JP6879493B2 - Sheet binding processing device, sheet post-processing device and image forming system equipped with this - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a sheet binding processing device for crimp binding a bundle of sheets without using a metal needle, a sheet post-processing device including the sheet binding processing device, and an image forming system including the sheet post-processing device.

Conventionally, there has been known a sheet post-processing device including a sheet binding processing device that receives a sheet on which an image is formed by an image forming device on a processing tray and performs a binding process on a bundle of sheets on the processing tray. ..

In recent years, such a binding device has been provided with a sheet binding processing device capable of binding a sheet bundle without using a metal needle by entwining the fibers of the sheet by crimping the sheet bundle. ing. In such crimp binding, sheets are strongly meshed with each other by crimping teeth, which are a pair of crimping members having a concavo-convex shape in which a plurality of concave portions and a plurality of convex portions are arranged in parallel and alternately arranged. It is configured to bind the sheet bundle by crimping the sheet, and has the advantage that it can be easily peeled off and separated because it is bound without passing a metal needle through the sheet.

However, in crimp binding in which the sheet is sandwiched between the upper and lower irregularities, the sheet may be damaged because the convex portion bites into the concave portion, and it is difficult to adjust the urging force for crimping. Therefore, in each of the pair of crimping members, the top (bottom) of the convex portion (recess) is a surface parallel to the paper surface of the sheet, and the side surface of the convex portion (concave) is inclined with respect to the paper surface. By making it a surface, when the unevenness of the pair of crimping members is engaged with each other, the inclined surfaces are in contact with each other, and between the top of the convex portion of one crimping member and the bottom of the concave portion of the other crimping member. A binding device has been proposed in which a gap is formed between the top of the convex portion of the other crimping member and the bottom of the concave portion of the one crimping member to prevent damage to the sheet. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-54490

In a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs such crimp binding, since it is easy to separate the bound sheets, there are many cases where they are used for crimping again after separation. However, in crimp binding, the fibers of the sheet are stretched and crimped to entangle and bond the fibers of the sheet. Therefore, when the sheets that have been crimp-bound once are separated and then tried to be bound by crimping again, as in Patent Document 1. Even if the shape of the teeth is devised, if there is a crimping mark at the binding position due to the previous crimp binding, the limit of elongation of the sheet fiber will be exceeded by crimping again, so the fastening force is weak and the crimp binding is incomplete. It is a cause of damage or damage to the seat.

In addition, not limited to crimping marks, if the binding process using a metal needle is first performed, a hole through which the binding needle has passed may remain, or if the binding portion is damaged when it is peeled off from the needle binding. , Crimping binding cannot be performed effectively. Further, if there is an uneven sheet in a part of the sheet bundle to be bound, the sheet is missing from the area to be pressure-bonded, so that the binding is incomplete.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet binding processing device, a sheet post-processing device, and an image forming system including the sheet binding processing device and the sheet post-processing device having high binding quality in crimp binding.

In order to solve the above problems, the sheet post-treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes a pressure-bonding member that sandwiches a sheet between upper and lower teeth that mesh with each other and pressurizes the sheet to perform a binding process, and the pressure-bonding member of the sheet. The control means includes a detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a crimping mark already subjected to the crimping binding process in the predetermined area to be bound, and a control means for controlling the crimping binding member, and the control means is said by the detecting means. If the crimping mark is detected in the predetermined area, it inhibits the binding processing on the predetermined area, and characterized in that.

Then, a moving means for relatively different binding positions of the crimp binding member with respect to the sheet is further provided, and when it is detected that the predetermined area cannot be bound by the detection means, the binding position is set by the moving means. You should change it.

The moving means can relatively move the binding position to a position different from the predetermined area near the center of the sheet to make an accurately bound bundle for binding on the inner side of the sheet. it can. At this time, by moving the crimp binding processing means, the moving means can bind the sheets while maintaining the aligned state, and the accuracy of the binding processing is improved.

Further, in a sheet post-processing device including a mounting means for mounting a sheet and a matching means for aligning the sheets mounted on the previously described placing means, the moving means is also used as the matching means. As a result, the binding position of the pressure-bonding member with respect to the sheet may be relatively different.

Then, in the sheet binding processing apparatus according to the present invention, the predetermined area is detected by the detection means whether or not there is a crimping mark that has already been pressure-bonded in the predetermined area to be bound by the crimp-binding member of the sheet. The binding process is prohibited , and the sheet is prevented from being damaged by re-crimping the sheet once bound to the same place.

Then, when the area that can be bound in the predetermined area is less than the predetermined area, it is preferable to prohibit the binding process. As a result, the binding position does not overlap with the area where the image of the sheet is printed, and the toner layer of the print interferes with the sheet, or even if the sheet can be bound, a part of the printed content is bound. It prevents things like being invisible in the part.

The sheet binding processing device can be effectively applied to a sheet post-processing device that performs post-processing of crimp binding on a sheet carried out from a paper feed tray in which a sheet is set by manual operation from the outside.

Further, even in an image forming system including an image forming apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet and carrying it out, crimp binding can be effectively performed by using the sheet binding processing apparatus.

According to the sheet post-processing apparatus of the present invention, the state of the paper surface in the area where the sheet is to be crimp-bound is detected in advance, and crimp-binding is prohibited according to the state, so that incomplete binding is reliably prevented. it can.

A schematic overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a sheet integrating device according to the present invention is shown. A plan view of the binding portion in the sheet post-processing apparatus shows a state in which the sheet is carried out to the processing tray. FIG. 2 shows the matching operation of the rear end of the sheet carried out to the processing tray. FIG. 3 shows a matching operation at one end of the sheet carried out to the processing tray. The binding operation of the crimp binding member is shown in the side view. A schematic diagram of the control configuration of the entire image formation system is shown. The operation explanatory drawing of the paper surface condition detection device is shown. The flowchart explaining the operation in the sheet post-processing apparatus is shown. A flowchart for explaining the operation of the binding process is shown. An explanatory diagram of the operation of the square binding mode is shown. A schematic diagram illustrating a change in the binding position in square binding is shown. A schematic diagram illustrating a change in the binding position in square binding by moving the sheet is shown. An explanatory diagram of the operation of the two-place binding mode is shown.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an overall configuration of an image forming system including a sheet post-processing device according to the present invention. The illustrated image forming system includes an image forming device 1 having an image forming unit for printing an image on a sheet, a document reading device 2 for reading an image to be printed on a sheet from a document, and a document being conveyed to a reading unit of the document reading device 2. The document feeding device 3 is connected to the paper ejection port of the image forming apparatus 1, and the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 is connected to the paper ejection port of the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a binding process on the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus 1.

[Image forming device]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a cassette 5 capable of storing about 100 sheets and a storage 6 capable of storing about 1,000 sheets more than the cassette 5, and is either the cassette 5 or the storage 6. The sheets are taken out one by one and sent to the image forming unit 1A.

The image forming unit 1A performs electrostatic printing, and includes a beam floodlight 12 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11, an original imager 13 that adheres toner ink to the electrostatic latent image, and a transfer charger 14. I have. Then, the image ink formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer charger 14, the image on the sheet is heat-fixed by the fixing roller 15 arranged on the downstream side thereof, and the image ink is transferred to the sheet post-processing device 4. It is configured as.

[Original reader]
In the document reading device 2, the first platen 16 and the second platen 17 formed of transparent glass are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the upper part of the device. The first platen 16 is used for reading a document set by hand, and is formed to have the maximum dimensional size of a usable document. Since the second platen 17 is used for reading a document moving at a predetermined speed, the second platen 17 is formed to have the maximum width size of the document that can be read even when the platen is running.

Inside the document reading device 2, a scanning carriage 18 and a photoelectric conversion means having a condenser lens 20 and a photoelectric conversion element 21 using a CCD image sensor, for example, are provided. The reading carriage 18 is provided with a lamp that irradiates the document with light and two mirrors that guide the light reflected from the document to the condenser lens 20 and the photoelectric conversion element 21.

Then, the reading carriage 18 is driven by a carriage motor (not shown) and reciprocates below the first platen 16 in the sub-scanning direction (horizontal direction) while being guided by a guide shaft, and is set on the first platen 16 when moving forward. The original is irradiated with light, and the reflected light from the original is photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion element 21 to read the original. Then, the image data of the document read by the photoelectric conversion element 21 is transmitted as an image signal to the beam floodlight 12.

[Original feeder]
The document feed device 3 passes the document set in the paper feed tray 22 through the second platen 17 by the sheet transport mechanism 24, and ejects the document to the paper output tray 23. Therefore, when the original is set in the paper feed tray 22, the reading carriage 18 waits at the position of the second platen 17 and reads the passing original.

[Sheet post-processing device]
The sheet post-processing device 4 performs a binding process on the sheet image-formed by the image forming unit of the image forming device 1. The sheet post-processing device 4 is a set of a sheet binding processing device 50 that performs sheet binding processing, first and second output trays 56 and 57 from which sheets are ejected, and sheets such as originals, colored paper, and interleaving paper. The paper feed tray 52 to be fed, the first transport path 53 for guiding the sheet from the image forming apparatus 1 to the sheet binding processing device 50, and the second transport path 53 for guiding the sheet from the paper feed tray 52 to the sheet binding processing device 50. The transport path 54 is provided, and the transport path 55 that branches off from the first transport path 53 and guides the sheet from the image forming apparatus 1 to the first paper ejection tray 56.

Further, in the sheet post-processing device 4, a paper feed mechanism for separating and feeding sheets on the paper feed tray 52 one by one and sheets are provided in the first to third transport paths 53, 54, 55. It has a plurality of transport roller pairs arranged at appropriate intervals for transport along the line. Further, the downstream portion of the first transport path 53 and the downstream portion of the second transport path 54 form a common transport path (third transport path) 56, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge port 58 at the end. A pair of discharge rollers 60 are arranged for this purpose. The carry-out sensor 59 detects the sheet to be carried to the discharge port 58.

The paper feed tray 52 and the second transport path 54 are used when the user of the image forming system only intends to bind the sheets. That is, by placing the sheets on the paper feed tray 52, the sheets are conveyed one by one to the sheet binding processing device 50 through the conveying path 54, so that the sheet binding processing device 50 can perform the binding operation. .. Therefore, for example, when a sheet binding process device 50 performs a binding process on a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 through a transfer path 53 and the bound sheet bundle is discharged to the paper ejection tray 57, the user performs the binding process. When a new sheet is to be added to the bundle of sheets, or when rebinding with incomplete binding is desired, the sheet to be rebound is placed on the paper feed tray 52.

[Sheet binding processing device]
2 to 4 show the sheet binding processing device 50 in a plan view, and the processing tray 61 which is a mounting means for the sheet 30 and the rear end regulating plate 62 which aligns the rear end of the sheet on the processing tray 61. A pair of side regulating plates 63a and 63b that align both ends of the sheet 30 in the width direction, a binding unit 64 that binds the sheets 30 aligned with the processing tray 61, and a paddle 65 arranged above the processing tray 61. It is provided with a discharge belt 66 for discharging the sheet of the processing tray 61 to the second paper discharge tray 57.

The paddle 65 is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft 65a and is driven by the paddle drive motor M1 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure, thereby pushing the seat 30 toward the rear end regulating plate 62 side.

The discharge belt 66 is stretched on a pair of pulleys, and the sheet of the processing tray 61 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 57 by driving the discharge motor M5 (FIG. 6).

The side regulation plates 63a and 63b are provided at the left and right side ends of the processing tray 61 so as to sandwich the seat 30, and are connected to the left side shift motor M2 and the right side shift motor M3, respectively, via a rack mechanism (not shown). ing. Therefore, the side regulation plates 63a and 63b can each reciprocate in the width direction of the seat 30 according to the forward and reverse movements of the side shift motors M2 and M3.

The sheets sequentially discharged from the first and second transport paths 53 and 54 onto the processing tray 61 are aligned one by one with the rear end regulation plate 62, the side regulation plates 63a and 63b, and the paddle 65, and are aligned with the processing tray. It is positioned at the binding position by the binding unit 64 provided at the corner on one end side of the 61.

[Positioning]
More specifically about the positioning, the sheet 30 carried out from the rear end to the processing tray 61 is first moved toward the rear end regulation plate 62 by the rotation of the paddle 65 as shown in FIG. 2, and the rear end is rearward. By abutting against the edge regulation plate 62, alignment is performed in the carry-in direction to the processing tray 61.

By aligning the rear ends of the seat 30, the right side shift motor M3 is driven to move the side regulation plate 63a toward the other side regulation plate 63b as shown in FIG. The side regulation plate 63a comes into contact with one side end of the seat 30 and is pushed out to the side regulation plate 63b side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the sheet 30 is aligned in the width direction when the other end in the width direction comes into contact with the side regulation plate 63b. At this time, the matching position in the width direction is set by driving the left side shift motor M2.

In this example, the seat 30 is aligned with reference to the left side of the seat 30, but when the seat 30 is aligned with reference to the right side, the alignment position in the width direction is determined by driving the right side shift motor M3. After setting, the left side shift motor M2 is driven to move the side regulation plate 63b toward the side regulation plate 63a.

[Binding unit]
The binding unit 64 includes a crimp binding member 70 as a binding means for binding a sheet. As shown in FIG. 5, the crimp binding member 70 includes a lower tooth 71 arranged on the sheet mounting surface side of the processing tray 61 and an upper tooth 72 arranged to face the lower tooth 71. By sandwiching the sheet bundle with the pair of tooth molds and applying pressure, the sheet is stretched, deformed and pressed, and the fibers of the sheet are entwined to bind the sheets, so-called crimp binding is performed.

The lower teeth 71 of the crimp binding member 70 are provided so that the upper surface 71a thereof is flush with the sheet mounting surface of the processing tray 61, and the uneven binding teeth 71c are formed on the inner bottom surface of the groove portion 71b. Has been done. On the bottom surface of the upper tooth 72, an uneven binding tooth 72c that meshes with the binding tooth 71c of the lower tooth 71 is formed.

The eccentric cam 73 is in contact with the upper surface 72a of the upper tooth 72, and the rotation of the eccentric cam 73 causes the upper tooth 72 to move downward, and the binding tooth 72c of the upper tooth 72 is the lower tooth 71. It is designed to mesh with the binding teeth 71c. As a result, the sheet between the binding tooth 72c of the upper tooth 72 and the binding tooth 71c of the lower tooth 71 is pressed, the fibers on the surface of the sheet are exposed, and the fibers of the sheets are entangled with each other and fastened.

The eccentric cam 73 is connected to the binding motor M4 via drive transmission gears 74, 75, 76, and by driving the binding motor M4 to rotate the eccentric cam 73 half a turn, the upper teeth 72 are moved from the standby position. It is configured to move to the meshing position and then to the standby position again. That is, by rotating the eccentric cam 73 half a turn, the sheet is pressed by the crimp binding member 70 and the sheet is bound.

The tension spring 78 is provided to move the upper teeth 72 to the standby position, one end of which is attached to a mounting piece 72b formed on the upper surface 72a of the upper teeth 72, and the other end of the side plate of the device (shown). It is attached to the attachment pin 79 provided in the spring. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the tension spring 78 pulls the upper teeth 72 upward and moves them to the standby position as the eccentric cam 73 rotates. Then, the eccentric cam 73 further rotates to move the upper teeth 72 to the meshing position against the tensile force of the tension spring 78, as shown in FIG. 5 (b).

As described above, the binding unit 64 in which the crimp binding member 70, the eccentric cam 73, the drive transmission gears 74, 75, 76, the drive motor 77, and the tension spring 77 are integrated is provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the processing tray 61. The guide groove 80 is configured to move along one side of the sheet on the processing tray 61.

A pair of sliding pins 67a and 67b are provided in parallel at the end of the binding unit 64, and the sliding pins 67a and 67b are fitted into the guide groove 80 formed in the unit frame along the width direction of the sheet. ing. The binding unit 64 can be reciprocated along the guide groove 80 by the unit moving mechanism 69 (FIG. 6). Although not specifically shown, the unit moving mechanism 69 is a rack mechanism or a belt mechanism that converts a rotary motion into a reciprocating linear motion.

The sliding pin 67a serves as a rotation fulcrum at which the binding unit 64 swings. The guide groove 80 is formed so that one end is branched, and the sliding pin 67b is configured to enter the branch portion 80a. Therefore, when the sliding pin 67b enters the branch portion 80a, the binding unit 64 swings around the sliding pin 67a as a fulcrum, and the posture changes from a state of directly facing the seat to a state of diagonally facing the seat.

On the other hand, the crimp binding member 70 is configured so that the binding unit 64 can move the sheet in the width direction and can also move back and forth independently in the direction orthogonal to the width direction. Therefore, the crimp binding member 70 includes a binding member moving mechanism 49 (FIG. 6) for reciprocating the upper teeth 72 and the lower teeth 71 in this direction. Although the specific configuration of the binding member moving mechanism 49 is not shown, it is configured by a well-known endless belt or rack mechanism. The binding member moving mechanism 49, which will be clarified later, serves as a moving means for shifting the binding position of the pressure-bonding member 70 with respect to the sheet.

[Paper condition detector]
Further, the binding unit 64 includes a paper surface condition detecting device 48 which is a detecting means for detecting a paper surface condition in a predetermined region to be bound by the crimp binding member 70 on the sheet 30. As shown in FIG. 7A, the paper surface condition detection device 48 recognizes an image from diagonally above the sheet bundle 300 loaded on the processing tray 61 by using, for example, an image recognition sensor. When the sheet 30 is damaged or partially missing in a predetermined area (hereinafter referred to as a default area) preset to bind the bundle 300, or when crimping marks or irregularities already applied or binding with a needle Detects the paper surface condition such as whether a hole is formed. In FIG. 7B, an ultrasonic sensor is used to apply ultrasonic waves to the default region of the sheet bundle 300 in the vertical direction to detect breakage, partial omission, and crimping marks of the sheet. Further, the state of the paper surface can be detected not only by ultrasonic waves but also by irradiating light and the amount of transmitted light or reflected light. Further, if the sheet 30 has a paper quality that is easily charged with static electricity, it is possible to detect the above-mentioned defect by changing the capacitance.

[Control configuration]
The configuration of the control device 10 of the image forming system will be described with reference to FIG. The control device 11 is composed of a main body control unit 12 that controls each operation of the image forming device 1, the document reading device 2, and the document feeding device 3, and a sheet post-processing control unit 13 that controls the sheet post-processing device 4. There is.

The image forming apparatus 1 has an input unit 14 having a control panel (not shown) arranged on the front side where the user of the image forming system is located. The input unit 14 is composed of an operation panel, and the user of the image forming system inputs from the input unit 56 the specification of the finish of the image, the size of the sheet to be printed, the specification of the binding method, and the like. There are two binding modes, one is corner binding, which binds the corners of the sheet, and the other is two binding modes, which bind one side of the sheet at two points, which is selected by the user.

The main body control unit 12 controls the image forming device 1, the document reading device 2, and the document feeding device 3 according to the input contents to the input unit 14, and prints the image of the scanned document on a specified number of sheets. , The printed sheet is sequentially sent to the sheet post-processing device 4. In addition, the main body control unit 12 sends sheet information indicating the size and number of sheets, etc., and binding mode information about the binding method specified by the user to the sheet post-processing control unit 13 from the input contents to the input unit 14. Output. On the contrary, the unbinding signal is output from the sheet post-processing control unit 13 to the main body control unit 12.

The sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the post-processing operation performed on the sheet that is image-formed and sent by the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet post-processing control unit 13 is composed of a CPU, and controls the entire operation of the sheet post-processing device 4 by executing a control program stored in the ROM 15. Therefore, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 includes a binding motor M4 that drives the eccentric cam 73 of the crimp binding member 70, a paddle drive motor M1 that drives the rotation of the paddle 65, left and right side shift motors M2 and M3, and paper surface condition detection. A transport drive device 32 including a plurality of drive motors for driving each transport roller pair and discharge roller pair 60 arranged in the device 48, the binding member moving mechanism 49, the unit moving mechanism 69, and the transport paths 53, 54, 55. , The carry-out sensor 59 is connected.

[Binding operation]
The binding operation by the sheet post-processing device 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 determines whether or not the sheet has been unloaded onto the processing tray 61 by the carry-out sensor 59 (step S1). The carry-out sensor 59 turns on when it detects a sheet to be carried out to the discharge port 58, and turns off when the sheet is introduced from the discharge port 58 into the processing tray 61 because the rear end of the sheet is out of the detection area. Therefore, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 determines that the sheet has been unloaded onto the processing tray 61 by switching the unloading sensor 59 from on to off (“YES” in step S1). At this time, the sheets carried out to the processing tray 61 are sent through the first transport path 53 and the second transport path 54 for guiding the sheets from the paper feed tray 52 to the sheet binding processing device 50. It may be sent through.

Then, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the drive of the paddle drive motor M1 to control the rear end matching operation of the sheet discharged to the processing tray 61 (step S2). As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet 30 moves in the direction opposite to the sheet unloading direction from the discharge port 58. As a result, the rear end of the sheet 30 abuts against the rear end regulation plate 62 and is aligned as shown in FIG.

When the alignment of the rear end of the sheet 30 is completed, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the alignment operation in the width direction (step S3). Specifically, the first side regulation plate 63a is moved toward the second side regulation plate 63b. Therefore, one end of the sheet 30 in the width direction is pushed by the first side regulation plate 63a, and the sheet 30 moves toward the second side regulation plate 63b. Then, the other end of the sheet 30 in the width direction comes into contact with the second side regulation plate 63b, so that the sheet 30 is aligned in the width direction as shown in FIG.

The distance at which the sheet post-processing control unit 13 moves the first side regulation plate 63a toward the second side regulation plate 63b is included in the sheet information about the sheet 30 output from the main body control unit 12. Determined according to the sheet size. That is, the seat post-processing control unit 13 moves the first side regulation plate 63a to a position where the distance between the side regulation plates 63a and 63b is slightly shorter than the length of the seat 30 in the width direction.

Subsequently, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 determines whether or not the sheet 30 positioned by aligning the rear end and the width direction on the processing tray 61 is the final sheet. The binding process is performed on a bundle of a large number of sheets, but the sheet post-processing control unit 13 sequentially detects the succeeding sheets and repeatedly turns them on and off, while the sheet post-processing control unit 13 aligns the sheets 30 immediately before. Is not the final sheet (“NO” in step S4), returns to step S1, and repeats the processes after step S2. Therefore, the sheets 30 sequentially sent from the discharge port 58 are accumulated in the processing tray 61.

In the processing in step S4, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 determines that the sheet 30 matched immediately before the unloading sensor 59 is the final sheet if it does not turn on even after a certain period of time has elapsed after the unloading sensor 59 is turned off (step S4). "YES"). Then, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 performs the binding process in step S5.

The binding processing operation in step S5 is executed by the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. In the binding process, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 detects the paper surface condition of the sheet by the paper surface condition detecting device 48 (step S50). At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the binding unit 64 is at the home position position HP of the processing tray 51 and does not face the sheet 30. Therefore, in step S50, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 operates the unit moving mechanism 69 so that the paper surface state detecting device 48 faces a part of the side edge of the sheet 30 as shown by the broken line in FIG. In addition, the binding unit 64 is moved in a direction parallel to one side of the sheet 30. This facing position is outside the range of the default region 30a preset to perform the binding process by the crimp binding member 70. Therefore, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 stores the output value of the paper surface condition detection device 48 at this time as a reference value when later determining the paper surface condition.

Then, when the square binding mode is instructed, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the unit moving mechanism 69 to attach the binding unit 64 to a predetermined end portion of one side of the sheet 30 as shown in FIG. It is stopped at a predetermined position K1 (step S51). At this time, the binding unit 64 swings when the sliding pin 67b enters the branch portion 80a at the stop position K1. As a result, the binding unit 64 is tilted and faces the corners of the sheet 30, so that the crimp binding device 70 is located on the default region 30a for binding. FIG. 12 shows the corners of the sheet 30 when square binding is performed, and the default region 30a in the case of square binding has a triangular shape. The default area 30a is preset at a position that does not overlap with the printed image 30P formed in the center of the sheet 30.

When the binding unit 64 reaches the stop position K1, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 acquires the output value (measured value) or image data of the paper surface state detection device 48 at this time and stores it by the processing of step S51. By comparing with the reference value or the reference image, the paper surface state of the default region 30a is detected (step S52).

In this embodiment, the paper surface condition detecting device 48 is integrally provided with the binding unit 64, and the default area 30a is detected at the stop position K1 of the binding unit 64. For example, the paper surface By configuring the state detection device 48 separately from the binding unit 64 and arranging the paper surface state detection device 48 at a position away from the binding unit 64, the sheet 30 conveyed to the sheet mounting means is moved to the binding position. It is also possible to position the sheet 30 and the binding unit 64 at the binding processing position after detecting the paper surface state of the default area of the sheet 30 during the moving operation.

Further, when the paper surface condition detecting device 48 is provided at a position different from the binding processing position, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the device 48 is transported to the binding position after being detected. In this case, the state of the paper surface is detected for each sheet, or a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of sheets are stacked in a bundle at the detection position, and the paper surface state of the default area a is set each time the sheets are loaded. It may be detected, and in this case, it is also possible to take a configuration in which the state in the loading height direction of the default region 30a is detected when a predetermined number of sheets are loaded.

Next, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 has the above-mentioned problem in the paper surface condition in the default area 30a, and the sheet size is small from the sheet information sent from the main body control unit 12, and the binding area is narrow or the default area 30a. When the distance between the image and the printed image 30P is small, an unbinding signal indicating that the binding process cannot be performed is output to the main body control unit 12 (step S59). As a result, the main body control unit 12 notifies the user that the binding is impossible.

When there is a margin in the binding area (“NO” in step S53), it is determined whether or not the default area 30a can be bound based on the detection result in step S52 (step S54). If there is no problem with the paper surface condition for crimp binding to the default area 30a, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the drive of the binding motor M4 to operate the crimp binding member 70 to bind the default area 30a. (Step S58). Then, the drive of the unit moving mechanism 69 is controlled to return to the home position HP, and the binding process is completed.

On the other hand, in the case where the binding process in the default area 30a is impossible, the binding process for forming the crimping mark PT2 is performed from the default area 30a at a position close to the center direction on the diagonal line of the sheet 30 indicated by the arrow in FIG. It will be. Therefore, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 is, for example, when the sheet is damaged or partially missing in the default region 30a, or when the crimping mark PT1 is already formed as shown in FIG. 11 (“NO” in step S54. ”), It is determined whether or not the crimping mark PT2 formed by the new binding exceeds the inner line of the triangular default region 30a, that is, the line at the bottom of the triangle (step S55).

Then, when the sheet post-processing control unit 13 can hang on a part of the default area 30a and perform the binding process, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 performs the binding operation using a part of the default area 30a (step S56). On the other hand, when the binding process cannot be performed by overlapping a part of the default area 30a, the binding operation is performed in a different new binding area 30b diagonally from the default area 30a toward the center of the sheet (step S57).

Therefore, in the binding operation in step S56, the crimping mark PT2 is crimped at a position farther away from the printed image 30P formed in the center of the sheet 30. Then, in the process of step S56 or step S57, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the binding member moving mechanism 49, which is a moving means of the crimp binding member 70 for shifting the binding position of the sheet 30, and crimps. The binding member 70 is moved diagonally on the sheet 30, and then the binding motor M4 is controlled to drive the binding member 70 to perform binding. Then, the drive of the unit moving mechanism 69 is controlled to return to the home position HP, and the binding process is completed. Here, returning to the description in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 controls the drive of the discharge motor M5 to transfer the sheet 30 bound by the processing tray 61 to the second paper discharge tray 57. Discharge (step S6).

When shifting the binding position, in the above example, the crimp binding member 70 is moved by the binding member moving mechanism 49, but the position of the sheet 30 may be changed with respect to the crimp binding member 70. As shown in FIG. 12A, the position of the seat 30 is changed in the XY-axis directions of the seat 30 by changing the regulation positions of both the first and second side regulation plates 63a and 63b and the rear end regulation plate 62. A method of adjusting the position in FIG. 12 (b), a method of changing the regulated position by the rear end regulating plate 62 and adjusting in the Y-axis direction of the seat 30, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), as shown in FIG. 12 (c). Any of the methods of changing the regulation position by the first and second side regulation plates 63a and 63b and adjusting in the X-axis direction of the seat 30 can be adopted. Therefore, when the sheet is moved to shift the binding position, the first and second side regulation plates 63a and 63b and the rear end regulation plate 62 serve as the binding position changing means.

The above is the binding process in the square binding mode, but in the case of two-place binding, the binding unit 64 located at the home position HP is moved in a direction parallel to one side of the sheet 30 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the sheet 30 is set to be bound at two binding positions Q1 and Q2. At this time, the regions facing the crimp binding member 70 of the binding unit 64 at the binding positions Q1 and Q2 of the sheet 30 are set to the default regions 30a1 and 30a2.

When the sheet post-processing control unit 13 in the two-place binding mode controls the unit moving mechanism 69 by the processing in step S51 to move the binding unit 64 to the binding position Q1, the binding position is processed by the next step S52. The paper surface state of the default area 30a1 of the sheet 30 in Q1 is detected. Then, when binding in the default area 30a1 cannot be performed, either the sheet 30 or the crimp binding member 70 is moved in the direction of the arrow to change the relative position between the sheet 30 and the crimp binding member 70, and the sheet 30 is changed. Control is performed so that the binding operation is performed in the new binding area 30b1 that exceeds the default area 30a1 toward the center direction of.

When the binding operation at the binding position Q1 is completed, the sheet post-processing control unit 13 moves the unit moving mechanism 69 to the binding position Q2 and controls the binding operation to be performed in the new binding area 30b2 at the binding position Q2. ..

The sheet binding processing device 50 described above cannot bind by detecting the state of the paper surface of the sheet in the default area where the binding position is predetermined by the paper surface condition detecting device 48 when performing the crimp binding processing operation. If it is determined, crimping is performed at a position near the center of the sheet 30 other than the default area. However, if the crimping position instead of shifting overlaps with the printed portion of the sheet, the crimping binding operation is stopped. As a result, especially when a crimping mark is formed in the default region, by further crimping on the crimping mark, the default region portion of the sheet 30 may be stretched and damaged by re-crimping. Can be prevented.

30 Sheet 48 Paper surface condition detection device (detection means)
49 Binding member moving mechanism (moving means)
50 Sheet binding processing device 52 Paper feed tray 61 Processing tray (mounting means)
62 Rear end regulation plate (matching means, transportation means)
63a, 63b Side regulation plate (matching means, transportation means)
70 Crimping binding member 71 Lower tooth 72 Upper tooth

Claims (8)

A crimp binding member that performs binding processing by sandwiching the sheet between the upper and lower teeth that mesh with each other and applying pressure.
A detection means for detecting whether or not there is a crimping mark that has already been crimped and bound in a predetermined area to be bound by the crimping binding member of the sheet.
A control means for controlling the crimp binding member is provided.
The control means is a sheet binding processing apparatus , characterized in that, when the crimping mark is detected in the predetermined area by the detecting means, the binding process in the predetermined area is prohibited. Moving means for relatively different from the binding position of the crimping binding members for sheet over preparative, further comprising,
When the detecting means detects that the crimping mark is present in the predetermined region , the control means sets the binding position of the crimp binding member with respect to the sheet so that the moving means binds the crimping mark at a position different from the predetermined region. The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet binding processing apparatus is controlled so as to be different. The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means moves the moving means to a position close to the center of the sheet, which is different from the predetermined area. The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the moving means moves the crimp binding member. Placement means for placing the sheet and
It is provided with a matching means for matching the sheets placed on the above-described placing means.
The sheet binding processing device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the moving means is composed of the matching means. The control means according to any one of claims 2 to 5, which prohibits the binding process when the area of the position different from the predetermined area is less than the predetermined area as a result of detection by the detection means. The described sheet binding processing device. A paper tray in which sheets are set manually from the outside,
E Bei and a sheet binding apparatus which performs the binding processing on the sheet carried out of the paper feed tray,
The sheet binding processing apparatus is a sheet post-processing apparatus comprising the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 6. An image forming device that sequentially prints images on sheets and carries them out,
It consists of a sheet post-processing device that performs post-processing on the sheet carried out from the image forming device.
The image forming system, wherein the sheet post-processing apparatus includes the sheet binding processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images