JP5467316B2 - Booklet forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a booklet forming apparatus, and more particularly to a booklet forming apparatus that flattens the back of a half-fold booklet.

  A saddle-stitched booklet created by binding the center of a sheet bundle and folding it at the binding position is known. Such a saddle-stitched booklet has a problem in appearance because the fold portion is likely to swell, and has a problem that it is difficult to stack. For this reason, a booklet processing method is proposed in which the folded booklet is gripped and fixed by a clamping jaw adjacent to the back, and the back is flattened by running the molding roller along the length of the back. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In addition, a booklet forming apparatus that flattens the back of the half-folded booklet by pressing each of a plurality of locations along the back of the held half-folded booklet at different timings by a pressing member has been proposed.

JP 2001-260564 A International Publication No. 10/13440 Pamphlet

  When the booklet is conveyed with the spine at the top after the forming process, it is necessary to retract the roller, the pressing member, and the like. On the other hand, when the booklet is crushed and flattened, a strong reaction force is generated from the booklet. If the rollers and pressing members are not properly advanced against this reaction force, it will be difficult to properly crush the back of the booklet. For this reason, when a mechanism for retracting a roller, a pressing member, or the like is provided, it is necessary to allow the roller or the pressing member to appropriately proceed even if a reaction force of the back is generated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to transport the booklet with the spine at the top after the forming process, and to influence the forming process given by the reaction force from the booklet. It is providing the booklet forming apparatus which suppressed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a booklet forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a gripping mechanism that grips the front and back of the back of the center folded booklet, and a press that presses and flattens the back of the gripped center folded booklet. And a discharge mechanism that discharges the center-folded booklet whose back is flattened from the gripping mechanism so that the back is the top, a molding position where the pressing mechanism can press the back of the center-folded booklet, and a discharge mechanism A molding discharge unit provided to be rotatable between a discharge position where the half-folded booklet can be discharged, and a rotation mechanism for rotating the molding discharge unit between the molding position and the discharge position.

  According to this aspect, by enabling the molding discharge unit to turn between the molding position and the discharge position in this manner, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the booklet is conveyed with the spine at the top after the molding process.

  The shaping discharge unit may be provided so that the center of rotation is positioned ahead of the reaction force of the back when the pressing mechanism presses the back of the half-fold booklet.

  According to this aspect, the rotation of the molding discharge unit due to the reaction force of the back can be suppressed. For this reason, the amount by which the member pressed by the reaction force of the back at the time of molding is pushed back can be further suppressed.

  The discharge mechanism is located at the same predetermined discharge destination when the molding discharge unit is at the discharge position and when the molding discharge unit is rotated within a predetermined angle range from the discharge position toward the molding position. The booklet may be provided so as to be discharged.

  According to this aspect, before the booklet is discharged from the discharge function, it is possible to start rotation of the molding discharge unit from the discharge position toward the molding position. For this reason, the productivity of the molding process can be improved.

  The rotation mechanism moves the molding discharge unit from the discharge position to the molding position after the discharge mechanism starts discharging the middle folded booklet from the gripping mechanism and before the rear end of the middle folded booklet is discharged from the discharge mechanism. May be started.

  According to this aspect, the productivity of the molding process for molding the back of the booklet can be improved as compared with the case where the rotation of the molding process unit is started after the booklet is ejected from the ejection mechanism.

  The discharge mechanism discharges the center folded booklet horizontally when the molding discharge unit is at the discharge position, and obliquely downwards at a large angle with respect to the horizontal direction as the molding discharge unit rotates from the discharge position toward the molding position. It may be provided to discharge the folded booklet.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to avoid the booklet being discharged upward. For this reason, even when the booklet is discharged while rotating the molding discharge unit, the booklet can be stably discharged.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the booklet shaping | molding apparatus which suppressed the influence on the shaping | molding process which the reaction force from a booklet gives can be provided, making it possible to convey a booklet with a spine after a shaping | molding process.

It is a typical whole block diagram of the bookbinding system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the shaping | molding mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a shaping | molding mechanism when rotating a shaping | molding discharge unit to a discharge position. (A) is a front view of the holding | grip mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (b) is a right view of the holding | grip mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is a front view of the contact mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (b) is a right view of the contact mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of the press mechanism concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a top view of the press mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the shaping | molding process by the shaping | molding mechanism which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a cam shaft and a cam, and a press unit. (A) is a figure which shows the state of a shaping | molding mechanism when one of several press members is located in the press position which presses the spine of a booklet. (B) is a figure which shows the state of a shaping | molding mechanism when discharge | emission of the booklet from a holding | grip mechanism is started. (C) is a figure which shows the state of the shaping | molding mechanism immediately after completion | finish of rotation to the shaping | molding position of a shaping | molding discharge unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of the press mechanism which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which looked at the press mechanism which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from the viewpoint S of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of a bookbinding system 10 according to the first embodiment. The bookbinding system 10 includes a collating device 18, a saddle stitch folding device 20, a cutting device 22, a booklet forming device 24, and a management device 28.

  The collating device 18 has a plurality (six in the first embodiment) of paper feed trays 50. The paper feed trays 50 are arranged in the vertical direction. Each of the paper feed trays 50 is provided so as to be moved up and down by operating a motor (not shown). Sheets on which images are formed by various image forming methods as described above are also stacked on the sheet feed tray 50. Therefore, the paper feed tray 50 also functions as a paper storage unit that stores paper. In each of the sheet feed trays 50, a group of sheets in which a plurality of sheets on which images are formed overlap is set by a bookbinding operator.

  The separation feeding mechanism 52 is provided corresponding to each of the paper feed trays 50. The separation feeding mechanism 52 separates and sends out the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked on the corresponding sheet feeding tray 50. The separation feeding mechanism 52 employs an air suction type. Since the air suction type separation and feeding mechanism is known, its detailed description is omitted. Of course, a so-called friction type separation / feed mechanism may be provided instead of the air suction type separation / feed mechanism. As described above, each combination of the paper feed tray 50 and the separation feeding mechanism 52 functions as a paper feeding unit that feeds the paper.

  The collating device 18 conveys the sheets fed from the sheet feeding tray 50 one by one through the sheet conveying path 54 and sends them to the saddle stitch folding device 20. Note that the collating device 18 may superimpose the sheets sent out from the paper feed tray 50 on the sheet conveying path 54 and convey them as a sheet bundle and send them out to the saddle stitch folding apparatus 20.

  The saddle stitch folding device 20 performs a saddle stitch folding process on the paper fed from the collating device 18. The sheet fed into the saddle stitch folding device 20 is transported along the transport path 60. The saddle stitch folding device 20 includes a binding mechanism 62, a folding mechanism 72, and a non-folding stacker 73. The binding mechanism 62 and the folding mechanism 72 are disposed around the conveyance path 60.

  The binding mechanism 62 includes a side jogger 66, a stitcher 70, a binding stopper 64, and a back jogger 68. Prior to the binding process, the binding mechanism 62 stacks the sheets sent from the collating device 18 in the order of feeding, and the number of sheets input by the user as the total number of sheets included in one booklet overlap. Create a stack of paper. Therefore, the binding mechanism 62 also functions as a sheet bundle creating unit.

  A pair of side joggers 66 are provided, and each of the side joggers 66 abuts against a side edge of the sheet bundle in the binding mechanism 62 and positions the position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction which is a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. The binding stopper 64 and the back jogger 68 are in contact with the front end portion and the rear end portion of the sheet bundle prepared by stacking sheets, and position the sheet bundle in the sheet conveyance direction. The stitcher 70 performs a binding process on the sheet bundle positioned by the binding stopper 64, the side jogger 66, and the back jogger 68.

  The folding mechanism 72 is provided on the downstream side of the binding mechanism 62. The folding mechanism 72 performs a folding process for folding the sheet bundle at the bound position on the sheet bundle on which the binding process has been performed by the binding mechanism 62. The folding mechanism 72 has a pair of folding rollers 78, a folding knife 76, and a folding stopper 74.

  When the binding process is performed by the binding mechanism 62, the binding stopper 64 is retracted downward, and the bound sheet bundle is sent to the folding mechanism 72. The sheet bundle sent to the folding mechanism 72 is positioned in the sheet conveying direction when the front end portion contacts the folding stopper 74. Above the transport path 60, a pair of folding rollers 78 are juxtaposed in the paper transport direction so that the axial direction is perpendicular to the paper transport direction.

  The folding knife 76 can move up and down between the pair of folding rollers 78 and below the conveying path 60 by operating a motor (not shown). When the folding knife 76 is raised in a state where the sheet bundle is positioned in the sheet conveying direction by the folding stopper 74, the sheet bundle is wound between the pair of folding rollers 78. The pair of folding rollers 78 folds the sheet bundle by rotating to convey the sheet bundle upward while pinching the sheet bundle with a strong force. The booklet that has been creased by the pair of folding rollers 78 is sent to the belt conveyance mechanism 80 through the binding folded booklet conveyance path 82 that extends upward from the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 78. The belt conveyance mechanism 80 sends the created booklet to the paper conveyance path 92 of the cutting device 22.

  The folding stopper 74 can be moved back and forth in the transport path 60 by turning on and off the solenoid. When the bookbinding by the saddle stitch folding process is not selected by the user and the bookbinding by the binding process is selected, the binding stopper 64 and the folding stopper 74 are retracted from the conveyance path 60. In this case, the sheets subjected to the binding process by the binding mechanism 62 are stacked on a non-folding stacker 73 provided downstream of the folding stopper 74.

  The cutting device 22 has a three-way cutting mechanism 84. The three-way cutting mechanism 84 cuts the booklet sent from the saddle stitch folding device 20 or three sides of the booklet, the top, and the ground to create a final booklet. The three-way cutting mechanism 84 includes a fore-edge cutting blade 90, a sheet pressing portion 88, a fore-edge cutting stopper 86, a side guide (not shown), and a pair of top and bottom cutting blades (not shown).

  The fore-edge trimming stopper 86 can be moved forward and backward in the paper conveyance path 92 by turning on and off a solenoid (not shown). When cutting a small edge of a booklet, the cutting apparatus 22 causes the small edge cutting stopper 86 to protrude into the paper conveyance path 92 at the timing when the booklet is sent. As a result, the front end of the booklet sent to the cutting device 22 comes into contact with the fore edge cutting stopper 86 and is positioned in the paper transport direction.

  The pair of side guides are arranged on the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as “upstream side”) with respect to the small edge cutting blade 90, and the cutting device is arranged so that the centers of the booklets conveyed at the center of each interval substantially overlap each other. One is arranged in front of and behind 22. Each of the pair of side guides is formed in a plate shape, extends in the paper transport direction, and protrudes upward from the paper transport path 92. For the pair of side guides, a so-called center distribution method is adopted in which one moves in the paper width direction and the other moves the same distance in the opposite direction. The booklet guided by the side guide and passed between them is aligned to the top and bottom positions that should be aligned before cutting.

  The sheet pressing portion 88 is disposed above the sheet conveyance path 92 on the upstream side from the fore edge cutting stopper 86, and is lowered by operating a motor (not shown). The fore edge cutting blade 90 is provided above the sheet conveyance path 92 on the upstream side of the sheet pressing portion 88 and is lowered when a fore edge cutting motor described later operates. The small edge cutting blade 90 is configured to be movable in the paper conveyance direction via a ball screw mechanism or the like by a small edge cutting blade moving motor described later. One top-and-bottom cutting blade is provided above each sheet conveyance path 92 at the front and rear of the sheet pressing portion 88, and is lowered by operating a top-and-bottom cutting motor described later. The pair of top and bottom cutting blades are also movable in a direction away from or close to each other by a center distribution method. The pair of top and bottom cutting blades move in a direction away from or close to each other via a gear mechanism or the like when a top and bottom cutting blade moving motor described later operates.

  By passing between the side guides, the top and bottom positions are aligned, and the paper pressing portion 88 is lowered and presses the booklet in a state where the paper cutting direction is positioned by the edge cutting stopper 86. With the booklet pressed in this manner, the fore edge cutting blade 90 first cuts the fore edge, and then a pair of top and bottom cutting blades cuts the top and bottom of the booklet. The booklet that has been subjected to the cutting process is conveyed to the booklet forming device 24.

  The booklet forming apparatus 24 has a forming mechanism 93 inside. The forming mechanism 93 is a so-called “angle forming process” in which the back is flattened by pressing the back in a state where the front and back of the back of the saddle-stitched booklet, such as a saddle-stitched booklet, is folded at the center. Apply. Hereinafter, the folded booklet is simply referred to as “booklet”. The configuration of the forming mechanism 93 will be described later. The booklet subjected to the forming process in the booklet forming apparatus 24 is conveyed onto the binding / folding stacker 26.

  The management device 28 includes a management PC (Personal Computer) 94, a display 96, a mouse 98, and a keyboard 97. The management PC 94 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk, and the like, and is connected to the management device 28, the saddle stitch folding device 20, the cutting device 22, and the booklet forming device 24 so as to be able to transmit and receive data. A display 96, a keyboard 97, and a mouse 98 are connected to the management PC 94.

  The management PC 94 displays a setting screen on the display 96 so that various settings can be input by the user. The user can input various settings using the keyboard 97 and the mouse 98 on this setting screen. When the start button displayed on the display 96 is clicked, the management PC 94 transmits information indicating the setting contents to each of the collating device 18, the saddle stitch folding device 20, the cutting device 22, and the booklet forming device 24. Then, a start signal indicating that the bookbinding process is to be started is transmitted. Each of the collating device 18, the saddle stitch folding device 20, the cutting device 22, and the booklet forming device 24 has a control unit that has a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and controls the operation of the internal mechanism. When received, the bookbinding process based on the received setting content is performed. These control units and management PC 94 will be described below as the electronic control unit 100 as a whole.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the forming mechanism 93 according to the first embodiment. The forming mechanism 93 includes a belt conveyance mechanism 110, a gripping mechanism 112, a contact mechanism 116, and a forming discharge unit 114.

  The belt transport mechanism 110 is configured by a pair of belt units each having a belt meshed with a pair of rollers. The belt conveyance mechanism 110 conveys the booklet carried in from the cutting device 22 to the gripping mechanism 112 while being sandwiched between a pair of belts. The contact mechanism 116 contacts the back of the booklet conveyed by the belt conveyance mechanism 110 to position the booklet. The gripping mechanism 112 grips the front and back of the booklet positioned by the contact mechanism 116.

  The molding discharge unit 114 includes a pressing mechanism 118 and a discharge mechanism 120. The pressing mechanism 118 presses and flattens the back of the booklet whose front and back sides are gripped by the gripping mechanism 112. The discharge mechanism 120 is configured by a pair of upper and lower belt units in which a belt is engaged with a pair of rollers. When the belt is driven by a motor (not shown) while being sandwiched between the belt units, the discharge mechanism 120 discharges the booklet with a flattened back from the gripping mechanism 112 so that the back is the head. . The pressing mechanism 118 and the discharge mechanism 120 are relatively fixed by the support member 121.

  The support member 121 is also provided with a cam transmission motor, which will be described later, a motor for driving the discharge mechanism 120, and a drive transmission mechanism such as a gear connected to the motor. Further, in the support member 121, the thickness of the member constituting the portion supporting the discharge mechanism 120 is made thinner than the portion supporting the pressing mechanism 118. As a result, the pressing mechanism 118 that requires strength to support is supported at a portion with higher strength, and the discharge mechanism 120 that does not need strength to support the pressing mechanism 118 is stronger than the portion that supports the pressing mechanism 118. Can be indicated in the lower part. Thereby, it is possible to satisfy the required strength while suppressing the cost of the support member 121.

  The molding discharge unit 114 is provided so as to be rotatable between a molding position where the pressing mechanism 118 can press the back of the booklet and a discharge position where the discharging mechanism 120 can discharge the booklet. Therefore, the pressing mechanism 118 is provided so as to be movable between a forming position where the back of the booklet can be pressed and a retreat position where the booklet is retracted from the forming position so that the booklet can be discharged from the gripping mechanism 112 with the back as the head. When in the forming position, the pressing mechanism 118 presses the back of the gripped booklet with a pressing member described later to flatten the booklet.

  Specifically, a rotation shaft 122 is fixed to the casing of the booklet forming apparatus 24 so as to extend in a direction parallel to the booklet transport surface and perpendicular to the booklet transport direction. Further, the support member 121 is provided with an insertion hole 121a for inserting the rotation shaft 122 through a bearing or the like. The molding discharge unit 114 is rotatably supported by the rotation shaft 122 by inserting the rotation shaft 122 into the insertion hole 121a. FIG. 2 shows the molding mechanism 93 when the molding discharge unit 114 is in the molding position.

  The crank mechanism 126 rotates the molding discharge unit 114 between the molding position and the discharge position. Therefore, the crank mechanism 126 functions as a rotation mechanism or a movement mechanism that rotates and moves the molding discharge unit 114 between the molding position and the discharge position. Thus, by moving the shaping | molding discharge unit 114 to a shaping | molding position and a discharge position, the movement to a shaping | molding position and a discharge | emission position is realizable with a simple structure. For example, when the molding discharge unit 114 is slid up and down between the molding position and the discharge position, it is necessary to provide a certain clearance in the slide mechanism in order to avoid the occurrence of galling or squeezing. By adopting a configuration in which the molding discharge unit 114 is rotated in this way, the clearance between the insertion hole 121a and the rotation shaft 122 is suppressed, and the amount by which the pressing member 222 is pushed back during the pressing process is suppressed. And a good molding process can be realized.

  Specifically, the crank mechanism 126 includes a connecting rod 150, a crankshaft 152, a pulley 154, and a belt 156. A connection shaft 129 is provided around the lower end of the support member 121, and one end of a connection rod 150 is rotatably attached to the connection shaft 129. The other end of the connecting rod 150 is pivotally attached to a location separated from the center of the crankshaft 152 by a predetermined distance. In the crankshaft 152, a belt 156 is hung on the crankshaft 152 and the pulley 154.

  The pulley 154 is connected to a motor (not shown), and the pulley 154 rotates when this motor operates. When the pulley 154 rotates, the crankshaft 152 rotates and the connecting shaft 129 is pulled downward. As a result, the molding discharge unit 114 rotates downward about the rotation shaft 122. Since the crankshaft 152 further rotates after the connecting rod 150 reaches the bottom dead center, the connecting shaft 129 is pushed up this time. As a result, the molding discharge unit 114 rotates upward about the gripping mechanism 112. The connecting shaft 129 may be pushed up by reversing the crankshaft 152 after the connecting rod 150 reaches bottom dead center.

  The crank mechanism 126 is configured such that when the connecting rod 150 reaches the top dead center, the molding discharge unit 114 becomes the molding position, and when the connecting rod 150 reaches the bottom dead center, the molding discharge unit 114 becomes the discharge position. ing. Of course, the position of the connecting rod 150 when the molding discharge unit 114 is positioned at the molding position and the discharge position is not limited to this.

  The crank mechanism 126 is an off-brake mechanism that applies a braking force to the rotation of the crankshaft 152 and applies a brake when the power of the bookbinding system 10 is turned off and the supply of power to the booklet forming device 24 is stopped. Have. Since the off-brake mechanism is the same as a known one, the description thereof is omitted.

  The molding discharge unit 114 is urged in a direction of rotating upward by a coil spring (not shown) that is an urging member. By providing the coil spring in this way, the burden on the crank mechanism 126 when raising the molding discharge unit 114 is reduced.

  The molding discharge unit 114 is provided so that the center of rotation is positioned ahead of the reaction force of the back when the pressing mechanism 118 presses the back of the booklet. Specifically, the rotating shaft 122 and the insertion hole 121a are arranged so that the center is positioned on a straight line that runs in the direction opposite to the direction in which the pressing mechanism 118 presses the back from the back of the booklet held by the holding mechanism 112. ing. Thereby, the rotation of the shaping discharge unit 114 when the pressing mechanism 118 presses the back of the booklet can be suppressed, and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 118 can be appropriately transmitted to the back of the booklet. For this reason, an appropriate shaping | molding process is realizable.

  A guide plate 124 is provided at the downstream end of the discharge mechanism 120. The guide plate 124 guides the booklet discharged from the discharge mechanism 120 to the transport plate 128. The guide plate 124 is fixed to the support member 121 and can be rotated together with the discharge mechanism 120. A transport plate 128 is provided further downstream of the guide plate 124. The transport plate 128 is fixed to the casing of the booklet forming device 24. The booklet discharged from the discharge mechanism 120 is transported on the guide plate 124 and the transport plate 128 and discharged onto the binding / folding stacker 26.

  The discharge mechanism 120 is provided so that the booklet can be discharged onto the transport plate 128 as a discharge destination even when the molding discharge unit 114 is in the molding position. Specifically, when the molding discharge unit 114 is in the molding position, the guide plate 124 is supported so as to be inclined obliquely downward so as to gradually lower from the booklet discharge position of the discharge mechanism 120 toward the transport plate 128. It is attached to the member 121. The booklet discharged from the discharge mechanism 120 passes on the guide plate 124 and is discharged to the transport plate 128.

  A paper sensor 123 is provided inside the discharge mechanism 120. The paper sensor 123 is provided so as to be able to detect that the front and rear ends of the booklet carried into the discharge mechanism 120 have reached a predetermined position. Since the configuration of the paper sensor 123 is known, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing the forming mechanism 93 when the forming / discharging unit 114 is rotated to the discharging position. When the forming and discharging unit 114 is in the discharging position, the discharging mechanism 120 is disposed so that the back of the booklet gripped by the gripping mechanism 112 is opposed between a pair of belt units arranged vertically. The booklet gripping by the gripping mechanism 112 is released and the belt conveying mechanism 110 is operated, whereby the booklet after molding is sent to the discharge mechanism 120. The discharge mechanism 120 conveys the fed booklet while being sandwiched between a pair of upper and lower belt units, and discharges it onto the conveyance plate 128.

  The discharge mechanism 120 is provided so that the booklet can be discharged onto the transport plate 128 when the molding discharge unit 114 is at the discharge position. However, the molding discharge unit 114 is provided so as to be able to discharge the booklet on the transport plate 128 which is the same discharge destination even when in the molding position as described above. Thereby, before a booklet is discharged | emitted from the discharge mechanism 120, rotation from the discharge position of the shaping | molding discharge | emission unit 114 to a shaping | molding position can be started, and high productivity in a shaping | molding process is realizable.

  The discharge mechanism 120 discharges the booklet horizontally when the molding discharge unit 114 is at the discharge position, and obliquely downwards at a large angle with respect to the horizontal direction as the molding discharge unit 114 rotates from the discharge position toward the molding position. Is provided to discharge the booklet. Specifically, the guide plate 124 is horizontal when the molding discharge unit 114 is in the discharge position, and obliquely downward from the booklet discharge point of the discharge mechanism 120 toward the downstream direction when the molding discharge unit 114 is in the molding position. It is attached to the support member 121 so as to be inclined. Thereby, even when the molding discharge unit 114 rotates between the molding position and the discharge position, it is possible to avoid the guide plate 124 from being inclined obliquely upward toward the downstream direction, and stable booklet discharge is possible. Can be realized.

  The discharge mechanism 120 may be provided so that the booklet cannot be discharged on the transport plate 128 when the molding discharge unit 114 reaches the molding position. In this case, the electronic control unit 100 causes the electronic control unit 100 to complete the discharge of the booklet onto the transport plate 128 while the forming / discharging unit 114 is rotating from the discharge position toward the forming position. Control emissions. Even in this case, the discharge mechanism 120 is in a position rotated within a predetermined angle range before the molding discharge unit 114 reaches the molding position from the discharge position so that the booklet can be properly discharged onto the transport plate 128. The booklet may be provided on the transport plate 128 so as to be discharged.

  FIG. 4A is a front view of the gripping mechanism 112 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a right side view of the gripping mechanism 112 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the gripping mechanism 112 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  The gripping mechanism 112 includes an upper gripper 130, a lower gripper 132, a connecting rod 134, a crank disk 136, and a crankshaft 142. The lower gripper 132 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped block shape and is fixed to the casing of the booklet forming apparatus 24. The upper gripper 130 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped block shape and is disposed above the lower gripper 132. The upper gripper 130 is configured to be advanced toward the lower gripper 132 by a guide (not shown). The booklet carried in from the belt conveyance mechanism 110 is gripped by the upper gripper 130 and the lower gripper 132 when the upper gripper 130 is lowered.

  An upper end of a connecting rod 134 is rotatably connected to each of a front side and a rear side of the upper gripper 130 via a shaft 138. The lower end of each connecting rod 134 is connected to each of the two crank disks 136 via a shaft 140 so as to be rotatable. At this time, the connecting rod 134 is connected at a position shifted from the center of the crank disk 136. The two crank disks 136 are fixed to both ends of the crankshaft 142 so as to be coaxial.

  With the above configuration, when the crankshaft 142 rotates, the upper gripper 130 moves upward or downward via the connecting rod 134. The crankshaft 142 is connected to a crank motor (not shown) via a transmission mechanism (not shown). The electronic control unit 100 controls gripping of the booklet by the gripping mechanism 112 by controlling the operation of the crank motor.

  FIG. 5A is a front view of the contact mechanism 116 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a right side view of the contact mechanism 116 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the abutment mechanism 116 will be described with reference to both FIG. 5 (a) and FIG. 5 (b).

  The contact mechanism 116 includes a movable unit 160 and two ball screws 162. The movable unit 160 has a stopper 164 and a support member 166. The stopper 164 is provided with two guide holes 164b extending in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the support member 166 is provided with two guide pins 168. By inserting each of the two guide pins 168 into each of the two guide holes 164b, the stopper 164 is supported by the support member 166 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The stopper 164 is connected to a solenoid (not shown), and moves upward when the solenoid is turned on. Three contact portions 164 a are provided on the top of the stopper 164. When the stopper 164 advances upward, the contact portion 164a contacts the back of the booklet fed from the belt conveyance mechanism 110 to position the booklet.

  Two nuts 170 are provided on the support member 166. Each of the two ball screws 162 is screwed into each of the nuts 170. The ball screw 162 is connected to a motor (not shown). The electronic control unit 100 adjusts the position of the booklet in the direction perpendicular to the spine by adjusting the position of the contact part 164a by controlling the operation of the motor. Specifically, the electronic control unit 100 adjusts the position of the booklet so that the back of the booklet approaches a pressing member described later as the number of sheets forming the booklet input by the user increases. Further, the electronic control unit 100 may acquire the paper type input by the user. The electronic control unit estimates the thickness of the booklet to be created using the number of sheets forming the booklet and the paper type forming the booklet. The thicker the estimated booklet, the later the booklet will be described later. You may adjust the position of a booklet so that it may approach a press member. Note that the electronic control unit 100 may adjust the position of the stopper 164 so that the back of the booklet is positioned at the position input by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a front view of the pressing mechanism 118 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a top view of the pressing mechanism 118 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the pressing mechanism 118 will be described with reference to both FIG. 6 and FIG.

  The pressing mechanism 118 includes a support unit 200, a pressing member 222, and a cam unit 204. The support unit 200 includes a pair of support brackets 210 and four guide members 212. The pair of support brackets 210 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction so as to face each other, and each of both ends is fixed to the casing of the booklet forming apparatus 24 via each of the pair of main brackets 244. Each of the support brackets 210 is disposed so as to extend in parallel to the spine 2 a of the booklet 2 held by the holding mechanism 112. Similarly, the guide member 212 is fixed to the support bracket 210 so as to extend in parallel with the spine 2 a of the booklet 2.

  A plurality (17 in the first embodiment) of the pressing units 202 are provided. Each of the pressing units 202 includes a main body bracket 220, a pressing member 222, a first guide pin 224, a second guide pin 226, and a bearing 230. The main body bracket 220 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is disposed between the pair of support brackets 210. At this time, the upper and lower surfaces of each of the main body brackets 220 are in contact with the guide member 212 and the movement in the vertical direction is restricted.

  A pressing member 222 is fixed to the surface of the main body bracket 220 facing the booklet 2. The pressing member 222 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is fixed to the main body bracket 220 so that the pressing surface that presses the spine 2a is perpendicular to the front and back of the booklet 2 gripped by the gripping mechanism 112 and parallel to the spine 2a. The main body bracket 220 is arranged so that the pressing members 222 are arranged at equal intervals in parallel with the spine 2 a of the booklet 2. Thus, each of the plurality of pressing members 222 can press each of a plurality of locations along the back 2 a of the back 2 a of the booklet 2. Note that the pressing member 222 is provided with a curved portion at the end in the extending direction of the spine so that a trace when pressed is difficult to put on the back.

  The second guide pin 226 and the first guide pin 224 are fixed to the main body bracket 220 so that the upper end and the lower end protrude. The support bracket 210 is provided with a long hole extending in the advancing / retreating direction of the pressing unit 202, and the upper end and the lower end of the first guide pin 224 and the second guide pin 226 protruding are inserted into the long hole. As a result, the pressing unit 202 can move in a direction perpendicular to the spine 2a.

  A coil spring 228 is provided between each of the upper end and the lower end of the first guide pin 224 and the support bracket 210. The coil spring 228 is a tension spring and urges the pressing member 222 in a direction away from the spine 2 a of the booklet 2. A bearing 230 is supported on the main body bracket 220 on the opposite side of the surface to which the pressing member 222 is fixed, so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the spine 2a.

  The cam unit 204 includes a cam 240, a cam shaft 242, and a cam drive motor 246. The same number of cams 240 as the pressing units 202 (17 in the first embodiment) is provided. Each of the plurality of cams 240 is fixed to a camshaft 242 whose axial direction is parallel to the spine 2a of the booklet 2 gripped by the gripping mechanism 112. The camshaft 242 is attached to each of the pair of main brackets 244 so that both ends thereof are rotatable via bearings. At this time, each of the plurality of cams 240 is disposed so as to contact the bearing 230 of the pressing unit 202 at the same interval as the interval at which the pressing unit 202 is disposed. The camshaft 242 is connected to the cam drive motor 246 via a transmission mechanism, and the camshaft 242 rotates when the cam drive motor 246 operates.

  Each of the cams 240 pushes the pressing unit 202 toward the spine 2a of the booklet 2 as the cam shaft 242 rotates. Thus, each of the booklet forming devices 24 advances each of the pressing members 222 toward the back 2a of the booklet 2, and presses the back 2a against the pressing member 222 to flatten it.

  Here, the plurality of cams 240 are fixed to the camshaft 242 with a phase difference from each other so that the pressing members 222 are advanced toward the back 2a of the booklet 2 at different timings. Thus, by giving the cams 240 a phase difference from each other, the timing at which each of the pressing members 222 presses the spine 2a can be shifted. Therefore, the force which presses the spine 2a can be suppressed, and an increase in cost due to increasing the rigidity of the pressing mechanism 118 can be avoided. Thus, even when the cam 240 has a phase difference, in the step of rotating the camshaft 242, all the pressing members 222 can be advanced to complete the pressing of the spine 2a.

  In addition, it is not necessary to give a phase difference to all the cams 240 so that the timing which pushes the spine 2a of all the pressing members 222 may differ, for example, some two or more pressing members 222 among all the pressing members 222 are included. A phase difference may be provided in the cam 240 so as to press the spine 2a at the same timing. Also by this, the pressing mechanism 118 can press each of a plurality of locations pressed by the pressing member 222 at any of a plurality of timings.

  Further, the cam 240 may have a phase difference so that the pressing force applied to the spine 2a of the booklet 2 can be balanced across the spine 2a. For example, the cam 240 may be provided with a phase difference so as to press two places having the same distance from the center of the spine 2a. At this time, for example, the cam 240 may be provided with a phase difference so that the two pressing points are gradually separated from the center of the back 2a as the cam shaft 242 rotates, and the two pressing points are provided on the back 2a. The cam 240 may have a phase difference so as to gradually approach each other from both ends toward the center. By balancing the pressing force in this way, it is possible to suppress the inclination of the booklet 2 when the back 2a is pressed.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the molding process by the molding mechanism 93 according to the first embodiment. The process in this flowchart is started each time a booklet is sent to the booklet forming apparatus 24 when the user presses the start button to start the bookbinding process.

  The booklet forming device 24 is provided with an optical sensor for detecting the loading of the booklet. When the electronic control unit 100 detects that the booklet is carried into the booklet forming device 24, the electronic control unit 100 turns on the solenoid to raise the stopper 164, contacts the back of the booklet with the contact part 164a, and loads the booklet with the stopper 164. Positioning is performed (S10). When the booklet is positioned by the stopper 164 of the contact mechanism 116, the electronic control unit 100 operates the gripping mechanism 112 so as to grip the booklet on the front and back around the back (S12).

  When the booklet is gripped by the gripping mechanism 112, the electronic control unit 100 turns off the solenoid, lowers the stopper 164 (S14), rotates the camshaft 242 270 degrees, and completes the pressing of the full length of the booklet spine. (S16).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between the camshaft 242 and the cam 240 and the pressing unit 202. As described above, each bearing 230 of the pressing unit 202 is pressed against the outer periphery of the corresponding cam 240 by an urging force. FIG. 9 shows a state immediately before starting to press the back of the booklet held by the holding mechanism 112. Therefore, the camshaft 242 is located at the rotation start position when it rotates to press the back of the booklet. As described above, the cam shaft 242 that is a drive shaft is rotationally driven by the cam drive motor 246 that is an actuator. The camshaft 242 rotates clockwise in FIG. Hereinafter, this rotational direction is referred to as a positive direction. FIG. 9 shows only the rear end of the pressing unit 202, but a pressing member 222 for pressing the back of the booklet is attached to the tip of the pressing unit 202.

  The plurality of pressing members 222 are arranged in parallel with the back of the gripped booklet. Each of the plurality of pressing members 222 is provided so as to be movable parallel to the paper surface of the booklet held by the holding mechanism 112 and perpendicular to the back of the booklet. Each of the plurality of pressing members 222 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of cams 240, and is moved by the corresponding cam 240 when the cam shaft 242 rotates. Therefore, the cam unit 204 including the plurality of cams 240 and the camshaft 242 functions as a drive mechanism that moves each of the plurality of pressing members 222.

  In the first embodiment, when the camshaft 242 is in the rotation start position, each of the plurality of pressing members 222 is located at an initial position separated from the back of the gripped booklet. When the camshaft 242 rotates from the rotation start position, each of the plurality of pressing members 222 starts moving from the initial position toward the booklet, and is moved to the maximum from the initial position to press the back of the gripped booklet. Moved to the pressing position. Thus, the pressing member 222 presses the back of the gripped booklet.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of cams 240 have a slight phase difference in the cam 240 at the rear of the adjacent cams 240 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the camshaft 242 from the cam 240 at the front of the apparatus. Yes. For this reason, the plurality of pressing members 222 are moved from the initial position in the pressing mechanism 118 to the pressing position at different timings, and each of a plurality of locations along the back of the gripped booklet back is pressed at different timings. .

  Each of the plurality of cams 240 converts the rotation of the cam shaft 242 at a predetermined angle of less than 360 degrees into the movement of the plurality of pressing members 222 that return from the initial position to the initial position via the pressing position. Therefore, the cam 240 functions as a drive transmission mechanism. Note that a crank mechanism may be provided instead of the cam 240 as a drive transmission mechanism for moving the pressing member 222.

  Each of the plurality of cams 240 is a cam for moving each of the plurality of pressing members 222 so that a pair of portions having the same distance from the center of the back among the plurality of portions of the back of the gripped booklet are pressed simultaneously. It may be attached to the shaft 242. Specifically, each of the plurality of cams 240 has a plurality of positions such that a pair of portions having the same distance from the center of the back among the plurality of portions of the back of the gripped booklet are simultaneously pressed in order from the center of the back. It may be attached to the camshaft 242 to move each of the pressing members 222. Further, each of the plurality of cams 240 has a plurality of pressing members 222 so that a pair of portions having the same distance from the center of the back among the plurality of portions of the back of the gripped booklet are simultaneously pressed in order from the center of the back. May be attached to the camshaft 242 to move each of them.

  Here, since the camshaft 242 is at the rotation start position, the rotation angle of the camshaft 242 necessary for completing the pressing of the back of all the pressing members 222 and completing the retracting from the back is determined as the pressing completion angle θ1. And Further, the rotation angle of the camshaft 242 for returning to the rotation start position after rotating the pressing completion angle θ1 from the rotation start position is defined as a return angle θ2. Accordingly, the pressing completion angle θ1 + the return angle θ2 = 360 degrees.

  The pressing mechanism 118 rotates the camshaft 242 from the rotation start position to the pressing completion angle θ1 when the pressing mechanism 118 is at the molding position, so that each of the plurality of pressing members 222 is moved to the individual pressing position at different timings. Move to. In this way, each of a plurality of portions of the back of the booklet held by the holding mechanism 112 is pressed by each of the plurality of pressing members 222. Needless to say, the pressing completion angle θ1 is not limited to 270 degrees, and may be other angles less than 360 degrees.

  However, if the pressing completion angle θ1 is made too small in order to complete the molding process quickly, the burden placed on the camshaft 242 and the cam drive motor 246 increases, which may necessitate an increase in size. On the other hand, if the pressing completion angle θ1 is too close to 360 degrees, the initial position may be exceeded by the inertia of the camshaft 242 when the pressing process is finished. For this reason, it is preferable that the plurality of cams 240 are attached to the camshaft 242 so that the pressing completion angle θ1 is 180 degrees or more and less than 350 degrees.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a state of the forming mechanism 93 when one of the plurality of pressing members 222 is located at a pressing position that presses the back of the booklet 2. At this time, the molding discharge unit 114 is disposed at the molding position.

  Returning to FIG. When the spine is pressed, the electronic control unit 100 operates the crank mechanism 126 to rotate the molding discharge unit 114 to the discharge position (S18). When the molding discharge unit 114 is rotated to the discharge position, the electronic control unit 100 operates the gripping mechanism 112 to release the booklet gripping (S20). When the gripping of the booklet is released, the electronic control unit 100 sends the booklet to the discharge mechanism 120 by the belt conveyance mechanism 110. The electronic control unit 100 keeps the discharge mechanism 120 in operation until all booklets are created. For this reason, the booklet sent to the discharge mechanism 120 is conveyed to the top by the discharge mechanism 120, and discharge of the booklet from the gripping mechanism 112 is started (S22).

  After the discharge of the booklet from the gripping mechanism 112 is started, the electronic control unit 100 further rotates the camshaft 242 by the return angle θ2 to return to the rotation start position, thereby returning the cam unit 204 to the initial state, and the camshaft 242 Is stopped (S24). The electronic control unit 100 starts to move from the molding position toward the retracted position, and then rotates the camshaft 242 by the return angle θ2 at another timing before returning to the molding position to return to the rotation start position. The cam unit 204 may be returned to the initial state.

  FIG. 10B is a diagram illustrating a state of the forming mechanism 93 when the discharge of the booklet 2 from the gripping mechanism 112 is started. At this time, the electronic control unit 100 detects that the camshaft 242 rotates at a pressing completion angle θ1 from the rotation start position, and after the back of the booklet is pressed, the return angle θ2 is further rotated before returning to the rotation start position. The descent of 164, release of gripping of the booklet 2 by the gripping mechanism 112, and movement of the molding discharge unit 114 from the molding position to the discharge position are all started.

  In addition, the electronic control unit 100 stops the stopper 164 before the camshaft 242 rotates by the pressing completion angle θ1 from the rotation start position and the back of the booklet is completed and then returns to the rotation start position by further rotating the return angle θ2. The lowering of the booklet, the release of gripping of the booklet 2 by the gripping mechanism 112, and the movement of the forming and discharging unit 114 from the forming position to the discharging position may be started.

  Further, the electronic control unit 100 may control the pressing mechanism 118 to stop the camshaft 242 at a position rotated by the pressing completion angle θ1 from the rotation start position. In this case, as described later, the electronic control unit 100 rotates the camshaft 242 by rotating the camshaft 242 by a return angle θ2 after the molding discharge unit 114 starts to rotate from the discharge position toward the molding position and before the movement to the molding position is completed. Return to the starting position.

  Returning to FIG. After the discharge of the booklet from the gripping mechanism 112 is started, the electronic control unit 100 operates the crank mechanism 126 to start the rotation of the forming / discharging unit 114 from the discharging position to the forming position (S26). At this time, after the discharge mechanism 120 starts discharging the booklet from the gripping mechanism 112, the electronic control unit 100 forms the forming and discharging unit 114 from the discharge position before the rear end of the booklet is discharged from the discharge mechanism 120. The operation of the crank mechanism 126 is controlled to start rotating toward the position. Specifically, when the rear end of the booklet 2 is detected by the paper sensor 123, the electronic control unit 100 starts the rotation of the forming / discharging unit 114 from the discharging position to the forming position. Thereby, compared with the case where rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 is started after the booklet 2 is discharged from the discharge mechanism 120, the molding discharge unit 114 can be returned to the molding position earlier, and the productivity of the molding process can be improved. Can do.

  When the molding discharge unit 114 starts to rotate to the molding position, the electronic control unit 100 operates the contact mechanism 116 to raise the stopper 164 (S28), and when the molding discharge unit 114 reaches the molding position. Then, the operation of the crank mechanism 126 is stopped and the rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 is ended (S30). After the rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 to the molding position is completed, the booklet 2 is discharged from the discharge mechanism 120 (S32).

  FIG. 10C is a diagram showing a state of the molding mechanism 93 immediately after the rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 to the molding position is completed. As described above, at the end of the rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 to the molding position, the discharge of the booklet 2 from the discharge mechanism 120 is not completed, and the booklet 2 is still being conveyed by the discharge mechanism 120. Yes. At the end of the rotation of the molding discharge unit 114 to the molding position, the booklet 2 to be molded next is carried into the belt conveyance mechanism 110 and abutted against the stopper 164. The electronic control unit 100 may control the operation of the gripping mechanism 112 so that the gripping of the booklet 2 to be formed next is completed before the booklet 2 is discharged from the discharge mechanism 120.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a pressing mechanism 800 according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram of the pressing mechanism 800 according to the second embodiment as viewed from the viewpoint S of FIG. The configuration of the bookbinding system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a pressing mechanism 800 is provided instead of the pressing mechanism 118. Unless otherwise specified, the operation of the bookbinding system according to the second embodiment is also the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The pressing mechanism 800 includes a roller 802, a roller shaft 804, and a pair of guide members 806. The guide member 806 is formed in an elongated shape, and a guide hole 806a longer than the spine 2a of the booklet 2 to be formed is formed. The pair of guide members 806 are juxtaposed in the vertical direction so as to extend in parallel with the spine 2a of the booklet 2 on which the guide holes 806a are gripped on the downstream side of the gripping mechanism 112.

  A roller shaft 804 is coaxially inserted into the roller 802. The roller 802 is rotatably supported by the roller shaft 804. Both ends of the roller shaft 804 are inserted into each of the guide holes 806a of the guide member 806 arranged in parallel vertically. In this way, the roller 802 is guided by the guide member 806 so as to move in parallel with the back 2 a of the gripped booklet 2.

  The roller shaft 804 is connected to a motor (not shown) via, for example, a rack gear mechanism or a ball screw mechanism. The pressing mechanism 800 drives the roller 802 in parallel with the spine 2a when the motor operates, and presses the roller 802 along the spine 2a while pressing the roller 802 against the spine 2a of the booklet 2 gripped by the gripping mechanism 112. By moving, the back 2a of the booklet 2 is flattened. Therefore, the roller 802 functions as a pressing member that presses the spine 2 a of the booklet 2.

  Instead of the roller 802, a pressing member that presses the spine 2a while sliding on the spine 2a may be employed. The pressing surface that slides on the spine 2a in the pressing member may be a curved surface. Even if the non-rotating member is slid on the spine 2a in this way, the flattening process of the spine 2a can be executed.

  Alternatively, the position of the roller 802 may be fixed and the gripping mechanism 112 may be moved in parallel with the spine 2a. Also by this, the roller 802 and the gripped booklet 2 can be relatively moved along the spine 2a, and the portion to be pressed by the roller 802 is moved along the spine 2a to flatten the spine 2a. be able to.

The point that each of the pressing mechanism 800 and the punching mechanism performs the molding process and the punching process on the booklet 2 in which the gripped position is maintained is the same as in the above-described embodiment.
Also in the second embodiment, the molding discharge unit 114 includes a support unit 200 and a discharge mechanism 120, and a pressing position in which the pressing mechanism 800 can press the back of the half-folded booklet, and the discharge mechanism 120 the middle-folded booklet. It is the same as that of the first embodiment in that it is provided so as to be rotatable between a discharge position where discharge is possible.

  In the second embodiment, the “pressing position” where the roller shaft 804 presses the back of the booklet is the entire movable range of the roller shaft 804 where the roller shaft 804 presses the back of the booklet. Say. The pressing mechanism 800 presses the back of the gripped booklet by moving the roller shaft 804, which is a pressing member, from all the pressing positions toward the front of the apparatus. Therefore, the position where the movement starts from the rear of the apparatus to the front of the apparatus is the “initial position” of the roller shaft 804 in the second embodiment. When the molding discharge unit 114 is at the molding position, the pressing mechanism 800 moves the roller shaft 804 from the initial position to the pressing position, thereby pressing the back of the gripped half-fold booklet with a pressing member. After 114 starts moving from the molding position toward the retracted position, the roller shaft 804 is returned to the initial position before returning to the molding position. Of course, the initial position of the roller shaft 804 is not limited to this position. Even when the back of the booklet is pressed using the roller shaft 804 as described above, the back of the booklet can be stably pressed by rotating the shaping discharge unit 114.

  Further, the pressing mechanism 800 moves the roller shaft 804 toward the rear of the apparatus over the pressing position to press the back of the gripped booklet, and then presses the roller shaft 804 for the booklet to be formed next. The back of the booklet may be pressed by moving it across the pressing position toward the front of the apparatus. Also in this case, when the movement end position of the roller shaft 804 is different from the initial position, the pressing mechanism 800 moves the roller shaft 804 from the initial position to the movement end position when the molding discharge unit 114 is at the molding position. By moving, the back of the gripped half-fold booklet is pressed by the pressing member, and after the molding discharge unit 114 starts moving from the molding position toward the retracted position, the roller shaft 804 is moved before returning to the molding position. Return from the movement end position to the initial position.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  In a certain modification, the forming mechanism 93 includes a moving unit that relatively moves the plurality of pressing members 222 and the booklet 2 along the spine 2a. After the electronic control unit 100 presses a plurality of portions of the spine 2a with the plurality of pressing members 222, the electronic control unit 100 relatively moves the plurality of pressing members 222 and the booklet along the back, and a plurality of portions between the pressed plurality of portions are arranged. Further pressing is performed by the pressing member 222. Thereby, the part which is not pressed can be eliminated, and the quality of the booklet subjected to the molding process can be improved.

  In another variation, the forming mechanism 93 has a single pressing member 222. The forming mechanism 93 has moving means for relatively moving the pressing member 222 and the booklet 2 along the spine 2a. Specifically, the pressing member 222 or the gripping mechanism 112 is configured to be movable in parallel with the spine 2a of the booklet 2 to be gripped by a motor via a ball screw mechanism or the like. The electronic control unit 100 repeats a step of pressing any part of the back with the pressing member 222 and a step of relatively moving the pressing member 222 and the booklet 2 along the spine 2a. Each motor of the moving means is controlled. Thus, by pressing a part of the spine 2a sequentially along the spine 2a, the single press member 222 can flatten the wide range of the spine 2a.

  In another modification, the booklet 2 subjected to the saddle stitch folding process is first subjected to a forming process for flattening the spine 2a by the booklet forming apparatus 24, and then subjected to a cutting process such as a fore edge by the cutting apparatus 22. Thus, the booklet forming device 24 and the cutting device 22 are arranged. When the forming process for flattening the spine 2a is performed, the spine 2a is deformed, so that there is a possibility that the paper edge on the fore edge side is displaced. By performing the cutting process after the forming process of the spine 2a in this way, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the aesthetic appearance on the fore edge side due to the forming process, and it is possible to create the booklet 2 with the prepared fore edges.

  2 booklet, 2a back, 10 bookbinding system, 24 booklet forming device, 100 electronic control unit, 112 gripping mechanism, 114 forming discharge unit, 116 abutment mechanism, 118 pressing mechanism, 120 discharge mechanism, 122 rotating shaft, 123 paper sensor , 124 guide plate, 126 crank mechanism, 128 transport plate, 138, 140 shaft, 222 pressing member, 242 cam shaft, 246 cam drive motor.

Claims (5)

A gripping mechanism that grips the front and back of the back of the half-fold booklet;
A pressing mechanism that presses and flattens the back of the gripped center folded booklet, and a discharge mechanism that discharges the center folded booklet with the back flattened from the gripping mechanism so that the back is the top. A molding discharge unit provided such that the mechanism can rotate between a molding position where the back of the half-folded booklet can be pressed and a discharge position where the discharge mechanism can discharge the middle-folded booklet;
A rotation mechanism for rotating the molding discharge unit between the molding position and the discharge position;
A booklet forming apparatus comprising:   2. The booklet molding according to claim 1, wherein the molding discharge unit is provided such that a center of rotation is positioned ahead of a reaction force of a back when the pressing mechanism presses a back of a half-fold booklet. apparatus.   The discharge mechanism is the same when the molding discharge unit is in the discharge position and when the molding discharge unit is in a position rotated within a predetermined angle from the discharge position toward the molding position. The booklet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the booklet forming apparatus is provided so that the center folded booklet can be discharged to a predetermined discharge destination.   The rotation mechanism removes the molding discharge unit after the discharge mechanism starts discharging the middle folded booklet from the gripping mechanism and before the rear end of the middle folded booklet is discharged from the discharge mechanism. The booklet forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the booklet is started to rotate from a position toward the forming position.   The discharge mechanism discharges the center folded booklet horizontally when the molding discharge unit is at the discharge position, and with respect to the horizontal direction as the molding discharge unit rotates from the discharge position toward the molding position. 5. The booklet forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the booklet forming apparatus is provided to discharge the folded booklet obliquely downward at a large angle.

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