means is characterized in that the computer program includes a procedure for causing the computer to execute the function of the control means of the image processing apparatus according to the first to sixth means.

The ninth means is characterized in that the computer program according to the eighth means is read by a computer and recorded on a recording medium so as to be executable.

  In the following embodiments, the stacking means is in the staple tray F, the binding means is in the staplers S1, S21, and S22, and the conveying means is in the conveying paths A, C, and D and the conveying rollers (pairs) 1 and 2 provided in each part. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 56, 57, 71, 72, and 83, and the control means corresponds to the CPU 360, respectively.

According to the present invention, when processing is performed in parallel at a location other than the location where an abnormality has occurred, the processing that is currently being performed is executed for processing that is not related to the abnormality, and the processing is completed. Thus, it is possible to avoid wasting processing and paper other than the part where the abnormality occurred when the abnormality occurs .
In addition, when an abnormality occurs, the number of additional folds is changed, for example, by changing the number so as to be smaller than a predetermined number, so that the user can be notified of the occurrence of the abnormality in a short time. As a result, even if the user notices a sound generated when an abnormal operation such as a jam occurs, the user can display the abnormality with a minimum time difference, thereby eliminating the uncomfortable feeling during operation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system including a sheet post-processing apparatus as a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. Part of the device is shown.

  In FIG. 1, a sheet post-processing device PD is attached to a side portion of the image forming apparatus PR, and a sheet (recording medium) discharged from the image forming apparatus PR is guided to the sheet post-processing device PD. The sheet passes through a conveyance path A having post-processing means (in this embodiment, punch unit 100 as a punching means) for post-processing one sheet, and then to the conveyance path B and the shift tray 202 that are led to the upper tray 201. The branching claw 15 and the branching claw 16 are configured to distribute to a conveyance path C that leads to a conveyance path D that leads to a conveyance path C that leads, and a processing tray F that performs alignment, stapling, and the like (hereinafter also referred to as a staple processing tray). The tray surface 66 on which the sheets of the staple processing tray F are stacked is inclined so that the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheets discharged from the staple discharge roller 11 described later is upward, and the inclination angle is in the direction of gravity. On the other hand, the angle is set to a minimum angle that does not interfere with a later-described middle folding plate 74 on the lower side of the inclined surface and its driving mechanism and a mechanism such as the end surface binding stapler S1.

  The paper guided to the staple processing tray F through the transport paths A and D, and aligned and stapled in the staple processing tray is guided to the shift tray 202 by the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 which are deflecting means. The sheet is configured to be distributed to a path C, a processing tray G that performs folding or the like (hereinafter also referred to as a middle folding processing tray). Led to. Further, a branching claw 17 is disposed in the conveyance path D, and is held in the state shown in the figure by a low load spring (not shown). After the trailing edge of the sheet passes through this, the conveyance rollers 9, 10 and the staple discharge roller 11 is configured such that at least the conveying roller 9 is reversed to guide the trailing edge of the sheet to the sheet accommodating portion E so that the sheet is retained and conveyed while being overlapped with the next sheet. By repeating this operation, it is possible to convey two or more sheets in a superimposed manner.

  In the conveyance path A common to the upstream of the conveyance path B, the conveyance path C, and the conveyance path D, an inlet sensor 301 that detects a sheet received from the image forming apparatus, an inlet roller 1, a punch unit 100, and a punch downstream thereof. The waste hopper 101, the conveying roller 2, the branching claw 15 and the branching claw 16 are sequentially arranged. The branch claw 15 and the branch claw 16 are held in the state shown in FIG. 1 by a spring (not shown), and when the solenoid (not shown) is turned on, the branch claw 15 rotates upward and the branch claw 16 rotates downward. The paper is distributed to the conveyance path B, the conveyance path C, and the conveyance path D.

  When guiding the paper to the conveyance path B, the branching claw 15 is in the state of FIG. 1 and the solenoid is OFF. When guiding the paper to the conveyance path C, the branching claw 15 is turned on by turning on the solenoid from the state of FIG. When the paper is guided to the transport path D, the branch claw 16 is in the state of FIG. 1, the solenoid is OFF, and the branch claw 15 is in the state of FIG. By turning on the solenoid, the solenoid is turned upward.

  In this paper post-processing apparatus, punching (punching unit 100), paper alignment + edge binding (jogger fence 53, edge binding stapler S1), paper alignment + saddle stitching (jogger fence 53, saddle stitching stapler) is performed on the paper. S2), paper sorting (shift tray 202), center folding (folding plate 74, folding rollers 81, 82), and the like can be performed.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus PR performs optical writing on an image forming medium such as a photoconductive drum based on the input image data to form a latent image on the surface of the photoconductive drum, and the formed latent image is displayed. This is an image forming apparatus using a so-called electrophotographic process in which toner is developed, transferred to a recording medium such as paper, fixed, and discharged, and the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic process itself is well known, so the details here Description and illustration of this configuration are omitted. In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process is illustrated. However, a system using a known image forming apparatus such as an inkjet or a printing machine and a printing machine (printer) may also be used. Needless to say.

<Staple processing tray>
The configuration of the processing tray F that performs sheet alignment and stapling will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part showing the configuration of the processing tray F that performs sheet alignment and stapling. In the drawing, the sheets guided to the processing tray F by the staple paper discharge roller 11 are sequentially stacked on the tray surface 66. In this case, alignment in the vertical direction (paper conveyance direction) is performed by the tapping roller 12 for each sheet, and alignment in the horizontal direction (paper width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction) is performed by the jogger fence 53. After that, the end-face stitching stapler S1 is driven by a staple signal from the control means 350 between job breaks, that is, between the last sheet of the sheet bundle and the first sheet of the next sheet bundle, and the binding process is performed. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is immediately sent to the shift paper discharge roller 6 by the discharge belt 52 having the discharge claw 52a, and is discharged to the shift tray 202 set at the receiving position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the home position of the discharge claw 52a is detected by a discharge belt HP sensor 311. This discharge belt HP sensor 311 is turned on / off by a discharge claw 52a provided on the discharge belt 52. Turn off. Two discharge claws 52a are arranged at opposing positions on the outer periphery of the discharge belt 52, and the sheet bundle accommodated in the processing tray F is moved and conveyed alternately. Further, if necessary, the discharge belt 52 is reversely rotated, and the sheet bundle accommodated in the processing tray F on the back surface of the discharge claw 52a 'opposite to the discharge claw 52a waiting to move the sheet bundle. The tips in the transport direction may be aligned.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge belt 52 driven by the discharge motor 157 has a discharge belt 52 and its drive pulley arranged at the center of alignment in the paper width direction and symmetrically with the discharge roller 56. The peripheral speed of the discharge roller 56 is set to be faster than the peripheral speed of the discharge belt 52.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hitting roller 12 is given a pendulum motion by the hitting SOL 170 about the fulcrum 12 a and intermittently acts on the sheet fed to the processing tray F to hit the sheet against the rear end fence 51. The hitting roller 12 rotates counterclockwise. The jogger fence 53 is driven via a timing belt by a jogger motor 158 capable of forward and reverse rotation, and reciprocates in the paper width direction.

  The end-face stitching stapler S1 is driven via a timing belt by a forward / reversely movable stapler moving motor (not shown), and moves in the sheet width direction in order to bind a predetermined position of the sheet edge. A stapler movement HP sensor for detecting the home position of the end face binding stapler S1 is provided at one end of the moving range, and the binding position in the paper width direction is controlled by the amount of movement of the end face binding stapler S1 from the home position. The

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 11, the saddle stitching stapler S2 has a distance from the rear end fence 51 to the needle striking position of the saddle stitching stapler S2 that is half the conveyance direction length of the maximum sheet size capable of saddle stitching. Two are arranged so as to be equal to or more than the corresponding distance, and two are arranged symmetrically with respect to the alignment center in the paper width direction, and are fixed to the stay 63. Further, the saddle stitching stapler S2 includes a needle portion and is divided into two units of a stitcher (driver) unit S21 for driving out the needle and a clincher unit S22 for bending the needle, and the stitcher unit S21 conveys the processing tray F. It is arranged on the road D side. In the figure, reference numeral 64a denotes a front side plate, 64b denotes a rear side plate, and reference numeral 310 denotes a paper presence / absence sensor that detects the presence / absence of paper on the staple processing tray F.

  The sheet bundle that has undergone saddle stitching in the staple processing tray F is folded in the middle of the sheet. This middle folding is performed in the middle folding processing tray G. For this purpose, it is necessary to transport the bound sheet bundle to the middle folding processing tray G. In this embodiment, a sheet bundle deflecting unit is provided on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the staple processing tray F, and conveys the sheet bundle to the middle folding processing tray G side.

  The sheet bundle deflection mechanism includes a branch guide plate 54 and a movable guide 55 as shown in the enlarged views of the staple processing tray F and the middle folding processing tray G in FIGS. As shown in the operation explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 5 to 7, the branch guide plate 54 is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around a fulcrum 54 a, and a rotatable pressure roller 57 is provided on the downstream side of the branch guide plate 54. The pressure is applied to the discharge roller 56 side. Further, the position of the branch guide plate 54 is defined by the contact position with the cam surface 61 a of the cam 61 that rotates by obtaining a driving force from the bundle branch drive motor 161.

  The movable guide 55 is swingably supported on the rotation shaft of the discharge roller 56, and is linked to one end of the movable guide 55 (the end opposite to the branch guide plate 54) by a connecting portion 60a. An arm 60 is provided. The link arm 60 is composed of a shaft fixed to the front plate 64a shown in FIG. 3 and a long hole portion 60b, whereby the swing range of the movable guide 55 is restricted. Further, it is held at the position shown in FIG. Further, when the link arm 60 is pushed by the cam surface 61b of the cam 61 that rotates by obtaining drive from the bundle branching drive motor 161, the connected movable guide 55 rotates upward. The bundle branching guide HP sensor 315 detects the shield 61c of the cam 61 and detects the home position of the cam 61. Accordingly, the cam 61 controls the stop position by counting the drive pulses of the bundle branching drive motor 161 with the home position as a reference.

  FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 when the cam 61 is located at the home position. The guide surface 55 a of the movable guide 55 has a function of guiding the paper in the path to the shift paper discharge roller 6.

  In FIG. 6, as the cam 61 rotates, the branch guide plate 54 rotates counterclockwise (downward) in the drawing around the fulcrum 54a, and the pressure roller 57 contacts the discharge roller 56 and pressurizes. It is an operation explanatory view showing the state.

  In FIG. 7, when the cam 61 further rotates, the movable guide 55 rotates clockwise (upward) in the figure, and the path leading from the staple processing tray F to the half-fold processing tray G is guided along the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide. FIG. FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship in the depth direction.

  In this embodiment, the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 are operated by a single drive motor. However, each drive motor is provided so that the movement timing and stop position can be controlled according to the paper size and the number of sheets to be bound. You may do it.

<Folding processing tray>
8 and 9 are explanatory views of the operation of the moving mechanism of the folding plate 74 for performing the middle folding.
The folding plate 74 is supported by loosely fitting the long hole portions 74 a to the two shafts 64 c erected on the front and rear side plates 64 a and 64 b, and the shaft portion 74 b erected from the folding plate 74 is further linked to the link arm 76. When the link arm 76 swings about the fulcrum 76a, the folding plate 74 reciprocates left and right in FIG. 8 and FIG. That is, the shaft portion 75b of the folding plate driving cam 75 is loosely fitted in the long hole portion 76c of the link arm 76, and the link arm 76 swings due to the rotational movement of the folding plate driving cam 75. 11, the folding plate 74 reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the upper and lower bundle conveyance guide plates 91 and 92.

  The folding plate drive cam 75 is rotated by the folding plate drive motor 166 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The stop position is determined by detecting both end portions of the half-moon shaped shielding portion 75a by the folding plate HP sensor 325.

  FIG. 8 shows the home position position completely retracted from the sheet bundle accommodation area of the processing tray G. When the folding plate drive cam 75 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the folding plate 74 moves in the direction of the arrow and protrudes into the sheet bundle accommodation area of the processing tray G. FIG. 9 shows a position where the center of the sheet bundle of the processing tray G is pushed into the nip of the folding roller 81. When the folding plate drive cam 75 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the folding plate 74 moves in the direction of the arrow and retracts from the sheet bundle accommodation area of the processing tray G.

  In this embodiment, it is assumed that the sheet folding is performed by folding a bundle of sheets. However, the present invention can be applied to the case of folding one sheet. In this case, since only one sheet does not require saddle stitching, when one sheet is discharged, the sheet is fed to the middle folding processing tray G side, folded by the folding plate 74 and the folding roller, and discharged to the lower tray. To do.

<Control device>
As shown in FIG. 11, the control device 350 is composed of a microcomputer having a CPU 360, an I / O interface 370, and the like. Each switch of the control panel of the image forming apparatus PR main body, an inlet sensor 301, an upper discharge sensor 302, and the like. , Shift paper discharge sensor 303, pre-stack sensor 304, staple paper discharge sensor 305, paper presence sensor 310, discharge belt home position sensor 311, staple movement home position sensor 312, stapler oblique home position sensor 313, bundle arrival sensor 321, movable Signals from sensors such as the rear end fence HP sensor 322 and the paper surface detection sensor 330 are input to the CPU 360 via the I / O interface 370.

  Based on the input signal, the CPU 360 moves a tray raising / lowering motor for the shift tray 202, a discharge guide plate opening / closing motor for opening / closing the opening / closing guide plate, a shift motor for moving the shift tray 202, and a tapping roller motor for driving the tapping roller 12. , Solenoids such as the hitting SOL 170, a transport motor that drives each transport roller, a paper discharge motor that drives each paper discharge roller, a discharge motor 157 that drives the discharge belt 52, a stapler moving motor that moves the end surface binding stapler S 1, and an end surface The driving of an oblique motor that rotates the binding stapler S1 obliquely and a jogger motor 158 that moves the jogger fence 53 are controlled. A pulse signal from a not-shown stipple transport motor that drives the motor stipple discharge roller is input to the CPU 360 and counted. The tapping SOL 170 and the jogger motor 158 are controlled according to this count. The punch unit 100 also performs drilling according to instructions from the CPU 360 by controlling the clutch and the motor.

  The sheet post-processing device PD is controlled by the CPU 360 executing a program written in a ROM (not shown) while using a RAM (not shown) as a work area. In addition, the program data is downloaded from a server via a network or from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or SD card to a storage medium such as a hard disk device (not shown) via a recording medium driving device instead of or in addition to the ROM. It can also be used after being rolled or upgraded.

<Operation>
The operation of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to this embodiment executed by the CPU 360 will be described below.

  In this embodiment, the non-stipple mode a in which the paper passes through the transport path A and the transport path B and is discharged to the upper tray 201, and the non-stipple mode b in which the paper passes through the transport path A and the transport path C to the shift tray 202. Sorting and stacking modes that are discharged to the shift tray 202 through the transport path A, the transport path C, and alignment and binding are performed on the processing tray F through the transport path A and the transport path D, and then discharged to the shift tray 202 through the transport path C. Alignment and center binding are performed in the processing tray F via the stapling mode (end face binding mode), the transport path A and the transport path D, and further the center folding is performed in the processing tray G and the lower tray 203 passes through the transport path H. The saddle-stitched binding mode and the saddle-stitched binding mode will be described here.

《End binding mode》
When the end face binding mode is selected, the jogger fence 53 moves from the home position as shown in FIG. 4 and waits at a standby position that is 7 mm away from the width of the paper discharged to the processing tray F. The paper is sorted from the conveyance path A by the branching claw 15 and the branching claw 16, guided to the conveyance path D, and discharged to the processing tray F by the conveyance roller 7, the conveyance roller 9, the conveyance roller 10, and the staple paper discharge roller 11. At this time, when the paper is conveyed by the staple paper discharge roller 11 and the rear end of the paper passes through the staple paper discharge sensor 305, the jogger fence 53 moves to the inner side by 5 mm from the standby position and stops.

  Further, the staple paper discharge sensor 305 detects this when the trailing edge of the paper passes, and the signal is input to the CPU 360 (see FIG. 10). The CPU 360 counts the number of pulses transmitted from a not-shown staple transport motor that drives the staple paper discharge roller 11 from the time when this signal is received, and turns on the SOL 170 after transmitting a predetermined pulse. The tapping roller 12 performs a pendulum motion by turning on / off the tapping SOL 170. When the tapping roller 12 is on, the tapping roller 12 strikes the paper and returns it to the lower side, and abuts against the rear end fence 51 to align the paper.

  At this time, every time the paper stored in the processing tray F passes the entrance sensor 101 or the staple paper discharge sensor 305, the signal is input to the CPU 360, and the number of sheets is counted.

  After a lapse of a predetermined time after the beating SOL 170 is turned off, the jogger fence 53 is further moved inward by 2.6 mm by the jogger motor 158, temporarily stops, and the horizontal alignment is finished. The jogger fence 53 then moves outward by 7.6 mm, returns to the standby position, and waits for the next sheet. This operation is performed up to the last page. After that, it moves again inward by 7 mm and stops, and prepares for a stippling operation by pressing both ends of the sheet bundle. Thereafter, after a predetermined time, the end face stitching stapler S1 is actuated by a staple motor (not shown), and the binding process is performed. At this time, if two or more bindings are designated, the staple movement motor 159 is driven after the binding processing at one place is completed, and the end face binding stapler S1 is moved to an appropriate position along the rear end of the sheet. The second stitching process is performed. If the third and subsequent locations are specified, this is repeated.

  When the binding process is completed, the discharge motor 157 is driven, and the discharge belt 52 is driven. At this time, the paper discharge motor is also driven, and the shift paper discharge roller 6 starts to rotate to receive the sheet bundle lifted by the discharge claw 52a, and is discharged to the shift tray 202. At the same time, the state of paper discharge is monitored by a shift paper discharge sensor 303 which is arranged in the vicinity of the shift paper discharge roller 6 and detects paper discharge. The jogger fence 53 is retracted 2 mm after a predetermined pulse of detection by the paper presence sensor 310 or the discharge belt HP sensor 311 to release the restraint on the paper by the jogger fence 53. This predetermined pulse is set after the discharge claw 52a comes into contact with the rear end of the paper and passes through the front end of the jogger fence 53.

《Saddle stitch binding mode》
When the saddle stitch binding mode is selected, the paper sorted by the branching pawl 15 and the branching pawl 16 from the transport path A is guided to the transport path D, and the transport roller 7, the transport roller 9, the transport roller 10, and the staple paper discharge. The paper is discharged to the processing tray F by the roller 11. In the processing tray F, the sheets sequentially discharged by the staple discharge roller 11 are aligned in the same manner as in the end-face binding mode, and the same operation is performed until just before stapling (see FIG. 12). Thereafter, the sheet bundle is carried to the position shown in FIG. 13 downstream by a predetermined distance set for each sheet size by the discharge claw 52a, and the center thereof is bound by the saddle stitching stapler S2. The sheet bundle bound at the position shown in FIG. 13 is transported downstream by a discharge claw 52a for a predetermined distance set for each sheet size, and temporarily stops. This moving distance is managed by the drive pulse of the discharge motor 157. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14, the leading end of the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the discharge roller 56 and the pressure roller 57, and is guided to the processing tray G formed by turning the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55. Is again conveyed downstream by the discharge claw 52 a and the discharge roller 56. As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge roller 56 is provided on the drive shaft of the discharge belt 52 and is driven in synchronization with the discharge belt 52.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the sheet bundle is moved from the home position to the position corresponding to the sheet size in advance by the upper bundle conveying roller 71 and the lower bundle conveying roller 72 and stopped to guide the lower end face. It is conveyed to the movable rear end fence 73 (FIG. 16). At this time, the folding roller 81 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow until the leading end of the sheet bundle passes the portion indicated by Q, and the sheet bundle line is smoothly conveyed from the upper bundle conveying guide plate 92 to the lower bundle conveying guide plate 91. To be. Further, the discharge claw 52a stops at the position where another discharge claw 52a ′ arranged at a position facing the outer periphery of the discharge belt 52 reaches the vicinity of the rear end fence 51, and the branch guide plate 54 and the movable guide 55 are Return to the home position and prepare for the next sheet. As shown in FIG. 16, the sheet bundle abutted against the movable rear end fence 73 is released from the pressurization of the lower bundle conveying roller 72. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 17, the vicinity of the bound needle portion is pushed by the folding plate 74 in a substantially right-angle direction and guided to the nip of the opposing folding roller 81. The folding roller 81 that has been rotated in advance folds the center of the sheet bundle by conveying the sheet bundle under pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the folded sheet bundle is strengthened by the second folding roller 82, and is discharged to the lower tray 203 by the lower discharge roller 83. At this time, when the rear end of the sheet bundle is detected by the folding portion passage sensor 323, the folding plate 74 and the movable rear end fence 73 are returned to the home position, and the pressurization of the lower bundle conveying roller 72 is also returned to the next sheet. Prepare. If the next job is the same sheet size and the same number of sheets, the movable rear end fence 73 may stand by at that position. Reference numeral 324 denotes a lower paper discharge sensor.

  In this embodiment, the second folding roller 82 for enhancing folding is functioning as a folding roller. When the folding is performed, the second folding roller 82 folds the sheet bundle. Folding is performed by passing the nip of the roller 82 a plurality of times (odd times).

<Control>
As described above, when the saddle stitching mode is selected, the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus PR is stacked on the staple tray F through the transport paths A and D shown in FIG. When the predetermined number of sheets are stacked, the saddle stitching staples S1 and S2 saddle-stitch the sheet bundle, and the saddle-stitched sheet bundle is deflected by the movable guide 55 and the discharge roller 56 and guided to the half-folding processing tray G. The sheet is folded and discharged to the lower tray 203. In this process, when the sheet bundle is conveyed to the middle folding processing tray G, the staple tray F becomes empty and the next job is accepted. In this way, in this embodiment, the paper of the next job is received, and the conveyance and stacking can be performed simultaneously (in parallel), thereby shortening the interval between jobs and improving the productivity.

  However, when an abnormality such as a jam occurs when the conveyance path, the staple tray F, and the half-fold processing tray G are simultaneously operated, the image forming apparatus of a type that does not have a plurality of functions as in this embodiment. However, since paper remains in the machine, the timing for stopping the processing performed at the location is changed according to the location where the paper is generated.

≪If an error such as a jam occurs on the transport path or staple tray≫
When an abnormality such as a jam occurs in the transport paths A and D and the staple tray F, the operations of the transport paths A and D and / or the staple tray F are stopped, and the occurrence of the abnormality is notified to the image forming apparatus PR. In response to this notification, the image forming apparatus PR also performs a stop process. At that time, it is confirmed whether or not the folding operation is being performed in the middle folding processing tray G. If so, the number of additional folds by the additional fold roller 409 is changed to a preset number of times of abnormal processing. The number of additional folds at this time is 0 in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the sheet is immediately discharged to the saddle stitching tray. However, if the quality is important, the number of additional folds may be set in advance. Absent. After completion of the additional folding, the saddle stitching tray is informed that the sheet bundle has been discharged and then discharged to the image forming apparatus PR side, thereby displaying that an abnormality has occurred on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus PR.

≪When an abnormality such as a jam occurs at the folded part≫
When a jam occurs in the middle folding processing tray G, first, the operation of the middle folding section is stopped to notify the image forming apparatus of the occurrence of an abnormality. In response to the notification, the image forming apparatus stops performing a new paper feeding operation. After that, all the paper on the transport path is transported to the stack tray, and when all the transport is completed, the image forming apparatus side is notified that the transport has been completed, and thereby an indication that an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the operation unit.

These processing procedures are shown in the flowchart of FIG.
In this process, when an abnormality such as a jam occurs (step S101), it is checked whether the location where the abnormality has occurred is a folded portion, that is, the middle folding processing tray G (step S102). Control is stopped (step S103). Then, the fact that an abnormality has occurred at the folding portion is transmitted to the image forming apparatus PR (step S104), and new paper feeding is stopped (step S105). Next, it is checked whether or not the sheet in the middle of conveyance remains in the image forming apparatus PR (step S106). If it remains, the sheet is discharged to the paper discharge destination (step S107). In step S108), an abnormality is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus PR (step S109), and the process returns. If there is no sheet in the middle of conveyance in the image forming apparatus PR in step S106, an abnormality is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus PR (step S109) and the process returns.

  In step S102, if the location where the abnormality has occurred is not the folding portion, it is checked whether the location where the abnormality has occurred is the transport path A, D or the stack portion (staple tray F) (step S110). Since the part is abnormal, an abnormality is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus PR (step S109), and the process returns.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the abnormality occurs in the transport paths A and D or the stack unit (staple tray F), the operation control of the transport and stack unit is stopped (step S111), and the image forming apparatus PR. Is transmitted (step S112), the operation of the image forming apparatus PR is stopped (step S113), the number of folds is set to 0, in other words, the number of folds is increased. In such a manner that the folding by the roller is not performed (step S114), when the processing of the middle folding processing unit is completed (step S115), an abnormal display is displayed on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus PR (step S109) and the process returns. .

  FIG. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus including a folding roller unit that performs folding from a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction. In this embodiment, a folding roller unit provided with a folding roller 409 shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is provided in place of the second folding roller in FIG. Only differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

<Folder roller unit>
As illustrated in FIG. 20, the folding roller unit 400 is provided in the conveyance path H between the folding roller 81 and the paper discharge roller 83, and pushes the sheet bundle folded by the folding plate 74 into the nip of the folding roller 83. After the crease is made, the crease is strengthened by the crease roller unit 400.

  The folding roller unit 400 includes a folding roller 409, a supporting mechanism for the folding roller 409, and a drive mechanism for the folding roller 409, as shown in the front view of FIG. 21 and the side view of FIG. A driving mechanism of the folding roller 409 includes a driving pulley 402, a driven pulley 404, a timing belt 403 stretched between the pulleys 402 and 404, and a pulse motor 401 that rotationally drives the timing belt 403. And is composed mainly of. The support mechanism of the folding roller 409 is coupled to the timing belt 403, and the moving support member 407 that moves integrally, the guide member 405 that the moving support member 407 slides to regulate the moving direction, and the moving support member The upper guide plate 415 that extends to the side of the anti-folding roller 407 and restricts the tilt of the folding roller 407 and prevents the guide member 405 from bending and the folding roller 407 in the sheet bundle folding direction (downward in the figure). It is mainly composed of an elastic material (coil spring in the figure) 411 as elastic biasing means for elastically biasing. The support mechanism is installed in a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction, and the drive mechanism folds the roller 407 in the support mechanism in the installation direction of the support mechanism.

  The rotational drive of the pulse motor 401 is transmitted to the moving support member 407 fitted to the timing belt 403 by the timing belt 403 stretched between the pulley 402 and the pulley 404, and the moving support member 403 is guided by the guide member 405. The guide member 405 moves while sliding in the thrust direction. A deflection preventing member 406 exists between the moving support member 403 and the upper guide plate 415, and is supported by the moving support member 403 in a rotatable state. Therefore, the thrust of the guide member 405 together with the moving support member 403 is supported. Can move in the direction. Further, a folding roller 409 exists between the moving support member 403 and the lower guide plate, and a friction member 410 exists on the circumference of the folding roller. The rotation shaft of the folding roller 409 is supported by a folding roller support member 408, and the folding roller support member 408 is supported in a state where it can move in the vertical direction while sliding with the moving support member 403. Further, the folding roller support member 408 is in a state of being pressed by the elastic material 411 from the moving support member 403. As a result, the folding roller 409 can move in the thrust direction of the guide member 405 together with the moving support member 403, while the folding roller 409 is always pressed toward the lower guide plate 416 by the elastic material 411. And is movable in the vertical direction. Further, in the thrust direction of the guide member 405, there are a front position detection sensor 412 and a front position detection sensor 413 as detection means for detecting the position of the movement support member 407, and the movement support member 407 includes the front position detection sensor 412 and the position detection sensor. When the rear position 413 is reached, it is detected by a sensor. The sheet bundle conveyed to the folding roller unit 400 is detected by a sheet bundle detection sensor 414.

  The rotating shaft of the folding roller 409 is supported by a folding roller support member 408, and the folding roller support member 408 is supported in a state where it can move in the vertical direction while sliding with the moving support member 407. Further, the folding roller support member 408 is in a state of being pressed by the elastic material 411 from the moving support member 407. As a result, the folding roller 409 can move integrally with the movement support member 407 in the thrust direction of the guide member 405, and during that time, the folding roller 409 is always pressed against the lower guide plate 416 by the elastic material 411. And it can move in the vertical direction. Further, a front position detection sensor 412 and a rear position detection sensor 413 are provided as detection means for detecting the position of the movement support member 407 in the thrust direction of the guide member 405, and the movement support member 407 is provided with the front position detection sensor 412 and the position detection. When the position comes after the sensor 413, it is detected by the front and rear positions 412 and 413 of the position detection sensor. On the other hand, the sheet bundle conveyed to the folding roller unit 400 is detected by a sheet bundle detection sensor 414 provided at the entrance of the folding roller unit 400.

  The home position of the folding roller 409 is detected after the position detection sensor 413. The folding operation is performed by moving the folding roller 409 from the position after the position detection sensor 413 to the position before the position detection sensor 412 after the sheet bundle is conveyed to a predetermined position and stopped. At this time, the motor pulses are counted, and even after the predetermined pulse count, if the position detecting sensor 412 does not detect the folding roller 409, there is an abnormality in moving the folding roller (mechanism lock, stop due to insufficient driving torque, Motor out of step is determined. At this time, first, the pulse motor 401 is reversely rotated to return to the direction 413 after the position detection sensor. At this time, if it is detected within a predetermined time, it stops at that position, and the display of the jam display is displayed on the main body operation unit or the like. In addition, when the position detection sensor 413 does not detect within a predetermined time, the motor drive is stopped, and a display indicating that a failure that cannot be handled by the user such as a service call has occurred is displayed on the main body operation unit or the like. This process is as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The control of the sheet post-processing device PD, the abnormality detection control, and the display control for the display unit (paper post-processing device) (not shown) use a program written in a ROM (not shown) by the CPU 360 as a work area. It is done by executing. Further, display control of the operation display unit in the image forming apparatus PR is controlled by a CPU (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus PR in accordance with a control output from the CPU 360.

  At the time of further folding, the state shown in FIG. 23 corresponding to the middle folding operation of FIG. 17 is achieved, and the vicinity of the bound needle portion is pushed in a substantially right angle direction by the folding plate 74 and guided to the nip of the opposing folding roller 81. The folding roller 81 rotating in advance folds the center of the sheet bundle by conveying the sheet bundle guided to the nip under pressure. The folded sheet bundle is conveyed to the folding roller unit 400 as shown in FIG. 24 and temporarily stops. This stop position is determined by pulse control from the sheet bundle detection sensor 414 mounted on the folding roller unit 400. When the leading end of the sheet bundle is folded and stopped at a predetermined position of the roller unit 400, the folding roller 409 is driven at the position shown in FIG. When the folding increase operation is completed, the sheet is discharged to the lower tray 203 by the folding roller 81 and the lower discharge roller 83. At this time, when the folding section passage sensor 323 detects the rear end of the sheet bundle, the folding plate 74 and the movable rear end fence 73 are returned to the home position, and the pressurization of the lower bundle conveying roller 72 is also restored to prepare for the next sheet. . If the next job is the same sheet size and the same number of sheets, the movable rear end fence 73 may stand by at that position.

  As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, the following effects can be obtained.

1) When an abnormality occurs in a jam or the like during the simultaneous processing of the folding operation and the sheet conveyance and stacking operation on the sheet bundle, the operation is stopped only in the case where the abnormality is involved, and the operation not involved is continued until the end. Since it is controlled, the removability of the in-machine residual paper is improved. As a result, operability is improved and waste of resources can be minimized.

2) Since the stop timing of the image forming apparatus is changed depending on the location where an abnormality such as a jam occurs, the remaining paper in the machine can be reduced depending on the location where an abnormality such as a jam occurs, and the remaining paper can be removed. Will be better. As a result, operability is improved and waste of resources can be minimized.

3) Since the control is performed so as to change the timing of displaying the abnormal part depending on the part where the abnormality occurs, it is possible to prevent the user from performing the abnormal recovery operation by the display until the processing is completed. As a result, post-processing can be performed to the end, and the removability of the remaining paper is improved. As a result, operability is improved and waste of resources can be minimized.

4) The operation of folding the sheet bundle by reciprocating the sheet bundle by a predetermined number of times and performing the additional folding is changed so as to be less than the predetermined number of times when an abnormality occurs. The user can be notified of the occurrence of an abnormality. As a result, even if the user notices a sound generated when an abnormal operation such as a jam occurs, the user can display the abnormality with a minimum time difference, thereby eliminating the uncomfortable feeling during operation.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part illustrating a configuration of a staple processing tray that performs sheet alignment and stapling processing. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a staple processing tray and a discharge claw for carrying out paper from the staple processing tray. It is a top view of the staple processing tray of the paper post-processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of a branch guide plate and a movable guide when a cam is located in a home position. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the state which a branching guide plate rotates centering | focusing on a fulcrum by the rotation of a cam, and the pressurizing roller contacts the discharge roller side and is pressurizing. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the path | route which a movable guide guides from a staple processing tray to a center folding process tray was formed with the branch guide plate and the movable guide by further rotating a cam. FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of a folding plate moving mechanism for performing a middle folding, and shows a home position position completely retracted from a sheet bundle accommodation area of a middle folding processing tray. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a folding plate moving mechanism for performing a folding process, and shows a position where the center of a sheet bundle of a folding process tray is pushed into a nip of a folding roller. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is an enlarged view of a staple processing tray and a middle folding processing tray part according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state of a sheet bundle stacked on a staple processing tray in the saddle stitch binding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the sheets are stacked on the staple processing tray and are saddle-stitched in the saddle stitch binding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an initial state in which a sheet bundle that is saddle-stitched by a staple processing tray is deflected by a sheet bundle deflection mechanism in the saddle stitch binding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a sheet bundle that is saddle-stitched in a staple processing tray is deflected by a sheet bundle deflecting mechanism and sent to a half-fold processing tray in the saddle stitch binding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a sheet bundle is positioned at a center folding position on the center folding processing tray in the saddle stitch binding mode. FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a middle folding operation of a sheet bundle is started by operating a middle folding plate in a middle folding processing tray in the saddle stitching bookbinding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a sheet bundle is folded from a middle folding processing tray by a middle folding roller and discharged in a saddle stitch binding mode. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure in a 1st Example. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of the paper post-processing apparatus which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is a front view of the folding roller unit which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is a side view of the additional roller unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a middle folding operation of a sheet bundle is started by operating a middle folding plate in a middle folding processing tray in the saddle stitching bookbinding mode. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when a sheet bundle is folded from a middle folding processing tray by a middle folding roller and discharged in a saddle stitch binding mode.

Explanation of symbols

52 discharge belt 52a discharge claw 54 branch guide plate 55 movable guide 56 discharge roller 57 pressure roller 157 discharge motor 161 bundle branch drive motor 350 controller 360 CPU
370 I / O
F Stipple processing tray G Middle folding processing tray PD Paper post-processing device PR Image forming device S1 Edge stitching stapler S2 Saddle stitching stapler F Stipple processing tray G Middle folding processing tray A, B, C, D, H, I Conveyance path J Reverse Conveying path Pcv Cover paper Pft Cover PD Paper post-processing device PR Image forming device S1 End face stitching stapler S2 Saddle stitching stapler S21 Stitcher unit S22 Clincher unit

Claims (9)

Stacking means for stacking paper,
A binding unit that performs a binding process on the bundle of sheets stacked on the stack unit;
Folding means for performing a folding process on the sheet bundle or the sheet;
Transport means for transporting paper to or from each section;
Was carried out in parallel processing of each unit, when an abnormality occurs during the parallel processing, the operation of the means involved in the abnormal stopping, the processing means not involved and control means Ru allowed to proceed,
A paper processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing on paper after image formation;
Folding means for reciprocating the folding roller part a predetermined number of times and performing folding processing on the sheet bundle or paper folded by the folding means is further provided. When the conveyance and stacking processes are executed in parallel, if an abnormality occurs in a portion where the sheet conveyance or stacking process is performed, the control unit changes the preset number of additional folds. An image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a stop timing of the operation according to an abnormality occurrence location.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a location where the abnormality has occurred when the abnormality occurs.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit changes an abnormality location display timing according to the abnormality occurrence location.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality is occurrence of a jam. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changed number of additional folding is set to be equal to or less than a preset number of additional folding . The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium;
Is an integrated or separate image forming system . A computer program comprising a procedure for executing the function of the control means of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 on a computer . 9. A recording medium, wherein the computer program according to claim 8 is read by a computer and recorded so as to be executable .

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