JP7098480B2 - Sheet bundle ejection device and bookbinding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet bundle discharging device and a bookbinding device that receive and discharge a booklet-shaped sheet bundle.

Conventionally, a sheet bundle discharging device and a bookbinding device provided with a discharging unit for storing a plurality of sheet bundles bound by binding a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed are known (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-305822

Conventionally, a sheet bundle discharging device or a bookbinding device equipped with a discharging unit is filled with a booklet-shaped sheet bundle that is sequentially discharged from a sheet processing unit or a bookbinding unit, or the inside of the discharging unit is filled up or during bookbinding or the like. When the bookbinding operation is stopped due to a jam or the like for some reason, information such as a full sheet or jam is displayed on the display panel provided in the main body of the device and an alarm is issued. Then, when the user confirms the information and the warning and performs the release operation, the ejection unit is pulled out, and the sheet in which the ejection is abnormal can be taken out. In this way, when a sheet ejection abnormality occurs, the user presses a switch or a button for releasing the ejection unit, so that the ejection unit pops out in the forward direction and ejects a bundle of sheets that has not been ejected. Also, in the case of jam, the discharge unit can be opened after the sheets or sheet bundles remaining in the device are transferred to the discharge unit, so the discharge unit can be released immediately after receiving the jam alarm. However, it does not open until the jammed sheet or bundle of sheets is transferred to the discharge unit. For this reason, there is a problem that there is a time lag from the release operation of the discharge unit by the user to the actual release.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when an abnormality in discharging jam or the like occurs in the apparatus, the holding of the discharging unit from which the sheet bundle is discharged can be automatically released, so that the sheet bundle such as jam can be quickly removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet bundle discharging device and a bookbinding device capable of capable.

In order to solve the above problems, the sheet bundle discharging device of the present invention includes a discharging unit having a discharging means for discharging the sheet bundle to the outside of the device, and a holding means for holding the discharging unit at an operating position where the discharging means operates. The release means includes a release means for releasing the holding of the discharge unit by the holding means, and a detection means for detecting the discharge abnormality of the sheet bundle in the discharge means, and the release means detects the discharge abnormality by the detection means. At that time, the holding of the discharge unit held by the holding means is automatically released.

Further, the bookbinding device of the present invention is a bookbinding device including a bookbinding unit that binds a booklet from a plurality of sheets and a discharge unit that discharges the booklet bound by the bookbinding unit to the outside of the device. A discharge unit having a discharge means for discharging and being provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the discharge unit to the outside of the device, a holding means for holding the discharge unit in an operating position where the booklet can be discharged, and the discharge unit by the holding means. A release means for releasing the holding of the bookbinding unit and a detection means for detecting an abnormality in the bookbinding operation in the bookbinding unit are provided. After being transported, the holding of the discharging unit by the holding means is automatically released.

According to the sheet bundle discharging device of the present invention, when a discharging abnormality occurs due to jam or the like, the holding of the discharging unit held by the holding means is automatically released, so that the user can release the error or release the discharging unit. No operation is required, and the time until the normal discharge operation is restarted can be shortened.

According to the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention, when a jam or the like occurs in the bookbinding section, the holding of the discharging unit held by the holding means is automatically released, so that the user can release an error or release the discharging unit. Is unnecessary, and the time until the normal bookbinding operation is restarted can be shortened.

It is sectional drawing schematic along the sheet transport direction of an image formation system. It is sectional drawing which follows the sheet transport direction of a bookbinding apparatus. It is a schematic diagram of the sheet bundle discharge device, and is the figure which stands by at the position where the back support receives the sheet bundle. It is M arrow view of FIG. In the sheet bundle discharging device of FIG. 3, the back support receives the sheet bundle at the receiving position. It is sectional drawing about the back support of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the backrest of the sheet bundle discharging device of FIG. 5 has started to rotate counterclockwise to discharge the sheet bundle. It is a peripheral enlarged view of the back support of FIG. It is a figure of the state that the back support rotates further to the left than the state of FIG. 7, and the pushing member cooperates with the back support to push the sheet bundle in the discharge direction (arrow L direction). It is the figure which the back support rotates further to the left than the state of FIG. 9, and the push member cooperates with the back support, further pushes a sheet bundle in a discharge direction, and tilts a sheet bundle onto a transport belt. It is a perspective view of the state which the conveyor belt feeds out a bundle of sheets from the state of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the bookbinding operation of a bookbinding apparatus. It is a control block diagram of an image formation system. It is sectional drawing which shows the holding structure of the sheet bundle discharge part. It is a perspective view of the state which pulled out the sheet bundle discharge part. It is a perspective view which shows the drawer structure of the sheet bundle discharge part. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure at the time of discharge abnormality of a sheet bundle. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the discharge of a sheet bundle is not detected. It is explanatory drawing which shows the discharge state of the sheet bundle at the time of discharge abnormality.

Hereinafter, an image forming system including a bookbinding device having a sheet bundle discharging device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming system D along the sheet transport direction. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bookbinding unit (bookbinding device) B along the sheet transport direction.

The image forming system D includes an image forming device A that sequentially forms a toner image on a sheet, a bookbinding device B arranged on the downstream side of the image forming device A, and a post-processing device arranged on the downstream side of the bookbinding device B. It is composed of C and so on. In the image forming system D, the sheet formed by the image forming apparatus A is bound by the bookbinding apparatus B. Further, in the image forming system D, for a sheet that is not bound, the sheet is passed through the binding device B, post-processed by the post-processing device C, and discharged.

The image forming apparatus A is adapted to form an image on the sheet. The image forming apparatus A has various structures such as a copying machine, a printer, and a printing machine. The image forming apparatus A of the present embodiment is a copying machine that forms a toner image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus A includes a sheet supply unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet discharging unit 4, an image forming apparatus control unit 101, and the like in the apparatus main body 1. In the sheet supply unit 2, a plurality of cassettes 5 according to the sheet size are arranged in the vertical direction. The sheet supply unit 2 feeds out a sheet of the size instructed by the image forming apparatus control unit 101 to the feeding path 6. A resist roller pair 7 is provided in the feed path 6. After aligning the tips of the sheets, the resist roller pair 7 feeds the sheets to the image forming unit 3 on the downstream side at a predetermined timing.

The image forming unit 3 is provided with an electrostatic drum 10. A print head 9, a developing device 11, a transfer charger 12, and the like are arranged around the electrostatic drum 10. The print head 9 is composed of, for example, a laser emitter or the like, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 10. The electrostatic latent image is toner-developed by the developer 11, becomes a toner image, and is transferred to the sheet by the transfer charger 12. The sheet is fixed with a toner image by the fixing device 13 and sent to the sheet discharging path 17. A seat discharge port 14 is formed in the seat discharge unit 4, and a seat discharge roller pair 15 is arranged. The circulation path 16 turns the sheet from the sheet discharge path 17 upside down in the switchback path, and then guides the sheet to the resist roller pair 7 again. A toner image is formed on the back surface of the sheet by the image forming unit 3. The sheet on which the toner image is formed on one side or both sides is fed from the sheet discharge port 14 to the bookbinding device B by the sheet discharge roller pair 15.

The scanner unit 20 provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 is designed to optically read the image of the original. As is generally known, the scanner unit 20 includes a platen glass 23 on which a document is placed by a user, a carriage 21 that optically reads the document along the platen glass 23, and an optical image from the carriage 21. It is composed of an optical reading means (for example, a CCD device) 22 or the like for photoelectric conversion. Further, the scanner unit 20 has a document feeding device 25 at the upper part, which automatically feeds the document to the platen glass 23.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bookbinding device B along the sheet transport direction. The bookbinding device B is arranged so as to be connected to the image forming device A.

In the following description, the sheet that becomes the cover of the sheet bundle is the "cover", the sheet that is covered by the cover is the "middle sheet", the bundle of the middle sheets is the "middle sheet bundle", and the middle sheet bundle that is covered by the cover. Is referred to as a "sheet bundle with a cover", and a trimmed sheet bundle with a cover is referred to as a "booklet". In addition, these sheet bundles may be simply referred to as a sheet bundle.

The bookbinding unit (bookbinding device) B includes a casing 30, an integrated unit 40 that is provided in the casing 30 and collects and aligns the middle sheets on which the toner image is formed in a bundle shape, and the middle sheet from the collecting unit 40. An adhesive application part 55 that applies an adhesive to the bundle, a cover binding part 60 that binds the cover to the middle sheet bundle to which the adhesive is applied, and a bundle posture deflection part that changes the direction of the cover-bound sheet bundle. 64, a cutting unit 65 for trimming and cutting the edge of a sheet bundle whose orientation has been changed, and a sheet bundle discharging device K for discharging a booklet formed by trimming and cutting.

In FIG. 2, the sheet bundle discharging device K is arranged below the cutting position G, and the cutting waste collecting unit K1 and the booklet-shaped sheet bundle bound by the bookbinding device B are bound outside the sheet bundle discharging device K (in FIG. 2). It is composed of a discharge unit (sheet bundle discharge unit) K2 having a discharge means for discharging to (outside the device).

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the sheet bundle discharging device K, and is a diagram in which the back support 81 stands by at a position where the booklet is received. FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line M of FIG. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat bundle discharge unit K2 is arranged below (downstream) the sheet bundle discharge roller pair 66 and the discharge guide 71. The sheet bundle discharge unit K2 includes a push member 73, a slope 72, a back support 81, a sheet bundle feed unit 90, a back support home position sensor SHP, a slope sensor SS, a push member home position sensor STH, a push position detection sensor STT, and the like. It is equipped with a discharge means. Further, a holding means for holding the discharging unit at an operating position in which the discharging means is operated, a releasing means for releasing the holding of the discharging unit by the holding means, and a detecting means for detecting a discharge abnormality of a sheet bundle in the discharging means. And have.

A push member 73 is provided on the booklet carry-in side of the sheet bundle discharge device K. The push member 73 is configured to be reciprocally movable in a direction (arrows L and R directions) intersecting the direction in which the booklet falls by the push member drive unit 74. The push member drive unit 74 includes a push member motor MP and a pulley 74a provided on the upper portion of the cutting waste collection container 68, a belt 74b bridged between the push member motor MP and the pulley 74a, a pulley 74a, and a gear mechanism (not shown). ), And a rack 74d provided on the pushing member 73 along the longitudinal direction of the pushing member 73 and meshing with the pinion 74c. The push member drive unit 74 transmits the rotational force of the push member motor MP to the pinion 74c via the belt 74b and the pulley 74a, and reciprocates the push member 73 in the arrow L and R directions integrally with the rack 74d. It is designed to let you. The pushing member 73 and the pushing member driving unit 74 constitute a tilting means.

FIG. 5 is a diagram in which the back support 81 receives the booklet P4 at the receiving position of the booklet P4 in the sheet bundle discharging device K of FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the back support 81 of FIG. In FIGS. 9 and 6, the back support 81 having an L-shaped cross section reciprocates in the frame 80 of the sheet bundle discharging portion K2 in the same direction as the moving direction of the pushing member 73 (arrow CW direction, arrow CCW direction). It is provided as follows. The back support 81 as the receiving means receives the back portion P4b as the downstream end portion of the conveyed booklet P4 in the transport direction, rotates, and tilts the booklet P4 onto the transport belt 92. The conveyor belt 92 is a circulating endless belt. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the back support 81 has a support shaft 83 projecting from the upstream end of the booklet P4 in the transport direction, and a guide pin 84 projecting from the downstream end of the booklet P4 in the transport direction. The back support 81 is adapted to rotate in the directions of the arrows CW and CCW because the support shaft 83 is rotatably supported by the frame 80. The back support (reception means) 81 includes a back support bottom surface 81c for receiving the back portion P4b of the booklet P4, a back support upper guide (side surface) 81a adjacent to the back support bottom surface 81c and parallel to each other, and a back support lower guide 81b (side surface). ) And a long member whose cross section is formed in a "U" shape. The back support upper guide 81a and the back support lower guide 81b are parallel to each other and are substantially perpendicular to the back support bottom plate 18c.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the back support 81 of the sheet bundle discharging device K of FIG. 5 has started to rotate in the CCW direction in order to discharge the booklet P4. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the back support 81 of FIG. In FIGS. 7 and 8, a guide pin 84 is projected from the downstream end of the back support 81 in the sheet bundle transport direction (arrow L direction). The guide pin 84 is engaged with the guide hole 82a formed in the guide plate 82 provided on the frame 80. The guide hole 82a is formed as an arcuate elongated hole, and its center is configured to be aligned with the support shaft 83. The back support 81 rotates about the support shaft 83, and the guide pin 84 also rotates around the same position. As shown in FIG. 11, the back support 81 discharges the booklet P4 from the receiving position of the booklet P4 detected by the back support home position sensor SHP by the drive transmission means 85 having the pulse motor (discharge motor) MT. Rotate to.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a guide plate 82 for guiding the rotation of the back support 81 is provided at the other end facing the one end in the longitudinal direction of the back support 81 supported by the support shaft 83. ing. The guide plate 82 has an arc-shaped guide hole 82a, and is formed in an L-shaped cross section similar to the cross-sectional shape of the back support 81. A guide pin 84 projecting from one end on the downstream side of the back support 81 is engaged with the guide hole 82a. The back edge 82ba of the notch 82b is formed on the upstream side in the transport direction (arrow L direction) from the flat surface 81ca of the back support bottom surface 81c on which the back support 81 receives the back portion P4b of the booklet P4.

The discharge motor MT is a drive source for circulating the transport belt 92, which will be described later, in addition to rotating the back support 81. The transport belt 92 and the back support 81 are each connected to the discharge motor MT via a one-way clutch (not shown). The conveyor belt 92 is driven by the reverse rotation of the discharge motor MT, and the backrest 81 is connected to a crank mechanism (not shown) that repeats the swing in the CW direction and the CCW direction in FIG. 10 by the forward rotation of the discharge motor MT.

Further, as an alternative to the one-way clutch, a clutch (not shown) is provided between the discharge motor MT and the backrest 81 and between the discharge motor MT and the conveyor belt 92 to rotate the discharge motor MT. , May be configured to selectively transmit to each of the back support 81 and the transport belt 92.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, a slope 72 as a guiding means is arranged between the cutting waste collection container 68 and the back support 81. The slope 72 is formed with a downward slope on the back support 81 side. The slope 72 and the pushing member 73 are formed at intervals in a comb-teeth shape so as not to interfere with each other when the pushing member 73 moves.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the transport belt 92 sends the booklet P4 out of the bookbinding device. In FIGS. 3 and 11, a sheet bundle feeding portion 90 is provided on the left side of the back support 81. The sheet bundle feeding unit 90 includes a conveyor stay 91, a conveyor belt 92, and the like. The conveyor belt 92 of the sheet bundle feeding unit 90 is supported by the conveyor stay 91 and circulates in the direction of arrow Q. The sheet bundle feeding portion 90 is arranged slightly lower on the back support 81 side. The transport belt 92 is designed to discharge the booklet loaded by the back support 81 to the outside of the machine.

The guide plate 82 is formed in an L shape. With this configuration, after rotating the back support 81 to the sheet bundle discharge position shown in FIG. 11, when the booklet P4 is discharged by the transport belt 92, the booklet P4 is discharged to the outside of the bookbinding device while using the back support 81 as a guide. can do.

Further, the guide plate 82 and the back support 81 are configured so that the booklet P4 can pass through. That is, the guide plate 82 is formed with a notch 82b at a portion through which the booklet P4 passes, and the downstream end portion of the back support 81 in the sheet bundle transport direction is formed in an open shape without providing an end face. There is. By adopting this configuration, the folded booklet can be conveyed to the arrow Q and discharged without moving in the direction of the arrow L in FIG.

Next, the drawer mechanism of the discharge unit (sheet bundle discharge unit) K2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 14, the sheet bundle discharging unit (discharging unit) K2 normally discharges the bound booklet or the like in a state of being held (locked) in the sheet bundle discharging device (discharging device) K by the holding means. Sequentially discharge toward the outside of the device K. On the other hand, when an error such as jam occurs for some reason during the bookbinding operation, the lock of the discharge unit K2 is automatically released at the same time as the error notification.

As shown in FIG. 14, the drawer mechanism extends in the depth direction of the bottom surface of the discharge device K, and a pair of slide rails 110 in which the discharge portion K2 is slidably supported and the discharge mechanism K2 are slidably supported. A holding means for holding the portion K2 in the discharging device K and a releasing means for releasing the holding means are provided. When the discharge device K of the present invention detects an error such as a jam, the discharge unit K2 held (locked) by the holding means is automatically unlocked by the releasing means, so that the discharging device K discharges as shown in FIG. The portion K2 protrudes from the discharge device K and can be pulled out. As a result, the user can remove the jammed booklet or the like without performing any operation when the error of the ejection abnormality is detected.

As shown in FIG. 16, the holding means is provided on the frame 80 and a lock bar 111a having an engaging portion 111b fixed to the inside of the discharging device K and engaging with one end of the frame 80 of the discharging unit K2. , The engaged portion 111c to which the engaging portion 111b is engaged is provided. Further, the release means is provided on the solenoid 112 that swings the lock bar 111a from the holding position where the engaging portion 111b is engaged with the engaged portion 111c, and on the drawer connector 113 side that is the electrical connection portion. A force member (connecting compression spring) 114 is provided.

With the above configuration, during normal operation of the bookbinding device B and the discharge device K, the discharge unit K2 is locked so as not to be pulled out from the discharge device K by the holding means, and when an error such as a jam is detected, the solenoid 112 Operates, and the lock bar 111a swings to the unlocked side. Then, the discharge portion K2 that receives the reaction force of the connection compression spring 114 protrudes to the front side of the discharge device K while sliding along the pair of slide rails 110. The connection compression spring 114 originally ensures that the drawer connector 113 is joined, but in the present embodiment, it is used as a reaction force for popping out the discharge portion K2. It should be noted that the connection compression spring 114 may not be used, and a dedicated spring member may be used for the releasing means.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the bookbinding operation of the bookbinding device B of the present embodiment. The bookbinding device control unit 102 shown in FIG. 13 controls the operation of the bookbinding device B based on this flowchart. At this time, the bookbinding device control unit 102 exchanges information necessary for bookbinding with the image forming device control unit 101 and the post-processing device control unit 103.

The processes S101 to S122 of FIG. 12 will be described. In FIGS. 4 and 12, the middle sheet bundle (S101) accumulated in the accumulating portion 40 becomes a sheet bundle with a cover by the adhesive application portion 55 and the cover binding portion 60 (S102, S103), and is trimmed and cut by the cutting portion 65. It becomes a booklet (S104). The sheet bundle discharge roller pair 66 starts the operation of discharging the booklet to the sheet bundle discharge unit K2 of the sheet bundle discharge device K (S105). As shown in FIG. 7, when receiving the booklet, the sheet bundle discharging unit K2 needs to rotate the back support 81 to the receiving position of the booklet P4. Therefore, the bookbinding device control unit 102 rotates the discharge motor MT to rotate the back support 81 to the right (FIG. 10, CW direction) (S106). The bookbinding device control unit 102 stops the discharge motor MT at the receiving position where the backrest 81 is detected by the backrest home position sensor SHP (FIG. 4) (YES in S107).

Then, when the back support 81 is determined to be in the home position (reception position) by the back support home position sensor SHP, the booklet from the sheet bundle discharge roller pair 66 guides the reception / discharge guide 71 (FIG. 3) and the slope 72. Then, slide into the backrest 81. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the back support 81 receives the back portion P4b of the booklet P4 (S108). The bookbinding device control unit 102 determines whether or not the booklet has been delivered to the back support 81 by the detection operation of the slope sensor SS shown in FIG. 4, and when the booklet is delivered to the back support 81 (YES in S109), the booklet is ejected. The motor MT is reversed to rotate the back support 81 counterclockwise in the CCW direction of FIG. 8 (S110). When the bookbinding device control unit 102 detects that the backrest 81 has rotated counterclockwise to a predetermined angle based on the pulse generated by the discharge motor MT (YES in S111), the bookbinding device control unit 102 rotates the push member motor MP (FIG. 3). Then, the pushing member 73 is started to move in the left direction (L direction) of FIG. That is, the push member 73 starts operating after the start of rotation of the back support 81. The push member 73 is located on the upstream side of the back support 81. The pushing member 73 starts operation and cooperates with the backrest 81 to push the booklet from behind in the direction of tilting the booklet onto the transport belt 92, and pushes the position upstream of the backrest 81 (S112). FIG. 9 shows this state. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the back support 81 is further rotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 5, and the push member 73 cooperates with the back support 81 to push the booklet P4 in the discharge direction (arrow L direction). Is.

In FIG. 10, the back support 81 is further rotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. 9, and the push member 73 cooperates with the back support 81 to further push the booklet P4 in the discharge direction, thereby carrying the booklet P4 to the transport belt 92. It is a figure tilted up. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the back support 81 of FIG. The bookbinding device control unit 102 detects that the back support 81 has rotated the booklet counterclockwise with respect to the transport belt 92 to the discharge position based on the pulse generated by the discharge motor MT, and the push member 73 has the push position detection sensor STT. When it is detected that the motor has moved to the final push position (YES in S113), the rotation of the discharge motor MT and the push member motor MP is stopped (S114). When the bookbinding device control unit 102 detects that the booklet is loaded on the transport belt 92 after the rotation of the discharge motor MT and the push member motor MP is stopped by the booklet loading detection sensor 93S (FIG. 11) (in S115). YES), the discharge motor MT is rotated to circulate the transport belt 92 (S116). The booklet loading detection sensor 93S is provided on the frame 80 near the transport belt 92 in FIG.

The circulation of the transport belt 92 may be started at a timing when a predetermined time has elapsed after the rotation of the push member motor MP is stopped without providing the booklet load detection sensor 93S.

The position where the pushing member 73 pushes the booklet, that is, the position where the pushing member 73 protrudes toward the booklet, includes the lower part from the center in the height direction of the booklet, and is approximately equidistant from the center in the width direction of the booklet P4. It is preferable to have a plurality of distributed positions. By setting this position, it is possible to stabilize the behavior when the booklet P4 falls down and reduce the variation in the position of the booklet P4 on the transport belt 92.

The bookbinding device control unit 102 detects the discharge abnormality of the booklet P4 based on the detection means (booklet discharge detection sensor) 94S (FIGS. 11 and 18) for detecting the discharge abnormality of the booklet P4 and the detection result of the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S. It is provided with a transmission means for emitting a notification signal to be notified. The booklet discharge detection sensor 94S is a booklet when the booklet P4 delivered from the back support 81 onto the transport belt 92 does not detect the booklet P4 within a certain period of time from the drive of the transport belt 92, or in a state where the booklet P4 is continued for a predetermined time. When P4 is detected, it is regarded as an discharge abnormality (error).

In this way, when the transport belt 92 is circulated and the booklet is detected by the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S, it is determined that the booklet has begun to be discharged (YES in S117), and the booklet is determined by the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S. When is no longer detected (YES in S118), it is determined that the booklet is conveyed in the direction of arrow Q and discharged to the outside of the sheet bundle discharging unit K2. The booklet discharge detection sensor 94S is provided on the frame 80 near the end of the conveyor belt 92 in FIG. When the booklet is ejected, the bookbinding device control unit 102 stops the conveyor belt 92, returns the back support 81 to the receiving position by the ejection motor MT, and pushes the pushing member 73 to the pushing member home position sensor STH by the pushing member motor MP. Return to the detected receiving position. If there is a next booklet (YES in S120), the bookbinding device control unit 102 returns to the process S106, repeats the same control until the booklet runs out, and when the booklet runs out (NO in S120), a series of booklets. End emission control.

In the bookbinding device control unit 102, when the booklet is not detected by the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S in the process S117 (NO in S117), or when the booklet is still detected by the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S in the process S118 (in S118). NO), assuming that the booklet is not loaded in the predetermined position by the transfer belt 92, an error is displayed on the operation panel 18 (S121) and the transfer belt 92 is stopped (S122) in order to prevent the booklet from being jammed. In the present embodiment, when the transmission means emits a notification signal for notifying the discharge abnormality of the booklet P4, at the same time, the bookbinding device control unit 102 is held (locked) by the holding means at an operating position where the booklet P4 can be discharged. ) Is automatically released by the release means. As a result, the user does not need to manually forcibly discharge the jam when a jam or the like occurs. When the user pushes the discharge unit K2 back into the discharge device K after taking out the jammed booklet or the like, it is detected by the device drawer detection unit 115 and the operation of the bookbinding device B is restarted.

In the processing S118 to S122, when the booklet P4 is loaded on the sheet bundle feeding unit 90 (FIG. 11), the bookbinding device control unit 102 (FIG. 13) operates the discharge motor MT to move the transport belt 92 into the booklet. Circulate in the discharge direction (arrow Q direction). The transport belt 92 transports the booklet in the direction of arrow Q and discharges it to the outside of the machine on the front side of the bookbinding device B. That is, it is discharged to the front side of the device.

The circulation start timing of the transport belt 92 is set after the booklet is loaded on the transport belt 92. Whether or not the booklet is discharged to the outside of the machine is detected by the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S. When the booklet is discharged to the outside of the machine, the bookbinding device control unit 102 (FIG. 13) rotates the discharge motor MT in the normal direction and reverses the push member motor MP to return the back support 81 to the receiving position of the booklet P4. , The pushing member 73 is returned to the receiving position. As a result, a series of bookbinding operations by the bookbinding device B is completed. Next, if there is a booklet to be conveyed, the bookbinding device B repeats the above operation to sequentially discharge the booklet to the outside.

Next, processing when an error occurs due to a malfunction of the device or an abnormality in ejecting the booklet will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the presence or absence of an error is detected (S201), and it is determined whether or not this error is caused by the discharge abnormality of the discharge unit K2 (S202). As a result, if the cause of the error is due to the discharge unit K2, the process proceeds to process A, the discharge motor MT is stopped (S203) to stop the discharge of the booklet, and the error is notified on the operation panel. (S204). Further, immediately after notifying the error, the release means shown in FIG. 16 automatically operates to pop out the discharge unit K2 to the front side so that the discharge unit K2 can be pulled out (FIG. 15, S205). The user pulls out the discharge unit K2 (S206), and removes the booklet P4 that has become a discharge defect and remains retained on the transport belt 92 (S207). After removing the booklet P4, the discharge unit K2 is pushed back into the discharge device K and held (locked) by the drawer mechanism (S208). When it is detected that the device withdrawal detection unit 115 has been returned to the normal operation position by this lock, the bookbinding operation by the bookbinding device B is restarted (S209).

On the other hand, when the error is not caused by the discharge part K2, that is, a system failure or a malfunction occurs in any of the adhesive application part 55, the cover binding part 60, the bundle posture deflection part 64, and the cutting part 65. In that case, it is determined that normal operation cannot be performed. When a system failure or malfunction occurs in any of the adhesive application section 55, the cover binding section 60, the bundle posture deflection section 64, and the cutting section 65, the process proceeds to process B and the bookbinding operation is in progress. The booklet P4 is sent to the discharge unit K2 as it is, received by the back cover 81 (S210), and then delivered to the transport belt 92 (S211). When the delivery to the transport belt 92 is detected, an error is notified on the operation panel (S204), and as shown in FIG. 15, the discharge unit K2 pops out to the front side and can be pulled out (S205). After that, the user performs the operations of (S206) to (S209).

The types of discharge abnormalities include the case where the booklet does not reach the predetermined position even after the predetermined time (booklet undelivered jam) and the case where the booklet remains at the booklet detection position even after the predetermined time (booklet retention jam). Is assumed.

The booklet undelivered jam is an error when the booklet loading detection sensor 93S does not detect the booklet P4 within a predetermined time from the time when the backrest 81 stops at the delivery position. The predetermined time detected by this error is measured by the counter of the control unit, and is set to twice the time for moving from the receiving position to the delivery position of the backrest 81. Further, if the booklet detection sensor 94S is not turned on within a predetermined time from the start of rotation of the conveyor belt 92, an undeliverable error occurs. The predetermined time detected by this error is measured by counting the drive pulse of the discharge motor MT. This measurement is set to the number of drive pulses of the discharge motor MT corresponding to three times the distance between the downstream end of the smallest size booklet in the transport direction and the position of the booklet detection sensor 94S.

The booklet retention jam is an error when the booklet detection sensor 94S is in the ON state for a predetermined time or longer after the booklet detection sensor 94S detects the booklet P4. The predetermined time detected by this error is measured by counting the drive pulse of the discharge motor MT. This measurement is performed by counting the number of drive pulses corresponding to a distance three times the length (height) of the back of the maximum size booklet. When any of the above errors is detected, the discharge motor MT is stopped.

FIG. 18A shows a state in which the booklet P4 is normally placed on the transport belt 92 from the backrest 81, and FIG. 18B shows the booklet P4 from the backrest 81 on the transport belt 92. It shows a state in which the back support 81 is displaced from the back support 81 in the L direction when it is placed. In FIG. 18B, since the booklet discharge detection sensor 94S cannot detect the processing S117, an discharge abnormality occurs. FIG. 19 is an example of a case where an error is detected in the process S118 because the container is not normally delivered to an external conveyor or the like and stays in the vicinity of the transport port 116.

In this way, when a malfunction occurs in each processing unit or a transport abnormality occurs in the discharge unit, the discharge unit provided in the sheet bundle discharge device or the bookbinding device can be automatically released, so that the user can release the device. No operation is required, and the time required for normal discharge operation can be shortened.

B Bookbinding device (bookbinding department)
K Sheet bundle discharge device K1 Cutting waste collection part K2 Sheet bundle discharge part MT Discharge motor SS Slope sensor STH Push member Home position sensor STT Push position detection sensor SHP Back support Home position sensor P4 Booklet (sheet bundle)
P4b Back 72 Slope 73 Push member 74 Push member Drive 80 Frame 81 Back support 81a Back support upper guide 81b Back support bottom guide 81c Back support bottom 82 Guide plate 82a Guide hole 82b Notch 83 Support shaft 84 Guide pin 85 Drive transmission means 90 Sheet bundle delivery unit 91 Conveyor stay 92 Conveyor belt (conveyor means)
94S Booklet detection sensor 110 Slide rail 111a Lock bar 111b Engagement part 111c Engagement part 112 Solenoid 113 Drawer connector 114 Compression spring 115 Device drawer detection part 116 Conveyance port

Claims (6)

A discharge unit having a discharge means for discharging the sheet bundle to the outside of the device, a holding means for holding the discharge unit at an operating position where the discharge means operates, and a releasing means for releasing the holding of the discharge unit by the holding means. , The discharging means includes a detecting means for detecting an abnormality in discharging a bundle of sheets.
The release means is a sheet bundle discharge device that automatically releases the holding of the discharge unit held by the holding means when a discharge abnormality is detected by the detection means. A transmission unit that emits a notification signal for notifying an discharge abnormality is provided based on the detection result of the detection means, and after the notification signal is emitted, the release means automatically holds the discharge unit held by the holding means. The sheet bundle discharging device according to claim 1, which is released in. The detection means has a detection sensor for detecting a sheet bundle discharged to the discharge unit, and the detection sensor does not detect the sheet bundle within a certain period of time after the discharge means is operated, or the detection sensor. The sheet bundle discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle discharging device determines that the sheet bundle is abnormally discharged when the sheet bundle is continuously detected for a predetermined time. An urging member for urging the discharge unit from the operating position held by the holding means toward the outside of the device is provided.
The sheet bundle discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the holding of the discharging unit held by the holding means is automatically released, and the discharging unit is pulled out of the device by the urging force of the urging member. The discharge unit is provided with a backrest that receives the back of the sheet bundle and rotates in a predetermined direction with the back of the sheet bundle as a fulcrum, and conveys and discharges the sheet bundle rotated by the backrest in a predetermined direction. The sheet bundle discharging device according to claim 1. In a bookbinding device including a bookbinding unit that binds a booklet from a plurality of sheets and a discharge unit that discharges the booklet bound by the bookbinding unit to the outside of the device.
A discharge unit having a discharge means for discharging the booklet and being provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the discharge unit to the outside of the device.
A holding means for holding the discharge unit in an operating position where the booklet can be discharged,
A release means for releasing the holding of the discharge unit by the holding means, and a release means.
A detection means for detecting an abnormality in the bookbinding operation in the bookbinding unit is provided.
The release means is a bookbinding device that automatically releases the holding of the discharge unit by the holding means after the booklet of the bookbinding unit is conveyed to the discharge unit based on the detection result of the detection means.

Images