JPH0796685A - Stapled state detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent happening of trouble in handling matters to be bound, by detecting an abnormality in a mounting state of a staple, in a binding device wherein a stapler is connected to an electrophotographic copying machine, etc., for producing copied matters as a bound matter. CONSTITUTION:A detecting device 10 is arranged at a specific position of a tray 2 having a stapler, so as to detect a state of a folding part protruding to the rear face of matters to be bound 1. In the detecting device 10, an upper electrode 11 and a lower electrode 15 are arranged so as to pinch the matters to be bound, the upper electrode 11 is arranged movably up and down, and a convey roller device is arranged for easily moving the matters to be bound on the tray. In the lower electrode 15 of the detecting device, a plurality of electrode members are arranged in the longitudinal direction of a staple so as to detect the state of the folding part by them. Receiving information of the lower electrode is inputted to a control device 20 so as to detect an abnormality in the mounting state of the staple at a determining means 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device connected to an electrophotographic copying machine or the like and detecting the state of a stapler for a bookbinding device that binds a bookbinding product using a stapler (binding device), The present invention relates to a staple shape detecting device that associates a plurality of electrode members with a bent portion of a staple (binding staple) and can determine a staple state by using information such as a time difference detected by each electrode member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus for binding a copy made by an apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine and discharging a copy made as a booklet onto a tray such as a sorter has been generally used. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-21603 discloses an apparatus for stapling a relatively large number of copies with staples, and the bent portion of the staple protruding to the back surface of the bookbinding product is easily folded. A mechanism is shown that enables this. Further, as a device for binding a plurality of copies discharged from an electrophotographic copying machine, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-35863, a binding device is arranged in the middle of a paper moving path. Thus, there is known a mechanism in which a plurality of copies are automatically bound and ejected as a bound product. As described above, in the device for binding the bookbinding product using the stapler, since the bookbinding product can be stored as it is in the discharge tray or the like, the bookbinding product can be easily handled,
The feature that the operator is not burdened with the post-processing of copying can be exhibited.

[0003]

However, when a stapler is bound with a stapler and the folded portion of the staple is folded in an incomplete state, the booklet looks good. In addition to the absence, an abnormal bent portion may be caught by a guide member or the like on the conveyance path. Also, when the binding by staples is not performed properly, when the bookbinding products are taken out from the tray and distributed, the two copies of the bookbinding products may remain overlapped, which hinders the handling of the bookbinding products. There is a problem that occurs. As the abnormal state of the staple, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, it is assumed that the bent portion of the staple is not normally folded into the back surface of the bookbinding product. In the drawing showing the state of the staples, in the example shown in FIG. 6, one bent portion 7 of the staple is normally folded, but the other bent portion 8a is in a bent state. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 7, even if the bent portion 7a is normal, the other bent portion 8b is bent to the opposite side. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the bent portion 7b is bent in a slightly short state, but the other bent portion 8c is in a slightly bent state. In the example showing the abnormal state of the staple, when the bent portion is not bent in a good state, the tip of the bent portion is often in a state of protruding to the back surface of the bookbinding product. In addition, there is a possibility that the handling of the bound product may be hindered.

Therefore, in order to detect the abnormal state of the staples as described above and eliminate the incomplete binding, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-70967, the stapler is detected as abnormal. Devices for detection have been proposed. In the above-mentioned conventional example, by arranging the electrodes corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the bookbinding product at a predetermined position of the stapler, and detecting the energization state of the upper and lower electrodes via the staple, it is possible to know the abnormality in the binding state due to the staple. It is made possible. However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, although the state in which the staple is not attached can be easily determined, the problem that the abnormal state of the bent portion of the staple cannot be determined remains. Therefore, it is impossible to solve the problem of handling the bookbinding product in an incomplete state in which the bent portion remains protruding on the back surface of the bookbinding product, and an extra burden is placed on the operator. I may be forced.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem of stapling due to staples, and to provide an apparatus capable of easily determining the state of a bent portion protruding on the back surface of a bookbinding product. I am trying.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a bookbinding product by stacking a large number of copies made by an image forming apparatus and binding them by a stapler. In the present invention, a detection device is arranged in the conveyance path between the position for binding the bookbinding product by the stapler and the discharge tray, and in the detection device, the upper electrode contacting the upper part of the staple and the bent portion of the staple are provided. The lower electrode is placed in contact with the lower electrode, and the lower electrode is composed of a plurality of electrode members. When the staple of the bookbinding passes through the detection device, the abnormality of the staple is detected based on the information detected by the electrode member of the lower electrode. The control means for detecting is arranged. Further, in the present invention, in the detection device for detecting the abnormality of the staple, a plurality of electrode members are arranged so as to correspond to each of the bent portions of the staple,
A mechanism for outputting the detection information of the staple state in the control means can be configured based on the time difference of the detection information obtained from each electrode member or the information on the presence or absence of the detection.

[0007]

In the staple shape detecting device of the present invention,
Since the lower electrode that constitutes the detection device is composed of a number of electrode members, the detection information of each electrode member can be input to the control device, and the staple mounting state can be detected based on the detection signal. The abnormal state of the bent portion can be accurately detected. In addition, the detection information can be obtained not only when the staples are not attached to the bookbinding product but also when the bent portion is incompletely bent or when the bent portion of the expected length is not detected. As a result, incomplete bound products are not stored in the tray.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The staple shape detecting apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The example shown in FIG. 1 shows the structure of a bookbinding production apparatus of the present invention.
The stapler 5 arranged at the end of the booklet 1 performs the binding operation for the bookbinding product 1. The tray 2
Can be arranged, for example, in the middle of the discharge path of the electrophotographic copying machine. A predetermined number of copies discharged from the electrophotographic copying machine are accumulated through a paper aligning mechanism (not shown). In this state, the tips are aligned and positioned at the binding position by the stapler 5. Then, the stapler 5 arranged at the end of the tray is used to bind the staples 6, and the booklet is bound.
So that it can be moved to the discharge side.
At a predetermined position of the tray 2, a detection device 10 for detecting the mounting state of the staple is arranged, and the upper electrode 11 and the lower electrode 15 of the detection device 10 are sandwiched above and below the staple 6, Acts to detect the staple status.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the detection device 10 includes a lower electrode 15 which projects slightly above the upper surface of the tray 2 and an upper electrode 11 which separates from and contacts the upper surface of the bookbinding product moving on the tray. And are arranged. The upper electrode 11
Uses a solenoid 12 and a spring 13 to perform a pressing operation on the bookbinding product. In order to support the upper electrode 11, a mechanism for pressing an electrode member having an arbitrary shape by a spring or the like can be used as shown in the figure. On the other hand, as shown in the embodiment of the present invention, when a means for separating and contacting the upper electrode with respect to the tray is used, the upper electrode interferes with the deposition and positioning of the copy on the tray. It can be kept in the state of not becoming. Further, the lower electrode 15 arranged corresponding to the upper electrode 11 has a large number of electrode members 16a to 16h arranged at a predetermined interval. In the example shown in FIG. The two electrode members are set to correspond to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 20 arranged corresponding to the detection device 10 has a calculating means 21,
The determining unit 22 and the solenoid driving unit 23 are configured to include a power feeding circuit 25 and a power receiving circuit 26 connected to the electrodes. The power feeding circuit 25 is for applying a predetermined voltage to the upper electrode 11 in response to a signal from the calculating means 21, and the power receiving circuit 26 is for the electrode member 16a of FIG.
The detection signals from 16b ... Are individually input and used to transmit the power reception signal to the calculation means 21. Further, the solenoid driving means 23 controls the operation of pressing the upper electrode 11 against the bookbinding product at a predetermined timing when the bookbinding product bound by the staple is discharged from the tray 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the lower electrode 1
Reference numeral 5 is configured as a member that is short with respect to the moving direction of the bookbinding product, and when the bent portion is bent in the lateral direction, there is a difference in detection time between the two electrode members.

In the detection device of the present invention having the above-described structure, the time during which the upper electrode 11 is energized via the power supply circuit 25 may be limited only while the staple portion passes over the tray. it can. Further, while the upper electrode 11 is being energized, the deviation of the power receiving time of the electrode member forming the lower electrode 15 is input to the calculating unit 21 via the power receiving circuit 26, and the determining unit 22 determines the staple Try to judge the state. It should be noted that the power reception signal input to the power reception circuit 26 includes the electrode member 16a shown in FIG.
Signals a, b ... Are input from each of 16b ..., And the received signals are transmitted to the calculating means 21. When it is determined by the determination unit 22 that the staple mounting state is not normal, the bookbinding product is not ejected toward the normal tray, but is branched toward the tray that ejects the defective bookbinding product. Such means can be configured.

In the detection device of the present invention constructed as described above, the power reception signal output from the electrode members 16a ... Is as shown in FIG. 4 when the staples are normally attached to the bookbinding product. become. In other words, regarding the two bent portions of the staple, one of the bent portions 7 has 2
The lower electrode 15 is configured such that one electrode member 16b and 16c correspond to each other and two electrode members 16f and 16g correspond to the other bent portion 8 respectively. Then, power supply is started from the power supply circuit 25 to the upper electrode 11, and after a predetermined time t1 has elapsed, the power reception signals b, c, f from the electrode members corresponding to the two bent portions 7 and 8, Since each g is obtained, the determination unit 22 that processes the received power signal outputs a determination that the staple has been normally attached.

On the other hand, when the staples are not properly attached, as shown in FIG. 5, the received signal is disturbed, and the signal a which is not output in the normal state and the bent portion are The signals f indicating the abnormal positions are output respectively. That is, FIG.
In the example shown in (1), one bent portion is bent, and the other bent portion is bent to the opposite side. Then, the power receiving signals a and b are obtained from the bent portion bent to the opposite side, and as the signal for detecting the other bent portion, although the signal g is obtained at normal timing, another signal is obtained. The signal f is generated with a time difference t2. Therefore, by processing the power reception signal as shown in FIG. 5 by the control device, it is possible to determine from the determination means 22 that the staple mounting state is abnormal. Further, as shown in the graph of FIG. 5, even when the detection signal from the electrode member is output at an unexpected timing or when the electrode member which should not be detected outputs a staple abnormality signal from the determination means. Will be output. As described above, when it is determined that the bookbinding product is not bound in a normal state, it is possible to perform processing for ejecting the bookbinding product to a tray different from the normal tray. it can.

Further, in the detecting device of the present invention, the staples are attached in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the bookbinding product, and the electrode members of the lower electrodes are arranged in a state orthogonal to the staples. Then, it is possible to detect the bending state of the bent portion or the incomplete bent state by making it possible to detect the mounting state in a state where two or more electrode members are in contact with each of the bent portions of the staple. It becomes possible to do. As shown in FIG. 8, when the bent portion does not sufficiently project to the back surface of the bookbinding product, detection signals are obtained from the electrode members one by one. It is determined that the binding state of is not normal. As described above, since the detection signals corresponding to the respective states of FIGS. 6 to 8 are input to the control device via the power receiving circuit, the staple mounting state can be easily determined.

[0015]

Since the staple shape detecting device of the present invention is constructed as described above, by providing means for detecting the state of the staple in the vicinity of the position for binding the bookbinding product by the stapler. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the binding failure. Further, the detection device of the present invention, the electrode on the power receiving side is composed of a large number of electrode members, by analyzing the power receiving signal from each electrode member,
The state of the bent portion of the staple can be known in detail. Then, even in a state where the appearance of the bookbinding product is affected, the document can be re-stitched, the reliability of the device can be improved, and the operator is not required to handle the discharged product as the bookbinding product. You will not be burdened. Therefore, the detection information can be obtained not only when the staples are not attached to the bookbinding product, but also when the bent part is incompletely bent or when the bent part of the expected length is not detected. As a result, incomplete bound products are not stored in the tray.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a bookbinding apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a detection device and a control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a state of an energization signal obtained from the detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a signal state when staples are not normal.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an abnormal state of staples.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of an abnormal state of staples.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of an abnormal state of staples.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bookbinding product, 2 trays, 5 stapler, 6 staples, 7.8 folding part, 10
Detection device, 11 upper electrode, 15 lower electrode, 20 control device, 21 computing means, 22
Judgment means, 25 power feeding circuit, 26 power receiving circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for producing a bookbinding product by stacking a plurality of copies made by an image forming apparatus and binding them by a stapler, wherein a detection device is provided in a transport path between a position for binding the bookbinding product by the stapler and a discharge tray. In the detection device, an upper electrode that contacts the upper portion of the staple and a lower electrode that contacts the bent portion of the staple are arranged, and the lower electrode is composed of a plurality of electrode members. A staple shape detecting device, characterized in that when a staple passes through the detecting device, a control means is arranged for detecting abnormality of the staple based on information detected by the electrode member of the lower electrode. 2. The detecting device for detecting the abnormality of the staple, wherein a plurality of electrode members are arranged so as to correspond to the respective bent portions of the staple, and a time difference of detection information obtained from each electrode member is provided. Alternatively, the staple shape detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs the detection information of the staple state in accordance with the information on the presence or absence of the detection.