JP5494106B2 - Image forming system and recording material post-processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a recording material post-processing apparatus.

Some image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers are connected to a recording material post-processing apparatus for post-processing an image-formed recording material. This recording material post-processing apparatus is generally equipped with, for example, a binding mechanism that binds recording material bundles with staples (U-shaped needles), a punch mechanism that opens punch holes (holes) at predetermined positions of the recording material bundles, and the like. Has been.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a punch unit for making punch holes in a recording material along the recording material conveyance direction, a folding unit for making a crease in the recording material, and a binding process by driving staples into the folds of the recording material bundle A recording material post-processing apparatus in which a stapler and the like for performing recording is disposed is described.

JP 2004-277036 A

Here, in general, in an image forming apparatus, a recording material bundle that has been crimped and bound by, for example, local pressing in the thickness direction in a recording material post-processing apparatus is, for example, a re-recording material or image that is image-formed again. It may be used as a document to be read. In such a case, if the recording material bundle is fed in a state where the crimped binding portion is left as it is, the feeding operation is hindered by the coupling of the recording materials at the crimped binding portion, resulting in poor feeding. there were.
It is an object of the present invention to suppress the occurrence of a paper feed failure when feeding a recording material bundle in which the recording materials are pressure-bonded to each other.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a sheet storage unit that stores a plurality of recording materials, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image on the recorded recording material, and a recording material stack in which a plurality of recording materials on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus are sequentially stacked to form a recording material bundle A recording material post-processing device comprising: a member; and a binding unit that binds the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle to the recording material bundle accumulated in the recording material accumulation member And the binding means of the recording material post-processing device is configured such that the recording material bundle bound by the binding means is stored in the paper storage portion of the image forming apparatus and is transferred from the paper storage portion to the image forming portion. The recording material bundle As binding unit for binding to pass a portion of the arrangement region or the arrangement area of the feeding means, an image forming system and setting the formation position of the binding part.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus includes a recording material take-out member that takes out a recording material from the paper storage unit, and a recording that is taken out from the paper storage unit by the recording material take-out member. The binding means of the recording material post-processing device includes the binding member that binds the recording material bundle, and the recording material bundle bound by the binding means is the binding member of the recording material post-processing device. When the sheet is stored in the sheet storage unit of the image forming apparatus and fed from the sheet storage unit toward the image forming unit, the recording material take-out member and the separating member are arranged in the arrangement region or each of the arrangement regions. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is formed at a position passing through a part of the image forming system.
The invention according to claim 3 is configured such that the binding means moves in a direction orthogonal to the recording material loading direction to the recording material stacking member and stops at the position where the binding portion is formed. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein:

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, and a plurality of recording materials on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus are sequentially accumulated to form a recording material bundle. A recording material stacking member to be formed; and binding means for binding the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle to the recording material stack stacked on the recording material stacking member. The recording material post-processing device and a document storage unit that stores the document are fed, and the document stored in the document storage unit is fed and fed by a document feeding unit that feeds the document from the document storage unit. An image reading device that generates read image data used when the image forming apparatus reads an original and forms an image with the image forming apparatus, and the binding means of the recording material post-processing device is the binding means. The bound recording material bundle is the image. A binding unit that binds the recording material bundle passes through the arrangement area of the document feeding unit or a part of the arrangement area when being accommodated in the document accommodation unit of the reading apparatus and fed from the document accommodation unit. As described above, the image forming system is characterized in that the formation position of the binding portion is set.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet storage unit that stores a plurality of recording materials, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit. From an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on the recorded recording material, a recording material carry-in unit into which a recording material on which an image has been formed is carried, and a plurality of recording materials carried from the recording material carry-in unit Are stacked in order to form a recording material bundle, and the recording material bundle is accumulated on the recording material stacking member by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle to the recording material bundle. A binding unit that binds the material bundle, and the binding unit stores the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit in the paper storage unit of the image forming apparatus and transfers the recording material bundle from the paper storage unit to the image forming unit. The recording material bundle As Jill binding portion passes through the portion of the arrangement region or the arrangement area of the paper feed unit, a recording material post-processing device, characterized by setting the formation position of the binding part.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the paper feeding unit of the image forming apparatus includes a recording material takeout member that takes out a recording material from the paper storage portion, and a recording that is taken out from the paper storage portion by the recording material takeout member. The binding means for binding the recording material bundle, and the recording material bundle bound by the binding means accommodates the paper in the image forming apparatus. A position that passes through a part of each of the recording material take-out member and the separating member or a part of each of the placement regions when being fed into the image forming unit from the paper storage unit. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording material post-processing apparatus is formed as follows.
The invention according to claim 7 is configured such that the binding means moves in a direction orthogonal to a recording material carry-in direction to the recording material stacking member and stops at the position where the binding portion is formed. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording material post-processing apparatus is provided.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material, and a document storage unit that stores a document, and the document storage unit that supplies the document from the document storage unit. An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit that feeds a document stored in the image forming unit, reads the supplied document, and generates read image data that is used when the image forming unit forms an image. A recording material carry-in unit into which the recording material on which an image is formed in the image forming unit and a plurality of recording materials carried in from the recording material carry-in unit are sequentially accumulated to form a recording material bundle. A recording material accumulating member; and a binding unit that binds the recording material bundle to the recording material bundle accumulated on the recording material accumulating member by applying pressure from a thickness direction of the recording material bundle. The means is before being bound by the binding means. When the recording material bundle is stored in the document storage unit of the image reading unit in the image forming apparatus and fed from the document storage unit, a binding unit that binds the recording material bundle is an arrangement area of the document feeding unit. The recording material post-processing apparatus is characterized in that the formation position of the binding portion is set so as to pass through the inside or a part of the arrangement area.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when feeding the recording material bundle in which the recording materials are pressure-bonded to each other, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a paper feeding failure as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. it can.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of paper feed defects as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the setting according to the arrangement area of the sheet feeding unit for the portion where the binding unit executes the binding process, as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the invention of claim 4, when feeding an original in which the recording materials are pressure-bonded to each other in the image reading apparatus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of feeding failure as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. be able to.

According to the invention of claim 5, when feeding the recording material bundle in which the recording materials are pressure-bonded to each other, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of feeding failure as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. it can.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the occurrence of paper feed defects as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the setting according to the arrangement area of the paper feeding unit for the portion where the binding unit executes the binding process as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when feeding an original in which the recording materials are pressure-bonded to each other in the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus, a paper feeding failure occurs as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. Can be suppressed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the state in which the paper sent out from the punch mechanism part is integrated | stacked on a compilation tray. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a binding mechanism performs a binding process on an end of a sheet bundle whose rear end is aligned on a compile tray. It is a figure explaining the structure of a binding mechanism part. It is a figure explaining the binding operation | movement in a binding mechanism part. It is a figure explaining the position on the paper bundle which a binding mechanism part binds a paper bundle with a crimping tooth. FIG. 10 is a further diagram illustrating a position on the sheet bundle where the binding mechanism unit binds the sheet bundle with the crimping teeth. It is a figure explaining a mode that a feed roll and a retard roll forcibly peel one sheet at a time. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a leading end of a sheet bundle is conveyed to an arrangement position of a carry-out roll by a slide moving unit of a compile tray. It is a figure explaining the state which carries out the paper bundle to which the carrying-out roll and the movable roll were bound from the compilation tray.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<Description of Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. An image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus 1 having, for example, an electrophotographic printing function and a copying function, and a recording material (hereinafter referred to as “paper”) after image formation by the image forming apparatus 1. And a post-processing device 2 as an example of a recording material post-processing device that performs post-processing such as binding.

<Description of Image Forming Apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 1 is configured by a so-called “tandem method”, and is used when an image is formed from an image forming unit 10 that forms an image based on each color image data, and an image is formed by the image forming unit 10. An image reading unit 11 as an example of an image reading device (image reading unit) that generates read image data, a paper supply unit 12 that supplies paper to the image forming unit 10, and a main control unit that controls the operation of the entire image forming device 1. 13 is provided.
The image forming unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, four image forming units 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 100K (hereinafter also referred to as “image forming unit 100”) arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals. And a laser exposure unit 101 that exposes the photosensitive drum 107 provided in each image forming unit 100. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 102 onto which each color toner image formed by each image forming unit 100 is transferred in a multiple manner, and each color toner image formed by each image forming unit 100 is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 102 (primary transfer). ) Primary transfer roll 103, each color toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 is collectively transferred (secondary transfer) to the recording material (paper), secondary transfer roll 104, each color transferred toner image is transferred to the paper A fixing unit 105 for fixing on the top is provided.

  In each image forming unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1, the charging process to the photosensitive drum 107, the electrostatic latent image forming process on the photosensitive drum 107 by the scanning exposure from the laser exposure unit 101, and the photosensitive drum 107 are formed. Each color toner image is formed through the development process of each color toner on the electrostatic latent image. Each color toner image formed on each image forming unit 100 is sequentially electrostatically transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 102 by the primary transfer roll 103. Each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is conveyed toward an area where the secondary transfer roll 104 is disposed as the intermediate transfer belt 102 moves.

  The sheet supply unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a sheet storage unit 110A that stores a plurality of sheets P1 to P3 (hereinafter also collectively referred to as “sheet P” and “sheet bundle P”) having different sizes and types. ~ 110C. In the paper supply unit 12, for example, when the paper P1 is designated by the user, under the control of the main control unit 13, from the paper storage unit 110A by a pickup roll 111 which is an example of a paper feeding unit and a recording material take-out member. The paper P1 is taken out and is fed one by one by a feed roll 112 and a retard roll 113, which are examples of a paper feed unit and a separating member arranged on the downstream side of the pickup roll 111 in the paper conveyance direction. Then, the paper P is transported one by one to the registration roll 115 in the image forming unit 10 by the transport roll 114 arranged along the paper transport path (broken line in FIG. 1). The same applies to the case where the sheets P2 and P3 are designated.

In the image forming unit 10, the paper P is directed from the registration roll 115 toward the secondary transfer roll 104 in accordance with the timing at which each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 102 is conveyed to the arrangement position of the secondary transfer roll 104. Supplied. As a result, the toner images of the respective colors are collectively electrostatically transferred (secondary transfer) onto the paper P by the action of the transfer electric field formed by the secondary transfer roll 104.
Thereafter, the paper P onto which the color toner images are secondarily transferred is peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 102 and conveyed to the fixing unit 105. In the fixing unit 105, each color toner image is fixed on the paper P by a fixing process using heat and pressure, and an image is formed. The paper P on which the color image is formed is discharged from the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 by the transport roll 116 and is carried into the post-processing device 2 connected to the image forming apparatus 1.
Note that the image forming unit 10, the image reading unit 11, the paper supply unit 12, and other functional units as necessary constitute an image forming functional unit.

<Description of post-processing apparatus>
The post-processing device 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1 and performs post-processing such as punching and binding on the paper P on which the image is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 2 is connected to the paper discharge unit T of the image forming apparatus 1, and transport unit 21, which is an example of a recording material carry-in unit that sequentially carries the paper P on which images have been formed, A finisher unit 22 that performs post-processing on the paper P carried from the transport unit 21 and a paper processing control unit 24 that controls each mechanism unit of the post-processing device 2 are provided. The sheet processing control unit 24 is connected to the main control unit 13 in the image forming apparatus 1 through a signal line (not shown), and transmits and receives control signals and the like to each other. 1 shows the configuration in which the sheet processing control unit 24 is provided in the casing of the finisher unit 22, the paper processing control unit 24 may be provided in the casing of the image forming apparatus 1. Good. Further, the main control unit 13 of the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to have the control function of the paper processing control unit 24.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the post-processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport unit 21 of the post-processing apparatus 2 includes a plurality of transport rolls 211 that transport the paper P after the image formation by the image forming apparatus 1 toward the finisher unit 22. Yes.
Further, the finisher unit 22 is a punch mechanism unit 40 as an example of a punching means for punching (punching) such as 2 holes or 4 holes, and a recording for generating a sheet bundle P by accumulating a predetermined number of sheets P. A compile tray 60 as an example of a material stacking member, a binding mechanism unit 50 as an example of a binding unit that executes binding (edge binding) at an end of the sheet bundle P, a sheet bundle P that holds the sheet bundle P, and holds the sheet bundle P A stacker tray 23 that moves up and down according to the amount is provided.
Further, the finisher unit 22 carries out unloading when the sheets P are stacked on the compilation tray 60 with the unloading roll 61 and the rotation shaft 62a constituting the unloading member for unloading the sheet bundle P stacked on the compilation tray 60 as the movement center. A movable roll 62 is provided that constitutes a carry-out member that moves to a position retracted from the roll 61 and moves to a position where the carry-out roll 61 is pressed when the paper P is carried out from the compilation tray 60.

<Description of post-processing>
Subsequently, post-processing for the paper P performed by the post-processing apparatus 2 will be described.
In the post-processing device 2, the main control unit 13 outputs to the paper processing control unit 24 a control signal for executing post-processing on the paper P after the image is formed by the image forming device 1. Various post-processing for the paper P is executed. Here, a case will be described in which the main control unit 13 outputs a control signal for executing the binding process for the paper P to the paper processing control unit 24.
First, the sheet P after the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1 is carried from the image forming apparatus 1 toward the transport unit 21 of the post-processing apparatus 2. In the transport unit 21, the paper P from the image forming apparatus 1 is sent to the finisher unit 22 by the transport roll 211 disposed along the paper transport path (broken line in FIG. 2).
When the paper P is sent to the finisher unit 22, the punch mechanism unit 40 has one or more predetermined ones for each of the paper P when there is a control signal for instructing a punching process from the paper processing control unit 24. Drill holes in the position. Then, the finisher unit 22 conveys the paper P, which has been punched by the punch mechanism unit 40, toward the compilation tray 60.
On the other hand, when there is no control signal for instructing punching processing from the paper processing control unit 24, punching processing by the punch mechanism unit 40 is not performed, and the paper P passes through the punch mechanism unit 40 as it is, and the compile tray It is conveyed toward 60.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheets P sent out from the punch mechanism unit 40 are stacked on the compile tray 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the finisher unit 22 includes transport rollers 44 and 45 that transport the paper P that has passed through the punch mechanism 40 toward the stacker tray 23 side downstream of the punch mechanism 40 in the paper transport direction. Is arranged. The conveyance rolls 44 and 45 are set in a stopped state while the punching mechanism unit 40 is performing the hole punching process, and when the hole punching process in the punch mechanism unit 40 is completed, the conveyance operation is started. When the feeding of the paper P by the transport rolls 44 and 45 is started, the leading end A of the paper P carried out from the punch mechanism unit 40 (the leading end in the transporting direction of the paper P: the same applies hereinafter) is vertical due to gravity. Head down. At that time, since each sheet P has rigidity (so-called “koshi”), first, the leading end A of the sheet P is placed on the compile tray 60 arranged at a position (vertically below) where the sheet P falls. In this case, the sheet P is supported in an area on the front side in the conveyance direction of the paper P (on the carry-out roll 61 side).
Here, the compile tray 60 of the present embodiment is disposed in a state where the front side in the transport direction of the paper P (the unloading roll 61 side) is inclined about 35 ° upward with respect to the horizontal plane. Thereby, the drop h between the paper discharge position of the transport roll 45 and the front end of the compilation tray 60 in the paper transport direction is small, and the distance at which the leading end A of the paper P falls in the vertical direction is short. Therefore, when the sheets P are sequentially stacked on the compilation tray 60, the posture of the sheets P is suppressed from being greatly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. Furthermore, since the compile tray 60 is disposed at a position where the paper P is unloaded from the punch mechanism 40 and dropped, the leading end A of the paper P is held on the transport roll 45 on the compile tray 60. Supported. As a result, the variation in the accumulation position on the compilation tray 60 with respect to the paper P can be suppressed.

After the leading end A of the paper P is supported by the compile tray 60, the rear end B of the paper P (the rear end in the transport direction of the paper P: hereinafter the same) passes through the transport roll 45. Then, following the leading edge A of the paper P, the trailing edge B of the paper P falls vertically downward. At that time, the trailing edge B of the paper P falls downward with the leading edge A of the paper P supported by the compilation tray 60. Therefore, the sheets P are stacked on the compile tray 60 while suppressing variations in position in the width direction. The “width direction” of the paper P means a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P. The same applies hereinafter.
Thereafter, when the entire sheet P is placed on the compilation tray 60, the sheet P slides and drops toward the positioning stopper 60 a provided at the end of the compilation tray 60 due to the inclination angle provided on the compilation tray 60. Further, in the finisher unit 22 of the present embodiment, in addition to the inclination angle provided in the compile tray 60, the paper P is directed toward the positioning stopper 60a of the compile tray 60 below the paper carry-out portion of the punch mechanism portion 40. A rotating paddle 63 is arranged for alignment. Therefore, the rear end B of the paper P is sent toward the positioning stopper 60 a by the paddle 63 while falling toward the compilation tray 60. As a result, a sheet bundle P in a state where the rear end B of the sheet P is aligned by the positioning stopper 60a is formed on the compilation tray 60.

Further, at both ends in the width direction of the compile tray 60, a paper width position alignment mechanism 65 that aligns the width direction position of the sheet bundle P according to the size of the sheet P to be conveyed is provided. Thereby, when the sheets P are sequentially stacked on the compilation tray 60, the positions in the width direction of the sheets P (sheet bundle P) are also aligned.
On the other hand, when the paper P is sent out from the transport roll 45 located on the downstream side of the punch mechanism section 40, the movable roll 62 has moved to a position retracted from the carry-out roll 61. Thereby, the feeding of the paper P from the transport roll 45 to the compilation tray 60 is not hindered by the movable roll 62.

<Description of binding processing>
When a predetermined number of sheets P are accumulated on the compile tray 60 and the sheet bundle P is formed, a binding (edge binding) process is performed on the end of the sheet bundle P by the binding mechanism unit 50.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the binding mechanism unit 50 performs a binding (end binding) process on the end portion (rear end portion B) of the sheet bundle P aligned on the compile tray 60. The binding mechanism unit 50 according to the present embodiment is configured to crimp (press) the teeth (crimping teeth) formed in the concavo-convex shape so as to mesh with each other from the vertical direction (thickness direction) to the sheet bundle P. have. Thereby, each of the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle P is locally deformed, and the sheet bundle P is bound by the meshing of the sheets P at the deformed portions (binding portion, crimp binding portion). The binding mechanism unit 50 having such a configuration does not require staples (U-shaped needles). Therefore, it is not necessary to replenish staples that are consumables in the binding mechanism unit 50. In addition, it is easy to separate the sheets P from the bound sheet bundle P in a separated manner as compared with the case of using staples. Further, since the bulk due to the staple portion does not occur, even when a plurality of paper bundles P are stacked, the bulk is kept low. In addition, it can be pulverized as it is, eliminating the trouble of removing the staples at that time.

<Description of binding mechanism>
Next, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the binding mechanism unit 50. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the sheet bundle P is received, FIG. 5B shows a state in which the sheet bundle P is bound, and FIG. 5C shows a pressure-bonding tooth formed in the concavo-convex shape of the binding mechanism unit 50. Yes.
First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the binding mechanism unit 50 includes a lower lever 52 and an upper lever 53 that are swingably supported by a rotation center shaft (fulcrum) 51, a lower lever 52, The upper lever 53 includes a crimping tooth 54 disposed at an end (operation point) on the compile tray 60 side of each upper lever 53. Further, the binding mechanism unit 50 includes a spring member 55 that exerts a pressing force that separates the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 on the crimping tooth 54 side of the rotation center shaft 51, and the crimping tooth of the rotation center shaft 51. On the side opposite to the 54 side, there is provided a cam 57 (power point) for moving the crimping tooth 54 disposed on each of the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 by moving around the rotation shaft 56.

As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the cam 57 is rotated by a predetermined angle by a driving force from a driving motor (not shown) connected to the rotating shaft 56, thereby pressing the rotating central shaft 51. The lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 are pushed apart on the side opposite to the tooth 54 side. Thereby, the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 cause the crimping teeth 54 to be crimped. On the other hand, when the cam 57 rotates from the state in which the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 are spread apart from each other, the pressing force from the spring member 55 causes the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 to move away from the crimping teeth 54 (FIG. 5 ( It returns to the state shown in a).
As shown in FIG. 5C, the crimping tooth 54 is configured by regularly arranging, for example, a plurality of triangular protrusions (teeth) on both sides of the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53. The protrusions on the 52 side and the upper lever 53 side are set so as to mesh with each other. That is, when the crimping teeth 54 are crimped, the protrusions on the upper lever 53 side are arranged so as to be positioned between the protrusions on the lower lever 52 side. Accordingly, the sheet bundle P is locally deformed by being sandwiched between the protrusion on the upper lever 53 side and the protrusion on the lower lever 52 side, and the sheet bundle P is meshed with each other at the deformed portion (crimp binding portion). The entire P is bound.
The shape of the tooth of the crimping tooth 54 may be any shape as long as the lower lever 52 side and the upper lever 53 side are engaged with each other so that local deformation can be formed on the paper P. It may be a thing.

<Description of the binding operation of the binding mechanism>
Next, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the binding operation in the binding mechanism unit 50. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the sheets P from the first page to the last page constituting the sheet bundle P from the image forming apparatus 1 are sequentially stacked on the compilation tray 60, the cam 57 (see FIG. 5 above). ) Rotates, and the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 move so as to crimp the crimping tooth 54. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6B, the crimping tooth 54 crimps the predetermined position of the end of the sheet bundle P, forms the crimped binding portion S, and binds the sheet bundle P (see FIG. 6). 4). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6C, the cam 57 rotates and the lower lever 52 and the upper lever 53 move so as to separate the crimping teeth 54.
As described above, the binding mechanism unit 50 according to the present embodiment locally deforms each of the papers P constituting the paper bundle P, and the paper bundles are engaged with each other at the deformed portion (crimp binding part S). Bind P.

<Description of the binding position by the binding mechanism>
Here, in the post-processing device 2 of the present embodiment, the position on the sheet bundle P where the binding mechanism section 50 binds the sheet bundle P with the crimping teeth 54 (position of the crimp binding section S) is the binding mechanism section 50. When the sheet bundle P that has been subjected to the binding process is accommodated in the sheet accommodating units 110A to 110C provided in the sheet supplying unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1, the sheet feeding unit and the separating member provided in the sheet supplying unit 12 Is set so as to overlap with the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 constituting the. Here, the “position” refers to a position in a direction (width direction of the paper P, y direction in the subsequent stage FIGS. 7 and 8) orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P (incoming direction to the compilation tray 60) ( The same applies hereinafter.)

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the position on the sheet bundle P where the binding mechanism section 50 binds the sheet bundle P by the crimping teeth 54, and is a view of the compile tray 60 from above (from the punch mechanism section 40 side). is there.
The binding mechanism unit 50 is configured to be movable along the positioning stopper 60 a of the compilation tray 60. Here, the “direction along the positioning stopper 60 a” is a direction (width direction of the paper P: y direction) orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper P, and the direction in which the paper P is carried into the compilation tray 60 is the paper P In the transport direction (x direction). 7, the binding mechanism unit 50 binds two points (S1 position and S2 position in FIG. 7) along the y direction on the rear end B side of the sheet bundle P. In the portion where the binding mechanism unit 50 performs the binding process on the sheet bundle P (binding unit: S1 position and S2 position), the sheet supply unit 12 includes the sheet bundle P that is bound by the binding mechanism unit 50. When the sheets are accommodated in the sheet accommodating portions 110A to 110C, they are set so as to overlap all or part of the arrangement region of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 provided in the sheet supply portion 12.

The binding mechanism unit 50 may be configured to be fixedly disposed at positions along the positioning stopper 60a of the compile tray 60 (for example, the S1 position and the S2 position in FIG. 7). Further, the binding mechanism unit 50 may be fixedly arranged, and the compile tray 60 may be configured to be movable along the positioning stopper 60a.
In the configuration in which the binding mechanism unit 50 or the compile tray 60 can be moved along the positioning stopper 60a, the binding mechanism unit 50 moves to the S1 position and the S2 position in FIG. 7 during the binding process, and stops to perform the binding process. . In this way, by arranging the binding mechanism unit 50 or the compile tray 60 to be movable along the positioning stopper 60a, the arrangement region of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 installed in the paper supply unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided. Is changed, it becomes easy to change the setting of the position where the binding process is executed in accordance with the changed arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113.

FIG. 8 is a further diagram illustrating a position on the sheet bundle P where the binding mechanism unit 50 binds the sheet bundle P with the crimping teeth 54, and the sheet bundle P bound by the binding mechanism unit 50 is stored in the sheet. The state accommodated in the section 110A is viewed from above the sheet accommodating section 110A.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the sheet bundle P bound by the binding mechanism unit 50 is stored in the sheet storage unit 110A, the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle P are picked up from the sheet storage unit 110A by the pickup roll 111. The sheet is taken out in the K direction in the figure and is rolled one by one by the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. In the present embodiment, when the paper P is conveyed from the paper storage unit 110A, all or a part of the movement trajectory Tr of the crimp binding portion S of the paper bundle P set at the S1 position and the S2 position is It is set so as to overlap the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. That is, all or a part of the crimping binding portion S (S1 position and S2 position) of the paper bundle P is fed when the paper P constituting the paper bundle P accommodated in the paper accommodating portion 110A is conveyed. In addition, the position is set to a position that passes through the arrangement area of the retard roll 113 (the formation position of the binding portion). The same applies when the paper P is stored in the paper storage units 110B and 110C.
In FIG. 8 as viewed from above the sheet storage portion 110 </ b> A here, the arrangement area of the retard roll 113 overlaps with the arrangement area of the feed roll 112, and the retard roll 113 is actually located behind the feed roll 112. Yes. However, in FIG. 8, for the sake of convenience, the retard roll 113 and the feed roll 112 are described in the same manner in order to clarify the arrangement area of the retard roll 113.

As described above, the binding mechanism unit 50 according to the present embodiment presses the pressure-bonding teeth 54 formed in the concavo-convex shape so as to mesh with each other from the sheet bundle P in the thickness direction. Thereby, each of the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle P is locally deformed, and the sheet bundle P is bound by the meshing of the sheets P at the deformed portion (crimp binding portion S). Thus, in the binding mechanism unit 50 of the present embodiment, for example, a binding member such as a staple (U-shaped needle) is not used. Therefore, since it is difficult for the user to recognize that the sheet bundle P is bound, the sheet bundle P is bound when the user uses the back surface of the sheet bundle P again as the image forming sheet P, for example. May be stored in the sheet storage portions 110A to 110C as they are. This may occur in the same manner even when the sheet bundle P is a document to be copied and placed in the document storage section 120 (see FIG. 1 above) of the image reading section 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. In such a case, the crimped binding portion S of the sheet bundle P obstructs the sheet feeding for each sheet P, and easily causes a sheet feeding failure.
However, on the other hand, the binding of the sheet bundle P by the locally deformed portion (bonding and binding portion S) of each sheet P is less than the case where a binding member such as a staple is used. It also has a characteristic that it can be removed by applying a force in the shearing direction that is shifted parallel to each other.

  Therefore, in the post-processing device 2 of the present embodiment, the binding mechanism unit 50 performs the binding process on the crimping binding unit S (S1 position and S2 position) where the binding mechanism unit 50 performs the binding process on the sheet bundle P. When the sheet bundle P is stored in the sheet storage units 110 </ b> A to 110 </ b> C provided in the sheet supply unit 12, it is set to a position that overlaps the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 provided in the sheet supply unit 12. doing. As a result, the crimped binding portion S (S1 position and S2 position) of the sheet bundle P is allowed to pass through the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113, and is leveled by the pressing force from the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. At the same time, a force in the shearing direction is applied by the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 so as to shift the overlapping paper surfaces in the crimping binding portion S in parallel with each other. Thereby, even when the sheet bundle P bound by the crimping binding portion S is accommodated in the sheet accommodating portions 110A to 110C, the bound sheet bundle P is fed for each sheet P by the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. It is forcibly peeled to realize stable conveyance one by one, thereby reducing the occurrence of paper feed defects.

<Description of the action applied to the sheet bundle by the feed roll and the retard roll>
In the paper supply unit 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, an operation that the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 add to the paper bundle P bound by the pressure binding part S will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining how the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 forcibly separate the paper P one by one. As shown in FIG. 9A, for example, even when the sheet bundle P bound by the crimping binding portion S is accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion 110A, the pickup roll 111 rotates, and the maximum amount of the sheet bundle P is detected. The take-out operation (x direction) for the paper P located in the upper part from the paper storage unit 110A is performed. However, when the sheet bundle P is bound by the crimping binding portion S, the entire sheet bundle P is taken out from the sheet storage portion 110A by the binding force of the crimping binding portion S as shown in FIG. (X direction), it is conveyed to the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113.

When the entire sheet bundle P is conveyed to the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113, the crimped binding portion S of the sheet bundle P is in a flatter state from the deformed state by the pressing force from the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. To be leveled. As a result, the meshing between the sheets P in the crimping binding portion S is weakened, and the coupling force between the sheets P is reduced.
Further, the retard roll 113 rotates with a predetermined torque in a direction (−x direction) for pulling back the sheet bundle P via a torque limiter (not shown) with respect to the sheet bundle P conveyed by the feed roll 112. Accordingly, the feed roll 112 applies a transport force in the transport direction (x direction) to the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle P picked up by the pickup roll 111, but the retard roll 113 A pulling back force in the direction opposite to the transport direction (−x direction) is applied to the lowermost sheet P of the bundle P. For this reason, forces in opposite directions due to the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 act directly on the crimped binding portion S. As a result, a force (shearing force) F in the shearing direction that shifts the paper surface parallel to each other is applied to the crimped binding portion S of the sheet bundle P. In particular, the shearing force F between the uppermost sheet P to which the force from the feed roll 112 that attempts to convey the sheet P with a conveying force stronger than that of the retard roll 113 and the sheet P in contact with the uppermost sheet P works most strongly. Thus, the uppermost sheet P is picked up and conveyed by the feed roll 112.

As described above, in the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113, the press-bonding portion S is leveled from the deformed state to the flatter state by the pressing force from the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. As a result, the meshing between the sheets P in the crimping binding portion S is weakened, and the coupling force between the sheets P is reduced. In addition, the shearing force F acts relatively strongly between the uppermost sheet P and the sheet P in contact with the uppermost sheet P by the forces in the opposite directions due to the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113. As a result, the uppermost paper P is forcibly separated, and the paper P is conveyed one by one by the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113.
Further, here, the case where the sheet bundle P is accommodated as it is has been described. However, even when the separated sheet is accommodated manually or the like, there are not a few locally deformed portions that are meshed with each other. Thus, it goes without saying that it is possible to prevent the deformed portion from being caught again and causing a paper feed failure.

<Explanation of unloading paper bundle>
Next, an operation after the sheet bundle P is bound by the binding mechanism unit 50 in the compile tray 60 of the post-processing device 2 will be described.
When the binding process for the sheet bundle P by the binding mechanism unit 50 is completed, the slide moving unit 60 b provided on the compilation tray 60 moves in the direction of the carry-out roll 61. That is, as shown in FIG. 7 described above, the slide moving unit 60 b provided on the compilation tray 60 moves in the direction of the broken line arrow (−x direction), and the leading end A of the sheet bundle P of the carry-out roll 61 is moved. Transport until it reaches the placement position. As a result, the sheet bundle P that has been subjected to the binding process is conveyed at the leading end A to the position where the carry-out roll 61 is disposed.
Here, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the leading end A of the sheet bundle P is conveyed to the arrangement position of the carry-out roll 61 by the slide moving unit 60b of the compilation tray 60. As shown in FIG. 10, as the leading end A of the sheet bundle P is transported to the disposition position of the carry-out roll 61, the movable roll 62 is in pressure contact with the carry-out roll 61 about the rotation shaft 62a. Move up. Then, the carry-out roll 61 and the movable roll 62 start rotating, and the end-bound paper bundle P is conveyed from the compilation tray 60 toward the stacker tray 23. In this case, the carry-out roll 61 and the movable roll 62 function as a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet bundle P to the stacker tray 23.

  Next, FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the sheet bundle P to which the carry-out roll 61 and the movable roll 62 are bound is carried out from the compilation tray 60. As shown in FIG. 11, the edge-bound paper bundle P is conveyed by the carry-out roll 61 and the movable roll 62 and is stacked on the stacker tray 23. The stacker tray 23 is configured to move downward in accordance with the stacking amount of the sheet bundle P. By moving in this way, the load capacity of the stacker tray 23 is increased.

  Note that when the control signal indicating that the post-processing for the paper P is executed is not output from the main control unit 13, the post-processing device 2 performs the post-processing for the paper P after the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet P is stacked on the stacker tray 23 as it is without being executed. Therefore, in the stacker tray 23, there may be a case where the sheets P that are mixed in the edge-bound sheet bundle P and not subjected to post-processing are stacked.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the binding mechanism section 50 performs the binding process on the sheet bundle P, and the sheet binding P that is bound by the binding mechanism section 50 is the crimped binding section S (position S1 and S2). The configuration has been described in which it is set to a position that overlaps the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 provided in the paper supply unit 12 when stored in the paper storage units 110 </ b> A to 110 </ b> C provided in the paper supply unit 12. Instead of or in addition to such a configuration, the sheet bundle P in which the binding portion S (S1 position and S2 position) by the binding mechanism portion 50 is bound by the binding mechanism portion 50 is image-formed. A feed roll 122 and a retard roll, which are an example of a document feeding unit that feeds from a document storage unit 120 provided in the image reading unit 11 when installed in the image reading unit 11 (see FIG. 1) of the apparatus 1. You may set to the position which overlaps 123 arrangement | positioning area | regions.

  In addition, the binding mechanism unit 50 includes the crimp binding unit S (S1 position and S2 position) in which the binding process is performed on the sheet bundle P, and the sheet supply unit 12 includes the sheet bundle P that is bound by the binding mechanism unit 50. Instead of or in addition to the configuration of setting the position where the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 are arranged in the paper supply unit 12 when being stored in the paper storage units 110A to 110C, When the sheet bundle P is accommodated in the sheet accommodating portions 110A to 110C, the crimp binding portion S (S1 position and S2 position) by the binding mechanism portion 50 is arranged with the arrangement area of the pickup roll 111 provided in the sheet supply portion 12 You may set to the overlapping position.

The pick-up roll 111 arranged on the movement locus Tr (see FIG. 8) of the crimping binding portion S (S1 position and S2 position) also presses the sheet bundle P when taking out the sheet P from the sheet storage portions 110A to 110C. Since a pressing force is applied to the binding portion S, the crimped binding portion S is leveled from a deformed state to a flatter state. Furthermore, such a pickup roll 111 also applies a conveying force in the conveying direction (x direction) to the uppermost sheet P of the sheet bundle P, and at that time, the sheet P in contact with the uppermost sheet P. A shearing force F is applied between them. Thereby, like the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113, the pickup roll 111 functions to forcibly peel off the uppermost paper P.
In particular, by setting the crimp binding portion (S1 position and S2 position) by the binding mechanism unit 50 to a position that overlaps both the arrangement area of the feed roll 112 and the retard roll 113 and the arrangement area of the pickup roll 111, both The peeling action from can be obtained. This further reduces the occurrence of paper feed defects.

  Further, instead of the retard roll 113, a pad-shaped separating member may be used as the sheet feeding means.

  As described above, in the post-processing device 2 of the present embodiment, the position on the sheet bundle P where the binding mechanism unit 50 binds the sheet bundle P with the crimping teeth 54 (the position of the crimped binding unit S) is the binding. Paper feeding means provided in the paper supply unit 12 and the image reading unit 11 when the paper bundle P bound by the mechanism unit 50 is accommodated in the paper supply unit 12 and the image reading unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. It is set to overlap with the arrangement area. Thereby, even when the sheet bundle P bound by the crimping binding portion S is fed, the occurrence of feeding failure is reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Post-processing apparatus, 10 ... Image forming part, 11 ... Image reading part, 12 ... Paper supply part, 13 ... Main control part, 21 ... Transport unit, 22 ... Finisher unit, 23 ... Staccato Lay, 40 ... punch mechanism, 50 ... binding mechanism, 60 ... compilation tray, 61 ... carry-out roll, 62 ... movable roll, 110A to 110C ... paper storage unit, 111 ... pickup roll, 112 ... feed roll, 113 ... retard roll

Claims (8)

An image is formed on a sheet storage unit that stores a plurality of recording materials, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit, and a recording material that is fed from the sheet storage unit by the sheet feeding unit An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit;
A recording material stacking member in which a plurality of recording materials on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus are sequentially stacked to form a recording material bundle, and the recording material stack stacked on the recording material stacking member, A recording material post-processing device having binding means for binding the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle,
The binding unit of the recording material post-processing device is configured to supply the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit to the image forming unit from the sheet storage unit stored in the sheet storage unit of the image forming apparatus. The forming position of the binding portion is set so that the binding portion for binding the recording material bundle passes through the placement area of the paper feeding unit or a part of the placement area when paper is printed. Image forming system. The sheet feeding means of the image forming apparatus includes a recording material takeout member that takes out a recording material from the paper storage portion, and a scooping member that rolls out the recording material taken out from the paper storage portion by the recording material takeout member one by one And consist of
The binding unit of the recording material post-processing device includes the binding unit that binds the recording material bundle, and the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit is stored in the sheet storage unit of the image forming apparatus. When the sheet is fed from the storage unit toward the image forming unit, the recording material take-out member and the scooping member are formed in the arrangement regions of the recording material take-out member and the separating member or at positions passing through a part of the arrangement regions. The image forming system according to claim 1.   3. The binding device according to claim 2, wherein the binding unit is configured to move in a direction orthogonal to a recording material carry-in direction to the recording material accumulating member and stop at the position where the binding portion is formed. The image forming system described. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material;
A recording material stacking member in which a plurality of recording materials on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus are sequentially stacked to form a recording material bundle, and the recording material stack stacked on the recording material stacking member, A recording material post-processing device having binding means for binding the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle;
The image has a document storage unit for storing a document, and the document stored in the document storage unit is fed by a document feeding unit that feeds the document from the document storage unit, and the fed document is read to read the image An image reading device that generates read image data used when an image is formed by the forming device,
The binding unit of the recording material post-processing device is configured to perform the recording when the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit is stored in the document storage unit of the image reading device and fed from the document storage unit. An image forming system, wherein a binding position of the binding portion is set so that a binding portion for binding the recording material bundle passes through an arrangement area of the document feeding unit or a part of the arrangement area. An image is formed on a sheet storage unit that stores a plurality of recording materials, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the recording material from the sheet storage unit, and a recording material that is fed from the sheet storage unit by the sheet feeding unit A recording material loading unit into which a recording material on which an image is formed is loaded from an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit;
A recording material accumulating member in which a plurality of recording materials carried in from the recording material carry-in section are sequentially accumulated to form a recording material bundle;
Binding means for binding the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle to the recording material bundle accumulated in the recording material accumulation member;
When the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit is stored in the paper storage unit of the image forming apparatus and fed from the paper storage unit toward the image forming unit, the binding unit An apparatus for post-processing a recording material, wherein a binding position of the binding portion is set so that a binding portion for binding the recording material bundle passes through an arrangement area of the paper feeding unit or a part of the arrangement area. The sheet feeding means of the image forming apparatus includes a recording material takeout member that takes out a recording material from the paper storage portion, and a scooping member that rolls out the recording material taken out from the paper storage portion by the recording material takeout member one by one And consist of
The binding means binds the binding portion for binding the recording material bundle, and the recording material bundle bound by the binding means is accommodated in the paper accommodating portion of the image forming apparatus, from the paper accommodating portion to the image forming portion. 6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the recording material take-out member and the separating member are formed in positions where the recording material take-out member and the separating member are disposed, or at positions passing through a part of each of the placement regions. Recording material post-processing device.   7. The binding means is configured to move in a direction orthogonal to a recording material carry-in direction to the recording material accumulating member and stop at the position where the binding portion is formed. The recording material post-processing apparatus as described. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material and a document storage unit that stores a document, and the document stored in the document storage unit is fed by a document feeding unit that feeds the document from the document storage unit Then, an image is read from the image forming unit having an image reading unit that reads the supplied document and generates read image data used when the image forming unit forms an image. A recording material carrying-in part into which the formed recording material is carried in;
A recording material accumulating member in which a plurality of recording materials carried in from the recording material carry-in section are sequentially accumulated to form a recording material bundle;
Binding means for binding the recording material bundle by applying pressure from the thickness direction of the recording material bundle to the recording material bundle accumulated in the recording material accumulation member;
The binding unit is configured to record the recording material bundle when the recording material bundle bound by the binding unit is stored in the document storage unit of the image reading unit in the image forming apparatus and fed from the document storage unit. A recording material post-processing apparatus, wherein a binding position of the binding portion is set so that a binding portion for binding a bundle passes through an arrangement area of the document feeding unit or a part of the arrangement area.

Images