JP4706454B2 - Booklet finishing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a booklet finishing apparatus that finishes a booklet produced by folding paper.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming systems represented by printers and copiers are provided with a post-processing device for producing a booklet as a post-processing for paper on which an image is formed. As a method for producing a booklet, there is a method of folding a sheet into a booklet. A booklet produced by this method has a curvature in the vicinity of the back. Thus, as a booklet finishing apparatus that improves the quality of the booklet, there is an apparatus that performs a square fold process that crushes and flattens the back of the booklet (for example, see Patent Documents 1 to 6).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of the square fold processing.

Part (a) to part (d) in FIG. 9 sequentially show how the booklet 511 is square-folded. As shown in part (a), the booklet 511 is produced by folding the paper, but the paper 511 is not completely folded when it is folded once. Therefore, the booklet 511 is curved around the spine 511a. is doing. As shown in part (b), the booklet 511 conveyed with the spine 511 a at the head is positioned by the stopper 514 coming into contact with the back 511 a of the booklet 511, and is sandwiched from both sides of the booklet by the clamping unit 512. Flattened. Next, as shown in part (c), the roller 513 is pressed against the back 511a of the booklet. The roller 513 moves along the spine 511a while pushing the spine 511a, and crushes the spine 511a of the booklet. Thereby, as shown in part (d), the booklet spine 511a is flattened.
JP-A-2001-260564 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-345863 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-168012 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-196524 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-209886 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-210436

  However, the above-described square folding process may deteriorate the quality of the booklet depending on the type of the booklet.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing a booklet of a different type from FIG.

  FIG. 10 shows a state (a) in which the square fold is processed and a state (b) in which the square fold is not processed in a relatively thin booklet 521 of a type different from the booklet 511 shown in FIG. ing. The square-folded booklet 521 in the state (a) is flattened and flattened in comparison with the booklet 521 in the state (b), but the back of the booklet 521 protrudes from the cover part of the back. , A protruding portion 521b is formed. For such a thin booklet, the square fold processing is conventionally prohibited by the user's selection so that the quality is not deteriorated by the protruding portion 521b (b). As a result, the protruding portion 521b is not formed, but is not flattened, and there is still a problem in the quality of the booklet.

  In addition, since the number of processed sheets per time is generally constant in the image forming apparatus, the number of booklets created per hour increases as the number of sheets constituting the booklet decreases. That is, in the case of a relatively thin booklet, the booklet creation interval may be shorter than the time required for one square folding process. When the folded booklet is not bound, the booklet creation interval is shortened by the time required for binding the booklet. In such a case, due to the processing time of the square fold process, there is a problem that processing waiting time is generated on the image forming apparatus or booklet finisher side and the overall throughput is lowered.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a booklet finishing apparatus capable of flattening a booklet while suppressing deterioration in booklet quality and reduction in throughput of the entire apparatus.

The booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is as follows.
A sandwiching portion for flattening the booklet by sandwiching at least a portion adjacent to the back of the booklet produced by folding the paper from both sides of the booklet;
A forming part that flattens the back by pressing the back of the booklet;
A first mode in which the holding unit pinches a booklet to flatten the booklet, and the forming unit pushes the back of the booklet to flatten the back, and the holding unit holds the booklet and the booklet. However, the forming unit includes a switching unit that switches and executes the second mode in which the forming unit is paused.

  In the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, the portion adjacent to the back of the booklet is held by the holding unit, and the booklet is flattened. Therefore, for example, even if the booklet is relatively thin, the booklet can be flattened if the second mode is selected and the booklet is held in the holding unit. In this second mode, since the forming portion is at rest, the protruding portion is formed and the quality of the booklet is prevented from being deteriorated, and the processing time of the square folding process is shortened. Due to the processing time of the folding process, it is possible to prevent the throughput of the entire apparatus from being lowered. Further, for example, for a booklet having a relatively large thickness, by adopting the first mode, the thick booklet can be flattened and the back can be flattened.

  Here, in the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, the switching unit obtains mode switching operation information for switching between the first mode and the second mode, and the first mode according to the mode switching operation information. And the second mode are preferably switched.

  By switching between the first mode and the second mode according to the mode switching operation information, the user of the booklet finishing apparatus can perform the mode switching operation to select the first mode or the second mode. Therefore, the booklet can be flattened in a mode suitable for the type of the booklet by the user's mode switching operation.

  In the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, the switching unit obtains sheet number information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet, and the first mode and the second mode are set according to the sheet number information. It is preferable to switch. It is also preferable that the switching unit obtains paper type information indicating the type of paper constituting the booklet, and switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the paper type information.

  The ease with which the protruding portion is formed by flattening differs depending on the thickness of the booklet, but the thickness of the booklet depends on the number of sheets constituting the booklet or the type of sheet. Here, since the first mode and the second mode are switched according to information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet or information indicating the type of paper such as the thickness of the paper, a booklet suitable for the type of booklet. Is flattened.

  Further, in the booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention, the switching unit obtains binding presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of binding of the booklet and fixes the second mode when the binding presence / absence information indicates no binding. It may be.

  When the folded booklet is not bound, it is usually assumed that the paper constituting the booklet is removed later. In such a case, when the back of the booklet is flattened, the folding quality of the paper removed from the booklet deteriorates. In such a case, the mode is fixed to the second mode, and the booklet can be flattened while maintaining the paper quality.

  In addition, when the folded booklet is not bound, the booklet creation interval is shortened by the time required for binding the booklet. However, by selecting the second mode, the processing time of the square folding process is reduced. Therefore, the throughput of the entire apparatus can be prevented from being lowered due to the processing time of the square folding process.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a booklet finishing apparatus capable of flattening a booklet while suppressing a decrease in the quality of the booklet and a decrease in the throughput of the entire apparatus is realized.

  Embodiments of a booklet finishing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet finishing apparatus of the present invention is incorporated.

  The image forming system 1 is connected to the image forming apparatus 2 that forms an image on a sheet, a post-processing apparatus 5 that performs post-processing of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 2, and the image forming apparatus 2. A large-capacity paper feed device 3 having a large number of paper trays 31 and a print server 4 that assists the print function of the image forming device 2 are provided.

  The image forming apparatus 2 is an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method and conveys the image to the post-processing apparatus 5. 22, 23, 24, 25.

  The post-processing device 5 stores the paper and inserts it additionally as a book cover. The booklet finisher 7 creates a booklet by bundling, folding and folding the paper, and a trimmer 8 for trimming the booklet sides. A square folding device 9 for finishing the booklet and a stacker 10 for loading the booklet are provided. The booklet produced by the booklet finisher 7 is conveyed inside the trimmer 8 and the square folding device 9 with the back of the booklet at the top, and is carried out onto the stacker 10.

  The square folding device 9 is a device for finishing a booklet. A stop plate 92 for positioning the booklet, a clamping jaw 91 for holding the booklet, a roller 93 for flattening the back of the booklet, and a punch 94 for making a hole in the booklet. , And an unloading roller 95 for unloading the booklet to the stacker 10.

  The stop plate 92 is a member having a surface with which the booklet abuts, and is movable between a position where the booklet is transported and a position where the booklet is retracted from the transported path. When the stop plate 92 is in a position to block the path of the booklet, the booklet conveyed from the trimmer 8 to the square folding device 9 with the back at the top is positioned by the back of the booklet hitting the stop plate 92. The clamping jaw 91 has a pair of members that sandwich the booklet from both sides, and clamps the booklet positioned by the stop plate 92 from both sides. Here, the stop plate 92 is disposed with a gap between the stop plate 92 and the clamping jaw 91 when the stop plate 92 is in a position to block the path of the booklet. For this reason, when clamping the booklet positioned by the stop plate 92, the clamping jaw 91 clamps the back portion of the booklet slightly protruding from the clamping jaw 91. That is, the clamping jaw 91 sandwiches the portion adjacent to the back of the booklet from both sides, and the booklet is thus flattened. The roller 93 is movably attached along the back of the booklet sandwiched between the clamping jaws 91. Since the roller 93 moves while pushing the back of the booklet with a force sufficient to crush the back, the back of the booklet is crushed and flattened by the roller 93. While the roller 93 crushes the back of the booklet, the clamping jaw 91 holds the booklet. The clamping jaw 91 corresponds to an example of a clamping portion according to the present invention. Further, the roller 93 corresponds to an example of a forming portion referred to in the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a control circuit 26 that controls the operation of the entire image forming system. Although not shown, the control circuit 26 is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the overall operation of the image forming system based on a program, a ROM that stores programs and tables, and a temporary storage area in the CPU. A RAM to be provided and an interface circuit for relaying signals between the outside of the control circuit 26 and the CPU are provided. Further, a personal computer 40 of the user is externally connected to the image forming apparatus 2.

  The control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message that prompts the user to input information indicating the thickness of each size of paper stored in the paper trays 22 to 25, the paper tray 31, and the inserter 6. In addition, a message prompting the user to input information indicating the size of the paper stored in the inserter 6 is displayed on the operation panel 21. When the user inputs information by operating the operation panel 21, the input information is supplied from the operation panel 21 to the control circuit 26. Thereby, the control circuit 26 obtains paper type information representing the paper type from the user. In addition, prior to starting image formation, the control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message for prompting input of information indicating the size of the sheets constituting the booklet, the number of sheets, and the presence or absence of binding. When the user inputs information by operating the operation panel 21, the input information is supplied from the operation panel 21 to the control circuit 26. Thus, the control circuit 26 obtains from the user sheet size information indicating the size of sheets constituting the booklet, sheet number information indicating the number of sheets, and binding presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of binding.

  When an image formation instruction is sent to the control circuit 26 from the operation panel 21 or the externally connected user's personal computer 40, the control circuit 26 controls the image forming apparatus 2 to form an image on the paper. . Further, the control circuit 26 controls operations of the booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, the square folding device 9, and the stacker 10. For example, the control circuit 26 controls the operations of the clamping jaw 91, the stop plate 92, the roller 93, the punch 94, and the carry-out roller 95 incorporated in the square folding device 9. The control circuit 26 corresponds to an example of the switching unit referred to in the present invention. An example of a booklet finishing apparatus according to the present invention is configured by a combination of the image forming apparatus 2 including the control circuit 26 and the post-processing apparatus 5 having the square folding apparatus 9.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating image forming / binding processing in the image forming system.

  Part (a) of FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of image formation / bookbinding processing, and Part (b) shows a flowchart of booklet finishing processing which is a part of image formation / bookbinding processing. Here, the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the image forming / binding process, the control circuit 26 first performs a paper information acquisition process (step S11). The control circuit 26 causes the operation panel 21 to display a message for prompting input of information representing the thickness of each of the sheets stored in the sheet trays 22 to 25, the sheet tray 31, and the inserter 6. In addition, a message prompting the user to input information indicating the size of the paper stored in the inserter 6 is displayed on the operation panel 21. When the operator operates the operation panel 21 to input information indicating thickness and size, the input information is supplied to the control circuit 26.

  Next, the control circuit 26 performs bookbinding condition setting processing (step S12). The control circuit 26 displays a message on the operation panel 21. This message prompts the user to input information regarding the number of sheets constituting the booklet, the paper size to be used, and the presence or absence of binding at the back of the booklet. When the user operates the operation panel 21 to input information regarding the number of sheets, the sheet size, and the presence or absence of booklet binding, the input information is supplied to the control circuit 26. As a result, the control circuit 26 obtains sheet number information representing the number of sheets and binding presence / absence information representing booklet binding from the user. Further, the control circuit 26 obtains paper type information representing the thickness of the paper corresponding to the paper size to be used from the information on the paper size to be used. A tray for storing the corresponding sheet is selected according to the sheet size information.

  Next, the control circuit 26 performs processing for determining a finishing mode when finishing the booklet in the square folding device 9 (step S13). The finishing mode includes a first mode and a second mode, which are determined and switched according to the sheet number information, the sheet type information, and the binding presence / absence information obtained in steps S11 and S12.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, a method for determining the finishing mode will be described.

FIG. 4 is an example of a table showing the relationship between the finishing mode and the thickness, number, size, presence / absence of binding of the booklet, and the finishing mode. The contents of this table are stored in the ROM of the control circuit 26. In the leftmost two columns of the table, in order from the left, determination conditions such as the thickness of the content sheet excluding the cover of the sheets constituting the booklet and the number of content sheets are shown. The top two rows of the table show, in order from the top, determination conditions such as the presence of saddle stitching, that is, the presence or absence of booklet binding, and the thickness of the cover of the paper. Each column of the table shows a finishing mode corresponding to these determination conditions. In this table, “Perform all processes” means the first mode in which both flattening of the booklet and flattening of the booklet are performed, and “only the first process” means flattening of the booklet. The flattening of the back means a second mode of resting. For example, in the table of FIG. 4, when the sheet thickness is 104 g / m ² for both the cover and the content sheet, the cover sheet is present, the number of the content sheets is 6, and the saddle stitch is present, this corresponds to “perform all processes”. The booklet is finished in the first mode. At this time, both flattening of the booklet and flattening of the back are executed. On the other hand, when the number of content sheets is 3, it corresponds to “only the first step”, and the booklet is finished in the second mode. At this time, the flattening of the booklet is performed, but the flattening of the back is stopped.

  Depending on the type of booklet, a protruding portion is formed when the spine is flattened, but the ease with which this protruding portion is formed depends on the thickness of the booklet. As the booklet is thinner, the protruding portion is more easily formed. The thickness of the booklet depends on the number of sheets constituting the booklet or the thickness of the sheet. Here, since the finishing mode can be switched according to the conditions for determining the thickness of the booklet, such as the thickness of the paper and the number of sheets, the booklet is flattened in an appropriate mode according to the type of the booklet in the square folding device 9. Will be converted.

  Further, in the table of FIG. 4, when there is no saddle stitching, the finishing mode is all fixed to the second mode. If the booklet is not bound, it is usually assumed that the paper that makes up the booklet will be removed later, but if the back of the booklet is flattened, the folding quality of the paper removed from the booklet will deteriorate. To do. Accordingly, when the booklet is not bound, the finishing mode is fixed to the second mode, so that the booklet is flattened while maintaining the folding quality of the sheet.

  In addition, for the column indicated as “Booklet Prohibition” in the table, the booklet that corresponds to the conditions in this column is not prepared for the reason that booklet finisher 7 cannot perform bookbinding properly. Means prohibited. As will be described later, the control circuit 26 performs control so that the condition corresponding to the “booklet production prohibition” column is not selected by the user.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the description will be continued.

  In step S13, the control circuit 26 shows the number of sheets constituting the booklet indicated by the sheet number information, the thickness of the booklet indicated by the paper type information, and the presence / absence of binding of the booklet indicated by the binding presence / absence information in FIG. Apply to the table and switch the finishing mode to the finishing mode in the corresponding column. In the process of step S12, the control circuit 26 reads out the table shown in FIG. 4 in advance, and when the user inputs information on conditions under which booklet production is prohibited, a message prompting input of information under other conditions Is displayed on the operation panel 21.

  In the next image forming bookbinding process, the control circuit 26 controls the operations of the image forming apparatus 2, the booklet finisher 7, the trimmer 8, and the square folding apparatus 9 to form an image on the sheet selected by the user, and bookbinding. (Step S14). In this step, the number of booklets specified prior to the image formation instruction are bound. As part of this image forming bookbinding process, the control circuit 26 performs a booklet finishing process shown in part (b) of FIG. 3 every time a booklet is bound.

  5 and 6 are diagrams showing an outline of booklet finishing in the present embodiment.

  Here, the booklet finishing process will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 together.

  The booklet finishing process starts when the booklet produced by the booklet finisher 7 is conveyed to the square folding device 9. The booklet that has been transported is abutted against a stop plate 92 disposed at a position 92a that closes the path through which the booklet is transported, and is positioned.

  In the booklet finishing process, the control circuit 26 first determines whether the finishing mode determined in the image forming / bookbinding process is the first mode or the second mode (step S21). By this determination, the finishing mode switched in step S13 described above is executed.

  Here, when the finishing mode is determined as the first mode, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 5, the clamping jaw 91 moves the booklet P1 positioned by the stop plate 92 to both sides of the booklet P1. (Step S22). At this time, the clamping jaw 91 sandwiches the portion adjacent to the back P1a of the booklet, so that the swelled booklet is flattened.

  Next, the control circuit 26 moves the roller 93 (step S23). As shown in part (b) of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, after the stop plate 92 is moved from the path along which the stop plate 92 is conveyed to the retracted position 92b, the roller 93 pushes the booklet spine P1a to the booklet spine P1a. Along the path, the booklet spine P1a moves from one end P1b to the other end P1c. Thereby, the spine P1a of the booklet is crushed and flattened by the roller 93 (square fold processing). At this time, since the paper constituting the booklet is folded with a corner by the roller 93, flattening by the clamping jaw 91 is assisted.

  When the movement of the roller 93 is completed, the clamping jaw 91 releases the booklet (step S23), and the carry-out roller 95 carries the booklet P1 to the stacker (step S24). As shown in part (c) of FIG. 5, the unloaded booklet P <b> 1 is flattened, and the back P <b> 1 a of the booklet is crushed and flattened by the rollers 93.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that the finishing mode is the second mode, the clamping jaw 91 is adjacent to the spine P2a of the booklet P2, as shown in part (d) of FIG. The part is clamped (step S25). As a result, the booklet P2 is flattened. However, in the second mode, the roller 93 is stopped. The clamping jaw 91 releases the booklet P2 after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S26), and the carry-out roller 95 carries out the booklet P2 to the stacker (step S24). As shown in part (e) of FIG. 5, the carried-out booklet P2 is flattened.

  Thus, in the square folding device 9 of the present embodiment, even if the booklet P2 is relatively thin, if the second mode is selected and the booklet is held between the clamping jaws 91, the booklet P2 is flattened. Can be In the second mode, since the roller 93 is at rest, it is prevented that the protruding portion is formed and the quality of the booklet P2 is deteriorated. For the booklet P1 having a relatively large thickness, by adopting the first mode, the booklet P1 can be flattened and the back can be flattened.

  Further, since the image forming apparatus 2 normally has a constant number of processed sheets per hour, the smaller the number of sheets constituting the booklet, the greater the number of booklets created per hour. That is, in the booklet P2 having a relatively small thickness, the booklet creation interval may be shorter than the time required for one square folding process. Also in this case, by selecting the second mode, the processing time of the square fold processing is shortened by the time required for step S23. Due to the processing time of the square fold processing, the entire time is reduced. It is also possible to prevent a decrease in throughput.

  In addition, since the first mode and the second mode are switched based on the sheet number information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet and the sheet type information indicating the sheet type, the booklets having different booklet thicknesses are used. A suitable finish is selected for each of P1 and booklet P2.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in the embodiments described so far, and differences from the above-described embodiments will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing image forming bookbinding processing and booklet finishing processing in the image forming system according to the second embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 8 is a figure which shows the outline | summary in the booklet finishing in 2nd Embodiment.

  The second embodiment is greatly different from the first embodiment in that the first mode and the second mode are switched based on a user switching operation. That is, in the second embodiment, the message displayed on the operation panel 21 (see FIG. 2) by the control circuit 26 in the bookbinding condition setting process (step S112) shown in part (a) of FIG. In addition to the number of sheets constituting the sheet, the size of the sheet to be used, whether or not the booklet is bound, whether or not to perform finishing with the square folding device 9, and when performing booklet finishing, The mode switching operation for switching between the mode and the second mode is urged. When the user operates the operation panel 21 to input information about the number of sheets, the sheet size, and the presence or absence of booklet binding, the information input to the operation panel 21 is supplied to the control circuit 26. Further, when the user operates the operation panel 21 to select whether or not to perform finishing, finishing selection information indicating finishing selection is supplied to the control circuit 26, and the first mode and the second mode are selected. When the switching mode switching operation is performed, mode switching operation information representing the switched finishing mode is supplied to the control circuit 26. The control circuit 26 switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the obtained mode switching operation information. In this manner, the first mode and the second mode are switched according to the mode switching operation of the user who has determined whether or not the protruding portion is easily formed.

  In the booklet finishing process shown in part (b) of FIG. 7, booklet finishing is executed in accordance with the finishing mode switched in the previous step S112. In the booklet finishing process, the control circuit 26 first determines whether or not the finishing by the square folding device 9 is performed according to the finishing selection information (step S120), and in the case of the square fold through in which the finishing by the square folding device 9 is not performed at all. First, as shown in part (f) of FIG. 8, the booklet is immediately carried out (step S27). On the other hand, when finishing by the square folding device 9, the control circuit 26 determines that the finishing mode switched by the image forming and bookbinding processing is the first mode and the first mode as in the processing in step S21 of the first embodiment. One of the two modes is discriminated (step S21). In the first mode, as shown in part (a) of FIG. 8, the booklet P1 is clamped by the clamping jaw 91 so that the booklet P1 is flattened. The back of the booklet P1 is flattened (square fold processing). On the other hand, in the second mode, as shown in Part (d), the booklet P2 is flattened by clamping the booklet P2 to the clamping jaw 91 (step S25), but the roller 93 is stopped. As described above, since the first mode and the second mode are switched according to the mode switching operation information by the user's mode switching operation that determines the ease of forming the protruding portion, according to the user's judgment, Finish suitable for the type.

  In the above-described embodiment, the roller 93 is described as moving in parallel with the booklet spine P1a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the forming unit of the present invention may move the wide roller in an oblique direction with respect to the back of the booklet to shorten the moving distance of the roller.

  In the above-described embodiment, the roller 93 has been described as moving along the back of the booklet, but the present invention is not limited to this. The forming unit may be any unit that crushes the spine along the back of the booklet. For example, the position of the roller may be fixed and the booklet may be moved.

  Moreover, although the shape of the roller 93 was demonstrated as the column shape in the above-mentioned embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the forming unit may be a roller having a truncated cone shape or a shape in which truncated cones are combined.

  In the above-described embodiment, the roller has been described as an example of the forming unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. The forming part of the present invention may be any member as long as it flattens the booklet by pressing the back of the booklet. For example, the forming part may be a member having a surface facing the back of the booklet and pressing the back of the booklet on this surface.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the clamping jaw 91 sandwiches the booklet from the both cover sides, but the present invention is not limited to this. The sandwiching unit of the present invention may be, for example, two rollers that sandwich a booklet. In the present embodiment, the clamping jaw 91 is described as a pair. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the booklet may be sandwiched between a plurality of pairs of members.

  In the above-described embodiment, the control circuit 26 is described as being incorporated in the image forming apparatus 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the control circuit is mounted on the square fold apparatus. Good.

  In the first embodiment of the above-described embodiments, the first mode and the second mode are switched based on information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet and information indicating the thickness of the sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first mode and the second mode are information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet or information indicating the thickness of the sheet. It may be switched based on either one.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system in which an embodiment of a booklet finishing apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating image formation / bookbinding processing in the image forming system. It is an example of a table showing a relationship between a finishing mode and a thickness, number of sheets, size, presence / absence of binding of a booklet of a sheet constituting a booklet. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the finishing of the booklet in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the finishing of the booklet in this embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing image forming bookbinding processing and booklet finishing processing in the image forming system in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the booklet finishing in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of a square fold process. It is a figure which shows the booklet of a kind different from FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2 Image forming apparatus 21 Operation panel 21
26 Control circuit 5 Post-processing device 9 Square folding device 91 Clamping jaw 92 Stop plate 93 Roller 94 Punch 95 Unloading roller 10 Stacker

Claims (5)

A sandwiching unit for flattening the booklet by sandwiching at least a portion adjacent to the back of the booklet produced by folding the paper from both sides of the booklet;
A forming portion for flattening the back by pressing the back of the booklet;
A first mode in which the sandwiching part sandwiches the booklet to flatten the booklet, and the forming part pushes the back of the booklet to flatten the back; and the sandwiching part sandwiches the booklet and the booklet. A booklet finishing apparatus comprising: a switching unit that switches between and executes the second mode in which the forming unit is paused.   The switching unit obtains mode switching operation information for switching between the first mode and the second mode, and switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the mode switching operation information. The booklet finishing apparatus according to claim 1.   The switching unit obtains sheet number information indicating the number of sheets constituting the booklet, and switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the sheet number information. The booklet finishing apparatus according to 1.   The switching unit obtains paper type information indicating the type of paper constituting the booklet, and switches between the first mode and the second mode according to the paper type information. The booklet finishing apparatus according to 1.   2. The switching unit is configured to obtain binding presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of binding of the booklet, and to fix to the second mode when the binding presence / absence information indicates no binding. Booklet finishing equipment.

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