JP5617864B2 - Paper processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet processing apparatus that performs a creasing process for adding a crease line to a sheet before folding a sheet on which a toner image is formed is known. By scoring the paper by the scoring process, it is possible to prevent the toner from peeling off at the crease.
In addition, when an image is formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus, a margin may be generated near the outer periphery of the sheet. For this reason, there is known a sheet processing apparatus that performs a top-and-bottom cutting process (hereinafter, simply referred to as “cutting process”) for trimming a blank portion from an image forming portion of a sheet. By cutting off the blank portion, the image formed on the paper can be made to look better.
A sheet processing apparatus that performs both the scoring process and the cutting process is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-347714 A

By the way, the sheet processing apparatus creases the sheet by sandwiching the sheet between the two members in the creasing process. For this reason, the sheet processing apparatus stops the conveyance of the sheet during the creasing process and pinches the sheet.
In addition, the sheet processing apparatus aligns the position of the sheet in the sheet processing apparatus for the purpose of scoring a desired position of the sheet during the creasing process and accurately cutting off the margin of the sheet during the cutting process. It has a function. Here, the sheet processing apparatus stops the conveyance of the sheet for the alignment of the sheet.
When performing various types of processing on a sheet by the sheet processing apparatus, the smaller the number of times the sheet is stopped, the more efficient, but the conventional sheet processing apparatus is at least twice for sheet alignment and scoring processing. Is a configuration that stops the conveyance of the paper, which is inefficient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system that can perform a creasing process and a cutting process on a sheet more efficiently.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a sheet processing apparatus, conveying means for conveying the sheet, a first aligning means for aligning the position of the conveyance direction of the sheet by locked down the sheet,
Second and aligning means, the width direction of the sheet while transporting and creasing unit, the the paper to perform creasing attaching a muscle as a crease without the paper to fold the sheet to align the position of the width direction of the paper Cutting means for cutting a part of
The second aligning unit is positioned upstream of the cutting unit and in the vicinity of the cutting unit in order to align the position in the width direction of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed to the cutting unit. And aligning the position in the width direction of the sheet together with the alignment of the sheet by the first alignment means, and the position of the scoring means is aligned by the first alignment means and the second alignment means. perform scoring with respect to the paper, the transport means, after completing creasing injuries before Symbol knurling means to convey the the paper to the cutting means, said cutting means, the widthwise position of the sheet It is characterized by cutting aligned sheets .

The invention according to claim 2 is the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first aligning means is provided so as to be able to move a stop position of the sheet with respect to the creasing means, and the creasing means The sheet is stopped at a position corresponding to the position of the sheet on the sheet, and the position of the sheet is aligned.

A third aspect of the present invention is the paper processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the first conveyance path that receives a sheet from outside and guides the sheet downward, and extends downward from the first conveyance path. A second transport path, and a third transport path that branches from a connection portion between the first transport path and the second transport path and guides the paper to the downstream side of the transport path of the paper, The first aligning means , the second aligning means, and the scoring means are provided in the second transport path, the cutting means is provided in the third transport path, and the transport means is configured to transfer the sheet to the first transport path. The sheet is conveyed from one conveyance path to the second conveyance path, and the sheet is conveyed to the third conveyance path by reversing the sheet conveyance direction in the second conveyance path.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the transport unit transports the paper from the first transport path to the second transport path and transports the paper to the second transport path. It is characterized by free fall in the road.

The invention according to claim 5 is the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first aligning means supports the lower end of the sheet that has fallen into the second conveyance path to position the sheet. It has the carrying | support part which aligns, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the paper processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the first aligning means moves the carrier portion upward and causes the third sheet to be creased. A part of the transport means is configured by being provided so as to be transported to a transport path.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the paper processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the second alignment unit is along a conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. It has the guide part which guides an edge part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The invention according to an eighth aspect is the paper processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the scoring means is opposed to each other across a paper surface of the paper conveyed by the conveying means. Two abutting members provided at positions where the two abutting members are operated, and an operating part that operates at least one of the two abutting members so that the two abutting members are close to or separated from each other. One of the two abutting members has a protruding portion extending along a line applied to the paper by the creasing, and the other of the two abutting members is provided to mesh with the shape of the protruding portion. It has a groove part.

The invention of claim 9 is an image forming apparatus, image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, a conveying means for conveying the sheet on which the image is formed by said image forming means, so locked down the paper The first aligning means for aligning the position in the conveyance direction of the paper, the second aligning means for aligning the position in the width direction of the paper, and the lines for attaching the streak to the paper without folding the paper. It includes a creasing unit that performs with a cutting means for cutting a portion of the width direction of the sheet while conveying the paper, the said second aligning means, when the paper is conveyed to the cutting means In order to align the position of the sheet in the width direction, the sheet width is provided along with the alignment of the sheet by the first alignment unit, provided upstream of the cutting unit and in the vicinity of the cutting unit in the sheet conveyance direction. Adjust the position about the direction And, wherein the knurling unit performs scoring the sheet which is aligned positions by said first matching means and said second matching means, said conveying means, imprinted muscle by prior Symbol knurling means after completing to convey the the paper to the cutting means, said cutting means, the position in the width direction of the sheet, characterized in that characterized in that cutting the sheets are aligned.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system, wherein the image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet, and the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus performs creasing and cutting. And a sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is connected so as to be delivered to the transport unit of the sheet processing apparatus. .

  According to the present invention, the creasing process and the cutting process can be performed on the paper more efficiently.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration inside a sheet processing apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows each structure provided in the 2nd conveyance path and the 3rd conveyance path. It is a perspective view of a creasing part. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the creasing by a contact member. It is a perspective view of a cutting part. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration relating to control of an image forming system.

  Hereinafter, an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the image forming system 1.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration inside the sheet processing apparatus 200.
The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100, a sheet processing apparatus 200, a saddle stitching processing apparatus 300, and a side stitching processing apparatus 400.
In the following description, the vertical direction is the Z direction, and the direction along the direction in which the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet processing apparatus 200, the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300, and the flat stitching processing apparatus 400 shown in FIG. A direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction is defined as a Y direction.

The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet.
Specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 develops a toner image corresponding to bitmap data on a primary transfer member such as a transfer roller, for example, a conveyance unit that pulls out a sheet stored as a recording medium from the sheet tray and conveys the sheet. The developing unit, a primary transfer unit that transfers the toner image developed on the primary transfer member to a secondary transfer member such as the transfer drum 150, and the toner image transferred to the secondary transfer member is transferred to a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. The image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer unit, a fixing unit that fixes the transferred toner image on the sheet, a discharge unit that discharges the sheet after the fixing process by the fixing unit, and the like.
In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 delivers a sheet on which an image is formed and discharged to the sheet processing apparatus 200. In other words, the image forming system 1 is connected so that paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 is delivered to the paper processing apparatus 200.

The sheet processing apparatus 200 performs creasing and cutting on the sheet.
Specifically, the sheet processing apparatus 200 includes a transport unit 210 that transports the sheet, a first alignment unit 220 and a second alignment unit 230 that stop the sheet at a predetermined position and align the position of the sheet, A creasing section 240 (creaser) that performs creasing on the paper that is stopped by the first alignment section 220 and aligned by the first alignment section 220 and the second alignment section 230, and the creasing section 240 performs the creasing. A cutting unit 250 (slitter) that cuts a margin portion of the sheet while conveying the sheet.

The sheet processing apparatus 200 conveys the sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus 100 by the conveyance unit 210, stops the sheet by the first alignment unit 220, and aligns the sheet by the first alignment unit 220 and the second alignment unit 230. Then, a creasing process is performed by the creasing unit 240, the sheet subjected to the creasing by the creasing unit 240 is conveyed to the cutting unit 250, and a margin portion of the sheet is trimmed while being conveyed by the trimming unit 250.
Further, the sheet processing apparatus 200 delivers the sheet cut by the cutting unit 250 to the saddle stitch processing apparatus 300. The paper processing apparatus 200 can also deliver the paper delivered from the image forming apparatus 100 to the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300 without performing some or all of the various processes performed by the paper processing apparatus 200.
Details of each component of the sheet processing apparatus 200 will be described later.

The saddle stitching processing device 300 performs a half-folding process for folding the sheet in half.
Specifically, the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300, for example, a folding unit 320 that folds a predetermined position of the sheet along the Y direction, and a hook unit that holds a plurality of sheets folded by the folding unit 320 in a superimposed manner. 330, a saddle stitching unit (not shown) that saddle-stitches a plurality of sheets stacked in the hooking part 330 at a half-folded position, a flat processing part 350 that flattens a spine cover folded in a plurality of sheets, and a hooking part A transport unit 340 that transports a sheet between 330 and the flat processing unit 350, a plurality of sheets stacked in a folded state after processing by the flat processing unit 350, and a transport (not shown) that is delivered to the flat stitching processing device 400. Parts. The saddle stitching processing device 300 can also deliver the paper delivered from the paper processing device 200 to the side stitching processing device 400 without performing some or all of the various processes performed by the saddle stitching processing device 300. .

The side stitching processing device 400 performs a side stitching process for a plurality of sheets.
Specifically, the side stitching processing device 400 includes, for example, a staple processing unit that performs a stapling process on a plurality of sheets delivered from the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300, and a spine cover among the plurality of sheets subjected to the stapling process. In order to align the parallel end portions, a page end cutting portion that cuts off a part of the end portions and a discharge portion that discharges sheets after processing by the connected apparatuses are provided. The side stitching processing apparatus 400 can also discharge the paper delivered from the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300 without performing some or all of the various processes performed by the side stitching processing apparatus 400.

Next, the sheet processing apparatus 200 will be described in detail.
The sheet processing apparatus 200 receives a sheet from the image forming apparatus 100 and guides the sheet downward, a second conveyance path 202 extending downward from the first conveyance path 201, and a first conveyance path 201. And a third conveyance path 203 that branches from a connecting portion between the first conveyance path 202 and the second conveyance path 202 and guides the sheet to a device downstream of the conveyance path of the sheet.

Specifically, the sheet conveyance path in the sheet processing apparatus 200 is, for example, a first conveyance path 201 from a branch point 204 positioned at the upper end of the second conveyance path 202 extending in the vertical direction shown in FIG. And a branch to the third transport path 203. The first conveyance path 201 is a conveyance path provided to lower the sheet from the image forming apparatus 100 side toward the branch point 204. The third conveyance path 203 is a conveyance path provided to raise the sheet from the branch point 204 toward the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300 side. That is, the sheet conveyance path in the sheet processing apparatus 200 is provided with the third conveyance path 203 and the first conveyance path 201 in a substantially V shape with the branch point 204 as a lower end, and further downward with the branch point 204 as an upper end. The second conveyance path 202 is extended in a substantially Y shape.
The first conveyance path 201, the second conveyance path 202, and the third conveyance path 203 are continuous at the branch point 204, and are provided so that the sheet can pass between the conveyance paths.

  The first transport path 201, the second transport path 202, and the third transport path 203 are all provided such that the width in the Y direction is equal to or greater than the maximum width in the Y direction of the paper transported to the second transport path 202. Therefore, all paper sizes handled by the image forming system 1 can be passed.

The transport unit 210 transports the paper from the first transport path 201 to the second transport path 202, and transports the paper to the third transport path 203 by reversing the transport direction of the paper in the second transport path 202.
Specifically, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the transport unit 210 includes a first transport provided at a position along each of the first transport path 201, the second transport path 202, and the third transport path 203. Road rollers 211a and 211b, third transport path rollers 213a and 213b, and the like. The first transport path rollers 211 a and 211 b are provided at positions for receiving the paper delivered from the image forming apparatus 100 in the first transport path 201. The third transport path rollers 213a and 213b are provided at a paper feed position for delivering the paper to the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300 in the third transport path 203.
The first transport path roller 211a, the first transport path roller 211b, the third transport path roller 213a, and the third transport path roller 213b are each set at a position facing each other across the path of the transported paper. In cooperation, the paper is sandwiched and conveyed. At least one of each roller set is connected to a drive unit having an electric motor (not shown) and the like to rotate and conveys the sheet.

  Note that the reversal of the sheet conveyance direction in the second conveyance path 202 in this embodiment, that is, the conveyance for lifting the sheet that has entered the second conveyance path 202 to descend is based on the operation of the first alignment unit 220. Details thereof will be described later.

  The first alignment unit 220, the second alignment unit 230, and the creasing portion 240 are provided in the second conveyance path 202. Further, the positions of the first alignment unit 220, the second alignment unit 230, and the creasing portion 240 provided in the second transport unit are, for example, as shown in FIG. The part 230, the creasing part 240, and the first matching part 220 are arranged in this order.

  The cutting unit 250 is provided in the third conveyance path 203. Moreover, the cutting part 250 is provided so that it may be located between the branch point 204 and the 3rd conveyance path rollers 213a and 213b, for example, as shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, sheet conveyance, scoring, and cutting by the sheet processing apparatus 200 will be described according to a sheet conveyance path in the sheet processing apparatus 200.
When the sheet processing apparatus 200 receives a sheet from the image forming apparatus 100 at the sheet carry-in port 201a on the image forming apparatus 100 side of the first conveyance path 201, the sheet processing apparatus 200 conveys the sheet by the first conveyance path rollers 211a and 211b and performs the first conveyance. It passes through the path 201 and moves to the branch point 204 side. Here, the sheet is guided downward to the branch point 204 side, that is, to the sheet carry-in entrance 201a according to the first conveyance path shown in FIG. Then, when the sheet is conveyed to a position where the end of the sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path 201 on the image forming apparatus 100 side is released from the nipping by the first conveyance path rollers 211a and 211b, the sheet is first conveyed. It passes through the branch point 204 from the path 201, falls freely, and descends toward the second transport path 202. That is, the transport unit 210 transports the paper from the first transport path 201 to the second transport path 202 and causes the paper to freely fall into the second transport path 202.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing each configuration provided in the second conveyance path 202 and the third conveyance path 203.
When the paper that has fallen from the first conveyance path 201 to the second conveyance path 202 reaches the first alignment unit 220 provided below the second conveyance path due to the fall, the lower end of the sheet is carried by the first alignment unit 220. . Here, the first aligning unit 220 supports the lower end of the sheet that has fallen into the second transport path 202 and aligns the position of the lower end of the sheet. Further, when the lower end position of the sheet is aligned by the first alignment unit 220, the upper end position of the sheet is also aligned.

Further, the first alignment unit 220 is provided so as to be able to move the stop position of the sheet with respect to the creasing unit 240, and stops and aligns the sheet at a position corresponding to the scoring position to the sheet by the creasing unit 240. .
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first alignment unit 220 is provided so as to be movable along the extending direction of the second conveyance path and carries the lower end of the sheet. And a vertical alignment plate 221 for aligning the position of the lower end of each. The vertical alignment plate 221 moves along the extending direction of the second conveyance path by the operation of the driving unit 222. The driving unit 222 controls the vertical alignment plate 221 so that the position of the paper carried by the vertical alignment plate 221 under the control of the paper processing control unit 504 described later is set to a position corresponding to the position of the paper alignment by the scoring unit 240. Move the position of. As a result, the position of the sheet carried on the vertical alignment plate 221 corresponds to the position of the sheet on the sheet by the creasing unit 240. Here, the vertical alignment plate 221 functions as a supporting unit that supports the lower end of the paper dropped into the second conveyance path 202 and aligns the position of the paper.

  Further, the second aligning unit 230 aligns the position of the end along the sheet conveyance direction. Here, the end portions along the paper transport direction are end portions orthogonal to the lower end of the paper, that is, both ends in the Y direction of the paper.

The second alignment unit 230 is provided so as to guide an end portion along the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 210. Thereby, it is possible to align the paper that has entered the second conveyance path 202 more quickly.
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second aligning unit 230 is provided at a position facing each other with the paper entering the second transport path 202 by falling along the Y direction. The horizontal alignment plates 231 and 231 are provided. The lateral alignment plates 231 and 231 are movably provided so as to be close to or away from each other in the Y direction, and move along the Y direction by the operation of the driving unit 232. The second alignment unit 230 enters the second transport path 202 and operates so that the lateral alignment plates 231 and 231 are brought close to both ends in the Y direction of the paper whose lower end is supported by the first alignment unit 220. The lateral alignment plates 231 and 231 are brought into contact with both ends of the paper in the Y direction, thereby aligning the positions of both ends of the paper in the Y direction. Here, the lateral alignment plates 231 and 231 function as a guide unit that guides an end portion along the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 210.
In the lateral alignment plates 231 and 231, the adjustment range of the interval along the Y direction is greater than or equal to the width corresponding to the maximum width from the width corresponding to the minimum width in the Y direction of the sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path 202. Therefore, it is possible to perform alignment for all paper sizes handled by the image forming system 1.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the creasing portion 240 is positioned between the first alignment portion 220 and the second alignment portion 230 in the entry direction of the paper entering the second conveyance path by free fall. It is provided to do. Further, the sheet that has entered the second conveyance path 202 is stopped by the lower end thereof being carried by the vertical alignment plate 221 of the first alignment unit 220, the position of the lower end is aligned, and the positions of both ends in the Y direction are further aligned. Alignment is performed by the lateral alignment plates 231 and 231 of the second alignment unit 230.

The creasing section 240 stops in the second conveyance path 202 by the first aligning section 220 and performs creasing on the sheet that has undergone position alignment by the first aligning section 220 and the second aligning section 230.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the creasing portion 240.
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the creasing section 240 is provided at a position facing each other across the paper surface of the paper that has been transported by the transport section 210 and dropped into the second transport path 202. Two contact members 241 and 242 are provided. The contact members 241 and 242 are both provided such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the Y direction.

  The contact member 241 is fixed to the base portion 243 of the creasing portion 240. On the other hand, the contact member 242 is provided in the second conveyance path 202 so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a plane along which the paper surface of the sheet extends. The contact member 242 sandwiches the sheet in the second conveyance path 202 in cooperation with the contact member 241.

The movement of the contact member 242 is performed by the operation unit 244. The operating unit 244 moves the contact member 242 so that the two contact members 241 and 242 are close to or separated from each other.
The operation unit 244 transmits, for example, a drive unit including an electric motor and the operation of the drive unit to the contact member 242 as an operation in a direction orthogonal to the plane along which the paper surface of the sheet extends in the second conveyance path 202. And a transfer unit. The contact member 242 is moved under the control of a later-described sheet processing control unit 504 to sandwich the sheet in the second conveyance path 202.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the creasing by the contact members 241 and 242.
The abutting member 242 has a protruding portion 242a that extends along a line applied to the sheet by the creasing. Further, the contact member 241 has a groove portion 241a provided so as to mesh with the shape of the protruding portion 242a. Both the projecting portion 242a and the groove portion 241a extend along the longitudinal direction of the contact members 242, 241, that is, the Y direction. Further, the protruding portion 242a and the groove portion 241a are provided on the surface portions of the contact members 242 and 241 that face each other. That is, the projecting portion 242a abuts against the paper surface on the abutting member 242 side of the paper when the abutting members 241 and 242 sandwich the paper, and cooperates with the groove 241a at a position facing the paper to sandwich the paper ( For example, the paper P) shown in FIG. 5 is deformed along the protruding portion 242a and the groove portion 241a.

  The abutting members 241 and 242 are both provided so that the length in the Y direction is equal to or greater than the maximum width in the Y direction of the sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path 202, and is handled by the image forming system 1. It is possible to perform scoring for all paper sizes.

  Further, the second conveyance path 202 is provided such that the length in the upper and lower extending direction is equal to or greater than the maximum width in the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path 202. All paper sizes handled can be reserved.

When the scoring process by the scoring unit 240 is completed, the first alignment unit 220 lifts upward while carrying the lower end of the paper in the second transport path 202 and transports it to the third transport path 203.
Specifically, the first aligning unit 220 moves the vertical aligning plate 221 upward by the operation of the driving unit 222 to lift the lined sheet, and conveys the sheet to the third conveyance path 203. That is, the first alignment unit 220 constitutes a part of the transport unit.

The cutting unit 250 cuts a margin portion of the sheet while conveying the sheet lifted to the third conveyance path 203.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cutting unit 250.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the cutting unit 250 includes two rotating members 251 and 252 that are provided in parallel to each other so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the Y direction and rotate in accordance with the sheet conveyance direction. Roller portions 251a and 251a that are provided on the rotary members 251 and 252 and rotate with the rotation of the rotary members 251 and 252 to convey the paper, and slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c that cut the paper.

The rotating members 251 and 252 are columnar members provided at positions facing each other across the passage path of the paper passing through the cutting portion 250, and the paper is between the two rotating members 251 and 252. Pass through. The rotating members 251 and 252 are connected to a driving unit having an electric motor (not shown) and rotate.
Each of the roller portions 251a and 252a is a cylindrical roller having the same central axis as that of the rotating members 251 and 252, and the outer peripheral surface cooperates with each other to pass the sheet passing between the two rotating members 251 and 252. It is provided so that it may be inserted. That is, the sheet passing between the two rotating members 251 and 252 is conveyed upward while the position in the Y direction in the trimming unit 250 is held by the roller units 251a and 252a.

The slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c are disk-shaped blades having the same central axis as the rotary members 251 and 252 and circular outer peripheral portions serving as blades, and the surface of the disk is a plane perpendicular to the Y direction. It is provided along. The slitter blades 251 b and 251 c are provided on the rotating member 251, and the slitter blades 252 b and 252 c are provided on the rotating member 252. The slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c are provided such that the slitter blade 251b and the slitter blade 252b mesh with each other in the Y direction, and the slitter blade 251c and the slitter blade 252c mesh with each other in the Y direction. More specifically, the slitter blades 251b and the slitter blades 252b, and the slitter blades 251c and the slitter blades 252c are provided so that the outer peripheral blades are alternately adjacent to each other in the Y direction. The paper is conveyed while being held in the Y-direction position in the cutting unit 250 by the roller units 251a and 252a, and between the slitter blade 251b and the slitter blade 252b, and between the adjacent blades of the slitter blade 251c and the slitter blade 252c. Disconnected.
The paper sheet with the margins cut off by the slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c and conveyed above the cutting unit 250 is conveyed by the third conveyance path rollers 213a and 213b provided above the cutting unit 250, and the middle. It is delivered to the binding processing device 300.

In addition, the cutting unit 250 includes an adjustment unit 253 that adjusts the position of the slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c in the Y direction. The adjustment unit 253 adjusts the slitter blades 251b, 251c, 252b, and 252c so as to cut off the margin portion from the sheet according to the width in the Y direction of the margin portion at both ends in the Y direction of the sheet conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 200. Move the position in the Y direction.
The interval between the two cutting positions of the sheet by the slitter blades 251b and 252b and the slitter blades 251c and 252c is an interval at which the margin portion with the minimum width in the Y direction of the sheet conveyed to the third conveyance path 203 can be cut. It is provided so as to be equal to or larger than the maximum width in the Y direction of the sheet conveyed to the third conveyance path 203. In other words, the cutting unit 250 can perform the cutting process for the margins of all the paper sizes handled by the image forming system 1 and the positions of the slitter blades 251b and 252b and the slitter blades 251c and 252c in the Y direction of the paper. By setting the outer side of the sheet, the sheet can be passed without performing the cutting process.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a configuration relating to the control of the image forming system 1.
The image forming system 1 receives a user input operation related to the operation of the image forming system 1, and performs an operation display unit 501 that performs display output related to the operation of the image forming system 1, and a center that performs operation control of the entire image forming system 1. A control unit 502, an image formation control unit 503 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, a paper processing control unit 504 that controls the operation of the paper processing apparatus 200, and a saddle stitching process that controls the operation of the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300. A control unit 505 and a side stitching processing control unit 506 that performs operation control of the side stitching processing device 400 are provided.

The operation display unit 501 includes, for example, a touch panel type operation display device, various input switches, keys, and the like, and transmits a signal corresponding to the input content of the user to the central control unit 502.
The central control unit 502, the image formation control unit 503, the paper processing control unit 504, the saddle stitching processing control unit 505, and the side stitching processing control unit 506 each have a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The program and various data are read and executed.

  The central control unit 502 determines the size of the paper, the number of colors at the time of image formation (for example, color, grayscale, monochrome, etc.), scoring, and margins according to the user input input via the operation display unit 501. Various settings related to the image forming system 1 such as execution / non-execution of part cutting, the number of sheets of a part of saddle-stitched sheets, and the like are performed. The central control unit 502 performs processing corresponding to the setting contents on the control units of the image formation control unit 503, the sheet processing control unit 504, the saddle stitching processing control unit 505, and the side stitching processing control unit 506. Output instructions. Each control unit controls the operation of the device to be controlled according to the command.

Here, the operation of the sheet processing control unit 504 will be particularly described.
The paper processing control unit 504 operates each roller of the transport unit 210 to transport the paper to the transport unit 210. In addition, the paper processing control unit 504 controls the driving unit 222 and the driving unit 232 after the paper is dropped onto the second conveyance path 202 by the conveyance unit 210, and the first alignment unit 220 is controlled according to the size of the paper. The positions of the vertical alignment plate 221 and the horizontal alignment plates 231 and 231 of the second alignment unit 230 are controlled to align the position of the sheet with respect to the creasing portion 240 and the sheet is stopped in the second conveyance path 202. In addition, when the setting is made to perform the creasing process, the sheet processing control unit 504 controls the operation unit 244 after the alignment and positioning of the sheets by the first alignment unit 220 and the second alignment unit 230, and performs the scoring unit. The creasing process is performed on the paper by operating the contact member 242 of 240 to sandwich the paper. In addition, after the creasing process, the sheet processing control unit 504 moves the vertical alignment plate 221 of the first aligning unit 220 upward to convey the creasing sheet to the cutting unit 250 of the third conveying path 203. To do. In addition, when the setting is made so that the cutting process is performed, the paper processing control unit 504 controls the operation of the adjustment unit 253 so that the positions of the slitter blades 251b and 252b and the slitter blades 251c and 252c correspond to the margin portions of the paper. Move to. In addition, the paper processing control unit 504 rotates the rotary members 251 and 252 of the cutting unit 250 to convey the paper, and cuts off margins by the slitter blades 251b and 252b and the slitter blades 251c and 252c.

  Note that the paper processing control unit 504 allows the paper to pass by separating the contact member 241 and the contact member 242 of the scoring unit 240 when setting is not performed. Further, when the sheet processing control unit 504 is set not to perform the cutting process, the sheet processing control unit 504 moves the positions of the slitter blades 251b and 252b and the slitter blades 251c and 252c to the outside of the sheet passing position, and the cutting unit 250 cuts off the blank portion. The paper is transported without accompanying.

  As described above, according to the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment, after the alignment is completed by the first alignment unit 220 and the second alignment unit 230, the sheet is stopped when the alignment is performed by the alignment unit 240 and the alignment by the alignment unit 240. Since the sheet is conveyed to the cutting unit 250, the number of conveyance stops of the sheet conveyed by the sheet processing apparatus 200 is set to the sheet positioning for the sheet alignment and scoring process by the first alignment unit 220 and the second alignment unit 230. Can be used only once. In other words, since the number of times of stopping the conveyance of the paper in the creasing process and the cutting process can be reduced, it is possible to greatly reduce the waiting time of the paper generated due to the alignment and positioning of the paper, and more efficiently A creasing process and a cutting process can be performed.

  In addition, the first alignment unit 220 is provided so as to be able to move the stop position of the sheet with respect to the creasing unit 240, and stops and aligns the sheet at a position corresponding to the scoring position to the sheet by the creasing unit 240. The stop of the sheet by the first aligning unit 220 and the positioning of the sheet with respect to the creasing unit 240 can be performed collectively. That is, it is not necessary to move the sheet or the creasing section 240 only for adjusting the sheet creasing position by the creasing section 240, and the creasing process and the cutting process can be performed on the sheet more efficiently.

  Further, the sheet processing apparatus 200 receives a sheet from the outside and guides it downward, a second transport path 202 extending downward from the first transport path 201, and a first transport path 201. And a third conveyance path 203 that branches from a branch point 204 that is a connecting portion with the second conveyance path 202 and guides the sheet to the saddle stitching processing apparatus 300 on the downstream side of the conveyance path of the sheet. The section 220, the second alignment section 230, and the creasing section 240 are provided in the second transport path 202, the cutting section 250 is provided in the third transport path 203, and the sheet is fed from the first transport path 201 to the second transport path. Since the sheet is transported so as to be lowered to 202, the sheet transport direction is reversed in the second transport path 202 and is lifted from the second transport path 202, and the sheet is transported to the third transport path 203. Alignment and scoring of paper in path 202 Therefore, the sheet can be cut in the process of lifting the sheet to convey the sheet to the downstream apparatus (saddle stitching apparatus 300), and the sheet conveyance direction (X direction) in the entire image forming system 1 can be performed. Since the paper transport distance by the paper processing apparatus 200 can be shortened, the image forming system 1 can be made more compact.

  Further, the transport unit 210 transports the paper from the first transport path 201 to the second transport path 202 and freely drops the paper into the second transport path 202, so that a roller or the like that transports the paper to the second transport path 202 Thus, the sheet processing apparatus 200 can be made simpler.

  In addition, since the first alignment unit 220 includes a vertical alignment plate 221 that supports the lower end of the sheet that has fallen into the second conveyance path 202 and aligns the upper and lower ends of the sheet, the first alignment unit 220 can exert a force to lower the sheet due to gravity. It can be used for paper alignment, and paper alignment can be performed with a simpler configuration.

  In addition, the first alignment unit 220 is configured to move the vertical alignment plate 221 upward to convey the creased paper to the third conveyance path 203, thereby constituting a part of the conveyance unit. Further, it is possible to reduce the configuration of a roller or the like that transports a sheet from the second transport path 202 to the third transport path 203, and it is possible to make the sheet processing apparatus 200 a simpler configuration.

  Further, since the horizontal alignment plates 231 and 231 guide the end along the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed to the creasing section 240, the second alignment section 230 guides the sheet conveyed to the second conveyance path 202. In addition, since the guide helps to align the position of the end portion along the sheet conveyance direction, the second alignment unit 230 can more quickly align the sheet with the sheet guide to the second conveyance path 202. It can be performed.

  Further, the creasing section 240 brings the two contact members 241 and 242 and the two contact members 241 and 242 provided at positions facing each other across the paper surface of the paper transported by the transport means close to each other or An abutting member 242 that moves the abutting member 242 so as to be separated from each other. The abutting member 242 has a projecting portion 242a that extends along a streak applied to the sheet by creasing, Since the contact member 241 has a groove portion 241a provided so as to mesh with the shape of the protruding portion 242a, the sheet can be crooked by being pinched by the abutting members 241, 242 and the creasing is performed with a simpler configuration. be able to.

  The embodiment of the present invention should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operation unit 244 operates only the contact member 242 of the two contact members 241 and 242, but the contact member 241 may be operated. Both of the two abutting members 241 and 242 may be operated.
The second alignment unit 230 operates both the two horizontal alignment plates 231 and 231. However, either one may be operated according to the size of the paper in the Y direction.

In addition, the shape of the sheet conveyance path and the arrangement of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 200 in the above embodiment are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the creasing portion 240 of the above embodiment is located between the first alignment portion 220 and the second alignment portion 230 in the second conveyance path 202 extending in the vertical direction, but is only an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary to arrange each unit so that the creasing process is performed when the conveyance of the sheet is stopped due to the alignment of the sheet and the cutting process is performed after that.
In the above embodiment, the first matching unit 220 and the second matching unit 230 are provided separately. However, only one of them may be provided, or one matching unit having both functions. May be provided.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the vertical alignment plate 221 of the first alignment unit 220 moves with respect to the creasing portion 240 to align the position of the creasing by the creasing portion 240 and the paper. The creasing position by the creasing section 240 may be movable with respect to the paper alignment position. For example, the structure etc. which have the creasing part 240 provided so that movement with respect to the vertical alignment board 221 fixed to the predetermined position are mentioned.
Further, the free fall of the sheet to the second conveyance path 202 and the lifting of the sheet from the second conveyance path 202 to the third conveyance path 203 by the vertical alignment plate 221 are examples of the conveyance of the sheet, and are not limited thereto. Not a thing. For example, a roller for guiding the paper conveyed from the first conveyance path 201 into the second conveyance path, a roller for conveying the paper from the second conveyance path 202 to the third conveyance path 203, and the like may be provided.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet processing apparatus 200, and other devices constituting the image forming system 1 may be provided as separate devices and connected, or some or all of them may be provided as one device. May be. For example, an image forming apparatus having a function of forming an image on a sheet and a function of the above-described sheet processing apparatus 200 that conveys a sheet on which an image is formed by the function and performs alignment, scoring processing, and cutting processing is provided. Also good.
In addition, some or all of the devices constituting the image forming system 1 may be controlled by a single control unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 200 Paper processing apparatus 201 1st conveyance path 202 2nd conveyance path 203 3rd conveyance path 204 Branch point 210 Conveyance part (conveyance means)
220 1st matching part (matching means)
221 Vertical alignment plate (supporting part)
230 2nd matching part (matching means)
231 Horizontal alignment plate (guide part)
240 creasing section (scoring means)
241 242 Contact member 241a Groove 242a Protruding part 244 Operation part 250 Cutting part (cutting means)
251b, 251c, 252b, 252c Slitter blade

Claims (10)

Conveying means for conveying paper;
A first aligning means for aligning the position of the conveyance direction of the sheet by locked down the sheet,

Second alignment means for aligning the position in the width direction of the paper;
A scoring means for scoring the paper to crease the paper without folding the paper ;
Comprising a cutting means for cutting a portion of the width direction of the sheet while conveying the Paper, the,

The second aligning unit is positioned upstream of the cutting unit and in the vicinity of the cutting unit in order to align the position in the width direction of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed to the cutting unit. And aligning the position in the width direction of the paper together with the alignment of the paper by the first alignment means,
The creasing means performs creasing on the sheet whose position is aligned by the first alignment means and the second alignment means,
It said transport means, and transport by the previous Symbol muscle with means after completing muscle with injuries, the the paper to the cutting means,
The sheet processing apparatus , wherein the cutting unit cuts a sheet in which a position in the width direction of the sheet is aligned . The first aligning means is provided so as to be able to move a stop position of the paper with respect to the scoring means, and stops the paper at a position corresponding to the scoring position to the paper by the scoring means, thereby positioning the paper. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheets are matched. A first conveyance path for receiving paper from outside and guiding it downward;
A second transport path extending downward from the first transport path;
A third conveyance path that branches from a connection portion between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path and guides the sheet to the downstream side of the conveyance path of the sheet,
The first alignment means , the second alignment means, and the creasing means are provided in the second transport path,
The cutting means is provided in the third transport path,
The transport means transports a sheet from the first transport path to the second transport path, reverses the transport direction of the paper in the second transport path, and transports the sheet to the third transport path. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The paper processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transport unit transports the paper from the first transport path to the second transport path and causes the paper to freely fall into the second transport path. 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first aligning unit includes a supporting unit that supports a lower end of the sheet dropped in the second conveyance path and aligns the position of the sheet. The first aligning means is configured to move the carrying portion upward to convey the creased paper to the third conveying path, thereby constituting a part of the conveying means. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein 7. The sheet processing according to claim 1, wherein the second alignment unit includes a guide unit that guides an end portion along a conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit. 8. apparatus. The creasing means includes two abutting members provided at positions facing each other across the paper surface of the paper conveyed by the conveying means;
An operating part that operates at least one of the two abutting members so that the two abutting members approach or separate from each other;
One of the two abutting members has a protruding portion that extends along a line that is applied to the paper by creasing,
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other of the two abutting members has a groove provided to mesh with the shape of the protruding portion. Image forming means for forming an image on paper;
Conveying means for conveying the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming means;
A first aligning means for aligning the position of the conveyance direction of the sheet by locked down the sheet,
Second alignment means for aligning the position in the width direction of the paper;
A scoring means for scoring the paper to crease the paper without folding the paper ;
Comprising a cutting means for cutting a portion of the width direction of the sheet while conveying the Paper, the,
The second aligning unit is positioned upstream of the cutting unit and in the vicinity of the cutting unit in order to align the position in the width direction of the sheet when the sheet is conveyed to the cutting unit. And aligning the position in the width direction of the paper together with the alignment of the paper by the first alignment means,
The creasing means performs creasing on the sheet whose position is aligned by the first alignment means and the second alignment means,
It said transport means, and transport by the previous Symbol muscle with means after completing muscle with injuries, the the paper to the cutting means,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting unit cuts a sheet whose position in the width direction of the sheet is aligned . An image forming apparatus for forming an image on paper;
The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein creasing and cutting are performed on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus.
With
An image forming system, wherein the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus is connected so as to be delivered to the conveying unit of the sheet processing apparatus.

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