JP6597839B2 - Binding processing apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a binding processing apparatus, a sheet processing apparatus, and an image forming system, and more particularly to a binding processing mechanism for a sheet after image formation.

Sheets printed out by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a printing machine, in addition to being discharged from the image forming apparatus, are partly bundled with a stapler in a state where a predetermined number of sheets are collected. Post-processing may be performed.
As a device for this purpose, a paper processing device connected to the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus is used.

Staples are generally used for the binding process, but in recent years, an apparatus that does not use metal products such as staples has been desired from the viewpoint of resource saving, ecology, and recyclability.
As one of the above-described apparatuses, the sheets are bound together by performing deep drawing of an uneven shape such as a tooth shape on the paper group using a tooth-type member capable of sandwiching and pressing the group of paper sheets stacked together. A binding device has been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a binding processing apparatus that can prevent the sheet bundle that comes into contact with the sheet bundle from being damaged, torn, and wrinkled, and can stabilize the binding force of the sheet bundle .

To this end, the present invention provides a binding processing apparatus for binding by crimping the sheet bundle between a pair of crimping teeth having a plurality of protrusions, each of the pair of crimping teeth, the arrangement of the projections orthogonal tooth surface formed in a direction that is the direction, anda formed side along the arrangement direction of the convex portion, with intersecting sides of the side surface and the tooth surface has a rounded shape The one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth and the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersect when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged with each other. The binding processing apparatus is characterized by the above.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the contacted sheet bundle from being damaged, torn, and wrinkled, and to stabilize the binding force of the sheet bundle .

1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus using a paper processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a top view which shows an example of the paper processing apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of a sheet processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet processing apparatus centering on the branching claw when the branching claw in FIG. 3 is in a paper transport state. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a main part of the sheet processing apparatus with the branching claw as the center when the branching claw in FIG. 3 switches the paper back. It is a figure which shows the state at the time of the non-binding of a binding tool. It is a figure which shows the state at the time of binding of the binding tool of FIG. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when an initial operation is completed when online binding is performed in the sheet processing apparatus. FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state immediately after the first sheet is discharged from the image forming apparatus and carried into the sheet processing apparatus from the state of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the rear end of the sheet has separated from the nip of the entrance roller and exceeded the branch path from the state of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the paper is switched back from the state of FIG. 10 to align the paper transport direction. FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the first sheet is waited on the branch path from the state illustrated in FIG. 11 and the next second sheet is carried in; It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a state when the 2nd sheet | seat is carried in from the state of FIG. FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when the final sheet is aligned from the state of FIG. 13 to form a sheet bundle. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a state when performing the binding operation | movement time from the state of FIG. FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the sheet bundle is discharged from the state of FIG. 15. It is an external view which shows one side of the tooth type | mold used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the tooth types facing each other in addition to the tooth types shown in FIG. 17. It is a figure for demonstrating each process of the binding process performed with the paper processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an external view for demonstrating the characteristic part of the tooth mold | type shown in FIG. It is a figure for setting up the structure of the tooth | gear shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the sheet | seat bundle bound by the tooth type shown in FIG. It is a figure which contrasts the state of the paper fiber at the time of using the case where the conventional tooth type is used, and the tooth type in this embodiment. It is a perspective view for explaining the 1st modification which is another example of a tooth type. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet bundle is inclined at a sheet end portion due to curling due to heat during fixing. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of an uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which mesh | engaged the upper crimping tooth and the lower crimping tooth which have a tooth | gear of the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a wrinkle generation form of a sheet bundle when the pressure-bonded teeth having the configuration shown in FIGS. 26 to 29 are used. It is a figure which shows the wrinkle generation | occurrence | production location. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth in the principal part modification of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth in the other modification of the principal part of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of the example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other modification of the example of FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape example of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth in the further another example regarding the principal part of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 37 is a side view of FIG. 36. It is a top view which shows the cross section of the example of FIG. 36 at the time of cut | disconnecting temporarily in the cut surface shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a shape of the uneven | corrugated shaped crimping tooth in another example of the binding tool used for the paper processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the image forming apparatus which has a sheet | seat binding apparatus. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows another structure of a sheet | seat binding apparatus. FIG. 42 is an enlarged perspective view (A) around the support portion of the concavo-convex member in the sheet binding device shown in FIG. 41 and an upper perspective view (B) showing the sheet binding device in a state where the upper support is removed. It is a perspective view which shows the binding state of the sheet | seat binding apparatus shown in FIG.

A feature of the embodiment of the present invention lies in a configuration in which a decrease in binding strength is suppressed by preventing wrinkles and tears that may occur in a sheet or the like during binding processing. It should be noted that in the following description, a sheet and a sheet bundle may be expressed as a sheet and a sheet bundle.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples shown in the drawings.
First, before describing the features of the present embodiment, the configuration and operation of the sheet processing system targeted by the present embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing two aspects of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101 and a sheet processing apparatus (finisher) 201 as a sheet processing apparatus.
The sheet processing apparatus 201 is a so-called conveyance path binding apparatus in which a binding device is provided in a sheet conveyance path from the image forming apparatus 101.
FIG. 1A shows an aspect installed in the conveyance path of the image forming apparatus 101, and FIG. 1B shows an aspect installed outside the conveyance path.
The sheet processing apparatus 201 includes an alignment function that stacks and aligns sheets in the conveyance path, and a binding function that binds the aligned sheet bundle in the conveyance path.
The mode of FIG. 1A is also called an in-cylinder processing apparatus because it is post-processed in the cylinder of the image forming apparatus 101.

The image forming apparatus 101 includes an image forming engine unit 101A including an image processing unit and a paper feeding unit, a reading engine unit 103 that converts image data by reading an image, and an automatic document feeding unit that automatically sends a document to be read to the reading engine unit 103. A feeding device (ADF) 104 is provided.
In the configuration shown in FIG. 1A, the paper after image formation is discharged into the cylinder of the image forming apparatus 101. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1B, the paper after image formation is outside the image forming apparatus 101. Each is provided with a paper discharge unit.

2 is a plan view of the sheet processing apparatus 201 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view.
In FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus 201 includes an entrance sensor 202, an entrance roller 203, a branching claw 204, a binding tool 210 corresponding to a deep drawing mechanism, and a sheet discharge roller 205 from the entrance side along a sheet transport path 240. .
The entrance sensor 202 detects the leading and trailing edges of the paper discharged from the paper discharge roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101 and carried into the paper processing apparatus 201 and the presence or absence of the paper.
As the entrance sensor 202, for example, a reflection type optical sensor is used. Note that a transmissive optical sensor may be used instead of the reflective optical sensor.
The entrance roller 203 is located at the entrance of the sheet processing apparatus 201 and has a function of receiving a sheet discharged by the sheet discharge roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101 and carrying it into a binding position for deep drawing. In addition, a drive source (drive motor) capable of controlling stop, rotation, and conveyance amount using a control unit (not shown) is also provided.
The entrance roller 203 abuts the leading end of the sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 side to the nip with the pair of rollers, and also performs skew correction.

A branching claw 204 is disposed at the subsequent stage of the entrance roller 203.
In FIG. 3, the branching claw 204 is provided to guide the rear end of the sheet to the branching path 241.
In this case, after the trailing edge of the sheet exceeds the branching claw 204, the branching claw 204 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing and transports the sheet in the direction opposite to the carry-in direction. As a result, the rear end side of the sheet is guided to the branch path 241 side. As will be described later, the branch claw 204 is driven by a solenoid to perform a swinging operation.
A motor can be used instead of the solenoid. The branching claw 204 is driven in the counterclockwise direction shown in the figure, and can rotate a sheet or a sheet bundle against the conveyance surface of the branching path 241 when rotated. As a result, the branching claw 204 can be fixed by the branching path 241 capable of collecting sheets or sheet bundles.

The paper discharge roller 205 is located immediately before the last exit of the transport path 240 of the paper processing apparatus 201 and has a function of transporting, shifting, and discharging the paper. Further, similarly to the entrance roller 203, a drive source (drive motor) capable of controlling the stop, rotation, and conveyance amount of the paper discharge roller 205 is provided, and this drive source is controlled by a control unit (not shown).
The paper discharge roller 205 is shifted by a shift mechanism 205M shown in FIG.
The shift mechanism 205M includes a shift link 206, a shift cam 207, a shift cam stud 208, and a shift home position sensor 209.

In FIG. 2, a shift link 206 is provided at the shaft end 205a of the paper discharge roller 205 and receives a moving force during shifting.
The shift cam 207 has a shift cam stud 208 and is a rotating disk-shaped component.
The sheet discharge roller 205 movably inserted into the shift link long hole portion 207a through the shift cam stud 208 by the rotation of this component is moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction (hereinafter also referred to as “sheet width direction”). Let
This movement is a so-called shift. The shift cam stud 208 functions in conjunction with the shift link elongated hole portion 207 a to convert the rotational motion of the shift cam 207 into the linear motion of the paper discharge roller 205 in the axial direction. The shift home position sensor 209 detects the position of the shift link 206, sets the position detected by the shift home position sensor 209 as the home position, and executes rotation control of the shift cam 207 with reference to the home position. This control is executed by the control unit.

In FIG. 2, a binding tool 210 (hereinafter simply referred to as a binding tool 210) that forms a deep drawing mechanism includes a sheet end detection sensor 220, a binding tool home position sensor 221, and a guide rail 230 for moving the binding tool.
The binding tool 210 is a binding unit that binds the stacked sheet bundle PB, and is called a so-called stapler.
In the present embodiment, a paper sheet is deformed by being sandwiched and pressed by a pair of tooth mold parts (hereinafter also referred to as tooth molds) 261 across the binding position, and has a function of binding and binding paper fibers. This type of binding is also referred to as crimp binding.

In addition to this binding method, a hand stapler that uses a binding tool such as half-punching, cutting, bending, and passing through a hole is also known.
In any case, supply consumption can be reduced or it can be easily recycled, and it can be directly shredded. For this reason, even in a paper processing apparatus, so-called finisher, it is desired to mount a stapler that can perform binding processing by a single sheet of paper such as crimp binding without using a metal needle.
The following publication discloses a hand stapler that performs crimp binding.
For example, a binding tool disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 36-13206 (Reference Document 1) is known. As a hand stapler which is cut and bent and further passed through a hole, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 37-7208 (Reference Document 2). ) Is known.

  The sheet edge detection sensor 220 detects the side edge of the sheet, and aligns the sensor detection position with the reference when aligning the sheets. The binding tool home position sensor 221 is a sensor that detects the position of the binding tool that is movable in the paper width direction. The home position is a position where the binding tool 210 is located at a position that does not interfere with the conveyance of the maximum size paper. The position is detected.

The guide rail 230 is a rail that guides the movement of the binding tool 210 so that the binding tool 210 can move stably in the paper width direction.
The guide rail 230 is installed so that the binding tool 210 can move the full width orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance path 240 of the sheet processing apparatus 201 from the home position.
The binding tool 210 moves along the guide rail 230 by a moving mechanism including a drive motor (not shown). A sheet passing space is formed on the binding tool home position sensor 221 side of the binding tool 210 so that the binding tool 210 and the paper sheet P or the paper bundle PB do not interfere during the movement.

In FIG. 3, a conveyance path 240 is a conveyance path for conveying and discharging the received paper, and penetrates from the inlet side to the outlet side of the paper processing apparatus 201.
The branch path 241 is a transport path that is carried in from the rear end side by the switchback of the paper, and branches from the transport 240. The branch path 241 is provided to overlap and align the conveyed sheets, and functions as a stacking unit. The abutting surface 242 is a reference surface that is provided at the end of the branch path 241 and abuts and aligns the rear end of the sheet.
In this embodiment, the tooth mold 261 is a pressure holding member having a shape in which a pair of protrusions and recesses are engaged with each other, and has the above-described pressure binding function by sandwiching and pressing a sheet bundle.

4 and 5 are diagrams showing the main part of the sheet processing apparatus 201 with the branching claw 204 as the center.
FIG. 4 shows details of the related mechanism when the branching claw 204 is in paper conveyance, and FIG. 5 shows details of the related mechanism when the paper is switched back.
In FIG. 4, the branching claw 204 is provided so as to be able to swing within an angle range set in advance with respect to the support shaft 204 b in order to switch the paper transporting path to either the transporting path 240 or the branching path 241. The branch claw 204 is a position where the paper received from the right side in the drawing can be conveyed downstream without resistance, that is, the position shown in FIG. 4 is the home position, and is always elastically added in the counterclockwise direction shown in the figure by the spring 251. It is pressed.

The spring 251 is hung on the branch claw movable lever portion 204a, and the plunger of the branch solenoid 250 is connected to the branch claw movable lever portion 204a. The branch path transport surface 241 and the branch claw 204 hold the sheet in the branch transport path 241 in a gripped state when the sheet is transported to the branch transport path 241 in the state shown in FIG. can do.
When the branch solenoid 250 is turned on, the branch claw 204 rotates in the direction of the arrow R1 in FIG. 5 to guide the sheet to the branch path 241 by closing the transport path 240 and opening the branch path 241. Can do.

6 and 7 are diagrams showing details of the binding tool 210 according to the present embodiment.
The binding tool 210 includes, as a main part, a tooth mold 261 including a fixed tooth mold capable of forming an uneven pressure deforming portion on a part of a sheet bundle and a movable tooth mold movable toward and away from the fixed tooth mold. I have. In addition to the tooth mold 261, the binding tool 210 includes a pressure lever 262, a link group 263, a drive motor 265, an eccentric force m 266, and a cam home position sensor 267 as components.
The tooth mold 261 is a pressurizing member having a shape in which the upper and lower pairs are engaged with each other. The tooth mold 261 is located at the operating end of the link group 263 combined in plural, and is contacted and separated by the pressurizing and releasing operation of the pressurizing lever 262 which is the operating end.

The pressure lever 262 is rotated by the rotating eccentric force 266. The eccentric force 266 rotates with a driving force applied from the driving motor 265, and the rotational position of the cam is controlled based on the detection information of the cam home position sensor 267.
The rotational position defines the distance between the rotating shaft 266a of the eccentric force 266 and the cam surface, and the pressing amount of the pressure lever 262 is determined based on this distance.
The position where the cam home position sensor 267 detects the filler 266b, which is the detection target of the eccentric force 266, is the home position. As shown in FIG. 6, when the rotational position of the eccentric force m 266 is at the home position, the tooth mold 261 is in an open state. In this state, the binding process is impossible and the sheet bundle can be received.

  When binding a bundle of sheets, as shown in the inside of the ellipse in FIG. 6, with the tooth mold 261 open, the sheet is between the fixed tooth mold of the tooth mold 261 and the movable tooth mold movable to and away from it. The bundle is inserted and the drive motor 265 is rotated. When the drive motor 265 starts rotating, the eccentric force m 266 rotates in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. In response to this rotation, the cam surface of the eccentric force m 266 is displaced, and the pressure lever 262 is shown in the figure. It rotates in the direction of the middle arrow R3. The rotational force increases through the link group using the lever and is transmitted to the tooth pattern 261 at the working end.

When the eccentric force 266 rotates by a certain amount, the upper and lower tooth molds 261 mesh with each other, pinch the sheet bundle and pressurize it. The sheet bundle is deformed by this pressurization, and the fibers of adjacent sheets are entangled and bound.
Thereafter, the drive motor 265 rotates in the reverse direction and stops at the detection information of the cam home position sensor 267. As a result, the upper and lower tooth molds 261 return to the state shown in FIG. 6, and the sheet bundle can be moved. Further, the lever 262 has a spring property, and when an overload is applied, the lever 262 is bent to release the overload.

FIGS. 8 to 16 are operation explanatory views showing the online binding operation by the binding tool 210 of the sheet processing apparatus 201. In each figure, (A) is a plan view and (B) is a front view. Further, in the present embodiment, the online binding means that a sheet processing apparatus 201 is installed in the paper discharge tray of the image forming apparatus 101 as shown in FIG. This means that it is continuously accepted and aligned, and the binding process is performed.
On the other hand, manual binding, which will be described later, refers to binding the image forming apparatus 101 or separately printed output paper with the binding tool 210 of the paper processing apparatus 201. Since manual binding is not performed by a continuous operation from the discharge of the image forming apparatus 101, offline binding is also included.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state when the initial operation of the online binding operation is completed. When the output of the sheet on which the image is formed from the image forming apparatus 101 is started, each unit moves to the home position and completes the initial. FIG. 8 shows the state at this time.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state immediately after the first sheet Pl is discharged from the image forming apparatus 101 and carried into the sheet processing apparatus 201.
Before the paper Pl is carried into the paper processing apparatus 201 from the image forming apparatus 101, a control unit (not shown) of the paper processing apparatus 201 controls the paper processing from the control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 101. Receives mode information and paper information about the mode. And based on the information, it will be in an acceptance waiting state. The sheet information includes, for example, a sheet size, a sheet type, a sheet thickness, and the number of booklets (sheets to be bound).

  In the control mode, three modes, a straight mode, a shift mode, and a binding mode, are set. In the straight mode, the entrance roller 203 and the paper discharge roller 205 start to rotate in the paper conveyance direction in the acceptance standby state, and after the paper Pl,..., Pn are sequentially conveyed and discharged and the final paper Pn is discharged, The entrance roller 203 and the paper discharge roller 205 are stopped. Note that n is a positive integer of 2 or more.

  In the shift mode, the entrance roller 203 and the paper discharge roller 205 start to rotate in the transport direction in an acceptance standby state. In the shift paper discharge operation, the paper Pl is received and conveyed, and when the rear end of the paper Pl passes through the entrance roller 203, the shift cam 207 rotates by a certain amount, and the paper discharge outlet-roller 205 moves in the axial direction. At this time, the paper Pl also moves with the movement of the paper discharge roller 205. When the paper P1 is discharged, the shift cam 207 rotates to return to the home position, and prepares for the next paper P2. This shifting operation of the paper discharge roller 205 is repeated until the discharge of the paper Pn of the same portion is completed. Thus, a part (one volume) of the sheet bundle PB is discharged and stacked while being shifted to one side. When the first sheet P1 of the next part is carried in, the shift cam 207 rotates in the opposite direction to the previous part, and the sheet Pl moves to the opposite side to the previous part and is discharged.

In the binding mode, the entrance roller 203 is stopped in the acceptance standby state, and the paper discharge roller 205 starts to rotate in the transport direction. Further, the binding tool 210 moves to a standby position that is retracted by a certain amount from the sheet width and stands by.
In this case, the entrance roller 203 also functions as a registration roller. That is, when the first sheet Pl is carried into the sheet processing apparatus 201 and the inlet sensor 202 detects the leading edge of the sheet, the leading edge of the sheet hits the nip of the inlet roller 203.
Then, the sheet Pl is conveyed by the discharge roller 102 of the image forming apparatus 101 by a distance that causes a certain amount of bending. After being transported by the distance, the entrance roller 203 starts to rotate. Thereby, the skew correction of the paper Pl is performed. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the state at this time.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state when the rear end of the sheet has left the nip of the entrance roller 203 and has exceeded the branch path 241.
The conveyance amount of the sheet Pl is counted from the detection information by the entrance sensor 202 at the rear end of the sheet, and the position information of the sheet conveyance position is grasped by the CPU 201a. When the trailing edge of the paper passes through the nip of the entrance roller 203, the entrance roller 203 stops rotating to receive the next paper P2. At the same timing, the shift cam 207 rotates in the direction of arrow R4 (clockwise in the figure) in FIG. 10, and the paper discharge roller 205 starts to move in the axial direction with the paper Pl being nipped. As a result, the sheet Pl is conveyed while being skewed in the direction of the arrow Dl in FIG. After that, when the paper end detection sensor 220 installed or incorporated in the binding tool 210 detects the paper P, the shift cam 207 stops and then reverses, and the shift cam 207 stops when the paper end detection sensor 220 does not detect the paper P. To do. Then, the operation is completed, and the paper discharge roller 205 stops at a predetermined position where the rear end of the paper has passed the front end of the branching claw 204.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state when the paper Pl is switched back to align the transport direction of the paper Pl.
From the state shown in FIG. 10, the branch claw 204 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R5 to switch the conveyance path to the branch path 241, and then the paper discharge roller 205 is rotated in the reverse direction. As a result, the paper Pl is switched back in the direction of the arrow D <b> 2, and the rear end of the paper is carried into the branch path 241 and further abutted against the abutting surface 242.
The abutting of the trailing edge of the sheet aligns the trailing edge of the sheet with the abutting surface 242 as a reference. When the paper Pl is aligned, the paper discharge roller 205 stops. At this time, the paper discharge roller 205 slips when the paper Pl abuts against the abutting surface 242 so that no conveying force is applied. That is, it is set so that the paper P1 is switched back and hits the abutting surface 242, and when the rear end of the paper is aligned with the abutting surface 242 as a reference, it is further conveyed and the paper is not buckled.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state where the first sheet Pl is placed on the branch path 241 and the next second sheet P2 is carried in.
After the preceding first sheet Pl is aligned with the abutting surface 242 as a reference, the branch claw 204 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R6 in the figure. As a result, the contact surface 204c, which is the lower surface of the branch claw 204, strongly presses the rear end of the sheet positioned in the branch path 241 against the surface of the branch path 241 so that it does not move and stands by. When the subsequent second sheet P2 is carried in from the image forming apparatus 101, skew correction is performed by the entrance roller 203 in the same manner as the preceding sheet Pl. Next, at the same time as the rotation of the entrance roller 203 starts, the paper discharge roller 205 also starts to rotate in the transport direction.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state when the second sheet P2 is carried in.
The operations shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are also performed when the second sheet P2 and the third and subsequent sheets P3,..., Pn are conveyed from the state of FIG. Then, the sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus 101 are sequentially moved to a preset position and overlapped, and the aligned sheet bundle PB is stacked (accumulated) in the conveyance path 240.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state where the final sheet Pn is aligned to form the sheet bundle PB.
In the figure, when the operation of the final sheet Pn as the aligned sheet bundle PB is completed, the discharge roller 205 is rotated by a certain amount in the transport direction and stopped. With this operation, the bending that occurs when the rear end of the sheet is abutted against the abutting surface 242 is eliminated. Thereafter, the branching claw 204 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R5, and the contact surface 204c is separated from the branching path 241 to release the pressure applied to the sheet bundle PB. As a result, the sheet bundle PB is released from the restraining force by the branch claw 204 and can be conveyed by the paper discharge roller 205.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state during the binding operation.
The paper discharge roller 205 is rotated in the transport direction from the state shown in FIG. 14, and the paper bundle PB is transported by a distance where the position of the tooth mold 261 of the binding tool 210 matches the binding position of the paper bundle PB, and stopped at that position. As a result, the processing position of the sheet bundle PB in the transport direction matches the position of the tooth mold 261 in the transport direction. Then, the binding tool 210 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow D3 by the distance that the position of the tooth mold 261 of the binding tool 210 coincides with the processing position of the paper, and stops. As a result, the processing position in the width direction of the sheet bundle PB matches the position of the tooth mold 261 in the transport direction and the width direction. At this time, the branching claw 204 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R6 and returns to the paper receiving state. Thereafter, the binding tool driving motor 265 is turned on, the sheet bundle PB is pressurized by the tooth mold 261, and crimped by binding. In the present embodiment, an example using the binding tool 210 that performs crimp binding is illustrated, but a binding tool such as half-punching, cutting, bending, and passing through a hole is used. It goes without saying that it is also good.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state when the sheet bundle PB is discharged.
The sheet bundle PB bound as shown in FIG. 15 is discharged by the rotation of the discharge roller 205. After the sheet bundle PB is discharged, the shift cam 207 is rotated in the direction of arrow R7 to return to the home position (position in FIG. 8). In parallel with this, the binding tool 210 is moved in the direction of the arrow D4 in the figure to return to the home position (position in FIG. 8). Thereby, the binding operation is completed for the alignment operation of a part (one book) of the sheet bundle PB. If there is a next part, the operations shown in FIGS. 8 to 16 are repeated, and a part of the sheet bundle PB that is crimped and bound is created in the same manner.

The configuration used for the features of the present embodiment for the above configuration will be described as follows.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the tooth mold 261 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 upside down from the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
In the figure, the tooth mold 261 is formed with a plurality of tooth portions 261A extending in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support shaft serving as the swing support point along the axial direction of the support shaft.
As shown in FIG. 18, the tooth mold 261 is formed by shifting the top face phases of the tooth portions on the fixed side and the movable side so that they can mesh with each other vertically.

Next, a binding process executed using the binding tool 210 that is a binding unit will be described.
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a crimp binding method for an end binding portion.
In the drawing, the tooth mold 261 used for the binding tool 210 is arranged such that crimped teeth (lower uneven teeth 261A, upper uneven teeth 261B) with concavities and convexities face the sheet bundle PB (see FIG. 14) (see FIG. 14). FIG. 19 (A)).
Move one of the crimp teeth (or both) and apply force. (FIGS. 19B to 19C)
As the pressing force is increased, the paper is pressed and deformed into an uneven shape, the shape is transferred, and the binding is completed. (FIG. 19D)
In this crimping binding, it is possible to bind the sheets by fitting the unevenness or entanglement or fixation of the fibers between the sheets. The concave and convex shapes of the crimping teeth 261A and 261B have slope portions with arbitrary angles.
In addition, the shapes of the concavo-convex apex and valleys are different, and when the crimping teeth 101 and 102 are engaged with each other, for example, the top surface of the upper crimping tooth 261A and the valley of the lower crimping tooth 261B are in contact with each other. It is supposed not to. As a result, the sheet bundle 6 is pressure-bonded only by the slope portion, and it becomes possible to efficiently bind.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing features in the present embodiment.
In FIG. 20, the fixed side and movable side tooth types (in FIG. 20, the tooth portion 261A of the fixed side tooth type is shown), as shown in FIG. It is formed in a shape (round form).
In the configuration shown in FIG. 20B, the top surface is formed by a horizontal surface 261A1 and a curved surface 261A2 continuous therewith, and its continuous end, that is, the ridge line 261A3 is round instead of an edge.
Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 20B, the top surface 261A1 continuous to the curved surface 261A2 is also rounded, and the ridge lines continuous to the four sides of the top surface 261A1 and the curved surface 261A2 are also rounded.

FIG. 21 (A) is a view as seen from a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the teeth of the tooth mold 261. In FIG. 21A, a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tooth molds mesh with each other (the direction indicated by the arrow). The shape is formed in an R shape. FIG. 21B is an enlarged view of a region indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 21A, and corresponds to a direction indicated by an arrow (20B) in FIG. 20B.
As shown in the figure, the top surface 261A1 is rounded so as to bulge from a ridge line 261A3, which is an end continuous with the curved surface 261A2, to the center.
Furthermore, the curved line 261A2 and the bottom of the tooth mold, in other words, the ridge line located at the end connecting the top and the bottom is also rounded.

By adopting such a round shape, even if the pressure is concentrated on the top side edge of the paper when pressing the tooth mold against the paper, The concentration of pressure is alleviated, and the paper can be prevented from wrinkling and tearing.
In addition, even after pressure is concentrated on the edge connecting the top and bottom of the paper after the paper is pressed by the tooth mold and the binding operation is completed, the concentration of the pressure is reduced by the round shape. And tearing will be prevented.

The ridge line portion formed in a round shape at the continuous position of each surface in the above-described tooth mold 261 is formed by cutting or resin molding using a mold.

FIG. 22 shows a sheet bundle that has been bound using the above-described tooth mold 261.
FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of one of the binding processing positions (indicated by reference numeral (22) in FIG. 22) in the sheet bundle.
In FIG. 23, (A) shows a case where the ridge line of the conventional tooth mold is an edge, and (B) shows a case where the tooth mold according to the present embodiment is used.

In FIG. 23, when the tooth-shaped ridge line as shown in FIG. 23A has an edge shape, the fibers of the bound paper are broken. On the other hand, as shown in (B), when the tooth mold according to the present embodiment is used, the fibers of the bound paper are not broken.
As a result, when the tooth mold according to the present embodiment is used, the sheet is not torn, and the fibers are bundled by the pressing operation during the binding process, so that the binding portion becomes firm.
In addition, since a wide range is pushed and moved using the top surface 261A1 which is a horizontal surface, unlike the case where the end of the top surface is acute, it is difficult to cause fiber breakage due to concentrated load.
Therefore, when the tooth mold according to the present embodiment is used, the fibers remain, so that stress with respect to the pressing force at the time of the binding process is likely to occur, which reduces the shape restoration property by bending and maintains the binding state. Become.

  In the above configuration, the strength at the binding portion can be increased by a simple configuration that only changes the structure of the tooth mold used for the binding process. It becomes possible to prevent becoming.

Next, a modification of the tooth mold part will be described.
In the following modifications, in addition to making a part of the end of the tooth mold part round as described above, it is used as a damage reducing part that can prevent paper from being wrinkled or torn by chamfering. Set aside.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the lower pressure-bonding tooth 311. In the following description of the embodiment, the lower concavo-convex tooth 311 is mainly shown and described as a pressure-bonding tooth, but the same applies to the upper concavo-convex tooth 310.
In the figure, reference numeral 301 is a tooth surface, reference numeral 302 is a side surface, reference numeral 303 is a side connecting the base of the teeth 10a and 11a indicated by reference numeral 306, reference numeral 4 is an end of the tooth tip of the teeth 310a and 311a, and reference numeral 305 is a tooth. It is a tooth base corresponding to the bottom of the previous tooth surface. The base 306 is a portion in which the tooth root portion 305 is integrated.

  When the paper bundle PB is sandwiched using the upper concave / convex teeth 10 and the lower concave / convex teeth 11, the end portions 4 of the teeth 310 a and 311 a touch the paper bundle PB, and when the paper bundle PB is further sandwiched, the tooth surface 301 of the paper bundle PB Contact the surface.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 25, the sheet bundle PB is tilted at the end of the sheet bundle PB due to curling due to heat at the time of fixing. If the sheet bundle PB is not parallel to the end 304 of the tooth 311a when the sheet bundle PB is sandwiched, the end 4 of the tip of the tooth 311a is not in line contact with the sheet bundle PB but in point contact. It becomes. Then, the sheet bundle PB also contacts the side 303 connecting the base portion 306 to the end portion 4 of the tooth tip, and scratches, tears, wrinkles and the like are generated on the sheet forming the sheet bundle PB. It is difficult to adjust this inclination, and the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip always touches the sheet bundle PB.

<First Modified Example of Crimped Teeth>
FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a first modification of the crimp tooth.
In this example, the lower uneven tooth 311 is rounded as shown in the figure as a damage reducing portion on the side 3 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth 311a and the end portion 304 of the tooth tip. As a result, the paper bundle PB in contact with the end portion 304 of the tooth tip is prevented from being scratched or torn, and the paper bundle PB sandwiched between the upper concave and convex teeth 310 and the lower concave and convex teeth 311 is bent and wrinkles are generated. Can also be prevented.
That is, it can be seen that the binding force of the sheet bundle PB can be stabilized.
This is because the side 303 connecting the base 306 of the lower uneven tooth 311 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip is rounded in order to reduce damage to the paper.
That is, the rapid pressure change from the portion where the force with which the sheet bundle PB is in contact with the teeth 310a and 311a of the upper uneven tooth 311 and the lower uneven tooth 311 to the portion where the sheet is not in contact is alleviated.
Then, the paper with which the end portions 304 of the teeth 310a and 311a come into contact with each other is prevented from being scratched or torn and wrinkles are prevented, and the paper bundle PB sandwiched between the crimping teeth 10 and 11 is bent to cause wrinkles. Can be prevented.
Note that instead of rounding a predetermined portion, a chamfered portion may be provided as a damage reducing portion. Further, the damage reducing unit may be provided in at least one position of the side 303 in order to reduce damage to the sheet or the sheet bundle PB to be bound. The arrangement mode of the present embodiment and the embodiments described below, It is not limited to the installation mode.

<Second Modified Example of Crimped Teeth>
FIG. 27 is a view showing a second modified example of the concavo-convex crimping tooth used in the paper processing apparatus according to the present invention. The lower uneven tooth 311 in this example has a quadrangular pyramid shape, but the basic configuration such as rounding to the side 303 and the end portion 304 of the tooth tip and the shape of the tooth root portion 305 is the same as in the first modification. is there.

<Third Modification of Crimp Tooth>
FIG. 28 is a view showing a third modification of the uneven crimping tooth used in the paper processing apparatus according to the present invention. In this example, the lower uneven tooth 311 has a shape such that the side surface 302 is formed by vertically halving a cone, but the basic configuration such as rounding of the end portion 304 of the tooth tip and the shape of the tooth root portion 305 is as follows. This is the same as the first modification.

<Making condition of crimping teeth>
FIG. 29 is a view showing a state in which the upper concave and convex teeth 310 and the lower concave and convex teeth 311 having the teeth of the configuration shown in FIG. The force with which the side 303 connecting the end portions 304 of the teeth 310a and 311a to the base 306 presses the sheet bundle PB is large on the end portion 304 side and small on the side close to the base 306.

<Binding state by damage reduction part>
As shown in FIG. 30, the bound sheet bundle PB has a concavo-convex shape due to the meshing of the upper concavo-convex teeth 310 and the lower concavo-convex teeth 311, and the vicinity thereof is caused by the deflection of the sheet S ′ used for the sheet bundle PB. Wrinkles occur.
When binding is performed in the vicinity of the end surface of the sheet S ′, no wrinkle is generated on the end surface side of the sheet S ′, and thus wrinkles are not generated on the end surface side of the sheet S ′.
In the form of use as shown in FIG. 30, the rounding or chamfering process at the time of binding is performed by attaching roundness or chamfering to the side where wrinkles are generated on the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip. Can reduce costs.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing wrinkle occurrence locations.
The bound sheet bundle PB has a concavo-convex shape by a binding tool, and in the binding tool in which the teeth 311a are arranged side by side, the sheet bundle S contracts in the direction in which the teeth 311a are arranged. In the arrangement of the arranged teeth 311a, the amount of deformation increases as the outer teeth are closer, and wrinkles are likely to occur. In addition, as the uneven portion of the paper is deformed, the wrinkles extend along the tooth streaks of the teeth 311a (the direction in which the end portion 304 of the tooth tip extends) in an attempt to deform the surrounding paper. In the figure, X indicates wrinkles formed along the tooth lines, and Y in the figure indicates wrinkles generated where there are no teeth.

Next, another embodiment relating to the tooth mold used for the binding tool will be described.
In the example shown in FIG. 32, rounding or chamfering is applied to the outer teeth (the teeth indicated as “R” in the drawing) where wrinkles occur in the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip. Do not round or chamfer these inner teeth.
As a result, the same configuration is obtained that there is no edge portion that causes pressure concentration on the paper at the end portion 304, so that the rounding or surface mounting processing steps when processing the binding tool can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. I have to.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example different from the example illustrated in FIG. 32.
In the example shown in the figure, rounds or chamfers having a plurality of shapes (for example, different radii of curvature, etc.) are attached to the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the pressure tooth tip as the damage reducing portion.
Thereby, the pressure concentration at the time of pressing can be more effectively prevented, and the sheet bundle S1 that is in contact can be more efficiently prevented from being damaged or torn, and the binding force of the sheet bundle S can be stabilized.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a modification of the configuration shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in the figure, the roundness (or chamfered shape) provided on the side 303 as the damage reducing portion has a plurality of (three types in the illustrated example) chamfered shapes.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing another modification of the configuration shown in FIG.
In the configuration shown in the figure, when the roundness of the side 303 where the tooth surface 301 and the side surface 302 intersect with each other is constant, the force applied to the sheet bundle PB in contact is large near the end portion 304 of the tooth tip of the tooth 311a. It is small in the vicinity. For this reason, paper tears, scratches, and wrinkles are likely to occur near the end portion 304.
Therefore, the side 303 is rounded near the end portion 304 of the tooth tip larger than the vicinity of the base 306 (in the drawing, it is described as R large. A portion with a small round is described as R small).
This disperses the force in the vicinity of the end portion 304 of the tooth tip to which a large force is applied, makes the paper more unlikely to be scratched or torn, and better prevents the folded paper sheet S from being bent and wrinkled, The binding force of the sheet bundle PB can be further stabilized.

By the way, the cause of the wrinkling and tearing of the paper may be a sudden pressure change at the transition 03 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip.
That is, a large force is applied at a position in contact with the tooth surface 301 of the sheet bundle S to be bound. Therefore, a force is not directly applied where the tooth surface 301 is not in contact, and an abrupt pressure difference is generated at the side 303 connecting the base 6 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip. As a result, the paper may be scratched, torn and wrinkled.

Also, paper tears, scratches and wrinkles are likely to occur near the tooth surface 301 of the side 303 from the base 306.
In view of this point, in FIG. 36, the radius of curvature is increased near the tooth surface 301 in the rounding process to the side 303 (shown as R large in the drawing), and the curvature radius is decreased near the side surface. (It is written as R small in the figure).
FIG. 37 is a side view of FIG. By using such a configuration, the force can be gradually reduced from the tooth surface 301 toward the side surface, and a sudden change in pressure difference near the side 303 can be reduced. With such a configuration, the sheet can be prevented from being damaged or torn, and the sheet bundle S sandwiched between the crimping teeth 310 and 311 can be prevented from being bent and wrinkled, so that the binding force of the sheet bundle PB can be stabilized.

  FIG. 38 is a plan view showing a cross section of the lower concavo-convex tooth 311 described with reference to FIG. 36 when temporarily cut along the cut surface shown in FIG. The radius of curvature is increased near the tooth surface 301 (shown as R large in the figure), and the radius of curvature is reduced near the side surface 302 and is described as R small).

In the teeth 311a arranged as described above, the amount of deformation is greater in the vicinity of the outer teeth, and wrinkles are likely to occur.
Further, a force is applied to the sheet bundle PB where the outer teeth 311a of the arranged teeth 311a abut against the sheet bundle PB. However, since there are no teeth on the outer side, no force is directly applied to the sheet bundle S. Don't join. Due to the difference in force, wrinkles are generated in the paper and the paper bundle S, and the deformation due to the wrinkles extends along the tooth streaks (the direction in which the end 4 of the tooth tip extends).
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the outermost teeth (the teeth indicated as “R large” in the figure) where wrinkles occur in the side 303 connecting the base 306 to the end portion 304 of the tooth tip are rounded or chamfered. Is larger than the inner teeth, ie, the largest. By doing so, the pressure applied to the sheet is reduced from the inner teeth toward the outer teeth, and the generation of wrinkles is effectively prevented, and the binding force of the sheet bundle is stabilized.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and is not limited to the illustrated type of image forming apparatus, and many modifications are ordinary in the art within the technical idea of the present invention. It is possible by those who have knowledge.

  Note that the configurations shown in FIGS. 40 to 43 can be used for the configuration of the image forming apparatus and the configuration of the binding unit used in the image forming system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 40, the image forming apparatus 101 includes an image reading unit 170 and an image forming unit 115. A document table 102 made of a transparent glass plate fixedly provided is provided above the image reading unit 170. A document D placed with its image surface facing downward at a predetermined position on the document table 102 is pressed and fixed by a document pressing plate 103. An optical system including a lamp 104 that illuminates the document D and reflecting mirrors 105, 106, and 107 for guiding a light image of the illuminated document D to the image processing unit 108 is provided below the document table 102. . The lamp 104 and the reflection mirrors 105, 106, 107 move at a predetermined speed to scan the document D.

  The image forming unit 115 includes a photosensitive drum 28, a primary charging roller 161, a rotary developing unit 151, an intermediate transfer belt 152, a transfer roller 150, a cleaner 126, and the like. The photosensitive drum 28 is irradiated with a light image from the laser unit 109 based on the image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof. The primary charging roller 161 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 before laser beam irradiation. The rotary developing unit 151 attaches magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) toners to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28, and converts the toner image into a toner image. Form. The toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 152, and the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 152 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 150. The cleaner 126 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 28 after transferring the toner image.

  The rotary developing unit 151 uses a rotary developing system, and includes a developing device 151K, a developing device 151Y, a developing device 151M, and a developing device 151C, and can be rotated by a motor (not shown). When a monochrome toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28, development is performed by rotating the developing device 151K to a developing position close to the photosensitive drum 28. Similarly, when forming a full-color toner image, the rotary developing unit 151 is rotated so that each developing device is arranged at the developing position, and development is performed in order for each color.

  The toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 28 by the rotary developing unit 151 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 152. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 152 is transferred to the sheet S by the transfer roller 150. The sheet S is supplied from the sheet cassette 127.

  A fixing device 122 is provided on the downstream side of the image forming unit 115 to fix the toner image on the conveyed sheet S. The sheet S on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 122 is selectively subjected to a binding process by a sheet binding device 100 described later. Then, the sheet or sheet bundle is discharged to the discharge unit 125 outside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 210.

  FIG. 41 is a schematic sectional view of the sheet binding apparatus. FIG. 42A is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the support portion of the uneven member in the sheet binding device. FIG. 42B is an upper perspective view showing the sheet binding apparatus in a state where the upper support is removed. FIG. 43 is a perspective view illustrating a binding state of the sheet binding device.

  As shown in FIG. 41, the sheet binding device 400 is a sheet binding device that binds a sheet bundle composed of a plurality of sheets without using a binding member such as a needle. The sheet binding apparatus 400 includes a pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 for binding a sheet bundle. The pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 are provided so as to be movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. The sheet bundle is joined by forming the concavo-convex in the thickness direction on the sheet bundle by sandwiching the sheet bundle. Bind.

  A lower concavo-convex member (hereinafter referred to as a lower concavo-convex member) 401 is supported on a lower support base (hereinafter referred to as a lower support base) 409 with screws or the like. Similarly, an upper concavo-convex member (hereinafter referred to as an upper concavo-convex member) 402 is supported on an upper support base (hereinafter referred to as an upper support base) 410 by screws or the like. Each of the concavo-convex members 401 and 402 has a concavo-convex shape composed of a continuation of a convex portion and a concave portion, and the arrangement pitch of the concavo-convex shape is the same. Here, the arrangement pitch is a pitch between adjacent convex portions 402a (or convex portions 401a) or a pitch between concave portions 402b (or 201b).

  As shown in FIG. 42B, the lower support base 409 that supports the lower concavo-convex member 401 has two guide pins for abutting and positioning the corners of the sheet bundle between the concavo-convex members 401, 402. 211 is provided. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 42A, the upper support base 410 supporting the upper concavo-convex member 2 is movably engaged with each guide pin 411 of the lower support base 409 to guide the guide hole 410a. Is provided. As shown in FIG. 42B, the guide pin 411 prevents the upper support base 210 from coming out of the guide pin 211 and the guide portion 411b that guides the upper support base 410 to be movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle. And a stopper portion 411a. Further, the upper support base 410 is urged upward by a compression spring 421 provided on the lower support base 409. The top dead center of the upper support base 410 biased in the upward direction is determined when the upper support base 410 comes into contact with the stopper portion 411a of the guide pin 211 larger than the diameter of the guide hole 210a. On the other hand, the bottom dead center of the upper support base 410 is determined when the lower concavo-convex member 401 and the upper concavo-convex member 202 abut.

  As shown in FIG. 42, the pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 includes a fixed concavo-convex member fixed at a predetermined position and a movable concavo-convex member movable in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle with respect to the fixed concavo-convex member. Become. Here, of the pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402, the lower concavo-convex member 401 is a fixed concavo-convex member having a lower support base 409 attached to the frame 414 and fixed at a predetermined position. On the other hand, the upper concavo-convex member 402 is movable in the sheet bundle thickness direction along the guide pins 411 and the upper support base 410 is movable in the sheet bundle thickness direction with respect to the lower concavo-convex member 401. It is a moving uneven member. The pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402, the lower support base 409, the upper support base 410, the moving arm 412, and the frame 414 constitute sheet binding means. One end of a moving arm 412 supported so as to be rotatable about a shaft 212 a is in contact with the upper surface of the upper support base 410 that supports the upper uneven member 401. The movable arm 412 moves the upper support base 410 at the retracted position along the guide pin 211 in a state where the distance H between the concavo-convex members 401 and 402 is opened by the maximum distance by the action of the compression spring 421 and the guide pin 411. It is a moving means which moves to the binding position which the uneven | corrugated members 401 and 402 mesh. Here, the binding position is a first position where the sheet bundle is nipped and bound by a pair of concave and convex members 401 and 402, and the retracted position is the first position of the upper concave and convex member 402 with respect to the lower concave and convex member 401. This is the second position withdrawn in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle.

As described above, the upper support base 410 and the moving arm 412 are usually installed in a state where the distance H between the pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 is opened by the maximum distance by the action of the compression spring 421 and the guide pin 411. Yes. As shown in FIG. 41, the other end of the moving arm 412 is provided with a pressure pin 412b for pressing the connecting arm 413 that is rotatably supported around the shaft 413a with respect to the frame 414. ing. An arm plate 415 that is an elastic member is attached to the upper portion of the connecting arm 413. A cam 416 is in contact with the upper surface of the end portion on the free end side of the arm plate 415. The position of the arm plate 415 in the vertical direction is determined by the phase of the cam 416.
In FIG. 41, a cam 416 is rotated by a drive transmitted through a motor gear 419, a drive transmission gear 418, and a cam drive shaft 417 using a cam drive motor 420 as a drive source.

Therefore, when the cam 416 is rotated, the connecting arm 41 to which the arm plate 415 is attached is provided.
3 and the moving arm 412 rotate so that the upper support base 410 having the upper uneven member 402 moves in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle along the guide pins 411 with respect to the lower support base 409 having the lower uneven member 401. . That is, when the cam 416 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 41 to the state shown in FIG. 43, the moving arm 412 is rotated against the force of the compression spring 421 and the upper uneven member 402 and the lower uneven member 201 are engaged with each other. The upper support 210 is moved to the binding position.
At this time, the pressing force applied between the concavo-convex members 401 and 402 is a constant pressing force (about 100 kg in this case). Further, when the cam 416 is continuously rotated from the state shown in FIG. 43 to the state shown in FIG. 41, the upper support base 410 having the upper concavo-convex member 402 is stopped by the biasing force of the compression spring 421. It moves to the retreat position where it hits 411a. In this way, the binding process by the pair of concavo-convex members 401 and 402 is performed by one rotation of the cam 416.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming system 101 Image forming apparatus 201 Paper processing apparatus 261 Tooth type 261A Tooth part 261A1 Horizontal surface 261A2 Curved surface R Large part with large radius of curvature R Small Part with small radius of curvature
S Paper bundle S 'Paper X Wrinkles formed along tooth lines Y Wrinkles generated in the absence of teeth

JP 2010-208854 A Special table 2007-536141 gazette

Claims (11)

In the binding processing apparatus for crimping and binding the sheet bundle between a pair of crimping teeth having a plurality of convex portions ,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the convex portion, and a side surface formed along the arrangement direction of the convex portion,
While the side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a round shape ,
The one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth and the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersect when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged. A binding processing device characterized by the above. In the binding processing apparatus for crimping and binding the sheet bundle between a pair of crimping teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth includes a tooth surface formed along a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the convex portions, a side surface formed along the arrangement direction of the convex portions, the tooth surface, and the side surfaces. And the side where
While the side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a round shape,
One side of the pair of crimping teeth intersects the other side of the pair of crimping teeth when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth is engaged. A binding processing device characterized by the above. In the binding processing apparatus for crimping and binding the sheet bundle between a pair of crimping teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth has a tooth surface formed along a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the convex portions are arranged, and a side surface formed along the direction in which the convex portions are arranged,
While the side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a chamfered shape,
The one side surface of the pair of crimping teeth and the other side surface of the pair of crimping teeth intersect when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth are engaged. A binding processing device characterized by the above . In the binding processing apparatus for crimping and binding the sheet bundle between a pair of crimping teeth having a plurality of convex portions,
Each of the pair of crimping teeth includes a tooth surface formed along a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the convex portions, a side surface formed along the arrangement direction of the convex portions, the tooth surface, and the side surfaces. And the side where
While the side where the tooth surface and the side surface intersect has a chamfered shape,
One side of the pair of crimping teeth intersects the other side of the pair of crimping teeth when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the pair of crimping teeth is engaged. A binding processing device characterized by the above. The binding processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of crimping teeth have the same shape when viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged. The side surface of at least one crimping tooth of the pair of crimping teeth is formed symmetrically when viewed from the arrangement direction of the convex portions. Binding processing device. The binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side has a larger radius of curvature on a top side of the convex portion than on a bottom side of the convex portion. When the pair of crimping teeth is viewed from the direction in which the convex portions are arranged in a state where the tooth surfaces of the pair of crimping teeth are in contact with each other, the shape of the range in which one of the pair of crimping teeth overlaps the other is The binding processing device according to claim 1, wherein the binding processing device is a hexagon. A moving means for moving either one or both of the pair of crimping teeth in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle;
9. The sheet bundle according to claim 1, wherein either one or both of the pair of crimping teeth is moved in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle by the moving means, and the sheet bundle is crimped and bound. Binding processing device. The binding processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Conveying means for conveying the sheet;
Stacking means for stacking the conveyed sheets,
A sheet processing apparatus that binds a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit by the binding processing apparatus. An image forming system comprising the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10.

Images