JP4811857B2 - Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system using the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention collects sheets that are sequentially carried in a bundle, and binds the cover sheet to the bundle and binds the cover sheet, and stacks the image-formed printed sheets in a bundle and automatically covers the cover sheet. In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet conveyance trouble that occurs in the apparatus.

  Generally, a bookbinding apparatus that prints an image created by a computer, a word processor, or the like with a printing apparatus, aligns and aligns a series of printed sheets in a bundle, binds the sheet bundle to a cover sheet, and binds the book. Widely used. Such a bookbinding apparatus is configured as a stand-alone apparatus that aligns and binds paper sheets prepared in a supply port in a bundle, or is attached to a discharge port of a printing apparatus such as a copying machine. Is formed as a post-processing unit of an image forming system that binds sheets from each other. In particular, the latter image forming system has recently been utilized as an on-demand printing system that outputs in a timely manner whenever a booklet for various businesses is required.

For such bookbinding by a bookbinding apparatus or bookbinding unit, a method is widely used in which adhesive glue is applied to one side edge of a bundle of printed sheets and the sheet bundle is bound and bound with a cover sheet. For example, in Patent Document 1, printed sheets sequentially fed from a paper discharge port of a copying machine are accumulated in a bundle in a substantially vertical posture, and adhesive glue is applied to one end edge of the sheet bundle, and is orthogonal to the sheet bundle. A case binding apparatus is disclosed in which a cover sheet is supplied from a path, and the sheet bundle and the cover sheet are joined in an inverted T shape and folded. Similarly, Patent Document 2 discloses an apparatus in which the sheet bundle conveyance path and the cover sheet conveyance path are orthogonal to each other, and the cover sheet and the bundled sheet are bound at the intersection. As described above, conventionally, a case binding apparatus aligns sheets from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine in a bundle, supplies a cover sheet from a path that intersects the path of the bundle, and bundles the sheets at the intersection. An apparatus configuration is employed in which both are bonded together by an adhesive applied to a sheet.
JP 2003-292230 A JP 2005-335909 A

  In the bookbinding apparatus as described above, complicated processing operations are required when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs in the apparatus. This is a complicated path configuration in which the path for transporting the sheet intersects the path for transporting the printing sheet and the path for transporting the cover sheet, so that it is difficult to remove the sheet remaining in the path when an abnormality occurs. In addition, a transport mechanism such as a pressure gripper mechanism that grips the bundled sheet and an adhesive application mechanism that heats and melts the heat-meltable adhesive are arranged in the path of the printing sheet that is aligned in a bundle. Depending on the configuration, a cutting device for cutting a bundle of sheets bound in a booklet shape with a cutter blade is arranged.

  For this reason, when a paper jam in the sheet conveyance path or a failure occurs in the conveyance mechanism, the operator must take out all the sheets remaining in the apparatus. The removal of the residual sheet necessitates complicated and dangerous work in a limited space on the conveyance path. In addition, when such a device failure occurs frequently and it takes time for the recovery work (recovery work), there is a problem that the operation efficiency of the device is remarkably lowered. Therefore, an on-demand printing system that automatically binds and finishes printing sheets from a printing apparatus such as a copying machine requires a bookbinding apparatus or a bookbinding unit that can be easily maintained with a simple apparatus configuration. Because of the complexity and danger involved in the occurrence of this abnormality, there is a problem that requires an operator who is familiar with the apparatus.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a bookbinding apparatus that facilitates a recovery operation such as removal of a sheet remaining in the apparatus when an apparatus abnormality such as a paper jam occurs.
Further, the present invention can reduce dangerous and complicated work by automatically carrying out the cover sheet outside the apparatus when the apparatus fails, when the printing sheet and the cover sheet are respectively supplied into the apparatus through separate paths. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that is possible, has high operating efficiency and is highly productive.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. A saddle stitch sheet carry-in path for sequentially carrying sheets carried out from an image forming apparatus such as a copier, and a sheet bundle stacking means for stacking sheets in a bundle form downstream of this path are provided. A bookbinding path for guiding the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle stacking unit to a predetermined binding position, and a cover sheet carry-in path for supplying a cover sheet to the binding position across the bookbinding path. In this configuration, the cover sheet carry-out path for carrying out the cover sheet from the binding position to the outside of the apparatus is continuously arranged in the cover sheet carry-in path, and the cover sheet is provided in each of the cover sheet carry-in path and the cover sheet carry-out path. A conveying means is provided. In such a configuration, a drive control means for controlling the cover sheet conveying means is further provided. Therefore, this drive control means determines whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed even after the occurrence of an abnormality based on the abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the apparatus. The cover sheet is configured to be carried out of the apparatus via the cover sheet carry-out path. The abnormality detection means is constituted by a jam detection means arranged in each of the paths or an error detection means for detecting an abnormality of a driving mechanism of a conveyance means for conveying a sheet and a cover sheet.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus and a post-processing apparatus are sequentially connected downstream thereof. The bookbinding apparatus is configured to stack sheets from the image forming apparatus in a bundle and bind them to the cover sheet, and the post-processing apparatus is configured to perform post-processing on the sheets from the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the bookbinding apparatus has the same configuration as described above, and a cover sheet carry-out path for carrying the cover sheet from the binding position to the post-processing apparatus is provided in the cover sheet carry-in path. Based on an abnormality detection signal from an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the system, it is determined whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed even after an abnormality has occurred. If possible, the cover sheet is unloaded. It is configured to be carried out from the route to the post-processing device.

  In the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the apparatus, it is determined whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed by an abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detection means, and when the cover sheet can be conveyed, the cover sheet is bound. Paper jams such as jammed paper in a path different from the cover sheet carry-in path, such as the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path and the bookbinding process path. When this occurs, or when an abnormality occurs in the transport mechanism arranged in these paths, this is determined and the cover sheet staying in the cover sheet carry-in path is automatically carried out of the apparatus. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to remove the cover sheet in the cover sheet carry-in path every time an abnormality occurs, and the apparatus can be returned safely and quickly. Also, it is necessary to provide a special path by configuring the cover sheet carry-out path for carrying the cover sheet out of the apparatus from the binding position on the downstream side of the bookbinding apparatus by the same path as the sheet carrying path to the post-processing apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus can be simplified.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a bookbinding apparatus B that incorporates a sheet post-processing apparatus C of the present invention as a unit and an image forming apparatus A that feeds a print sheet to the bookbinding apparatus. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the bookbinding apparatus B. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the bookbinding apparatus B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus A such as a copying machine, a printer, and a printing machine, a bookbinding apparatus B attached downstream of the image forming apparatus A, and the bookbinding apparatus B. And a post-processing device (finisher device) D attached to the downstream side. First, the image forming apparatus A includes a paper feed unit 10, a printing unit 20, and a paper discharge unit 30. The sheet feeding unit 10 stores a plurality of sheets of a predetermined standard size in sheet feeding cassettes 11, and each cassette is provided with sheet feeding means for separating and feeding the sheets one by one. Sheets of the size instructed from the plurality of cassettes are fed out to the sheet feeding path 12.

  A printing means 21 such as a printing drum is disposed in the paper feed path 12 and prints a sheet from the paper feed cassette 11. 1 shows an electrostatic printing apparatus. A developing device 24, a laser transmitter 22 and a cleaning blade 23 are arranged around a printing means (photosensitive drum) 21, and the laser transmitter is arranged on the photosensitive drum 21. An electrostatic latent image is formed at 22, toner is attached by a developing device 24, the image is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer charger 25, and fixed by a fixing device 26 disposed on the downstream side. Then, the sheet subjected to the printing process in this manner is sent to a paper discharge path (paper discharge unit) 30 and carried out from a paper discharge port 31. Further, a circulation path 32 is continuously provided in the paper discharge path 30, and a sheet printed on one side is switched back to reverse the conveyance direction, and then is reversed and circulated to the printing unit 20. Then, after printing on the back side, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 31. A sheet discharge tray for stacking and storing sheets is normally disposed at the sheet discharge port 31. In the present system, the next bookbinding apparatus B is attached to the sheet discharge port 31.

  The bookbinding apparatus B includes a sheet carry-in path 35 that receives sheets from the sheet discharge port 31 of the image forming apparatus A, a sheet stacking unit 41 that aligns and aligns the sheets in a bundle, and a sheet bundle from the stacking unit 41. It comprises bookbinding means 42 for applying adhesive glue to one end edge (back part at the time of bookbinding) and binding it into a booklet shape, and stack means 43 for storing the sheet bundle after the bookbinding process. The sheet carry-in path 35 branches from now on, and the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40 for guiding the sheet from the paper discharge port 31 to the sheet stacking means 41, and the bookbinding process for transferring the sheet bundle from the sheet stacking means 41. A route 49 is arranged. On the other hand, a cover sheet carry-in route 48 branched from the sheet carry-in route 35 is provided, and this cover sheet carry-in route 48 intersects the bookbinding processing route 49 at an intersection F (the one shown in the figure is orthogonal). The cover sheet is fed from 35 to the intersection F. In the bookbinding path 49, the binding means 46 is arranged at the intersection F (binding position), the adhesive application means 45 is arranged upstream, and the cutting means 47 is arranged downstream as described below. .

  The sheets from the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40 are collected and bundled in a bundle by a sheet stacking means 41 composed of a stacking tray arranged substantially in the horizontal direction. The bookbinding path 49 is provided with grip conveying means 44 for conveying the sheet bundle S1 from the stacking tray (sheet stacking means) 41 to the binding position (intersection) F. The grip conveying means 44 is formed in a substantially vertical direction after changing the direction of the sheet bundle S1 accumulated in the horizontal attitude by the sheet stacking means 41 to a vertical attitude orthogonal to the sheet bundle S1 (arrow b shown in FIG. 2). The sheet bundle S <b> 1 is configured to be transferred along the bookbinding processing path 49. In the bookbinding path 49, the binding means 46 is disposed at the intersection F and the adhesive application device 45, and the cutting means 47 is disposed downstream of the intersection F. The adhesive application unit 45 applies the adhesive to the lower end edge of the sheet bundle S1 held in the vertical posture by the grip conveying unit 44. As this adhesive, a heat-meltable adhesive (hot melt type adhesive paste) is accommodated in the container 45a, and the adhesive paste is applied to the edge of the sheet bundle S1 by an application roll 45b provided on the container 45a. The illustrated container 45a is supported by a guide rail (not shown) so as to move in the front and back direction in FIG. 2 along the edge of the sheet bundle S1. Accordingly, the adhesive paste container 45a is configured to apply the adhesive paste while moving along the edge of the sheet, and to retreat from the bookbinding path 49 where the sheet bundle S1 moves after application.

  A sheet conveyance mechanism is incorporated in each of the above-described sheet conveyance paths. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet carry-in path 35 is provided with a conveyance roller 35a composed of a pair of rollers, and the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40 is provided with conveyance rollers 40a and 40b and a paper discharge roller 40c. A drive motor M1 is connected to these rollers 35a, 40a, 40b, and 40c. Further, the above-described grip conveying means 44 is arranged in the bookbinding processing path 49, and the grip conveying means 44 is arranged with a drive motor M <b> 2 that reciprocates up and down along the bookbinding processing path 49. Further, in the cover sheet carry-in path 48, conveying rollers 48a, 48b, and 48c are arranged as a pair of rollers, and are connected to a drive motor M3. The sheet carry-in path 35 is provided with a path switching means (flapper) 36 at a branch portion, and is connected to the drive solenoid SL1. The path switching unit 36 switches the sheet from the sheet carry-in path 35 to a saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40 and a cover sheet carry-in path 48.

  Next, the binding means 46 is arranged at the intersection F between the cover sheet carry-in path 48 and the bookbinding process path 49 as described above, and is fed from the cover sheet fed from the cover sheet carry-in path 48 and the bookbinding process path 49. The fed sheet bundle S1 is joined in an inverted T shape at the intersection F so that the center of the sheet bundle S1 coincides with the center line of the cover sheet. For this reason, the binding means 46 includes a folding blade 46a and a folding roll 46b for folding the cover sheet on the outside of the sheet bundle S1 joined in an inverted T shape. The folding blades 46a are provided in a pair at the intersection F so as to be press-contacted and separated from each other so that the back portion of the cover sheet and the sheet bundle S1 is press-molded by driving means such as an electromagnetic solenoid.

  The folding roll 46b is disposed on the downstream side of the folding blade 46a and is composed of a pair of roller members facing each other. The back sheet is formed by pressing the sheet bundle S1 and the cover sheet that are abutted in an inverted T shape by the folding blade 46a and the folding roll 46b, and the sheet bundle in this state is hereinafter referred to as a booklet sheet S2. Incidentally, 46c shown in the figure is a shatter plate disposed so as to be able to advance and retreat in the bookbinding processing path 49, and backs up the cover sheet when the cover sheet and the sheet bundle S1 are joined by the grip conveying means 44 at the intersection F. In this way, the bookbinding means 42 is composed of an “adhesive application means 45” and a “binding means 46” between the sheet bundle and the cover sheet in order to wrap and bundle the sheet bundle with the cover sheet. . Further, the illustrated bookbinding means 42 is provided with “cutting means 47” for trimming and cutting the peripheral edge of the sheet bundle bound with the cover sheet.

  The cutting means 47 includes a turntable 47a for turning the booklet sheet S2, a press means 47c for pressing and holding the booklet sheet S2 during cutting, and a cutting blade 47b for cutting the periphery of the booklet sheet S2. . The turntable 47a is configured to grip and turn the booklet-like sheet S2 from the folding roll 46b, and to position the periphery of the sheet in the order of, for example, the top portion, the ground portion, and the fore edge portion at the downstream cutting position. The pressing means 47c is composed of a pedestal member and a movable press member that face each other with the booklet sheet S2 interposed therebetween, and fixes the booklet sheet S2 at a cutting position. The cutting blade 47b is constituted by a flat blade cutter and is configured to reciprocate by a cutter motor Mc so as to cut a booklet sheet S2 fixed at a cutting position. Further, on the downstream side of the bookbinding processing path 49, there are provided a bundle carrying-out roller 65 for carrying out the booklet-like sheets trimmed by the cutting means 47 and a stacking means 43 for containing the booklet-like sheet S2 from this roller. The stack means 43 is box-shaped and configured to store the booklet sheet S2 in an inverted state as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, a discharge path 50 is continuously provided from the intersection F (binding position) to the cover sheet carry-in path 48, and this discharge path 50 continues from the casing of the bookbinding apparatus B to the discharge path 50. A post-processing device D (hereinafter referred to as a finisher device) is connected. Accordingly, the paper discharge path 50 constitutes a cover sheet carry-out path for carrying out the cover sheet to the outside of the bookbinding apparatus B. The paper discharge path 50 includes conveying rollers 50a and 50b and a paper discharge roller 50c, and a drive motor M4. It is connected to. Accordingly, the cover sheet from the binding position F is sent to the bookbinding processing path 49 in a state of being bound to the sheet bundle S1, and simultaneously sent to the finisher device D from the paper discharge path 50. Accordingly, the finisher apparatus D stores the sheets not subjected to the bookbinding process from the image forming apparatus A to the sheet discharge tray 51 via the sheet carry-in path 35 and the cover sheet carry-in path 48. Further, the finisher D can be provided with post-processing functions (not shown) such as stapling, punching, and stamping, which are different from the bookbinding processing described above. Since the mechanism is known, explanation is omitted.

  In the configuration shown in the drawing, a cover sheet printed with a title or the like by the image forming apparatus A is supplied to the sheet carry-in path 35 via the sheet carry-in path 35. On the other hand, the cover sheet may be supplied from an inserter device (not shown) prepared separately from the image forming apparatus A. In this case, the cover sheet carry-in route 48 can be configured as a route independent of the sheet carry-in route 35. In this case, for example, an inserter device is disposed between the image forming apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B. The sheet may be conveyed from the sheet discharge port 31 to the saddle stitch sheet carrying-in path 40 and the cover sheet may be conveyed from the inserter device to the cover sheet carrying-in path 48.

  The bookbinding apparatus B configured as described above sequentially accepts the sheets carried out from the paper discharge port 31 of the image forming apparatus A from the sheet carry-in path 35 and accumulates them on the sheet stacking means 41 to align them. Thereafter, the sheet bundle S1 is converted into a vertical posture by the grip conveying means 44, and adhesive glue is applied to the lower end edge thereof by the adhesive applying means 45. On the other hand, a cover sheet is fed from the cover sheet carry-in path 48. Then, the sheet bundle S1 to which the adhesive paste is applied is joined to the cover sheet at the binding position F (intersection) and is bound by the binding means 46. The booklet sheet S2 bound in this way is trimmed and trimmed at its periphery by the cutting means 47 as necessary, and is carried out to the stack means 43.

  Accordingly, the present invention is designed to remove the cover sheet staying in the cover sheet carry-in path 48 when a paper jam (jam) occurs in each of the paths described above or an abnormality occurs in the transport drive mechanism as follows. . First, as described above, the discharge path 50 is connected to the cover sheet carry-in path 48 that feeds the cover sheet from the image forming apparatus A or the inserter apparatus to the intersection (binding position) F where bookbinding is bound. The paper discharge path 50 communicates from the casing of the bookbinding apparatus B to the outside, and the finisher apparatus D described above is connected. The sheet discharge path 50 and the above-described saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40, cover sheet carry-in path 48, and bookbinding process path 49 are provided with sheet transport means such as rollers and their drive motors. These drive motors (the aforementioned motors M1, M2, M3, and M4) are driven and controlled by a control CPU 71 described later.

  Each of the paths is provided with jam detecting means for detecting jams such as paper jams and stays in the following sensor arrangement. A sheet passage sensor 35S for detecting the passage of the sheet is provided in the sheet carry-in route 35, a sheet pass sensor 40S1 and a paper discharge sensor 40S2 are provided in the saddle stitch sheet carry-in route 40, and a sheet pass sensor 48S is provided in the cover sheet carry-in route 48. In the paper discharge path 50, a sheet passing sensor 50S1 and a paper discharge sensor 50S2 are arranged. These sensors transmit a signal indicating whether or not there is a sheet in the path to the control CPU 71 as shown in FIG. A timer unit 74 and a jam determination means 75 are provided in the CPU 71, and a paper jam in each path is detected and determined by signals from each sensor.

  The determination of the paper jam (jam) is performed by one of the following methods, for example. (1) Jam is determined when the sheet detected by the upstream sensor does not reach within a predetermined time. (2) Jam is determined when the trailing edge of the sheet is not detected within a predetermined time after the leading edge of the sheet is detected. (3) Jam is determined when the leading edge of the succeeding next sheet is not detected within a predetermined time after the trailing edge of the preceding sheet is detected. As described above, the control CPU 71 is provided with the jam determining means 75 for determining whether or not a paper jam has occurred in the path based on the sheet detection signal from the sensor arranged in each path.

  Further, the control CPU 71 includes a drive motor (motor M1 for the saddle stitching sheet carry-in path 40, motor M2 for the bookbinding process path 49, motor M3 for the cover sheet carry-in path 48, paper discharge path, and the like. Error signals from error detection means M1S, M2S, M3S, M4S arranged in 50 motors M4) are transmitted. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, these error detection means attach an encoder 80 to the rotating shaft of the drive motor, detect the slit of the encoder 80 with a photo sensor 81, and count it with a counter 82. As a result, the rotational speed of the drive motor is detected, and by comparing this detected rotational speed with the amount of power supplied to the drive motor (for example, the number of pulses of the pulse power supply), an abnormality such as a step-out occurs in the drive motor and its transmission mechanism. Judge whether there is. This determination is made by the drive system abnormality determination means 76 provided in the control CPU 71.

  The error detection means M1S to M4S may be a method for detecting a load fluctuation of the power supply without using an encoder as described above. Further, the control CPU 71 is provided with a cover sheet rejection determination means 77 for determining whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed through the paper discharge path 50. The reject determination unit 77 determines whether or not a jam has occurred in the cover sheet carry-in path 48 based on signals from the previous sensor 48S and the sensors 50S1 and 50S2, and together with this, “recovers the cover sheet carry-in path 48 and the discharge path 48. The determination is made based on signals from error detection means M3S and M4S provided in the drive motors M3 and M4 of the paper path 50.

  On the other hand, operation modes such as “bookbinding mode”, “bookbinding cutting mode”, “paper discharge stack mode”, and “post-processing mode” are transmitted to the control CPU 71 from the control unit of the image forming apparatus A. At the same time, the printing sheet size of the image forming apparatus A, single-sided / double-sided printing information, binding margin information such as top binding and back binding, and other information necessary for bookbinding are transmitted. On the other hand, from the control CPU 71, for example, an adhesive glue melting warm-up signal, a jam detection signal, an apparatus abnormality occurrence signal, and the like are transmitted. The “bookbinding mode” is a processing operation in which the sheets printed by the image forming apparatus A are arranged in a bundle and are mounted on the cover sheet. The “bookbinding cutting mode” is a method for cutting and cutting the periphery of the booklet sheet mounted. The “sheet discharge stack mode” is a processing operation for directly carrying out a print sheet printed by the image forming apparatus A to the sheet discharge tray 51, and the “post-processing mode” is the above-described post-processing device (finisher device). ) Processing operations such as staples, stamps, and punches provided in D.

  The image forming system configured as described above is controlled in the sequence shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the control program from the ROM 72 shown in FIG. According to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in the bookbinding apparatus by the jam determination unit 75 and the drive system abnormality determination unit 76, the control CPU 71 determines that the sheet discharge is performed when the cover sheet is in a state where it can be conveyed even after the abnormality has occurred. The cover sheet is discharged from the path 50 ”.

  This will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. For example, when “bookbinding mode” or “bookbinding cutting mode” is selected in the operation mode on the control panel of the image forming apparatus A, the control unit of the image forming apparatus A The command (instruction signal) and information (data) such as binding specifications necessary for the bookbinding process are transmitted to the control CPU 71 of the bookbinding apparatus B described above. Then, the image forming apparatus A executes a predetermined printing operation. Simultaneously with the execution of the printing operation, the image forming apparatus A transmits the sheet size information and the sheet alignment information (for example, a job end signal) to the control CPU 71. When the printed sheet is unloaded from the paper discharge port 31 from the image forming apparatus A, the bookbinding apparatus B starts a predetermined bookbinding process (S101). In this bookbinding process, a sheet is received from the sheet carry-in path 35 and conveyed from the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40 to the sheet stacking means 41. When a predetermined sheet is stacked on the sheet stacking means 41, the control CPU 71 receives a job end signal and the grip conveying means 44 deflects the posture of the sheet bundle S1 from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture, and bonds the end of the sheet bundle S1. Transfer to the agent application position.

  Next, an adhesive paste is applied to the sheet bundle S1 by the adhesive application means 45. In parallel with this processing, the control CPU 71 introduces a cover sheet from the image forming apparatus A or the inserter apparatus into the sheet carry-in path 35. The cover sheet is transferred to the cover sheet carry-in path 48 by the path switching means 36, sent to the binding position F, and set. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover sheet is switched back through the cover sheet carry-in path 48, and the rear end of the cover sheet is stopped and set at the rear binding position F whose registration is corrected.

  Next, the control CPU 71 operates the grip conveying means 44 to join the sheet bundle S1 to the cover sheet. After this joining, the back portion of the sheet bundle S1 is press-molded by the binding means 46 and is folded by the folding roll 46b. In the bookbinding mode, the control CPU 71 carries out the folded booklet sheet S2 from the bookbinding processing path 49 to the stack means 43. Further, in the bookbinding cutting mode, the cutting means 47 prepared on the downstream side of the binding means 46 cuts the peripheral edge excluding the back portion with the cutting blade 47b in the order of the top portion, the ground portion, and the fore edge portion, for example. The booklet sheet S2 finally finished by this trimming cut is stored in the stack means 43. The above operation is the bookbinding process (S100). In this case, the bookbinding process can be variously changed depending on the bookbinding method and the configuration of the binding means.

  In such a bookbinding process, the control CPU 71 detects an apparatus abnormality as follows (S102 to S108). First, the control CPU 71 “detects jams such as sheet delay and stay in each sheet conveyance path”. This is illustrated in detail with the signals from the sensor 35S of the sheet carry-in path 35, the sensors 40S1 and 40S2 of the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path 40, the sensor 48S of the cover sheet carry-in path 48, and the sensors 50S1 and 50S2 of the paper discharge path 50. However, based on the detection signal from the sensor that monitors the conveyance of the sheet bundle in the bookbinding processing path 49, it is determined whether or not the jam determination means 75 in the control CPU 71 is a jam (S102). When the jam determination is “no jam”, the predetermined bookbinding step (S100) is executed.

  On the other hand, when the jam determination is “Jam occurrence” (S102 “YES”), the rejection determination means 77 performs the following determination. When the jam judging means 75 is “jamming”, it is judged from the state of the sensor 48S whether or not the jam location is the cover sheet carry-in path 48 (S103). When “YES” is determined in the “cover jam” determination, a jam treatment (S106 to S108) described later is executed. On the other hand, when the determination is “NO”, it is determined whether or not a cover sheet exists in the cover sheet carry-in path 48 (residual). If the cover residue determination is “NO”, a jam treatment (S106 to S108) is executed. If “YES” in the above determination, the control CPU 71 drives the drive motors M3 and M4 to convey the conveyance rollers 48a, 48b, 48c in the cover sheet carry-in path 48, the conveyance rollers 50a, 50b in the discharge path 50, and the discharge rollers. 50c is rotationally driven. The sheets remaining in the cover sheet carry-in path 48 due to the rotation of the respective conveying rollers are carried out from the paper discharge port 51a to the post-processing device D (S105). The post-processing apparatus D receives this cover sheet and carries it out to the paper discharge tray 51. Thereafter, each of the transport rollers is stopped by turning off the drive motors M3 and M4 after a predetermined expected sheet transport time.

  Next, the control CPU 71 shifts to the next jam handling. First, a jam signal is issued (S106). This signal, for example, displays a jam display on the control panel of the image forming apparatus A and stops the entire apparatus. When the jamming process such as the removal of jammed paper is performed by the operator (S107), the bookbinding process is resumed (S108). When the final booklet-like bookbinding is completed (S109), a series of bookbinding process and jamming sequence are completed (S109). S110).

  Similar to the jam sequence described above, the control CPU 71 executes an error sequence of the apparatus, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart thereof. Note that the “apparatus error” according to the present exemplary embodiment refers to a case where the operation cannot be performed due to an abnormality in the drive system in the bookbinding apparatus B, and an error in the drive system and the optical system in the image forming apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B. Indicates the case where image formation / operation cannot be continued. A case where an error occurs in the drive system of the bookbinding apparatus B will be described below.

  If an error occurs in the image forming apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B (S201), whether or not a cover sheet remains in the cover sheet carry-in path 48 based on the status signal of the sheet passage sensor 48S of the cover sheet carry-in path 48 It detects (S202). At this time, if the remaining cover sheet is detected, the control CPU 71 determines whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed even after an error occurs (S203). If it is possible, the cover CPU removes the cover sheet from the post-processing device D. The paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 55 (S204). Thereafter, the operator is notified of the occurrence of an error through the image forming apparatus A (S205), and the series of sequences is terminated (S206).

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the sheet post-processing apparatus C according to the present invention has shown the case where the sheet bundle is bound and bound with a cover sheet. However, as a means for binding the sheet bundle, a staple is used instead of the adhesive application means. Of course, it is possible to heat-stap with a binding means or a heat-sensitive adhesive tape. In addition, the case where the above-described bookbinding means is constituted by "adhesive application means", "binding means", and "cutting means" has been described, but the peripheral edge of a sheet bundle bound in an apparatus or booklet not provided with this cutting means. Even in an operation mode in which cutting is not performed, the above-described configuration of the present invention is not changed and can be employed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet conveyance path in the apparatus of FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of the bookbinding apparatus in the apparatus of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in jam processing of the control CPU of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in device error processing of the control CPU of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of an error detection unit that detects a malfunction of a conveyance path in the apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus B Bookbinding apparatus C Sheet post-processing apparatus D Post-processing apparatus (finisher apparatus)
F Intersection (binding position)
35 Sheet carry-in path 35S Sheet passage sensor (abnormality detection means (jam detection means))
40 Saddle Stitch Sheet Loading Path 40S1 Sheet Passing Sensor (Abnormality Detection Unit (Jam Detection Unit))
40S2 paper discharge sensor (abnormality detection means (jam detection means))
46 Binding means 48 Cover sheet carry-in path 48S Sheet passage sensor (abnormality detection means (jam detection means))
49 Bookbinding path 50 Paper discharge path (cover sheet carry-out path)
50S1 Sheet passing sensor (abnormality detection means (jam detection means))
50S2 Paper Discharge Sensor (Abnormality Detection Unit (Jam Detection Unit))
35a, 40a, 40b, 40c Sheet conveying means (sheet carrying path)
48a, 48b, 48c Sheet conveying means (cover sheet carrying path)
50a, 50b Sheet conveying means (discharge path)
71 Drive control means (control CPU)
M1S, M2S, M3S, M4S Abnormality detection means (error detection means)

Claims (6)

A saddle stitch sheet carry-in route for sequentially carrying in sheets;
Sheet bundle stacking means for stacking sheets from the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path in a bundle;
A bookbinding path for guiding the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle accumulating means to a predetermined binding position;
A cover sheet carry-in path that crosses the bookbinding process path and supplies a cover sheet to the binding position;
A cover sheet carry-out path for carrying the cover sheet out of the apparatus from the binding position is continuously arranged in the cover sheet carry-in path,
Cover sheet transport means for transporting the cover sheet is arranged in the cover sheet carry-in route and the cover sheet carry-out route,
The control means of the cover sheet conveying means can determine whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed even after the occurrence of an abnormality based on the abnormality detection signal from the abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the apparatus. In this case, the bookbinding apparatus is configured to carry the cover sheet out of the apparatus through the cover sheet carry-out path. 2. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection unit is a jam detection unit disposed in the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path, a cover sheet carry-in path, and the bookbinding process path. The abnormality detection unit is an error detection unit that detects an abnormality in each driving mechanism of the saddle stitch sheet conveyance unit and the cover sheet conveyance unit arranged in the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path. The bookbinding apparatus described. The cover sheet carry-in path is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, the bookbinding path is arranged in a substantially vertical direction,
A binding unit that binds and binds the bundled sheet and the cover sheet is disposed at an intersection between the cover sheet carry-in path and the bookbinding process path.
The cutting means for cutting the peripheral edge of the booklet-like sheet bundle and the stacker means for storing the cut sheet bundle are disposed downstream of the bookbinding path. The bookbinding apparatus according to any one of the items. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet;
A bookbinding device that stacks sheets from the image forming apparatus in a bundle and binds them to a cover sheet;
A post-processing device that performs post-processing on the sheet from the image forming apparatus,
An image forming system in which the bookbinding apparatus and the post-processing apparatus are connected to the image forming apparatus,
The bookbinding device
A saddle stitch sheet carry-in route for sequentially carrying in sheets;
Sheet bundle stacking means for stacking sheets from the saddle stitch sheet carry-in path in a bundle;
A bookbinding processing path for transferring the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle accumulating means to a predetermined binding position;
A cover sheet carry-in path that crosses the bookbinding process path and supplies a cover sheet to the binding position;
A cover sheet carry-out path for carrying the cover sheet from the binding position to the post-processing device is continuously arranged in the cover sheet carry-in path,
Cover sheet transport means for transporting the cover sheet is arranged in the cover sheet carry-in route and the cover sheet carry-out route,
The control means of the cover sheet conveying means is:
Based on an abnormality detection signal from an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in the system, it is determined whether or not the cover sheet can be conveyed even after the abnormality has occurred. If possible, the cover sheet is unloaded. An image forming system configured to be carried out to the post-processing apparatus via a route. 6. The cover sheet carrying path is configured by the same path as a paper discharge path for carrying out a sheet from the image forming apparatus to the post-processing apparatus without performing a bookbinding process. Image forming system.

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