JP6240518B2 - Adhesive coating apparatus, sheet processing apparatus including the same, and image forming apparatus including the same. - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing apparatus for laminating sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer to form a bundle and folding the bundle at a predetermined folding position as necessary. It is related with the apparatus which can apply | coat an adhesive agent and can stick a sheet | seat together.

  2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a processing apparatus that aligns sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus and folds them into a staple or booklet is widely known. These processing apparatuses include a plurality of sheet stacking means for post-processing the sheets. For example, the first sheet stacking means stacks sheets in a bundle and staples them, and the second sheet stacking means stacks in a bundle. The apparatus is configured to saddle-stitch and fold it into a booklet. Furthermore, in recent years, a binding apparatus that binds a sheet bundle without using a metal binding needle (metal staple) and a processing apparatus using the binding apparatus are being provided in these binding processes.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for bookbinding without using metal binding staples and improving the recyclability and safety of the bound sheets. 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 binds the sheet bundle without using metal staples in the sheet bundle at a position separated from the 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. The deformation in the thickness direction of the sheet is generated by locally deforming the sheet by the press-fitting teeth formed in an uneven shape from above and below, and the sheets are entangled and bound (see FIGS. 4 and 5 of Patent Document 1). ).

  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 for making a U-shaped cut into a sheet bundle, a slit blade for forming a slit-shaped cut for pressing the U-shaped cut, and a U-shaped cut for a slit-shaped cut. Also shown is a binding device that pushes into the notch (see FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1).

  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.

On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a sheet bundle obtained by applying a heat-sensitive adhesive to sheets and bonding the sheets together. In this apparatus, an application unit for applying an adhesive is provided at the entrance of the sheet processing apparatus upstream of the sheet processing apparatus for stacking sheets. Then, an adhesive is applied to a portion where the sheet is folded on one side or both sides of the sheet carried by the application unit, and a relatively long conveyance path to the stacker unit for stacking the sheets and several stages of conveyance rollers are provided in the conveyance path. It is provided and transported. A sheet bundle is generated by pressurizing the position where the adhesive is applied by a pressure roller after discharging to the stacker unit. The sheet bundle is folded into a sheet folding roller with a folding blade and is subjected to folding processing.
The application unit in this processing apparatus may apply a pressure-sensitive adhesive using a roller, or may apply a pressure-sensitive adhesive using an inkjet printer head that discharges the pressure-sensitive adhesive using a piezoelectric element or a thermal element. What to apply is shown.

JP 2011-201698 A JP 2013-112527 A

  As described above, in an apparatus that performs sheet-binding processing, booklet folding, and other processing by aligning sheets carried out from an image forming apparatus or the like, the adhesive application device employed in this apparatus has the following problems.

  First, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the binding device is to bind the sheet by deforming the sheet itself. For example, the deformation in the thickness direction of the sheet is caused by the press-fitting 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, it is conceivable to bind the sheet bundle using the adhesive shown in Patent Document 2 that binds the sheet bundle without binding the sheet bundle by pressing the sheet bundle or greatly cutting the sheet bundle. However , as described above, since this is transported with a relatively long transport path and several stages of transport rollers in the transport path to the stacker unit for stacking sheets, adhesive is applied at the entrance of the apparatus. In order to transport the coated sheet to the stack portion through a relatively long path through a number of transport rollers, the adhesive may adhere to the periphery of the transport path and cause sheet jamming.

  Furthermore, the configuration of application of the pressure sensitive adhesive by the roller is not shown. In addition, in the ink jet system, a complicated ink jet mechanism has to set this control, and it has not been particularly easily adopted in a sheet processing apparatus or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and uses an adhesive without adopting a metal staple and a binding mechanism for deformation of the sheet, and simply applies the adhesive to the sheet. An agent coating apparatus is provided. Further, the present invention provides an adhesive application device that reduces the adhesion of the adhesive to the surroundings and can be easily removed even when adhered, a sheet processing apparatus using the same, and an image forming apparatus using the same. It is an issue.

The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.
Sequentially, an adhesive application device mounted in a sheet processing apparatus that accumulates sheets carried in along a carry-in path in a stacker unit and generates a bundle, the adhesive application device comprising: an apparatus frame; and a receiving path for receiving the connected to the conveyance path sheet, provided on the outlet of the receiving path, the adhesive and spaced apart position from the sheet to permit the movement of the application position and the sheet to be applied against the receiving sheet and adhesive means movable, driving means for moving said adhesive means to said separated position and the application position, the adhesive feeding unit for feeding a new adhesive applied to the sheet by moving the adhesive means by said moving means , up to the provided adhesive means and a position facing to back up the sheet and adhesive-coated sheet adhesive is applied by the applying position of the adhesive means And a Ten, said receiving path, said adhesive means, said drive means, said a supporting adhesive feeding unit and the platen in each of the device frame unit, attachable to configure this unit to the stacker unit The adhesive application device .

Moreover, further the unit, the retraction path inlet of the evacuation route said outlet and said adhesive means of said receiving path makes it possible to switch back transportation in a direction opposite to the direction for carrying the sheet coated with adhesive was placed so as to overlap, the above movably supports the deflection guide for urging the sheet over preparative this overlapping position to the retracted path side from the receiving path to the device frame by adjacent said adhesive means It is an adhesive application device.

Moreover, further the apparatus frame, movably supports the bonding means the adhesive to move the sheet to the adjacent sheet presser for pressing the platen side to said adhesive means prior to application to the sheet to the application position The above-mentioned adhesive applicator.

Further, the adhesive means comprises a transfer tape having an adhesive on the tape substrate, performing coating and pressing the sheet of the adhesive from the supply and the transfer tape of the transfer tape to the coating position to the seat above This is an adhesive application device.

A sheet processing apparatus having an adhesive application device that sequentially generates a bundle by applying an adhesive to a sheet to be carried in, and a carry-in path for carrying the sheet into the adhesive application device in a predetermined carry-in direction; A retraction path that enables switchback conveyance for conveying the sheet coated with the adhesive in a direction opposite to the carry-in direction, and branched in the adhesive application device, and the adhesive application device. The coating apparatus is provided at the apparatus frame, a receiving path connected to the carry-in path for receiving a sheet, and a discharge port of the receiving path, and allows an application position for applying an adhesive to the received sheet and movement of the sheet. and adhesive means capable of moving in a spaced apart position from the sheet, the inlet of the evacuation path provided to overlap the discharge outlet of the receiving path, and the coating position the adhesive means Driving means for moving into a serial separate position, and the provided opposite to the adhesive means, a platen for backing up sheets and adhesive-coated sheet adhesive is applied at a coating position of the adhesive means, the receiving A deflection guide that is urged from the path toward the retraction path and is disposed adjacent to the bonding means for moving the sheet of the reception path to the standby path, and includes the reception path, the bonding means, and the retraction The sheet processing apparatus is configured such that an entrance portion of the path, the driving unit, the platen, and the deflection guide are supported by the apparatus frame to form a unit, and the unit can be attached to and detached from the sheet processing apparatus .

Further, the adhesive means is above a transfer tape having an adhesive on the tape substrate, performing coating and pressing the sheet of the adhesive from the supply and the transfer tape of the transfer tape to the sheet to the coating position This is a sheet processing apparatus .

Further, the adhesive means is above a transfer tape having an adhesive on the tape substrate, performing coating and pressing the sheet of the adhesive from the supply and the transfer tape of the transfer tape to the sheet to the coating position This is a sheet processing apparatus .

An image forming unit that sequentially forms an image on a sheet, and a sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on the sheet from the image forming unit. The sheet processing apparatus includes any of the configurations described above . An image forming apparatus.

The present invention provides the following effects by having the above-described solving means.
It is possible to provide an adhesive application device that simply applies an adhesive to a sheet without employing a metal staple needle or a sheet binding mechanism. In addition, by attaching the adhesive applicator as a unit, the mounting accuracy is improved, and it is possible to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive to the part where the adhesive is not desired to adhere, and it is easy to remove even if it adheres. It is possible to provide an agent coating apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus using the same, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration in which an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention are combined. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of a sheet processing apparatus including an adhesive application device according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the periphery mechanism of the adhesive agent coating apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view of the adhesive application device of FIG. 2. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the adhesive application device of FIG. 3, in which FIG. 3A is a plan view, FIG. 3B is an engagement state with a cam member that moves a stamper, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the adhesive tape which apply | coats an adhesive agent, (a) is an external view, (b) is the figure which has wound the adhesive tape around a reel, (c) is a gear state figure before an adhesive tape stamper press (d) (C) is a gear state diagram before pressing an adhesive tape stamper. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are explanatory views of the operation state of the stamper holder that indicates the adhesive tape. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are explanatory views showing the continuation of the operation state of the stamper holder that supports the adhesive tape of FIG. 7 and subsequent figures. The perspective view of the sheet | seat side edge alignment member arrange | positioned in a stacker part. FIG. 10A illustrates the separation and contact of the pinch roller on the sheet carry-in path with respect to the drive roller, and FIG. 10B illustrates the pressure roller that presses and separates the sheet within the stacker unit. FIG. 11A is an explanatory view of a stopper portion and a gripper that move up and down in the stacker portion, and FIG. 11B is an explanatory view of a plane of the stopper portion and the gripper. FIG. 6 is a sheet flow chart in which sheets are bonded to form a bundle by the sheet processing apparatus, where (a) shows a state where the first sheet is carried into the carry-in path, and (b) shows that the rear end of the first sheet is retracted from the carry-in path. It is a figure which shows the state which passed the branch point of the path | route FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the sheet following FIG. 12, where (a) shows the state where the leading edge of the first sheet has moved to the retraction path and moved to the bonding position, and (b) stopped at the bonding position to the first sheet. It is a figure which shows the state which has apply | coated (transferred) the adhesive agent. FIG. 13A is a flowchart of the sheet following FIG. 13, in which FIG. 13A shows a state where the adhesive application position of the first sheet has moved to the retreat path, and FIG. 13B shows that the second sheet is carried into the stacker unit from the carry-in path. It is a figure which shows a state. FIG. 15A is a flowchart of the sheet following FIG. 14, in which FIG. 14A shows a state where the leading edge of the second sheet is in contact with the stopper portion and the leading edge side overlaps with the first sheet, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the end passed the branch point of the carrying-in path | route and the retraction | saving path | route. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the sheet following FIG. 15, where (a) shows a state where the first and second sheets are gripped with a gripper and moved to an adhesion position to apply and press between sheets, and (b) shows a bundle. It is a figure which shows the state which waits for the carrying-in of the 3rd sheet which evacuated the application | coating position of the 1st sheet | seat which became the second sheet | seat to the evacuation path. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the sheet following FIG. 16, where (a) shows a state where the third sheet of the final sheet has been carried to the stopper portion position, and (b) shows that all the sheets including the third sheet are gripped by the gripper and are bonded to each other. It is a figure which shows the state which moves to (2) and is performing application | coating of the adhesive agent. FIG. 18A is a flowchart of a sheet following FIG. 17, and FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rear end of the third sheet passes through a branch point between the one-end carry-in path and the retreat path. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which all sheet bundles including the third sheet are switched back on the retract path. FIG. 19 is a flow chart of sheets following FIG. 18 and shows a state in which a bundle of three sheets is moved to a folding position and waiting for folding processing. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views of a folding roller mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. 2A shows a state in which sheet bundles are stacked, FIG. 2B shows a state in which a sheet bundle is inserted into a folding roller by a folding blade, and FIG. An initial state of folding is shown, and (d) shows a state where the sheet bundle is folded by a folding roller. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 6 are explanatory views showing the relationship between the sheet pressing slider and the platen, in which FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the lower surface of the sheet pressing slider 74, and FIG. The figure explaining the position in the case of apply | coating an adhesive tape, (c) is a figure explaining the state pressed with a sheet | seat press slider, without apply | coating an adhesive agent to a final sheet. FIG. 22 shows a modification of pressing by the sheet pressing slider of FIG. 21, (a) shows a case where a pressing roller is used as the sheet pressing member, and (b) shows a pair of rollers as the sheet pressing member. is there. In this figure, the fourth sheet is the final sheet. Explanatory drawing of the control structure in the whole structure of FIG.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration combining an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of the sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. Therefore, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A and a sheet processing apparatus B, and an adhesive application device 50 is incorporated in the sheet processing apparatus B as a unit.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 sends a sheet from the paper 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, 1 b, and 1 c, 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 shown in the figure is a circulation path. After the sheet printed on the front side from the fixing device 8 is reversed through the main body switchback path 10, the sheet is fed again to the image forming unit 2 and printed 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 shown in the figure is an image reading apparatus, which scans an original sheet set on an original platen 12 by a scanning unit 13 and electrically reads it by 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. Reference numeral 15 denotes a document feeder, which is a feeder device that feeds document sheets stored in the stacker 16 to the document platen 12.

  The image forming apparatus A having the above configuration 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 control panel 18. Printout conditions such as print designation are set. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus A, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is stored in the data storage unit 17, and the image data is transferred from the data storage unit to the buffer memory 19. The data signal is sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

  From the control panel 18, post-processing conditions are also input and specified simultaneously with the image forming conditions. As the post-processing conditions, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding mode”, “adhesive 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 processing apparatus]
The sheet processing apparatus B connected to the image forming apparatus A receives a sheet on which an image has been formed from the main body discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A. 1. Whether the sheet is stored in the first paper discharge tray 21 (the aforementioned “print-out mode”); 2. Sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, and then stored in the first discharge tray 21 (the above-described “staple binding mode”). After the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle shape, the sheets are bonded together and then folded into a booklet shape and stored in the second discharge tray 22 (the aforementioned “adhesive sheet bundle folding mode”). Has been.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the sheet processing apparatus A includes the first discharge tray 21 and the second discharge tray 22 in the casing 20, and a sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 having a carry-in port 23 connected to the main body discharge port 3. 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 disposed in the sheet carry-in path P1, and these rollers are connected to a drive motor (M1) capable of forward and reverse rotation. 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. Further, a punch unit (perforation 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 punch unit 28 is arranged on the upstream side of the carry-in roller 24 at the carry-in entrance 23 so that it can be attached to and detached from the casing 20 according to the specifications of the apparatus. A punch waste box for storing punch waste after punching is detachably mounted from the casing 20 below the punch unit 28.

[Configuration of the first switchback transport path SP1]
The first switchback conveyance path SP1 arranged on the downstream side (rear end portion of the apparatus) of the sheet carry-in path P1 in FIG. 2 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 processing tray (hereinafter referred to as “processing tray 29”) is provided below the discharge port 25a with a step difference. Is provided. The processing tray 29 is a tray that stacks and supports sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a. A forward / reverse roller 30 is provided above the processing tray 29. A forward / reverse motor M1 is connected to the forward / reverse roller 30 and rotates clockwise when a sheet enters the processing tray 29, and rotates counterclockwise after the trailing edge of the sheet enters the tray. To be controlled. The forward / reverse roller 30 is provided with an elevating roller 31 that is connected to the caterpillar belt and moves to a position in contact with the tray and a position away from the tray. Accordingly, a first switchback transport path SP1 is formed 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 side of a sheet | seat may be supported.

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

  At the rear end of the first processing tray 29 in the paper discharge direction, a rear end regulating member 33 for regulating the position of the rear end of the sheet and an end surface binding stapler 35 are disposed. The illustrated end-face stitching stapler 35 is constituted by the end-face stitching stapler 35, 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. The trailing edge regulating member 33 reciprocates in the paper discharge direction along the processing tray 29 in order to share the function of carrying out the staple-bound sheet bundle to the first paper discharge tray 21 disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray 29. It is configured to move freely. The illustrated rear end regulating member 33 is connected to a bundle discharge motor (M7) (not illustrated) and reciprocates.

  Further, the processing tray 29 is provided with a side aligning plate 36 for aligning the width direction of the sheets stacked on the tray, and the side aligning plate 36 is arranged on the left and right sides (around FIG. 2) so as to align the sheets with the center reference. It is composed of a pair of alignment plates, is configured to approach and separate from the center of the sheet, and is connected to a side alignment plate motor (M6) (not shown).

  The first switchback conveying path SP1 configured as described above aligns the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a on the processing tray 29 in the “staple binding mode”, and this sheet bundle is rear-bound by the end surface binding stapler 35. One or more edges are stapled. Further, in the “print-out mode”, the sheet fed along the processing tray 29 is carried out to the first paper discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 without switching back the sheet from the paper discharge outlet 25a. As shown in the figure, the apparatus is compactly configured by supporting the sheets to be stapled by the processing tray 29 and the first paper discharge tray 21 in a bridge manner.

[Configuration of Second Switchback Transport Path SP2]
The configuration of the second switchback conveyance path SP2 branched from the sheet carry-in path P1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the second switchback transport path SP2 is disposed in a substantially vertical direction in the casing 20, and a path carry-in roller 45 is disposed at the path entrance and a transport roller 46 is disposed at the path exit. The conveying roller 46 is configured to be separable between a position where it is nipped with respect to the sheet and a position where it is separated from the sheet. This configuration will be described later.

  The path carry-in roller 45 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 switch. It is held (stayed) in the back transport path SP2. The preceding sheets are stacked on the processing tray 29, stapled by a job end signal, and then sent to the sheet carry-in path P1 from the image forming apparatus A while the sheet bundle is carried out to the first paper discharge tray 21. This is for temporarily holding the sheet in the second switchback conveyance path SP2 and conveying the standby sheet from the first switchback conveyance path SP1 onto the processing tray 29 after the processing of the preceding sheet is completed.

Further, a stacker that constitutes a second processing tray that aligns and temporarily stacks sheets sent from the transport path downstream of the transport path 41 that is the second switchback transport path SP2 and is also a sheet transport path. A portion 40 is provided. The illustrated stacker unit 40 is composed of a conveyance guide for transferring a sheet. This conveyance guide is formed of a stacker upper guide 40a and a stacker lower guide 40b, and is configured to stack and store sheets in this guide. The illustrated stacker unit 40 is connected to the carry-in path 41 and is arranged in a substantially vertical direction at the left and right center of the casing 20. As a result, the apparatus is made compact and compact. The stacker unit 40 is formed in a length shape that accommodates the maximum size sheet therein. Further, an adhesive application device 50 as an adhesive application unit for applying an adhesive to a sheet, a folding processing unit 80 including a folding blade 86 for folding the sheet and a folding roller 81 are arranged inside the stacker unit 40. These configurations will be described later.

[Description of Evacuation Path (Third Switchback Path SP3)]
On the rear end side in the transport direction of the stacker unit 40, the second switchback transport path SP2 is branched from a transport path 41 for transporting sheets to the stacker section 40, and overlaps with the transport path exit end to overlap the sheet. Is connected to a retreat path 47 which is a third switchback path SP3 that enters the switchback. The retraction path 47 is composed of a switchback guide 42 made of a plate material as shown in FIGS. The switchback guide 42 has ribs protruding on the surface along the sheet conveying direction to facilitate sheet conveyance. Further, the switchback guide 42 is configured so as to be able to rotate around the guide release shaft 43 and release when a sheet bundle jam or the like occurs in the retraction path.

The switchback conveyance to the retreat path 47 is moved by a stopper section 90 as a sheet front end regulating member when the rear end of the sheet carried into the stacker unit 40 from the carry-in path 41 passes through a position branched from the carry-in path 41. The rear end side of the sheet is switched back and conveyed to the retreat path 47 together with the sheet bundle in the stacker unit 40 (raised).

A deflection guide 44 urged by a guide tension spring 44 a is provided on the switchback guide 42 side of the retraction path 47 at the junction of the carry-in path 41 and the retraction path 47. Further, an adhesive application device 50 for applying an adhesive to the sheet is disposed immediately after the deflection guide 44 at the junction. The adhesive application device 50 includes an adhesive tape stamper 51 as an adhesive means. The configuration of the adhesive application device 50 will be described later. After the adhesive tape is applied (transferred) to the preceding sheet by the adhesive tape stamper 51 of this device, when the next sheet is carried in from the carry-in path 41, the leading edge of the next sheet is moved. The adhesive cannot be applied to the central portion in the conveying direction constituting the sheet bundle because it is adhered to the application portion of the preceding sheet. Therefore, the next sheet is conveyed to the adhesive tape stamper 51 after being switched back and conveyed to the retreat path 47 so that the adhesive application portion of the preceding sheet does not hinder the carry-in of the sheet. Accordingly, the retracting path 47 functions as a path for retracting the sheet coated with the adhesive.

Further, by switching back to the retreat path 47, the leading edge of the next (subsequent) sheet fed from the conveyance roller 46 of the carry-in path 41, which is also the second switchback conveyance path SP2, and the stack supported by the stacker unit 40. The function of ensuring the page order of the sheets to be stacked by overlapping the rear ends of the finished (preceding) sheets is also achieved.

[Outline from retraction path to stopper]
Here, based on FIG.2 and FIG.3, the outline | summary of a structure from the retraction path | route 47 branched from the carrying-in path | route 41 to the stopper part 90 is demonstrated.
First, a deflection guide 44 in which a spring is stretched so as to lightly press the sheet toward the switchback guide 42 side of the retraction path 47 is provided at the junction of the carry-in path 41 and the retraction path 47. The deflection guide is set to a comb tooth that avoids the position where the adhesive is applied to the sheet. Therefore, even if the sheet coated with the adhesive passes under the deflection guide 44, the adhesive does not adhere to the conveyance path. The flow of these sheets will be described separately.

As shown well in FIG. 3, an adhesive application device 50 for applying an adhesive to the sheet is stacked at the stacking unit 40 at the junction of the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47 on the downstream side of the deflection guide 44. Is placed inside. A sheet presser 65 is attached to the adhesive applicator 50 so as to be able to move up and down toward the stopper portion 90 to press the sheet stopped at the bonding position for bonding. At the front end side of the sheet presser 65, a sheet presser slider 71 is provided that presses the sheet up and down and feeds the adhesive tape AT as an adhesive. A transfer head 72 for backing up the adhesive tape AT fed out from the reel is provided above the sheet pressing slider 71. The transfer head 72 also presses the sheet to apply the adhesive tape AT to the sheet and is separated from the sheet. Then, the sheet moves to a separation position that allows the conveyance and movement of the sheet.
In addition, application | coating in this invention shall also include what is called transfer which transfers an adhesive agent from a tape, pressing a sheet | seat. Moreover, what sprays an adhesive agent while pressing a sheet | seat is also included.

  On the downstream side of the adhesive application device 50, sheet side edge alignment members 48 that move in the sheet width direction and press the sheet side edge in the stacker unit 40 are disposed on both sides thereof. The sheet side edge aligning member 48 is substantially U-shaped, and a folding roller 81a, 81b as a folding processing portion and a folding blade 86 that presses the sheet against the folding roller are pressed against the sheet. It can be moved away from each other. Immediately after the sheet side edge aligning member 48, a pressure roller 49 is provided so as to be separated from and in contact with the stacker lower guide 40b which is one guide constituting the stacker unit 40. The pressure roller 49 is separated until the front end of the sheet passes the roller position. When the front end of the sheet passes, the pressure roller 49 rotates while pressing the sheet so as to press the sheet against the stacker lower guide 40b.

  On the lower end side of the stacker unit 40, a front end regulating member (hereinafter referred to as a stopper unit 90) that regulates the front end in the sheet loading direction is disposed. The stopper portion 90 is supported by a guide rail or the like of the apparatus frame so as to be movable along the stacker portion 40, and is configured to be movable up and down by an elevating belt 93 stretched between an upper ple 94a and a lower ple 94b positioned in the vertical direction. ing. The elevating belt 93 is moved by moving these pulleys 94 with the motor (M10). The elevating belt 93 is stopped and moved to each position of Sh0, Sh1, Sh2, Sh3, and Sh4 as described below.

  First, Sh0 at the lowermost position is the home position of the stopper portion, and this position is detected by a sensor (not shown) to set the initial position. Sh1 is a receiving position of the first sheet, and is a position where the rear end of the sequentially stacked sheets passes through the carry-in path 41 and the rear end is pressed to the switchback guide side of the retreat path 47 by the deflection guide 44. Sh2 is a position where the bundled sheets are folded at a half position in the sheet conveying direction. Sh3 is a position where the adhesive tape AT is applied (transferred) to the sheet by the adhesive tape stamper 51 as an adhesive means in the sheet width direction at approximately a half position in the sheet conveying direction. Sh4 is a position where the application position where the adhesive means is applied to the sheet is moved to the retreat path 47. This position prevents the next sheet from coming into contact with the adhesive application position of the preceding sheet when the next sheet is carried into the stacker unit 40 from the carry-in path 41, and prevents the adhesive from adhering to a paper jam or an unplanned position. In addition, the application position of the preceding sheet can be retracted to a position (application concealment position 100) that is distant from the next sheet carry-in path. In this apparatus, the sheet is carried in, the adhesive is applied to the sheet, the application position is moved to the retreat path, the next sheet is carried in, and the adhesive is applied to the next sheet, and the bundle is formed while the sheets are bonded together with the adhesive. Is. This bundle formation will be described later in order.

  After the sheet bundle is formed, it is folded in half by the folding processing unit 80, and the folded sheet bundle is discharged onto the second discharge tray by the bundle discharge roller 95 provided with the bundle kicking piece 95a. The discharged sheet bundle is collected on the second tray by a bundle presser guide 96 that prevents the bundle from opening and a stacking range from being reduced, and a bundle presser 97 that is positioned downstream thereof.

[Description of adhesive application device]
Next, the adhesive application device 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. A range surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the adhesive application device 50 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adhesive application device 50, and the sheet processing apparatus B is mounted with this apparatus range as a unit. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the main parts of the adhesive tape units 50a and 50b as the adhesive units. FIG. 5A is a plan view of the cam member 57 and the like, and FIG. 5B shows an engaged state of the cam member 57 and the stamper holder 52. The front view shows the cam member 57 that is moved to a position where the adhesive tape stamper 51 is separated from the sheet and the lower stage is in contact with the sheet and presses the stamper holder 52 on the platen 79 side. . 6A and 6B are explanatory views of an adhesive tape stamper 51 as an adhesive means, where FIG. 6A is a perspective view, FIG. 6B is an internal mechanism diagram, and FIGS. 6C and 6D are driving explanatory views for winding the transfer tape AT by a stamping operation. It is. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are explanatory diagrams of operations for applying and transferring an adhesive tape to a sheet by the adhesive tape units 50a and 50b supporting a plurality of adhesive tape stampers 51. FIG.

The range surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 3 is the adhesive application device 50 in this embodiment. In the range of the broken line, an adhesive tape stamper 51, a stamper holder 52 for grouping and supporting the adhesive tape stampers 51 in parallel, and pressing the adhesive tape stamper 51 against the sheet by bringing the stamper holder 52 close to the platen 79 are used. A cam member 57 that moves up and down between a position where the sheet is applied to the sheet and a position separated from the platen 79, and a cam movement motor 60 (M13) that moves the cam member 57 in a direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction. Has been. The plurality of adhesive tape units 50a and 50b can be mounted as a unitized adhesive application device 50 at a position upstream of the sheet processing apparatus B, more specifically the stacker unit 40. Further, the adhesive application device 50 is provided with a part of the carry-in path 41 (more specifically, the unit shown in FIG. 3) so that the sheet does not shift when carrying the sheet into the stacker unit 40 or when switching back to the retreat path 47. The route guide 143 to the carry-in route outlet 144), the deflection guide 44, a part of the branched retreat route 47 (more specifically, the retreat route outlet 145), and the platen 79 are also installed in the apparatus as this unit. These are the adhesive application devices 50 in the range surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 3, and are shown in a perspective view in FIG.

The adhesive applicator 50 is attached to the sheet processing apparatus B through a fixing portion (not shown) of the sheet processing apparatus B and a set screw hole 50cb provided in the frame of the adhesive applicator 50 as shown in FIG. It is made by fixing with the illustrated screw. It should be noted that this screw may be changed so that a rail is provided in each of the sheet processing apparatus B and the adhesive application apparatus 50 so as to be pulled out.
By unitizing as described above, each positional relationship is more accurate than individually attaching to the sheet processing apparatus B, and in particular, in a portion where the adhesive is not originally desired to be attached due to movement of the sheet after applying the adhesive. The adhesion of the adhesive due to the shift is reduced.

  The adhesive applicator 50 includes a left and right applicator frame 50c, a central support frame 63 that couples the left and right applicator frames 50c at the center, a rear support frame 64a that is coupled at the rear, and a lower support that is coupled below the platen 79. The frame 64b constitutes one housing. A cam movement motor 60 is attached to the one coating device frame 50c. The drive of the cam moving motor 60 is transmitted to the moving belt 58 via the gear train 59. The moving belt 58 is coupled to a cam member 57 slidable in the sheet width direction on two cam guide rods 57a between the left and right applicator frames 50c. Therefore, when the cam movement motor 60 is driven, the cam member 57 moves to the left and right according to the rotation direction.

  The cam member 57 is formed with a cam groove 61 as shown in FIGS. As shown in the figure, the cam groove 61 is provided with an upper horizontal groove cam 61a provided on the upper side of the cam member 57, a lower horizontal groove cam 61c provided on the lower side, and an inclined cam groove 61b communicating these. These cam grooves 61 are formed on the left and right as shown in the figure, but their phases are slightly different. In this cam groove 61, a roller 56 as a cam follower is fitted to a moving block 54 for raising and lowering the stamper holder 52.

The roller fitted and engaged with the cam groove 61 is fixed to the moving block 54 via a shaft. 7A, the moving block 54 is provided in a stamper holder 52 that supports the adhesive tape stamper 51 (although this figure is an explanatory view seen from the back side of the cam member 57 shown in FIG. 4). Of the four guide rods 53 extending vertically, the two guide rods 53 on the inner side are slidably supported. On the other hand, each of the two outer guide rods 53 is slidably supported by a support block 55 fixed to a central support frame 63 that joins the left and right coating device frames 50c. Accordingly, the stamper holder 52 that supports the adhesive tape stamper 51 is supported by the support block 55 on which the outer guide rod 53 slides.

On the other hand, a moving block 54 is slidably attached to two guide rods 53 at the center of the stamper holder 52. The moving block 54 is fixed to a roller 56 that engages with the cam groove 61 as a cam follower. It is. A pressure spring 62 is wound around a central guide rod 53 around the bottom surface of the moving block 54 and the back surface 52 c of the bottom surface 52 b of the stamper holder 52. The pressure spring 62 constantly urges the moving block 54 in a direction to press the moving block 54 against the upper portion of the stamper holder 52. Therefore, when the cam member 57 moves and the roller 56 engaged with the cam groove 61 descends, a transfer head 72 of an adhesive tape stamper 51 described later comes into contact with the sheet and the stamper holder 52 stops descending. Then, the pressure spring 62 is compressed between the bottom surface of the moving block 54 and the back surface 52 c of the bottom surface 52 b of the stamper holder 52. Thereby, the transfer head 72 is more strongly pressed against the sheet by the compression force of the moving block 54 and the elastic force of the pressure spring 62, and the adhesive on the transfer tape AT can be reliably applied (transferred) to the sheet.

Further, the left and right cam grooves 61 into which the rollers 56 engaged with the cam grooves 61 are fitted have different phases as shown in FIG. 5C and the initial positions of the cam grooves 61 of the rollers 56 are also different. . For this reason, the roller 56 on the left side of the drawing starts to descend quickly, and the roller on the right side reaches the lower horizontal cam groove 61c with a delay. For this reason, the lower horizontal cam groove 61c on the left side is set longer than the right side. This is because the left adhesive tape unit 50a having the adhesive tape stamper 51 presses the sheet earlier than the right adhesive tape unit 50b, and then the right adhesive tape unit 50a presses the sheet later. This requires a considerable pressing force for each adhesive tape unit 50a, 50b to press against the sheet at a time. Therefore, a larger drive motor must be used to move the cam member 57. Can be reduced in size and weight of the frame.

[Description of bonding means (adhesive tape stamper)]
Here, the adhesive tape stamper 51 that can be attached to and detached from the stamper holder 52 constituting the adhesive tape units 50a and 50b will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 6A shows an appearance, a stamper cover 70, a transfer tape AT which has an adhesive on a tape base material and is sequentially fed, and the transfer tape is wound and pressed against the sheet. A transfer head 72 to be backed up, and a sheet presser slider 71 that can be moved up and down between a position that is located next to the transfer head 72 and protrudes from the transfer head 72 and a position that is retracted to the same position of the transfer head 72. Appears. The sheet presser slider 71 presses the sheet under the sheet presser slider 71 when the transfer head 72 is lowered to apply and transfer the transfer tape AT to the sheet. The transfer surface is rolled up, and this is backed up by the transfer head 72 to apply and transfer the adhesive onto the sheet.

Next, a configuration for feeding out the transfer tape AT by extending and contracting the sheet pressing slider 71 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6B, in the stamper cover 70, a supply reel 74 which is rotatable around a supply reel shaft 74a around which an unused transfer tape AT is wound, and the supply reel 74 is fed out and transferred. A rotatable take-up reel 75 is disposed on a take-up reel shaft 75a that is wound around the head 72 and takes up the transfer tape AT. FIG. 6C shows a state before the transfer tape AT is unwound from the supply reel 74. A slider rack 77 is formed of a resin above the sheet pressing slider 71 that expands and contracts in the stamper cover. ing. The slider rack 77 is engaged with a gear that rotates integrally with the take-up reel 75. The gear of the take-up reel 75 is engaged with a gear that rotates integrally with the supply reel 74 via a reel-to-reel gear 76.

Further, a slider spring 73 is provided in the sheet presser slider 71, and always urges the sheet presser slider 71 outward (lower side in FIG. 6). Therefore, when the adhesive tape stamper 51 in the state of FIG. 6D is pushed down from the state in which the slider spring 73 of FIG. 6C is extended, the slider spring 73 is compressed. At the same time, the slider rack 77 engages with the take-up reel gear 75b of the take-up reel 75 and rotates the take-up reel 75 in the clockwise direction in the drawing. The take-up reel gear 75b meshes with the inter-reel gear 76, and the other of the inter-reel gear 76 meshes with the supply reel gear 74b. Accordingly, when the take-up reel 75 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, the supply reel 74 also rotates, and the adhesive tape AT is taken up by the take-up reel while being fed out from the supply reel, and a new adhesive surface is positioned on the transfer head 72.

Next, when the adhesive tape stamper 51 is raised from the state of FIG. 6D, the slider spring 73 is elastically restored, and the sheet pressing slider 71 is pushed downward. At this time, since the take-up reel gear 75b meshes with the slider rack 77, it rotates counterclockwise, but a ratchet mechanism that transmits only in one direction is interposed between the take-up reel 75 and the take-up reel gear 75b. The take-up reel 75 does not rotate. Further, the reel-to-reel gear 76 and the supply reel gear 74b that mesh with the take-up reel gear 75b also rotate counterclockwise, but a ratchet mechanism that transmits only in one direction is interposed between the reel reel 76 and the supply reel 74b. Therefore, the supply reel 74 does not rotate. From such a mechanism, only when the sheet pressing slider 71 is pushed down, the supply reel 74 and the take-up reel 75 rotate and the new adhesive surface of the adhesive tape AT is fed out to the transfer head 72 and positioned. In this embodiment, the ratchet mechanism is not particularly shown, but a one-way clutch that transmits rotation only in one direction between each reel gear and the reel may be adopted.

In this embodiment, the movement from FIG. 6C to FIG. 6D is performed by moving the stamper holder 52 supporting a plurality of adhesive tape stampers 51 up and down by the cam member 57. This mechanism is as described above. Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, a cushioning material 52a made of foaming resin or the like for buffering the impact of the lifting operation is interposed between the stamper holder 52 and the adhesive tape stamper 51 and supported. Thereby, application | coating (transfer) of the adhesive agent from adhesive tape AT to a sheet | seat improves.
By the way, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape AT in the embodiment has an adhesive on the tape base material, and is configured such that the adhesive is transferred to the sheet by pressing it on the sheet.

[Explanation about the sheet bundle presser adjacent to the stamper holder]
Next, before the sheet pressing slider 71 of the adhesive tape stamper 51 described with reference to FIG. 6 presses the sheet against the platen 79 which is the bonding position, the sheet pressing 65 for restricting the movement and flapping of the sheet will be described with reference to FIGS. In particular, a description will be given with reference to FIG.
As already described, the sheet presser 65 that presses the adhesive application device 50 toward the platen 79 to restrict the sheet stopped at the bonding position for bonding is attached to the platen 79 so as to be movable up and down. As shown in FIG. 7A, a sheet presser support block 67 for slidingly supporting a sheet presser guide rod 68 having a sheet presser 65 is provided on both sides of the two stamper holders 52 that support the adhesive tape stamper 51. Yes. In the sheet pressing support block 67, the illustrated round hole is fixed to the central support frame 63 by screws or the like. Further, presser pressure springs 65 c wound around the sheet presser guide rod 68 are arranged on both side ends of the sheet presser support block 67 and the side edge presser 65 a of the sheet presser 65.

Further, the sheet bundle presser 65 is always urged in the direction in which the sheet is pressed, but one (left side in FIG. 7) of the stamper holder 52 and the sheet presser 65 are engaged by the engaging portion 69, The sheet presser 65 is locked at a position spaced from the other sheet. Therefore, when the stamper holder 52 does not move down due to the movement of the cam member 57, the sheet presser 65 also stops at a position separated from the sheet and allows the conveyance of the sheet. When the stamper holder 52 starts to descend toward the sheet by the movement of the cam member 57, as shown in FIG. 7C, the engagement portion of the stamper holder 52 and the engagement portion 69 of the sheet presser 65 is lowered, and the sheet presser is moved. 65 is lowered so that sheet displacement and flapping on the platen 79 do not occur. Due to this restriction, the stamper holder 52 is further lowered and the sheet pressing slider 71 presses the sheet, and also when the transfer head 72 that is further lowered and supports the adhesive tape AT and presses the sheet presses the sheet. Misalignment and flapping can be suppressed.

When the application (transfer) of the adhesive tape AT to the adhesive tape stamper 51 is completed in the sheet width direction by the lowering of the two stamper holders 52, the sheet presser is now returned when the cam member returns to the original FIG. 7B. The engaging portion 65 engages with the stamper holder 52 and ascends from the seat by raising the stamper holder 52. As described above, the sheet presser 65 of this embodiment presses the sheet in advance of the other members in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the stamper holder 52. This sheet presser is used to lower the stamper holder 52 by a solenoid or the like. You may move it ahead of time. Further, the side edge presser 65a and the center presser 65b are provided so as to press over the entire sheet width. However, only the side edge presser 65a or only the center presser 65b may be provided if necessary, and the application of the adhesive is essential. It is sufficient to prevent the sheet from moving in front.

[Description of operation of adhesive applicator]
Here, the operation of applying (transferring) the adhesive to the sheet by the adhesive application device 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory views as seen from the back side of the cam member 57 on the side opposite to the adhesive tape stamper 51 of FIG.
7A, the cam member 57 is in the initial position, and the stamper holder 52 in which the adhesive tape stamper 51 is mounted in the cam groove 61 of the cam member 57 is moved along the guide rod 53 on the inner side. The moving block 54 and the roller 56 that slide are engaged with each other. As described above, the pressure spring 62 is interposed between the moving block 54 and the stamper holder 52, and the moving block 54 is pressed by the moving block 54 so as to contact the back surface 52c of the stamper holder 52 as shown in FIG. Yes. In addition, the stamper holder 52 is configured to slide on the outer guide rod 53 so that the stamper holder 52 can be moved up and down on a support block 55 fixed to a central support frame 63 that connects the coating device frame 50c at the center.

In FIG. 7A, the stamper holder 52 and the sheet presser 65 locked to the stamper holder 52 are also separated from the platen 79 to maintain a gap in which the sheet can move. In this state, the sheet pressing slider 71 and the transfer head 72 of the adhesive tape stamper 51 are located farthest from the sheet. The other stamper holder 52 is also in the same position.

Next, in FIG. 7B, the sheet is positioned at the bonding position, and the cam movement motor 60 is driven by the signal for applying the adhesive tape AT, and the cam member 57 moves in the right direction in the figure. Then, the roller 56 on the left side of the drawing starts to move downward along the inclined cam groove 61b. By this movement, the left stamper holder 52 also slides down on the guide block 53 to the support block 55. When the stamper holder 52 is lowered, the engaging portion 69 locked to the stamper holder 52 is also lowered, and pressing of the sheet on the platen 79 is started. On the other hand, the sheet pressing slider 71 and the transfer head 72 of the adhesive tape stamper 51 are also lowered but are not in contact with the sheet. The stamper holder 52 on the right side of the figure does not move down because the roller 56 has only moved the upper horizontal cam groove 61a portion of the cam groove 61.

Further, when the cam member 57 moves, the roller 56 on the left side of the drawing further descends the inclined cam groove as shown in FIG. 7C. By this lowering, the engagement of the engaging portion 69 between the sheet presser 65 and the right stamper holder 52 is released. When this locking is released, the sheet presser 65 more reliably presses the sheet and restricts the position by a presser pressure spring 65c interposed between the sheet presser support block 67 and the sheet presser support block 67. On the other hand, the sheet pressing slider 71 of the adhesive tape stamper 51 starts contact with the sheet, and by this contact, the adhesive tape AT also moves as shown in FIGS. 6C to 6D to expose a new adhesive surface. It becomes like this. Even at this position, the transfer head 72 is not yet in contact with the sheet. Also, the stamper holder 52 on the right side of the figure is not moved down because the roller 56 has only moved the upper horizontal cam groove 61a portion of the cam groove 61.

Subsequently, when the cam member 57 moves to the right side as shown in FIG. 8A, the stamper holder 52 on the left side in the figure moves down, and the sheet pressing slider 71 and the transfer head 72 come into contact with the sheet. At this time, when the transfer head 72 abuts against the sheet, the stamper holder 52 stops further lowering, but the moving block 54 moves in the inclined cam groove 61b so as to further descend. As a result, compression of the pressure spring 62 is started by this movement, and this elastic force acts as a pressing force of the transfer head 72 via the stamper holder 52, and the adhesive tape AT is pressed more strongly against the sheet. As a result, the adhesive can be reliably applied and transferred to the sheet.
On the other hand, the roller 56 of the stamper holder 52 on the right side of the figure also starts to descend the inclined cam groove 61b, and the sheet pressing slider 71 of the right adhesive tape stamper 51 starts to press the sheet.

Further, when the cam member 57 moves and enters the state shown in FIG. 8B, the stamper holder 52 on the left side in the drawing maintains the pressurized state by the elastic force of the pressure spring 62. On the other hand, the roller 56 of the right stamper holder 52 shown in the drawing also reaches the end point of the downward movement of the inclined cam groove 61b, so that the sheet pressing slider 71 and the transfer head 72 of the right adhesive tape stamper 51 also press the sheet.

As shown in FIG. 8C, when the cam member 57 is positioned on the rightmost side, the stamper holder 52 on the left side in the drawing is in a state of further maintaining the pressurized state by the elastic force of the pressure spring 62. On the other hand, the roller 56 of the stamper holder 52 on the right side of the drawing also reaches the lower horizontal cam groove 61c, whereby the sheet pressing slider 71 and the transfer head 72 of the left adhesive tape stamper 51 press the sheet, and the pressure spring 62 is further compressed. This elastic force acts as a pressing force of the transfer head 72 via the stamper holder 52 on the right side of the figure, and presses the adhesive tape AT more strongly against the sheet. As a result, the adhesive can be reliably applied (transferred) to the sheet.

When the respective transfer heads 72 complete the application of the adhesive to the sheet by the lowering of the left and right stamper holders 52, the cam member 57 moves to the left side in the figure and raises the stamper holder 52 in the reverse order of the lowering. When (b) is reached, the left stamper holder 52 engages with the engaging portion 69 of the sheet presser 65 and moves the sheet presser 65 to a position away from the sheet, and further returns to the state of FIG. In preparation for application of adhesive to the next sheet.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the transfer head 72 of the adhesive tape stamper 51 pre-presses the sheet with the sheet presser 65 before applying the adhesive to the sheet, the sheet position shift It can be applied at a predetermined position on the sheet without fluttering. Further, since the stamper holder 52 that supports the transfer head 72 is pressed by the pressure spring 62 even after the transfer head 72 comes into contact with the sheet, the transfer head 72 can be strongly pressed by the sheet, and the adhesive The adhesive on the tape AT can be reliably transferred to the sheet.
Further, as described in the explanation of the operation of the adhesive application device, the left and right stamper holders 52 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 do not press the transfer head 72 against the sheet simultaneously on both the left and right sides. Since the 72 groups are pressed against the sheet and this state is maintained by the cam member 57, the timing of sequential pressing is shifted so as to press the right transfer head 72 group against the sheet. Thus, the driving force can be reduced, and the cam moving motor 60 can be reduced in size, and the apparatus can be configured even if the apparatus frame is somewhat fragile, and the weight can be reduced.

  Next, the sheet side edge aligning member 48 located on the downstream side of the adhesive applicator 50 in the stacker unit 40, the conveying roller 46 and the pressure roller 49 that are separated from the sheet during the aligning operation, and the stacker unit 40 are carried. The stopper 90 that regulates the leading edge of the sheet and the gripper 91 that is provided in the stopper 90 and can grip the sheet will be described in order.

[Description of sheet side edge alignment mechanism]
As described above, on the downstream side of the adhesive application device 50, the sheet side edge alignment member 48 that moves in the sheet width direction and presses the sheet side edge in the stacker unit 40 is disposed on both sides thereof. ing. This configuration will be further described with reference to FIG. The sheet side edge aligning member 48 includes an upstream aligning plate 110 positioned on the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction and a downstream aligning plate 111 having a slightly wider width in the conveying direction on both sides in the sheet width direction. Are combined. In the alignment plate connecting portion 112, racks 114 extending in the sheet width direction are fixed to the alignment plate connecting portion 112 by left and right rack connecting portions 113. A pinion 116 that meshes with the rack teeth is provided at the center of the left and right racks 114 and is coupled to the alignment motor 117 (M12). The pinion 116 is rotated by forward and reverse rotation of the alignment motor 117, and the upstream alignment plate 110 and the downstream alignment plate 111 are reciprocated in the sheet width direction by the rack 114 meshing with the rack 114, thereby pressing the side edges of the sheet. Perform the aligning operation.

The alignment motor 117 is driven and rotated by a sheet binding / adhesion processing operation control unit 201 described later. In the present embodiment, the application position of the adhesive sheet to which the adhesive has been applied is retracted to the retract path 47. As a result, the sheet in a state where the next sheet to be bonded is positioned in the carry-in path 41 and the leading ends of both sheets are in contact with the stopper portion 90 can be aligned. Further, since the sheet side edge alignment member 48 is disposed at this position, alignment is performed immediately before the sheet having the adhesive applied to the surface and the next sheet are bonded together, so that the alignment accuracy of the bonded sheet is improved.

[Explanation of separation mechanism such as conveying roller]
Next, during the alignment operation of the sheet side edge alignment member 48, it is necessary to release the nip and pressure contact with the sheet. This mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A shows the nip and nip release configuration of the transport roller 46 located on the downstream side of the carry-in path 41. FIG. 10B is a pressure roller that is located in the middle of the stacker unit 40 and immediately downstream of the folding processing unit 80 and applies a conveying force to the stopper unit 90 side by pressing the sheet against the stacker lower guide 40b. 49 shows the pressure contact and separation configuration.

First, the conveyance roller 46 shown in FIG. The transport roller 46 rotated by the roller transmission belt 124 from the forward and reverse transport motor M2 includes a drive roller shaft 121, a drive roller 120, and a pinch roller 125 that is in contact with and away from the drive roller shaft 121. The nip release of the conveying roller 46 is performed by separating the pinch roller 125 from the driving roller 120. The pinch roller 125 includes a support bracket 126 that supports the pinch roller 125 and a rotation shaft 127 that rotatably supports the support bracket 126. The rotation shaft 127 is fixed to the rotation gear 129 at the end of the apparatus. The rotation gear 129 is engaged with the separation motor 131 (M3) via the separation motor gear 130. A projecting pin 127 a having a lower end side embedded in the rotating shaft 127 and projecting the upper end is engaged with the pin receiving groove 128 of the support bracket 126. The pin receiving groove 128 allows the protruding pin 127a to freely move within a predetermined range. In addition, a winding spring 122 is positioned between the support bracket 126 and a device frame (not shown).

  Accordingly, the pinch roller 125 is always urged by the driving roller 120 by the winding spring 122 to apply a conveying force to the sheet. On the other hand, when a signal separating from the driving roller 120 of the pinch roller 125 is output from the sheet conveyance control unit 195 when the sheet side edge alignment member 48 is operated, the separation motor 131 of the pinch roller 125 is driven. By this driving, the rotation gear 129 having a rotation shaft fixed thereto via the separation motor gear 130 is rotated in the illustrated direction. By this rotation, the projecting pin 127a on the rotation shaft 127 also rotates in the pin receiving groove 128 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and when it contacts the projecting wall of the pin receiving groove 128, the support bracket 126 moves and drives the pinch roller 125. The sheet is separated from the roller 120 and the nip of the sheet is released. On the contrary, in order to press the pinch roller 125 against the driving roller 120 in order to convey the sheet, when the separation motor 131 is rotated in the reverse direction, the protruding pin 127a is positioned almost in the middle of the original pin receiving groove 128. Therefore, the support bracket 126 presses the drive motor with the pinch roller 125 by the elastic force of the winding spring 122, so that a constant conveying force can be applied to the sheet.

  Next, FIG. 10B shows a pressure roller 49 that can move so as to be in contact with and away from the stacker lower guide 40 b of the stacker unit 40. The pressure roller 49 is separated until the leading edge of the sheet passes. When the leading edge of the sheet passes, the pressure roller 49 rotates while pressing the sheet so as to press the sheet against the stacker lower guide 40b. The illustrated pressure roller 49 is provided at substantially the center in the sheet width direction. The pressure roller 49 is supported by support arms 132 on both sides, and the pressure roller 49 is raised and lowered by a spring clutch 134 wound between an intermediate shaft holder 136 fixed to the intermediate shaft 135 and the arm holder 132a. It is configured to perform operations. The pressure roller 49 is driven by transmitting the rotation of the intermediate shaft 135 by the pressure roller transmission belt 133. The intermediate shaft 135 is driven by a motor between an intermediate transmission belt 137, an intermediate gear 138, a drive shaft 139 that drives the intermediate gear 138, and a pressure roller nip separation motor 141 (M9) that rotates the drive shaft 139. This is done by the transmission belt 140.

The pressure roller 49 configured as described above detects that the leading edge of the sheet has passed through the pressure roller 49 in the stacker unit 40, and when the pressure roller nip separation motor 141 is rotated forward by the stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200. The intermediate shaft holder 136 also rotates in the positive direction. By rotating in this direction, the spring clutch 134 is loosened and the restriction of the arm holder 132a is released and the pressure roller 49 is pressed against the sheet by its own weight. During the pressure contact of the pressure roller 49, a rotation for conveying the sheet to the downstream side is applied, and the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the illustrated stopper portion 90.
On the other hand, when aligning the sheet that has entered the stacker unit 40 or when conveying the sheet upstream (for example, in the switchback conveyance direction to the retreat path 47), the spring clutch 134 is rotated when the pressure roller nip separation motor 141 is rotated in the reverse direction. Becomes the tightening direction, and the pressure roller 49 is raised. Even if the pressure roller nip separation motor 141 is stopped in this state, the pressure roller 49 is held at the retracted position separated from the sheet by the motor torque and the spring clutch. The raising and lowering of the pressure roller 49 may be directly coupled to a solenoid or the like to raise and lower.

[Explanation of the stopper gripper opening and closing mechanism]
A closed state in which the sheet of the gripper 91 located at the tip of the stopper 90 is gripped and an open state in which the grip is released will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, since raising / lowering of the stopper part 90 was already demonstrated, description here is abbreviate | omitted.
FIG. 11A shows the entire movement range of the gripper 91, and the upper and lower positions are indicated by virtual lines. FIG. 11B is a plan view of the gripper 91 together with the stopper portion 90 as viewed from above. The gripper 91 is disposed at the tip of the stopper portion 90, and is configured such that the moving piece 91b is separated from the 90 fixed piece 91a of the stopper portion. The gripper connecting portion 152 of the moving piece 91b is disposed so as to be able to advance and retract under the stopper portion 90 and the stopper connecting portion 151. A closing spring 91c is provided below the moving piece 91b to constantly urge the moving piece 91b in the closing direction.

By the way, the gripper connecting portion 152 has a connecting arm 153 having an opening hole protruding backward from the stopper portion 90. A rotation bracket 154 that penetrates the opening hole of the connecting arm 153 and supports the rotation bar 156 up and down is provided. As shown in FIG. 11B, the pivot bracket 154 pivots in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 11B with the pivot 155 as a fulcrum. This rotation bracket 154 has a rotation cam 157 and a bracket pressing surface 158. The rotating cam 157 is rotated by a gripper opening / closing motor 160 (M11). When the bracket pressing surface 158 presses the rotation bracket 154 by this rotation, the bracket pressing surface 158 swings about the rotation fulcrum 155. By this swinging, the rotating bar 156 supported by the rotating bracket 154 is moved forward and backward. Since the rotation bar 156 passes through the opening hole of the connecting arm 153, the moving piece 91 b at the tip of the connecting arm 153 comes in contact with the fixed piece 91 a of the stopper portion 90.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), even if the stopper 90 is moved up and down, the above-mentioned connecting arm 153 has the rotating bar 156 located in this lift range, so that the gripper 91 can be moved at any lift position. It becomes possible to move the moving piece 91b which constitutes forward and backward. Accordingly, the stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200 turns the gripper opening / closing motor 160 into a closed state in which the gripper 91 grips the sheet and an open state in which the gripper is released. Since the stacker unit 40 is arranged in an inclined state as shown in the figure, the rotating bracket 154 is always in contact with the rotating cam 157. Note that the rotating bracket may be urged toward the rotating cam 157 by a spring or the like to contact the rotating cam 157.

[Description of sheet bundle generation operation by bonding]
Next, referring to FIG. 12 to FIG. 19, a sheet bundle generating operation in which the adhesive is applied to the sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus A by the adhesive application device 50 in the stacker unit 40 and the sheets are bonded to each other is sequentially performed. explain.
First, in the image forming apparatus, after the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle shape, the sheets are bonded together, folded into a booklet shape, and stored in the second discharge tray 22. Instruct.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, the first sheet image-formed from the main body discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A becomes the sheet carry-in path P1, the first switchback of the sheet processing apparatus (FIG. 2). A state in which the sheet is conveyed to the path carry-in roller 45 and the carry roller 46 by the carry-in path 41 which is also the second switchback path SP2 via the path SP1 is shown. At this time, the stopper 90 that regulates the leading edge of the sheet carried into the stacker 40 has a sheet length from the initial home position Sh0 shown in the drawing to the position where the trailing edge of the sheet branches from the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47. It moves to the branch passage position Sh1 at the rear end of the sheet (bundle) and waits.

  FIG. 12B shows that the sheet is carried into the stacker unit 40 and the rear end of the sheet is at the branched position. The sheet conveyed to this position is conveyed until it comes into contact with the stopper portion 90 waiting at the branch passage position Sh1 at the rear end of the sheet (bundle). During this conveyance, the leading edge of the sheet is conveyed by pushing up the deflection guide 44 located near the exit of the carry-in path 41. Then, when the pressure roller 49 passes the position, the pressure roller 49 moves to a position where the sheet is pressed, and the sheet is conveyed to the stopper unit 90. The gripper 91 disposed at the tip of the stopper portion 90 is in a position where the grip is released so as to receive the sheet in a state where the moving piece 91b is separated from the fixed piece 91a. When the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper portion 90, the trailing edge of the sheet is positioned at the branched position, and the trailing edge of the sheet is directed by the deflection guide 44 toward the retracting path 47 of the third switchback path SP3.

  FIG. 13A shows a state in which the sheet is gripped by the gripper 91 when the trailing end of the sheet passes and the stopper portion 90 is raised in this gripped state. In this case, since the rear end of the sheet is directed toward the retreat path 47 by the deflection guide 44, the sheet is switched back and conveyed in the retreat path. At this time, the second sheet is carried into the sheet carry-in path P1.

  In FIG. 13B, the first sheet is lifted by the stopper portion 90, and the half position in the sheet conveying direction is the bonding position of the adhesive application device 50 (the sheet pressing position of the adhesive tape stamper 51). At a certain Sh3 adhesive tape transfer position, the movement of the sheet by the stopper unit 90 is stopped. Here, the sheet in the stopped state is aligned by hitting the side edge in the width direction of the sheet with the sheet side edge aligning member 48 arranged adjacent to the adhesive application device 50. When this aligning operation is completed, the cam moving motor 60 of the adhesive application device 50 is driven to move the adhesive tape stamper 51 to the sheet side. First, the sheet is pressed by the sheet press 65, and then the sheet press slider 71 presses the sheet. To do. Thereafter, the transfer head 72 is pressed against the sheet to apply the adhesive of the adhesive tape AT to the sheet. Each member that has pressed the sheet after application is separated from the sheet. During the application, the leading edge of the sheet is held by the gripper 91.

  FIG. 14A shows the application position so that the application position of the sheet coated with the adhesive does not hinder the conveyance of the next sheet after the transfer head 72, the sheet press slider 71, and the sheet press 65 are separated from the sheet. The stopper 90 is moved to the adhesive tape hidden position (next sheet receiving position) Sh4 so as to be retracted to the position in the retract path 47. The distance at which this coating position on the apparatus is switched back is in the retreat path of about 35 mm from the above bonding position (position indicated by reference numeral 100). It is desirable to set the moving distance as short as possible so that the portion where the adhesive is applied does not adhere to the conveyance guide or the deflection guide 44. Further, the member that contacts the sheet, such as the deflection guide 44, is disposed between the adhesive application strips. After the preceding sheet application position has moved to the retracted position (position indicated by reference numeral 100), the movable piece 91b is separated from the fixed piece 91a so as to release the gripper 91 that has been gripped during application and movement.

In FIG. 14B, in the state where the gripper 91 is released, the next sheet moves along the carry-in path 41 as shown and starts to be carried into the stacker unit 40. Since the application position of the preceding sheet is retracted and hidden in the retracting path at the time of carrying in, the next sheet can be carried onto the preceding sheet without any trouble. The stopper unit 90 waits for the next sheet to be carried in at the adhesive tape hidden position (next sheet receiving position / position indicated by reference numeral 100) Sh4.

In FIG. 15A, the stopper 90 receives the leading edge of the next sheet at the adhesive tape hidden position (next sheet receiving position / position indicated by reference numeral 100) Sh4. In this state, the trailing edge of the preceding sheet is positioned in the retreat path 47 including the application position, and the trailing edge side of the next sheet is positioned in the carry-in path 41. Further, the leading end side of the preceding sheet and the next sheet is in contact with the stopper portion 90. Note that the pressure roller 49 is brought into contact with the lower sheet so as to apply pressure to the next sheet when the leading edge of the next sheet passes through the pressure roller 49, thereby applying a conveying force. After the preceding sheet and the next sheet come into contact with the stopper portion 90, the sheet side edge aligning member 48 is operated to align the both sheets. Prior to this aligning operation, the transport roller 46 positioned in the carry-in path 41 is operated. The nip is released and the pressure roller 49 is separated from the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet side edge alignment member 48 presses and aligns the side edges of the sheets that overlap the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47. In this embodiment, each sheet side edge alignment member 48 presses the sheet twice. In this alignment operation, the gripper 91 is in an open state in which the gripping of the sheet is released.

When the alignment operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 15B, the sheet is nipped by the conveyance roller 46 in the carry-in path 41, and the pressure roller 49 is pressed against the sheet. In addition, the gripper 91 holds the sheet. In this gripping state, the stopper 90 moves to the sheet (bundle) rear end branch passage position Sh1 where the rear end of the second next sheet passes the branch position. Here, since the position where the adhesive of the first preceding sheet is applied passes through the pressure roller 49, the pressure of this roller causes the next sheet to be bonded to some extent. The third sheet is being carried into the sheet carry-in path P1.

  In FIG. 16A, the stopper 90 is moved from the sheet (bundle) rear end branch passage position Sh1 to the adhesive tape transfer position Sh3. At the start of this movement, the trailing edge of the second next sheet is urged toward the retracting path 47 by the deflection guide 44, so that the back path 47 is switched back and conveyed in a bundle with the first preceding sheet. Is done. In this Sh3, as described above, the adhesive tape stamper 51 of the adhesive application device 50 presses the transfer tape AT against the sheet and the adhesive is applied to the second sheet at a half position in the sheet conveying direction. Position. The adhesive application device 50 is operated to apply the adhesive to the next sheet, and press the previous sheet to bond the sheets. In particular, at this position, the transfer head 72 presses the sheet from above the position where the adhesive is applied, so that the bonding between the sheets becomes more reliable. Note that the tip of the third sheet is entering the carry-in path 41.

In FIG. 16B, the stopper 90 is placed in the adhesive tape hidden position (next sheet receiving position) so that the first and second adhesive application positions where the adhesive is applied and pasted are carried into the retreat path 47. (Position of reference numeral 100) Moves to Sh4 and waits for the third sheet to be loaded. The gripper 91 of the stopper 90 holds the sheet during movement of the sheet bundle and during application of the adhesive, but releases the grip when the next sheet is received. FIG. 16B is the same state as FIG. 14B, and thereafter, FIG. 14B to FIG. 16B are repeated until the desired number of sheets is reached up to the last sheet.
In the present embodiment, the following description will be given assuming that the third sheet is the final number of bundles.

  In FIG. 17A, the application position of the second sheet on which the adhesive has been applied is positioned in the retreat path 47, the third sheet as the final number is carried in, and the leading end of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper portion 90. . In this state, in order to align the third sheet and up to the second sheet, a part of which is in the retreat path 47, the sheet side edge alignment member 48 is operated to press the sheet side edge to perform the alignment operation. When this alignment operation is performed, the nip release of the conveying roller 46, the retraction of the pressure roller 49 from the sheet pressing position, and the gripper 91 release of the gripper 91 are the same as in the second same position. Therefore, the rear end side of the second and subsequent sheets is in the retreat path 47, and the third sheet is located in the carry-in path 41 and branches, and the aligning operation is performed with the front end side being overlapped.

  In FIG. 17B, after the above alignment operation is completed, the nip of the conveying roller 46, the movement of the pressure roller 49 to the sheet pressing position, and the gripper 91 are gripped, and the vicinity of the adhesive tape transfer position Sh3 (this embodiment) In this case, the sheet pressing slider 71 positioned on the upstream side of the transfer head 72 is used to hold the sheet, so that it is about 5 mm upstream from the adhesive tape transfer position Sh3 to be bonded (Z position in FIG. 2). This is because the adhesive is not applied to the final sheet, so that the sheet is pressed not at the position of the transfer head 72 but at the position where only the sheet is pressed and the sheets are bonded.

  FIG. 18A shows a sheet in which the rear end of the third sheet exceeds the branching point between the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47 after the third sheet has been bonded up to the second sheet preceding it. (Bundle) Moves to the rear end passage position Sh1 while being gripped by the gripper 91 of the stopper 90. Further, since the pressure roller 49 is already in the sheet pressing position, the pressure roller 49 can also press the sheet to ensure the adhesion of the adhesive.

  The stopper portion 90 is moved while being gripped by the gripper 91 in the direction from the sheet (bundle) rear end passage position Sh1 in FIG. 18B to the adhesive bundle folding position Sh2 on the upper side. By this movement, the upstream end of the sheet bundle is carried into the deflection gate retracting path 47, and all three sheet bundles are switched back.

  In FIG. 19, when the gripper 91 is gripped and moved to the adhesive bundle folding position Sh <b> 2, the movement of the sheet bundle is stopped, the gripper 91 is released, and the folding process is performed by the folding roller 81 and the folding blade 86. . Since the folding blade 86 also presses the application position of the adhesive on the sheet, the adhesion between the sheets is further strengthened.

  By the way, the movement position of the stopper portion 90 from FIG. 17A to FIG. 19 with respect to the final sheet in the present embodiment is the adhesive tape hidden position Sh4 → the upstream position 5 mm from the adhesive tape transfer position Sh3 → the sheet rear end branch passage position Sh1. → Before moving to the folding position as the adhesive bundle folding position Sh2, the sheet pressing by the sheet pressing slider 71 at the adhesive tape transfer position Sh3 and the sheet pressing by the pressure roller 49 are performed at a plurality of locations, so the adhesion between the sheets is strong. Become.

  Note that the order of conveyance can be changed according to the type of adhesive or according to the sheets to be bundled. For example, as the second final sheet feeding procedure, Sh4 → Sh1 → Sh3-5 mm → Sh2 may be used to press between the sheets with the pressure roller 49 first and then press with the sheet pressing slider 71. Further, as the third final sheet feeding procedure, Sh4 → Sh1 → Sh2 may be used to press between the sheets with the pressure roller 49 first, and the subsequent pressing of the sheet pressing slider 71 may be omitted. Furthermore, if it is set as Sh4-> Sh3-5 mm-> Sh2 so that it can move to the adhesive bundle folding position Sh2 earliest, it is possible to shift to the folding process after pressing between the sheets with the sheet pressing slider 71. In this case, the third sheet is folded while the rear end is positioned on the carry-in path 41 and the second sheet is folded while the rear end is positioned on the retreat path 47. In each of the above-described embodiments, Sh 3-5 mm stops the position where the adhesive is applied to each sheet other than the final sheet at the position of the sheet pressing slider 71 5 mm above the adhesive tape transfer position. Although it is shown that the sheet pressing slider 71 is pressed for bonding, the position of 5 mm can be changed as appropriate. In short, the application position before the final sheet is pressed and pasted without any adhesive. What is necessary is just to perform the press for alignment.

Here, pressing for attaching the final sheet to the adhered sheet by the sheet pressing slider 71 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the sheet presser slider 71 and the platen 79 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6.
FIG. 22 shows a modification of the pressing by the sheet pressing slider of FIG. 21, wherein (a) shows a case where a pressing roller is used as the sheet pressing member, and (b) shows a pair of rollers as the sheet pressing member. Is shown.

  First, FIG. 21A is a view from the bottom of the sheet presser slider 71 in FIG. 6, which has a substantially rectangular shape, and extends from both sides of the pressing portion 170 that presses the sheet relatively widely and the pressing portion 170. It comprises a side presser 171 and a tip presser 172 that connects the tip side. A transfer head 72 that supports the adhesive tape AT is positioned inside each of the pressers. X in the figure is the center position of the adhesive tape AT, and the adhesive of the adhesive tape is applied to the sheet around this position. Z is a sheet pressing position for pressing the final sheet, which will be described later, to the application position of the adhesive on the preceding sheet.

FIG. 21B shows a diagram in which the adhesive of the adhesive tape AT is applied to the third sheet that is newly conveyed and positioned. That is, first, the sheet is pressed against the platen by the sheet pressing slider 71, and the movement of the sheet pressing slider 71 exposes a new surface of the AT of the adhesive tape, and further presses the transfer head 72 against the sheet on the platen 79. To do. By this pressing, the adhesive of the transfer tape AT is applied to the new sheet, and the application position of the adhesive is pasted to the preceding second sheet and the new third sheet. When the application of the adhesive and the bonding of the sheets are completed, the transfer head 72 and the sheet pressing slider 71 are separated from the sheet as illustrated.
The application of the adhesive and the bonding of the sheets are repeated until one sheet before the final sheet. This application and bonding are performed by binding the existing sheets as a bundle, and the application and bonding of the adhesive are repeated for each sheet.

FIG. 21C shows the position of the sheet pressing slider 71 with respect to the final sheet (fourth sheet in this embodiment). As described above, the fourth final sheet and the third and subsequent sheets before it are pressed without applying the adhesive of the adhesive tape AT to the fourth final sheet. Are bonded together. At the pasting position X until then, the transfer head 72 is pressed, so the adhesive application position so far is positioned at a position upstream from this position, in this embodiment, at a position 5 mm upstream. In this position, the sheet is pressed against the platen 79 by the pressing portion 170 that is set relatively wide. By this pressing, the fourth final sheet is pressed and bonded to the adhesive of the preceding third sheet.
The platen 79 opposes the positions of the platen guide unit 176, the final sheet pressing unit 175, and the transfer head 72 that guide the conveyance from the upstream side of the sheet, and backs up the application of the adhesive to the sheet and the bonding of the sheets. It has each part of the platen cushion part 174 to which the sheet | seat which has some elasticity to be stuck. This ensures that the sheets are bonded together.

Next, FIG. 22 shows a modified example of pressing with the sheet pressing slider 71 of FIG. 21, and FIG. 22 (a) shows that a pressing roller 177 is used as a sheet pressing member. This pressing roller 177 is provided at a position facing the portion where the platen 79 extends downstream, and the final sheet (all sheets including the fourth sheet in this embodiment, in the present embodiment, the same applies to the platen side by a mechanism not shown). ) And a position separated from the position. In this modification, the sheet pressing position Z of the final sheet is located downstream of the sticking position X. In FIG. 22B, a backup roller 178 is disposed at a position facing the pressing roller 177 as a member for pressing the final sheet, and the final sheet is bonded by a pair of rollers. Even in these apparatuses, if the sheet is pressed against the final sheet by the pressing portion 170 of the sheet pressing slider 71 and then pressed again by the pressing roller 177, the bonding can be performed more reliably.

[Explanation of folding mechanism and operation]
Next, the configuration of the folding processing unit 80 that moves the bonded bundle to the adhesive bundle folding position Sh2 and performs the folding processing at this position will be described. At the folding position Y arranged on the downstream side of the above-described adhesive application device 50, as shown in FIG. 20A, a folding roller 81 for folding the adhered sheet bundle and a sheet bundle at the nip position of the folding roller 81 are provided. A folding blade 86 is provided for inserting the. The folding roller 81 is composed of rollers 81a and 81b that are in pressure contact with each other, and each roller is formed to have a substantially maximum sheet width. The rollers 81a and 81b constituting the folding roller 81 are fitted with the long shafts of the apparatus frame (not shown) so that the rotary shafts 81ax and 81bx are joined in pressure contact with each other, and are urged in the pressure contact direction by the compression springs 81aS and 81bS. Yes. 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 a biasing spring may be wound around one of the rollers.

  The pair of folding rollers 81a and 81b 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.

  Next, the operation of folding the sheet by the folding roller 81 will be described with reference to FIGS. The pair of folding rollers 81a and 81b is positioned above the stacker unit 40 and below the adhesive applicator 50, and has a knife edge at a position facing the sandwiched sheet bundle supported by the stacker unit 40. A blade 86 is provided. The folding blade 86 is supported by the apparatus frame so as to be able to reciprocate between the standby position in FIG. 20A and the nip position in FIG.

  Therefore, the sheet bundle supported by the stacker unit 40 in the form of a bundle is locked to the stopper portion 90 at the tip in the state shown in FIG. 5A, and the fold position is the position where the adhesive is applied by the adhesive tape stamper 51. Positioned as a folding position. Upon obtaining this sheet bundle setting end signal, the drive control means (“sheet folding processing control unit 202” described later; the same applies hereinafter) turns off the clutch means.

  Therefore, the sheet folding processing control unit 202 moves the folding blade 86 from the standby position toward the nip position at a predetermined speed. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 20B, the sheet bundle is bent at the fold position by the folding blade 86 and inserted between the rollers. At this time, the pair of folding rollers 81 are driven and rotated continuously with the sheet moved by the folding blade 86. Then, the sheet folding processing control unit 202 stops the blade drive motor (not shown) after the expected time for the sheet bundle to reach a predetermined nip position, and stops the folding blade 86 at the position shown in FIG. Before and after this, the sheet folding processing control unit 202 switches the clutch means (not shown) to the ON state to drive and rotate the folding roller 81. Then, the sheet bundle is sent out in the feeding direction (left side in the figure). Thereafter, the sheet folding processing control unit 202 moves and returns the folding blade 86 located at the nip position toward the standby position in parallel with the feeding of the sheet bundle by the folding roller 81 in the state shown in FIG.

  When the sheet bundle thus folded is first engulfed between the pair of folding rollers 81, the sheet contacting the roller surface is not drawn between the rollers by the rotating roller. That is, the folding roller 81 follows (follows) and rotates with the inserted (pushed) sheet, so that only the sheet in contact with the roller is not first wound. Further, since the roller follows and rotates following the inserted sheet, the roller surface and the sheet in contact therewith are not rubbed, and the image is not rubbed.

  Returning to FIG. 2, a sheet transfer path (hereinafter referred to as “transfer path”) that guides the folded sheet to the second sheet discharge tray 22 that stores the booklet as a folded sheet bundle on the downstream side of the folding roller 81 described above. , And a bundle sheet discharge roller 95 having a kick-out piece provided at the outlet of the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle folded in two by the folding roller 81 is carried out to the second sheet discharge tray 22. The conveyed sheet bundle is collected in a well-aligned manner by a bundle retainer guide 96 and a bundle retainer 97 that prevents the sheet bundle from being folded in half.

[Description of control configuration]
The system control configuration of the above-described image forming apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The system of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus control unit 180 of the image forming apparatus A and a sheet processing control unit 191 of the sheet processing apparatus B. The image forming apparatus control unit 180 includes an image formation control unit 181, a paper feed control unit 186, and an input unit 183. Then, an “image forming mode” and a “sheet processing mode” are set from the control panel 18 provided in the input unit 183. 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. Then, the image forming apparatus control unit 180 controls the image forming control unit and the sheet feeding control unit according to the set image forming conditions, forms an image on a predetermined sheet, and then sequentially carries out the sheet from the main body discharge port 3. .

  At the same time, the sheet processing mode is set by input from the control panel 18. The processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding finishing mode”, “adhesive sheet bundle folding mode”, or the like. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus control unit 180 transfers to the sheet processing control unit 191 the sheet processing finishing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, and the binding or bonding mode (single binding or two or more bindings) information.

  The sheet processing control unit 191 includes a control CPU 192 that operates the sheet processing apparatus B according to a designated finishing mode, a ROM 193 that stores an operation program, and a RAM 194 that stores control data. The control CPU 192 includes a sheet conveyance control unit 195 that performs conveyance of the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance 23, a sheet punching control unit 196 that performs punching processing on the sheet by the punch unit 28, and stacking of sheets by the processing tray 29. The processing tray stacking operation control unit 197 that performs the operation, the processing tray discharge operation control unit 198 that discharges the bundled sheets from the processing tray 29, and the sheets and sheet bundles discharged from the processing tray 29 are accumulated. Accordingly, a first discharge tray sheet stacking operation control unit 199 for raising and lowering the first discharge tray is provided.

Further, in order to control when stacking and stacking sheets while stacking sheets on the stacker unit 40, a stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200, a sheet binding / bonding processing operation control unit 201 for instructing operations for bonding sheets, A sheet folding processing control unit 202 that folds the sheet bundle bonded with the adhesive into two is provided. Note that the sheet binding / adhesion processing operation control unit 201 also controls an end-face binding stapler 35 that performs binding processing of sheets stacked on the processing tray 29 with a staple needle. Although not particularly illustrated, each control unit receives a position signal from a sensor that detects the sheet conveyance path and the position of each member.

Further, the connection between each control unit and each motor unit will be described with reference to FIG. First, the sheet conveyance control unit 195 is connected to the control circuit of the drive motor M1 so as to control the driving of the carry-in roller 24 that receives and conveys the sheet from the image forming apparatus A. Further, the sheet conveyance control unit 195 causes the sheet to be switched back to the second switchback path SP2 at one end when the sheet is carried into the processing tray 29, and is discharged to the processing tray 29 together with the next sheet. This is to enable processing without stopping the operation of the image forming apparatus A, but a drive motor M2 capable of forward / reverse conveyance of the path carry-in roller 45 in the carry-in path 41 so that this switchback conveyance can be performed. Is controlling. In addition, a separation motor 131 (M3) that separates the pinch roller 125 from the driving roller 120 when the front end side is positioned on the stacker unit 40 and the rear end side is positioned on the carry-in path 41 to align the sheets. I have control.

Next, the sheet punching control unit 196 is connected to a control circuit of a punch punching motor M4 for punching holes in the sheet.
The processing tray stacking operation control unit 197 is a control circuit for a nip separation motor M5 that nips or separates the paper discharge roller 25 to carry into the processing tray 29 and the first paper discharge tray 21 and to carry out a sheet bundle from the processing tray 29. It is connected. Further, in order to align the sheets on the processing tray 29, the side alignment plate 36 is connected to a control circuit of a side alignment plate motor M6 that reciprocates in the sheet width direction.

The processing tray discharge operation control unit 198 directs the trailing edge regulating member 33 toward the paper discharge port 25a in order to discharge the sheet bundle whose ends are bound by the end surface binding stapler 35 in the processing tray 29 to the first paper discharge tray. It is connected to the control circuit of the moving bundle delivery motor M7. Further, the control circuit of the first tray lifting / lowering motor M8 that moves up and down according to the amount of sheets storing the first paper discharge tray 21 is connected to the first paper discharge tray sheet stacking operation control unit 199 and controlled.

Next, an outline of a control unit that applies an adhesive to a half position in the sheet conveying direction and bonds the sheets together and folds the sheet at the adhesive application position will be described. First, the stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200 is located in the middle of the stacker unit 40, and moves the pressing roller 49 to the pressing position that presses the sheet carried into the stacker unit 40 and conveys it downstream. It is connected to a control circuit of a pressure roller nip separation driving motor 141 (M9) that performs rotation driving and reverse rotation to separate the sheet from the sheet.

Further, by controlling the position of the sheet entering the stacker unit 40, the sheet (bundle) rear end branch passage position Sh1 in which the initial home position Sh0 and the rear end of the sheet are at the branch position between the carry-in route 41 and the retreat route 47 route. Adhesive bundle folding position Sh2 for folding the bonded sheet bundle in half, Adhesive tape transfer position Sh3 for applying the adhesive tape to the center of the sheet, When the next sheet is carried into the stacker unit 40 from the carry-in path 41, the preceding sheet In order to prevent the adhesive application position from sticking, it is connected to the control circuit of the stopper motor 90 moving motor M10 that moves to the adhesive tape hidden position Sh4 that is switched back to the retract path 47 and stands by. The relationship such as the sheet flow at each position is as described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200 is a control circuit for the gripper opening / closing motor 160 (M11) that performs an opening / closing operation so as to grasp the leading end of the sheet with the leading end of the stopper unit 90 or to disclose the grasping. Also connected and controlled. Since the timing of gripping the gripper has already been described, the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the stacker unit stacking operation control unit 200 is capable of aligning sheets even when the leading end of the sheet is positioned in the stacker unit 40 and the trailing end is positioned over the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47, respectively. The alignment member 48 is also connected to and controlled by a control circuit of an alignment motor 117 (M3) that reciprocates in the sheet width direction.

The sheet binding / adhesion processing operation control unit 201 reciprocates a cam member 57 that moves to a position where the adhesive tape stamper 51 of the adhesive application device 50 is pressed against the sheet to apply the adhesive and a position away from the sheet. It is connected to the control circuit of the moving motor 60 (M13). The sheet binding / adhesion processing operation control unit 201 is connected to the end surface binding stapler 35 of the processing tray 29.

  Finally, as described above, the sheet folding processing control unit 202 is configured to rotationally drive or reciprocate the folding blade 86, the folding rollers 81a and 81b, and the bundle discharge roller 95 with a common motor. It is connected with a drive circuit so as to control the motor M15.

The control unit configured as described above causes the sheet processing apparatus to execute the next processing operation.
"Printout mode"
In this mode, sheets formed 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 processing apparatus B. For example, in the face-down posture, the pages are sequentially ordered from page 1 to page n. It is loaded and stored upward.

"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, after being sent to the sheet carry-in path P1, it is switched back and conveyed onto the 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. After the stacking, the end face binding stapler 35 is operated to bind the trailing edge of the sheet stack stacked on the tray. The stapled 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.

"Adhesive sheet bundle folding mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A applies the adhesive by the sheet processing apparatus B, bonds the sheets, and finishes in a booklet shape. Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus B guides the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P1 to the second switchback transport path SP2, and is guided to the stacker unit 40 by being guided by the path carry-in roller 45 and the transport roller 46 arranged in this path. Is done.
The subsequent flow of the sheet, the operation of bonding the sheets, the relationship between the preceding sheet and the next sheet, etc. have already been described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 19, and will not be described here. The features of this mode are as follows: It becomes.
After applying the adhesive application device 50 to the preceding sheet, the operation of retracting the preceding sheet to the retracting path 47 is repeated until the bundle creation is completed so that the adhesive does not adhere to the next sheet.
The adhesive application device 50 applies an adhesive to the sheet and presses it against a preceding sheet on which the adhesive has already been applied to form a bundle. This is repeated until the bundle creation is completed.
The sheet trailing edge side is positioned in the carry-in path 41 and the retreat path 47, and the leading edge side is in contact with the stopper portion 90 and overlapped by the sheet side edge aligning member 48 before the adhesive application.
When the adhesive is applied by the adhesive application device 50 and the sheet is moved by the stacker 40, the stopper 90 is moved and the leading end of the sheet is held by the gripper 91. Further, the gripping is released at the time of alignment and when the next sheet is received by the stopper portion 90.
The adhesive application device 50 groups the adhesive tape stampers 51 and applies the adhesive by pressing the adhesive tape stamper 51 on the sheet for each group.
When the adhesive tape stamper 51 is pressed against the sheet, it is pressed for a certain time so that a certain pressing force is applied by the spring force of the pressure spring 62.
Before applying the adhesive to the sheet, the adhesive applicator 50 is previously pressed by the sheet presser 65 so as to prevent the sheet from being displaced or fluttered.
By disposing a part of the sheet conveyance path and the retreat path as a unit on the adhesive application device 50 side and then incorporating the stacker unit 40 of the sheet processing apparatus B, positional deviation from each part due to the movement of the sheet is reduced.
For the final sheet, the past adhesive is not applied, and the pressing position is shifted to the upstream side, and the past sheet is securely bonded.
With the above control, the adhesive is applied and the bundle is generated in the stacker unit, and then the sheet bundle is folded, and the sheet bundle is carried out to the second paper discharge tray 22.

A Image forming apparatus B Sheet processing apparatus X Adhesive application position Y Folding position Z Final sheet pressing position AT Adhesive tape 29 Processing tray 40 Stacker section (second processing tray)
40a Stacker upper guide 40b Stacker lower guide 41 Loading path 44 Deflection guide 46 Conveying roller 47 Retraction path 48 Sheet side edge alignment member 49 Pressure roller 50 Adhesive application device 51 Adhesive tape stamper (adhesive member)
52 Stamper holder 53 Guide rod 54 Moving block 55 Support block 56 Roller 57 Cam member 60 Cam moving motor (M13)
61 Cam groove 62 Pressurizing spring 63 Center support frame 65 Sheet presser (sheet regulating means)
71 Sheet pressing slider 72 Transfer head 79 Platen 80 Folding processing part 81 Folding roller 86 Folding blade 90 Stopper part 91 Gripper 170 Pressing part (sheet pressing slider)

Claims (9)

An adhesive application device that is mounted in a sheet processing apparatus that sequentially accumulates sheets carried in along a carry-in path and accumulates them in a stacker unit to generate a bundle,
This adhesive applicator is
A device frame;
A receiving path connected to the carry-in path for receiving a sheet; and
Provided at the outlet of said receiving paths, and bonding means movable to and spaced position away from the seat to allow movement of the application position and the sheet of applying an adhesive to the sheet you accept,
Driving means for moving said adhesive means to said separated position and the application position,
An adhesive feed-out portion for feeding out a new adhesive to be applied to the sheet by movement of the adhesive means by the moving means ;
And a platen provided at a position facing the bonding means the adhesive backing sheet and adhesive-coated sheet is applied in the application position of the adhesive means,
Said receiving path, said adhesive means, said drive means, supported by the unit and the adhesive feeding unit and the platen in each of the device frame, characterized in that the unit is mounted can configure the stacker Adhesive application device. Overlaps further said unit, and a retraction path inlet of the evacuation route said outlet and said adhesive means of said receiving path makes it possible to switch back transportation in a direction opposite to the direction for carrying the sheet coated with adhesive place manner, and wherein it is movably supported by the apparatus frame by a deflection guide for urging the sheet over preparative this overlapping position to the retracted path side from the receiving path is adjacent said adhesive means 2. The adhesive application device according to claim 1. Further, the apparatus frame, said bonding means to move to said adhesive is movably supported a sheet presser for pressing the sheet to the platen side to be adjacent to said adhesive means prior to application to the sheet to the application position The adhesive application device according to claim 2, wherein Said bonding means is characterized by performing a transfer tape wherein the coating and pressing the sheet of the adhesive between the feeding of the transfer tape from the transfer tape to the sheet to the application position with adhesive tape base material the adhesive coating apparatus according to claim 3,. Sequentially, a sheet processing apparatus having an adhesive application device that generates adhesive as a bundle by applying an adhesive to a sheet to be carried in ,
A carry-in route for carrying the sheet into the adhesive application device in a predetermined carry-in direction;
A retreat path that enables switchback conveyance to branch in the adhesive application device and convey the adhesive-coated sheet in a direction opposite to the carry-in direction;
The adhesive application device,
This adhesive applicator is
A device frame;
A receiving path connected to the carry-in path for receiving a sheet; and
Provided at the outlet of the receiving path, a bonding means capable of moving in a spaced position spaced from the seat to allow movement of the application position and the sheet of applying an adhesive to the sheet you accept,
An entrance portion of the retraction path provided to overlap the discharge port of the receiving path ;
Driving means for moving said adhesive means to said separated position and the application position,
A platen that is provided opposite to the bonding means and backs up a sheet on which an adhesive is applied at an application position of the bonding means and a sheet that has been coated with the adhesive;
A deflection guide that is urged from the receiving path toward the retraction path and is disposed adjacent to the bonding means for moving the sheet of the receiving path to the standby path ;
The receiving path, the bonding means, the entrance of the retraction path, the driving means, the platen and the deflection guide are supported on the apparatus frame as a unit,
A sheet processing apparatus, wherein the unit is detachable from the sheet processing apparatus. The adhesive means includes a transfer tape having an adhesive on a tape base material, and feeds the transfer tape to the application position, applies the adhesive to the sheet from the transfer tape, and presses the sheet. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5. Wherein said sheet processing apparatus, which further bundle and has a folding section for folding a sheet which became, the sheet processing apparatus comprises an adhesive applying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 A sheet processing apparatus. A sheet processing apparatus having an adhesive application device that sequentially generates an adhesive bundle on a sheet that is carried in to form a sheet bundle,
A carry-in route for carrying the sheet into the adhesive application device in a predetermined carry-in direction;
A branch path that branches off inside the adhesive application device and includes a retract path that enables switchback conveyance to convey the sheet coated with the adhesive in a direction opposite to the carry-in direction,
The adhesive application device is:
A receiving path connected to the carry-in path, an adhesive means for applying the adhesive to the sheet at an application position, an inlet portion connected to the retraction path, a sheet to which the adhesive is applied, and an adhesive already applied It is equipped with a platen that backs up the sheet as a unit,
The adhesive coating apparatus is configured to be detachable as a unit with respect to the sheet processing apparatus. Image forming means for sequentially forming images on sheets;
A sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process on the sheet from the image forming unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 8 .

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