JPH06144692A - Twofold envelope preparing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent useless treatment by stopping twofold envelope preparing action in the case of judging all the documents being fed longitudinally in a device for folding cover recording paper after image formation in two and enclosing normal recording paper in the cover recording paper after opening and storing the cover recording paper. CONSTITUTION:Cover recording paper conveyed in from a receiving port 9 from the copying machine side is first conveyed onto the path 7a side by folding rollers 13a, 13b and position-regulated by a stop roller 17. In the flexure generated state, the middle part of the cover recording paper is held between the folding rollers 13b, 13c so as to be folded in two, and the twofold cover recording paper is led to the path 7b side and discharged successively into plural bins 3 of a sorter part 2. Upon the termination of discharge of the specified stage number, a lift bar 40 is moved up to open each cover recording paper, and normal recording paper is successively enclosed in each cover recording paper. In this case, the document feed direction is judged. In the case of all the documents are fed longitudinally, normal recording paper cannot be inserted, so that the above-mentioned envelope preparing action is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus attached to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer for processing an image-formed sheet into a double-folded envelope, and more specifically to a cover recording sheet. The present invention relates to a two-fold envelope forming device that forms a two-fold envelope by sandwiching a normal recording sheet on which an image has been formed between the two-folded cover recording sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Paper post-processing apparatuses for sorting sheets on which images are formed, binding them by stapling, and punching holes by punching have been known. As a post-processing device of this type, for example, JP-A-1-236151
The technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication is known. According to this technique, a sheet post-processing apparatus is provided with a sheet carrying-in port at a position facing a sheet discharging port of a host device, and a sheet carried into the sheet carrying-in port is conveyed to a sheet processing section by a sheet conveying means, Timing detecting means for detecting a timing at which a sheet can be pulled out from the host device, sheet conveying speed varying means for varying the sheet conveying speed by the sheet conveying means, and the sheet conveying speed varying means are operated based on the detection signal of the timing detecting means. And a sheet conveying speed increasing means for increasing the sheet conveying speed, and is intended to perform the sheet processing at a high speed.

Another example is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-3837.
There is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4 publication. This known technique uses an inter-sheet mode in which an inter-sheet mode is adopted in which a delimiter sheet of recording sheets ejected in the same paper ejection section in the order of pages of a document is fed and inserted into a delimiter sheet feeding section. In the above, there is provided an insert page setting means capable of setting an insert page of a separator sheet and a separator sheet inserting means for inserting a separator sheet into a corresponding page of a recording sheet according to a set value of the insert page, and further, a predetermined setting operation. It is intended to insert a separator sheet before the first page of the recording paper and insert a separator sheet as a cover sheet before the first page of the discharged recording paper to improve usability. It is a thing.

By the way, in the former known technique, the sheets are sorted and conveyed at high speed to a sort bin, and a bundle of sheets is bound by, for example, a stapler. In the latter known technique, the sort bin is not used. Instead, an intersheet, that is, a so-called interleaf sheet is inserted into a copy and divided into each bundle.

[0005]

In these known techniques, sheets on which an image is formed are sorted by a sort bin or an intersheet. And
After being sorted, bound and put together, they will be divided into the people who need it.

[0006] On the other hand, generally, one of the communications between departments within a company is delivery of a copied document or a printed out document. At the time of this delivery, the documents may be delivered directly between familiar departments, but when delivering between remote departments, these documents are once stored in envelopes, files, etc., and the address is entered on the cover page. It is often delivered in the form of internal mail. However, there is a troublesome point in delivering by envelopes or files like this. This troublesome thing is that you have to pay each time you deliver a copied document or a printed document to an envelope, file, etc., enter the recipient name on the cover or a specific format with the recipient name The paper must be attached to the front cover, and if there are multiple recipients of the document, these operations must be repeated. That is, even if the copied documents and the printed out documents are efficiently sorted and sorted as in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to put them in an envelope or file them. .

Therefore, the present applicant has already proposed a device capable of automatically inserting a normal recording sheet between the cover recording sheets which are folded in half to create a folded envelope and efficiently processing it. did. However, when it is possible to process efficiently by folding in half in this way, the direction of the image between the recording paper for the cover and the recording paper sandwiched by the cover has a fixed relationship with the direction of the document. If there is no sheet, or if the sheet size does not have a fixed relationship, it is considered that a proper double-fold envelope cannot be created and the recording paper is wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to automatically insert a normal recording sheet between two folded cover recording sheets without wasting the sheets. An object of the present invention is to provide a bi-fold envelope creation device that can create a bi-fold envelope and efficiently process it.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, the first means is to form an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as the normal recording paper, and to form an image. Means for deciding the orientation of the original, a means for folding and conveying the cover recording paper on which the image is formed, a means for storing it by opening it, and conveying the normal recording paper on which the image is formed,
When the original is judged to be vertically fed by the means for accommodating it in the opened cover recording sheet, the means for closing the opening portion of the cover recording sheet, and the operation for making the bi-fold envelope is stopped. It is composed of means for making.

The second means is a means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as the normal recording paper, a means for determining a direction of a document on which the image is formed, and an image being formed. Means for folding and transporting the formed cover recording sheet in half, and opening and storing, and means for transporting the normal recording sheet having an image formed thereon and storing it in the opened cover recording sheet, and opening of the cover recording sheet When it is determined by the unit for closing the unit and the unit for determining that the originals are all fed vertically, after the start of the image forming operation on the cover recording sheet is accepted, the image forming operation is interrupted and the originals are all placed vertically. It is composed of means for displaying that it is a sending.

The third means is a means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice that of the normal recording paper, a means for judging the direction of the original on which the image is formed, and an image forming. Means for folding and transporting the formed cover recording sheet in half, and opening and storing, and means for transporting the normal recording sheet having an image formed thereon and storing it in the opened cover recording sheet, and opening of the cover recording sheet When all the documents are determined to be vertically fed by the means for closing the unit and the determination means, the image forming operation on the cover recording sheet is started, and the cover recording sheet on which the image is formed is not sorted. And means for ejecting the paper.

A fourth means is means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as the normal recording paper based on a digital signal, and a direction of image information recorded on the normal recording paper. And a means for fold and convey the cover recording paper on which the image is formed, and to open and store it, and a normal recording paper on which the image is formed, and store it in the opened cover recording paper. Means for closing the opening of the cover recording sheet, and when it is determined by the determining means that the direction of the image information normally recorded on the recording sheet is in the longitudinal feed format with respect to the transport direction, The read image information is rotated by 90 °, subjected to image processing, and converted into a horizontal format.

The fifth means is means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as the normal recording paper based on a digital signal, and a direction of image information recorded on the cover recording paper. To determine whether the image is formed, the cover recording sheet on which the image is formed is folded and conveyed, and is opened to be accommodated.The normal recording sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed and accommodated in the opened cover recording sheet. And a means for closing the opening of the cover recording sheet, and when the direction of the image information recorded on the cover recording sheet by the determining means is determined to be a longitudinal feed format with respect to the transport direction, The read image information is rotated by 90 °, subjected to image processing, and converted into a horizontal format.

A sixth means is a means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice that of the normal recording paper based on a digital signal, and a direction of image information recorded on the cover recording paper. To determine whether the image is formed, the cover recording sheet on which the image is formed is folded and conveyed, and is opened to be accommodated.The normal recording sheet on which the image is formed is conveyed and accommodated in the opened cover recording sheet. And a means for closing the opening of the cover recording sheet, and a means for longitudinally feeding the cover when the image information recorded on the cover recording sheet is determined to be in the format of transverse feeding in the conveying direction. When the image information is recorded in a half area of the recording paper and the image information recorded on the cover recording paper is in the format of vertical feed with respect to the recording paper conveyance direction, Record image information Composed of a means for.

[0015]

According to the first means, the cover recording paper which is about twice the size of the normal recording paper on which the image has been formed is folded in half at the substantially central portion and conveyed to the normal recording paper discharge side. The recording sheets are accommodated in an open state, and the normal recording sheets on which images are formed between the opened cover recording sheets are sequentially ejected. When all the normal recording papers have been discharged between the cover recording papers, the opening side of the cover recording paper is closed by the means for closing the opening, and a bundle of the normal recording papers wrapped by the cover recording paper is formed. It
However, if the direction of the normal recording paper is the vertical direction with respect to the transport direction, the normal recording paper cannot be sandwiched between the cover recording paper folded in two, and therefore the originals set in the image forming means are all fed vertically. When judged, the operation of creating the bi-fold envelope is stopped and the bi-fold envelope is not created.

In the second means, when it is determined that all the originals are not vertically fed, the double-folded envelope is created in the same manner as in the first means, but when it is determined that all the originals are vertically fed. , Since the normal recording paper in the vertical direction cannot be sandwiched between the two-folded cover recording paper, the image forming operation is interrupted after the start of the image forming operation on the cover recording paper is accepted, and it is displayed that the originals are all fed vertically. Then, the operator is informed that the folded envelope cannot be created.

In the third means, when it is determined that all the originals are not vertically fed, a double-folded envelope is created in the same manner as the first and second means, but all the originals are vertically fed. When it is determined that the control means starts the image forming operation on the cover recording sheet to form an image,
Once the image is formed, the normal recording paper cannot be stored in the cover recording paper folded in half unless the normal recording paper is fed laterally. The paper will be ejected and the folded envelope will not be created.

In the fourth means, the means for forming an image is set so as to form an image based on digital image information, and when it is determined that the direction of the image for normal recording paper is the longitudinal feed format. The image information read by the means for converting an image is rotated by 90 °, image processing is performed, and the image information is converted into a lateral format to form an image on a normal recording paper. As a result, even in the case of vertical feed, it is possible to create a double-fold envelope by converting it in the horizontal direction.

In the fifth means, the means for forming an image is set so as to form an image by digital image information as in the case of the fourth means, and the direction of the image for the front cover recording is the longitudinal feed. When it is determined that the format is used, the image information read by the means for converting the image is set to 90 °.
Image processing is performed by rotating and converting to a lateral format to form an image on the cover recording paper. By this, even in the case of vertical feeding, it is possible to form an image on the cover recording paper by converting it in the horizontal direction to create a double-fold envelope.

In the sixth means, the image forming means is set to perform image formation by digital image information as in the fourth means, and the image information recorded on the cover recording paper is the recording paper. When it is determined that the format is horizontal feed with respect to the transport direction, the image information is recorded in a half area of the cover sheet that is vertically fed, and when it is determined that the format is vertical feed, the vertical feed cover recording is performed. Image information is recorded on the entire area of the paper. By this, even if the image information to be recorded is in the vertical feed format,
It is possible to record even in the lateral feed format.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1. Schematic Configuration FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic internal structure of a sheet post-processing apparatus as a folded envelope producing apparatus according to an embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a post-processing apparatus 1 includes a 20-stage bin 3, a proof tray 5, and a sheet conveying path 7, and a sheet receiving port 9 formed on the side surface of the main body is a copying machine as an image forming apparatus (not shown). It is attached to the copying machine so as to face the paper discharge port.

A sheet discharged from a sheet discharge roller provided at the sheet discharge port of the copying machine is carried into the receiving port 9, and an inlet guide plate 11 is provided at the inlet thereof. Three folding rollers 13a, 13b, 13c are provided on the most downstream side of the entrance guide plate 11 in the sheet conveying direction, and a turn guide for further switching the sheet conveyance is provided on the downstream side of these folding rollers 13a, 13b, 13c. 15 are provided. When the turn guide 15 is at the position indicated by the solid line in the drawing, the sheet is conveyed to the upper part of the conveyance path 7 (hereinafter referred to as the proof path 7a), and when it is at the position indicated by the dotted line, it is below the conveyance path 7. The sheet is conveyed to a portion (hereinafter referred to as a sorter path 7b).

In the proof path 7a, a stop roller 17, which stops the conveyance of the conveyed sheet by sandwiching the conveyed sheet at an arbitrary timing, a conveyance roller 19, and a discharge roller 21 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side in the conveyance direction to guide plates. Sheets that are sequentially provided along the line 16 up to the position where the proof tray 5 is disposed and are conveyed by the conveyance toler 19 are discharged to the proof tray 5 by the discharge rollers 21. In the sorter path 7b, the skew rollers 23 and 25 for skewing the sheet in a predetermined direction to align the discharge positions, and the transport roller 2
7 and 29 are sequentially provided along the guide plate 31 up to the sheet deflection unit 33.

In the drawing of the deflecting section 33, 20 stages of bins 3a and 3b are arranged from above along a deflection path 35 extending vertically upward.
... 3t (generally, a bin is indicated by reference numeral 3 below) is provided, and the deflection section discharge rollers 37a, 37b ... 37t (hereinafter, referred to as a follower roller) including driven rollers are provided on the opening side of each bin 3a to 3t. A deflecting section discharge roller is generally indicated by reference numeral 37) and deflecting claws 39a, 39b ... 39t (hereinafter, the deflecting claws are generally indicated by reference numeral 39) are respectively provided. Further, on the opening side of each bin 3, a lift bar 40a serving as an opening interval expanding means for opening the cover recording sheet,
40b ... 40t (hereinafter, a lift bar is generally indicated by reference numeral 40) are provided. The stop roller 17 is driven independently of the other rollers by a drive motor (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bin portion showing the bin 3, stapler 41, chuck 43 and jogger 45 of the post-processing apparatus 1. The jogger 45 is provided with a jogger rod 47 penetrating all the stages of the bottle 3, and a chuck 43 is shown in the drawing.
The chuck 4 is a well-known device that aligns paper in a certain direction.
3 is a well-known stapler which aligns the sheets by the jogger 45, grasps the bundle of sheets, pulls it out to the staple position by the stapler 41, staples it at the pulled-out position, and then returns it to its original position. Four
Since 1 is a known one for binding the sheet bundle that has been pulled by the chuck 43, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

As shown in the side view of the slanting portion of FIG. 4, the slanting rollers 23 and 25 are slanting roller rotation shafts 23a and 2b.
5a is provided and the sheet is conveyed on the basis of the guide 49 by deflecting the sheet toward the guide 49 side. Similarly, detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

2. Operation Next, the operation of the post-processing device will be described. In general,
Sorter to be attached to the discharge side of the copier (post-processing device 1)
The sheet discharge path is switched at the branch portion between sorting (sort path) and normal sheet discharge (proof path). In this embodiment, the branch portion is also used as the sheet folding section. .

Here, the outline of each paper discharge pattern will be described. 2.1. In the case of normal paper discharge using the proof path After fixing in the copying machine, the sheet discharged from the paper discharge roller 75 (FIG. 14) is guided into the sorter by the entrance guide plate 11, and the folding roller 13a (counterclockwise rotation) and folding are performed. The folding roller 13 is pulled by the roller 13b (clockwise rotation).
The leading edge of the recording paper is guided to the proof path by the inclination angle of the tangent line T with respect to the contact points a and 13b, and is fed to the stop roller 17. The folding rollers 13a and 13
The angle θ between the tangent line T of b and the wall surface of the proof path 7a is about 60 degrees (FIG. 6A).

Further, the folding roller 1 is so arranged that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the stop roller 17 before the trailing edge of the copyable minimum size sheet passes through the folds 13a and 13b.
The distance L from the contacts 3a and 13b to the stop roller 102 is set shorter than the width of the minimum size sheet that can be copied (FIG. 6 (b)).

2.2. In the case of paper discharge using the sorter path The sheet discharged from the copying machine is pulled by the folding roller 13a (left rotation) and the folding roller 13b (right rotation), and the sheet is drawn in accordance with the inclination angle of the tangent line T of the folding rollers 13a and 13b. The leading edge of the sheet goes to the proof path 7a. At this time, the leading edge of the sheet is the folding roller 13
Before reaching a and 13b, they move to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6 (a), move downward along the waiting turn guide 15, and are guided to the sorter path 7b by the folding rollers 13b and 13c.

2.3. When Folding and Sorting Sheets The sheet discharged from the copying machine is pulled by the folding rollers 13a (left rotation) and the folding rollers 13b (right rotation), and the sheet is rotated by the inclination angle of the tangent line T of the folding rollers 13a and 13b. The tip is guided to the proof 7a path. When the leading edge of the sheet further advances, the sheet is conveyed by the stop roller 17, but the folded portion of the sheet (generally the middle portion in the sheet length direction) is folded by the folding rollers 13a and 13a.
When it reaches b, the rotation of the stop roller 17 is stopped by turning off the drive motor (not shown). At this time, since the folding rollers 13a, 13b, 13c continue to rotate, the folded portion of the sheet bends downward, and the folding roller 13
While being folded by b and 13c and folded in half, the folded portion serves as the leading end of the sheet and is guided to the sorter path 7b. At this time, the timing of stopping the rotation of the stop roller changes according to the sheet size detected by a sensor (not shown). Moreover, the position of the folded portion can be arbitrarily changed by selecting the stop timing of the stop roller.

For example, in normal sheet folding, a sheet is folded in half, but in the package mode for creating envelopes, the stop roller stop timing is set earlier than in the normal mode in the case of front surface ejection, and the back ejection is performed. For paper, the stop roller stop timing is delayed compared to the normal mode. In this way, the upper part of the folded sheet is slightly lengthened on the discharge tray, and a part (folding margin) on which the lift bar 40 for expanding the sheet interval is caught is provided. It is desirable that the folding allowance is as small as possible because the amount of misalignment between the front cover and the back cover during simple packaging is taken. Therefore, the stop timing of the stop roller is finely adjusted so that the folding margin also changes according to the sheet size detected as described above. An example is shown below.

In the case of front surface paper ejection (A3): The stop timing of the stop roller 17 is set earlier than in the passing mode, and the stop roller is stopped in Xsec after the sheet leading edge is detected by a predetermined sensor. …………… Folding margin: A mm (Fig. 42
(A)) In the case of front surface discharge (B4): The stop timing of the stop roller 17 is set earlier than in the normal mode, and the stop roller is stopped at Ysec after the sheet front end is detected by a predetermined sensor. …………… Folding margin: B mm (Fig. 42
(See (b)) By adjusting the stop timing of the stop roller in this way, one stop roller can be used in place of the sheet stoppers that were required in the past depending on the sheet size. In the present invention, since the sheet is discharged from the copying machine on the back side, the copy surface is on the outer side after being folded in two.

The details of the above-described schematic operation will be described below. In the post-processing apparatus 1, the cover recording sheet CS and the normal recording sheet CY are handled differently. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover recording sheet CS discharged from the discharge roller of the copying machine.
Is carried into the post-processing apparatus 1 from the sheet receiving port 9, is sandwiched by the nip of the folding rollers 13a and 13b which constantly rotate in the arrow direction along the inlet guide plate 11, and is conveyed.
At this time, the turn guide 15 is on standby at the position indicated by the solid line, and the front end of the cover sheet CS that has been conveyed by the folding rollers 13a and 13b is directed upward when being fed out from the folding rollers 13a and 13b. This is shown in FIG.
The tangent line T at the nip between the folding rollers 13a and 13b forms an acute angle θ with the side wall of the proof path 7a as shown in FIG.
Therefore, when the leading edge of the recording sheet hits the side wall, the cover sheet recording sheet CS is bent to the upper side and is fed to the stop roller 17. At this time, the turn guide SOL67 that drives the turn guide 15 is off, and the turn guide 15 is retracted from the transport path.

The stop roller 17 is stopped by turning off a driving motor (not shown) at a predetermined timing according to the size of the cover sheet CS. Even if the stop roller 17 stops rotating, the folding rollers 13a and 13b continue to rotate, so that the cover sheet CS is bent as shown in FIG. When the cover sheet CS is bent in this manner, the bent portion is held by the folding rollers 13b and 13c, and is folded into two and conveyed to the lower conveyance section 7b.

The force with which the stop roller 17 holds the cover sheet CS is determined by the folding rollers 13b and 13c.
When the folding rollers 13b and 13c grip the cover recording sheet CS, the cover recording sheet CS is pulled in, and the cover recording sheet CS slips at the nip portion of the stop roller 17 and the lower conveying portion 7b side. Be transported to. It is folded in two by the folding rollers 13b and 13c, and the lower conveyance unit 7
The cover recording sheet CS conveyed to the sheet b is an oblique roller 23,
The sheet is moved from the center reference to the end face reference on the front side by 25 and is conveyed to the conveying roller 27.

The cover sheet recording sheet CS that has been conveyed to the conveying roller 27 is conveyed from the conveying roller 27 to the conveying roller 29, and further, the conveying roller 29 causes the sheet deflecting unit 33.
And is conveyed to the deflection path 35. The cover sheet recording paper CS conveyed to the deflection path 35 by the conveyance roller 29 is deflected by the deflection section discharge roller 37 arranged along the deflection path 35 and the driven roller arranged on the opposite side thereof.
Is conveyed upward. Then, during this conveyance, the cover recording sheet CS is discharged to the designated bin 3 by driving the deflecting claw 39 designated by a solenoid (not shown). It should be noted that each of the deflecting claws 39 is individually provided with a solenoid so that the deflecting claws can be independently operated, and each of the deflecting claws 39 is opened and closed by the solenoid according to a designated mode condition. The image-formed sheet including the cover recording sheet CS is guided to the bin 3, ejected, and stacked on the bin 3.

In this way, the cover recording sheets CS are copied and sorted by the designated number of copies, and after being folded in two, they are conveyed to the designated bin 3 and discharged. The cover sheet CS conveyed to the bin 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Is driven, and the copy surface CSu, which is the upper surface of the cover sheet CS that has been folded in half, is lifted. This operation is executed after the cover recording sheets CS for the designated number of copies are completely discharged to the bin 3.

After the copy surface CSu on the upper side of the cover recording paper CS is opened in this way, the processing of the normal recording paper placed in the cover recording paper CS is started. This normal recording paper C
After Y is copied by the copying machine, it is not transported to the proof route 7a but directly transported to the sorter route 7b and guided to the bin 3. That is, the normal recording paper CY is carried into the post-processing apparatus 1 from the sheet receiving port 9 after image formation, and the entrance guide plate 1
1, the nip position of the folding rollers 13a and 13b is reached. At this time, the turn guide 15 is advanced to the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2, and the normal recording paper CY conveyed by the folding rollers 13a and 13b is guided to the side surface of the turn roller 15 and guided to the nip between the folding rollers 13b and 13c. He is then guided to the sorter route 7b.

The normal recording paper CY that has been carried into the sorter path 7b is covered by the diagonal rollers 23 and 25.
Similar to S, the sheet is conveyed from the center reference to the front end face reference and is conveyed to the conveyance roller 27. The normal recording paper CY that has been transported to the transport roller 27 is further transported to the transport roller 29 by the transport roller 27, and the deflection path 35
Be transported to. The normal recording paper CY conveyed to the deflection path 35 by the conveyance roller 29 is guided along the deflection path 35 by the deflecting section discharge roller 37 arranged in the deflecting section 33 and a driven roller opposite to the deflecting section discharge roller 37 in the same manner as the cover recording sheet CS. Are conveyed and discharged by the drive of the deflecting claw 39 to the designated bin 3. As a result, the normal recording paper CY is sequentially inserted into the cover recording paper CS. As described above, the above-described operation is performed for the number of copies set in advance by the operation unit (not shown) of the copying machine to form a sheet bundle in which the normal recording paper CY is stacked in the cover recording paper CS. .

In this way, when the preset number of normal recording sheets CY are stacked in the cover recording sheet CS and a predetermined number of copies are prepared, as shown in FIG. 9, the lift bar 40 is moved to the deflecting section discharge roller 37 side. Move to. As a result, the copy surface CSu on the upper side of the folded cover recording paper CS, which has been sandwiched so far, falls onto the normal recording paper CY group that is stacked apart from the lift bar 40, and the upper surface is covered by the cover recording paper CS. A bundle of normal recording paper CY whose lower surface is covered is formed.

When all the above operations are completed, the staple recording sheet CY bundle covered by the cover recording sheets CS stacked in the bin 3 is transferred to the normal recording sheet CY bundle shown in FIG.
The stapling process is executed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. As a result, a bag-bound sheet bundle as shown in FIG. 12 can be created. When the group of recording sheets is bound in this way, it becomes a simple envelope, and if the address is copied on the front cover part, it can be put in the mail as it is. As a result, it is possible to omit the conventional work of putting the recording sheet group in the envelope and writing the address. If the fold is cut, it can be used as a material with a front cover and a back cover as shown in FIG. The binding direction may be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheet bundle as shown in FIG. 12 or may be parallel as shown in FIG. Further, the stapler 41 is attached downward,
As shown in FIG. 11, the overlapping portion of the staples does not come to the cover side.

This operation will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a cover sheet recording sheet C having an image G formed on its lower surface
S is discharged by the discharge roller 75 on the copying machine side, and the cover recording sheet C is carried into the post-processing apparatus 1 from the sheet receiving port 9.
The S is conveyed from the folding rollers 13a and 13b to the proof path 7a (FIG. 15). Then, the position of the cover sheet CS is regulated by the stop roller 17 in FIG. 16, and the rotation of the cover sheet CS is continued in the same direction as described above.
As shown in 7, it is folded in two with the image forming surface outside.
It is guided to the sorter path 7b as shown in FIG. 18 and is deflected by the conveying roller 17 as shown in FIGS.
Sent to the 5 side. The cover sheet CS that has been conveyed upward in the conveying path 35 is discharged to the uppermost bin 3a (FIG. 21),
Further, the sheets are discharged in order from the top into a predetermined number of bins 3 (see FIG. 2).
2). When the discharge of a predetermined number of sheets is completed, the lift bar 40 opens the cover sheet CS (FIG. 23), the turn guide 15 advances into the conveyance path by turning on the turn guide SOL67 (FIG. 24), and the image G is formed on the lower surface. Normal recording paper CY
Of the recording paper CY is regulated by the folding rollers 13a, 13b, 13c.
To the side (FIG. 25).

Then, through the transport path 35 (see FIG. 26,
27), the sheets are discharged in order from the first-stage bin 3a into the cover recording sheet CS (FIG. 28), and all the normal recording sheets CP are discharged into the cover recording sheet CS and accumulated in all the bins. Then (FIG. 29), the restriction position of the lift bar 40 is released, and the upper cover recording sheet CSu is closed (FIG. 30).

3. Control System The control system of the post-processing apparatus, which is roughly configured and operates as described above, will be continuously described. FIG. 31 shows a control block diagram of the post-processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. The sheet post-processing apparatus 1 is equipped with a dedicated CPU 53 for controlling each load. The CPU 53 is interfaced with the main body control CPU of the copying machine through a serial communication line. By exchanging control commands / status signals and the like through this serial communication line, it is possible to integrally control the entire copying system including the post-processing device 1.

Entrance sensor 5 provided at the sheet receiving opening 9
Reference numeral 5 detects sheets such as the cover recording sheet CS and the normal recording sheet CY ejected from the main body of the copying machine 1. By controlling the stop timing of the stop roller drive motor 57 that drives the stop roller 17 based on this signal, the folding margin can be freely set according to the sheet size. The paper discharge sensor 58 provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the paper discharge roller 21 in the transporting direction is the proof tray 5.
The sheet discharged to the sheet is detected, and is used for detecting a paper jam and detecting a job end in the proof tray discharge mode.

The first bin inlet sensor 59 discharges sheets to the first to 10th bins (3a to 3j), and the second bin inlet sensor 61 discharges sheets to the 11th to 20th bins (3k to 3t). The sheet is detected, and the switching control of the deflecting claw SOL63 is performed based on the detection timing of the trailing edge of the sheet. It should be noted that these bin inlet sensors 59 and 61 are constituted by light-transmitting photo sensors.

The post-processing apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a sorter) 1 according to the embodiment has a main drive motor 65 and a stop roller drive motor 57 as a sorter drive motor. The main drive motor 65 drives the transport rollers / rollers other than the stop roller 17. As the main drive motor 65, an AC synchronous motor excellent in constant speed rotation is adopted. The stop roller drive motor 57 drives only the stop roller 17 alone. As the stop roller drive motor 57, a stepping motor having excellent position controllability is adopted, and the stop timing of the stop roller 17 at the time of sheet folding is controlled with high accuracy. Further, even when the stop roller 17 is stopped, the motor winding is excited to generate a holding torque and hold the cover sheet CS. The peripheral speed of the stop roller 17 can be set to the same speed as the paper discharge speed of 300 mm / s from the main body of the copying machine 1, and the folding position of the cover sheet CS can be controlled only by the stop timing of the stop roller drive motor 57. I am trying.

The turn guide SOL67 is the turn guide 1
The turn guide 15 is moved between the two positions of the solid line position and the dotted line position by the on / off operation thereof.

The deflecting claws SOL63b to 63t are the second to the twentieth.
It is provided in the bin and drives the deflection claws 39b to 39t of the respective bins 3b to 3t. In the sort mode, the deflection claws SOL63b to SOL6b are provided for each sheet of recording paper.
3t is sequentially turned on, and the sheets are distributed to the bins 3. The deflection claw SOL of the first bin on the most downstream side in the deflection path 35 is omitted.

Hereinafter, the control from the whole control to the individual control will be described in order. First, the normal recording paper CY is printed by the cover recording paper CS.
1 (a) and 1 (b) show the control flow of the entire copying system in the simple envelope mode covered by FIG. When a simple envelope mode key (not shown) provided on the operation panel is pressed, the simple envelope mode is selected (step S1). At this time, first, the recording paper size of the paper feed cassette set in the copying machine is checked. If all the recording papers have the vertical feed size (step S2) or all the horizontal feed size (step S3), the simple envelope mode is released (step S4). That is, the simple envelope mode is not accepted.

Still another control procedure may be as follows. 1) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the recording papers are all vertically fed size or all horizontally fed size, the copy prohibited state is set. 2) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the start of copying is instructed and the recording paper is all in the vertical feed size or all in the horizontal feed size, the copying operation is interrupted and the warning display is turned on. 3) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the copy start is instructed, if the recording papers are all of the vertical feed size or all of the horizontal feed size, the recording paper is ejected to the proof tray. Next, check the combination of recording papers. The area ratio is 2: 1 like A3 portrait and A4 landscape, and it is checked whether there is a combination of vertical feed for large size recording paper and horizontal feed for small size recording paper (step S5). If not present, the simple envelope mode is canceled (step S4). That is, the simple envelope mode is not accepted.

As yet another control procedure, the following can be performed. 1) If the simple envelope mode is designated, the area ratio of the recording paper is double, and there is no combination of vertical feeding for large size recording paper and horizontal feeding for small size recording paper, the copy prohibition state is set.

2) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the start of copying is instructed, the area ratio of the recording paper is doubled, and the large size recording paper does not have the vertical feed and the small size recording paper does not have the horizontal feed combination. Stops the copying operation and turns on the warning display.

Next, in the check of the combination of the recording papers in step S5, the area ratio is 2: 1 like A3 length and A4 width.
If there is a combination of vertical feeding for large size recording paper and horizontal feeding for small size recording paper, APS is performed in step S6.
It is checked whether or not it is the (automatic paper selection) mode. If it is not the APS mode, the normal recording paper size is selected (step S7). In the simple envelope mode, the cover recording sheet CS and the normal recording sheet CY are always in an area ratio of 2: 1.
Therefore, if either the cover recording sheet CS or the normal recording sheet CY is designated, the other is uniquely determined. It is checked whether or not the selected normal recording paper CY is vertically fed (step S8), and if it is vertically fed, the copy prohibited state is set (step S9).

The other control procedure may be as follows. 1) When the selected normal recording paper CY is vertically fed, the simple envelope mode is released.

2) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the start of copying is instructed, if the selected normal recording paper CY is vertically fed, the copying operation is interrupted and the warning display is turned on.

3) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the start of copying is instructed, if the selected normal recording paper CY is vertically fed, the normal recording paper CY is discharged to the proof tray 5.

4) Only the horizontal feed size can be selected as the normal recording paper CY.

In the present embodiment, when the normal recording sheet CY is selected, the double-size cover recording sheet CS is automatically selected. Conversely, when the cover recording sheet CS is selected, 1 / The normal recording paper CY of two sizes may be automatically selected. In this case, when the selected cover sheet CS is laterally fed, the copy inhibition state is set.

Further, as another control procedure, the following may be performed. 1) When the selected cover recording sheet CS is laterally fed, the simple envelope mode is released.

2) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the copy start is instructed, if the selected cover sheet CS is laterally fed, the copy operation is interrupted and the warning display is turned on.

3) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the copy start is instructed, if the selected cover recording sheet CS is laterally fed, the normal recording sheet CY is discharged to the proof tray 5.

4) Only the vertical feed size can be selected as the cover recording sheet CS.

If the normal recording sheet CY is the lateral feed size in step S8, the size of the cover recording sheet CS is set, that is, the size of the normal recording sheet CY is set to twice (step S10), and then the cover sheet. If the paper out state is detected on either the recording paper CS or the normal recording paper CY (step S
11 and 12 (N), the no-paper display is turned on, and the copy prohibited state is set (step S13).

Further, in this case, another control procedure may be as follows. 1) When the paper out condition of the cover recording paper CS is detected,
The paper-out display is turned on and the copy-prohibited state is set. 2) When the cover recording sheet CS is in the paper-existing state and only the normal recording sheet CY is detected, the paper-out display is turned on and copying is possible. Set to state. At this time, if the start of copying is instructed, the copying operation of the cover original is started. When the normal recording paper CY is detected to be out of paper after the copy operation of the cover original is completed, the copy operation is interrupted and the copy prohibited state is set.

By introducing such control, if the normal recording paper CY is replenished while the cover document is being copied, the copying operation is not interrupted, and the copying work efficiency of the operator is improved.

If both the cover recording sheet CS and the normal recording sheet CY are printed in step S11 and step S12, ON / OFF of the start key is checked (step S14), and if the start key is pressed, a copying operation is performed. To start. Then, it is checked whether the APS mode is set (step S15). If the APS mode is set, first, the cover document size and direction are detected and the cover recording sheet size is set (step S16). In this subroutine, when the detected cover original is vertically placed, the cover recording sheet CS uses the same paper size, and when it is horizontally placed, the cover recording sheet CS automatically selects the double size. When the process of step S16 is completed, the normal recording paper size is set (step S17). As the normal recording paper size, 1/2 size recording paper is automatically selected for the cover recording paper CS (step S18). In this selection operation, for example, when the cover original is A3 portrait or A4 landscape, A3 portrait is selected for the cover recording sheet CS and A4 landscape is selected for the normal recording sheet CY, and when the cover original is B4 portrait or B5 landscape, the cover recording sheet CS is selected. Is B4
Select B5 landscape for portrait and normal recording paper CY.

When the paper-out condition is detected in either the cover recording paper CS or the normal recording paper CY in steps S19 and S20, the paper-out display is turned on and the copying operation is interrupted (step S21).

The other control procedure may be as follows. 1) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the copy start is instructed, if the paper-free state of the cover recording paper CS is detected, the paper-free display is turned on and the copying operation is interrupted.

2) When the simple envelope mode is designated and the copy start is instructed, if the front cover recording sheet CS is in the presence of paper and only the normal recording sheet CY is detected as the absence of paper, the absence of paper indicator is lit. Then, the copying operation is continued. When the normal recording paper CY is detected to be out of paper after the copy operation of the cover original is completed, the copy operation is interrupted and the copy prohibited state is set.

As the first stage of the copying operation, first, the copying operation of the cover original is performed. At this time, the installation direction of the cover original is checked (step S22), and the copying operation for the cover recording sheet CS is switched. If the cover original is placed vertically, a copy image is formed on the entire surface of the cover recording sheet CS as in the normal copy mode (step S23 ... FIG. 3).
3). On the contrary, when the cover original is placed horizontally, the copy CL is formed on the latter half of the cover recording sheet CS by advancing the ON timing of the resist CL as compared with the normal copy mode (step S24 ... FIG. 34). Since the technique of shifting the copy image with respect to the recording paper has been established as the conventional binding margin creating mode, detailed description thereof will be omitted. As described above, even when the orientation of the cover original is different from that of the cover recording sheet CS, the cover copy image can be positioned in front of the first page as shown in FIG.
The copying machine main body in the present embodiment assumes that the recording paper is ejected with the image side facing downward (reverse paper ejection) and is copied from the last page of the original.

In this embodiment, since the usable cover recording sheet size is A3 portrait and B4 portrait, it is not possible to copy an A4 portrait document in APS / actual size mode.
As another embodiment, in the case where the main body is of a type having an image rotating copy function such as a digital copying machine, when the detected cover original is placed vertically and the size is not copyable, the original image is automatically displayed. ° It is also possible to perform image rotation processing to form an image on copyable size recording paper (Fig. 3).
6).

When the processing of step S23 or step S24 is completed, the cover sheet CS is folded in two at the folding / reversing portion in step S25, and is discharged to each bin 3 as described above.

When the discharge of all cover recording sheets CS to the sorter is completed (step S26), the seat lift SOL6
9 is turned on to lift the lift bar 40, and the cover recording paper C
The upper surface of S is lifted (step S27). At this time, the sheet lift detecting means 71a to 71t detect whether or not the cover sheet CS can be normally lifted in each bin 3 (step S28).

Next, as the second stage of the copying operation, the copying operation of the normal original is started. First, the normal document size is detected (step S29). If the document is placed vertically, the illegal document direction display is turned on and the copy operation is interrupted (steps S30 and S31). In this embodiment, a general analog copying machine is assumed as the copying machine on the main body side.
As another embodiment, in the case where the main body is of a type having an image rotation copy function such as a digital copying machine, when the detected normal document size is portrait, the 90 ° image rotation process of the document image is automatically performed. It is also possible to perform image formation on the laterally fed recording paper.

When the original is placed horizontally, the copy operation on the normal recording paper is started (steps S30 and S32).
When the sheet lift operation can be normally performed in all the bins 3 from which the cover sheet CS has been discharged, the same control as the conventional sorter is performed (steps S33, S3).
4). That is, the turn guide SOL67 is turned on to guide the normal recording paper to the lower conveyance path, in other words, from the sorter path 7b to the deflection path 35, and the normal recording paper is deflected by the deflection claw S one by one.
Switching control of OL63b-63t is performed.

On the other hand, when the sheet lift operation of the cover sheet CS is not normally performed in some of the bins, the turn guide SOL67 is switched to the bin 3 in which the abnormality is detected. The corresponding normal recording paper CY is discharged to the proof tray 5 (steps S33, S35).

The other control procedure may be as follows. 1) When a sheet lift abnormality is detected, the normal recording paper CY is copied only for the number of sheets obtained by subtracting the abnormality detection bin number from the number of copies, and the normal recording paper CY is copied to the bin where the sheet lift abnormality is detected. Do not sort. 2) When a sheet lift abnormality is detected, the normal recording paper CY corresponding to that bin is discharged to an unused bin. At this time, if there is not enough unused bin, the bin is discharged to the proof tray 15.

When the processing of step S34 or step S35 is completed, and the copying of the predetermined number of sheets for all the normal originals is completed in step S36, and there is no next original (step S37), the lift bar release SOL7.
3 is turned on to release the lift bar 40 (step S3
8) Then, the cover sheet that has been lifted is dropped and a stapling operation is performed (step S39). Finally, turn off the seat lift SOL69 and lift bar release SOL73.
Then, the lift bar 40 is lowered and returned to the original position (step S40).

The development of the simple envelope mode of the present invention to the designated sheet magnification mode (AMS) can be easily performed. For the cover original, the maximum magnification may be automatically selected within the range where the original image is not missing (FIG. 37). For a normal document, the same control as in the conventional AMS mode may be performed, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, a cover sheet is prepared by preparing a cover document and copying it. As another embodiment, a digital copying machine having image information storage means such as a memory card is used as a copying machine on the main body side, and a fixed destination format etc. previously stored in the memory card is image-formed on a cover recording sheet. It is easily conceivable to configure it to do so.

4. Controlling ejection of recording paper 4.1. When discharging the recording paper to the proof tray When the sorter function is not used, the recording paper on which the image is formed (cover recording paper CS, normal recording paper CY) is discharged to the proof tray 15 without being discharged to the bin 3. . FIG. 38 shows a control procedure in this case, and FIG. 39 shows a timing chart.
Are shown respectively. When the paper is discharged to the proof tray 5, after the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the entrance sensor 55, the stop roller drive motor 57 is activated while slowing it up (steps S51 and S52). At this time, turn guide S
The OL 67 is kept off as shown in the timing chart of FIG. The number of entry of the recording paper is counted by the number of times the entrance sensor 55 is turned on, and the number of discharges of the recording paper is counted by the number of times the paper ejection sensor 58 is turned on. When the number of ejected sheets and the number of entered sheets are equal, it is determined that the ejection of the final recording sheet is completed, the stop roller drive motor 57 is stopped (steps S53, 54), and the ejection operation to the proof tray 15 is completed.

4.2. When the cover sheet is folded and discharged to the sorter bin, the image-formed cover sheet CS is folded and conveyed to the bin 3 side. The control procedure at this time is shown in FIG. 40, and its timing chart is shown in FIG. In this process, when the leading edge of the cover sheet CS is detected by the entrance sensor 55 (step S61), the stop roller drive motor 57 is started while slowing down as can be seen from the timing chart of FIG. 41 (step S62). At the same time, T1 is set in a CPU built-in timer (not shown) and started (step S63). At this time, turn guide SOL67
Is turned off. T1 is a value determined by the recording paper length and the folding margin length, and is calculated by T1 = {(recording paper length + fold margin length) / 2 + entrance sensor to paper folding position} / recording paper conveyance speed. As shown in FIGS. 42 (a) and 42 (b), the folding margin length is set to 6 mm in A3 length and 4 mm in B4 length. Therefore, T ₁ corresponding to each sheet is as follows. A3 vertical: T1 = {(420 + 6) / 2 + 40} / 300
= 843 ms B4 length: T1 = {(364 + 4) / 2 + 40} / 300
= 747 ms, and when the timer counts up, it is determined that the paper folding timing has been reached (steps S64, S61, S6).
5) The stop roller drive motor 121 is stopped (step S66). This is repeated for each cover recording sheet CS.

The deflecting pawls SOL63-2 to 63-20 are all in the OFF state and stand by until the folded cover sheet recording sheet CS is conveyed to the sorter section. When the first bin inlet sensor 59 detects the trailing edge of the first cover recording sheet CS (steps S61, S65, S67), the deflection claw SOL6.
3-2 is turned on (step S68). When the rear edge of the next cover recording sheet CS is detected (steps S64, S61, S6)
5, S67), the deflecting claw SOL63-2 is turned off, and the deflecting claw SOL63-3 is turned on (step S68). This operation is repeated for each cover sheet CS. When the discharging of the final sheet is completed, the folding / sorting discharging operation is completed.

4.3. Discharge control to sorter Cover recording paper CS folded and stored in bin 3 of sorter
The normal recording paper CY is ejected so as to be sandwiched between. The control procedure at this time is shown in FIG. Also, normal recording paper C
FIG. 44 shows a timing chart when the sheet lift operation for ejecting Y into the cover recording sheet CS is normally performed, and FIG. 45 shows a timing chart when the sheet lift operation is abnormal.

In this control procedure, when the entrance sensor 55 detects the front end of the normal recording paper CY and the bin for ejecting the recording paper CY is a normal seat lift, the turn guide SOL is used.
67 is turned on (steps S71, S72, S73), and if the seat lift is abnormal, the turn guide SOL67 is turned off (steps S72, S74).

When the entrance sensor 55 detects the leading edge of the recording paper corresponding to the abnormal seat lift bin, the stop roller drive motor 57 is activated while slowing it up (step S75). When the trailing edge of the last sheet of recording paper discharged to the proof tray 5 is detected by the paper discharge sensor 58 (step S
76) and stop roller drive motor 57 is stopped (step S77).

The deflecting claw SOL63 is the first normal recording paper C.
Only the bin 3a that discharges Y is turned on, and the other bins 3b to 3t
Is in the OFF state, and normally waits until the recording paper CY is conveyed to the sorter section. However, when the normal recording paper CY is discharged to the first bin 3a, all the deflection claws SOL
Turn off 63. Normal recording paper C with bin inlet sensor 55
When the Y rear end is detected, the deflecting claw SOL1 that is currently ON
32 is turned off, and the deflecting claw SOL13 of the next bin is discharged
2 is turned on (steps S78 and S79). At this time, the bin that detects the seat lift abnormality is skipped. Each time the trailing edge of the normal recording paper CY is detected, the deflecting claw SOL is similarly switched (steps S80, S71, S76, S7).
8, S79). The sorter discharging operation is completed when the discharging of the final sheet is completed.

5. Folded sheet lift mechanism 5.1. Outline of operation After being folded in two, the cover sheet CS discharged into each bin 3 of the sorter unit 2 becomes a so-called simple envelope as described above.
During this fold, it is necessary to insert the normal recording paper, which is the contents of the simple envelope and is sequentially discharged. For that purpose, it is necessary to open the origami paper sufficiently so that the contents can be surely put therein. This opening mechanism is the lift bar 40
It is a folding sheet lift mechanism that utilizes the.

FIG. 46 briefly shows the folded sheet lift mechanism. In this figure, the cover recording sheet CS discharged into the bin 3 is discharged into the bin 3, the upper copy surface CSu of the cover recording sheet CS is opened, and the normal recording sheet CY is opened in the opening.
Are sequentially discharged, the upper copy surface CSu of the cover recording paper CS is closed, and finally the bag binding is performed. Details are as follows.

(A) Half-folded sheet stacking step As shown in FIG. 46 (a), the cover recording sheet CS which is a half-folded simple envelope is discharged to the bin 3 (at this time,
The lift bar 40 engages with the upper side of the cover sheet CS to bring the copy surface CSu with a margin for raising.

(B) Sheet interval expansion step As shown in FIG. 46 (b), the lift bar 40 operates upward to lift the upper copy surface CSu of the cover recording sheet CS, and the rear surface of the bin 3 on the upper side thereof. 4 and the lift bar 40 grip the copy surface CSu.

(C) Normal recording paper stacking step As shown in FIG. 46 (c), the normal recording paper CY on which an image is formed is sequentially discharged into the opening of the cover recording paper CS and folded in two. The notation recording sheets CS are inserted and stacked.

(D) Sheet spacing reduction step As shown in FIG. 46 (d), the lift bar 40 is separated from the back surface 4 of the upper bin 3 to lower the copy surface CSu. At this time, the lift bar 40 is retracted from the bin so as not to hinder the restoration of the copy surface CSu.

(E) Binding step As shown in FIG. 46 (e), the copy surface CSu is closed and the lift bar 40 is returned to its original position. This allows the binding operation.

(F) Completion of bag binding As shown in FIG. 46 (f), the bag-like recording sheet bundle S is formed.
Is bound on the opening side of the cover sheet CS by the staples 124 to create a simple envelope.

5.2. Drive Mechanism of Lift Bar The lift bar 40 is a copy surface CS above the cover recording paper CS.
When u is pushed up and opened, the normal recording paper CY is kept in the opened state, and when the copy surface CSu is closed, the copy surface CSu is retracted so as not to hinder the return. I need to put it. Hereinafter, this mechanism will be described.

FIG. 47 shows an outline of the drive mechanism of the lift bar 40.
Is shown in a perspective view, and individual configurations are shown in explanatory views of FIGS. 48 to 54. This mechanism includes a lift bar 40, a lift bar guide member 127, and a lift bar actuating member 129.
And a lift bar operating SOL 131 that operates the lift bar operating member 129.

As shown in FIG. 48, the lift bar 40 is composed of a shaft member 133 and a cylindrical rotating member 135 rotatably mounted on the outer periphery of the shaft member 133, and both ends thereof are on both sides of the bottle 3. It is loosely inserted in the guide groove 137 of the lift bar guide member 127 provided in the.

The rotating member 135 is for reducing the frictional force between the lift bar 40 and the seat at the time of seat lift. Since the lift trajectory of the lift bar 40 is an arc,
It has a function of preventing a problem that the lifted seat is pulled during the lift. Also, the lift bar 40
At least a part of the seat lift peripheral surface of the rotating member 135 is constituted by the conductive member 145, and when the folded cover recording sheet CS is gripped after being lifted, it is possible to detect whether or not the sheet is actually lifted. You can do it. That is, when lifted, the recording paper is pressed against the back surface 4 of the bin 3 to grip the recording paper as described above, but at this time, the bottom of the bin 3 made of a conductive member (the conductive member of the lift bar is It is possible to determine whether or not the recording paper is gripped by conducting a conductivity check between the corresponding at least part) and the lift bar 40. In other words, when the paper cannot be lifted, the insulator is not present, so that conduction occurs between the two, and when the paper is lifted, the insulator is present, so that there is no conduction, which causes a detection state.

As shown in FIG. 49, the guide groove 137 has a lower first inclined portion 139 inclined in the recording sheet discharging direction and an upper second inclined portion 141 inclined in the opposite side to the recording sheet discharging direction.
And a bent portion 143 that connects the two.

As shown in FIG. 50, the bin 3 is provided with a lift bar storage groove 147 on the most upstream side (the base end portion of the bin) in the sheet ejection direction of the bin 3 in the direction orthogonal to the sheet ejection direction. A sheet gripping portion 149 as shown in FIG. 51 is formed on the back surface 4 of the sheet. The lift bar storage groove 147 is set to a depth that does not project from the surface of the bin 3 at all when the lift bar 40 is stored, and the sheets stored in the bin 3 should be aligned with the end fence 151 as shown in FIG. You can do it. The opening width of the lift bar storage groove 147 in the sheet discharge direction is set to be equal to or smaller than the folding margin width of the folded notation recording paper CS as shown in FIG. That is, when a = fold width of cover recording paper b = lift bar storage groove, the dimensions are such that a ≧ b. This is because when the lift bar 40 operates, it is necessary to lift only one sheet on the surface of the folded cover sheet.

At least a part of the seat gripping portion 149 is formed of an elastic member, which increases frictional resistance and secures a grip force. Furthermore, if the peripheral surface of the lift bar 40 is also formed of an elastic member, a more effective grip force can be obtained. It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 49, the angle formed by the guide groove from the grip point of the cover sheet CS to the horizontal direction is θ _1, and the angle formed from the grip point of the cover sheet CS to the horizontal direction by the bottom of the bin. If θ ₂ is set, the relationship of θ ₂ > θ ₁ must be satisfied. This is the shape regulation required when the lift bar 40 releases the contact state from the grip point.

As shown in FIG. 54, the lift bar 40 has lift claws 153 projecting from the side surface of the lift bar actuating member 129 so as to correspond to each bin 3, and the lift bar actuating SOL 131.
The seat lift operation can be performed by moving the seat up and down. That is, the lift bar 40 is attached to each lift claw 1.
The lift lever actuating member 12 is received by both ends by 53.
47 is moved upward to move the lift bar 40 along the guide groove 137 as shown in FIG.
The above-mentioned copy surface CSu is lifted and the lift bar 40 is pressed against the gripping portion 149 on the back surface 4 of the bin 3 to copy the copy surface C between the gripping portion 149 and the lift bar 40.
The Su state is held by sandwiching Su. At this time, as described above, the lift bar 40 moves the bent portion 14 of the guide groove 137.
Located in 3. When closing the copy surface CSu, the lift bar 40 is further pushed up from the position of the bent portion 143 to move the lift bar 40 to the second inclined portion 141 side. As a result, the end of the copy surface CSu of the cover sheet CS is lifted by the lift bar 4
It deviates from 0 and falls under its own weight to close the opening.

[0106]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention configured as described above has the following effects.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, if all the originals for forming an image are vertically fed, it is possible to insert a horizontally fed normal recording paper of about half the size into the vertically fed cover recording paper. Since it cannot be done, the operation of creating the folded envelope is stopped. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of the recording paper when creating the folded envelope.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the start of the image forming operation is accepted, but the subsequent operations are interrupted and displayed to the operator, so that the operator can process. It is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of recording paper when creating a folded envelope.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image is formed on the cover recording sheet, but since the folded envelope cannot be created as it is, the cover recording sheet on which the image is formed is the normal recording sheet. The sheet is discharged onto the non-sorting accommodating means that does not automatically sandwich the sheet. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary waste of recording paper.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the direction of the image information recorded on the normal recording paper is the format of vertical feeding with respect to the transport direction, the envelope must be in the horizontal direction when the bi-fold envelope is created. Since it cannot be created, the read image information is rotated by 90 ° and image processing is performed so as to form a horizontal format. As a result, a double-folded envelope can be properly created, and wasteful waste of recording paper can be prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the direction of the image information recorded on the cover recording sheet is a format of vertical feeding with respect to the conveying direction, the cover recording sheet is printed on one side when folded in half. Since the surface is in the lateral direction with respect to the transport direction, the read image information is rotated by 90 ° and image processing is performed so as to form the lateral format. This makes it possible to properly create a double-folded envelope and prevent waste of recording paper.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the image information recorded on the front cover recording sheet is determined by the determining means to be in the horizontal feed format in the conveying direction, the vertical feed front cover recording sheet. When the image information is recorded in one half of the area to form an image on one side of the front cover, and the image information recorded on the front cover recording paper is in the format of vertical feed with respect to the recording paper transport direction, Since the image is formed on the entire area of the recording paper, the double-folded envelope can be properly created, and the waste of the recording paper can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of a post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a bin, a jogger, a stapler, and a shifting device of the post-processing device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a tilting device of the post-processing device.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state when the cover recording sheet is conveyed to the proof path side in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing a state of a folding roller near a branch portion of the post-processing device.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a folding operation.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which a cover recording sheet is opened in a bin.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which normal recording papers are stacked inside a cover recording paper and closed.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which a stapler is bag-stitched to create a bi-fold envelope.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which a double-folded envelope is created by bag-binding with a stapler.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which a double-folded envelope is created by bag-binding with a stapler.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a half-folded portion of a cover recording sheet is separated from a state in which a stapler is bag-stitched to form a double-folded envelope.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step before introducing the cover recording sheet from the copying machine to the folding roller.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step of introducing the simple envelope into the proof path by a folding roller.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet on which an image is formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step of regulating the conveyance of the cover recording sheet by a stop roller in the proof path.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, showing an initial state of a step of folding in half by a folding roller that always rotates in the same direction.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet on which an image is formed on the lower surface side, showing a step of folding in two by a folding roller that always rotates in the same direction and carrying out to a sorter path. Show.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, which is folded in two by a folding roller and is changed to one end reference by a diagonal roller. Show.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, and shows the second sheet while the first cover recording sheet is being conveyed to the bin side. The following is a process in which the front cover recording paper is conveyed to the proof path and continuously processed.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording paper having an image formed on the lower surface side, showing a process of discharging a cover recording paper folded in two into a first-stage bin. Show.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, showing a state in which a folded cover recording sheet is accommodated in all predetermined bins.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step of opening a cover recording sheet stored in a bin.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, in which a normal recording sheet having an image formed on the lower cover recording sheet is passed through a sorter path. The initial process for transportation is shown.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, showing a step of being deflected by a turn guide, entering a sorter path, and conveyed.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording paper on which an image is formed on the lower surface side, and showing a process of changing the normal recording paper to one reference by an oblique roller and conveying it. .

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope by using a recording paper on which an image is formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step of conveying the normal recording paper corrected to one standard to the sorter section.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording paper having an image formed on the lower surface side, and showing a step of sequentially sorting the normal recording paper onto the open notation recording paper.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope by using a recording sheet having an image formed on the lower surface side, and showing a state where normal recording sheets are stored in the cover recording sheets of all the bins.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for creating a simple envelope using a recording paper having an image formed on the lower surface side, in which the normal recording paper is stored in the cover recording paper of all the bins and is closed. Indicates.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of a control circuit that controls the post-processing apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a cover original and an image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cover original and the image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a cover original and an image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a cover original and an image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a cover original and an image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cover original and the image-formed notation recording paper.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for discharging a proof tray.

FIG. 39 is a timing chart showing timings in the control of FIG. 38.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a cover recording sheet folding operation and a sorter discharging operation.

41 is a timing chart showing timings in the control of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a size of a folding margin.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for sorting a normal recording sheet into an opened cover recording sheet.

FIG. 44 is a timing chart showing the timing in the control of FIG. 43, showing the timing when all the bins are normal.

45 is a timing chart showing the timing in the control of FIG. 43, showing the timing when an abnormal bin exists.

FIG. 46 is an operation explanatory view showing the operation of the folded sheet lift mechanism.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing an outline of a drive mechanism of a lift bar.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a lift bar.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the guide groove and the gripping portion on the back surface of the bottle.

FIG. 50 is a perspective view showing the detailed structure of the bottle.

FIG. 51 is a front view of relevant parts showing the relationship between the bin, the lift bar guide member, and the guide groove.

FIG. 52 is an enlarged view of an essential part showing the relationship between the lift bar storage groove and the lift bar stored in the storage groove.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the dimensional relationship of the opening width of the lift bar storage groove in the sheet discharge direction.

FIG. 54 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a drive mechanism of a lift bar.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Post-Processing Device (Folded Envelope Creating Device) 2 Sorter Units 3, 3a, ..., 3t Bin 5 Proof Tray 7 Transport Route 7a Proof Route 7b Sorter Route 13a, 13b, 13c Folding Roller 15 Turn Guide 17 Stop Roller 19, 27, 29 Conveyor roller 21 Paper discharge roller 33 Sheet deflection section 35 Deflection path 37, 37a, ..., 37t Deflection section discharge roller 39 Deflection claws 40, 40a, ..., 40t Lift bar 53 CPU 63 Deflection claw SOL 65 Main drive motor 67 Turn Guide SOL 69 Seat Lift SOL 73 Lift Bar Release SOL 127 Lift Bar Guide Member 129 Lift Bar Actuating Member 131 Lift Bar Actuating SOL 149 Gripping Part

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 4, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 6]

FIG. 52

[Figure 1]

[Figure 5]

[Figure 7]

[Figure 8]

[Figure 10]

FIG. 11

[Fig. 12]

FIG. 54

[Figure 9]

[Fig. 13]

FIG. 14

FIG. 15

FIG. 16

FIG. 17

FIG. 18

FIG. 19

FIG. 21

FIG. 22

FIG. 48

FIG. 53

FIG. 20

FIG. 23

FIG. 24

FIG. 32

FIG. 33

FIG. 34

FIG. 36

FIG. 37

FIG. 25

FIG. 26

FIG. 38

FIG. 42

FIG. 49

FIG. 50

FIG. 27

FIG. 28

FIG. 51

FIG. 29

FIG. 30

FIG. 46

FIG. 47

FIG. 31

FIG. 35

FIG. 39

FIG. 44

FIG. 40

FIG. 45

FIG. 41

FIG. 43

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Hasegawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Yutaka Takashi Nakazat 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Within Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Fumio Kurizumi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A normal recording paper and a means for forming an image on a cover recording paper having a size almost twice that of the normal recording paper, a means for determining the direction of a document on which the image is formed, and a cover recording on which the image is formed. A means for folding and transporting a sheet of paper by folding it, storing it by opening it, a means of transporting a normal recording sheet on which an image has been formed and storing it in the opened cover sheet of recording material, and a means of closing the opening of the cover sheet And a means for stopping the operation of creating a folded envelope when all the documents are determined to be vertically-fed by the determining means. 2. A normal recording paper and a means for forming an image on a cover recording paper having a size approximately twice that of the normal recording paper, a means for determining the direction of a document on which the image is formed, and a cover recording on which the image is formed. A means for folding and transporting a sheet of paper by folding it, storing it by opening it, a means of transporting a normal recording sheet on which an image has been formed and storing it in the opened cover sheet of recording material, and a means of closing the opening of the cover sheet When the determination unit determines that all the documents are vertically fed, the image forming operation is interrupted after the start of the image forming operation on the cover recording sheet is accepted, and the documents are all vertically fed. A device for producing a folded-fold envelope, comprising: means for displaying. 3. A normal recording paper and a means for forming an image on a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as the normal recording paper, a means for determining a direction of a document on which the image is formed, and a cover recording on which the image is formed. A means for folding and transporting a sheet of paper by folding it, storing it by opening it, a means of transporting a normal recording sheet on which an image has been formed and storing it in the opened cover sheet of recording material, and a means for closing the opening of the cover sheet of recording material. When the determination unit determines that the originals are all fed vertically, the image forming operation on the cover recording sheet is started, and the image-formed cover recording sheet is discharged to the non-sorting accommodating unit. A device for making a folded envelope, which comprises: 4. A means for forming an image based on a digital signal on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper which is almost twice the size of the normal recording paper, and means for determining the direction of image information recorded on the normal recording paper. A means for folding and conveying a cover recording sheet on which an image is formed, and opening and storing the same, and a means for conveying a normal recording sheet on which an image is formed and storing it in the opened cover recording sheet, Image information read when it is determined by the means for closing the opening of the cover recording paper and the direction of the image information normally recorded on the recording paper by the determining means to be in the longitudinal feed format with respect to the transport direction. 90 °
A device for producing a folded-fold envelope, comprising: a unit for rotating, image-processing, and converting into a horizontal format. 5. A means for forming an image based on a digital signal on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as that of the normal recording paper, and means for determining a direction of image information recorded on the cover recording paper. A means for folding and conveying a cover recording sheet on which an image is formed, and opening and storing the same, and a means for conveying a normal recording sheet on which an image is formed and storing it in the opened cover recording sheet, Image information read when the direction of the image information recorded on the cover recording sheet is determined by the means for closing the opening of the cover recording sheet and the determining means to be a format of vertical feed with respect to the transport direction. 90 °
A device for producing a folded-fold envelope, comprising: a unit for rotating, image-processing, and converting into a horizontal format. 6. A means for forming an image on a normal recording paper and a cover recording paper having a size almost twice as large as that of the normal recording paper based on a digital signal, and a means for determining a direction of image information recorded on the cover recording paper. A means for folding and conveying a cover recording sheet on which an image is formed, and opening and storing the same, and a means for conveying a normal recording sheet on which an image is formed and storing it in the opened cover recording sheet, When the means for closing the opening portion of the cover recording sheet and the means for judging that the image information recorded on the cover recording sheet is in the transverse feeding direction with respect to the conveying direction are half of the longitudinal feeding cover recording sheet. When the image information recorded on the cover recording paper is in the format of vertical feed with respect to the recording paper conveyance direction, the image information is recorded on the entire area of the vertical feed cover recording paper. Hand When, two-fold envelope making apparatus equipped with.