JP4760280B2 - Folding part flattening device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding portion flattening apparatus incorporated in a post-processing apparatus that performs various post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus.

  Recently, image forming apparatuses have been brought online, and post-processing apparatuses that perform various post-processing such as stapling (stapling), bookbinding, and punching on paper after image formation have been widely used.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, various post-processings are performed on an image forming apparatus 1 such as an electrophotographic printer or copier, and a sheet image-formed by the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. There is known a post-processing apparatus 2 that performs the above. The post-processing apparatus 2 includes, for example, a transport unit 3 that receives a sheet from the image forming apparatus 1, a sheet folded by the transport unit 3, a folding process, a staple process, a saddle stitching process, an interposer process, and the like. The intermediate processing unit 4 for performing the intermediate processing and the final processing unit 5 for performing various final processings on the sheet sent from the intermediate processing unit 4 are provided. A cutting portion 6 for cutting the uneven portion of the paper at the rear end of the booklet, a folding portion flattening portion 7 for flattening the bulge of the folded portion at the front end of the booklet after the cutting processing, and punching processing in the vicinity of the front end portion of the booklet after the flattening processing The punching processing unit 8 for performing the punching and the stacker unit 9 for stacking the booklets after the punching processing are incorporated.

  When the booklet 10 folded in half by the intermediate processing unit 4 is sent to the trimming unit 6 of the final processing unit with the folding unit 10a at the head as shown in FIG. 2A, the booklet 10 is shown in FIG. As described above, the paper irregular portion 10b at the rear end of the booklet 10 is cut by the movable blade 6a and the fixed blade 6b of the guillotine cutter that falls in the direction of the arrow.

  Here, when a large number of sheets are folded in half at the half-folded portion of the intermediate processing unit 4, the front end of the folded portion of the folded-up booklet is swollen, resulting in a non-appearing appearance. There is.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, the booklet 10 conveyed with the folding portion 10a at the head as shown in FIG. 3 (a) is moved by a pair of booklet gripping members 7a as shown in FIG. 3 (b). As shown in FIG. 3C, the booklet 10 is gripped from both sides, and the fold 10d of the booklet tip is crushed by pressing the tip 10a of the fold with a roller 6b that runs along the longitudinal direction of the fold. A folding portion flattening device is disclosed in which a flat surface 10e is formed at the tip of the folding portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-260564 A

  However, in the folding portion flattening device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (see FIG. 3), depending on the conditions such as the number of sheets constituting the booklet, the sheet size, the sheet thickness, and the sheet type, it is shown in FIG. Thus, when the thickness of the conveyed booklet 10 is larger than the opening amount of a pair of booklet holding member 7a which should accept the booklet 10, the booklet 10 cannot be accepted. On the other hand, when the thickness of the booklet 10 is smaller than the opening amount of the pair of booklet gripping members 7a, the degree of freedom of the booklet entering the opening of the booklet gripping member 7a is increased, and the paper is looped due to the rising. Since the booklet is gripped in a state, the booklet cannot be gripped at a uniform position. Therefore, when the booklet is pressed by the roller 6b, a desired flat surface cannot be formed at the booklet tip, and there is a problem that the quality of the booklet is remarkably deteriorated.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention has an object to provide a folded portion flattening device capable of stably forming a flat surface when flattening the bulge of the folded portion tip of a booklet folded in half. To do.

The fold flattening device of the present invention that achieves the above object is as follows.
A paper transport unit that transports a booklet composed of a plurality of folded paper sheets in a predetermined transport direction starting from the folded part that is folded in half, and the booklet transported by the paper transport unit at a fixed position. A paper stopper to be stopped, a pair of booklet gripping members that sandwich and hold the booklet stopped by the paper stopper from both sides of the booklet, and a front end of the folding portion of the booklet gripped by the booklet gripping member is opposite to the transport direction. A fold portion flattening device for flattening a bulge at the tip of the fold portion with the pressing member.
An opening amount setting unit is provided for setting an opening amount of the opening by the pair of booklet gripping members when the pair of booklet gripping members receives the conveyed booklet.

  According to the folding unit flattening apparatus of the present invention, the opening amount of the booklet gripping member can be set by the opening amount setting unit, so that a stable flat surface can be formed at the front end of the folding unit of the booklet. it can.

The folding unit flattening apparatus is incorporated in a post-processing device that receives a plurality of sheets of paper on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus connected to the folding unit flattening apparatus, and folds and feeds it. ,
A booklet information receiving unit for receiving booklet information that is a basis for the opening amount setting from the image forming apparatus;
The opening amount setting unit, Ru der which sets the opening amount based on the booklet information received by the booklet information receiving unit.

Folded portion flattening device of the present invention because it is configured as described above, can be set, for example the number of sheets constituting the booklet, paper size, paper thickness, the opening amount based on the booklet information such as paper type Therefore, a stable flat surface can be formed at the front end of the folded portion of the booklet.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when flattening the swelling of the front-end | tip of the folding part of the booklet folded in half, the folding part flattening apparatus which can form a flat surface stably is realizable.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a post-processing apparatus in which the folding unit flattening apparatus of this embodiment is incorporated.

  FIG. 1 shows a post-processing device 2 connected to an image forming apparatus 1 such as a printer or a copying machine. The post-processing apparatus 2 includes a transport unit 3 that receives a sheet from the image forming apparatus 1, a punch processing unit 4 a that performs punch processing on the sheet captured by the transport unit 3, a staple processing unit 4 b that performs stapling processing, An intermediate processing unit 4 having a bi-fold processing unit 4c that performs processing, and a final processing unit 5 that performs various final processes on the sheet sent from the intermediate processing unit 4 are provided.

  The final processing unit 5 includes, for example, a cutting unit 6 that cuts a non-uniform portion of a sheet at the rear end of a folded booklet, a folding unit flattening unit 7 that flattens a bulge at the leading end of the folded part after cutting, In the vicinity of the front end of the booklet, a punching unit 8 for punching, a stacker unit 9 for stacking the punched booklets, and the like are incorporated.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cutting unit incorporated in the final processing unit of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, when the booklet 10 folded in half by the intermediate processing unit 4 (see FIG. 1) is sent to the trimming unit 6 of the final processing unit with the folding unit 10a at the top, FIG. As shown in (b), the paper irregular portion 10b at the rear end of the booklet 10 is cut by the movable blade 6a and the fixed blade 6b of the guillotine cutter falling in the arrow direction. In this way, as shown in FIG. 2C, the rear end portion 10c of the booklet 10 is trimmed, and as a result, the booklet 10 that is easy to turn the page is created.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the folded portion flattening unit incorporated in the final processing unit of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the booklet 10 whose rear end is cut by the cutting portion 6 (see FIG. 4) is conveyed to the folding portion flattening portion 7 with the folding portion 10a at the top, FIG. As shown in (b), the booklet 10 is sandwiched and gripped from both sides by a pair of booklet gripping members 7 a provided in the folded portion flattening portion 7. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3C, the bulge 10d at the tip of the folded portion 10a is crushed by the roller 6b, and finally a flattened flat surface 10e is formed.

  Details of the fold flattening apparatus in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a punch processing unit incorporated in the final processing unit of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the booklet flattened by the folded portion flattening unit 7 (see FIG. 3) is sent to the punch processing unit 8, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the booklet is printed by the puncher 8a. A punching process is performed in the vicinity of the front end portion 10f, and as shown in FIG. 6 (c), a punch hole 10g is punched to complete a booklet 10h.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the folding portion flattening apparatus of the present invention.

  The folding unit flattening device 100 of this embodiment is used by being incorporated in the final processing unit 5 of the post-processing device 2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the folding unit flattening apparatus 100 is configured so that a booklet 10 composed of a plurality of folded sheets is placed in a conveying direction indicated by an arrow A with the folded unit 10 a being folded in the head. A paper conveying roll 101 for conveying, a clamp roll 102 for clamping the conveyed booklet 10 and a paper detection sensor 103, and a paper stopper for stopping the booklet 10 conveyed by the paper conveying part at a fixed position. 104, a paper stopper motor 105 that moves the paper stopper 104 between the operating position 104a and the standby position 104b in the direction of arrow C, and a pair of booklets that grip the booklet 10 stopped by the paper stopper 104 from both sides. A gripping member drive motor 108 that moves the gripping members 106 and 107 and one booklet gripping member 106 up and down in the direction of arrow D And a spring 109 that presses the other booklet gripping member 107 against the booklet 10 and a roll 110 that presses the front end of the folded portion 10a of the booklet 10 gripped by the booklet gripping members 106 and 107 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction A. The pair of booklet gripping members 106 and 107 accepts the conveyed booklet 10 by flattening the bulge at the tip of the booklet folding part 10a by the roll 110 to form a flat surface at the tip of the folding part 10a. An opening amount setting unit 114 is provided for setting the opening amount O of the opening portion of the pair of booklet gripping members.

  The folding unit flattening apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment receives a plurality of sheets of paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) connected to the folding unit flattening apparatus 100, and folds it out and sends it out. A booklet information receiving unit 115 is incorporated in the processing apparatus 2 (see FIG. 1) and receives booklet information from the image forming apparatus 1 which is the basis for setting the opening amount. The opening amount setting unit 114 is configured to set the opening amount based on the booklet information received by the booklet information receiving unit 115.

In addition, the roll 110 in this embodiment is equivalent to the pressing member referred to in the present invention, and is configured by a roll that rotates while pressing the folded portion in the longitudinal direction.
In addition, the roll 110 is configured to move between an operation position illustrated and a standby position (not illustrated) by a roll moving motor 111.

  In addition, the roll surface which presses the folding part front-end | tip of this roll 110 is formed in the shape of an abacus ball like illustration, and the surface which has a dent somewhat is formed in the folding-part front end of the booklet 10 at the time of press. The dent disappears immediately after pressing to form a flat surface.

  Further, the folding unit flattening apparatus 100 includes the paper transport roll 101, the clamp roll 102, the paper detection sensor 103, the paper stopper 104, the paper paper stopper motor 105, the booklet gripping members 106 and 107, and the gripping member driving motor 108. , A roll 110, a roll moving motor 111, an opening amount setting unit 114, a booklet information receiving unit 115, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the folded portion flattening apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the fold flattening apparatus shown in FIG.

  In the folding portion flattening apparatus of the present embodiment, the booklet information receiving unit 115 serves as a basis for setting the opening amounts of the opening portions of the booklet gripping members 106 and 107 from the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1). The booklet information such as the number of paper sheets, paper size, paper thickness, paper type, etc., is received, and the opening amount setting unit 114 is configured to set the opening amount based on the booklet information.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the booklet 10 made up of a plurality of folded sheets is placed in the openings of the booklet gripping members 106 and 107 set to the opening amount O by the opening amount setting unit 114 in this way. The folded portion 10a is sent to the folded portion flattening apparatus 100 with the folded portion 10a at the head.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the opening amount O is set based on the booklet information received from the image forming apparatus 1 by the opening amount setting unit 114, the opening amount O of the pair of booklet gripping members 7a thus set is set. Since the thicker booklet has been transported, the trouble that the booklet cannot be accepted does not occur, and since the booklet thinner than the opening amount O has been transported, the booklet is lifted at the opening of the booklet gripping member 7a. Troubles that occur are prevented.

  The clamp roll 102 clamps the conveyed booklet and continues to convey it in the direction of the arrow A together with the paper conveyance roll 101. When the folding portion 10a reaches the fixed position, that is, the folding portion 10a is moved to the operating position 104a by the paper stopper motor 105. When the sheet stopper 104 that has been moved to the end of the sheet is hit, the conveyance is finished.

  In this conveyance process, the paper detection sensor 103 arranged in front of the clamp roll 102 sends a detection signal to the control unit 113 when detecting the entry of the booklet, and the control unit 113 detects the detection from the paper detection sensor 103. Based on the signal, paper conveyance control by the paper conveyance roll 101 and the clamp roll 102 is performed.

  Here, when the control unit 113 receives information from the paper stopper 104 that the booklet 10 has hit the paper stopper 104, the control unit 113 gives priority to the information and controls to end the conveyance of the booklet 10.

  When the conveyance of the booklet 10 is completed, the paper stopper 104 is moved to the standby position 104b by the paper stopper motor 105, and the booklet gripping member 106 is moved downward by the gripping member driving motor 108 as shown in FIG. The booklet 10 is sandwiched and gripped from both sides together with the booklet gripping member 107 located below. Since the booklet gripping member 107 is supported by the casing of the folding unit flattening device via the spring 109, the booklet 10 is gripped with a predetermined gripping force.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the roll 110 is moved to a predetermined operating position by the roll moving motor 111.

  Next, FIG. 6D is a view of FIG. 6C viewed from the direction of arrow E.

  As shown in FIG. 6D, the roll 110 travels in the direction indicated by the arrow F, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the folded portion 10a of the booklet 10 while rotating around the rotation shaft 110a. The front end of the folded portion 10 a of the booklet 10 held by the 107 is pressed in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction A. Thereby, the bulge at the front end of the folded portion 10a of the booklet 10 is flattened, and a flat surface 10e (see FIG. 3C) is formed at the front end of the folded portion 10a.

  As described above, according to the folding portion flattening device of the present embodiment, the opening amount setting unit sets the opening amount based on the booklet information received from the image forming apparatus, and thus is thicker than the opening amount of the booklet gripping member. The problem that the booklet cannot be accepted because the booklet has been transported does not occur, and the booklet that is thinner than the opening amount has been transported. Since the paper is gripped in a looped state, a problem that a uniform flat surface cannot be obtained is prevented.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the post-processing apparatus in which the folding part planarization apparatus of this embodiment was integrated. It is a schematic diagram of the cutting part integrated in the final process part of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the folding part flattening apparatus integrated in the final process part of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a punch processing unit incorporated in a final processing unit of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the folding part planarization apparatus of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the folding part flattening apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Post-processing apparatus 3 Transport unit 4 Intermediate processing part 4a Punch processing part 4b Staple processing part 4c Folding processing part 5 Final processing part 6 Cutting part 6a Movable blade 6b Fixed blade 7 Folding part flattening part, folding Part flattening device 7a Booklet gripping member 7b Roller 8 Punch processing part 8a Puncher 9 Stacker part 10 Booklet 10a Folding part 10b Unaligned part 10c Rear end part 10d Swelling 10e Flat surface 10f Booklet front part 10g Punch hole 10h Folding part 100h Forming apparatus 101 paper transport roll 102 clamp roll 103 paper detection sensor 104 paper stopper 104a operating position 104b standby position 105 paper stopper motor 106,107 booklet gripping member 108 gripping member drive motor 109 spring 110 roll 110a times Shaft 111 roll moving motor 113 controller 114 opening amount setting unit 115 booklet information receiving unit

Claims (1)

A paper transport unit that transports a booklet composed of a plurality of folded paper sheets in a predetermined transport direction starting from the folded part that is folded in half, and the booklet transported by the paper transport unit at a fixed position. A paper stopper to be stopped, a pair of booklet gripping members that grip and hold a booklet stopped by the paper stopper from both sides of the booklet, and a front end of the folding portion of the booklet gripped by the booklet gripping member is opposite to the transport direction. A fold portion flattening device for flattening the bulge of the tip of the fold portion with the pressing member that presses in the direction.
This fold portion flattening device is incorporated in a post-processing device that receives a plurality of sheets of paper on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus connected to the fold portion flattening device, and folds and sends it out.
A booklet information receiving unit for receiving booklet information serving as a basis for the opening amount setting from the image forming apparatus;
And an opening amount setting unit that sets, based on the booklet information received opening amount of the opening in the booklet information receiving portion by the pair of the booklet gripping member when the welcome booklet conveyed said pair of booklet gripping member A folded portion flattening apparatus comprising:

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