JP5349924B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet treatment device and an image forming device, capable of bundle-conveying a bundle of sheets stacked on a tray without buckling by their own weight regardless of the thickness and the number of sheets. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet treatment device includes: a storage guide 803 for stacking the conveyed sheets; a projecting member 830 for selectively performing treatment relative to the bundle of sheets comprising a plurality of sheets stacked on the storage guide 803 at a predetermined treatment position; a pair of folding rollers 810; an end stopper 805 for grasping the bundle of sheets stacked on the storage guide 803 and moving them to the treatment position; and feeding rollers 806, 807 capable of moving the bundle of sheets stacked on the storage guide 803 to an abutment position for pressing the bundle of sheets to the storage guide 803 and a retreating position for releasing the pressing of the bundle of sheets. The feeding rollers 806, 807 presses the bundle of sheets grasped by the end stopper 805 and moved to the treatment position, to the storage guide 803 on an upstream side in a movement direction of the bundle of sheets by the end stopper 805. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that selectively processes a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets, and an image forming apparatus having the sheet processing apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer, a sheet processing apparatus that bundles image-formed sheets into a booklet by performing binding processing, folding processing, etc. There is. In such a sheet processing apparatus, sheets on which an image is formed are sequentially received, stacked on a substantially vertical tray to form a bundle, an alignment process is performed, and the vicinity of the approximate center of the sheet bundle is bound. Further, the vicinity of the center of the sheet bundle is projected by a protruding member and pushed into the nip pair of folding rollers, and folding processing is performed while being conveyed by the folding roller (see Patent Document 1).

JP2007-76793A

  In recent years, with the improvement of the functions of image forming apparatuses, it is possible to form images on various sheets. For example, it is possible to form an image on special paper whose surface has been processed, such as coated paper, thin paper with low stiffness, and thick paper with strong stiffness.

  For this reason, the thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the substantially vertical tray differs depending on the thickness and the number of sheets. For example, in the case of a bundle of a small number of thin paper sheets, after the center portion is stapled, when the binding position is moved so as to coincide with the nip position of the pair of folding rollers, it is buckled by its own weight, The position may be displaced.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of conveying a bundle of sheets stacked on a tray without buckling with their own weight regardless of the thickness and number of sheets. .

To achieve the above object, the present invention is, processing at the processing position and the sheet stacking means for stacking the sheet conveyed, to a sheet bundle of the sheet stacking means a plurality of sheets stacked on the and processing means for performing management, and the sheet bundle moving means for moving the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking means to a position corresponding to the previous SL processing position, the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking means wherein A contact position that presses the sheet stacking means and a revolving position that can be moved to a retreat position that releases the pressing of the sheet bundle and is rotatable, and the sheet bundle moving means moves the sheet bundle to the processing position. When moving to a position corresponding to the above, the rotating body abuts on the sheet bundle and is driven to rotate by the action of a one-way clutch .

  According to the present invention, the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet stacking means can be moved to the processing position without buckling by its own weight, regardless of the waist strength that changes depending on the basis weight and type of the sheet.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. Therefore, unless specifically stated otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto.

[First Embodiment]
First, an image forming apparatus including a sheet processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus. Here, a copying apparatus is exemplified as the image forming apparatus.

(Image forming device)
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1000 includes a document feeding unit 100, an image reader unit 200, a printer unit 300, a folding processing unit 400, a finisher 500, a saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800, an inserter 900, and the like. . The folding processing unit 400, the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 as a sheet processing apparatus, the inserter 900, and the like can be optionally provided.

  Referring to FIG. 2, a document is set on tray 1001 of document feeding unit 100 in an upright state as viewed from the user and in a face-up state (the surface on which an image is formed is upward). It is assumed that the binding position of the document is located at the left end portion of the document. Documents set on the tray 1001 are conveyed by the document feeder 100 one by one from the top page in the left direction (arrow direction in the figure), that is, with the binding position at the top. Then, the document passes through a curved path, is conveyed on the platen glass 102 from the left to the right, and is then discharged onto the discharge tray 112. At this time, the scanner unit 104 is stopped at a predetermined document reading position.

  The scanner unit 104 reads an image of a document as the document passes through the scanner unit 104 from left to right. This method of reading a document is called document scanning. When the document passes over the platen glass 102, the document is irradiated by the lamp 103 of the scanner unit 104, and reflected light from the document is guided to the image sensor 109 via the mirrors 105, 106, 107 and the lens 108. .

  It is also possible to read the original image by temporarily stopping the original conveyed by the original feeding unit 100 on the platen glass 102 and moving the scanner unit 104 from left to right in this state. This reading method is called fixed original reading. When reading a document without using the document feeding unit 100, the user lifts the document feeding unit 100 and sets the document on the platen glass 102. In this case, the above-described original fixed reading is performed.

  The document image data read by the image sensor 109 is subjected to predetermined image processing and sent to the exposure control unit 110. The exposure control unit 110 outputs laser light corresponding to the image signal. The laser light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 111.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by the developing unit 113 and visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the sheet P such as recording paper is conveyed to the transfer unit 116 from any of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual feed unit 125, and the double-sided conveyance path 124. The visualized toner image is transferred to the sheet in the transfer unit 116. The toner image is fixed on the sheet after transfer by a fixing unit 177. The photosensitive drum 111, the developing unit 113, and the like constitute an image forming unit.

  The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 177 is once guided to the path 122 by the switching member 121. When the rear end of the sheet passes through the switching member 121, the sheet is conveyed in a switchback and guided to the discharge roller 118 by the switching member 121. The sheet is discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118. Thus, the sheet is discharged from the printer unit 300 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing downward (face down). These operations are called reverse discharge.

  As described above, by discharging the sheet to the outside in the face-down state, image forming processing can be performed in order from the first page. For example, the page order can be aligned when image forming processing is performed using the document feeder 100 or when image forming processing is performed on image data from a computer.

  Further, when image forming processing is performed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided straight from the fixing unit 177 to the discharge roller 118. Immediately after the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the switching member 121, the sheet is switched back and guided to the duplex conveyance path 124 by the switching member 121.

(Folding processing part)
Next, configurations of the folding processing unit 400 and the finisher 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 2, the folding processing unit 400 includes a conveyance path 131 that receives a sheet discharged from the printer unit 300 and guides the sheet to the finisher 500 side. The conveyance path 131 is provided with a conveyance roller pair 130 and a discharge roller pair 133. The switching member 135 provided in the vicinity of the discharge roller pair 133 guides the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 130 to the folding path 136 or the finisher 500 side.

  When performing the sheet folding process, the switching member 135 switches to the folding path 136 side and guides the sheet to the folding path 136. The sheet conveyed to the folding path 136 is abutted against the stopper 137 to form a loop, and then folded by the folding rollers 140 and 141. The sheet is Z-folded by further folding the loop formed by abutting the folded portion against the upper stopper 143 by the folding rollers 141 and 142. The Z-folded sheet is guided through the conveyance paths 145 and 131 and discharged to the finisher 500 by the discharge roller pair 133. Note that the folding processing operation by the folding processing unit 400 is selectively performed.

  On the other hand, when the folding process is not performed, the switching member 135 switches to the side that guides the sheet to the finisher 500. The sheet discharged from the printer unit 300 passes directly through the conveyance path 131 and the switching member 135, and directly. It is sent to the finisher 500.

(Finisher)
The finisher 500 aligns a plurality of sheets conveyed from the printer unit 300 via the folding processing unit 400 and processes the sheets. The sheet processing includes a process of bundling as one sheet bundle, a stapling process (binding process) for stapling the rear end side of the sheet bundle, a sort process, a non-sort process, and the like, and these sheet processes are selectively performed. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, the finisher 500 has a conveyance path 520 for taking the sheet conveyed through the folding processing unit 400 into the apparatus. The transport path 520 is provided with a plurality of transport roller pairs.

  A punch unit 530 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 520. The punch unit 530 operates as necessary to make holes (perforate processing) at the rear end of the conveyed sheet.

  A switching member 513 is provided at the end of the transport path 520. The switching member 513 switches the route between an upper discharge path 521 and a lower discharge path 522 connected downstream. The upper discharge path 521 guides the sheet to the upper stack tray 701. On the other hand, the lower discharge path 522 is provided with conveyance roller pairs 510, 511, and 512. These conveyance roller pairs 510, 511, and 512 convey the sheet to the processing tray 550 and discharge it.

  The sheets discharged to the processing tray 550 are stacked in a bundle while being sequentially aligned, and a sorting process and a stapling process are selectively performed according to the setting from the operation unit 1 (FIG. 2). The processed sheet bundle is selectively discharged to the stack trays 700 and 701 by the bundle discharge roller pair 551.

  The stapling process is performed by the stapler 560. The stapler 560 moves in the sheet width direction (a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction) and binds an arbitrary portion of the sheet bundle. The stack trays 700 and 701 are moved up and down along the main body of the finisher 500. The upper stack tray 701 receives sheets from the upper discharge path 521 and the processing tray 550. The lower stack tray 700 is configured to receive sheets from the processing tray 550. As described above, a large number of sheets are stacked on the stack trays 700 and 701. The stacked sheets are received and aligned by a rear end guide 710 extending in the vertical direction at the rear end.

  A switching member 514 is provided in the middle of the lower discharge path 522. The switching member 514 guides the sheet to the processing tray 550 or the saddle discharge path 523. The sheet guided to the saddle discharge path 523 by the switching member 514 is sent to the saddle stitch bookbinding portion 800.

(Saddle stitch bookbinding)
Next, the configuration of the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 as the sheet processing apparatus will be described.

  The sheet sent to the saddle stitch bookbinding section 800 is delivered to a saddle entrance roller pair 801, and a carry-in entrance is selected by a switching member 802 operated by a solenoid in accordance with the size, and is stored in a storage guide 803 as a sheet stacking means. It is carried in. The storage guide 803 is inclined such that the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet stacking surface is lower than the upstream side. The carried-in sheet is continuously conveyed by the sliding roller 804 and is transferred to the first feeding roller 806 and the second feeding roller 807 provided downstream. The sliding roller 804 is a roller having sliding properties, and the first feeding roller 806 and the second feeding roller 807 also have sliding properties like the sliding roller 804. The first feed roller 806 and the second feed roller 807 move to a contact position (solid line position in FIG. 1) for pressing the sheet against the storage guide 803 and a retreat position (dashed line position in FIG. 1) for releasing the sheet press. This is a possible sheet bundle pressing means. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, the first feed roller 806 and the second feed roller 807 are respectively moved from the contact position and the sheet to contact the sheet around the fulcrum shafts 806 a and 807 a by solenoids 816 a and 816 b. It is possible to move to a retreat position that is separated. The one-way clutch gears 806b and 807b are incorporated in the rotation shafts 806c and 807c of the first feed roller 806 and the second feed roller 807 so that the rollers 806 and 807 can be driven to rotate in the direction in which the sheet bundle is lowered. ing. Due to the action of the one-way clutch gear, the first feed roller 806 and the second feed roller 807 are driven and rotated by coming into contact with the sheet bundle that is gripped and moved (lowered) by the end stopper 805.

  The saddle inlet roller pair 801 and the sliding roller 804 are driven by an inlet roller motor M1. The first feed roller 806 and the second feed roller 807 are driven by a feed roller motor M6.

  As will be described later, the sheet conveyed to the storage guide 803 has an end portion (conveying direction) on an end stopper 805 that has been moved to a predetermined position in advance according to the sheet size (length in the sheet conveying direction). It is conveyed until the downstream end) contacts. The end stopper 805 is movable in the sheet conveyance direction along the sheet stacking surface inclined lower than the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction of the storage guide 803, and is driven by the end stopper movement motor M2 to receive the sheet. It can move in the transport direction. Further, the end stopper 805 has a regulating surface 805a protruding from the storage guide 803, and receives and holds the downstream end portion of the sheet conveyed to the storage guide 803 by the regulating surface 805a. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the downstream side of the sheet stacking direction of the sheet stacking surface is tilted lower than the upstream side will be described. However, the tilting direction of the sheet stacking surface is not limited to this. The sheets conveyed from the printer may be switched back and stacked. The end of the sheet on the lower side of the sheet stacking surface may be received by the regulation surface 805a and moved to the lower side of the sheet stacking surface.

  The end stopper 805 receives the sheet at the first receiving position or the second receiving position having a predetermined range of space on the downstream side of each of the first feeding roller 806 or the second feeding roller 807. The first receiving position is a solid line position shown in FIG. 1, and is a receiving position downstream of the first feeding roller 806 by a preset interval so that the sheet does not buckle. The second receiving position is a broken line position shown in FIG. 1 and is a receiving position downstream of the second feed roller 807 by the same interval as the interval. Here, the predetermined range is a range in which the sheet does not buckle even if it receives the conveying force of the feeding roller after it hits the regulating surface 805a. Since the ease of buckling (bending) of the sheet is proportional to the length of the sheet in the conveying direction, the receiving position by the end stopper 805 is preferably shorter within the above-mentioned predetermined range. Here, the predetermined range is set to 15 to 30 mm, depending on the rigidity (basis weight) of the sheet and the conveying force of the feed roller. In addition, this value is determined by experiment etc., and is not limited to the above-mentioned value. If the previously stored sheet is buckled, the carry-in path of the next stored sheet is blocked, causing a paper jam. Therefore, the predetermined range is set in a range where no paper jam occurs. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the end stopper 805 is formed with a guide surface 805b bent from the regulation surface 805a so as to face the sheet stacking surface of the storage guide 803. Further, the end stopper 805 includes a holding member 808 that moves in the arrow direction along the restriction surface 805a by a solenoid (not shown). The holding member 808 holds the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 803 and abutted against the end stopper 805 in cooperation with the guide surface 805b. That is, the end stopper 805 and the holding member 808 function as a sheet bundle conveying unit (sheet bundle holding unit) that conveys the sheet bundle by moving in a state where the sheet bundle is nipped (gripped). Thus, the stored sheet bundle can be conveyed to the processing position (binding position or folding position) without being disturbed.

  In addition, a stapler 820 is provided in the middle of the storage guide 803 so as to face the storage guide 803. The stapler 820 is a binding unit that binds the central portion in the conveyance direction of a bundle of a plurality of sheets stored in the storage guide 803. The stapler 820 is divided into a driver 820a that protrudes the needle and an anvil 820b that bends the protruding needle. When the storage of the sheet is completed, the stapler 820 staples the central portion in the conveyance direction of the bundle made of the sheet.

  Therefore, the receiving position of the sheet edge received by the edge stopper 805 is preferably shorter from the staple binding position (or the folding position) from the viewpoint of shortening the processing time or stabilizing the bundle conveyance. Here, the length from the sheet edge to the position to be processed on the sheet is a length L / 2 that is half the length L in the conveyance direction of the conveyed sheet. Therefore, in the control unit to be described later, a length L / 2 that is half the length L in the conveyance direction of the conveyed sheet is a first interval (length) L1 from the staple binding position to the regulation surface of the first reception position, It is determined which is closer to the second interval (length) L2 from the staple binding position to the restriction surface at the second receiving position. Then, the receiving position of the end stopper 805 whose length to the staple binding position is closer to the sheet length L / 2 is selected.

  A pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b and a protruding member 830 are provided on the downstream side of the stapler 820 with a storage guide 803 therebetween. The pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b and the protruding member 830 are folding means for folding the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 803 into two at the center in the conveyance direction. The protruding member 830 protrudes toward the center in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 803 by driving the protrusion motor M3 with the position retracted from the storage guide 803 as a home position. As a result, the sheet bundle is folded in two at the center while being pushed into the nip of the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b. After protruding the sheet bundle, the protruding member 830 returns to the home position again. Note that a pressure F1 sufficient to crease the sheet bundle is applied between the pair of folding rollers 810 by a spring (not shown). The sheet bundle with the creases is discharged to the fold bundle discharge tray 850 via the first fold conveyance roller pair 811a and 811b and the second fold conveyance roller pair 812a and 812b. Pressures F2 and F3 sufficient to convey and stop the folded sheet bundle are also applied to the first folding conveyance roller pair 811 and the second folding conveyance roller pair 812, respectively. The folding roller pair 810, the first folding conveyance roller pair 811 and the second folding conveyance roller pair 812 are rotated at a constant speed by the same folding conveyance motor M4.

  When the sheet bundle is folded without performing the binding process, the sheet bundle is moved so that the central portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle stored in the storage guide 803 is the nip position between the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b. On the other hand, when the sheet bundle bound by the stapler 820 is folded, the sheet bundle at the staple position is set so that the staple position (central portion in the conveyance direction) of the sheet bundle is the nip position of the folding roller pair 810 after the staple processing is finished. Move. As a result, the sheet bundle can be folded around the position where the stapling process is performed.

  The movement of the sheet bundle from the sheet storage position (each receiving position) to the stapling position and from the stapling position to the folding position is performed by the movement of the end stopper 805. That is, the sheet bundle is moved (conveyed) by lowering or raising the end stopper 805 by the motor M2 in a state where the sheet bundle is held between the guide surface 805b of the end stopper 805 and the holding member 808. The holding member 808 can generate a sufficient clamping pressure without disturbing the alignment of the sheet bundle during movement of the bundle by cooperating with the guide surface 805b. Further, as will be described later, the sheet bundle moved to the processing position by the lowering of the end stopper 805 is stored by the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 upstream of the end stopper 805 in the sheet bundle moving direction. The guide 803 is pressed.

  Further, at the positions of the folding roller pairs 810a and 810b, an alignment plate pair 815 having a surface protruding to the storage guide 803 while surrounding the outer peripheral surfaces of the folding roller pairs 810a and 810b is provided. The alignment plate pair 815 is driven in alignment by the alignment plate moving motor M5 and moves in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction to align (position) the sheets stored in the storage guide 803 in the width direction. .

  A crease press unit 860 is provided downstream of the second fold conveying roller pair 812 to spatially overlap the fold bundle discharge tray 850 and press the fold of the two-folded sheet bundle. This crease press unit 860 includes a press holder that supports a pair of press rollers 861, and in a state where the pair of press rollers 861 nips the fold of the sheet bundle, in the fold direction of the sheet bundle (width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction). Moved. Thereby, the fold of the sheet bundle is pressed. The folded bundle discharge tray 850 is for stacking booklets that are saddle stitched and bound together.

(Inserter)
Next, the configuration of the inserter 900 will be described. The inserter 900 is provided in the upper part of the finisher 500. The inserter 900 is for inserting a sheet (insert sheet) different from a normal sheet into the first page, last page, or intermediate page of the sheet. That is, the inserter 900 is for inserting an insert sheet or a cover sheet between sheets on which images are formed by the printer unit 300.

  The inserter 900 is for feeding a sheet set on the insert trays 901 and 902 by the user to one of the stack trays 701 and 700 and the folded bundle discharge tray 850 without passing through the printer unit 300. The sheet bundles stacked on the insert trays 901 and 902 are sequentially separated one by one and joined to the conveyance path 520 at a desired timing.

(Control part)
Here, the control system of the image forming apparatus 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus 1000. The CPU circuit unit 150 is provided in the printer unit 300 and includes a CPU (not shown), a ROM 151, and a RAM 152. Then, according to the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the setting of the operation unit 1, the document feed control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 301, the folding processing control unit 401, and the finisher control unit 501, controls the external I / F 203. The document feeding control unit 101 controls the document feeding unit 100, the image reader control unit 201 controls the image reader unit 200, the printer control unit 301 controls the printer unit 300, and the folding processing control unit 401 controls the folding processing unit 400. To do. Further, the finisher control unit 501 is mounted on the finisher 500 and controls the finisher 500, the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800, and the inserter 900. Specifically, the driving of the motors M <b> 1 to M <b> 6 of the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 is controlled by the finisher control unit 501. The operation unit 1 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. The operation unit 1 outputs a key signal corresponding to each key operation by the user to the CPU circuit unit 150 and displays corresponding information on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and a work area for operations associated with control. An external I / F (external interface) 203 is an interface between the image forming apparatus 1000 and an external computer 204. The print data from the computer 204 is expanded into a bitmap image and output to the image signal control unit 202 as image data. To do. An image of the original read by the image sensor 109 is output from the image reader control unit 201 to the image signal control unit 202. The printer control unit 301 outputs the image data from the image signal control unit 202 to the exposure control unit 110.

  Here, a configuration in which the finisher control unit 501 is mounted on the finisher 500 will be described. However, the finisher 500 may be provided integrally with the CPU circuit unit 150 in the printer unit 300 and controlled from the printer unit 300 side.

(Operation of saddle stitch bookbinding)
Hereinafter, the operation of the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 having the above-described configuration will be described together with the flow of sheets with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the saddle stitch bookbinding unit. 6 to 10 are cross-sectional views showing the operation of the saddle stitch bookbinding portion. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the feed roller in the saddle stitch bookbinding portion.

  When the operator sets the saddle stitch binding mode, the sheets P on which images are formed are sequentially discharged from the discharge roller 118 of the printer unit 300. The sheet P passes through the folding processing unit 400, is transferred to the inlet roller pair 511, passes through the conveyance path 520, and enters the lower discharge path 522. The subsequent sheet P is guided to the saddle discharge path 523 by the switching member 514 in the middle of the lower discharge path 522.

  Before the sheet P is carried into the saddle stitch bookbinding section 800, the end stopper 805 has its receiving position selected according to the sheet size (length in the sheet conveying direction) L, and the first receiving position or the first receiving position. 2 Move to the receiving position (steps S101 and S102). As described above, in the control unit, the length L / 2 that is half the length L in the conveyance direction of the sheet P is determined from the length L1 from the staple binding position to the regulation surface 805a of the first receiving position, from the staple binding position. It is determined which is closer to the length L2 of the second receiving position up to the restriction surface 805a. Then, the receiving position of the end stopper 805 closer to the sheet length L / 2 is selected. That is, when the half length L / 2 in the sheet conveyance direction is shorter than the length L1 from the binding position by the stapler 820 to the first receiving position, the first receiving position is selected. The receiving position is selected closer to the length L / 2 of the second sheet.

  FIG. 6 shows a state where the first receiving position is selected. The sheet P guided to the saddle discharge path 523 is discharged to the storage guide 803 while being guided by the switching member 802 corresponding to the sheet size. Then, the sheet P is abutted against the regulating surface 805a (see FIG. 3) of the end stopper 805 stopped at the first receiving position while receiving the conveying force of the sliding roller 804 and the first feeding roller 806, and stopped. To do.

  On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a state where the second receiving position is selected. The sheet P guided to the saddle discharge path 523 is discharged to the storage guide 803 while being guided by the switching member 802 corresponding to the sheet size. The sheet P is abutted against the regulating surface 805a (see FIG. 3) of the end stopper 805 stopped at the second receiving position while receiving the conveying force of the sliding roller 804 and the second feeding roller 807, and stopped. To do. At this time, the first feed roller 806 is retracted to a position separated from the sheet P by a solenoid. Even when the first receiving position is selected, the second feed roller 807 may be retracted to a position separated from the sheet P by a solenoid.

  In any case, as described above, the distance between the regulating surface 805a of the end stopper 805 and the feed roller corresponding to the receiving position of the end stopper 805 is determined within a range that does not buckle the sheet P to be received. It has been.

  Even after receiving the conveying force of the feeding rollers 806 and 807 after the downstream end in the conveying direction of the sheet P abuts on the regulating surface 805a of the end stopper 805, the feeding rollers 806 and 807 are slipping without buckling the sheet. Can rotate. The downstream end of the sheet is abutted against the end stopper 805 so that the sheets are stacked in the conveying direction.

  Since the subsequent operations are the same regardless of the reception position, the case where the first reception position is selected will be described as an example.

  As described above, after the end stopper 805 is moved to the selected receiving position, the operation of storing the sheet in the saddle stitch binding unit 800 is started (step S103). Then, as described above, the downstream end of the sheet is abutted against the end stopper 805 moved to the receiving position, and the conveyance direction is aligned. Subsequently, nipping alignment is performed by the alignment plate pair 815 that has been waiting at a position where there is no problem when the sheet is stored, and alignment in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction is also performed. The above-described sheet storage and alignment operations are performed each time one sheet P is discharged into the storage guide 803, and are performed until the alignment of the final sheet of one sheet bundle is completed (step S104).

  When the alignment of the final sheet is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the holding member 808 waiting outside the sheet carry-in path is moved in the arrow direction by the solenoid, and the stored sheet bundle P is guided to the guide surface of the end stopper 805. Clamping (gripping) in cooperation with 805b. When the central portion in the transport direction of the sheet bundle is already positioned at the staple position in the stored state (step S105), the stapler 820 staples it as it is (step S107). On the other hand, when the sheet bundle conveyance direction center is not at the staple position, the end stopper 805 is moved by the motor M2 while the sheet bundle is held (gripped), and the sheet bundle P is moved to the staple position ( Step S106). The sheet bundle moved to the staple position is stapled by the stapler 820 (step S107).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the staple-bound sheet bundle P is moved downward (in the direction of arrow D) toward the folding position by the movement of the end stopper 805 in a state where the bundle is held by the holding member 808. Is done. Before the bundle movement toward the folding position, the first feed roller 806 is moved to the contact position and presses the sheet bundle against the storage guide 803. That is, the sheet bundle is held by the holding member 808, and the sheet bundle is moved downward toward the folding position by the movement of the end stopper 805 in a state where the sheet bundle is pressed by the first feed roller 806 (step S109). ). At this time, the first feed roller 806 is not driven by the feed roller motor M6, but is lowered by the action of the one-way clutch gear 806b incorporated in the rotation shaft 806c of the first feed roller 806 shown in FIG. Rotate following movement to. Accordingly, the first feed roller 806 is squeezing the sheet bundle during the bundle movement, and buckling due to the weight of the sheet bundle can be prevented.

  The end stopper 805 stops moving at the folding position where the central portion (needle binding portion) of the sheet bundle P corresponds to the nip of the folding roller pair 810 (steps S108 and S109). Thereafter, the holding member 808 of the end stopper 805 releases the nipping (gripping) of the sheet bundle P, and the first feed roller 806 moves from the contact position for pressing the sheet bundle to the storage guide 803 to the retracted position for releasing the pressing. (Step S110).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the protruding member 830 that has been in the standby position starts to move in the direction of arrow E toward the folding position corresponding to the nip of the pair of folding rollers 810. Then, the sheet bundle P moves while the central portion in the conveyance direction is pushed into the folding roller pair 810, and is inserted into the nip of the folding roller pair 810 to be folded (step S111). At this time, the pair of folding rollers 810, together with the first pair of folding and conveying rollers 811 and the pair of second folding and conveying rollers 812, is rotated in the direction of the arrow by receiving the drive of the motor M4.

  The sheet bundle (interfolded booklet bundle) P folded by the folding roller pair 810 is conveyed by the first folding conveyance roller pair 811 and the second folding conveyance roller pair 812 with the fold as the head. Then, when the folded booklet bundle P is conveyed to a position where the fold is nipped by the press roller pair 861, the motor M4 stops. Here, the crease processing by the crease press unit is performed on the sheet bundle (step S112). The crease press unit 860 that has been waiting on one side in the width direction (the rear side of the apparatus) starts to move toward the other side in the width direction (the front side of the apparatus) along the fold line of the sheet bundle. The fold of the sheet bundle is pressed by the press roller pair 861, and the fold is pressed.

  When the crease processing of the crease press unit 860 is completed and moved to the standby position again, the middle fold booklet bundle P stopped by the motor M4 is started to be conveyed again, and the fold bundle discharge tray 850 is started by the second fold conveyance roller pair 812. (Step S113). The discharged middle folded booklet bundle P is stacked on a folded bundle discharge tray 850 positioned below the folded booklet bundle P. The end stopper 805 that has been moved for the folding operation in preparation for the next sheet moves again to the receiving position.

  The above operation is repeated until a desired number of copies are discharged onto the folded bundle discharge tray 850 (step S114), and the job is completed.

  As described above, the sheet feed moved to the folding position (processing position) by the lowering of the end stopper 805 is the first feed roller 806 (or second feed) upstream of the end stopper 805 in the sheet bundle moving direction. The storage guide 803 is pressed by a roller 807). Accordingly, the sheet bundle loaded on the storage guide 803 can be moved to the processing position without being buckled by its own weight, regardless of the strength of the waist that changes depending on the basis weight and type of the sheet. As a result, the accuracy of the folding position can be improved, and the saddle-stitched booklet created is of high quality.

  Further, as the sheet bundle pressing means for pressing the sheet bundle, the feeding rollers 806 and 807 which are rotating bodies that are in contact with the sheet bundle and are rotatable in the moving direction of the sheet bundle are used, so that the seat of the sheet is not damaged. Bending can be prevented.

  In addition, here, the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 is illustrated as being configured to rotate in contact with the sheet bundle moved to the folding position (processing position) when the end stopper 805 is lowered. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 may be rotated at a rotational speed slower than the moving speed at which the end stopper 805 grips and moves the sheet bundle by driving the feed roller motor M6. Thereby, buckling due to the weight of the sheet bundle can be further prevented.

  Further, here, in the saddle stitch binding accompanied by the stapling process, an operation of bringing the first feeding roller 806 or the second feeding roller 807 into contact with the sheet bundle before the end stopper 805 moves to the folding position is illustrated. However, it is not limited to this. For example, even during unbound binding without stapling, the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle before the bundle movement described above. As a result, the sheet bundle can be moved to the processing position without buckling with its own weight, and as a result, the accuracy of the folding position can be improved, and the created saddle-stitched booklet has a high quality. Become.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. Portions that are the same as those in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the opening / closing shutter 809 and the shutter driving unit. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the opening / closing shutter 809.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the sheet bundle pressing unit includes an opening / closing shutter (regulating member) 809 that presses the sheet bundle at the contact position according to the thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the storage guide 803. The open / close shutter 809 is disposed on the opposite side of the sheet stacking surface of the storage guide 803, and is moved up and down by a shutter moving motor M7. The shutter moving motor M7 is driven by a finisher control section 501 (see FIG. 4), as with other motors in the saddle stitch bookbinding section 800. As shown in FIG. 16, the opening / closing shutter 809 is a position for guiding the conveyed sheet bundle so as not to contact the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b when the sheet bundle is conveyed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, the opening / closing shutter 809 is a position for opening a protruding path so that the protruding member 830 can protrude toward the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b when the sheet bundle is folded.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the opening / closing shutter 809 is provided with racks 833a and 833b. The rotation of the shutter moving motor M7 is transmitted to the rack 833b via the step gears 836 and 835, and is transmitted from the shaft 838 connected to the step gear 835 to the gear 837 and the rack 833a. Accordingly, the opening / closing shutter 809 is configured to be reciprocally movable in the directions of arrows A and B in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 13, guide members 832a and 832b are fixed to the opening / closing shutter 809, and guide members 831a and 831b are fixed to the storage guide 803 so as to be opposed thereto. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the guide members 832a and 832b and the guide members 832a and 832b rotate the shutter moving motor M7 so that the opening / closing shutter 809 is parallel to the sheet stacking surface of the storage guide 803. It is guided to move in the thickness direction.

  With the above-described configuration, the opening / closing shutter 809 can adjust the contact position where the sheet bundle abuts against the sheet bundle and presses the sheet bundle against the storage guide 803 according to the thickness of the sheet bundle (the thickness or number of sheets).

  Next, the operation of the saddle stitch binding unit 800 will be described together with the flow of sheets. The operation up to the stapling process is the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the staple-bound sheet bundle P is moved downward (in the direction of arrow D) toward the folding position by the movement of the end stopper 805 in a state where the bundle is held by the holding member 808. Is done. Before the bundle movement toward the folding position, the opening / closing shutter 809 is moved to a contact position corresponding to the thickness of the sheet bundle P and presses the sheet bundle against the storage guide 803. That is, the sheet bundle is moved downward toward the folding position by the movement of the end stopper 805 while holding the sheet bundle by the holding member 808 and holding the sheet bundle by the opening / closing shutter 809. At this time, the sheet bundle is squeezed by the opening / closing shutter 809, and buckling due to the weight of the sheet bundle can be prevented.

  The end stopper 805 stops at the folding position where the central portion (needle binding portion) of the sheet bundle P corresponds to the nip of the folding roller pair 810. Thereafter, the holding member 808 of the end stopper 805 releases the gripping (gripping) of the sheet bundle P, and the opening / closing shutter 809 moves from the contact position for pressing the sheet bundle to the storage guide 803 to the retracted position for releasing the pressing. To do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the protruding member 830 that has been in the standby position starts to move in the direction of arrow E toward the folding position that reaches the nip of the pair of folding rollers 810. Then, the sheet bundle P moves while the central portion in the conveyance direction is pushed into the pair of folding rollers 810, and is inserted into the nip of the pair of folding rollers 810 to be folded.

  Note that the processing operation of the sheet bundle after being folded by the folding roller pair 810 is the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

  As described above, the sheet bundle moved to the folding position (processing position) by the lowering of the end stopper 805 is pressed against the storage guide 803 by the opening / closing shutter 809 on the upstream side in the sheet bundle moving direction from the end stopper 805. I have to. Accordingly, the sheet bundle loaded on the storage guide 803 can be moved to the processing position without being buckled by its own weight, regardless of the strength of the waist that changes depending on the basis weight and type of the sheet. As a result, the accuracy of the folding position can be improved, and the saddle-stitched booklet created is of high quality.

  Further, since the opening / closing shutter 809 can be adjusted to a contact position according to the thickness of the sheet bundle, it is possible to prevent an excessive load on the sheet bundle due to the contact of the opening / closing shutter 809 when the sheet bundle is moved. .

  In addition, since the opening / closing shutter 809 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle, the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 according to the first embodiment is brought into contact with the sheet bundle in a wider area than the configuration in which the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle. It is possible to prevent buckling due to the weight of the sheet bundle.

  Further, here, the configuration in which only the opening / closing shutter 809 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle when moving the stapled sheet bundle is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first feed roller 806 or the second feed roller 807 described in the first embodiment may be brought into contact with the sheet bundle together with the opening / closing shutter 809. Thereby, buckling due to the weight of the sheet bundle can be further prevented.

  Further, here, in the saddle stitch binding accompanied by the stapling process, the operation of bringing the opening / closing shutter 809 into contact with the sheet bundle before moving to the folding position by the lowering of the end stopper 805 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not something. For example, even during unbound binding without stapling, the open / close shutter 809 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle before the bundle movement described above. As a result, the sheet bundle can be moved to the processing position without buckling with its own weight, and as a result, the accuracy of the folding position can be improved, and the created saddle-stitched booklet has a high quality. Become.

[Other Embodiments]
In the embodiment described above, a configuration having a stapler (binding means) 820, a folding roller pair 810, and a protruding member 830 as processing means for processing a sheet stored in the storage portion at a predetermined processing position. Was illustrated. However, the processing means may be configured to have only folding means. Further, the binding means and the folding means as the processing means both illustrate saddle stitching in which the central portion in the sheet conveyance direction is bound at a predetermined binding position, or middle folding in which the central portion is folded in two at a predetermined folding position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The position where the sheet should be processed with respect to the predetermined binding position by the binding means or the predetermined folding position by the folding means is not limited to the central portion in the sheet conveyance direction described above, and may be set as needed. It ’s fine. Therefore, the length from the position where the sheet should be processed to the end of the sheet is not limited to a half length in the sheet conveyance direction. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the position where the binding position by the binding unit and the folding position by the folding unit are different in the sheet conveying direction is exemplified, but the same processing position may be used. In this case, the time required for sheet processing is further reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus that can be appropriately attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image forming apparatus may be a sheet processing apparatus that is integrally provided, and the same effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to the sheet processing apparatus.

  In the above-described embodiment, the copying machine is exemplified as the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other image forming apparatuses such as a scanner, a printer, and a facsimile apparatus, or other image forming apparatuses such as a multi-function machine that combines these functions may be used. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a sheet processing apparatus used in these image forming apparatuses.

Cross section of sheet processing equipment Sectional view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet processing apparatus Perspective view of end stopper Block diagram of control unit Flow chart showing operation of saddle stitch bookbinding Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Perspective view of feed roller in saddle stitch bookbinding Open / close shutter perspective view Open / close shutter perspective view Cross section of open / close shutter Cross section of open / close shutter Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the saddle stitch bookbinding part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

M1... Entrance roller motor M2... End stopper movement motor M3... Thrust motor M5. Alignment plate motor M6 .. feed roller motor M7... Shutter movement motor P .. sheet, sheet bundle 111. Part 200 ... Image reader part 300 ... Printer part 400 ... Folding part 500 ... Finisher 501 ... Finisher control part 700, 701 ... Stack tray 800 ... Saddle stitch bookbinding part 803 ... Storage guide 805 ... End stopper 806 ... First feed roller 806a, 807a ... fulcrum shafts 806b, 807b ... one-way clutch gears 806c, 807c ... rotation shaft 807 ... second feed roller 808 ... holding member 809 ... opening / closing shutter 810 ... folding roller pair 811 ... first folding conveying roller pair 812 ... second Folding roller 815 ... pair of aligning plates 816a, 816b ... solenoid 820 ... stapler 830 ... projecting member 850 ... folded bundle discharge tray 860 ... crease press unit

Claims (15)

A sheet stacking means for stacking the conveyed sheets;
And processing means for performing processing at the processing position with respect to the sheet bundle composed of the sheet stacking means a plurality of sheets stacked,
And the sheet bundle moving means for moving a position corresponding to the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking means prior Symbol processing position,
A contact position for pressing the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking means to said sheet stacking means, wherein a movable into the retracted position to release the pressing of the sheet bundle has a rotating body rotatable, the ,
When the sheet bundle moving means moves the sheet bundle to a position corresponding to the processing position, the rotating body abuts on the sheet bundle and is driven to rotate by the action of a one-way clutch. Processing equipment. Rotating body moving means for moving the rotating body between the contact position and the retracted position;
2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body moving unit positions the rotating body at the contact position when the sheet bundle moving unit moves the sheet bundle to the processing position. Processing equipment. As the rotating body, a first roller and a second roller provided downstream of the first roller in a direction in which the sheet bundle moving unit moves the sheet bundle are provided. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized. The sheet bundle moving means is downstream of the first roller and the second roller in the direction in which the sheet bundle moving means moves the sheet bundle according to the size of the sheet conveyed to the sheet stacking means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet processing apparatus moves between a first receiving position upstream of the second roller and a second receiving position downstream of the second roller. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle moving unit grips and moves the sheet bundle. Drive means for rotating the rotating body;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit rotates the rotating body to abut the sheet against the sheet bundle moving unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body has slipperiness. The rotating body is upstream of the sheet bundle moving means in the direction in which the sheet bundle moving means moves the sheet bundle moved to a position corresponding to the processing position by the sheet bundle moving means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking unit is pressed by a side. The sheet bundle moving means any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a regulating member for pressing the sheet bundle at a position corresponding to the thickness of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking means The sheet processing apparatus according to 1. The sheet stacking means has an inclined sheet stacking surface,
The sheet bundle moving means, the holding and receiving a lower side of the end portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking surface, characterized in that it comprises a receiving member moves along the sheet stacking surface the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The processing means, any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has a pair of rollers 2 fold is conveyed by sandwiching the sheet bundle is moved to a position corresponding to a is folding position said processing position 1 The sheet processing apparatus according to item. Further comprising a binding means for binding the sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking surface,
The sheet bundle moving means position corresponding to the folding position of the sheet bundle by moving binding the treated end of the lower side of the sheet bundle to the binding means to a lower side along the sheet stacking surface Moved to
The rotating body, the sheet bundle is canceller is moved to a position corresponding to the folding position by the sheet bundle moving means in the direction serial sheet bundle moving means moves the sheet bundle, than the sheet bundle moving means The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the sheet processing apparatus is pressed against the sheet stacking surface on an upstream side. The sheet bundle moving means, after the sheet bundle is moved to the position corresponding to the processing position, wherein characterized in that it moves to a position to release the grip of the sheet bundle prior to treatment with the processing means Item 13. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Items 5 to 12 . The sheet processing according to any one of claims 2 to 13 , wherein the rotating body moving unit moves the rotating body from the contact position to the retracted position before the processing by the processing unit. apparatus. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 subjected to selective processing to the sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed And an image forming apparatus.

Images