JP6274521B2 - Paper processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that performs folding processing and binding processing on a sheet, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet processing apparatus (post-processing apparatus) installed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer performs a binding process after performing a folding process on a sheet bundle (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
Specifically, in Patent Document 1, a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus main body is folded by a folding roller. Then, the folded sheet bundle is conveyed to the binding processing section, and the tooth-shaped uneven portion is pressed against the sheet bundle, and the unevenness in the thickness direction is formed in the sheet bundle, and the sheets are engaged with each other. As a result, the binding process is performed.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a tooth-shaped uneven portion (uneven embossed shape) is formed in an uneven state on a sheet bundle by sandwiching the sheet bundle by two rotating members respectively formed at both ends in the width direction on the outer peripheral surface. Thus, a technique is disclosed in which binding processing is performed on both ends in the width direction of a sheet bundle by rotating two rotating members.

Conventional paper processing apparatuses are environmentally friendly technologies because they perform binding processing on paper without using metal needles.
However, since the position where the folding process is performed is different from the position where the binding process is performed, the binding process is performed in a state where the folds are shifted or the paper is wrinkled, and the final appearance quality is reduced. It was sometimes damaged. In particular, such a problem cannot be ignored when bag binding processing is performed on paper because the binding processing needs to be performed after folding processing.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which folding processing and binding processing are performed on a sheet in a good-looking state. There is.

  A sheet processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a sheet processing apparatus that performs a folding process and a binding process on a plurality or a single sheet, and sandwiches the sheet so as to be folded at a nip portion. The first outer peripheral portion for transporting in the transport direction to form a crease in the paper includes a pair of transport rollers formed in a part of the rotation direction, and the transport roller pair is in the width direction of the outer peripheral surface of each other. The tooth-shaped irregularities formed at the end are conveyed in the conveying direction while meshing with the paper sandwiched therebetween, and the thickness direction is applied to the widthwise end of the paper that is folded by the first outer peripheral portion. The second outer peripheral portion for forming the irregularities and binding the teeth and the tooth-shaped irregularities formed over the width direction of the outer peripheral surfaces are conveyed in the conveying direction while meshing with the sheet sandwiched therebetween. The first outer periphery The third outer peripheral portion for forming the unevenness in the thickness direction over the width direction of the paper subjected to the binding and performing the binding process is formed on a part of the rotation direction different from the first outer peripheral portion, respectively. It is comprised so that contact / separation is possible by the separation means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which a folding process and a binding process are performed on a sheet in a good-looking state.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet processing apparatus. It is the (A) side view and (B) front view which show the roller member which comprises a process roller pair (conveyance roller pair). It is the schematic which shows operation | movement of a processing roller pair. It is the schematic which shows the contact-and-separation mechanism of a process roller pair. It is the schematic which shows an example of the contact / separation operation | movement of a process roller pair. It is the schematic which shows position alignment operation | movement of a process roller pair and a paper. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of performing a binding process only on a width direction end portion on one side of a sheet as a modified example.

Embodiment.
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, 2 is a document reading unit that optically reads image information of a document D, and 3 is a photosensitive member that exposes light L based on the image information read by the document reading unit 2. An exposure unit for irradiating the drum 5, 4 an image forming unit for forming a toner image (image) on the photosensitive drum 5, and 7 for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 5 to a sheet P (sheet) A transfer unit (image forming unit), 10 is a document transport unit that transports a set document D to the document reading unit 2, 12 to 14 are paper feed units that store paper P such as transfer paper, and 17 and 18 are A registration roller (timing roller) that conveys the paper P toward the transfer unit 7, a fixing device 20 that fixes an unfixed image on the paper P, a fixing roller 21 installed in the fixing device 20, and a fixing device 20. The pressure roller 30 is installed on the front side. It inverts the paper P after but formed shows a two-sided conveyance unit, which transported toward the image forming unit.
Reference numeral 50 denotes a paper processing device (post-processing device) that performs post-processing on the paper P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1 and carried in, and 59 is a folding process and a binding process for a plurality or a single paper P. A pair of processing rollers as a pair of conveying rollers for carrying out, 61 is a stacking unit (internal tray) installed inside the paper processing apparatus 50, and 71 to 73 are discharges of post-processed paper P (or paper bundle) Reference numeral 90 denotes a tray (paper discharge tray) to be stacked, and a binding device 90 is installed inside the sheet processing apparatus 50. The sheet processing apparatus 50 is detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, an operation during normal image formation in the image forming apparatus main body 1 will be described.
First, the document D is conveyed from the document table in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the conveyance roller of the document conveyance unit 10 and passes over the document reading unit 2. At this time, the document reading unit 2 optically reads the image information of the document D passing above.
Then, the optical image information read by the document reading unit 2 is converted into an electric signal and then transmitted to the exposure unit 3 (writing unit). Then, exposure light L such as laser light based on the image information of the electrical signal is emitted from the exposure unit 3 toward the photosensitive drum 5 of the image forming unit 4.

On the other hand, in the image forming unit 4, the photosensitive drum 5 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and image information is transferred onto the photosensitive drum 5 through a predetermined image forming process (charging process, exposure process, development process). An image (toner image) corresponding to is formed.
Thereafter, the image formed on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the paper P conveyed by the registration rollers 17 and 18 in the transfer unit 7 as an image forming unit.

On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer unit 7 (image forming unit) operates as follows.
First, one of the plurality of paper feeding units 12, 13, and 14 of the image forming apparatus main body 1 is automatically or manually selected (for example, the uppermost paper feeding unit 12 is selected). To do.)
Then, the uppermost sheet P of the paper P stored in the paper feeding unit 12 is transported toward the position of the transport path K1.

  Thereafter, the sheet P passes through a conveyance path K1 in which a plurality of conveyance rollers are arranged, and reaches the position of the registration rollers 17 and 18. Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the registration rollers 17 and 18 is conveyed toward the transfer unit 7 (image forming unit) at the same timing in order to align with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 5. Is done.

  Then, after the transfer process, the sheet P passes through the position of the transfer unit 7 and then reaches the fixing device 20 through the conveyance path. The sheet P that has reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, and the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. . The sheet P on which the image is fixed is delivered from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (a nip portion), and then discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1.

  Note that when the “double-sided printing mode” for performing printing on both sides of the paper P (the front side and the back side) is selected, the paper P that has undergone the fixing process on the front side is described above. The paper is not discharged as it is when the “single-sided printing mode” is selected, but is guided to the double-sided conveyance path K2, and the conveyance direction is reversed by the double-sided conveyance unit 30, and then the transfer unit 7 ( It is conveyed toward the position of the image forming unit. Then, an image is formed on the back surface of the sheet P by the same image forming process as described above at the position of the transfer unit 7, and then passes through the conveyance path through a fixing process in the fixing device 20. And discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1.

Here, in the present embodiment, the sheet processing apparatus 50 is installed in the image forming apparatus 1, and the sheet P discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is transported to the sheet processing apparatus 50, and the transported sheet P is transported. Is post-processed.
Referring to FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus 50 in the present embodiment conveys a sheet P conveyed from the apparatus main body 1 to one of three conveyance paths K3 to K5, and performs different post-processing. It is comprised so that it can give. The first transport path K3 is a transport path for discharging the paper P transported from the image forming apparatus main body 1 to the first paper discharge tray 71 as it is without performing post-processing. In the second transport path K4, the paper P transported from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is stacked on the stacking unit 61 (internal tray), and the binding device 90 performs binding processing to the rear end of the paper, and the processed paper This is a conveyance path for discharging P (sheet bundle PT) from the sheet discharge outlet 50b toward the external tray 72 (second sheet discharge tray) by the sheet discharge roller 55. In the third conveyance path K5, the sheet P conveyed from the image forming apparatus main body 1 is temporarily conveyed to the second conveyance path K4 and switched back, and then the intermediate folding process (temporary folding process) by the sheet folding blade 84 or the like. This is a conveying path for performing folding processing and binding processing on the paper P by the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) and discharging the paper to the third paper discharge tray 73 (see also FIG. 2).
The above-described switching of the three transport paths K3 to K5 is performed by a switching operation (rotation) of the branch claw 81.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 2, a first transport roller 51 and a paper detection sensor are installed in the vicinity of the carry-in entrance 50a of the paper processing apparatus 50, and the paper P detected by the paper detection sensor is the first. 1, and transported into the apparatus 50 by the second transport rollers 51 and 52. Then, based on the post-processing mode selected in advance by the user, the branching claw 81 rotates so that the paper P is guided to the desired transport paths K3 to K5.
When the mode in which no post-processing is performed is selected, the paper P transported to the first transport path K3 is discharged by the third transport roller 53 and is discharged onto the first paper discharge tray 71.

  When the “sort mode (sorting processing mode)” is selected, the paper P transported to the second transport path K4 is configured to be movable in the width direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 2). Each paper P is transported while being shifted in the width direction by a predetermined amount by the fourth transport roller 54, transported by the paper discharge roller 55 (fifth transport roller), and onto the external tray 72 (second paper discharge tray). It is loaded sequentially.

  Referring to FIG. 2, a filler 82 is provided above the external tray 72 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft at the upper end, and the external tray 72 is configured to be movable up and down by a moving mechanism (not shown). ing. Then, a state in which the central portion in the transport direction of the sheets P sequentially stacked on the external tray 72 is in contact with the filler 82 is detected by a sensor installed in the vicinity of the support shaft of the filler 82, thereby The height of the stacked paper P is recognized. Then, the vertical position of the external tray 72 is adjusted according to the increase or decrease of the number of sheets P stacked on the external tray 72. When the upper and lower positions of the external tray 72 reach the lower limit position, it is determined that the number of sheets P stacked on the external tray 72 has reached the upper limit (full) from the sheet processing apparatus 50 to the image forming apparatus 1. A stop signal is transmitted to stop the image forming operation.

  When the “binding processing mode (staple mode)” is selected, the paper P transported to the second transport path K4 is transported by the fourth transport roller 54 without being shifted, and the stacking unit 61 ( It is sequentially stacked on the internal tray. When a desired number of sheets P (sheet bundle) are stacked on the loading surface 62 of the stacking unit 61, the tapping roller 64 disposed above the sheet P moves to a position where it abuts on the uppermost sheet P. The tapping roller 64 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, whereby a plurality of sheets P (sheet bundle) are conveyed (moved) toward the fence section 66. Thereby, the rear end (rear end in the transport direction) of the plurality of sheets P (sheet bundle) abuts against the fence portion 66, and the positions in the transport direction of the plurality of sheets P are aligned.

At this time, referring to FIG. 2, jogger fences 68 installed at both ends in the width direction of stacking unit 61 move in the width direction so as to sandwich a plurality of sheets P stacked on stacking unit 61. Thus, the positions in the width direction of the plurality of sheets P are aligned. Then, the binding process is performed by the binding device 90 (first binding device) on the rear end of the paper P (paper bundle) in which the transport direction and the width direction are aligned.
Thereafter, the sheet P (sheet bundle) subjected to the binding process moves obliquely upward along the inclination of the placement surface 62 by the movement of the discharge claw 67 in the sheet discharge direction, and is conveyed by the sheet discharge roller 55, It is discharged onto the external tray 72.

When the “folding processing mode” is selected, the sheet P is first transported to the second transport path K4 and the fourth transport roller 54 is moved in a state where the rear end portion is sandwiched between the fourth transport rollers 54. The reverse rotation causes the switchback to be transferred to the third transfer path K5. Then, the paper P transported to the third transport path K5 is transported to a position where the central portion of the paper P faces the paper folding blade 84 by the sixth to eighth transport rollers 56 to 58. At this time, the sheet P is in a state in which the leading end of the sheet P abuts against a stopper portion 85 (configured to be movable in the transport direction by a slide mechanism (not shown)). Then, a desired number of sheets P (sheet bundle) is stacked at that position.
Then, the sheet P (sheet bundle) is pressed at the position of the center folding plate 86 in a state where the central portion is folded in half by the sheet folding blade 84 moving to the left in FIG. Process). After that, the sheet P (sheet bundle) after the middle folding process is conveyed by the processing roller pair 59 as the conveyance roller pair (9th conveyance roller), and a pressure contact force is applied to the folding portion of the sheet P (sheet bundle). Thus, the final folding process is performed, and then the paper is discharged onto the third paper discharge tray 73.
Here, in this embodiment, the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) is configured to perform various forms of binding processing including bag binding processing in addition to folding processing. That is, when the user selects the “folding processing mode”, one of several binding processes such as “bag binding process”, “edge binding process”, and “spot binding process” is added as an additional function. You can choose one. This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration and operation of the sheet processing apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.
As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet processing apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment can perform the folding process and the binding process on a plurality or a single sheet P. A processing roller pair 59 is provided as a conveying roller pair.
Specifically, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the processing roller pair 59 is a pair of conveying rollers formed of two roller members (an upper roller 59 </ b> A and a lower roller 59 </ b> B). Three outer peripheral portions 59a to 59c having different functions are formed on the rollers 59A and 59B. The upper roller 59A and the lower roller 59B are formed so as to be substantially plane-symmetric with respect to the transport surface on which the paper P is transported. The processing roller pair 59 is connected to a driving motor 93 (see FIG. 7) as driving means, and the upper roller 59A and the lower roller 59B are connected to each other by the driving motor 93 regardless of the contact / separation state. Thus, the sheet P is rotated in synchronization with the arrow directions shown in FIG. 4 and 6, the paper P is transported from the left to the right in the figure, and is shown in the reverse direction of the transport direction in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The first outer peripheral portion 59a of the processing roller pair 59 (upper roller 59A and lower roller 59B) is for forming a crease in the paper P by being conveyed in the conveying direction while being nipped so as to fold the paper P at the nip portion. As shown in FIG. 3B, the width direction (a direction orthogonal to the transport direction and a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) in a part of the rotation direction (a range of about 1/3 round). , In the left-right direction of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, a nip portion (folding nip portion) formed by press-contacting the first outer peripheral portion 59a of the upper roller 59A and the first outer peripheral portion 59a of the lower roller 59B. Then, the leading end (folded portion) of the sheet P after the middle folding process (after the temporary folding process) is fed, and a firm crease is formed at the leading end portion by the pressing force of the nip portion.

The second outer peripheral portion 59b of the processing roller pair 59 (upper roller 59A and lower roller 59B) has a tooth shape formed at the end in the width direction of the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B. The uneven portion is transported in the transport direction while meshing with the paper P sandwiched therebetween, and the unevenness in the thickness direction is formed at the width direction end portion of the paper P folded by the first outer peripheral portion 59a, and the binding process is performed. The first outer peripheral portion 59a and the third outer peripheral portion 59c are formed in a part of the rotational direction different from that of the first outer peripheral portion 59a and the third outer peripheral portion 59c. That is, the second outer peripheral portion 59b is both ends in the width direction of the paper P (paper bundle) and in the transport direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3A and the left-right direction in FIG. 4). The binding process is performed on the paper P using a predetermined range along the line as a binding area. Then, the sheet P is sandwiched between the tooth-shaped uneven portion formed on the second outer peripheral portion 59b of the upper roller 59A and the tooth-shaped uneven portion formed on the second outer peripheral portion 59b of the lower roller 59B. By engaging in the state, unevenness in the thickness direction is formed in the sheet bundle P, and the sheets P are engaged and bound.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the sheet P after the folding process is formed by the meshing portion formed by meshing the second outer peripheral portion 59b of the upper roller 59A and the second outer peripheral portion 59b of the lower roller 59B. Are bound and transported, and binding processing is performed on both ends of the paper P in the width direction in the transport direction. In the second outer peripheral portion 59b, the portions other than the width direction end portions where the tooth-shaped uneven portions are formed (the center portion in the width direction) have a predetermined curvature so as not to interfere with the engagement of the tooth-shaped uneven portions. It is formed in a curved surface shape (outer diameter).

The third outer peripheral portion 59c of the processing roller pair 59 (upper roller 59A and lower roller 59B) has a tooth shape formed at the end in the width direction of the outer peripheral surface as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4C. The uneven portion is transported in the transport direction while meshing with the paper P sandwiched, and the unevenness in the thickness direction is formed over the width direction of the paper P folded by the first outer peripheral portion 59a to perform the binding process. Therefore, the first outer peripheral portion 59a and the second outer peripheral portion 59b are formed in a part of a rotational direction different from that of the first outer peripheral portion 59b (a range of about 1/9 rounds). That is, the third outer peripheral portion 59c is the rear end portion of the paper P (paper bundle) (the portion on the opposite side of the folding portion), and a predetermined range in the width direction is used as the binding region on the paper P. The binding process is performed on the image. Then, the paper P is sandwiched between the tooth-shaped uneven portion formed on the third outer peripheral portion 59c of the upper roller 59A and the tooth-shaped uneven portion formed on the third outer peripheral portion 59c of the lower roller 59B. By engaging in the state, unevenness in the thickness direction is formed in the sheet bundle P, and the sheets P are engaged and bound.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4C, after the folding process is performed by the meshing portion formed by meshing the third outer peripheral portion 59c of the upper roller 59A and the third outer peripheral portion 59c of the lower roller 59B. The sheet P after the binding process (width direction end part binding process) by the second outer peripheral portion 59b is completed is meshed and conveyed, and the binding process is performed on the rear end part of the sheet P in the width direction.

  The processing roller pair 59 configured in this manner is configured to be able to contact and separate by contacting / separating means 97 and 98 with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, the upper roller 59A and the lower roller 59B constituting the processing roller pair 59 are in contact with each other at a predetermined timing by the contact / separation means 97 and 98 (the state shown in FIG. 5A) and in the separated state (FIG. 5). 5 (B).) Can be switched.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 5, the lower roller 59 </ b> B is fixedly supported so that the shaft portions at both ends of the lower roller 59 </ b> B can rotate with respect to the housing of the apparatus via a bearing. On the other hand, the upper roller 59A is supported such that the shaft portions at both ends thereof are slidable in the vertical direction through a bearing in a long hole formed in the housing of the apparatus. A cam 97 engaged with the shaft portion of the upper roller 59A is supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft portion 97a fixed to the housing of the apparatus. A tension spring 98 is connected between the shaft portion of the upper roller 59A and the shaft portion 97a of the cam 97.
With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the top dead center side of the cam 97 comes into contact with the upper roller 59A by driving by a motor (not shown), the spring force of the tension spring 98 is resisted. Thus, the upper roller 59A is pushed by the cam 97 so that the processing roller pair 59 comes into contact. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the bottom dead center side of the cam 97 comes into contact with the upper roller 59A by driving by a motor (not shown), the upper roller 59A is driven by the spring force of the tension spring 98. Moves, and the processing roller pair 59 is separated.

By configuring the processing roller pair 59 so as to be able to contact and separate in this way, the folding process by the first outer peripheral portion 59a and the binding processing by the second outer peripheral portion 59b (for the paper P at the position of the processing roller pair 59 ( It is possible to arbitrarily combine a plurality of processes of the width direction end binding process) and the binding process (rear end binding process) by the third outer peripheral portion 59c.
When all the above-described three processes are performed, the sheet P (sheet bundle) is processed into a bag shape (bag binding process).

In addition, when the processing roller pair 59 is configured to be able to contact and separate, the outer peripheral length of the processing roller pair 59 does not match the length in the conveyance direction of the paper P (in a folded state). Even so, the bag binding process can be reliably performed on the paper P. That is, bag binding processing can be performed on various sizes of paper P.
Specifically, FIGS. 6A to 6D show a case where the length of the sheet P (folded state) in the conveyance direction is longer than the outer peripheral length of the processing roller pair 59. The operation of the processing roller pair 59 is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the processing roller pair 59, the position in the transport direction of the paper P with respect to the processing roller pair 59 (the timing at which the leading and trailing edges of the paper P pass). A photo sensor 101 is installed as a paper position detecting means for optical detection. Referring to FIG. 7, an encoder 91 (a rotating plate that rotates together with the processing roller pair 59 and a plurality of peripheral plates on the outer peripheral side of the rotating plate is formed between the processing roller pair 59 and the drive motor 93. The encoder 91 functions as a roller rotation position detection means for detecting the position (posture) of the processing roller pair 59 in the rotation direction. . Then, based on the detection result of the photosensor 101 (paper position detection means) and the detection result of the encoder 91 (roller position detection means), the processing roller pair 59 performs folding processing and binding processing on the paper P. It will be.

Specifically, after the folding process by the first outer peripheral part 59a, the width direction end part binding process by the second outer peripheral part 59b is advanced, and as shown in FIG. 6A, in the vicinity of the end of the second outer peripheral part 59b. Is on the paper P, the timing is the elapsed time from the detection of the leading edge position of the paper P by the photo sensor 101, and the position information in the rotational direction detected by the encoder 91 (the position of the second outer peripheral portion 59b). Information), information on the conveyance speed and size of the paper P stored in advance in the control unit, and the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the pair of processing rollers 59 in the contact state are separated from each other, and the binding processing and conveyance for the paper P are temporarily interrupted. Then, after the processing roller pair 59 (upper roller 59A and lower roller 59B) is idled until the optimum position on the starting end side of the second outer peripheral portion 59b faces the paper P, as shown in FIG. The processing roller pair 59 that has been in the separated state is returned to the contact state, and the binding processing and conveyance by the second outer peripheral portion 59b are resumed. At this time, the position of the second outer peripheral portion 59b that meshes with the paper P is a position that is optimized in order to subsequently perform the rear end binding process on the paper P at the rear end, and is performed by the control unit described above. It is obtained based on information, detection information of the photo sensor 101 and the encoder 91, and the like.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 6D, after the width direction end portion binding process to the paper P by the second outer peripheral portion 59b is completed, the rear end portion to the paper P by the third outer peripheral portion 59c. The binding process is performed, and the bag binding process for the paper P is completed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the folding process and the binding process are not independently performed at positions far apart from each other, but the folding process and the binding process are performed by one processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair). ) Is carried out continuously while being conveyed, so that there is no problem that the binding process is performed in a state where the folds of the paper P are shifted or the paper P is wrinkled. The final appearance quality can be improved by performing the folding process and the binding process in a good-looking state.

In the example of FIG. 6, the operation of the processing roller pair 59 when the conveyance direction length of the paper P is longer than the outer peripheral length of the processing roller pair 59 has been described. Similarly, regarding the operation of the processing roller pair 59 when the conveyance direction length of the paper P is short, the processing is similarly performed in accordance with the conveyance length of the paper P to be subjected to the width direction edge binding processing by the second outer peripheral portion 59b. The contact / separation operation and idling operation of the roller pair 59 are performed.
Further, by setting the outer peripheral length of the pair of processing rollers 59 according to the conveyance direction length of a frequently used size (for example, A4 vertical size), the size of the sheet P is conveyed. In this case, the bag binding process can be performed without performing the above-described separation operation of the processing roller pair 59, so that the overall working efficiency of the apparatus is improved.

In the example of FIG. 6, the position in the transport direction of the paper P is detected by the photo sensor 101 (paper position detection means) installed upstream of the processing roller pair 59 in the transport direction. On the other hand, the position in the transport direction of the paper P can also be detected by the paper position detection means installed at both the downstream position in the transport direction and the upstream and downstream positions.
In the example of FIG. 6, the paper P is transported and stopped by the processing roller pair 59. However, another transport roller is provided on the upstream side or the downstream side of the processing roller pair 59, and the paper P is transported by the transport roller. Alternatively, the conveyance direction position of the sheet P with respect to the processing roller pair 59 can be finely adjusted by conveying or stopping in the opposite direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, a CIS 102 (contact image sensor) serving as a paper position detecting means for detecting the position of the paper P in the width direction with respect to the processing roller pair 59 is used. The position in the width direction of the processing roller pair 59 is finely adjusted by a moving mechanism 92 that is installed on the upstream side and moves the processing roller pair 59 in the width direction based on the position of the width direction end portion of the paper P detected by the CIS 102. You can also Thereby, even if the position of the paper P in the width direction is shifted and conveyed, the width direction end portion binding processing for the paper P by the second outer peripheral portion 59b can be performed with high accuracy.
In addition, by configuring the processing roller pair 59 so that the position in the width direction (pitch in the width direction) of the second outer peripheral portion 59b installed at both ends in the width direction can be varied, However, the width direction edge part binding process by the 2nd outer peripheral part 59b can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the contacting / separating means (cam 97 and tension spring 98) described above with reference to FIG. 5 can vary the pressure contact force between the roller members 59A and 59B constituting the processing roller pair 59. It is configured. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the cam 97 has an outer peripheral shape so that the distance between the shafts of the upper roller 59A and the cam 97 can be continuously varied in multiple stages from the top dead center to the bottom dead center. Is formed.
The contacting / separating means 97 and 98 are controlled so as to vary the pressing force according to the thickness and number of sheets P (sheet bundle) conveyed by the processing roller pair 59. Specifically, when the thickness of the sheet P (sheet bundle) is large or the number of sheets is large, the folding process or the binding process is performed as compared with the case where the thickness of the sheet P (sheet bundle) is thin or the number of sheets is small. Therefore, since the pressure contact force required for the paper P must be increased, the rotational position of the cam 97 in the contact state is adjusted as such.
By performing such control, stable folding processing and binding processing can be performed regardless of the thickness and number of sheets P (sheet bundle).

Referring to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the position at which the binding process is performed on the sheet P by moving the sheet P relative to the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) in the width direction is variable. It is also possible to provide a movable side fence 95 as a moving means.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, a stopper 94 (paper surface) is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the processing roller pair 59 so as to abut the leading end of the paper P (paper bundle) and align the transport direction. And a movable side fence 95 for positioning the paper P (paper bundle) in the width direction and positioning in the width direction. The movable side fence 95 is configured to be movable in the width direction by a drive mechanism (not shown), and also functions as a moving unit that moves the paper P relative to the processing roller pair 59 in the width direction. .
When the user issues a selection command to perform the folding process by the first outer peripheral part 59a and the width direction end part binding process by only the one outer side by the second outer peripheral part 59b with respect to the paper P, FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, the movable side fence 95 moves in the width direction from the reference position indicated by the broken line so as to match the position where the width direction end portion binding process is performed only on one side. Thereafter, the stopper 94 that has aligned the leading edge of the paper P moves to a position where it is retracted from the transport path, and the paper P that has been moved in the width direction is pushed by the paper folding blade 84 or the like. It is conveyed to position 59. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the width direction end portion binding processing is performed by the paper P by the second outer peripheral portion 59b on one side, and finally, as shown in FIG. The width direction end portion binding process on only one side is performed at a desired position surrounded by the broken line.

In the example of FIG. 8, the case has been described where the paper P whose size in the width direction is shorter than the pitch interval of the second outer peripheral portions 59b provided at both ends in the width direction is provided. Even when the sheet P having a size in the width direction longer than the pitch interval of the second outer peripheral portion 59b is conveyed, the moving mechanism 92 described with reference to FIG. By configuring the moving range to be large or changing the position in the width direction (pitch in the width direction) of the second outer peripheral portion 59b installed at both ends in the width direction in the processing roller pair 59, the same The width direction edge part binding process only on one side becomes possible.
Further, by moving the sheet P in the width direction by the moving means and adjusting the range in the width direction in which the rear end binding process is performed by the third outer peripheral portion 59c, a part in the width direction at the rear end portion of the sheet P is adjusted. Only the binding process can be performed.
Further, by providing a moving means for moving the paper P relative to the processing roller pair 59 in the transport direction, the range in the transport direction in which the binding process is performed by the second outer peripheral portion 59b and the third outer peripheral portion 59c can be varied. The “spot binding process” can also be performed.

In the present embodiment, a variable speed type drive motor 93 is used so that the rotation speed of the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) can be varied. Can be varied to change the conveyance speed of the paper P when the folding process is performed on the paper P and the conveyance speed of the paper P when the binding process is performed on the paper P.
Such a configuration and control is such that when the binding process is performed on the paper P, the accuracy of the process does not decrease even if the conveyance speed of the paper P is high. On the other hand, when the folding process is performed on the paper P, the paper P This is effective when the conveyance speed is high and the press-contact time is shortened, resulting in a decrease in processing accuracy. In such a case, the conveyance speed during folding processing is slower than the conveyance speed during binding processing. It will be controlled as follows.

Similarly, the rotational speed of the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) can be varied, and the rotational speed of the processing roller pair 59 is varied so that the sheet P conveyed by the processing roller pair 59 is changed. The conveyance speed of the paper P can be varied according to the thickness and the number of sheets.
Specifically, when the thickness of the sheet P (sheet bundle) is large or the number of sheets is large, the folding process or the binding process is performed as compared with the case where the thickness of the sheet P (sheet bundle) is thin or the number of sheets is small. In order to increase the pressure contact force required for the sheet P, the conveyance speed of the sheet P is reduced to increase the total pressure contact force (pressure contact force × pressure contact time) applied to the sheet P by the processing roller pair 59. It will be.
Accordingly, stable folding processing and binding processing can be performed regardless of the thickness and number of sheets P (sheet bundle).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the processing roller pair 59 (conveying roller pair) has the first outer peripheral portion 59a for forming a crease in the paper P while sandwiching the paper P so as to be folded at the nip portion. Is formed in a part in the rotation direction, and a second outer peripheral portion for forming a concavity and convexity in the thickness direction at the end portion in the width direction of the paper P folded by the first outer peripheral portion 59a. 59b and a third outer peripheral portion 59c for forming the unevenness in the thickness direction over the width direction of the sheet P folded by the first outer peripheral portion 59a and performing the binding processing are respectively the first outer peripheral portion 59a and the third outer peripheral portion 59a. Are formed in a part of different rotational directions, and are configured to be able to contact and separate by a cam 97 and a tension spring 98 (contact and separation means). As a result, the folding process and the binding process can be performed on the paper P in a good-looking state.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the sheet processing apparatus 50 installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus 1. However, the present invention is naturally applied to the sheet processing apparatus installed in the color image forming apparatus. The present invention can be applied.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the sheet processing apparatus 50 in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of image formation are performed. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to a sheet processing apparatus in an apparatus (for example, an inkjet image forming apparatus or a stencil printing apparatus).
Furthermore, instead of the sheet processing apparatus 50 installed in the image forming apparatus 1, a sheet processing apparatus as a single apparatus (for example, a sheet feeding cassette is set in the transport port 50a, and a processing mode or the like is set in the sheet processing apparatus itself). The present invention can also be applied to a case where an operation panel for inputting is installed.
Even in those cases, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, another paper processing device (for example, a device that performs Z-folding processing on the paper P) is installed between the image forming apparatus main body 1 and the paper processing device 50. You can also.
In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the paper processing apparatus 50 that can perform the folding process, the binding process, and the sorting process. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and punching is performed. Naturally also for a paper processing apparatus that performs processing (punch processing), a paper processing apparatus that performs only folding processing and binding processing among the plurality of processing described above, and a paper processing device that performs processing in another combination. The present invention can be applied.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is obvious that the present embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in the present embodiment. is there. In addition, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, and the like suitable for implementing the present invention can be achieved.

1 image forming apparatus body (apparatus body),
50 Paper processing device (post-processing device),
59 Processing roller pair (conveying roller pair),
59A Upper roller (roller member),
59B Lower roller (roller member),
59a first outer peripheral portion, 59b second outer peripheral portion, 59c third outer peripheral portion,
91 Encoder (roller rotation position detection means),
92 moving mechanism (moving means),
93 Drive motor (drive means),
94 stopper, 95 movable side fence (moving means),
97 cam (contact / separation means), 98 tension spring (contact / separation means),
101 Photosensor (paper position detection means),
102 CIS (paper position detecting means), P paper (sheet).

JP-A-7-165365 JP 2012-62129 A

Claims (8)

A paper processing apparatus that performs a folding process and a binding process on a plurality or a single sheet of paper,
A first outer peripheral portion for forming a crease on the paper by conveying in the conveyance direction while sandwiching the paper so that the paper is folded at the nip portion includes a conveyance roller pair formed in a part of the rotation direction,
The conveying roller pair is
The width of the paper sheet that is conveyed in the conveying direction while meshing with the tooth-shaped irregularities formed at the widthwise ends of the outer peripheral surfaces, with the paper sandwiched, and is folded by the first outer peripheral part. A second outer peripheral portion for forming a concavity and convexity in the thickness direction at the direction end portion and performing a binding process;
The tooth-shaped concavo-convex portions formed over the width direction of each outer peripheral surface are conveyed in the conveying direction while meshing in a state where the paper is sandwiched, and the paper is folded by the first outer peripheral portion over the width direction of the paper. A third outer peripheral portion for forming an unevenness in the thickness direction and performing a binding process;
Are each formed in a part in a rotational direction different from the first outer peripheral portion, and are configured to be contactable / separable by contact / separation means.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contacting / separating unit is configured to be able to vary a pressure contact force between roller members constituting the conveying roller pair.   3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contacting / separating unit is controlled to vary the pressing force according to a thickness or / and a number of sheets conveyed by the conveying roller pair. . A sheet position detecting means for detecting a position of the sheet in the conveying direction and / or the width direction with respect to the pair of conveying rollers;
Roller rotation position detecting means for detecting the position of the conveying roller pair in the rotation direction;
With
The folding process and the binding process are performed on the sheet by the conveying roller pair based on a detection result of the sheet position detection unit and a detection result of the roller position detection unit. The paper processing apparatus according to any one of the above.   The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit configured to move the sheet relative to the pair of conveying rollers in the width direction and / or the conveying direction to change a position where the binding process is performed on the sheet. Item 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Items 4 to 5. The transport roller pair is configured to be able to vary its rotational speed,
By varying the rotation speed of the pair of conveyance rollers, the conveyance speed of the sheet when folding the sheet and the conveyance speed of the sheet when binding the sheet are varied. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is characterized. The transport roller pair is configured to be able to vary its rotational speed,
The conveyance speed of the paper is varied according to the thickness or / and the number of sheets conveyed by the conveyance roller pair by varying the rotation speed of the conveyance roller pair. Item 7. The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Items 6 to 7.   An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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