JP6596627B2 - Paper binding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cutting needle that forms a tongue piece that can be folded back onto a sheet bundle, and a slit that forms a slit adjacent to the base side of the tongue piece and inserts the tongue piece into the slit. The present invention relates to the field of a sheet binding device that binds a sheet bundle without using a sheet.

  Conventionally, many metal needles have been used to bind a bundle of sheets to each other. Recently, however, various methods have been proposed for binding the sheets themselves by deforming or engaging the sheets themselves without using the metal needles.

  Among them, a long U-shaped cut in the sheet bundle, a slit is formed adjacent to the base of the cut U-shape, and a tongue piece cut and raised from the U-shaped cut is inserted into the slit. There is a binding method. In this method, a U-shaped cutting blade and a slit blade that forms a slit are inserted into the paper bundle and penetrated, and when the cutting blade and the slit blade are pulled out from the paper bundle, an opening formed with a tongue piece on the slit blade It is hooked on and inserted into the slit.

JP 2010-137551 A

  However, the sheet bundle after binding in this manner has a shape in which the free end side of the tongue piece passed through the slit protrudes from the sheet surface. Therefore, when the bound sheet bundle is accumulated in the height direction, the leading end of the sheet bundle to be newly accumulated is caught by the tongue protruding from the previously accumulated sheet bundle and stopped. Clogging may occur.

  For this reason, an apparatus provided with a mechanism for compressing the binding portion in the thickness direction after binding has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1), but there is a problem that the structure is complicated and the apparatus cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an inexpensive sheet binding device in which a bundle of bound sheets can be stacked in the height direction without being caught by each other. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, a sheet binding device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transport mechanism that transports paper, a stop mechanism that temporarily stops the transported paper in a bundle state, and an end of the paper bundle that is temporarily stopped. A cutting blade that cuts the sheet bundle so as to form a tongue that can be folded back from the sheet bundle with one end side connected to the sheet, and a paper sheet that is disposed adjacent to one end side of the cutting blade, The slit has a slit in the bundle and an engagement hole into which the tongue piece is inserted. The slit blade and the slit blade penetrate the sheet bundle from above, and the tongue piece and the slit. After the paper sheet is formed, the tongue piece is engaged with the engagement hole when the paper piece is pulled out from the sheet bundle, and the binding piece unit that binds the sheet bundle by passing the tongue piece through the slit from below, and the paper that is bound by the binding blade unit. Bundles, for predecessors that have already been bound and accumulated The stacker has a stacker that accumulates in the height direction by stacking the sheets on the bundle, and the direction of sheet discharge to the stacker is the direction in which the free end of the tongue piece that is folded and passed through the slit faces. A sheet binding device characterized in that:

  Since the paper is discharged in the direction in which the free end side of the tongue piece faces, the tongue piece of the preceding sheet bundle also faces in the same direction. The leading end of the sheet bundle to be discharged falls on the upper surface of the uppermost sheet among the previously accumulated preceding sheets and advances. At this time, since the tongue piece of the preceding sheet faces the downstream side, the succeeding sheet can be smoothly stacked without being caught by the tongue piece.

  Two binding blade units are provided along one side parallel to the paper discharge direction. The two binding blade units form a binding portion in which the folding direction of the tongue pieces is symmetrical to each other, and the paper is discharged to the stacker. This direction may be the direction in which the free end side of the tongue piece of the binding portion on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction is facing out of the two binding portions.

  When the shape of the binding portion formed at two places in the discharge direction is a symmetric shape, the free end side of at least one tongue piece of the two binding portions faces the upstream side in the paper discharge direction. The binding portion in which the tongue piece faces the upstream side in the paper discharge direction is defined as the upstream side in the paper discharge direction of the two places. Therefore, according to this aspect, the leading end of the subsequent sheet bundle jumps over the binding portion where the tongue piece faces the upstream side in the paper discharge direction, and the tongue piece slides on the upper surface of the binding portion facing the downstream side in the paper discharge direction. Is done. Therefore, the subsequent sheet bundle can be stacked without being caught on the binding portion of the sheet bundle already stacked at the time of discharge. Further, since the binding portion shape is symmetric, the appearance of the bundle of sheets after binding is improved.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stack a bundle of sheets after binding in the height direction without being caught by each other, and it is possible to obtain an inexpensive sheet binding apparatus.

1 is a front view schematically showing a paper binding system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a top view of the sheet binding device 21. FIG. It is a figure which shows the opening / closing structure with the exterior cover of the paper binding apparatus. It is the side view which looked at the stapler 38 (needle binding mechanism) from the downstream. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mechanism in which the binding needle of the stapler 38 is driven. It is a perspective view which shows the needleless binding mechanism 138A. It is a front view showing a needle-free binding mechanism 138A. It is a side view showing needleless binding mechanism 138A. It is the figure which looked at the 1st raising / lowering block 85 and each member supported by this from the downward direction. It is the front view and side view which show the cutting blade unit 89. It is the front view and side view which show the slit blade 88. It is the figure which looked at the upper surface guide 82A and the auxiliary guide 100 from the lower side. It is the figure which looked at the lower surface guide 83A from the upper side. Needleless binding mechanism 138A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation when binding the sheet bundle P1. Needleless binding mechanism 138A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation when binding the sheet bundle P1. Needleless binding mechanism 138A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation when binding the sheet bundle P1. Needleless binding mechanism 138A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation when binding the sheet bundle P1. Needleless binding mechanism 138A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation when binding the sheet bundle P1. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the binding part formed in the paper bundle P1 by the needleless binding mechanism 138A. It is a front view which shows the needleless binding mechanism 138B. It is a side view which shows the needleless binding mechanism 138B. It is the figure which looked at the upper surface guide 82B from the lower side. It is the figure which looked at the lower surface guide 83B from the upper side. 3 is a control block diagram showing a control system of the sheet binding system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the paper binding system 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a stacking state of a sheet bundle P1 that has been ejected when flat binding is performed by the stapleless binding mechanism 138. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the needle | hook search operation | movement of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the needle | hook search operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the needle | hook search operation | movement of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the needle | hook search operation | movement of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the needle | hook search operation | movement of 5th Embodiment of this invention.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a paper binding system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The paper binding system 1 is configured by connecting a collating device 2 and a paper binding device 21.

  In the collating apparatus 2, a plurality of paper feed mechanisms 3 (3a to 3j) are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction. The paper feed mechanism 3 has a paper feed base 4 on which a plurality of papers are stacked and stacked. A paper feed roller 5 is in pressure contact with the top end of the leftmost side of the sheet bundle P0 stacked on the paper feed table 4 in the drawing. The paper plate 6 is pressed against the paper feed roller 5 from below. When the paper feed roller 5 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, the uppermost paper P of the paper bundle P0 is sent out, and the paper P enters between the paper feed roller 5 and the suction plate 6. When two or more sheets are overlapped and fed, the forward movement of the second and subsequent sheets is prevented by the friction between the second and subsequent sheets and the plate 6. In this way, only the topmost sheet P of the sheet bundle P0 stacked on each sheet feeding mechanism 3 is sent out, and descends the merging / conveying path 8 via the sheet feeding / conveying path 7. In the merging conveyance path 8, the sheets P sent out from the respective sheet feeding mechanisms 3 are merged. The sheet P is overlapped with the sheet fed from the other sheet feeding mechanism 3 while descending the merging conveyance path 8, forms a sheet bundle P 1, and is discharged from the discharge port 9.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheet binding device 21. Hereinafter, the configuration of the sheet binding device 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The sheet binding device 21 includes a carry-in port 22 facing the discharge port 9 of the collating device 2. Further, a carry-in entrance 23 is provided above (in FIG. 2, the paper bundle guide in the vicinity of the carry-in entrances 22 and 23 and above the paper bundle P1 conveyance surface is omitted, and the carry-in entrance 23 is positioned by a one-dot chain line. Only shown). The carry-in port 23 opens upward, and the user can insert the sheet bundle P1 by hand. The sheet bundle P1 carried in from the carry-in entrances 22 and 23 is sandwiched between a pair of conveyance rollers 24 and 25 (only the lower roller is shown in FIG. 2) that is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown), and moves on the conveyance plate 26 in the direction of arrow A1. (Hereinafter, referred to as a conveyance direction). Two pairs of conveying rollers 24 are provided at an appropriate interval in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction). The same applies to the conveyance roller pair 25. A sensor D1 for detecting insertion of the sheet bundle P1 is disposed at the carry-in entrance 23. In this embodiment, the sensor D1 is a transmission type sensor that detects insertion of the sheet bundle P1 by closing the optical axis with the sheet bundle P1. However, even if the sensor D1 is a reflective sensor, the sensor D1 is a lever that contacts the sheet bundle P1. You may detect an action | operation.

  A back jog member 27 is provided at an intermediate portion of the conveying roller pair 25 that is separated in the width direction. The back jog member 27 has a substantially horizontal guide portion 27a and an end portion of the guide portion 27a on the downstream side in the sheet bundle P1 conveyance direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as the downstream side in the sheet bundle P1 conveyance direction). A plate-like member having a jog portion 27b bent downward from the top is bent into an inverted L shape. A total of two back jog members 27 are provided in the width direction.

  A toothed pulley 28 is provided at an intermediate portion between the two back jog members 27. The toothed pulley 28 is supported by a shaft 29 that supports a roller below the pair of conveying rollers 25. The shaft 29 is rotationally driven by a motor M0. When the shaft 29 is rotationally driven, the transport roller pair 25 supported on the shaft 29 is rotated, and the transport roller pair 24 is also rotated by a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). However, the toothed pulley 28 is rotatably supported on the shaft 29, and the rotational force of the shaft 29 is not transmitted to the toothed pulley 28.

  On the other hand, a toothed pulley 31 is pivotally supported on a shaft 30 provided near the downstream end of the sheet binding device 21. The shaft 30 is rotationally driven by the motor M1. The toothed pulley 31 is provided at the same position as the toothed pulley 28 in the width direction, and a conveying belt 32 is hung between the toothed pulley 31 and the toothed pulley 28. The conveyor belt 32 is a toothed belt in which teeth that mesh with the toothed pulleys 28 and 31 are provided on the inner surface that circulates. Since the toothed pulley 31 is fixedly supported on the shaft 30, when the motor M <b> 1 rotates, the toothed pulley 31 rotates and the conveying belt 32 is driven to rotate. Two protrusions 32 a are provided on the outer surface of the conveyor belt 32. The two protrusions 32a are provided at positions where the circumferential lengths of the conveying belt 32 therebetween are the same.

  The sheet P1 sandwiched between the pair of transport rollers 25 passes above the guide portion 27a of the back jog member 27 and is transported on the transport belt 32 in the direction of arrow A1, and the leading end thereof contacts the stopper 33 (stop mechanism). Stop in contact. The position of the stopped sheet bundle P1 is indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The stopper 33 is provided so as to protrude above the conveyance belt 32 so that the leading end of the sheet bundle P1 conveyed on the conveyance belt 32 abuts. When the sheet bundle P1 is discharged, the stopper 33 is driven by a driving mechanism (not shown). It is buried from the upper surface of the conveyor belt 32 (becomes a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1). At this time, the protrusion 32a of the conveyor belt 32 is in a position where it does not interfere with the loaded sheet bundle P1. A sensor D2 for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet bundle P1 is disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1 of the stopper 33 (hereinafter simply referred to as the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1). ing. In this embodiment, the sensor D2 is a transmission type sensor that detects the presence of the sheet bundle P1 by closing the optical axis with the sheet bundle P1, but even a reflective sensor may be a lever that contacts the sheet bundle P1. You may detect an action | operation.

  The position of the stopper 33 in the transport direction can be changed by a driving mechanism (not shown) according to the size of the paper bundle P1 in the transport direction, and the distance from the jog portion 27b of the back jog member 27 is determined in advance. The sheet bundle P1 is waited at a position slightly larger than the length of P1 in the transport direction. The conveyance sensor D2 is also configured to move together with the stopper 33.

  The back jog member 27 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the transport direction by a driving mechanism (not shown), and the jog portion 27b is brought into contact with the upstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 stopped in contact with the stopper 33 at least once. The edge deviation in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1 is aligned with the stopper 33.

  A side jog member 34 is provided on one side (the lower side in FIG. 2) of the conveyance belt 32 in the width direction. The side jog member 34 is an L-shaped member in which a horizontal guide surface 34a that receives the sheet bundle P1 on its upper surface and a jog surface 34b that rises vertically upward from the horizontal guide surface are formed long in the transport direction. The side jog member 34 can be moved in the width direction by a drive mechanism (not shown).

  A guide member 35 is provided on the other side in the width direction of the conveyor belt 32 (upper side in FIG. 2). The guide member 35 is a plate-like member formed on the upper surface thereof so as to receive the sheet bundle P1 and to be long in the transport direction.

  A binding unit 36 is provided on the other side in the width direction of the guide member 35. The binding unit 36 includes a base plate 37 and two staplers 38 (38A, 38B) that are detachably supported on the base plate 37. The stapler 38 functions as a needle binding mechanism that drives a U-shaped needle into a binding target area (a portion near the edge on the other side in the width direction) of the paper bundle P1, and binds the stapled position 38a (38Aa). 38Ba), a binding needle is driven into the sheet bundle P1.

  The stapler 38 is removed from the base plate 37, and a stapleless binding mechanism 138 (138A, 138B) can be mounted instead. The stapleless binding mechanism does not bind the sheet bundle P1 with a needle but has a processing blade for processing the sheet bundle P1 and binding them together. Details of the stapler 38 and the stapleless binding mechanism 138 will be described later.

  A guide plate 39 that receives the edge of the sheet bundle P1 is provided in an intermediate portion of the two staplers 38, an upstream side of the stapler 38A, and a downstream side in the transport direction of the stapler 38B. The guide plate 39 includes a horizontal guide surface 39a that receives the sheet bundle P1 on its upper surface, and a vertical guide surface 39b that rises vertically upward from the horizontal guide surface.

  The sheet bundle P1 waits at a position where the distance between the vertical guide surface 39b and the jog surface 34b of the side jog member is slightly larger than the length of the sheet bundle P1 in the transport direction.

  The side jog member 34 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the width direction by a drive mechanism (not shown), and is brought into contact with the side edge of the sheet bundle P1 stopped by contact with the stopper 33 at least once and between the vertical guide surface 39b. Thus, the edge deviation in the width direction of the sheet bundle P1 is aligned.

  After being aligned by the back jog member 27 and the side jog member 34 and bound by the stapler 38 or the stapleless binding mechanism 138, the conveyance belt 32 starts to rotate. Then, the protrusion 32a pushes the upstream end of the sheet bundle P1, and conveys the sheet bundle P1 downstream. The sheet bundle P1 is sandwiched between the discharge roller pair 40 and discharged from the discharge port 41 to the stacker 42. In the stacker 42, each time the sheet bundle P1 is discharged, the stack is sequentially stacked on the sheet bundle P1 that has already been accumulated and has already been accumulated.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing an open / close structure of the sheet binding device 21 with the exterior cover (the exterior cover is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). FIG. 3A is a top view. As shown in FIG. 3A, the sheet binding device 21 includes a first cover 51 that covers the upper surface side of the stop position of the sheet bundle P <b> 1 stopped by the stopper 33, and a second cover that covers the upper surface side of the binding unit 36. 52, and an operation panel 111 for displaying various user inputs and displaying information using LEDs or the like (not shown in FIG. 2) below the first cover 51.

  Both the first cover 51 and the second cover 52 can be opened to the upper surface side. The first cover 51 is provided so as to be pivotable upward around a fulcrum 51a, and the second cover 52 is pivotable upward around a fulcrum 52a. FIG. 3B is a view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3A, and shows a state where the first cover 51 is opened. FIG. 3C is a view as seen from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3A, and shows a state where the second cover 52 is opened. As shown in FIG. 3B, a magnet 51b is provided on the free end side of the first cover 51, and a magnetic proximity sensor 51c that detects that the magnet 51b has approached is provided on the main body side. The magnetic proximity sensor 51c can detect whether the first cover 51 is open or closed. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3C, a magnet 52b is provided on the free end side of the second cover 52, a magnetic proximity sensor 52c is provided on the main body side, and the second cover 52 is opened. Whether it is closed can be detected. In this embodiment, the opening and closing of the first and second covers 51 and 52 are detected by the magnets 51b and 52b and the magnetic proximity sensors 51c and 52c. However, other types of sensors such as optical sensors and microswitches are used. Of course.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing the stapler 38 (needle binding mechanism), as viewed from the downstream side. The stapler 38 has a recess 61 that accommodates the binding target area of the sheet bundle P1. A driver unit 62 is provided above the recess 61 so as to be movable up and down, and a clincher 63 is provided below. The driver unit 62 is supported by a pin 64 that can move up and down along the elongated hole 65. The driver unit 62 is vertically moved by a guide mechanism (not shown). The pin 64 engages with a long hole 66 a at one end of the lever 66, and a pin 68 erected on the end surface of the rotating wheel 67 is inserted into the long hole 66 b at the other end of the lever 66. The lever 66 is rotatable around a fulcrum 69.

  The stapler 38 has a motor M <b> 2 (not shown) and a transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the rotational driving force to the rotating wheel 67. The lever 66 waits for the sheet bundle P <b> 1 at the position of the solid line in FIG. The motor M2 is driven only while the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation. When the rotating wheel 67 rotates once, the lever 66 once rotates to the position of the one-dot chain line and then returns to the original solid line position. In this way, the driver unit 62 moves up and down once, and the binding needle is driven. In synchronism with the vertical movement of the driver unit 62, the clincher 63 also operates to bend the leg of the U-shaped needle that has been driven. Drive is also transmitted from the motor M2 to the clincher 63 by a transmission mechanism (not shown). Details of the movement of the clincher 63 will be described later. The lever 66 and the rotating wheel 67 having the same shape are provided on both the upstream and downstream sides of the driver unit 62, and the pins 64 are supported on the upstream and downstream sides of the driver unit 62.

  The binding needle is accommodated in the cartridge 70. The cartridge 70 can be attached to and detached from the stapler 38 from above, and a large number of binding needles are accommodated in a rectangular parallelepiped case. When the needle in the case runs out, it can be replaced with a new cartridge 70 containing the binding needle.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the mechanism in which the staple of the stapler 38 is driven, as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 4 and from the left side in FIG. In the cartridge 70, a needle sheet S0 in which a number of long metal needles cut in advance to be used are adhered in a row is stacked and accommodated. The lowermost needle sheet S0 is sent out to the right in the figure by the roller 71.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the driver unit 62 has a driving member 72 at the center and a molding member 73 on both sides thereof. The driving member 72 and the forming member 73 are formed of a metal plate having a thickness corresponding to one binding needle. A stopper member 74 is provided so as to overlap adjacent to each other in the thickness direction. The stopper member 74 extends downward from the driving member 72 and the molding member 73, and has a shape in which the lower end is bent and protrudes in the direction in which the binding needle exists.

  The leading edge of the needle sheet S0 fed by the roller 71 comes into contact with the stopper member 74 and stops. At this time, the earliest needle S1 of the needle sheet S0 is on the upper surface 74a of the protruding portion of the stopper member 74. Since the width of the stopper member 74 is shorter than the length of the binding needle S1, the binding needle S1 protrudes from both sides of the stopper member 74. Further, since the protruding amount of the protruding portion 74a is the same as the width of one binding needle, only the earliest binding needle S1 is in the protruding portion 74a.

  When the motor M2 of the stapler 38 operates to rotate the rotating wheel 67 and the lever 66 rotates to lower the driver unit 62, as shown in FIG. 5B, the driving member 72 and the molding member 73 are both brought together. The molding member 73 first comes into contact with the binding needle S1. Since the central portion of the binding needle S1 is on the protruding portion 74a of the stopper member 74, both end portions of the binding needle S1 are bent downward by the forming member 73 to be formed into a U-shape. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the driving member 72 pushes down the binding needle S1, and the stopper member 74 is retracted in conjunction with a mechanism (not shown). The driving member 72 further pushes down the binding needle S1 to penetrate the sheet bundle P1. The binding needle S1 is bent inward by the clincher 63 on the back side of the binding needle S1. The clincher 63 includes two bending members 63a, a driver 63b that pushes up the bending member 63a, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that moves the driver 63b up and down. When the binding needle S1 passes through the sheet bundle P1, the driver 63b is raised to push up the bending member 63a, and the leg of the binding needle S1 is bent inward.

  When the stitching of the binding needle S1 is repeated, the lowermost needle sheet S0 is shortened accordingly, so that the upstream end (hereinafter referred to as “rear end”) of the lowest needle sheet S0 moves to the right in the figure. To do. When the rear end of the lowest needle sheet S0 passes below the downstream end (hereinafter referred to as “front end”) of the needle sheet S0 accommodated in the upper direction, the next needle sheet S0 descends. . The roller 71 is accommodated in the cartridge 70 so that the rear end of the lowest needle sheet S0 is sent out until it passes through the front end of the upper needle sheet S0, and the next lowering needle sheet S0 can also be sent out. It is located below the front end of the bundle of needle sheets S0. Since the front end of the lowered next needle sheet S0 comes into contact with the rear end of the previous needle sheet S0 and pushes out, the needle can be driven continuously. When the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation, the driver unit 62 and the driver 63b move up and down to drive the binding needle S1, and the roller 71 rotates to feed the next needle, and the drive transmission mechanism ( The driving force is transmitted from the motor M2.

  6 is a perspective view showing a needleless binding mechanism 138A located on the downstream side of the sheet bundle P1 in the stapleless binding mechanism 138, FIG. 7 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 8 is a side view seen from the left side of FIG. is there.

  The stapleless binding mechanism 138A has a recess 81 that accommodates the binding target area of the sheet bundle P1. The concave portion 81 includes an upper surface guide 82A facing the upper surface of the paper bundle P1, a lower surface guide 83A on the lower surface side of the paper bundle P1 on which the paper bundle P1 is placed, and a rear surface of the concave portion, the surface of the paper bundle P1. It is formed by the back side guide 84 which guides an edge. The guide surface 84a with which the sheet bundle P1 of the back guide 84 abuts is formed on the same line in the width direction as the vertical guide surface 39b (see FIG. 2) of the guide plate 39.

  Above the recess 81, a first elevating block 85 and a paper presser 86, a slit blade 88, and a cutting blade unit 89 supported by the first elevating block 85 are disposed.

  FIG. 9 is a view of the first elevating block 85 and each member supported by the first elevating block 85 as viewed from below. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the cutting blade unit 89 and the slit blade 88 are arranged in order from the upstream side, and further on the downstream side of the line where the cutting blade unit 89 and the slit blade 88 are arranged. Two paper pressers 86 are arranged in the width direction. The two paper retainers 86 have the same shape and the same structure.

  The first elevating block 85 has a recess 85a formed on the lower surface side thereof. The paper presser 86 includes a shaft 86a inserted through a through hole 85b provided from the bottom surface to the upper surface side of the recess 85a, and a hemispherical presser portion 86b provided at the lower end of the shaft 86a and having a slightly larger diameter than the shaft 86a. A stopper 86c having a diameter larger than that of the through hole 85b, and a spring 86d interposed between the pressing portion 86b and the bottom surface of the recess 85a. The shaft 86a is movable in the axial direction in the through hole 85d, but is stopped at a position where the stopper 86c is locked to the upper surface of the first lifting block 85 by the biasing force of the spring 86d.

  FIG. 10A is a front view showing the cutting blade unit 89, and FIG. 10B is a left side view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10, the cutting blade unit 89 includes a cutting blade 89a, a pressing piece 89b held inside thereof, a support shaft 89c that rotatably supports the pressing piece 89b, and a pressing piece 89b. Has a spring 89d that urges the support shaft 89c to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

  The cutting blade 89a is bent in a U-shape, the lower end edge is formed obliquely, and is sharpened in the thickness direction. The support shaft 89c is supported on both side surfaces in the width direction of the recess 85a of the first elevating block 85, penetrates the cutting blade 89a, and rotatably supports the pressing piece 89b inside thereof. The pressing piece 89b is disposed on the inner side of the cutting blade 89a, and a base portion 89b-1 through which the support shaft 89c passes and a flange portion 89b-2 formed in a hook shape below the base portion 89b-1. The spring 89d is a compression spring and is fitted between a spring hole 85c formed in the lower surface of the recess 85a and a spring receiving portion 89b-3 formed in a protruding shape on the left shoulder portion of the pressing piece 89b. . An engaging portion 89b-4 is formed below the spring receiving portion 89b-3.

  FIG. 11A is a front view showing the slit blade 88, and FIG. 11B is a left side view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 11, the slit blade 88 is formed such that both ends of a plate-like member that is vertically long are bent at an obtuse angle in the same direction, a lower end edge 88a is formed in a pointed shape, and in the thickness direction. It is also sharply formed. A rectangular engagement hole 88b is formed slightly below the center of the blade.

  Returning to FIGS. The 1st raising / lowering block 85 is provided between the frames 90 and 91 standingly arranged in the upstream and downstream. The frames 90 and 91 are formed to rise vertically from the upstream and downstream ends of the upper surface guide 82A.

  A pin 92 is inserted through the first lifting block 85 in the horizontal direction. The pin 92 engages with a long hole 93 a at one end of the lever 93, and a pin 95 erected on the end surface of the rotating wheel 94 is inserted into the long hole 93 b at the other end of the lever 93. The lever 93 is rotatable around a fulcrum 96. The lever 93 waits for the sheet bundle P1 at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8, and when a binding command is received, a motor M3 (not shown) provided in the stapleless binding mechanism 138 rotates and a driving force is applied to the rotating wheel. 94 rotates once, and the lever 93 once rotates to the position of the one-dot chain line and then returns to the original solid line position. Thus, the first elevating block 85 moves up and down once between the frames 90 and 91. The lever 93 and the rotating wheel 94 having the same shape are provided on both the upstream and downstream sides of the first lifting block 85, and the pins 92 are supported on the upstream and downstream sides of the first lifting block 85.

  A second elevating block 97 is provided between the frame 91 and the lever 93 on the downstream side. Similar to the first lifting block 85, the pin 92 is inserted into the second lifting block 97 and moves up and down in the same direction as the first lifting block 85. The guide member 98 is a member that guides the second elevating block 97 that moves up and down. The guide member 98 is formed by a plate-like member bent in a U-shape and further bent inwardly, and fixed to the frame 91. Yes. A vertically long slit is formed in the frame 91 and the guide member 98, and the pin 92 is inserted therethrough, so that the pin 92 can be moved up and down. Two through holes 97a are formed in the second elevating block 97 in the vertical direction, and two shafts 99 are inserted through the through holes 97a, one each. A horizontal plate-shaped auxiliary guide 100 is fixed to the lower ends of the two shafts 99. At the upper ends of the two shafts 99, a stopper 101 having a diameter larger than that of the through hole 97a and a spring 102 interposed between the auxiliary guide 100 and the lower surface of the second lifting block 97 are provided. The shaft 86a is movable in the axial direction in the through hole 85d, but is stopped at a position where the stopper 86c is locked to the upper surface of the first lifting block 85 by the biasing force of the spring 86d.

  When the rotary wheel 94 rotates and the second elevating block 97 is lowered, the auxiliary guide 100 is also lowered, and the lower guide surface 100a comes into contact with the L-shaped stopper 103 fixed to the frame 91. It does not move downward. That is, the position where the guide surface 100a contacts the stopper 103 is the lowered position.

  FIG. 12 is a view of the upper surface guide 82A and the auxiliary guide 100 as viewed from below. In the drawing, a one-dot chain line L1 indicates a line of the guide surface 84a of the back guide 84 and the vertical guide surface 39b of the guide plate 39, that is, a reference line for aligning the edges of the sheet bundle. An arrow A1 is the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle.

The upper surface guide 82A has a first upper opening 82Aa through which the cutting blade 89a passes, a second upper opening 82Ab through which the slit blade 88 passes, and a third upper opening 82Ac through which the paper presser 86 passes. The second upper opening 82Ab is formed by cutting out from the downstream edge of the upper surface guide 82A, and is continuously formed to the lower end of the frame 91 rising upward (see also FIGS. 6 and 8). The guide surface 100a of the auxiliary guide 100 has a first guide surface 100b which is elongated in the width direction on the downstream side of the top guide 82 A, and projects upstream from the first guide surface 100b, the second upper opening 82Ab And a second guide surface 100c provided to block a part of the downstream side.

  FIG. 13 is a view of the lower surface guide 83A as viewed from above. The lower surface guide 83A has a lower opening 83Aa through which the cutting blade 89a and the slit blade 88 pass. The lower opening 83Aa has a shape like an arrow whose width gradually decreases after the downstream end is once widened.

  FIGS. 14 to 18 are views showing the operation when the stapleless binding mechanism 138A binds the sheet bundle P1 in the AA cross section in FIGS. 8 and 9, and FIG. 19 is formed on the sheet bundle P1 by this binding operation. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the binding part made.

  FIG. 14 shows a state in which the first elevating block 85 and the second elevating block 97 are both at the uppermost standby position. The sheet bundle P1 is between the upper surface guide 82A and the lower surface guide 83A, and is placed on the lower surface guide 83A. The paper retainer 86, the slit blade 88, and the cutting blade 89a are all located above the upper surface guide 82A.

Next, the rotation wheel 94 starts to rotate, and the lever 93 rotates to lower the pin 92 (see also FIG. 8). Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the first elevating block 85 is lowered, the slit blade 88 passes through the second upper opening 82Ab, and the cutting blade 89 passes through the sheet bundle P1 through the first upper opening 82Aa. FIG. 19A shows the sheet bundle P1 at this time. The cutting blade 89 forms a U-shaped cutting P1a in the sheet bundle P1. The tongue piece P1b formed by the cut P1a is bent downward by the flange portion 89b -2 of the pressing piece 89b. The slit blade 88 forms a slit P1c having the same shape as the slit blade 88 in the sheet bundle P1. The paper retainer 86 passes through the third upper opening 82Ac to bring the retainer 86b into contact with the upper surface of the sheet bundle P1. When the first elevating block 85 is still lowered, the spring 86d is compressed, so that the sheet bundle P1 is pressed against the lower surface guide 83A by this spring pressure. With this structure, the sheet bundle P1 is pressed when the cutting P1a is formed by the cutting blade 89a and when the tongue piece P1b is bent by the pressing piece 89b, so that stable cutting is possible.

  When the pin 92 is lowered, the second elevating block 97 is also lowered, and the auxiliary guide 100 is lowered to a lowered position where it comes into contact with the stopper 103. The second elevating block 97 is lowered, but the spring 102 is compressed and the auxiliary guide 100 remains in the lowered position. In the lowered position, the guide surface 100b of the auxiliary guide 100 is flush with the lower surface of the upper surface guide 82A. The slit blade 88 passes through a portion of the second upper opening 82Ab that is not blocked by the second guide surface 100c of the auxiliary guide 100.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16, when the pin 92, the first elevating block 85, and the second elevating block 97 are further lowered, the engaging portion 89b-4 of the pressing piece 89b is connected to the first upper opening 82Aa of the upper surface guide 82A. The pressing piece 89b is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure about the support shaft 89c in contact with the portion between the upper opening 82Ab. Then, the flange 89b-2 of the pressing piece 89b is inserted into the engagement hole 88b of the slit blade 88 together with the tongue piece P1b while bending and lifting the tongue piece P1b. The spring receiving portion 89b-3 rises and compresses and deforms the spring 89d.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 17, the pins 92, the first elevating block 85, and the second elevating block 97 start to rise. When the engaging portion 89b-4 of the pressing piece 89b is separated from the upper surface guide 82A, the pressing piece 89b is rotated counterclockwise around the support shaft 89c by the biasing force of the spring 89d. The slit blade 88 comes out of the engagement hole 88b. At this time, the tongue piece P1b of the sheet bundle P1 is caught by the lower side of the engagement hole 88b. In this state, the slit blade 88 rises, so that the tongue piece P1b is lifted to the lower side of the engagement hole 88b, the tongue piece P1b is inserted into the slit P1c, and comes out above the sheet bundle P1. At this time, the entire sheet bundle P1 is lifted by the force to be inserted from below and pulled upward, and comes into contact with the upper surface guide 82A. When the tongue P1b is inserted into the slit P1c, the sheet bundle P1 is engaged with the upper surface guide 82A on the upstream side and the second guide surface 100b of the auxiliary guide 100 on the downstream side to prevent the sheet bundle P1 from rising. The slit blade 88 can smoothly insert the tongue piece P1b into the slit P1 and come out upward.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 18, when the pin 92, the first lifting block 85, and the second lifting block 97 are further raised and returned to the standby position, the slit blade 88 opens the second upper opening 82Ab, and the cutting blade 89 The paper presser 86 passes through the first upper opening 82Aa and the third upper opening 82Ac, and returns to the standby position above the upper surface guide 82A. Further, since the auxiliary guide 100 is also raised and returned to the standby position, the second upper opening 82Ab is in an open state at the downstream end of the upper surface guide 82A. FIG. 19B shows the sheet bundle P1a at this time. The tongue piece P1b is completely inserted into the slit P1c, and the free end side of the tongue piece P1b is inclined obliquely upward on the downstream side. In this way, the stapleless binding of the sheet bundle P1 is completed.

  Thereafter, the sheet bundle P1 is carried out to the downstream side, but the second upper opening 82Ab is formed by notching from the downstream end of the upper surface guide 82A, and the auxiliary guide 100 is also raised, so that the tongue piece P1b is formed. The upper guide 82A can be smoothly carried out without being caught by the downstream guide edge of the second upper opening 82Ab or the auxiliary guide 100.

  20 is a front view showing the needleless binding mechanism 138B arranged on the upstream side, and FIG. 21 is a side view seen from the downstream side. The upstream needleless binding mechanism 138B is arranged such that the arrangement order and orientation of the paper presser 86, the slit blade 88, and the cutting blade unit 89 with respect to the downstream direction of the needleless binding mechanism 138A are relative to the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1. The direction is reversed. Further, the needleless binding mechanism 138B does not have a member corresponding to the second lifting block 97, and accordingly, there are also members corresponding to the guide member 98, the shaft 99, the auxiliary guide 100, the stopper 101, the spring 102, and the stopper 103. not exist.

  FIG. 22 is a view of the upper surface guide 82B of the needleless binding mechanism 138B as viewed from below. Similar to the needleless binding mechanism 138A, the first upper opening 82Ba, the second upper opening 82Bb, and the third upper opening 82Bc are formed. The arrangement order of the needleless binding mechanism 138A is different from the needleless binding mechanism 138A in the transport direction A1. The direction is reversed. Further, the second upper opening 82Bb is formed only on the lower surface of the upper surface guide 82B without going out to the upstream edge of the upper surface guide 82B.

  FIG. 23 is a view of the lower surface guide 83B of the needleless binding mechanism 138B as viewed from above. Similar to the lower surface guide 83A of the needleless binding mechanism 138A, it has an arrow-shaped lower opening 83Ba, but the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1 is reversed.

  Except for the above differences, the mechanism of the needleless binding mechanism 138B is the same as the needleless binding mechanism 138A. When the sheet bundle P1 is bound by the stapleless binding mechanism 138B, the shape of the bound portion is opposite to the binding portion bound by the stapleless binding mechanism 138A in the conveying direction of the sheet bundle P1, that is, the tongue piece P1b. The free end is facing upstream.

  FIG. 24 is a control block diagram showing a control system of the paper binding system 1 of the present invention. The paper binding system 1 includes a control unit 110 for controlling each mechanism of the collating device 2 and the paper binding device 21.

  The control unit includes a CPU that executes various calculations, a ROM that stores various control programs, and a RAM that is used as a work area for data storage and program execution, and an actuator provided in the sheet binding system 1 Control the operation of the. The paper binding system 1 is also provided with an operation panel 111. The operation panel 111 functions as an input unit that allows a user to input various settings, and also functions as a feed command unit that issues a command for feeding paper into the apparatus by a start input. Furthermore, it functions also as a display part which lights and displays LED etc. so that a user can visually recognize the information sent from the control part 110. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the control unit 110 receives operation inputs via various switches appropriately displayed on the operation panel 111, and detection sensors including a magnetic proximity sensor 51c, a magnetic proximity sensor 52c, a sensor D1, and a sensor D2. The detection signal is input.

  The control unit 110 executes predetermined arithmetic processing for conveyance control, binding control, and the like based on these switch and sensor inputs, and a motor M0 that drives the conveyance roller pair 24 and 25, and a motor that drives the conveyance belt 32. M1, motor M2 for driving the stapler 38 (motor M2A for driving the stapler 38A, motor M2B for driving the stapler 38B), motor M3 for driving the needleless binding mechanism 138 (motor M3A for driving the needleless binding mechanism 138A, no A control command signal is output to a motor M3B) that drives the needle binding mechanism 138B. In addition, the control unit 110 causes the operation panel 111 to display a collation processing setting screen, a collation status, a paper feed status, an error notification, and the like.

  The control unit 110 is connected to a bundled wire 112 (112A, 112B) for connecting to the stapler 38 (38A, 38B), and the bundled wire 112 is provided with a connector 113 (113A, 113B) at the tip thereof. The connection between the stapler 38A and the stapleless binding mechanism 138A will be described below, but the stapler 38B and the stapleless binding mechanism 138B are similarly configured. A bundled wire connected to either the stapler 38A or the stapleless binding mechanism 138A is connected to the connector 113A. The bundle 112A includes a signal line 112Aa for recognizing the connection with the stapler 38A, a signal line 112Ab for recognizing the connection with the stapleless binding mechanism 138A, the motor M2A of the stapler 38A, or the stapleless binding mechanism 138A. A signal line 112Ac for transmitting a drive signal to the motor M3A is provided. The signal line 112Aa is connected to the stapler 38A, and the signal line 112Ab and the signal line are connected to the stapleless mechanism 138A. Therefore, when the stapler 38A is connected, the signal line 112Aa recognizes the connection, and when the stapleless binding mechanism 138A is connected, the stapler 38, the needleless so that the signal line 112Ab recognizes the connection. Signal lines are wired to the pins of the connectors of the binding mechanism 138A. In the control unit 110, when each signal line recognizes the connection, the port to which the signal line is connected becomes High (hereinafter referred to as H), and when the connection is not recognized, the port becomes Low (hereinafter referred to as L). The control unit 110 recognizes that the stapler 38 is connected if the ports of the signal line 112Aa and the signal line 112Ab are H and L, and that the stapleless binding mechanism 138 is connected if the ports of the signal line 112Aa and the signal line 112Ab are L and H. .

  Although not shown, the control unit 110 also receives and displays various setting inputs related to the collation apparatus 2 and performs processing related to the actuators.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the operation panel 111. Icons 111a, 111b, 111c, and 111d are displayed on the upper portion of the operation panel 111, and three LEDs 111e, 111f, 111g, and 111h are provided adjacent to each other below the icons. Furthermore, three keys 111i, 111j, and 111k are provided below the keys.

  The icon 111a indicates “shoulder binding” that binds one position on the upstream end of the sheet bundle P1. The icon 111b indicates “reverse shoulder binding” for binding one place at the downstream end of the sheet bundle P1. The icon 111c indicates “horizontal binding” for performing two-point binding on the sheet bundle P1. The sheet binding apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can select one of three binding forms of shoulder binding, reverse shoulder binding, and flat binding, and corresponds to the currently selected binding form among the LEDs 111e, 111f, and 111g. LED lights up. Each time the key 111i is pressed below, the mode is switched to each mode of shoulder binding, reverse shoulder binding, and flat binding, and the corresponding LED is lit.

The icon 111d indicates stapleless binding. The control unit 110 recognizes which of the stapler 38 and the stapleless binding mechanism 138 is attached by the signal lines 112A and 113A. When the binding form is shoulder binding, the LED 111h is turned off when the upstream stapler 38B is recognized, and the LED 111h is turned on when the upstream stapleless mechanism 138B is recognized. When the binding form is reverse shoulder binding, the LED 111h is turned off when the downstream stapler 38A is recognized, and the LED 111h is turned on when the downstream needleless binding mechanism 138A is recognized. When it is recognized that one of the two binding mechanisms is a stapler and the other is a stapleless binding mechanism (when the stapler 38A and the stapleless binding mechanism 138B or the stapleless binding mechanism 138A and the stapler 38B are mounted) ) Cannot be selected. That is, every time the key 111i is pressed, switching to either shoulder binding or reverse shoulder binding is performed.

  The key 111k is a start key. When the key 111k is pressed, the sheet binding system 1 starts operating, and when it is pressed again, it stops. Accordingly, the key 111k functions as a feed command unit that issues a command to feed the paper into the paper binding device. The operation panel 111 is not limited to such a format, and a liquid crystal touch panel or the like may be employed.

  With this configuration, the user can determine whether the needle binding is performed or the needleless binding is performed in the selected binding form depending on whether the LED 111h is lit or not. Replace the corresponding binding mechanism. If it is not possible to select flat binding, it is possible to prevent the same sheet bundle P1 from being stapled and stapleless at the same time by exchanging one of the binding mechanisms.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the paper binding system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the key 111k is pressed (Y in S01), the motor M0 and the main motor (not shown) of the collation apparatus 2 start driving (S02), and then the collation process is performed in the collation apparatus 2 (S03). ). In the collating process, the topmost one of the sheet bundles P0 stacked from each sheet feeding mechanism 3 is sent out, overlapped in the merging conveyance path 8 to form a sheet bundle P1, and sent to the sheet binding device 21. , Do that.

The sheet bundle P1 sent to the sheet binding device 21 is conveyed downstream by the conveyance roller pairs 24 and 25. When the downstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 is detected by the sensor D2 (Y in S04), the downstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 comes into contact with the stopper 33 immediately after that, so the motor M0 stops at that timing (S05). ) A jog operation is performed to align the sheet bundle P1 (S06). In the jog operation, the back jog member 27 is driven to reciprocate and abuts at least once with the upstream end of the sheet bundle P1, aligns the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle P1 with the stopper 33, and the side jog member 34 reciprocates. When driven, the sheet bundle contacts at least one end in the width direction of the sheet bundle and aligns the width direction of the sheet bundle P1 with the guide member 35.

  Subsequently, a binding operation is performed (S07), and the sheet bundle P1 is bound. In the binding operation, the motor M2 or M3 is driven by a predetermined amount and stopped. The predetermined amount is an amount by which the rotating wheels 67 and 94 rotate once. In the shoulder binding mode, the motor M2B of the upstream stapler 38B or the motor M3B of the needleless binding mechanism 138B is driven. In the reverse shoulder binding mode, the motor M2A of the downstream stapler 38A or the motor M3A of the needleless binding mechanism 138A is driven. In the flat binding mode, both the staplers 38A and 38B or both the stapleless binding mechanisms 138A and 138B are driven. When the stapler 38 is driven, the binding needle S1 is driven into the sheet bundle P1, and when the stapleless binding mechanism 138 is driven, a U-shaped cut P1a and a slit P1c are formed in the sheet bundle P1. Binding is performed by inserting the tongue piece P1b cut and raised from the insert P1a into the slit P1c.

  Next, the stopper 33 is buried below the conveyor belt 32, the motor M1 starts to rotate, and the conveyor belt 32 starts to rotate. Then, the protrusion 32a contacts the upstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 and pushes out while moving to the downstream side, and the sheet bundle P1 is discharged. When the motor M1 rotates by a predetermined amount, it is determined that the discharge is completed (Y in S09), the motor M1 is stopped, and the stopper 33 is returned to the original position (S10) to complete the process. When the subsequent sheet bundle P1 is set to be continuously fed from the collating device 2, the driving of the motor M0 is restarted in advance each time the next sheet bundle P1 is fed, and after S04 Repeat the process.

  FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a stacking state of the sheet bundle P1 that has been discharged when the stapleless binding mechanism 138 performs flat binding. The sheet bundle P1 that has been staple-bound by the stapleless binding mechanism 138 has a shape in which the free ends of the tongue pieces P1b of the two binding portions face each other. The sheet bundle P1 is sequentially stacked on the stacker 42 from below. That is, the paper is discharged from the discharge port 41 in the direction in which the free end side of the tongue piece P1b of the binding portion on the downstream side of the sheet bundle P1 is facing. At this time, the downstream edge of the discharged paper bundle P1 contacts the downstream binding portion of the uppermost paper bundle P1 among the already stacked paper bundles P1, but the tongue piece P1b faces the downstream side. Therefore, the downstream edge of the discharged sheet bundle P1 can be stacked without being caught by the tongue piece P1b of the uppermost sheet bundle P1. The upstream tongue P1b of the uppermost sheet bundle P1 faces the upstream side, but the downstream edge of the discharged sheet bundle P1 jumps over. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the stacker 42 from being caught while making the direction of the tongue pieces symmetrical and performing needle-free binding with good aesthetics after binding.

  Returning to FIG. When the key 111k is not pressed (N in S01) and the sensor D1 detects the sheet bundle P1 (Y in S21), the sheet bundle P1 is inserted into the insertion slot 23. At this time, if the key 111j is not pressed (N in S22), the motor M0 starts to rotate (S23). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S04, and the same process as when the key 111k is pressed is performed on the sheet bundle P1 inserted into the insertion slot 23.

  If the key 111j is pressed in S22 (Y in S22), the needle head search mode is entered and the needle head search operation is performed (S100). On the other hand, a mode in which normal binding processing other than the needle cueing operation in S100 is performed is referred to as a normal mode. That is, when the sheet bundle P1 is inserted into the insertion slot 23 with the key 111j being pressed, the needle cueing operation is performed.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing details of the needle head search operation in S100 of FIG. When the needle cueing operation of S100 is started, the motor M0 starts driving (S101), and the conveyance roller pair 24, 25 is driven to convey the sheet bundle P1 downstream. When the downstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 is detected by the sensor D2 (Y in S102), immediately after that, the downstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 contacts the stopper 33, and the motor M0 stops at that timing (S103). ) A jog operation is performed to position the sheet bundle P1 (S104). The jog operation is the same as S06 in FIG.

  In this state, when the key 111i is pressed (Y in S105), it is determined whether or not the upstream stapler 38B is attached depending on whether or not the signal line 112Ba recognizes the connection (S106). If connected (Y in S106), the motor M2B of the upstream stapler 38B is driven by a predetermined amount to stop (S107), and the process proceeds to S108. The predetermined amount is an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation. If the key 111i is not pressed (N in S105), S106 and S107 are skipped and the process proceeds to S108. Next, when the key 111j is pressed (Y in S108), it is determined whether or not the downstream stapler 38A is attached depending on whether or not the signal line 112Aa recognizes the connection (S109). If connected (Y in S109), the motor M2A of the downstream stapler 38A is driven by a predetermined amount and stopped (S110), and the process proceeds to S111. The predetermined amount is an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation. If the key 111j is not pressed (N in S108), S108. Skip S109 and proceed to S111. Next, when it is detected that the magnetic proximity sensor 51c is OFF, that is, that the first cover 51 is opened (Y in S111), the needle cueing operation is finished (S115). When the proximity sensor 51c is not turned off (N in S111), when the key 111k is pressed (Y in S112), the stopper 33 is buried under the transport belt 32 and the motor M1 starts to rotate (S113). ), The conveyor belt 32 starts to rotate. Then, the protrusion 32a contacts the upstream edge of the sheet bundle P1 and pushes out while moving to the downstream side, and the sheet bundle P1 is discharged. When the motor M1 rotates by a predetermined amount, it is determined that the discharge is completed (Y in S114), the motor M1 is stopped, and the stopper 33 is returned to the original position (S115). Thereafter, the needle cueing operation ends. When the needle head search operation ends, the needle head search mode ends.

  When the stapler 38B is not connected in S106 (the signal line 112Ba does not recognize the connection) (N in S106), S107 is skipped. Similarly, if the stapler 38A is not connected in S109 (the signal line 112Aa does not recognize the connection) (N in S109), S110 is skipped.

  With this operation, in the needle cueing mode, when the user inserts the sheet bundle P1 from the insertion port 23 while pressing the key 111j on the operation panel 111, the sheet bundle P1 is conveyed until the downstream edge comes into contact with the stopper 33. Then, it is positioned at a position in contact with the stopper 33. Thereafter, every time the user presses the key 111i, the binding operation is performed once by the stapler 38B, and every time the user presses the key 111j, the binding operation is performed once by the stapler 38A. Since the operation panel 111 is provided on one side in the width direction of the sheet binding device 21 (the lower side in FIG. 3A), the key 111i is located on the upstream side and the key 111j is located on the downstream side. Since the mutual positional relationship of the keys 111i, j to be operated and the positional relationship of the staplers 38B, 38A driven by the operation match, the right key 111i, the left stapler are used to drive the right stapler 38B. It is only necessary to press the left key 111j to drive 38A, so that the operation is easy to understand. When the stapler 38A or 38B is not attached, the key operation is invalidated, and the binding operation is not performed even if the stapleless binding mechanisms 138A and 138B are connected. This is because the needle-free binding mechanism 138A, 138B does not use a needle, and therefore does not require a needle cueing operation.

  When the cartridge 70 becomes empty by using up the binding needle, a new cartridge 70 is inserted. At this time, in the new cartridge 70, the staples including the lowest needle sheet S0 are accommodated in the cartridge 70. In order to perform the needle binding, it is necessary to feed the needle until the first binding needle S1 of the lowest needle sheet S0 contacts the stopper member 74 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, it is necessary to perform the binding operation a plurality of times to drive the roller 71 and to feed out the lowest needle sheet S0 (needle head alignment). As long as the earliest binding needle S1 does not reach the stopper member 74, even if the binding operation is performed, the needle is not struck on the sheet bundle P1, and the binding operation is repeated until the needle comes out.

  Since the present invention has the above-described needle cueing mode, after the new needle cartridge 70 is mounted, the user enters the needle cueing mode by inserting the sheet bundle P1 by hand while pressing the key 111j. The sheet bundle P1 is stopped at the position where the binding is performed. By pressing the keys 111i and 111j in this state, it is possible to cause the staplers 38A and 38B to perform the binding operation a plurality of times, so that the key 111i or the key 111j is pressed until the needle is actually driven into the sheet bundle P1. By repeating the above, it is possible to easily cue the needle. Note that the sheets to be inserted at the time of needle cueing do not necessarily have to be a bundle, and it is possible to insert only one sheet.

  The sheet binding device 21 of the present invention has a first cover 51 that covers the upper surface side of the stop position of the sheet bundle P1 stopped by the stopper 33, and a second cover 52 that covers the upper surface side of the binding unit 36. The magnetic proximity sensor 51c for detecting the opening / closing of the first cover 51 and the magnetic proximity sensor 52c for detecting the opening / closing of the second cover (see FIG. 3) are omitted in FIG. In this case, when it is detected that at least one of the covers has been opened, the apparatus stops operating. However, in the needle search mode, since the needle search operation can be performed even when the second cover is opened (the magnetic proximity sensor 52c is OFF), the user can hit the staple with the stapler 38. Needle cueing can be performed while visually confirming whether or not there is.

  When the user confirms that the binding needle has come out, the user opens the first cover 51 and takes out the paper, or performs a paper discharge operation to send the paper bundle P1 to the stacker 42. When the first cover 51 is opened, this is detected by the magnetic proximity sensor 51c, and the needle head search mode is terminated. When the key 111k is pressed, the sheet bundle P1 is sent out and the needle head search mode is terminated. As described above, when the sheet bundle P1 is manually or automatically taken out of the apparatus, the needle-leading mode ends, and the user can start the sheet binding process in the normal mode without performing any special operation.

  When the staplers 38A and 38B are not attached (including the case where the stapleless binding mechanisms 138A and 138B are attached), even if the sensor D1 detects the sheet bundle P1 while the key 111j is pressed, You may control so that it may not enter needle head search mode.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components and controls that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment of the present invention, a needle head search operation (S200) is performed instead of the needle head search operation (S100 in FIG. 26) in the first embodiment. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing this needle head search operation (S200).

  As shown in FIG. 29, in the needle cueing operation (S200) according to the second embodiment, when the key 111i is pressed (Y in S105) and the stapler 38B is connected (Y in S106), the key It is determined whether or not the depression of 111i is the first depression after entering the needle cueing mode (S206). If it is not the first time (N in S206), similarly to the first embodiment, the motor M2B is rotated by a predetermined amount, that is, an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation (S107). If it is the first time (Y in S206), the motor M2B is driven a predetermined amount and a predetermined number of times (S207). That is, the wheel 67 is rotated a predetermined number of times, that is, the binding operation is performed a predetermined number of times. The operation of rotating by a predetermined amount and temporarily stopping may be repeated a predetermined number of times, or the wheel 67 may be operated to continuously rotate the predetermined number of times.

  Similarly, when the key 111j is pressed (Y in S108), if the stapler 38A is connected (Y in S109), the pressing of the key 111j is the first time after entering the needle cueing mode. It is determined whether or not the button is pressed (S209). If it is the first time (Y in S206), the motor M2A is driven a predetermined amount and a predetermined number of times (S210). If it is not the first time (N in S206), the motor M2A is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the rotating wheel 67 is rotated once (S110). Other steps are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  According to the second embodiment, when the key 111i and the key 111j are pressed for the first time after entering the needle cueing mode, the stapler 38 automatically binds a predetermined number of times, for example, three times. Perform the action. The needle head search operation has to be repeated until the earliest binding needle S1 reaches the stopper member 74. In the first time after the needle head search operation starts, the earliest binding needle S1 is greatly separated from the stopper 74. There is a high possibility. Therefore, a plurality of binding operations are surely required. The actual number of times the earliest binding needle S1 reaches the stopper 74 and the needle is hit is determined by the variation in the position of the tip of the lowest needle sheet S0 when the cartridge 70 is mounted, It is not constant due to slippage between the roller 71 and the needle sheet S0. However, in the second embodiment, the necessary number of times of binding is predicted and determined in advance with certainty, and the first key operation automatically performs the binding operation for the number of times, thus reducing the trouble of cueing. can do. For example, when the number of binding operations until the needle is struck varies within a range of about 5 to 7, if the predetermined number is set to 4, the binding operation is automatically performed 4 times by the first key operation. Done. Since the fifth time and thereafter, one binding operation is performed for each key operation, it is only necessary to confirm whether or not the needle has been struck each time. In the second embodiment, the “predetermined number of times” may be set in advance by the user.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components and controls that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the third embodiment of the present invention, a needle head search operation (S300) is performed instead of the needle head search operation (S100 in FIG. 26) in the first embodiment. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the needle head search operation (S300).

  As shown in FIG. 30, in the needle cueing operation (S300) according to the third embodiment, when the key 111i is pressed (Y in S105) and the stapler 38B is connected (Y in S106), the stapler 38B. It is determined whether or not the cartridge 70 has just been replaced (S306). If it is immediately after replacement (Y in S306), similarly to the first embodiment, the motor M2B is rotated by a predetermined amount, that is, an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation (S107). If not immediately after replacement (N in S306), S107 is skipped.

  Similarly, when the key 111j is pressed (Y in S108), if the stapler 38A is connected (Y in S109), it is determined whether or not the cartridge 70 of the stapler 38A has just been replaced (S309). ), If not immediately after replacement (N in S309), skip S110.

  Whether or not the cartridge 70 has just been replaced is provided with a switch or sensors (not shown) for detecting whether or not the cartridge 70 is mounted, and once it is detected that the cartridge 70 has been removed, it is mounted again. When it is detected that this has been done, it may be determined whether or not the replaced stapler 38 has entered the needle cueing mode before performing the binding operation. In addition, a sensor for detecting the absence of the binding needle in the cartridge 70 is provided, and in the needle cueing mode, the cueing operation can be performed only for the stapler 38 in which the stapling needle is detected immediately before it. Good. Further, only the stapler 38 in which it is detected that the binding needle is lost and the replacement of the cartridge 70 is detected thereafter may be made possible after the cueing movement in the cueing mode immediately after that.

  According to the third embodiment, when the needle cueing mode is entered immediately after one of the two staplers is replaced, the stapler 38 to which the cartridge 70 has not been replaced is replaced with the key 111i or 111j. The binding operation is not performed even if the corresponding key is pressed. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the cueing operation can be performed only for the stapler 38 that is a target for which cueing should be surely performed, and wasteful striking can be prevented.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components and controls that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, a needle head search operation (S400) is performed instead of the needle head search operation (S100 in FIG. 26) in the first embodiment. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing this needle head finding operation (S400).

  As shown in FIG. 31, in the needle head search operation (S400) according to the fourth embodiment, the motor M0 stops driving (S103), and after jogging (S104), the motors M2A and M2B are set to a predetermined amount. Drive to stop. The predetermined amount is an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation. That is, the staplers 38A and 38B are caused to perform a single binding operation. Next, the process proceeds to S105, and the following is the same as in the first embodiment.

  According to the fourth embodiment, when the needle cueing mode is entered, the first needle punching is automatically performed, so that there is an advantage that the number of times of binding operations by key operation can be reduced. is there.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components and controls that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, a needle head search operation (S500) is performed instead of the needle head search operation (S100 in FIG. 26) in the first embodiment. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing this needle head finding operation (S500).

  As shown in FIG. 32, in the needle cueing operation (S500) according to the fifth embodiment, when the key 111i is pressed (Y in S105) and the stapler 38B is connected (Y in S106), It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the driving of the motor M2B (S506). If the predetermined time has elapsed (Y in S506), similarly to the first embodiment, the motor M2B is rotated by a predetermined amount, that is, an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 makes one rotation (S107). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (N in S506), S107 is skipped.

  Similarly, when the key 111j is pressed (Y in S108), if the stapler 38A is connected (Y in S109), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous driving of the motor M2A ( S509), if the predetermined time has not elapsed (N in S509), S110 is skipped.

  In the needle cueing operation, the same key is pressed a plurality of times until the binding needle is hit, but if the binding operation is further performed after the needle has been hit, it will further follow the position where the needle already exists. The needle is clogged because it tries to hit the needle. According to the fifth embodiment, after the binding operation is performed by pressing the key 111i or 111j, the binding operation is not performed unless a predetermined time elapses even if the same key is pressed. Therefore, even if the user repeatedly presses the key continuously, when the needle is struck, it is possible to prevent needle clogging by performing a binding operation before recognizing that. Can do.

  Further, in the fifth embodiment, until the predetermined number of times after entering the needle cueing mode, the next binding operation is allowed even if the predetermined time has not elapsed since the previous binding operation, and after reaching the predetermined number of times, The next binding operation may not be performed unless a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous binding operation. If it does so, the operation time until a needle | hook is first struck can be shortened. In the first key operation after entering the needle cue mode, the binding operation is automatically performed a predetermined number of times, and after the second key operation, one binding operation is performed for each key operation. The next binding operation may not be performed unless a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous binding operation.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, it has been described that when the insertion of the sheet bundle P1 is detected by the sensor D1, the needle head search mode is entered when the key 111j is pressed. However, the key 111i and the key 111k can be pressed. Of course, other keys may be used.

  Further, the collating device 2 is driven in a state where the key 111j or another key is pressed, and when the paper is fed from any of the paper feeding mechanisms 3 of the collating device 2, the needle cueing mode is entered. Good. In this case, a sensor is provided at the carry-in port 22, and the key 111j or other key is pressed when the sensor detects the sheet bundle P1 or when the start driving operation of the start switch of the collating apparatus 2 is performed. It is only necessary to perform a needle cueing operation when it has been stopped. According to the present modification, it is possible to automatically feed the paper without the trouble of manually inserting the paper or the paper bundle P1 at the time of needle cueing.

  As described above, when a command for feeding the sheet bundle P1 into the sheet binding device 21 is issued, or when the fed sheet bundle P1 is detected before being stopped by the stopper 33, a specific key operation or the like is controlled. When an operation that can be recognized by the user is performed by the user, the needle head search mode may be entered.

  Further, before inserting the sheet bundle P1, the user may be able to select the normal mode or the needle cueing mode by the user using the operation panel or the like.

  Further, when the replacement of the cartridge 70 is detected by any stapler 38, the needle cueing mode may be entered without any special operation by the user or by a simple operation such as pressing predetermined switches. . Alternatively, the needle cueing mode may be entered when it is detected that there is no binding needle from the cartridge 70. At this time, only the stapler 38 to which the cartridge 70 has been replaced may be capable of performing the binding operation. According to these modified examples, when the replacement of the cartridge 70 or the absence of the needle is detected, the needle head search mode can be set without any special operation by the user or when the needle head search operation is necessary, or with a very simple operation. it can.

Further, in the above embodiment, the magnetic proximity sensor 51c is turned off, that is, the first cover 51 is opened, so that the normal mode is returned from the needle cueing mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the first cover 51 once opened is closed again after being turned off, that is, when the first cover 51 once opened is closed again, the needle head search mode may be returned to the normal mode. When the first cover 51 is closed, if the sensor D2 still detects the sheet bundle P1, the normal mode may be restored and the sheet bundle P1 may be discharged. Then, the normal binding process can be started immediately.

  Alternatively, when the magnetic proximity sensor 51c is OFF, that is, after the first cover 51 is opened, when the sensor D2 no longer detects the sheet bundle P1, the needle head search mode may be returned to the normal mode. That is, when it is detected that the internal sheet bundle P1 has been removed, the mode returns to the normal mode. Then, even if the first cover 51 is opened before the cueing is completed, the needle cueing mode can be continued if the first cover 51 is closed again without taking out the sheet bundle P1.

  In the above embodiment, in order to perform the binding operation at the time of the needle cueing operation, the operation is performed by the key operation on the operation panel 111 of the sheet binding device 21, but the operation panel is not limited to this, and the operation panel provided in the collation device 2. Or the switch provided near the stapler 38 itself, or a sheet binding device 21 that can communicate with the paper binding device 21 or the collating device 2 by wire or wirelessly. Both of the collating devices 2 may be performed by a separate switch. When the insertion of the sheet bundle P1 is detected by the sensor D1, the needle cueing mode may be entered when these switches are operated.

  In the fourth embodiment, after jogging (S104), one or both of the motors M2A and M2B, detection of the absence of a needle in the cartridge 70 and detection of replacement of the cartridge 70 immediately before that, Only the motor M2 of the detected stapler 38 may be driven. According to this modification, it is possible to eliminate the wasteful strike of the stapler 38 on which the cartridge 70 has not been replaced. Furthermore, in this case, the motor M2 to be driven may be driven by an amount by which the rotating wheel 67 rotates a plurality of times. Then, the number of subsequent key operations can be further reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the needle search mode, the needle search operation can be continued even when the second cover 52 is opened. However, the second cover 52 may be formed of a transparent member. By doing so, the needle cueing operation can be performed while observing whether or not the needle has been struck while the second cover 52 is closed, so that a device with higher safety can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, the sheet bundle P1 is brought into contact with the stopper 33 and stopped in both the normal mode and the needle cueing mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, the sheet bundle P1 is simply stopped by stopping the conveyance belt. Alternatively, it may be stopped by contacting a protrusion provided on the conveyor belt. Further, the sheet bundle P1 may be stopped by using different stop mechanisms in each of the normal mode and the needle cueing mode. In short, in the staple search mode, the sheet bundle P1 may be stopped so that the sheet bundle P1 exists at the binding position of the stapler 38.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the staple search mode, the sheet bundle P1 is brought into contact with the stopper 33 and stopped and positioned by the jog operation (S104), and the binding operation is performed. Only the side jog member 34 may be operated without operating the member 27. This is because if the sheet bundle P1 is positioned between the jog surface 34b and the vertical guide surface 39b by the side jog member 34, the sheet bundle P1 exists at the binding portion of the stapler 38. Further, when the sheet bundle P1 can be loaded so that the sheet bundle P1 exists at the binding position without operating the side jog member 34, the jog operation by the side jog member 34 is not necessarily required.

  In the said embodiment, although the 1st raising / lowering block 85 and the 2nd raising / lowering block 97 are provided as a different body, you may form this in one, and one lifting block. That is, one lifting block serves as both the first lifting mechanism and the second lifting mechanism, and such a configuration is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet binding system, 2 Collating apparatus, 21 Paper binding apparatus, 23 Insertion slot, 32 Conveyor belt, 33 Stopper, 36 Binding unit, 38 (38A, 38B) Stapler, 42 Stacker, 51 1st cover, 51c Magnetic proximity sensor , 52 Second cover, 52c Magnetic proximity sensor, 62 Driver unit, 63 Clincher, 70 Cartridge, 82 (82A, 82B) Upper surface guide, 83 (83A, 83B) Lower surface guide, 85 First lifting block, 88 Slit blade, 89 Cutting blade unit, 97 Second lifting block, 100 Auxiliary guide, 110 Control unit, 111 Operation panel, 112 Bundled wire, 138 (138A, 138B) Needleless binding mechanism, D1 sensor, D2 sensor, P1 paper bundle, S0 needle Sheet, S1 binding needle

Claims (2)

A transport mechanism for transporting paper;
A stop mechanism for temporarily stopping the conveyed paper in a bundle;
To the end of the paused sheet bundle, and a foldable tongue and the slit is formed from the sheet bundle in a state where one end is connected to the paper, forming a binding unit through the slit of the tongue from below And binding means for binding the bundle of sheets,
The sheet bundle stapled by said stapling means, by ejected and stacked on top of already likewise stitched to the stored previous sheet bundle, and a stacker for storing in the height direction,
Two binding means are provided along one side parallel to the discharge direction of the sheet bundle to the stacker,
The emissions direction, of the two of the binding portions formed in each of the two said binding means, the direction of the free end of the tongue of the binding portion on the downstream side of the discharge direction is oriented A sheet binding device characterized in that: Two of the binding unit, the sheet stitching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the benzalkonium to form two of the binding portion made in the form of the free end of the tongue facing outwardly from one another.

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