JP6230858B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus as a sheet processing apparatus that binds and folds sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer at a predetermined crease position, and performs post-processing on continuously conveyed sheets. It is related with the apparatus which can do.

  In general, a post-processing apparatus that aligns sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus and folds them into a staple or booklet is widely known. These post-processing apparatuses are provided with a plurality of sheet stacking means for post-processing the sheets. For example, the first sheet stacking means stacks the sheets in a bundle and staples them, and the second sheet stacking means in a bundle. The apparatus has a configuration in which the stacked sheets are saddle-stitched and folded into a booklet shape. Further, in recent years, a binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle without using a metal binding needle (metal staple) and a post-processing apparatus using the binding apparatus have been provided.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for bookbinding without using metal binding staples and improving the recyclability and safety of the bound recording material bundle. In this apparatus, a folding plate and a pair of folding rollers fold a sheet bundle stacked on a stacking stacker in which a plurality of sheets are sequentially stacked. Then, the binding mechanism unit performs a process of binding the sheet bundle without using metal staples in the sheet bundle at a position separated from a folding position by the folding plate of the sheet bundle and the pair of folding rollers. An apparatus is disclosed.

As the binding mechanism of the binding mechanism unit, the sheet bundle is deformed in the thickness direction after the folding process of the sheet bundle folding plate and the pair of folding rollers, and the sheet bundle is bound. In the deformation in the sheet thickness direction, the crimping teeth formed in the concave and convex shapes engage with each other from above and below to cause local deformation in the sheets, and the sheets are intertwined and bound.

In addition, as another configuration example of the binding mechanism using the pressure-bonding teeth, a cutter mechanism that cuts and deforms the sheet bundle to bind the sheets is shown. This apparatus includes a U-shaped blade that cuts a U-shaped cut into a sheet bundle, a slit blade that forms a slit-shaped cut in accordance with the width of the U-shaped blade, and a U-shaped formed by the U-shaped blade. Is also shown that is bound by a pushing means for pushing into the slit blade formed by the slit blade.

  In any of these binding devices, a portion to which the binding device performs binding is set so as to be separated by a predetermined interval from the folding position of the sheet bundle to the binding position (FIG. 7, Patent Document 1). (See FIG. 11). In other words, the folding position and the binding position are set differently.

  Similarly, Patent Document 2 provides a notch forming portion bent in a convex shape on one side of a sheet bundle and a binding portion for binding the sheet bundle inside a range surrounded by the notch forming portion of the sheet bundle, and both ends of the notch portion. In this section, a folding position in which a sheet bundle is folded in two at a part is disclosed.

This is a press apparatus, which has a punch portion and a die portion, and punches a sheet bundle by the punch portion. The punch part has an engaging piece forming blade, a hole forming blade, and a notch forming blade (FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2). The engagement piece forming blade cuts the sheet bundle to provide engagement pieces on the sheet. The hole forming blade is provided with a locking piece, which is a hole through which the engaging piece is inserted, on the paper 5. The cut forming blade cuts the paper. The cut forming blade is bent (curved) into a convex shape on one side. Both end portions of the engagement piece forming blade and both end portions of the cut forming blade are located on a straight line. The sheet bundle is conveyed so that the folding position of the sheet bundle coincides with this straight line. On the other hand, the die portion is provided with a first insertion hole into which the engaging piece forming blade is inserted, an insertion hole into which the hole forming blade is inserted, and an insertion hole into which the cut forming blade is inserted.

Similarly to Patent Document 1, both ends of the engagement piece forming blade and the both ends of the notch forming blade are also located on a straight line and set this position as the folding position. It is shifted.

  Incidentally, Patent Document 3 discloses a stapler device that uses paper staples without using metallic staples in consideration of the environment and safety. In this case, the operator manually inserts a bundle of sheets into the binding processing port and binds them, but cuts the paper staples at the beginning of the connected staples in which a plurality of substantially straight paper staples are connected in parallel, and substantially copies the staples. It is formed in a letter shape, and both leg portions of the staple are passed through the binding paper, and both leg portions are bent along the binding paper and bonded to each other, thereby binding the binding paper using easily deformable paper staples. A tabletop stapler that makes this possible is shown.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228688 discloses that the perforation position is calculated from the number of sheets, thickness information, and the like when performing a ring binder for perforation of the sheet bundle end face.

  Each of the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 is an apparatus that binds the middle of a sheet bundle, but employs an apparatus configuration that provides a booklet by shifting the folding position and the binding position. Further, Patent Document 3 is an apparatus that binds with paper staples without using metal for staples when binding a sheet bundle. Patent Document 4 is an apparatus that performs a dedicated ring binding on the end face of a sheet bundle.

JP 2011-201698 A JP 2013-126904 A Japanese Patent No. 49512929 JP 2012-45879 A

  As described above, in a device that performs post-processing such as stapling and booklet folding by aligning sheets carried out from an image forming apparatus or the like, when performing binding processing and sheet folding processing without using metal staples, The device configuration has the following problems.

  As in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, the portion to which the binding device performs binding is set to be separated by a predetermined interval between the folding position of the sheet bundle and the binding position (FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1). FIG. 11, see FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 11, FIG. 15 of Patent Document 2). In other words, the booklet is generated by setting the folding position and the binding position to be shifted. However, compared with the staple stapled at the same position as the folding position, the binding position is offset from the folding position, so the page without the binding position and the page with the binding position are not. The opening range will be different. Accordingly, since there are pages on the side with the binding position and pages on the side without the binding position, the image will be lost on the page with the binding position unless measures are taken to reduce the print area. Normally, when the folding position is set at a half of the sheet length, the binding position is biased. For example, up to a half page on the cover side, the sheet is turned beyond the folding position. However, the remaining half of the page can only be turned up to the binding position away from the folding position, and it can be considered that an unbalance occurs in the turning range in the same booklet and there is a sense of incongruity.

Further, the binding devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are formed by deforming the sheet itself, and for example, the deformation in the sheet thickness direction is caused by the pressing teeth formed in the concavo-convex shape engaging the sheet from above and below. Although what is shown by causing local deformation and intertwining the sheets together is shown, in order to engage the sheets, it is necessary to engage with a considerable pressure. Further, if the pressure is weak, the binding is insufficient, and there is a problem that the binding is not stable only with the pressure. When the binding by this crimping method is made coincident with the folding position, there is a problem that the deformation force due to the bending of the sheet works and the binding performance is insufficient.

Also, as another binding mechanism, a notch that is bent in a convex shape is formed on one side of the sheet bundle, and a binding portion that binds the sheet bundle is provided inside a range surrounded by the cut of the sheet bundle, and the notch is inserted into this binding portion. What is bound is shown. Since this makes a relatively large cut in the sheet itself, the sheet itself is damaged and the appearance is not so preferred.

  In view of this, binding by sheet crimping and binding by paper staples as shown in Patent Document 3 for binding a sheet bundle without making a large cut in the sheet are conceivable. However, this is one in which the operator manually inserts the edge of the sheet bundle into the binding opening and binds, and there is no consideration for folding and binding at half the position of the sheet bundle shown so far. It was not. Of course, it has not been shown that the binding position and the folding position of the sheet bundle are set to substantially the same position.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a method of ring binding by providing a dedicated ring binding to the end face of a sheet bundle, and does not indicate a device close to a simple ring binding for a folded sheet bundle.

In such a situation, punch holes are punched as necessary, and a binding member is passed through the punch holes to perform binding close to simple ring binding, while normal binding processing is performed without punching the punch holes. It is an issue to provide a variety of bindings by performing direct binding.
In addition, the booklet with different binding types is provided and the punching process for binding to a file is used in combination to facilitate the filing process, and the paper staples penetrate through the punched holes so that the legs can easily penetrate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet processing apparatus that can perform image processing and an image forming apparatus that employs the sheet processing apparatus.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
A transport unit for transporting sheets, a punch punching unit for punching punch holes in a sheet transported by the transport unit, a stack unit for stacking sheets punched by the punch punching unit, and the stack unit A sheet processing apparatus including a binding processing unit that binds the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet with a paper staple , wherein the punch punching unit punches a punch hole in the sheet, and then the paper processing staple is formed in the punch hole in the binding processing unit. And a control unit that performs a ring binding mode in which a binding process is performed by penetrating the sheet, and a direct binding mode in which a binding process is performed with a paper staple directly on a sheet bundle without punching holes in the sheet.

The sheet processing apparatus further includes a folding processing unit that performs a folding process on the sheet bundle bound by the binding processing unit at a predetermined folding position. The binding processing unit includes a control unit that punches holes and binds a sheet bundle by passing paper staples through the punch holes.

The punch punching unit includes control means for performing a filing punch mode in which punching holes for filing capable of filing a sheet are punched in the front and rear of the sheet bundle conveying direction with the sheet folding position interposed therebetween.

The distance between the ring binding mode punch holes and the filing punch and mode punch holes before and after the sheet folding position is the distance between the ring binding mode punch holes and the filing punch mode punch hole spacing. Control means for setting a shorter time is provided.

The punch punching unit includes a control unit that varies the interval between punch holes punched across the folding position in the front and rear directions in the sheet conveyance direction according to the number of sheets conveyed in a bundle.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a conveying unit that conveys a sheet, a punch punching unit that punches punch holes in the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit, and a stack that temporarily accumulates the sheets punched by the punch punching unit as a bundle. , A stopper portion for restricting the leading end in the loading direction to be loaded into the stack portion , a binding processing portion for binding the sheet bundle whose position is regulated by the stopper portion, and a predetermined bundle of sheets bundled by the binding processing portion A sheet processing apparatus including a folding unit configured to perform a folding process on the sheet bundle at a folding position, wherein the punch punching unit punches punch holes across the folding position in the front and back of the sheet conveying direction, and the binding processing unit. is adapted to bind the sheet bundle by the paper staple, the leg portions and the paper staple is the penetrated the punched holes legs are bent inwardly of the sheet stack It consists of a bonding portion for bonding the connecting portions and mutually bent leg for connecting said punching unit and the wire binding mode of binding a sheet in the paper staple is in the binding processing portion without piercing the punched holes and a control means for the direct binding mode of binding a sheet stack by the sheet made staple.

The image forming unit sequentially forms an image on a sheet and a sheet processing apparatus that processes the sheet from the image forming unit. The sheet processing apparatus has the above-described configuration.

For sheets with punch holes, paper staples are passed through the punch holes to perform binding similar to simple ring binding, while sheets with no punch holes are directly bound with paper staples. processing by performing a direct binding of performing, it is possible to provide a binding with a variation.
In addition, the booklet with different binding types is provided and the punching process for binding to a file is used in combination to facilitate the filing process, and the paper staples penetrate through the punched holes so that the legs can easily penetrate. It is also possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus that can perform image processing and an image forming apparatus that uses the sheet processing apparatus.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a sheet post-processing apparatus as a sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a sheet folding unit. is there. Therefore, the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A and a sheet post-processing apparatus B, and the sheet post-processing apparatus B incorporates a sheet folding apparatus C as a unit.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 sends a sheet from the sheet feeding unit 1 to the image forming unit 2, prints the sheet on the image forming unit 2, and then carries the sheet out from the main body discharge port 3. The sheet feeding unit 1 stores sheets of a plurality of sizes in sheet feeding cassettes 1 a and 1 b, and separates designated sheets one by one and feeds them to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes, for example, an electrostatic drum 4, a print head (laser light emitting device) 5 and a developing device 6 arranged around the electrostatic drum 4, a transfer charger 7, and a fixing device 8. An electrostatic latent image is formed by the light emitting device 5, toner is adhered to the developing device 6, an image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 7, and heat fixing is performed by the fixing device 8. The sheets on which images are formed in this way are sequentially carried out from the main body discharge port 3. 9 is a circulation path, and the sheet printed on the front side from the fixing device 8 is turned upside down through the main body switchback path 10 and then fed again to the image forming unit 2 to print on the back side of the sheet. This is the path for duplex printing. The sheet printed on both sides in this way is turned upside down by the main body switchback path 10 and then carried out from the main body discharge port 3.

  11 is an image reading apparatus, which scans an original sheet set on a platen 12 with a scan unit 13 and electrically reads it with a photoelectric conversion element 14 through a reflection mirror and a condenser lens. This image data is digitally processed by the image processing unit, for example, and then transferred to the data storage unit 17 to send an image signal to the laser emitter 5. 15 is a document feeder, which is a feeder device that feeds document sheets stored in the stacker 16 to the platen 12.

  The image forming apparatus A configured as described above is provided with a control unit (controller), and image forming conditions such as sheet size designation, color / monochrome printing designation, number of copies designation, single-sided / double-sided printing designation, enlargement / reduction from the controller panel 18. Printout conditions such as print designation are set. On the other hand, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is stored in the data storage unit 17 in the image forming apparatus A, and the image data is transferred from the data storage unit to the buffer memory. Data signals are sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

  From the controller panel 18, post-processing conditions are also input and designated simultaneously with the image forming conditions. As the post-processing conditions, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding mode”, “sheet bundle folding mode”, or the like is designated. The image forming apparatus A forms an image on the sheet according to the image forming condition and the post-processing condition.

[Configuration of sheet post-processing apparatus]
The sheet post-processing apparatus B connected to the image forming apparatus A receives an image-formed sheet from the main body discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A, and (1) stores the sheet in the first discharge tray 21. (2) Whether the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, and then stored in the first discharge tray 21 (described above “staple”). (Binding mode)) (3) After the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle, they are folded into a booklet and stored in the second discharge tray 22 (the aforementioned “sheet bundle folding mode”). It is configured.

  For this reason, the sheet post-processing apparatus A includes a first paper discharge tray 21 and a second paper discharge tray 22 in the casing 20 as shown in FIG. P1 is provided. The sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is configured by a substantially horizontal straight path in the casing 20. A first switchback conveyance path SP1 and a second switchback conveyance path SP2 that branch from the sheet carry-in path P1 and transfer the sheet in the reverse direction are arranged. The first switchback transport path SP1 is branched from the sheet carry-in path P1 on the downstream side and the second switchback transport path SP2 is branched on the upstream side of the path, and the both transport paths are arranged at a distance from each other.

  In such a path configuration, the carry-in roller 24 and the paper discharge roller 25 are arranged in the sheet carry-in path P1, and these rollers are connected to a drive motor M1 (not shown) that can be rotated forward and backward. Further, a path switching piece 27 for guiding the sheet to the second switchback conveying path SP2 is disposed in the sheet carry-in path P1, and is connected to an operating means such as a solenoid. A punching device 28 for processing punch holes in the sheet from the carry-in entrance 23 is provided on the downstream side of the carry-in roller 24 in the sheet carry-in path P1. The illustrated punching device 28 is arranged on the upstream side of the carry-in roller 24 at the carry-in port 23 so that it can be attached to and detached from the casing 20 according to the device specifications.

[Configuration of the first switchback transport path SP1]
As well shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first switchback conveyance path SP1 arranged on the downstream side (rear end portion of the apparatus) of the sheet carry-in path P1 is configured as follows. A discharge roller 25 and a discharge port 25a are provided at the exit end of the sheet carry-in path P1, and a first stacking unit 29 is provided below the discharge port 25a with a step difference. The first stacking unit includes a tray (hereinafter referred to as “first processing tray 29”) for stacking and supporting sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a. Above the first processing tray 29, the forward / reverse roller 30 is disposed so as to be movable up and down between a position in contact with the sheet on the tray and a stand-by position (a chain line position in FIG. 3). A forward / reverse motor M2 is connected to the forward / reverse roller 30 and rotates clockwise when the sheet enters the first processing tray 29, and counterclockwise after the trailing edge of the sheet enters the tray. It is controlled to rotate. Accordingly, a first switchback transport path SP1 is formed on the first processing tray 29. 31 is a caterpillar belt, and the discharge roller 25 and one end pulley side are pressed against each other, and the tip pulley side is pivotally supported so as to hang down on the first processing tray 29 around the pulley shaft 31a. A driven roller 30 b that is engaged with the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 is provided on the first processing tray 29.

  A first paper discharge tray 21 is disposed on the downstream side of the first switchback conveyance path SP1, and the first paper discharge tray 21 is guided to the first switchback conveyance path SP1 and the second switchback conveyance path SP2. It is comprised so that the front-end | tip of a sheet | seat may be supported.

  With the above configuration, the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 25a enters the first processing tray 29 and is transferred toward the first sheet discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30, and the rear end of the sheet is the first from the sheet discharge outlet. After entering the processing tray 29, when the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 is rotated reversely (counterclockwise in the figure), the sheet on the first processing tray 29 is transferred in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction. At this time, the caterpillar belt 31 switches back and conveys the sheet rear end along the first processing tray 29 in cooperation with the forward / reverse roller 30.

  At the rear end of the first processing tray 29 in the paper discharge direction, a rear end regulating member 32 for regulating the position of the rear end of the sheet and an end face binding staple device 33 are disposed. The illustrated stapling device 33 is constituted by an end-face binding stapler, and staples the staple at one place or a plurality of places on the rear end edge of the sheet bundle stacked on the tray. Further, the trailing edge regulating member 32 is provided along the first processing tray 29 in order to share the function of carrying out the staple-bound sheet bundle to the first paper discharge tray 21 arranged on the downstream side of the first processing tray 29. And reciprocally movable in the paper discharge direction. The carry-out mechanism of the illustrated rear end regulating member 32 includes a grip claw that grips the sheet bundle and a rear end regulating surface 32b that regulates the rear end of the sheet, and moves in the horizontal direction in the figure along a guide rail provided on the apparatus frame. It is configured to be possible. Reference numeral 34a in the figure denotes a drive arm that reciprocates the rear end regulating member 32, and is connected to the paper discharge motor M3.

  Further, the first processing tray 29 is provided with a side aligning plate 34b for aligning the width direction of the sheets stacked on the tray. The side aligning plate 34b is arranged on the left and right sides (see FIG. 3) A pair of alignment plates, which are configured to approach and separate from the center of the sheet, and are connected to an alignment motor (not shown).

  The first switchback conveyance path SP1 configured as described above aligns the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 25a on the first processing tray 29 in the “staple binding mode”, and this sheet bundle is end-bound staple. The apparatus 33 staples one or more rear end edges. Further, in the “print-out mode”, the sheet fed along the first processing tray 29 is transferred between the forward / reverse roller 30 and the driven roller 30b without switchback conveyance of the sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 25a. It is carried out to the first paper discharge tray 21. In this way, the apparatus shown in the figure is characterized in that the apparatus is made compact by supporting the sheets to be stapled by the first processing tray 29 and the first discharge tray 21 in a bridge manner.

[Configuration of second switchback transport path]
The configuration of the second switchback conveyance path SP2 branched from the sheet carry-in path P1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the second switchback transport path SP2 is disposed substantially vertically in the casing 20, and a transport roller 36 is disposed at the path entrance and a transport roller 37 is disposed at the path exit. Also on the downstream side of the second switchback conveying path SP2 stack portions constituting the second processing tray to Shi temporary accumulation collates the sheets fed from the transport path (hereinafter, referred to as stacker unit 35) is provided ing. The illustrated stacker unit 35 is constituted by a conveyance guide for transferring a sheet. A saddle stitch stapler 40 and folding roller means 45 are disposed in the stacker portion 35. Hereinafter, these configurations will be sequentially described.

  The transport roller 36 disposed at the path entrance of the second switchback transport path SP2 is configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation, and a sheet carried into the first switchback transport path SP1 on the downstream side is temporarily transferred to the second switchback transport path SP2. It is held (stayed) in the transport path SP2. This is because the preceding sheets are stacked on the first processing tray 29, stapled by a job end signal, and then the sheet bundle is transported from the image forming apparatus A to the sheet delivery path P1. Is temporarily held in the second switchback conveyance path SP2, and after the processing of the preceding sheet is completed, the standby sheet is conveyed from the first switchback conveyance path SP1 onto the first processing tray 29. It is to do. Its operation will be described later.

  First, the stacker unit 35 is formed by a guide member that guides conveyance of a sheet, and is configured to stack and store sheets on the guide. The illustrated stacker unit 35 is connected to the second switchback transport path SP <b> 2 and is disposed substantially vertically in the center of the casing 20. As a result, the apparatus is made compact and compact. The stacker portion 35 is formed in a length shape that accommodates the maximum size sheet therein, and in particular, the illustrated shape is curved or bent so as to protrude to the side where the saddle stitching stapler 40 and the folding roller means 45 described later are disposed. It is configured.

  On the rear end side in the transport direction of the stacker unit 35, a switchback entry path 35a that overlaps the exit end of the second switchback transport path SP2 is connected. This stacks by overlapping the leading edge of the loaded (following) sheet sent from the conveying roller 37 of the second switchback conveying path SP2 and the trailing edge of the stacked (preceding) sheet supported by the stacker unit 35. This is for securing the page order of sheets. Further, the stacker unit 35 is provided with a leading end regulating member (hereinafter referred to as a stopper) 38 as a stopper unit for regulating the leading end of the sheet in the carrying direction, and the stopper 38 is movable along the stacker unit 35. It is supported by a guide rail or the like, and is configured to move between Sh1, Sh2, and Sh3 shown in the figure by shift means MS (not shown).

  When the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh3, the rear end of the sheet (bundle) supported by the stacker unit 35 enters the switchback entry path 35a, and the subsequent sheet sent from the second switchback conveyance path SP2 in this state. Will surely be stacked above the accumulated sheets. When the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh2, the center of the sheet (bundle) supported by the stacker unit 35 is positioned at a binding position X of a saddle stitching stapler 40 described later. Similarly, when the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh1, the folding position where the folding plate (hereinafter referred to as the folding blade 46) is inserted into the folding roller means 45 at the center of the sheet bundle that is stapled and supported by the stacker portion 35. Position to Y. Accordingly, the illustrated positions Sh1, Sh2, and Sh3 correspond to the folding position, the binding position, and the next sheet receiving position, respectively.

  A sheet side edge aligning member 39 is disposed in the stacker unit 35 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The sheet side edge aligning member 39 is aligned so that the position in the width direction of the sheet carried into the stacker unit 35 and supported by the stopper 38 is matched with the reference. That is, the sheet side edge is aligned and aligned by the sheet side edge alignment member 39 in a state where the stopper 38 is positioned at the position Sh3 and the entire sheet is supported by the stacker portion 35. In the illustrated apparatus, the sheet side edge aligning member 39 is composed of a pair of left and right aligning plates so that the sheets are width-aligned and aligned based on the center reference. The sheet bundle supported on the sheet is aligned and aligned. For this reason, the sheet side edge alignment member 39 is connected to an alignment motor M5 (not shown).

[Composition of saddle stitching stapler]
The saddle stitching stapler 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, a binding position X is set on the upstream side and a folding position Y is set on the downstream side along the stacker unit 35, and a saddle stitching stapler 40 that binds a sheet bundle with a paper staple 60 at the binding position X. Is arranged. The saddle stitching stapler 40 is a clincher unit 42 that bends the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 that is driven into the driver unit 41 that drives the paper staple 60 into the sheet bundle 100 and that bonds the legs to each other. Each unit is configured to be opposed to each other with the stacker unit 35 interposed therebetween.

5 to 8 shows a non-separation type in which the driver unit 41 and the clincher unit 42 are integrally formed on the frame and are not separated, and FIGS. 9 to 11 show these units vertically. The separated type is shown.

FIGS. 12 to 14 show a configuration of a paper staple 60 loaded on the saddle stitching stapler 40 and binding a sheet bundle. As will be described later, the paper staple 60 referred to in the present application is made of paper. This is a staple for binding a sheet bundle. The paper staples here may be thin plastic materials or the like as long as they are materials that are not only completely paper materials but also have the same flexibility as paper and can be discarded without being separated from paper. .

First, the outline of the non-separation type saddle stitch type stapler shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the saddle stitching stapler 40 is positioned below a drive motor 56 for driving staples when performing a binding operation with a paper staple 60, which will be described later. And a base 109 that supports the drive motor 56 and the frame 108.

As shown in FIG. 5, the drive motor 56 is rotatably attached to the upper portion of the frame 108. The drive motor 56 rotates the driver cam 52 when performing a binding operation. Further, when loading, for example, a roller-like staple 70 in which individual paper staples 60 are connected to a staple holder 111 of a frame 108 described later, the staple cover 106 on the left side of the drive motor 56 is released, thereby releasing the frame. The upper surface of 108 is open.

The frame 108 includes a staple cartridge 51 as a staple loading unit for loading the roller-shaped staple 70 at the rear end. Further, the frame 108 includes a substantially planar conveyance path 113 as a staple conveyance unit that conveys the paper staple 60 forward from the staple holder 111. Plate springs (not shown) are provided on the left and right sides of the conveyance path 113.

Further, the frame 108 is in the vicinity of the front end portion of the conveyance path 113 and rotates the driver cam 52 by driving the drive motor 56 to cut the paper staple 60 and form it into a substantially U shape. As a forming plate 115. The forming plate 115 is cut and molded. Further, the frame 108 includes a driver unit 41 as a staple penetrating portion for allowing the paper staple 60 to penetrate the binding sheet by driving of the drive motor 56. The driver unit 41 has a driver 53 that moves up and down a cutter blade 71 that penetrates the hole in the sheet. Further, the frame 108 includes a sheet presser 119 for pressing the binding sheet when the paper staple 60 is cut, molded, and penetrated.

Further, the frame 108 moves the paper staple 60 to the lower position of the conveyance path 113 from a position where the paper staple 60 is cut and molded to a position where the paper staple 60 penetrates the sheet bundle 100. As a moving mechanism, a pusher 117 biased forward by a spring is provided. Below the forming plate 115, the driver 53, the sheet presser 119, and the pusher 117, a sheet insertion slot 107 into which a binding sheet bundle to be bound is inserted and a table 120 on which the binding sheet is installed are provided.

At the bottom of the table 120, after passing through the binding sheet bundle 100 at the penetration position, both leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are bent along the sheet bundle 100, and both the bent leg portions 61 and 62 are bonded together. For this purpose, a bent portion is provided. A clincher unit 42, an extruding unit 124, and a clincher slider 123 are provided as bent portions of the saddle stitching stapler 40, and the extruding unit and the slider 126 are moved by the clincher motor 122 at an appropriate timing. The saddle stitch stapler 40 includes a clincher unit 42 including a clincher lifter 129 that supports a clincher center 127 and a clincher left 128 to determine a position as a bent portion.

 The saddle stitching stapler 40 has such a configuration, and moves the driver unit 41 through the sheet bundle 100 installed on the table 120 in the sheet insertion opening 107 based on the operation of the drive motor 56. Then, the sheet bundle 100 is made to pass through the holes, and the paper staple 60 is inserted into the holes and bound.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a cutter blade 71 provided for passing the paper staple 60 through the sheet bundle at the tip of the driver 53 shown in FIG. 7 and its operation. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the paper staple 60 formed in a U shape by the forming plate 115 is set on the cutter blade 71 by the pusher 117. FIG. 8B shows a state in which the cutter blade is inserted into the sheet bundle 100 while holding the paper staple 60 when the driver unit 41 is lowered while being set on the cutter blade 71. Thereafter, the legs 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are folded inward by the extrusion unit 124 and the clincher unit 42 and joined to each other. In accordance with this operation, when the driver 53 returns to the upper position, the sheet bundle 100 is bound by the paper staple 60, while the cutter blade 71 returns to the original position as shown in FIG. Wait for 60. In this way, the sheet bundle 100 is bound.
The details of the configuration of each part as the stapler of the saddle stitching stapler 40 are detailed in the cited document 3, and the description thereof is omitted here.

Next, the arrangement of the stacker portion 35 of the saddle stitching stapler 40 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the left and right saddle stitching staplers shown in FIG. 5 are arranged one by one at the left and right at the position intersecting the sheet conveyance direction. That is, the carriage 43 on which the saddle stitching stapler 40 is placed on the left and right is placed on the stacker portion so as to be movable according to the length in the width direction of the sheet. The saddle stitching stapler 40 has a forming plate 115 that forms a paper staple 60 in a crown shape and a drive motor 56 that moves a driver 53 that drives the paper staple 60 into a sheet bundle. Are connected through. Accordingly, the drive cam 56 rotates the driver cam 52 to drive the paper staple 60 into the sheet bundle 100. Further, the leg portions 61 and 62 are folded inward by the clincher unit 42, and the leg portions 61 and 62 are bonded together by an adhesive portion 63 in which an adhesive is applied to the leg portions. The paper staple 60 is connected to and stored in the staple cartridge 51 of the saddle stitching stapler 40 and is cut for each staple to be driven by the stapler.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the saddle stitching stapler 40 configured as described above is sequentially stacked with the sheets to be saddle stitched in contact with the stopper 38 which is the leading end regulating member at the leading end in the loading direction. Stacked in the unit 35. In this stacking, as described above, when the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh3, the rear end of the sheet (bundle) supported by the stacker portion 35 enters the switchback entry path 35a, and in this state, the second switchback. The subsequent sheets sent from the conveyance path SP2 are surely stacked above the accumulated sheets. Thereafter, the stopper 38 is moved to the Sh1 side in accordance with the carry-in of the subsequent sheet and is stored in the stacker unit 35. When the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh2, the center of the sheet (bundle) supported by the stacker unit 35 is positioned at the binding position X of the saddle stitching stapler 40 described later. Similarly, when the stopper 38 is positioned at the illustrated position Sh1, the center of the sheet bundle 100 stapled and supported by the stacker unit 35 is positioned at the folding position Y where the folding blade 46 is inserted into the folding roller means 45. It has become. Accordingly, the illustrated positions Sh1, Sh2, and Sh3 correspond to the folding position, the binding position, and the next sheet receiving position, respectively.
For example, when the sheet bundle 100 that has been raised is half the conveyance direction (1/2 in the length direction), in the case of the present application, when the binding position X in FIGS. 4 and 6 is reached, The stopper 38 stops the movement of the sheet bundle 100 and waits for the paper staple 60 to be driven. Note that the sheet binding position X is the same as the folding position Y, which will be described later, and the sheet bundle, and the binding position is the folding position.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the paper staple 60 is driven into the sheet bundle 100 by the saddle stitching stapler 40 and the binding process is performed. The paper staple 60 is set by the movement of the stopper 38 so as to be driven across the folding position in the sheet conveying direction. In the illustrated example, the leg portions 61 and 62 of the left and right paper staples 60 are driven across the folding position, and the staple bundle connecting portion 60a of the leg portion conveys the sheet bundle to the approximate center of the folding position Y described later. It is located along the same direction as the direction. By setting this position, the sheet bundle 60 connecting portion (hereinafter referred to as the staple leg connecting portion 60a) is easily folded together with the leg portions 61 and 62 inside as well as the sheet bundle folding process. That is, the paper staple 60 is positioned so as to bind the sheet bundle 100 across the folding position at the substantially central portion in the carry-in direction, which is the folding position of the sheet bundle.

[Other embodiments of saddle stitching stapler / upper and lower separation type]
Up to this point, the non-separation type in which the driver 53 side and the clincher unit 42 side of the saddle stitching stapler 40 are not separated has been described. This can be configured as a non-separable type since the direction of the staple leg connecting portion 60a of the paper staple 60 is set in the same direction as the sheet conveying direction and the binding position is set so as to straddle the sheet folding position. However, as another type, a separation type in which the driver 53 side and the clincher unit 42 side are separated as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 can be set close to the center in the width direction of the sheet bundle.

This separation type will be described. In addition, the thing with the same function is abbreviate | omitting detailed description as the same number. First, in FIG. 9, the driver unit 41 side and the clincher unit 42 side are completely separated vertically. For this reason, the driver 53 and the like that are the mechanism of the driver unit 41 are placed on the base 109 that also serves as the upper sheet guide. The mechanism portion on the clincher unit 42 side is placed on the clincher base 130. Accordingly, the sheet bundle 100 is conveyed and bound along the table 120 from the near side to the far side in FIG.

10 includes the saddle stitching stapler 40 shown in FIG. 9 in which the driver 53 side and the clincher unit 42 side are completely separated from each other in the binding position X. In this case, since all of the saddle stitching stapler 40 can be disposed in the stacker portion 35, the width direction can be made more compact than that in FIG. Other mechanisms are the same as the saddle stitching stapler 40 shown in FIG.

The saddle stitching 40 configured in this way is configured such that the driver unit 41 and the clincher unit 42 are separated and face each other, and a sheet bundle can pass between them. Accordingly, it is possible to staple the central portion of the sheet bundle and other arbitrary positions.

With respect to the saddle stitching stapler 40 configured as described above, the sheet for performing saddle stitching is applied to the stopper 38 which is the leading edge regulating member, and the second processing tray (stacker) is sequentially applied. Stacked. At the time of stacking, the sheet is first stopped at the lowermost position Sh1, and then raised to Sh2 to wait for the next sheet to be carried in, and then moved to the position of Sh3 as the binding position at the center of the sheet to perform the binding process. Thereafter, in the case of the present application, the sheet is lowered to Sh2 at the folding position where the sheet center, which will be described later, is folded. The stopper 38 is moved up and down by a moving mechanism (not shown). In other words, when the binding position is half of the transport direction of the raised sheet bundle (1/2 in the length direction), in the present case, the sheet is at the binding position X in FIGS. 4 and 6. The movement of the bundle is stopped and waiting for the paper staple 60 to be driven. Further, the folding position of the sheet bundle 100 is the same position in the sheet bundle as the folding position Y described later, and the binding position is the folding position.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the paper staple 60 is driven into the sheet bundle 100 by the saddle stitching stapler 40 and the binding process is performed as in FIG. The paper staple 60 is set by the movement of the stopper 38 so as to be driven across the folding position in the sheet conveying direction. In the illustrated example, the leg portions 61 and 62 of the left and right paper staples 60 are driven across the folding position, and the staple leg connecting portion 60a of the leg portion is positioned approximately at the center of the folding position Y described later. It is like that. By setting at this position, the staple bundle connecting portion 60a of the paper staple 60 is easily folded with the legs 61 and 62 inside as well as the sheet bundle folding process. In the paper staple 60 of FIG. 11, the interval between the staples in the sheet width direction is shorter than that of FIG. This is because the saddle stitching stapler 40 is divided vertically with the sheet conveyance path interposed therebetween so that the driving position of the staple 60 can be set arbitrarily.

[Composition of paper staples]
Here, the paper staple 60 loaded in the saddle stitch stapler 40 of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIGS. 12 and 13 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration of a paper staple 60 and a roller-like staple 70 in which a plurality of paper staples 60 are connected in parallel. FIG. 12A is a plan view showing details of the paper staple 60. FIG. 12B is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper staple 60 is formed in a substantially U shape, and FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the binding sheet bundle 100 is bound by the paper staple 60. It is. FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the roller-shaped staple 70 in a state where the paper staple 60 is wound in a roller shape. For example, these are configured as follows. The basic form is detailed in the conventional cited document 3.

 First, as shown in FIG. 12A, a plurality of long and substantially straight paper staples 60 are connected in parallel. Each paper staple 60 has, for example, a width of about 6 to 12 mm in the vertical direction (the connecting direction of the paper staples 60) in FIG. 12A, and in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction of the staples) in FIG. The width is about 25 to 50 mm. The vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction of each paper staple 60 is formed in a trapezoidal shape, and the width becomes narrower toward the tip. Further, an adhesive portion 63 to which an adhesive is applied is provided on the back surface in the vicinity of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of each paper staple 60.

In addition, an elliptical feed hole is provided at a predetermined position from both ends of the sides where the paper staples 60 are connected and connected. Each paper staple 60 is completely cut off as a slit between the two feeding holes. Out of the two feed holes, the paper staples 60 are connected as connecting and connecting portions 68 up to both ends of the side where the paper staples 60 are connected. The feed hole is gradually fed with the feed claws on the stapler side engaged.

This paper staple 60 is provided with a folding position slit portion 64 cut into the inside of each paper staple at a substantially central position of a staple leg connecting portion 60a that connects the legs in the longitudinal direction of the staple. This is to make it easy to fold the paper staple itself so as to surely perform the folding process when folding the paper staple 60 together with the sheet bundle 100 in the folding process described later.

Further, the saddle stitching stapler 40 separates the paper staple 60 from the staples connected as shown in FIG. 12A, and as shown in FIG. The staple leg portions 61 and 62 are formed in a substantially U shape by being bent at a substantially right angle from the left and right of the staple leg connecting portion 60a. As shown in FIG. 12C, the paper staple 60 formed in a substantially U shape has both leg portions 61 and 62 penetrating the sheet bundle 100 folded along the sheet bundle 100, and one leg is formed. The other leg part 62 which has the part 61 and the adhesion part 63 is bonded together. When the sheet bundle 100 is bound with the paper staple 60 and the folding process is performed with the leg side as the inner side, the folding position slit is formed approximately at the center of the staple leg connecting part 60a that connects the leg parts 61 and 62. Since the portion 64 is formed, the paper staple 60 can be easily folded.

The paper staple 60 shown in FIG. 12 is provided with the adhesive portion 63 on the back surface of one leg portion 62 in the longitudinal direction. However, the adhesive portion 63 may be provided on the back surface of both leg portions 61 and 62. In this case, the bonding portion 63 is bonded to the back surface of the sheet bundle with the leg portion 62 and bonded to the back surface of the leg portion 62 with the bonding portion 63 of the leg portion 61. In the paper staple 60 as well, the folding position slit portion 64 is provided in the staple leg connecting portion 60a, so that the folding process is reliably performed. As shown in FIG. 13, the paper staple 60 is wound around the saddle stitching stapler 40 in a roller shape and stored.

Further, the paper staple 60 in the present application is subjected to the following process so that the folding process after the binding is performed reliably. This is because the folding position slit portion 64 is formed at the central portion in the connecting direction of the staple leg connecting portion 60a shown in FIG. 12, and also on both leg portions 61 and 62 side as shown in FIG. A folding position slit portion 64 is provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the legs are bonded to each other, the folding position slit 64 of the staple leg connecting portion 60a and the folding position slits 65, 66 on the leg side overlap each other. In this case, when the folding process is performed, the respective folding position cuts (hereinafter referred to as leg side folding position slit portions) 65 and 66 are folded.

In particular, in the case of FIG. 14, the width α of the staple longitudinal direction of the connecting portion folding position slit portion 64 provided in the approximate center of the staple leg connecting portion 60a and the width of the leg side folding position slit portions 65 and 66 are provided. Is set so that β is larger than α (in the length relationship of α <β). With such a relationship, even if the number of sheet bundles to be folded after binding is increased and the folding position cut on the leg portion is slightly shifted, the folding position slit portion 64a of the coupling portion and the folding portion on the leg portion side are folded. Since the position slit portions 65 and 66 are overlapped with each other, the folding process is performed in the overlapped area, so that the sheet bundle 100 that is easily and reliably bound by the paper staple 60 is also the longitudinal length of the paper staple 60. Can be folded in half at the center in the direction.

[Configuration of folding roller means]
Next, the configuration of the folding roller means will be described. At the folding position Y arranged on the downstream side of the saddle stitching stapler 40, as shown in FIG. 15A, the folding roller means 45 for folding the sheet bundle and the sheet bundle at the nip position NP of the folding roller means 45. A folding blade 46 is provided for inserting the. The folding roller means 45 is composed of rollers 45a and 45b that are in pressure contact with each other, and each roller is formed to have a substantially maximum sheet width. The rollers 45a and 45b constituting the folding roller means 45 are fitted in the long grooves of the device frame (not shown) so that the rotary shafts 45ax and 45bx are pressed against each other and are urged by the compression springs 45aS and 45bS in the pressure contact direction. ing. Note that at least one of the rollers may be supported by a shaft so as to be movable in the press-contact direction, and an urging spring may be wound around one of the rollers.

  The pair of folding rollers 45a and 45b are formed of a material having a relatively large friction coefficient such as a rubber roller. This is because the sheet is bent and transferred by a soft material such as rubber, and may be formed by lining the rubber material.

Incidentally, the folding roller means 45 is formed in an uneven shape as shown in FIG. 17, and a predetermined gap 144 is formed in the sheet width direction. FIG. 17 shows only one roller 45a of the folding roller, but the other roller 45b having the same shape is in pressure contact with each other as shown in FIG. 15a.

The folding roller 45a includes a large-diameter portion 145 that is slightly long in the sheet width direction, a folding-roller small-diameter portion 146 into which a tip of a folding blade described later is inserted, a large-diameter portion 147 that is slightly shorter in the width direction, and a little longer in the center. The large diameter portion 145 is located. This shape is formed symmetrically as shown in FIG. 17, and the other roller 45b (not shown in FIG. 17) has the same shape. Therefore, the aforementioned gap 144 of the rollers 45a and 45b is generated in the range of the small-diameter portion 146 of the folding roller. The gap 144 is arranged so as to coincide with the unevenness of the folding blade 46 as described below, and consideration is given so that the leading end of the folding blade can easily enter between the roller nips 45a and 45b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the tip of the folding blade corresponds to the gap 144, that is, the folding roller small-diameter portion 146 and is located closest to the joining point 45sg of the folding roller means 45 (from the folding side from the folding side). The longest tip portion) is located, and the folding blade long portion 140 (the shortest tip portion from the folding blade 46 side) farthest from the joining point 45sg of the pair of folding rollers is located corresponding to the folding roller large diameter portion 145. Yes. This is because the sheet bundle 100 to be folded in half is surely sandwiched between the folding roller means 45 by the folding blade short part 141 and folded, while the folding blade long part 140 is sandwiched between the folding roller means 45 and becomes inoperable. In order to prevent this, the positional relationship is uneven.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a relatively short folding roller large-diameter portion 147 is positioned corresponding to the portion bound by the paper staple 60, and the folding blade 46 and the folding blade long portion 140 are also correspondingly provided. The folding blade middle long part 142 which is the middle length of the short part 141 is located. That is, the position of the tip of the folding blade 46 is the distance that the distance from the joining point 45sg of the pair of rollers 45a and 45b is the longest distance L1 from the joining point 45sg of the rollers 45a and 45b and the joining point 45sg of the pair of rollers 45a and 45b. The folding blade short portion 141 of L2 and the folding blade intermediate long portion 142 located at a distance L3 between these distances L1 and L2 are used. In other words, the middle long portion y is set to an intermediate length which is shorter by the length z than the length x between the front end of the folding blade long portion 140 and the front end of the folding blade short portion 141 and is the length y. Specifically, the z component is set to about 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.
This intermediate length is set corresponding to the location where the paper staple 60 is bound across the folding position of the sheet bundle, and the legs 61 and 62 are moved by the folding blade 46 as shown in FIG. The length of the tip is set so that the overlapping position is held between the folding rollers and the operation of the folding blade 46 is not hindered. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), the leg portions 61 and 62, which penetrate the sheet bundle 100 of the paper staple 60 and are joined to each other, are sandwiched by the folding roller large-diameter portion 147 of the folding roller means 45, and this paper staple is also used. Can be folded.

[Other Embodiments of Folding Blade and Folding Roller]
In the folding mechanism of FIG. 17, the distance between the pair of rollers 45a and 45b from the joining point 45sg of the pair of rollers 45a and 45b and the rollers 45a and 45b corresponding to the rollers 45a and 45b correspond to the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion. Although a two-stage one is shown, it can be configured as shown in FIG.

That is, the folding blade 46 is configured such that the folding blade long portion 140 that is the farthest from the joining point 45sg of the pair of rollers 45a and 45b corresponding to the large diameter portion 145 of the roller 45a and the folding blade short portion 141 that corresponds to the small diameter portion. A two-stage configuration is used. On the other hand, the rollers 45a and 45b have an intermediate diameter between the large folding roller portion 145 and the small folding roller portion 146 at a position corresponding to the folding blade short portion 141 in addition to the large folding roller portion 145 and the small folding roller portion 146. A folding roller middle diameter portion 148 is provided. The position of the medium diameter portion corresponds to the position where the paper staple 60 is bound across the folding position of the sheet bundle 100.

Accordingly, the folding blade short portion 141 pushes the sheet bundle into the gap 144 between the folding roller small diameter portions 146, while the range corresponding to the binding position of the paper staple 60 is the folding roller intermediate diameter portion 148. The bound paper staple 60 is pushed toward the folding roller.
In particular, in the present application, since the paper staples 60 are joined with the folding blades from the joined leg portions 61 and 62 side, the joining of the leg portions is reinforced.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 19, the degree of overlap of the leg portions when the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are clamped between the folding rollers 45 by the folding blade short portion 141 of the folding blade 46 is adjusted. By this, the degree of binding of the binding can be increased, and the folding accuracy can be increased.

That is, as shown in FIG. 19A, in the position where the leg portions 61, 62 of the paper staple 60 are largely overlapped at the contact position of the folding blade 46 (overlapped from the folding position shown by α). Since the leg portions 61 and 62 are pushed in by the folding blade, it can be expected that the adhesion between the leg portions increases. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19B, at the contact position of the folding blade 46, the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple do not overlap and the leg portions 61 and 62 are joined only on one side. In this case, since the leg parts 61 and 62 do not overlap each other, there is an advantage that the folding operation becomes easy. Accordingly, the operator can arbitrarily set whether to strengthen the binding state or increase the folding accuracy by selecting the position of the paper staple 60.

  By the way, the rollers 45a and 45b are connected to roller driving means (not shown). The roller driving means comprises a roller driving motor M6 and a transmission mechanism (transmission means). The illustrated transmission means includes a transmission belt that decelerates and transmits the rotation of the roller drive motor M6.

  Next, the configuration of the blade driving means of the folding blade 46 will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the folding blade 46 is supported on an apparatus frame (not shown) so as to be movable in the sheet folding direction by a guide rail or the like. The folding blade 46 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate between a standby position retracted from the sheet supported by the stacker portion 35 and a nip position NP of the folding roller means 45. Blade driving means for reciprocating the folding blade 46 is not particularly shown, but is constituted by a blade driving motor M7 and a transmission belt for transmitting the rotation thereof.

  Accordingly, when the blade drive motor M7 rotates forward and backward, the folding blade 46 reciprocates between the standby position and the nip position NP along the guide rail. The folding blade 46 is composed of a plate-like member having a knife edge in the sheet width direction, and its tip is formed in an uneven shape as shown in FIG.

  Next, the sheet folding state by the folding roller means 45 and the folding blade 46 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the sheet bundle 100 supported by the stacker unit 35 in a bundle shape is locked by the stopper 38 in the state shown in FIG. 5A, and the fold position is positioned at the folding position Y in the stapled state.

As described above, the sheet bundle 100 is bound by the paper staple 60 with the saddle stitch stapler 40, and the staple leg connecting portion 60a of the paper staple 60 is positioned on the folding roller means 45 side as shown in the figure. The leg portions 61 and 62 are located on the folding blade 46 side. The staple leg connecting portion 60 a is disposed across the folding position Y of the folding blade 46. The thing of the figure is located in the substantially approximate center. This position is controlled by a stopper 38 that regulates the leading edge of the sheet bundle, and when the setting is completed, a set end signal is output.

Upon obtaining this sheet bundle setting end signal, the sheet folding operation control section 97 rotates the motor M6 at a lower speed than the moving speed of the folding blade 46. This is to create a condition for the first and second rollers 45a and 45b to be driven and rotated by the sheet bundle inserted into the nip position by the folding blade 46, as will be described later.

  Therefore, the sheet folding operation control unit 97 moves the folding blade 46 from the standby position toward the nip position NP at a predetermined speed. The rotational peripheral speed VR of the folding roller means 45 is set to zero or VB> VR with respect to the moving speed VB. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 15B, the sheet bundle is bent at the fold position by the folding blade 46 and inserted between the rollers. At this time, the first folding roller 45 a and the second folding roller 45 b are driven and rotated continuously with the sheet moved by the folding blade 46. Then, the sheet folding operation control unit 97 stops the blade driving motor M7 after the expected time for the sheet bundle 100 to reach a predetermined nip position, and stops the folding blade 46 at the position shown in FIG. In this case, the paper staple 60 is also folded as shown in the figure and is sandwiched between the folding rollers 45. Further, since the folding flade 46 is pushed into the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 toward the sheet bundle 100 side, adhesion between the leg portions is increased. This state is shown as a perspective view in FIG.

Thereafter, the sheet folding operation control unit 97 drives and rotates the first and second folding rollers 45a and 45b again. Then, the sheet bundle 100 is sent out in the feeding direction (left side in the figure).

Thereafter, the sheet folding operation control unit 97 moves and returns the folding blade 46 located at the nip position NP to the standby position in parallel with the feeding of the sheet bundle 100 by the rollers in the state shown in FIG.

  At the same time, the sheet bundle 100 and the paper staple 60 arranged across the folding position of the sheet bundle are also folded with the legs 61 and 62 inside. As a result, the leg portions 61 and 62 are inside the booklet in the folded state, so that the adhesive portion can be prevented from peeling off and the leg portions 61 and 62 can be prevented from being turned over.

[Description of control configuration]
The control configuration of the above-described image forming system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) 80 of the image forming apparatus A and a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “post-processing control unit”) 90 of the sheet post-processing apparatus B. The main body control unit 80 includes an image formation control unit 81, a paper feed control unit 85, and an input unit 83. Then, “image forming mode” and “post-processing mode” are set from the controller panel 18 provided in the input unit 83. As described above, the image forming mode sets the number of printouts, sheet size, color / monochrome printing, enlargement / reduction printing, duplex / single-sided printing, and other image formation conditions. The main body control unit 80 controls the image formation control unit and the paper feed control unit in accordance with the set image forming conditions, and after the image is formed on a predetermined sheet, the sheets are sequentially carried out from the main body discharge port 3.

  At the same time, the post-processing mode is set by input from the controller panel 18. The processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding finishing mode”, “sheet bundle folding finishing mode”, or the like. Therefore, the main body control unit 80 transfers the post-processing finishing mode, the number of sheets, the upper number of copies, and the binding mode (one-position binding or two or more bindings) information to the post-processing control unit 90. At the same time, the main body control unit transfers a job end signal to the post-processing control unit 90 every time image formation is completed.

  The post-processing control unit 90 includes a control CPU 91 that operates the sheet post-processing apparatus B according to a designated finishing mode, a ROM 92 that stores an operation program, and a RAM 93 that stores control data. The control CPU 91 includes a conveyance control unit 94 that conveys the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance 23, a stacking operation control unit 95 that performs the stacking operation of the sheets, and a binding operation control unit 96 that executes the sheet binding process. And a sheet folding operation control unit 97 that executes a sheet folding operation.

  The conveyance control unit 94 is connected to the control circuit for the drive motor M1 of the carry-in roller 24 and the discharge roller 25 of the sheet carry-in path P1 and receives a detection signal from the sheet sensor S1 arranged in this path. It is configured. Further, the stacking operation control unit 95 includes a forward / reverse rotation motor M2 of the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and a discharge motor M3 of a rear end regulating member for stacking sheets on the first stacking unit (first processing tray) 29. Wired to the drive circuit. Further, the binding operation control unit 96 is connected to drive circuits of a drive motor 56 and a clincher motor 122 built in the end binding stapler 33 and the saddle stitching stapler 40 of the stacker unit 35 of the first processing tray 29.

  The sheet folding operation control unit 97 is connected to a driving circuit of a roller driving motor M6 that drives and rotates the first and second folding rollers 45a and 45b. The sheet folding operation control unit 97 is connected to the control circuit of the shift means MS that controls the movement of the conveyance rollers 36 and 37 of the second switchback conveyance path SP2 and the stopper 38 of the stacker unit 35 to predetermined positions. It is wired so as to receive a detection signal from a sheet sensor arranged in the route.

The control unit configured as described above causes the sheet post-processing apparatus to execute the next processing operation.
"Printout mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents, for example, from the first page, and sequentially carries out face-down from the main body discharge port 3. Therefore, the sheet post-processing apparatus B moves the path switching piece 27 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 of the first processing tray 29 based on the signal detected by the sheet discharge outlet 25a, the conveyance control unit 94 moves the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 from the upper standby position to the tray. Then, the forward / reverse roller 30 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Then, the sheet that has entered the first processing tray 29 is carried out toward the first paper discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and stored on the tray. The successive sheets are sequentially carried out to the first paper discharge tray 21 and accumulated and stored on the tray.

  Accordingly, in this printout mode, the sheets formed with the image by the image forming apparatus A are accommodated in the first paper discharge tray 21 via the sheet carry-in path P1 of the sheet post-processing apparatus B. They are stacked and stored in the order of n pages.

"Staple binding finish mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents from the first page to the nth page in the same manner as in the above-described mode, and carries it out from the main body discharge port 3 in a face-down state. Therefore, the path switching piece 27 is moved to the state of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 of the first processing tray 29 based on the signal detected by the sheet discharge outlet 25a, the conveyance control unit 94 moves the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 from the upper standby position to the tray. Then, the forward / reverse roller 30 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Next, the conveyance control unit 94 drives the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 after the estimated time when the sheet trailing edge is carried onto the first processing tray 29. Then, the sheet that has entered from the paper discharge outlet 25a is switched back and conveyed onto the first processing tray 29 along the first switchback conveyance path SP1. By repeating this sheet conveyance, a series of sheets are accumulated in a bundle in a face-down state on the first processing tray 29.

  Note that each time the sheets are stacked on the first processing tray 29, the control CPU 91 operates the side alignment plate 34b to align the width direction positions of the stacked sheets. Next, the control CPU 91 operates the end-face binding and stapling device 33 in response to a job end signal from the image forming apparatus A to bind the trailing edge of the sheet bundle accumulated on the tray. After this stapling operation, the control CPU 91 moves the rear end regulating member 32 that also serves as a bundle carrying-out means from the solid line position in FIG. 3 to the chain line position. Then, the staple-bound sheet bundle is carried out and stored on the first paper discharge tray 21. As a result, a series of sheets formed by the image forming apparatus A are stapled and stored in the first paper discharge tray 21.

"Sheet fold finish mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A finishes a booklet by the sheet post-processing apparatus B. Therefore, the sheet post-processing apparatus B moves the path switching piece 27 of the sheet carry-in path P1 to the state of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, the control CPU 91 stops the sheet discharge roller 25 at the timing when the sheet trailing edge passes the path switching piece 27 with reference to the signal that the sheet trailing edge is detected by the sheet sensor S1, and at the same time, the path switching piece 27 is moved to the position of the broken line in FIG. Moving. Then, the paper discharge roller 25 is reversely rotated (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). Then, the sheet that has entered the carry-in path P1 is reversed in the conveyance direction and is guided from the path switching piece 27 to the second switchback conveyance path SP2. Then, it is guided to the second processing tray (stacker) by the transport rollers 36 and 37 arranged in this path.

  At the timing when the sheet is carried into the stacker unit 35 from the second switchback conveyance path SP2, the control CPU 91 moves the stopper 38 for regulating the leading end of the sheet to the lowermost position Sh1. Then, the entire sheet is supported by the stacker unit 35. In this state, the control CPU 91 operates the above-described sheet side edge aligning member 39 to align the sheets in the width direction. (Note that this width-alignment alignment does not have to be performed on the first sheet, and does not have to be performed every time the sheet enters).

  Next, the control CPU 91 moves the stopper 38 to a position Sh3 where the rear end of the sheet enters the switchback entry path 35a. Then, the rear end of the sheet supported by the guide of the stacker unit 35 moves back to the switchback entry path 35a. In this state, subsequent sheets are sent from the second switchback conveyance path SP2 onto the stacker unit 35, and the subsequent sheets are stacked on the preceding sheet. Then, the stopper 38 is moved from the Sh3 position to the Sh1 position side in accordance with the carry-in of the subsequent sheet.

  Next, the sheet side edge aligning member 39 is operated in the same manner as described above, and the loaded sheet and the sheet supported on the guide are aligned and aligned. By repeating such an operation, the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A are aligned on the stacker unit 35 via the second switchback conveyance path SP2. Therefore, when receiving the job end signal, the control CPU 91 moves the stopper 38 to the position Sh2, and positions and sets the sheet center at the binding position X.

  Therefore, the control CPU 91 operates the saddle stitching stapler 40 to staple the two places in the center of the sheet. (In addition to the two places, one or more places may be provided as necessary.) With this operation completion signal, the control CPU 91 moves the stopper 38 to the position Sh1 and sets the center of the sheet to the folding position Y. To do. Therefore, the sheet bundle is folded in the sequence shown in FIGS. 15A to 15D and the sheet bundle is carried out to the second paper discharge tray 22.

[Description of simple ring configuration with punching]
Next, the mechanism and operation for binding the punch holes with the paper staple 60 in the punching device 28 for punching holes in the sheet constituting the main body of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above, this punching device is arranged between the carry-in roller 24 near the sheet carry-in port 23 of the post-processing device B and a roller on the downstream side thereof. .
FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the punching device viewed from the side of the image forming apparatus A, FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the punching device viewed from the front side of the device A, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which preceded the punch hole. FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a folded sheet bundle is bound with a paper staple 60 and a paper staple 60 is punched into a punch hole, and a filing punch hole is punched in the center. FIGS. 25 to 27 are flowcharts showing a procedure of punching with a punching device and binding with paper staples.
(Explanation of punching mechanism)

As shown in FIG. 21, a punch motor 162 that is a drive source of the punch units 151 and 152 is provided in the casing (upper guide 164 and lower guide 165) of the punching device 28. The drive from the punch motor 162 is arranged to be input to the drive shaft 158 via the gear train 161 and the inlet gear 159.

  The drive shaft 158 is provided with punch units 151 and 152 for punching a predetermined position of the sheet. The punch unit 152 is a unit for punching a filing punch for punching a filing hole fp near the center in the width direction of the sheet. Further, the punch unit 151 punches a simple ring punch hole rp through which the paper staple 60 described so far is penetrated at a position near the side edge of the sheet. Accordingly, the ring punch unit 151 is operated in order to allow the paper staples 60 to penetrate and simple ring binding, and the filing punch unit 152 is operated for punching for filing. In order to punch both the ring and filing punch holes, both the punch units 151 and 152 are operated.

As well shown in FIG. 22, the punch units 151 and 152 differ only in the phase of the rotating cam, and the others have the same configuration. In FIG. 22, a ring punch unit 151 for punching a simple ring punch rp is arranged on the front side, and a filing punch unit 152 for punching a filing punch fp on the rear side.

Each of the punch units 151 and 152 is provided with an eccentric cam 181 that rotates by the rotation of the drive shaft 158 and a cam holder 180 that rotates by being driven outside the transformation cam. A punch blade 153 for punching a punch hole in the sheet is pivotally supported by a punch blade attachment pin 182 at the lower end of the cam holder 180. The punch blade 153 is guided to move up and down by a punch blade guide 154 attached to an upper frame 150 constituting a part of the frame of the punching device 28. A punch die 155 through which the punch blade 153 passes is opposed to the lower side of the upper frame 150 with the sheet conveyance path (P1) 156 interposed therebetween.

By the way, the upper frame 150 that supports the punch blade guide 154 and the like and the punch lower frame 170 on which a die and the like are formed are integrally movable in the left-right direction in FIG. This can be moved by a roller 171 on the punch support frame 167. This movement is performed by a rack 172 provided on the right side of FIG. 21 of the upper guide 164 and a gear 173 engaged therewith. The rack 172 is moved by a moving motor 174 via a gear 173, and by this movement, an upper guide 164 including a punch unit 151, 152, a punch blade guide 154 and a punch lower frame 170 including a punch die 155 are provided on the lower guide 165. The punch support frame 167 is slid left and right with a roller.

In this sliding operation, the upper guides 164 such as the punch units 151 and 152 and the punch die 155 are positioned at the most right home position shown in the drawing, and the lower guide is introduced after the sheet is carried into the sheet carry-in path (P1) 156. The moving motor 174 fixed to 165 is driven. By this driving, the gear 173 rotates, and this rotation moves the rack 172 to the left side in the figure. When the sensor 175 detects the side edge of the sheet that is being conveyed by this movement, the driving of the moving motor 174 is stopped. As a result, even if there is some variation in the width direction of the sheet, a desired punch hole can be punched at the same position in all the conveyed sheets. 22, a scrap box 166 that stores punch scrap generated by the punching process by the punch blade 153 is provided in the lower guide 165 below the punch units 151 and 152.

(Explanation of operation of punching device)
The punching device 28 configured as described above operates as follows.
First, when it is detected by the sensor S1 that the sheet is carried in by the carry-in roller 24, the edge in the sheet conveying direction, the center, or in the case of the center, the filing punch hole fr or the paper staple is used as the punch hole. The punching device 28 operates in accordance with the designation of the punching hole punching position rp such as the punching hole rp for the simple ring to be driven or the filing for filing or the fring hole for filing and the punching hole rp for the simple ring.

The description here shows an example in which punch holes are formed in both the filing punch hole fr and the simple ring punch hole rp. As well shown in FIG. 23, the position of 2 / 1L in the sheet conveying direction is the center in the conveying direction from the sheet length information. This position is a folding position Y when the sheet bundle described above is formed, and is also a position where the paper staple 60 is driven across the position. Accordingly, the filing punch hole fr and the simple ring punch hole rp are punched forward and backward in the sheet conveying direction with the folding position interposed therebetween.
When the sheet detected at the center S1 comes to a position β minutes before the center line 1 / 2L, the conveyance of the sheet by the carry-in roller 24 and the discharge roller 25 is temporarily stopped. In this conveyance process, the upper guide supporting the punch units 151 and 152 operates the moving motor 174 until the sensor 175 for detecting the sheet side edge from the rightmost home position position in FIG. 21 detects the sheet side edge. The punch hole fp for filing is set from the part, and the punching process is executed after stopping.

  In this punching process, the punch motor 162 is rotated 90 degrees clockwise in FIG. This rotation angle is determined by detecting the pulse generation flag attached to the inlet gear of the drive shaft 158 by the encoder sensor 160. When the drive shaft 158 rotates counterclockwise, the eccentric cam 181 also rotates counterclockwise. As the eccentric cam 181 rotates, the punch blade 153 of the ring punch unit 151 moves upward in the direction b shown in the figure. On the other hand, the filing punch unit 152 moves downward because the phase of the eccentric cam 181 is different, and punches the filing punch fp in the sheet. After punching the punch hole fp for filing, the punch motor 162 is reversed. At the same time, the carry-in roller 24 and the paper discharge roller 25 are driven and rotated again to further convey the sheet, and the sheet is stopped when the difference from the sheet center line 1 / 2L becomes α. When the punch motor is further rotated in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 22 in this state, the punch blade 153 of the ring punch unit 151 is moved in the direction a shown in the figure, and the legs 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are moved to the sheet. Is punched through a ring punch rp.

  After punching the upstream filing punch hole fp and the simple ring punch hole rf, the sheet is moved again over the 1/2 L center line. This time, a simple ring punch hole r'p and a filing punch hole f'p on the downstream side are drilled. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23, four punch holes are punched across the center 1 / 2L line of the conveyed sheet. When punch punching is completed, the sheets with punch holes punched therein are temporarily accumulated in the stacker portion 35 as described above, and are folded by the saddle stitching stapler 40, the folding roller 35, and the folding blade 46, and the second discharge is performed. Accumulated in a paper tray.

  FIG. 24 shows a state of the sheet bundle 100 discharged after the above folding process. A state is shown in which a ring punch hole rp is drilled near the side edge of the seasheet and is bound by the paper staple 60 by the saddle stitching stapler 40. A filing punch hole fp is formed near the center in the sheet width direction. When binding into a file, the filing punch hole fP is bound through a binding fitting. Therefore, as in the prior art, the completed two-fold sheet bundle can be bound and organized without filing punches with another punch, improving convenience.

  By the way, in the present application, the following consideration is given to the position of the punch hole. In FIG. 24, when the sheet bundle 100 is folded in half, the distance from the fold line, which is a position of 1/2 L of the sheet, to the punch is shifted between the innermost sheet and the outermost sheet. This is because the sheet on the folding blade 46 side is folded without anything in between, and the folding thickness is added toward the outside near the folding roller means 45, and the position of the punch opening approaches the folding position. Accordingly, if the sheets to be folded are all at the same position (distance between α and β in FIG. 23), when the number of conveyed sheets to be bound is large, a deviation occurs when the sheets are folded, an extra load is applied to the paper staple 60, and filing is not performed. It is difficult to put in. Therefore, in the present application, when the sheets are stacked at the stack portion 35, the interval between the α and β punch holes from the center line 1 / 2L of the sheet closest to the folding blade 46 is increased for each sheet sequentially fed. Like to do. By doing so, the deviation of the punch position of the folded sheet bundle 100 is reduced or eliminated, and the paper staple 60 can be easily penetrated and filing. In this embodiment, the α and β of the subsequent sheets are gradually increased with reference to α and β of the first sheet stacked on the stack unit 35, and the interval of α and β of the last stacked sheets is set to the maximum. It is getting bigger.

  As described above, the operation after the punching process is performed and accumulated in the stacker unit 35 is the same as the conventional saddle stitching process without punching, and the difference is that the paper staple 60 of the saddle stitching stapler 40 is used. When the sheet bundle 100 is bound, the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are passed through the simple ring punch holes rp and r′p for binding. Some of them are bound using a ring member, but simple ring binding is possible without using a fairly strong ring member. Further, since punch holes are opened in advance, a hard paper or thick sheet bundle is used. When binding 100, the load resistance when penetrating the legs of the paper staple 60 can also be reduced. As described above, the folding blade 46 that folds the sheet bundle 100 into the folding roller means 45 passes through the punch hole (rp) of the sheet bundle 100 and is then folded inwardly on the leg side 62 of the paper staple 60. The bonding is strengthened by contacting the bonding portion 63.

(Overall procedure including the presence or absence of punching)
Hereafter, the procedure of the embodiment including the case where the punching process is performed using the punching device 28 or the case where the punching process is not performed will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS.
In FIG. 25, when the saddle stitching process is set, the paper staple 60 is bound at least across the folding position of the sheet bundle 100. At this time, in step S100, it is set whether or not the paper staple 60 is to bind the ring punch holes (rp, r′p). In the case of setting (YES), whether to punch filing punch holes (fp, f′p) is set in the next step S101. In the case of setting (YES), in step S102, the position of the length of the target sheet to the position in the conveying direction length 1/2 (folding position / binding position) and ring punch holes (rp, r′p) are set. And the position of punch holes (fp, f′p) for filing is determined. Since this setting has already been described, a description thereof is omitted here. After this setting is performed, the sheet is carried in from the carry-in port 23 of the post-processing apparatus B in step S103. The sheet detection sensor S1 in the vicinity of the carry-in roller 24 detects the leading end, and actually sets the filing punch hole (f′p) position on the upstream side of the sheet (before half the length in the sheet conveyance direction).

Here, the case where the punch holes (rp, r′p) for the ring are not performed in the paper staple 60 in step S100 shown in FIG. 25 will be described. In this case, conditions are set for whether or not to punch for filing in step S105. When filing punching is not performed, only the normal folding process for binding the paper staple 60 is performed, and the process proceeds to a stacker process described later. On the other hand, when performing punching for filing, as already described, as shown in S106, the sheet length is calculated from the size of the sheet to be loaded, and the position for punching is determined centering on the 1 / 2L position of the sheet length. . Thereafter, in S107, the sheet is carried in from the carry-in port 23 of the post-processing apparatus B. In S108, the sheet detection sensor S1 in the vicinity of the carry-in roller 24 detects the leading edge, and actually reaches the filing punch hole (f'p) position on the upstream side of the sheet (before the position 1 / 2L of the length in the sheet conveyance direction). If it has reached, stop the sheet and proceed to the next step.

Next, the subsequent procedure will be described with reference to FIG. First, in the flow (1) of executing both the ring binding punch and the filing punch, the upstream filing punch shown in FIG. 23 is executed in step S113. This punching operation is executed in two pairs on the center side of the punch unit 152 as already described. Next, in step S114, a ring punch position close to the side edge side of the sheet is determined. As shown in FIG. 23, this position is located upstream from the folding position, and punch holes for penetrating the leg portions 61 and 62 of the paper staple 60 are drilled in the left and right positions in step S115. When this is completed, the sheet is conveyed again downstream. At this time, the sheet passes the position of the sheet length 1 / 2L, and the sheet is conveyed to the downstream punch position in step S117. When the downstream punch position is reached, a punch process is executed at a position on the downstream ring punch (r′p) by the ring punch units 151 located on both sides of the punching device 28. Next, in step S118, the downstream filing punch position is confirmed. When the punching position is reached, the filing punch unit 152 punches a filing punch (f'p) at a downstream position for processing the stack portion. Transition.

  Next, the type process (2) in which the filing punch and the paper staple 60 are bound without ring punching will be described with reference to FIG. Since the upstream filing punch position (fp) has been set in the previous operation, the upstream filing punch is executed in step S120. After completion, the sheet is further conveyed and the filing punch position is confirmed in step 121, which is a position exceeding the sheet length 1 / 2L. In step 122, a downstream filing punch (f'p) is punched and the process proceeds to stack processing.

Next, the operation of performing the ring punch, which is the flow of (3), but not performing the filing punch will be described. Since the ring punch position has already been set, it is confirmed in step 125 whether or not the upstream punch position has been reached. When that position is reached, the sheet is stopped, and in step 126, the upstream ring punch is punched. After completion, the sheet is conveyed, and the ring punch position on the downstream side is confirmed in step 127 at a position exceeding 1/2 L of the length in the sheet conveying direction. When this position is reached, a punching operation for the downstream ring punch hole is executed in step 128, and the process proceeds to the processing of the stacker unit.

As described above, punch hole punching processing is performed by (1) punching processing for a simple ring for penetrating paper staples and punch hole processing for filing. (2) A simple ring is not used, but a binding process is directly performed by the paper staple 60 and a punching hole for filing is performed. (3) One that only performs punching processing of punch holes for simple rings. (4) And, as a fourth process, a simple ring punch or a filing punch is not performed, and the process is distinguished only by binding with the paper staple 60 described in the first half of the present application. In any of these cases, as shown in FIG. 27, a binding process with a paper staple 60 is executed, and a folding process is executed with a folding roller 45 and a folding plate 46. Since this operation has already been described, description thereof is omitted here. However, when the punch for the simple ring is punched, the paper staple 60 is penetrated at this position. Needless to say, the punch positions are the same even when the front and rear punch holes in the sheet conveying direction are folded.

As described above, in the present application, when binding a sheet bundle, a punching hole is punched in advance, and a simple ring for passing the binding member through the punching hole and a direct binding without punching the punching hole are performed. Provided is a processing device capable of easily generating various booklets without selectively changing a mode for executing processing and changing a binding processing device.
In addition, in the mode that executes simple rings, paper-made staples are passed through the punch holes, so even if the sheet material is hard or thick, punching is performed in advance at the binding position, making it easy without resistance. Can be bound. Furthermore, by combining with a punch hole for a file, it is possible to meet various requirements of an operator without punching a punch for filing separately.

1 is an overall explanatory diagram of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is an overall explanatory view of a post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet folding apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows a part of post-processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet folding apparatus incorporated in the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the saddle stitch stapler (non-separation type) of the processing apparatus of FIG . FIG. 6 is a layout view of the saddle stitching stapler in FIG. 5 on a stacking stack . FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the sheet bundle is bound across the folding position of the sheet bundle with the saddle stitching stapler of FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a mechanism for binding a sheet bundle with the saddle stitching stapler in FIG. 5 . Explanatory drawing of the saddle stitch stapler (separation type) of the processing apparatus of FIG . FIG. 10 is a layout view of the saddle stitching stapler in FIG. 9 on the stacking stack . FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheets are folded across the folding position of the sheet bundle with the saddle stitching stapler of FIG. 9 . FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a paper staple to be mounted on the saddle stitch stapler of the present application, (a) is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the paper staple is connected, (b) is a perspective view of the paper staple, and (c) is a sheet bundle. Cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the state bound with paper staples. Explanatory drawing which made paper-made staples the roll state. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the paper staple applied to the folded sheet, and FIG. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a state where the sheet bundle is bound with paper staples. FIGS. 5A and 5B are operation explanatory views of the sheet bundle folding device in FIGS. 2 and 4, wherein FIG. 5A is a state diagram in which a sheet bundle bound with paper staples is positioned and set at a folding position, and FIG. (C) is a state diagram in which a sheet bundle and a paper staple are inserted into the folding roller at a nip position, and (d) is a state in which the sheet bundle and the paper staple are folded by a folding roller. Combined unloading state diagram. FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sheet bundle and the paper staple are folded in FIG. 15. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of positions and shapes of folding rollers, folding bleeds, and paper staples of the sheet bundle folding device in FIGS. 2 and 4. FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of positions and shapes of folding rollers, folding bleeds, and paper staple bindings according to another embodiment of the sheet bundle folding apparatus in FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which shows the position of a paper staple and a folding blade, (a) is explanatory drawing which the paper-made staple leg overlaps in the position of a folding flade. (B) is an explanatory view of a state in which the paper staple leg is in the folding flade position and the leg does not overlap . Explanatory drawing of the control structure in the system of FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism of the punch device of FIG . The top view of the punch apparatus of FIG . Explanatory drawing of the sheet | seat which performed the punch process . FIG . 24 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet bundle obtained by performing a binding process on the punch process of FIG. 23 . FIG. 25 is a schematic flowchart explanatory diagram of a sheet bundle folding operation to which punch processing in FIGS. 21 and 24 is added, and is a flow explanatory diagram for selectively performing a simple ring and a filing processing on a sheet. FIG. 26 is a flow explanatory diagram for selectively performing a simple ring and a filing process on the sheet subsequent to FIG. 25. FIG. 27 is a flow explanatory diagram showing saddle stitching and folding in a bundle in which sheets subjected to punching processing following FIG. 26 are placed as a bundle.

A image forming apparatus B sheet post-processing apparatus X binding position Y folding position 29 first processing tray (stacking tray)
34b Side alignment plate 35 Stacker section (second processing tray)
38 Stopper (tip regulating member)
39 Sheet side edge aligning member 40 Saddle stitching stapler 45 Folding roller 46 Folding blade 60 Paper staple 60a Staple leg connecting part 61 Staple leg part (one side)
62 Staple legs (other side)
63 Bonding portion 64 Folding position slit portion 65 Staple leg (one) folding position slit
66 Staple leg (other side) folding position slit
100 Sheet bundle 140 Folding blade long part (part where the distance from the joining point of the folding roller 45 is long)
141 Folding blade short part (part where the distance from the joining point of the folding roller 45 is short)
142 Middle long part of folding blade (intermediate position of long part 140 and short part 141)
144 (between the folding rollers) gap 145 large diameter portion of the folding roller (long in the sheet width direction)
146 Folding roller small diameter part 147 Folding roller large diameter part (short in sheet width direction)
148 Folding roller medium diameter portion 151 Simple ring punch (rp) unit 152 Filing punch (fp) unit 153 Punch blade 162 Punch motor 174 Moving motor 180 Cam holder 181 Eccentric cam

Claims (8)

A transport unit for transporting the sheet;
A punch punching unit for punching punch holes for a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A stack unit for collecting sheets punched by the punch punching unit as a bundle;
A binding processing unit that binds the sheet bundle accumulated in the stack unit with paper staples ;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising:
A ring binding mode in which the punch punching unit punches a punch hole in the sheet and then a paper staple is passed through the punch hole in the binding processing unit to perform a binding process, and the binding process without punching a punch hole in the sheet. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform a direct binding mode in which a binding process is performed on a sheet bundle directly with a paper staple . A folding unit that folds the sheet bundle bound by the binding unit at a predetermined folding position; and the punch punching unit punches forward and backward in the sheet conveying direction with the sheet folding position sandwiched in the ring binding mode. 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing unit is configured to punch a hole and bind the sheet bundle by causing the paper staple to pass through the punch hole. 3. The punch punching unit includes a control unit that performs a filing punch mode in which a filing punch hole capable of filing a sheet is punched forward and backward in a sheet bundle conveying direction with a sheet folding position interposed therebetween. Sheet processing device. The interval between the ring binding mode punch holes and the filing punch mode punch holes in the front and rear direction of the sheet folding position is the distance between the ring binding mode punch holes compared to the filing punch mode punch holes. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit that sets a shorter value. 5. The sheet according to claim 4, wherein the punch punching unit includes a control unit that varies the interval between punch holes punched across the folding position in the front and rear directions in the sheet transport direction depending on the number of sheets transported in a bundle. Processing equipment A transport unit for transporting the sheet;
A punch punching unit for punching punch holes for a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit;
A stack part for temporarily collecting sheets punched by the punch punching part as a bundle;
A stopper portion that regulates the leading end in the loading direction to be loaded into the stack portion ;
A binding processing unit for binding a bundle of sheets whose position is regulated by the stopper unit ;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a folding unit configured to perform a folding process on the sheet bundle at a predetermined folding position of the sheet bundle bound by the binding processing unit;
The punching unit, the binding processing unit with drilling punched holes across the folding position in the front-rear sheet conveying direction is made to bind the sheet bundle by the paper staple, the punch holes of the paper staple sheet bundle It consists of a leg portion which is bent inward is through an adhesive portion for adhering the connecting portions and mutually bent leg part connecting the legs, the punching sheet and stapling wire binding mode in this paper staple part sheet processing apparatus characterized by having a direct binding mode and control means for for binding the sheet bundle by the paper staples without the binding processing unit perforating punch holes. A transport unit for transporting the sheet;
A stack portion for collecting a first bundle of sheets having perforations formed therein and a second bundle of sheets having no perforations formed thereon;
A binding processing unit that binds the sheet bundle accumulated in the stack unit with paper staples;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising:
A ring binding mode in which the paper staple is passed through the first bundle in the perforation of the first bundle in the binding processing unit and a binding process is performed on the second bundle with the paper staple in the binding processing unit. A sheet processing apparatus that performs direct binding mode. Image forming means for sequentially forming images on sheets;
A sheet processing apparatus for processing the sheet from the image forming means,
An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .