JP5691213B2 - Stapler driving device, stapler driving method, stapler control program, post-processing device, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stapler driving device, a stapler driving method, a stapler control program, a post-processing device, and an image forming system.

  A post-processing apparatus may be connected to a subsequent stage of an image forming apparatus such as a printer that prints images or characters on paper. This post-processing device is equipped with a puncher that punches holes in the paper, a stapler that staples a stack of multiple sheets of paper with staples, and a paper folding machine that folds the paper, depending on the user's usage. Is done.

  Focusing on the stapler, a DC motor is mounted on the stapler, and a stapling operation is performed in which a staple is inserted into the sheet bundle and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the DC motor.

JP 2008-174382 A

  An object of the present invention is to suppress operation noise while securing productivity of stapling operation.

The stapler driving device according to claim 1 is:
Built in the housing, equipped with a motor, and with the driving force of the rotation of the motor, power is supplied to the motor of the stapler that performs the stapling operation to insert and fold the staples into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media A power supply unit to
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the housing;
A stapler drive device comprising: a power control unit that causes the power supply unit to supply a lower power toward the motor as the sound level measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller.

A stapler driving device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes:
The motor is a DC motor;
The power supply unit supplies pulse-width-modulated power to an output ratio based on an instruction from the power control unit toward the motor,
The power control unit is a stapler driving device that instructs the power supply unit to output a smaller output ratio as the volume of sound measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller.

A stapler driving device according to a third aspect is the one according to the first aspect,
The staple operation is an operation divided into a plurality of steps.
The power control unit, when executing at least one of the plurality of processes, supplies the power supply unit with lower power toward the motor as the sound level measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller. It is a stapler drive device that is supplied.

A stapler driving device according to a fourth aspect is the method according to the first aspect.
The sound measurement unit
A microphone that is disposed on the outer surface of the housing and detects sound emitted outside the housing;
A stapler driving device having a calculation unit that calculates the magnitude of sound emitted outside the housing based on a detection result of the microphone.

A stapler driving device according to a fifth aspect is the first aspect according to the first aspect.
The sound measurement unit
A microphone that is disposed at a location away from the housing and detects sound emitted outside the housing;
A stapler driving device having a calculation unit that calculates the magnitude of sound emitted outside the housing based on a detection result of the microphone.

A stapler driving device according to a sixth aspect is the method according to the fourth or fifth aspect,
A stapler driving device including a microphone holding unit that holds the microphone and suppresses propagation of vibration from a fixed portion to which the microphone holding unit is fixed to the microphone.

The stapler driving method according to claim 7 is:
A loud sound generated outside a housing having a built-in stapler that performs a stapling operation in which a staple is inserted into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. Sound measurement process to measure,
A stapler drive method comprising: a power supply unit that supplies power to the motor of the stapler; and a power control process for supplying lower power to the motor as the sound level measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller. It is.

Furthermore, the stapler control program according to claim 8 is:
Built in the housing, equipped with a motor, and with the driving force of the rotation of the motor, power is supplied to the motor of the stapler that performs the stapling operation to insert and fold the staples into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media Executed by the program execution unit of the stapler driving device provided with the power supply unit for executing the program and the program execution unit for executing the program.
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the housing;
A stapler control program for constructing a power control unit that causes the power supply unit to supply lower power toward the motor as the sound level measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller.

Furthermore, the post-processing device according to claim 9 comprises:
An apparatus housing disposed adjacent to a housing of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium;
A bundle forming unit that is built in the apparatus housing, receives a recording medium from the image forming apparatus, and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler built in the apparatus housing, provided with a motor, and performing a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the device housing;
The power processing unit includes a power control unit that supplies a lower power toward the motor toward the motor as the sound level measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller.

The image forming system according to claim 10 further comprises:
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium; and
An apparatus casing disposed adjacent to the casing constituting the image forming apparatus;
A bundle forming unit that is built in the apparatus housing and receives a recording medium from an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium, and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler built in the apparatus housing, provided with a motor, and performing a stapling operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the device housing;
A post-processing device having a power control unit that causes the power supply unit to supply a lower power to the motor as the sound volume measured by the sound measurement unit is smaller;
Is an image forming system.

An image forming system according to claim 11 is provided.
The sound measurement unit
A microphone that is disposed at a location away from both the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus and that detects sound emitted outside the housing;
An image forming system comprising: a calculation unit that calculates the volume of sound emitted outside the housing based on a detection result of the microphone.

  According to the stapler driving device of the first aspect, the operation noise is suppressed while securing the productivity of the stapling operation.

  According to the stapler driving device of the second aspect, the control of the power supplied to the DC motor is performed accurately and easily.

  According to the stapler driving device of the third aspect, it is possible to suppress the operation sound in accordance with each process while ensuring the productivity of the staple operation.

  According to the stapler driving device of the fourth aspect, the sound emitted outside the housing is reliably detected.

  According to the stapler driving device of claim 5 as well, the sound emitted outside the housing is reliably detected.

  According to the stapler driving device of the sixth aspect, the mixing of vibration sound into the microphone is suppressed.

  According to the stapler driving method of the seventh aspect, similarly to the first aspect, the operation noise is suppressed while ensuring the productivity of the staple operation.

  According to the stapler control program of the eighth aspect, similarly to the first aspect, the operation sound is suppressed while ensuring the productivity of the staple operation.

  According to the post-processing apparatus of the ninth aspect, the operation noise is suppressed while ensuring the productivity of the post-processing including the stapling operation.

  According to the image forming system of the tenth aspect, the operation sound is suppressed while ensuring the productivity of the processing including the image formation and the stapling operation.

  According to the image forming system of the eleventh aspect, noise outside the system is reliably detected.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a print system. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the mechanism around the stapler of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a microphone holder. It is a perspective view which shows the guide member in which two rails were formed. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system in which a copying machine and a post-processing apparatus are connected. It is the schematic diagram which showed the driving force transmission mechanism and sensor of a stapler. It is explanatory drawing of the operation mechanism of the pressing member with which the stapler was equipped. It is the figure which showed the positional relationship of a light-shielding plate and HP sensor. It is the figure which showed the shape of the staple. It is a top view which shows the state by which the needle plate was abutted by the needle stopper. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the staple needle is abutted against the needle stopper. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 1st step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 2nd step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 3rd step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 4th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 5th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 5th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 6th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 7th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 8th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the member in the 9th step of the staple operation by a stapler. It is the figure which showed the operation | movement sound waveform in each process which comprises a series of staple operations. It is a block diagram of the control circuit which bears the operation control of the stapler in the post-processing device. It is a control conceptual diagram. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of a dBA detection circuit. It is a flowchart of a stapler control program. It is a schematic diagram which shows a mode that the measurement of background noise and the detection of the dBA value showing a sound pressure are performed in multiple times. It is a figure which shows an average value table. It is a figure which shows a duty table.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system.

  The printing system 1A shown in FIG. 1 includes a printer 10, a paper transport device 20, and a post-processing device 30.

  The printer 10 is an electrophotographic printer that receives an image signal from a host device (not shown) and forms an image based on the image signal on a sheet. An outline will be described.

  The printer 10 is provided with four paper storage units 111. Each paper storage unit 111 stores paper PP having a different paper type, size, and orientation (portrait and landscape). . Information on the paper type, size, and orientation of the paper stored in each paper storage unit 111 is set in advance and stored in the main body control unit 120. When a print command is received from the host device, the paper PP is taken out by the take-out roll 112 from the paper storage unit 111 that stores the paper corresponding to the command, and the taken-out paper PP is supplied by the supply roll 113 and the transport roll 114. The leading edge of the paper is conveyed to the adjustment roll 115.

  On the other hand, the exposure device 121 exposes each photoconductor 122 arranged for each color of C, M, Y, and K, and forms an electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor 122. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor 122 is developed with each color toner by a developing device (not shown) to form a toner image, and each color toner image is stretched by a tension roll 124 by the action of the transfer roll 125. The toner images of the respective colors are transferred so as to overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 123 that circulates in the direction of the arrow A in a suspended state.

  The paper PP having the leading end reaching the adjustment roll 115 is sent to the secondary transfer position T in accordance with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 123 and the time, and the secondary transfer roll 116 acts on the intermediate transfer belt 123. The toner image is transferred to the paper PP. The paper PP that has received the transfer of the toner image is further conveyed, heated and pressurized by the fixing roll 117, and the toner image on the paper is fixed to the paper PP, and a fixed image is formed on the paper PP. The fixed sheet PP is further conveyed by the conveyance roll 118, and is discharged onto the sheet discharge table 119 of the printer 10 when the sheet conveying apparatus 20 is not present.

  In this printing system 1A, since the paper transport device 20 is installed on the paper discharge table 119, the paper PP discharged from the printer 10 is inherited by the paper transport device 20, and the transport roll in the paper transport device 20 is used. 21 is further transported by the post-processing apparatus 30. The post-processing measure 30 will be described later.

  A command for each job is input to the printer 10 from the host device. Specifically, as an example, when the image signal for 10 sheets and the paper on which the image based on each image signal is formed are 1 to 10 pages, the paper of 1 to 10 pages is regarded as one sheet bundle, An instruction is issued such that ten sheets of paper bundles are created by binding with a staple needle for each paper bundle. For example, in the case of this example, the paper PP is sequentially taken out from the paper storage unit 431 in which the paper according to the size of the image is stored, and the first page image, the second page are taken out in each paper PP taken out in order. ,..., The 10th page image, the 1st page image, the 2nd page image,..., The 10th page image are sequentially printed for a total of 10 bundles (100 sheets). . The printed paper is sequentially sent to the post-processing device 30 via the paper transport device 20.

  The post-processing device 30 includes a puncher 31 and a stapler 32, and a sheet processing control unit 35 that controls operation of the puncher 31 and communication with the printer 10. The paper taken into the post-processing device 30 is transported by the transport roll 131, and when it is instructed to form punch holes at the edges of the paper, the puncher 31 is activated, and the paper with punch holes is further formed. The paper is conveyed and discharged onto the paper tray 136. The paper tray 136 is movable up and down between a position indicated by a solid line and a position indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, and descends in accordance with the total thickness of the sheets sequentially stacked on the paper tray 136.

  When the stapler 32 provided in the post-processing device 30 is instructed to bind the sheet bundle, the stapling operation by the stapler 32 is executed as follows.

  FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of a mechanism around the stapler of the post-processing device 30 shown in FIG.

  Here, a fixed plate 137 on which a sheet is placed and a movable plate 135 that can move forward and backward in the direction of arrow XX ′ are provided. In FIG. 2, the movable plate 135 has advanced in the direction of the arrow X. Further, here, a paper discharge roll 132 and a counter roll 133 are provided. The paper discharge roll 132 is movable up and down in the direction of arrow YY ′ shown in FIG. When the paper discharge roll 132 is lowered, the paper is sandwiched between the paper discharge roll 132 and the opposing roll 133, and is rotated to discharge the paper onto the paper tray 136 shown in FIG. Here, the paper discharge roll 132 is in a position raised in the arrow Y direction. Further, a paddle 134 and a lateral support plate 139 are provided here. The paddle 134 rotates in the direction of arrow B and plays a role of pushing the paper toward the stapler 32 side. The sheet pushed toward the stapler 32 is abutted against the abutting wall 138. Further, the lateral support plate 139 receives the contact of the paper struck in the horizontal direction by a striking plate (not shown) disposed so as to sandwich the paper from the left and right sides of the lateral support plate 139, and the paper It plays a role to align the horizontal position of.

  The paper that has passed through the arrangement area of the puncher 31 shown in FIG. 1 proceeds along the paper conveyance path P1 shown in FIG. At this time, the paper discharge roll 132 is in a position raised in the arrow Y direction, and the movable plate 135 is in the state of being advanced in the arrow X direction. The paper that has traveled along the paper transport path P1 is placed across the fixed plate 137 and the movable plate 135, and is abutted against the abutting wall 138 by the paddle 134 and at the same time the horizontal receiving plate 139 by a striking plate (not shown). In this way, positioning is performed both vertically and horizontally. The above operation is repeated while the number of sheets forming one sheet bundle (10 sheets in the above example) is sent, so that a plurality of sheets forming one sheet bundle are vertically and horizontally positioned. Are stacked together. The plurality of stacked sheets are bound by a stapler 32 into one sheet bundle. A staple 33 having two protrusions 331 is attached to the stapler 32, and the two protrusions 331 of the legs 33 are provided on the guide member 34 and extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Each of the rails 342 enters a groove 341 formed in the rail 342. The stapler 32 is guided by the two rails 342 and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Therefore, when the bundle of sheets is bound by the stapler 32, the sheet bundle is guided by the rail 342 and moved, for example, at a designated portion of the bundle of sheets such as two places near the center or one corner.

  The stapling operation itself by the stapler 32 will be described later.

  In synchronism with the binding of the sheet bundle by the stapler 32, the sheet discharge roll 132 descends in the direction of the arrow Y ′ and the sheet bundle is sandwiched between the opposing roll 133, and the movable plate 135 moves in the direction of the arrow X ′. Retreat to. When the binding operation to the sheet bundle is completed, the sheet bundle is discharged onto the sheet receiving plate 136 by the rotation of the sheet discharge roll 132.

  While the above binding operation is being performed, adjustment between the printer 10 and the post-processing device 30 prevents the next sheet from being further conveyed from the printer 10 (see FIG. 1). The printing operation is interrupted. If the interruption time is long, the productivity of printing and sheet bundles will be reduced. For this reason, it is desired to increase the speed of the stapling operation, but if the speed of the stapling operation is increased, a loud operation sound is generated.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to suppress both the decrease in productivity and the generation of operation sound with a good balance, the noise (background noise) generated in the room where the print system 1A is installed is measured. Control is performed to reflect the measurement result in the stapling operation. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a microphone 36 that detects background noise is disposed on a work desk of a person who is working in a room where the print system 1A is installed. The microphone 36 is held by a microphone holder 37 fixed to the work desk. Here, if a person stands at a position where the sound collection by the microphone 36 is blocked, the human body may absorb the sound and the detection system may be lowered. For this reason, in this embodiment, the microphone 36 is arrange | positioned at the work desk so that the movement path | route, standing position, and seating position of the person assumed around a work desk may be avoided.

  Note that the method of preventing the background noise detection accuracy from being lowered by the human body is not limited to the method of devising the arrangement position of the microphone as in this embodiment, and for example, the following method may be used. That is, a method for preventing a reduction in detection accuracy of background noise is to install a so-called human sensor at a position where there is a possibility of blocking sound collection by a microphone, and the presence of a person is detected by the human sensor. Sometimes, detection of background noise using a microphone is stopped, and detection of background noise using a microphone is executed only when the presence of a person is not detected.

  In FIG. 1, a work desk is shown as an installation location of the microphone that detects background noise away from the printing system. However, the installation location away from the print system is not limited to this location, and may be, for example, the ceiling of a room where the print system is installed.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the microphone 36 is connected to the paper processing control unit 35 of the post-processing device 30 by wire. Then, the detection result of the microphone 36 is sent to the paper processing control unit 35, and the paper processing control unit 35 executes control for reflecting the detection result in the stapling operation.

  The connection between the microphone and the paper processing control unit is not limited to a wired connection as in the present embodiment, and may be a wireless connection, for example. Further, the connection between the microphone and the paper processing control unit is not limited to the direct connection as in the present embodiment, and may be an indirect connection via a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. .

  A control method for reflecting the detection result of the microphone 36 in the stapling operation will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the microphone holder.

  The microphone holder 37 includes a holding portion 37a that holds the microphone 36 and a fixing portion 37b that is fixed to the work desk. In the present embodiment, the fixing portion 37b of the microphone holder 37 is fixed to the work desk by the adhesive sheet 37c. The pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 37c is formed of a vibration insulating gel material, and plays a role of preventing vibration in the work desk from being transmitted to the microphone 36.

  This is the end of the description of the microphone 36 mounting structure, and the description of the stapler 32 is returned.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a guide member on which two rails are formed.

  Grooves 341 are respectively formed in the two rails 342 of the guide member 34, and the protrusion 331 of the foot 33 shown in FIG. 2 enters the groove 341 to guide the movement of the stapler 32. These rails 342 as a whole extend in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 but have curved shapes near both ends. This is because when corners of the sheet bundle are bound, corners of the sheet are bound obliquely with respect to the sheet.

  Here, the post-processing apparatus 30 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 can be connected not only to the printer of the form shown in FIG. 1 but also to another form of printer. Here, a copier including a configuration of another form of printer will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing system in which a copying machine and a post-processing apparatus are connected.

  The print system 1B is composed of a copying machine 40 and a post-processing device 30. The post-processing device 30 is the same as the post-processing device 30 shown in FIG. 1, and here, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG.

  The copying machine 40 shown in FIG. 5 includes an image reading unit 41, an operation panel 42, and an image forming unit 43.

  The image reading unit 41 includes a transparent document table 411 that reads a document image, and a main body unit 412 that accommodates an optical scanning system including a lamp, a mirror, and the like (not shown). A document is placed on document platen 411 so that the document image is in contact with document platen 411. The document image is read by scanning with an optical scanning system, and an image signal representing the document image is generated. The generated image signal is stored in a memory in the main body control unit 450.

  The operation panel 42 accepts user operations. Here, various operations such as various settings, image reading and image formation start instructions are performed. Various instructions on the operation panel 42 are also stored in the main body control unit 450.

  The image forming unit 43 is an electrophotographic printer that forms an image on a sheet based on the image signal stored in the main body control unit 450.

  The image forming unit 43 is provided with three paper storage units 431. Each paper storage unit 431 stores paper PP having a different paper type, size, and orientation (vertical placement, horizontal placement). ing. Information on the paper type, dimensions, and orientation of the paper stored in the paper storage unit 431 is set in advance by operating the operation panel 42 and stored in the main body control unit 450. When a print command is received from the operation panel 42, the paper PP is taken out by the take-out roll 432 from the paper storage unit 431 in which the paper corresponding to the command is stored, and the taken-out paper PP is supplied to the supply roll 433 and the transport roll 434. Is conveyed along the sheet conveyance path R1, and the leading edge of the sheet reaches the adjustment roll 435.

  On the other hand, the exposure device 435 exposes each photoconductor 436 arranged for each color of C, M, Y, and K, and forms an electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor 436. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photoconductor 436 is developed with each color toner by a developing device (not shown) to form a toner image, and each color toner image is stretched by a tension roll 438 by the action of the transfer roll 437. The toner images of the respective colors are transferred so as to overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 439 that circulates in the direction of the arrow A in a suspended state.

  The paper PP having the leading end reaching the adjustment roll 435 is sent to the secondary transfer position T in accordance with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 439, and the secondary transfer roll 440 acts on the intermediate transfer belt 439. The toner image is transferred to the paper PP. The paper PP to which the toner image has been transferred is further transported by the transport belt 441, and the toner image on the paper is fixed to the paper PP by being heated and pressed by the fixing device 442 by the roll 442a and the belt 442b. A fixed image is formed on the PP. In the case of single-sided printing, the fixed sheet PP proceeds along the sheet conveyance path R2, the sheet correction unit 435 corrects the curve of the sheet, is further conveyed, and is discharged from the copying machine 40. The paper discharged from the copying machine 40 is passed on to the post-processing device 30 connected to the subsequent stage.

  When printing on both sides of the paper is designated, the paper after the image on the first side fixed by the fixing device 442 is conveyed along the paper conveyance path R3, and further reaches the paper conveyance path R4. Thereafter, the transport direction is reversed, and this time, the paper travels along the paper transport path R5 and further proceeds along the paper transport path R1. At this time, the paper is taken out of the paper storage unit 431 and is reversed from the front and back when the paper travels on the paper transport path R1. An image is formed on the second surface of the paper that has advanced to the paper conveyance paths R5 and R1 in the same manner as described above, and is discharged from the copier 40 through the paper conveyance path R2, and is then sent to the post-processing device 30. inherited.

  In this copying machine 40, designation is performed in units of one job by operating the operation panel 42. Specifically, as an example, an instruction is input to create 10 bundles of copy images in which 10 image images sequentially read by the image reading unit 41 are 1 to 10 pages. For example, in the case of this example, the paper PP is sequentially taken out from the paper storage unit 111 that stores the paper according to the dimensions of the image, and the first page image, the second page are taken out to each paper 3 taken out in order. , ..., 10th page image, 1st page image, 2nd page image, ..., 10th page image in total in the order of 10 bundles (100 sheets). It is done sequentially. However, one-sided printing is described here as an example. The printed sheets are sequentially sent to the post-processing device 30.

  The main body control unit 450 is responsible for storing image signals, storing commands by operating the operation panel 42, controlling the entire copying machine 40, and communicating with the post-processing device 30. The main body control unit 450 is also responsible for adjustments in operation with the post-processing device 30.

  The copier 40 can also receive an image signal in place of image reading by the image reading unit 41 and a command in place of operation of the operation panel 42 from the host device. In this case, an image is formed on the sheet in accordance with a command from the host device. The main body controller 450 is also responsible for communication with the host device.

  Further, in the print system 1B of FIG. 5, a microphone 36 similar to the microphone 36 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed on the outer surface of the casing 38 of the post-processing device 30. The microphone 36 is held by a microphone holder 37 similar to that shown in FIG. The microphone 36 shown in FIG. 5 is disposed on the outer surface of the housing 38 so as to avoid a movement path, standing position, and operation position of a person assumed around the printing system 1B. In the print system 1B of FIG. 5, the microphone 36 on the outer surface of the casing detects background noise generated in the room where the print system 1B is installed, and the sheet processing control unit 35 outputs the detection result to the stapling operation. Control to reflect is performed.

  Here, as an installation location of the microphone in the vicinity of the printing system, the outer surface of the casing 38 of the post-processing device 30 is shown in FIG. However, the installation location of the microphone is not limited to this location. For example, the microphone is blocked by a person or a component on the outer surface or inside of the image forming apparatus connected to the post-processing apparatus or inside the post-processing apparatus. It may be a place where background noise can be detected.

  Further, here, the printer 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the copying machine 40 shown in FIG. 5 are shown as devices to which the post-processing device 30 is connected. However, the post-processing device 30 is not limited to the printer 10 and the copying machine 40. Further, the present invention is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and may be configured to be connectable to other printing methods such as an ink jet printer.

  Next, the operation of the stapler itself will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a driving force transmission mechanism and a sensor of the stapler.

  The stapler 32 has a pressing member 328. The stapler 32 is provided with a DC motor 321. When the DC motor 321 rotates, the presser member 328 rotates in the direction of arrow DD ′.

  The driving force transmission mechanism from the DC motor 321 to the presser member 328 is as follows. When the DC motor 321 rotates, the driving force is transmitted in the order of the gear 322, the relay gear 323, and the driving gear 324, and the driving shaft 325 rotates. After the description of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the description will return to FIG. 6 again.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation mechanism of a pressing member provided in the stapler.

  The pressing member 328 moves up and down between an upper position shown in FIG. 7A and a lower position shown in FIG. 7B by rotating around the rotation center 328a. Here, a drive cam 326 is attached to the drive shaft 325, and the presser member 328 moves up and down via a relay cam 327 that rotates about a rotation center 327a. When the drive shaft 325 rotates once, the presser member reciprocates once, and one stapling operation ends.

  Further, the light shielding plate 51 is attached to the drive shaft 325 at a position different from the drive cam 326 in the axial direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7). The light shielding plate 51 is fixed to the drive shaft 325 and rotates by the same rotation angle at the same speed in synchronization with the rotation of the drive cam 326. An HP (home position) sensor 52 is provided in the vicinity of the light shielding plate 51.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the light shielding plate and the HP sensor.

  The HP sensor 52 is a photoelectric sensor that projects and receives light, and is fixed at a position where the rotating light-shielding plate 51 passes so as to block light projection and reception by the HP sensor 52. The HP sensor 52 outputs an L level signal while the light shielding plate 51 is passing, and outputs an H level signal when the light shielding plate 51 is separated from the HP sensor 52. Since the light shielding plate 51 rotates together with the rotation of the drive shaft 325, the rotation position of the drive shaft 325 is detected by the HP sensor 52. Here, this sensor is used to detect the initial position of the drive shaft 325.

  After the electric power is supplied to the DC motor 321 and the stapler 32 starts the stapling operation, the HP sensor 52 indicates that the drive shaft 325 rotates once and returns to the initial position even after a certain threshold time (for example, 500 msec) elapses. If it is not detected in step (3), it is considered that the stapling operation is defective, the rotation of the DC motor 321 is stopped, and the DC motor 321 is reversed. When the DC motor 321 is reversed, the HP sensor 52 monitors whether the drive shaft 325 returns to the initial position within a certain threshold time (for example, 200 msec). Although the processing contents differ depending on whether or not the HP sensor 52 detects that the drive shaft 325 has returned to the initial position within the threshold time due to the reverse rotation of the DC motor 321, error processing is performed in either case.

  Returning to FIG. 6, various sensors provided in the stapler 32 will be described.

  The stapler 32 is provided with a sensor 53 and a sensor 54 in addition to the HP sensor 52. The sensor 53 is a sensor that detects whether or not a staple needle (described later) is in a state in which a staple operation for binding a sheet bundle can be performed. The sensor 54 is a sensor that detects that the remaining number of staples has decreased.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the shape of the staple needle.

  The staple needle 61 has a linear shape, and as shown in FIG. 9A, the linear staple needles 61 are arranged in a single plate shape and bonded so as not to be easily separated. 60 is formed. Here, as for the staple needle 61 in use, only the leading two staple needles 61 a and 61 b are bent in a direction in which both end portions thereof are erected at right angles from the needle plate 60.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, the left and right tip portions of the staple needle 61 are formed in a tapered shape so that the thickness becomes thinner toward the tip, facilitating insertion into the sheet bundle.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the needle plate is abutted against the needle stopper. The staple stopper 62 has a first stopper 62a against which both ends of the linear staple needle 61 before being bent are abutted, and a leading staple needle 61a among the two staple needles 61a and 61b which are bent. And a second stopper 62b to be applied. A guide member 63 is placed on the needle plate 60. The leading end portion of the guide member 63 has a size that enters the inside of the two staple needles 61a and 61b that are bent.

  FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which the staple needle is abutted against the needle stopper.

  The guide member 63 is formed with an inclined surface 63a so as to cover the upper part of the bent staple needle 61a and expose the lower part. The guide member 63 is urged in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 11A by a spring (not shown).

  The stapler 32 further includes a needle push-up member 71 having a thickness substantially the same as the width of one staple needle 61 and a needle bending member 72 having a similar thickness. The needle push-up member 71 is disposed immediately below the folded leading staple needle 61a, and the needle bending member 72 is disposed directly below the third staple needle 61 from the leading end, that is, directly below the leading staple needle that has not yet been folded. Has been.

  When the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 6) provided in the stapler 32 rotates and the drive shaft 325 rotates, the needle push-up member 71 pushes up the staple needle 61a at the leading end in the arrow G direction and inserts it into a sheet bundle (not shown). At the time of this push-up, the guide member 63 is pushed back by the thickness of one staple needle 61 in the direction of arrow F shown in FIG. Then, by the needle bending member 72 that has been raised following the staple pushed up by the needle push-up member 71, the leading staple needle that has not been bent is bent with the leading end portion of the guide member 63 as a guide. The needle push-up member 71 and the needle bending member 72 are lowered to the initial position shown in FIG. 11A when the binding operation for one bundle of sheets by the staple needle 61a pushed up by the needle push-up member 71 is completed.

  12 to 21 are diagrams illustrating member operations in each step of the staple operation by the stapler. As described above, the stapler 32 is provided with the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 6). The rotation of the DC motor 321 causes the drive shaft 325 to rotate, and the rotation of the drive shaft 325 causes each of the operations related to the stapling operation. The members operate in coordination.

  FIG. 12 shows an initial state immediately after the needle plate 60 is loaded on the stapler. A plurality of needle plates 60 are accommodated in a stacked manner. In addition to the needle stopper 62, the needle push-up member 71, and the needle bending member 72, which are composed of the first stopper 62a and the second stopper 62b described with reference to FIGS. 73 is shown. The leaf spring 73 plays a role of feeding the lowermost needle plate 60a of the stacked needle plates 60 to the needle stopper 62 side. Also shown here are a needle bending member 74, a presser member 75, and an upper member 76, which are components constituting the presser member 328 shown in FIG. The needle folding member 74 plays a role of bending both ends of the staple needle penetrating the paper bundle and pressing them against the paper bundle, and the presser member 75 plays a role of pressing the needle folding member 74 from above. ing. The upper member 76 plays a role of pressing the sheet bundle from above.

  FIG. 13 shows the next step in the state shown in FIG.

  Here, the lowermost needle plate 60a is pushed and moved in the direction of arrow H by the leaf spring 73, both ends of the tip of the needle plate 60a are abutted against the first stopper 62a, and the upper member 76 is further bent. The member 74 and the presser member 75 are moved downward in the direction of arrow I while remaining on the top. The upper member 76 is formed with a groove 761 into which the needle bending member 74 is inserted. The lower part of the upper member 76 causes the needle bending member 74 to move relative to the upper member 76 so that the groove 761 is formed. It appears.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the needle push-up member 71 rises in the direction of the arrow J, but at this stage, there is no staple needle 61a (see FIG. 10) abutted against the second stopper 62b, Therefore, the needle push-up member 71 is idle. As the needle push-up member 71 is raised, the needle bending member 72 is also raised, and both ends of the leading staple needle 61 abutted against the first stopper 62a are bent at right angles to the needle plate 60a. At this time, the leaf spring 73 continues to urge the needle plate 60a in the arrow H direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the presser member 75 is lowered in the direction of the arrow K, and the needle bending member 74 is pushed into the groove 761. At this stage, there is no staple needle, and the punching is performed. The leaf spring 73 once moves backward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, the upper member 76 rises in the arrow L direction together with the needle bending member 74 and the presser member 75, and the needle push-up member 71 and needle bending member 72 are lowered in the arrow M direction. The staple plate 61a is pushed by the leaf spring 73 and the first staple needle 61a that is bent rubs through the first stopper 62a, and the second staple needle 61b that is not yet bent from the first is the first staple needle 61b. The state is abutted against the stopper 62a.

  Next, when the steps of FIGS. 14 to 16 are repeated once again, the leading two staple needles 61a and 61b are bent, and the leading staple needle 61a becomes the second stopper 62b as shown in FIG. It will be in a state of being hit.

  The sensor 53 shown in FIG. 6 is a sensor that detects that the leading staple needle 61a of the needle plate 60a bent as described above is in contact with the second stopper 62b. When this state is detected by the sensor 53, the actual stapling operation for binding the sheet bundle can be executed.

  Here, the idle driving operation shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is repeated up to 13 times. This is because the feeding of the needle plate 60a by the leaf spring 73 may fail. If the sensor 53 does not detect the presence of the leading staple 61a after repeating the steps of FIGS. 14 to 13 13 times, error processing is executed.

  FIG. 17 shows a state at the start of actual stapling operation.

  Here, the leading two staple needles 61a and 61b of the needle plate 60a are bent, and the leading staple needle 61a is abutted against the second stopper 62b. FIG. 17 also shows a sheet bundle PS scheduled to be stapled.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the leaf spring 73 pushes the needle plate 60a in the arrow N direction to push the needle plate 60a against the needle stopper 62, and the upper member 76 descends in the arrow O direction to raise the sheet bundle PS. It can be pressed from. At this time, a groove 761 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the needle push-up member 71 rises in the direction of the arrow P, and the sheet bundle PS is penetrated by the leading staple needle 61a. The needle bending member 72 is also raised, and the both side portions of the two adjacent straight leading staple needles 61 are bent upward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 20, the presser member 75 is lowered in the arrow Q direction, the needle bending member 74 is pushed into the groove 761, and both ends of the staple needle 61a are bent inward. The groove 761 is formed slightly obliquely so that both ends of the staple needle 61a bent inward do not collide with each other.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 21, the upper member 76 rises in the direction of the arrow R, and accordingly, the needle folding member 74 and the pressing member 75 also rise together with the upper member 76. In addition, the needle push-up member 71 and the needle bending member 72 are lowered in the arrow S direction. The needle plate 60a is pushed by the leaf spring 73, and the next leading staple is abutted against the second stopper 62b.

  Thereafter, the sheet bundle PS bound by the staple needle is discharged to the outside of the post-processing device 30 as described with reference to FIG.

  The above steps of FIGS. 17 to 21 are repeated, and the sheet bundle PS bound by the staple needle 61 is sequentially formed.

  Another sensor 54 shown in FIG. 6 is a sensor that detects that the number of remaining staples 61 has decreased as a result of consuming the staples 61 as described above. When the remaining staple needles 61 are low, a warning is given to the user.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an operation sound waveform in each process constituting a series of stapling operations. FIG. 22 also shows a light shielding plate 51 and an HP sensor 52. In this figure, the rotation direction of the light shielding plate 51 is counterclockwise.

  Here, a series of stapling operations are divided into a starting step T1, a binding step T2, and a return step T3. In the present embodiment, the time length t1 of the starting process T1 is fixed at t1 = 50 msec. Further, the boundary between the binding process T2 and the return process T3 can be known from the change in the output of the HP sensor 52. Further, the end timing (that is, the initial state) of the return process T3 can be known from the output change of the HP sensor 52.

  The starting process T1 is a time of 50 msec from the time when power supply to the DC motor 321 (see FIG. 6) is started in the initial state shown in FIG. The binding process T2 is a process that continues to the state shown in FIG. 20 following the activation process T1. The return step T3 is a step for performing the operation described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the time length of the starting step T1 is t1, the time length of the binding step T2 is t2, the time length of the returning step T3 is t3, and a series of one stapling operation from the start of the starting step T1 to the end of the returning step T3. Is expressed as t123. The total time length t1 + t2 of the starting process T1 and the binding process T2 is represented by t12.

  Below, the control algorithm for reducing the operation sound in the binding process T2 and the return process T3 will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a control circuit responsible for operation control of the stapler in the post-processing apparatus.

  Here, it is assumed that the post-processing device 30 is connected to the printer 10 shown in FIG.

  Here, a CPU 351, a RAM 352, a motor driving unit 353, and an oscillator 354 are shown. These are some of the components in the sheet processing control unit 35 shown in FIG.

  Also shown here are the DC motor 321, the stapling mechanism 39 including the various mechanical elements described above, and the HP sensor 52 as components of the stapler 32.

  Various kinds of data described later stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) are transferred to the RAM 352 when the power of the post-processing device 30 is turned on, and a stapler control program operating on the CPU 351 is also loaded into the RAM 352. The CPU 351 receives information such as the type of paper (paper type) used for the current print, the number of sheets per bundle, the number of sheets bundle, and the like from the printer 10. The CPU 351 also receives the output signal of the HP sensor 52, and the CPU 351 recognizes that the stapler 32 is in the initial state and that it is at the timing of switching from the binding process T2 to the return process T3.

  In the motor drive unit 353, the pulse width modulation power with the duty instructed by the CPU 351 is generated. The oscillator 354 generates a clock signal for generating pulse width modulation power (PWM power) in the motor driving unit 353.

  Here, PWM is a technique for modulating power into a periodic pulse-like waveform. The pulse height in the modulated waveform is equal to the rated voltage of the DC motor 321. The ratio of the pulse width to the pulse period in the modulated waveform is the ratio of the effective output to the rated output. This ratio is referred to as PWM power duty (output ratio). By adjusting this duty, the effective output of PWM power is adjusted between 0 and the rated power.

  The PWM power generated by the motor drive unit 353 is supplied to the DC motor 321, and the DC motor 321 rotates with the supplied PWM power. Here, the DC motor 321 rotates at a rotational speed approximately in accordance with the duty of the PWM power supplied to the DC motor 321, but depending on individual differences of the stapler 32, the paper type and number of sheets to be bound, and the like. It varies greatly, and the duty and the rotational speed are not necessarily in a one-to-one relationship.

  FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram of control.

  In the control here, the duty is adjusted for each process. The starting step T1 is a step of starting the rotation of the DC motor 321 and requires a large amount of power, and is fixed at a duty of 100% here. The time length t1 of the starting process T1 is fixed at t1 = 50 msec as described above.

  In the next binding step T2, the duty in the stapling operation is adjusted according to the detection result of the microphone 36, and the operation sound of the stapling operation is suppressed. When the duty is decreased, the rotational speed of the DC motor 321 is decreased, but not only the rotational speed is decreased, but also the driving force is decreased. As a result, the operation sound in the binding process T2 is suppressed.

  Also in the next return step T3, the duty in the stapling operation is adjusted according to the detection result of the microphone 36, and as a result, the operation sound in the return step T3 is suppressed.

  When the duty is changed as shown by a solid line in FIG. 24, the actual rotational speed of the DC motor 321 follows the change of the duty with a time delay or the like as shown by a broken line here.

  Here, FIG. 23 shows a dBA detection circuit 355 that obtains a dBA value that represents, in logarithmic expression, the loudness (sound pressure) felt by humans from the detection result of the microphone 36. The dBA detection circuit 355 is also a part of the components in the paper processing control unit 35 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing details of the dBA detection circuit.

  The dBA detection circuit 355 includes a preamplifier 355a, an A characteristic frequency correction circuit 355b, an execution value detection circuit 355c, and a logarithmic operation circuit 355d.

  The preamplifier 355a is an amplification circuit that amplifies the detection result of the microphone 36. The A characteristic frequency correction circuit 355b is a circuit that performs A characteristic frequency correction that heavily weights the human audible range with respect to the detection result after amplification. The effective value detection circuit 355c is a circuit that obtains an effective value by performing effective value detection with a Fast dynamic characteristic adopted for effective value detection by a general sound level meter or the like with respect to a detection result after A characteristic frequency correction. . The logarithmic operation circuit 355d is a circuit that obtains the dBA value by logarithmically converting the obtained effective value.

  The dBA detection circuit 355 obtains a dBA value representing sound pressure in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 351 that is executing processing described later in accordance with a stapler control program during a stapling operation. Then, the CPU 351 obtains the duty according to the dBA value obtained by the dBA detection circuit 355, and the motor driving unit 353 causes the DC motor 321 to be driven with PWM power at the obtained duty at the next stapling operation. To drive.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart of the stapler control program. This stapler control program is also stored in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory, loaded into the RAM 352 shown in FIG. 22 prior to operation, and executed by the CPU 351.

  The processing represented by this flowchart starts when a post-processing execution command is issued from the printer 10 for one job unit. When the process starts, first, it is selected which of the following types of job is to be adopted as the type of job, group A, group B, or group C (step S01). Here, it is divided into three groups of A group, B group, and C group according to the paper type and the number of sheets to be bound. As shown in FIG. 22, the paper type of the paper used for the current print, the number of sheets per bundle and the number of bundles are input from the printer 10. One of the groups A, B, and C is adopted using information on the number of sheets per bundle.

  Next, detection of background noise by the microphone 36 and detection of a dBA value representing sound pressure are performed a plurality of times at the timing described below, and the following average value is calculated ( Step S02).

  FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing how the detection of background noise and the detection of the dBA value representing the sound pressure are performed a plurality of times.

  FIG. 27 shows a graph in which the vertical axis represents sound pressure and the horizontal axis represents time. A curve L1 in this graph schematically represents a time change of the sound pressure level of background noise of the stapling operation in terms of dBA value.

  In the present embodiment, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 351, detection of background noise and detection of a dBA value representing sound pressure are performed for 25 seconds (ie, 500 times) in increments of 50 milliseconds.

  Then, using the detection results α1,..., Α500 for 500 times, the average value α of the sound pressure is calculated based on the following equation (1).

α = (α1 + …… + α500) / 500 …… (1)
When the calculation of the average value of the sound pressure is thus completed, in the flowchart of FIG. 26, the duty for the stapling operation is determined based on the calculation results (step S03).

  For determining the duty, an average value table in which a plurality of ranges for the average value of sound pressure and different duties are associated with each other so that a smaller duty is associated with a smaller value range is stored in the RAM 352. It is read and used.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an average value table.

  Here, the duty of the binding process T2 and the return process T3 is associated with each of four ranges of the average sound pressure of the background noise: 40 dBA or less, greater than 40 dBA and 50 dBA or less, greater than 50 dBA and less than 60 dBA, and greater than 60 dBA. It has been. For each of the binding process T2 and the return process T3, the duty is defined for each of the three groups of the A group, the B group, and the C group. On the other hand, in the starting process T1, the duty is fixed to 100% regardless of the above range and the three groups.

  For example, looking at the group A in the binding process T2, a duty of 60% is associated with a range of 40 dBA or less, a duty of 65% is associated with a range of greater than 40 dBA and 50 dBA or less, and is greater than 50 dBA and less than 60 dBA. A duty of 70% is associated with the range of 75%, and a duty of 75% is associated with the range of greater than 60 dBA. In this way, in the average value table of FIG. 28, for each group in each process, a smaller value is associated with a smaller duty.

  In step S03 of FIG. 26, in the average value table of FIG. 28, any of the jobs A, B, and C determined in step S01 associated with the range to which the average value of the sound pressure obtained in step S02 belongs. The duty of each of the seed binding process T2 and the return process T3 is obtained.

  The duty determined in this way at step S04 is recorded in the following duty table (step S04).

  FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a duty table.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the duty is determined for each of the startup process T1, the binding process T2, and the return process T3. Further, the starting process T1 is fixed at a duty of 100%. In the duty table, a duty recording column is provided for each of the three processes, and a fixed duty of 100% has already been recorded for the activation process T1.

  In step S04, the duty determined in step S04 is recorded for the two processes of the binding process T2 and the return process T3 in the duty table of FIG.

  When duty recording ends in this way, the first stapling operation in the job is started at the duty of each process recorded in the duty table (step S05).

  Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next sheet bundle in the current job (step S06). If it is determined that the next sheet bundle exists, the next stapling operation is driven in step S05 using the duty table recorded as described above.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 26, the stapling operation in step S05 is repeatedly executed until it is determined in step S06 that there is no next sheet bundle. If it is determined that there is no next sheet bundle, the duty table is cleared (step S07), and the process is terminated.

  According to the processing described above, when the background noise immediately before the start of the initial stapling operation is small for one job, the operation sound is suppressed by executing the stapling operation in the job with a small duty. Conversely, when the background noise immediately before the start of the initial stapling operation is large, the stapling operation is executed with a large duty, thereby maintaining and improving productivity.

  In this embodiment, the background noise detection timing is exemplified as 30 seconds immediately before the start of the initial stapling operation in one job, but the background noise detection timing is not limited to this. For example, when the post-processing apparatus is connected to a copying machine as shown in FIG. 5, the background noise detection timing is immediately after the user starts a button operation for setting before copying to the copying machine. It may be from when the copy start button is pressed until when the copy sheet is set in the image reading unit of the copying machine until when the copy start button is pressed. Further, the background noise detection may be repeatedly executed periodically for a fixed time regardless of the operation of the printing system. In this case, for determining the duty, the detection result immediately before the start of the initial stapling operation in the job is selected and used from the detection results obtained periodically.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which processing including detection by a microphone and calculation of an average value for background noise is executed only once for one job. For example, stapling operation is performed a plurality of times in a job. In this case, the above processing may be repeatedly executed over a plurality of times immediately before each stapling operation.

1A, 1B Print System 10 Printer 20 Paper Conveying Device 21 Conveying Roll 30 Post-Processing Device 31 Puncher 32 Stapler 33 Foot 34 Guide Member 35 Paper Processing Control Unit 36 Microphone 37 Microphone Holder 37a Holding Unit 37b Fixing Unit 37c Adhesive Sheet 38 Housing 39 Staple Mechanism 40 Copier 41 Image Reading Unit 42 Operation Panel 43 Image Forming Unit 51 Shading Plate 52 HP (Home Position) Sensor 53, 53a, 54 Sensor 60, 60a Needle Plate 61, 61a, 61b Staple Needle 62, 62a, 62b Needle stopper 63 Guide member 71 Needle push-up member 72 Needle bending member 73 Leaf spring 74 Needle bending member 75 Pressing member 76 Upper member 111,431 Paper storage portion 112,432 Take-out roll 113,433 Supply roll 1 4,118,121,131,434 Transport roll 115,435 Adjustment roll 116,440 Secondary transfer roll 117 Fixing roll 119 Paper discharge table 120,450 Main body control unit 134 Padra 135 Movable plate 136 Paper receiving plate 137 Fixed plate 138 Thrust Abutting wall 139 Horizontal support plate 321 DC motor 322 Gear 323 Relay gear 324 Drive gear 325 Drive shaft 326 Drive cam 327 Relay cam 327a, 328a Rotation center 328 Press member 331 Projection 341, 761 Groove 342 Rail 351 CPU
352 RAM
353 Motor drive unit 354 Oscillator 355 dBA detection circuit 355a Preamplifier 355b A characteristic frequency correction circuit 355c Execution value detection circuit 355d Logarithmic operation circuit PP Paper PS Paper bundle R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 Paper conveyance path

Claims (10)

A motor is provided in the housing, and power is supplied to the motor of the stapler that performs a stapling operation by inserting a staple needle into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media and bending it with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. A power supply unit to
A sound measurement unit for measuring the magnitude of sound emitted outside the housing;
The power supply unit is configured to supply a predetermined power for a predetermined time from the start of power supply to the motor, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined power is supplied. A stapler driving device comprising: a power control unit that supplies the following electric power and lower electric power as the loudness of the sound measured by the sound measuring unit is smaller. The motor is a DC motor;
In the starting step of starting rotation of the motor, the stapling operation is an operation divided into a plurality of steps, and the first operation among the stapling operations divided into the plurality of steps is executed at the predetermined time. Yes,
The power supply unit supplies pulse-width-modulated power to an output ratio based on an instruction from the power control unit toward the motor,
The power control unit instructs the power supply unit to output the output ratio of 100% in the start-up process, and after the start-up process, the smaller the volume of sound measured by the sound measurement unit, the smaller The stapler driving device according to claim 1, wherein the output ratio is instructed. The sound measuring unit is
A microphone that is disposed on the outer surface of the housing and detects sound emitted outside the housing;
The stapler drive device according to claim 1, further comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a volume of sound emitted outside the housing based on a detection result of the microphone. The sound measuring unit is
A microphone that is disposed at a location away from the housing and detects sound emitted outside the housing;
The stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a volume of sound emitted outside the housing based on a detection result of the microphone. Drive device. A microphone holder for holding the microphone, claim 4 Symbol mounting characterized by comprising suppressing microphone holder propagation of vibrations to the microphone from the fixed location where the microphone holder is fixed Stapler drive device. A loud sound generated outside a housing that includes a motor and includes a stapler that performs a stapling operation in which a staple is inserted into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media and bent by a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. Sound measurement process to measure,
A power supply unit that supplies power to the motor of the stapler is supplied with a predetermined power from the start of power supply toward the motor, and the predetermined time elapses. And a power control process of supplying a lower power as the volume of the sound measured by the sound measuring unit is smaller than the predetermined power. A motor is provided in the housing, and power is supplied to the motor of the stapler that performs a stapling operation by inserting a staple needle into a bundle of a plurality of stacked recording media and bending it with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor. Executed by the program execution unit of the stapler drive device including a power supply unit for executing the program and a program execution unit for executing the program.
A sound measurement unit for measuring the magnitude of sound emitted outside the housing;
The power supply unit is configured to supply a predetermined power for a predetermined time from the start of power supply to the motor, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined power is supplied. A stapler control program, comprising: a power control unit configured to supply lower power as the sound size measured by the sound measurement unit is lower. An apparatus housing disposed adjacent to a housing of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium;
A bundle forming unit that is built in the apparatus housing, receives a recording medium from the image forming apparatus, and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that is built in the apparatus housing, includes a motor, and executes a staple operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the device housing;
The power supply unit is configured to supply a predetermined power for a predetermined time from the start of power supply to the motor, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined power is supplied. A post-processing apparatus, comprising: a power control unit that supplies the lower power as the sound power measured by the sound measurement unit is lower. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium; and
An apparatus casing disposed adjacent to a casing constituting the image forming apparatus;
A bundle forming unit that is built in the apparatus housing, receives a recording medium from an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium, and forms a bundle by stacking a plurality of the recording media;
A stapler that is built in the apparatus housing, includes a motor, and executes a staple operation for inserting and bending a staple into the bundle with a driving force generated by the rotation of the motor;
A power supply unit for supplying power to the motor of the stapler;
A sound measuring unit for measuring the volume of sound emitted outside the device housing;
The power supply unit is configured to supply a predetermined power for a predetermined time from the start of power supply to the motor, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the predetermined power is supplied. A post-processing device comprising: a power control unit configured to supply lower power as the volume of the sound measured by the sound measurement unit is lower.
An image forming system comprising: The sound measuring unit is
A microphone that is disposed at a location away from both the image forming apparatus and the post-processing apparatus and that detects sound emitted outside the apparatus housing;
The image forming system according to claim 9, further comprising a calculation unit configured to calculate a volume of sound emitted outside the apparatus housing based on a detection result of the microphone.

Images