JPH10167474A - Booklet loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the booklet loading device which can maintain the quality of each booklet, and load many booklets by preventing the booklets loaded in the booklet loading device from falling down. SOLUTION: In a booklet binding device where each booklet having been bound is received, loaded and housed in, a booklet direction change-over means is provided, which is formed out of a stepping motor 143 (rotating motor for rotary tray) rotating a rotary tray 135, and of a stepping motor (elevating motor for rotary tray) moving the rotary tray up and down (not indicated in the figure), and a booklet direction change-over means which turns around the binding side portion and non-binding side portion of each received booklet so as to rest them therein, is provided, and a control means is also provided, which controls the operation of the aforesaid booklet direction change-over means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a booklet stacking apparatus for stacking and discharging a plurality of sheets on which images are formed, such as a staple or other bundle fixing member, and a booklet (bookbinding product) formed by binding. More specifically, the present invention relates to a booklet loading method in a booklet loading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bookbinding apparatus that binds a plurality of sheets to be carried in at a binding portion such as stapling or gluing and sequentially binds a booklet has been generally used. In such a general bookbinding apparatus, a bound booklet is carried into a booklet stacking apparatus provided in the bookbinding apparatus so as to be stacked in a vertically stacked state.

[0003] At this time, since the booklet carried in from the gluing device or the like was loaded on the booklet loading device as it was in the flow, all the booklets were loaded in the same direction.

[0004]

However, in booklets bound by a bookbinding apparatus, the side to be bound (hereinafter referred to as the spine side) often becomes thicker by the member for binding. Conversely, the side on which bookbinding is not performed (hereinafter, referred to as a double-page spread side) may be thicker than the thickness due to the binding member on the spine side due to folding or Z-folding.

On the other hand, a bookbinding apparatus is often used in such a manner that a plurality of booklets are bound from one set of originals by being connected to an image forming apparatus (copier).

In the case where the same booklet is successively stacked, if only one of the spine side and the spread side is thick as described above, the booklet gradually tilts, and the stacked booklet is May collapse over time.

Further, it is conceivable that even during the loading, the booklet already loaded is slid down due to the inclination of the already loaded booklet, and the booklet becomes dirty or torn.

Therefore, conventionally, the upper limit of the number of booklets stacked in the booklet stacking device is fixed to a fixed number of booklets in advance, and when the number of booklets exceeds the upper limit, loading on the stacking device is prohibited. Was.

That is, in the conventional loading method, the problem of collapse or the like is solved by loading only booklets having a smaller number of booklets than can be actually loaded, and the loading efficiency of the loading device is reduced. Was gone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to maintain the quality of a booklet by preventing a booklet loaded in a booklet stacking apparatus from falling down. Another object of the present invention is to provide a booklet loading device capable of loading a larger number of booklets.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a booklet stacking apparatus for receiving, stacking, and storing a bound booklet includes: A booklet direction switching means for inverting and placing the binding side portion and placing the booklet direction switching means, and a control means for controlling the operation of the booklet direction switching means are provided.

Thus, it is determined whether or not to switch the direction of the bound booklet until the booklet is stacked and stored, and the control means controls the booklet direction switching means according to the determination.

The control means switches ON / OFF of the booklet direction switching means every time the set number of booklets is stacked.

Thus, after a predetermined number of booklets are stacked in the same direction, a predetermined number of booklets are also stacked in the opposite direction. That is, the inclination of the booklet can be kept within a certain range.

It is characterized by having counter means for counting the number of booklets, and judging whether or not the number of booklets set has been reached based on the value of the counter by the counter means.

Thus, the number of booklets in a booklet can be accurately measured, and the switching of the booklet direction can be controlled accurately.

The set number of booklets can be arbitrarily input by the user.

Thus, the direction of the booklet can be switched in a special case, for example, when the inclination of one booklet is large.

A setting means is provided for automatically setting the number of booklets to be inverted (the number of inverted booklets) according to the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored.

Thus, the number of reversing booklets is automatically set without waiting for an input by the user, so that accurate stacking and storage can be easily performed.

When the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored is smaller than the predetermined number of booklets, the booklets are not inverted.

Thus, when there is no risk of collapse,
No booklet direction switching means and control means are used, and all booklets are stacked in the same direction.

[0023]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, shape, relative arrangement, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 2 is a front view of a bookbinding system to which a booklet stacking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. This bookbinding system forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus 101 includes an image forming apparatus 101 and a bookbinding apparatus 102 that binds a plurality of output sheets output from the image forming apparatus 101 to generate a booklet (bookbinding product).

Reference numeral 101 denotes a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, which transfers an image formed on a photosensitive drum (image forming unit) 105 by an electrostatographic process or the like onto a sheet P for copying. Is output to the bookbinding apparatus 102 along the transport path 106.

FIG. 3 shows the inside of the bookbinding apparatus 102 in more detail.

The sheet P output from the image forming apparatus 101 is conveyed to a matching unit 108 by a conveying path 107.
The aligning unit 108 receives the conveyed sheets P and performs an aligning process so as to form a bundle. The sheet bundle aligned by the aligning unit 108 is subjected to a bookbinding process in the gluing unit 109 and bound into a booklet.

In the bookbinding apparatus according to the present embodiment, a hot melt tape whose adhesive surface melts when heat is applied is received from a tape supply unit (not shown) and bundled together with the tape by the aligning unit 108. The bookbinding operation is performed by heating the binding side portion of the (bundle of sheets P).

The booklet as the book bound here is:
It is sent to the booklet loading device, where the timing belt 13
The sheet is conveyed to the lifting / lowering transporting unit 4 driven by 3 and 134 and is stacked on the stackers 103 and 104, or is discharged from the booklet discharging unit 110 to a finisher (not shown) at the subsequent stage.

When placing the booklet on the stacker, the user can designate the stacker to be loaded, and can specify the priority of the stacked stacker. The booklets stacked on the stackers 103 and 104 can be taken out by pulling them out of the stackers (front side in the figure). In the figure, the stackers 103 and 104
Are described, but a plurality of devices may be prepared or only one device may be provided.

Next, the operation of the lifting / lowering transport unit in the booklet placing apparatus, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, when stacking booklets on a stacker will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of the booklet placing device.
The operations are shown in time series in (a) to (e).
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows a booklet (bookbinding material) Sa bound by the gluing section 109 as shown in FIG.
It is in the state received above.

Here, 131 is a driving means of the comb tray, 133 and 134 are timing belts driven by a stepping motor (not shown) to move the comb tray up and down, and 206 is a position of the comb tray on the stacker. Sensor 206 which is a non-contact sensor for measuring the distance
It is.

When the booklet Sa is placed on the comb tray 28, the driving means 131 operates, and the booklet Sa moves leftward in the figure as shown in FIG. 4B until it is positioned above the stacker.

When the booklet comes above the stacker, the timing belts 133 and 134 operate, and the elevating / lowering transporting unit 4 descends with the booklet Sa placed on the comb tray 28, as shown in FIG.
The state is as shown in FIG. At this time, the distance measuring sensor 206
By measuring the distance to the booklet Sa on the comb tray 28, the lifting / lowering transport unit 4 is lowered while being accurately controlled.

When the ascending / descending transport unit 4 descends to the vicinity of the booklets stacked on the stacker, the comb tray 28 is quickly slid to the right side in the figure by the driving means 131, and the booklets Sa are stored in the stacker.

At this time, since the relationship between the comb tray 28 and the stacker is as shown in FIG. 5, the comb tray 28 can easily enter and the booklet can be easily separated.

However, the comb-shaped tray 2
8 were moved and separated, the booklet Sa was more likely to wrinkle and might be damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to move the comb tray 28 at a certain speed or higher.
It has been found that a speed of about 100 mm / s or more is required.

In this case, the comb tray is set to be pulled out at a speed of 300 mm / s.

Thereafter, the comb tray 28 is moved up by the timing belts 133 and 134 and returns to the initial position (FIG. 4A). That is, the lifting / lowering transport unit returns to the original state, and one cycle of storing the booklet is completed.

Although the operation of the lifting / lowering transport unit has been described above, in the present application, when loading a booklet on the stacker, in order to prevent only one of the spine side and the spread side from becoming higher, the booklet is loaded at the time of loading. Is controlled so that the stacked booklets become horizontal.

Specifically, the control means controls the normal stacking mode in which the booklet direction switching means is OFF,
And the reversing stacking mode, which is a state, is selected. In the reversing mode, reversing work is performed by the booklet direction switching means in the state of FIG.

Here, a method of reversing the direction of the booklet will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7. FIG.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of the booklet direction switching means in the lifting / lowering transport section 4. As shown in FIG.

As described above, the booklet direction switching means includes the rotating tray 135 and the gear 14 connected to the rotating tray 135.
1. A stepping motor (rotating tray rotating motor) 143 for rotating the rotating tray 135, a stepping motor (rotating tray elevating motor) (not shown) for lifting and lowering the rotating tray, and a rotating tray rotating motor 143, and further meshing with the gear 141 Gear 142 and the like.

FIGS. 6A to 6D show the comb tray 28.
Of the rotation tray 135 with respect to FIG.

FIG. 6A shows an initial state, that is, a state immediately after the booklet Sa has been delivered to the comb tray 28. In addition, Ta in the figure indicates a hot melt tape as a binding side portion that is glued.

Thereafter, when a signal is input from the controller 200 (FIG. 7), a rotating tray lifting / lowering motor (not shown) is driven, and as shown in FIG.
The booklet Sa is lifted up by millimeters and placed on the rotating tray 135.

Next, the rotary tray rotation motor 143 is turned on.
Then, when the rotation tray 135 is rotated by 180 degrees, the rotation tray rotation motor 143 is turned off.

Finally, the booklet is transferred from the rotary tray 135 to the comb tray 28 by lowering the rotary tray 135 by 20 mm by the rotary tray lifting motor 205 (FIG. 7). (FIG. 6 (d)) By these series of operations, the booklet on the comb tray is
Can be rotated 0 degrees.

The moving direction, moving amount, rotating direction, and rotating speed of the rotating tray 135 are controlled by signals from the controller 200 (FIG. 7).

Hereinafter, the overall operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, the set number of booklets is set to five, and the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion of the booklet are set to be inverted and stacked every five books.

First, when the bookbinding operation is started, the loading mode is set to the normal loading mode (S1). Here, the normal stacking mode is a mode in which a bound booklet is stacked on a stacker in the same direction. Next, a booklet counter 2 as a counter means for counting the number of booklets in S2.
01 is set to 0. In S3, whether or not the booklet Sa has been delivered to the lifting / lowering transport unit 4 is detected by a photosensor with an actuator (bundle presence / absence detection sensor) 202 provided on the comb tray 28, and if there is a booklet, the booklet counter 201 Is advanced by one (S4).

Next, if the current loading mode is the normal loading mode in S5, the process proceeds to S6 and the booklet Sa is loaded on the stacker 103. If this booklet is the last booklet to be bound, the bookbinding job ends, otherwise the process proceeds to S8.

Here, it is determined whether the current booklet counter value is equal to the set value of the number of reversing booklets, ie, the number of booklets set in advance in the memory 207 to invert the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion by 180 degrees. If it is smaller than the set value, the process returns to S3. In the present embodiment, the set value is set to five books, so if the current booklet counter value is smaller than five books, the process returns to S3.

If the value of the booklet counter is equal to the set value (S8), the process proceeds to S9, and if the current normal loading mode (S9), the mode is changed to the reverse loading mode (S10), and the reverse loading mode is performed. If so, the mode is changed to the normal loading mode (S11). Here, the reversing stacking mode is a mode in which the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion of the booklet arranged in the lifting / lowering transport section are reversed, and then the stacking is performed on the stacker.

After the loading mode is changed in S10 and S11, the process returns to S2.

Next, in S5, if the current loading mode is the reverse loading mode, the process proceeds to S12, where the booklet direction switching means is turned on by the controller 200 as the control means, and the booklet The binding side portion and the non-binding side portion are inverted by 180 degrees.

Thereafter, lamination is performed on the stacker (S6).

By repeating such an operation, the booklets are stacked on the stacker 103 in a state as shown in FIG. 9 in which the binding portion and the non-binding portion are inverted every five books.

In the above embodiment, the set number of booklets is 5
However, this value can be set to any number of books.

In the above embodiment, the set value of the number of reversing booklets is set in the memory 207 in advance, but this value may be set by the user. In this case, an OCU (not shown) provided in the bookbinding apparatus 102
By writing the data input from the memory 207 into the memory 207 and setting the data as a set value, the present embodiment can be implemented as described above.

As described above, by stacking the booklets with the hot melt tape so that the inclination of the booklets is equal to the left and right, it is possible to prevent the stacked booklets from collapsing.

If the booklet is prevented from collapsing, the stacking capacity of the stacker can be increased and the stacker can be used effectively.

Further, since the swelling of the booklet due to the hot melt tape is equal to the left and right, the user can easily take out the booklet from the stacker.

Further, since the binding side and the non-binding side of the booklet are inverted and stacked for every arbitrary number of booklets, the user can easily recognize the number of booklets.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a method for automatically setting the number of booklets for inverting a bound portion and a non-bound portion in accordance with the number of booklets set by the user will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. I do.

First, when the bookbinding operation is started, the controller 200 reads the data of the total number of books to be bound (the number of all booklets) input from the OCU (not shown) of the copying machine 101 (FIG. 1). If the total number of booklets is one or more and less than ten (S21),
The set value of the number of reversing booklets is set to one (S22) so that the binding portion and the non-binding side portion are reversed for each book.

If the total number of booklets is 10 or more, the set value of the number of inverted booklets is set to five so that the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion are inverted and stacked every five books.

The initial loading mode is set to the normal loading mode (S24). Next, in step S25, the booklet counter 201 for counting the number of bookbinding is set to 0. In S26, the booklet Sa
Is detected by the comb-like photosensor (bunch presence / absence detection sensor) 202 provided on the comb tray 28, and if there is a booklet, the booklet counter 201 is incremented by one (see FIG. 4). S2
7).

Next, if the current loading mode is the normal loading mode in S5 (S28), the process proceeds to S29 and the booklet Sa is loaded on the stacker 103. If this booklet is the last booklet to be bound (S30), the bookbinding job ends, otherwise the process proceeds to S31.

Here, the current value of the booklet counter and S22
Alternatively, a comparison is made as to whether or not the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion are inverted by 180 degrees for each book set in S23. If the number is smaller than the set value, the process returns to S26.

If the value of the booklet counter is equal to the set value, the process proceeds to S32, and if the mode is the normal loading mode, the mode is changed to the reverse loading mode (S33). If the mode is the reverse loading mode, the normal loading mode is set. (S3
4).

After the loading mode is changed in S33 and S34, the process returns to S25.

Next, in S26, if the current loading mode is the reverse loading mode, the process proceeds to S35, where the lifting / lowering transport unit 4
Above, the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion of the booklet are inverted by 180 degrees.

Thereafter, the sheets are stacked on the stacker (S2).
9).

With the above configuration, it is possible to stack the booklet with the binding side and the non-binding side reversed with the number of booklets automatically determined according to the number of booklets.

(Embodiment 3) When the number of booklets (the number of all booklets) is small, it may not be necessary to invert the direction of the booklet every several books and stack them on the stacker.

In this case, in S22 in the flowchart of the second embodiment, if the total number of booklets is 10
If the size of the booklet is smaller than that of the booklet, by setting the number of the inverted booklets to 0, it is possible to avoid stacking the booklet with the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion reversed.

Thus, it is possible to simplify the operation when there is no possibility of collapse and to speed up the loading and storage.

The detailed description of the flowchart is the same as that of the second embodiment, and thus will be omitted.

In the above three embodiments, the description of stacking booklets bound by tape has been given. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a staple bundle in which one or a plurality of places are stapled. Or a booklet made by other binding means.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, a method of inverting a booklet using a comb tray and a rotating tray has been described. However, the booklet direction switching means of the present application is not limited to this. Instead, as shown in FIG. 11, a method of rotating a comb tray which is completely divided into two pieces may be used.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, the booklet direction switching means for inverting the binding side portion and the non-binding side portion of the received booklet and placing the booklet, and the operation of the booklet direction switching means are described. And control means for controlling, when stacking the booklets, it is possible to stack the booklets in a direction that can prevent the booklet from collapsing, without impairing the quality of the booklets, and enabling a larger number of booklets to be stacked. A loading device can be provided.

The control means switches ON / OFF of the booklet direction switching means each time the set number of booklets is stacked. And the collapse of the loaded booklet can be effectively prevented.

Since the apparatus has counter means for counting the number of booklets and determines whether or not the number of booklets has reached a value set by the counter value of the counter means, the number of booklets can be measured accurately, and Direction switching control can be performed with high accuracy, and the booklet can be more reliably prevented from collapsing.

If the user can arbitrarily input the set number of booklets, the direction of the booklet can be switched in a special case, for example, when the inclination of one booklet is large. This can prevent the booklet from collapsing.

By providing setting means for automatically setting the number of booklets to be inverted according to the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored, automatic setting is possible without waiting for user input. Since the number of reversing booklets is set appropriately, accurate stacking and storage can be easily performed, and the collapse of the booklets can be more easily prevented.

If the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored is smaller than the predetermined number of booklets, the booklet is not reversed. If the booklet is not likely to collapse, the operation can be simplified, and the speed of stacking and storing can be increased. Can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a main part of a booklet direction switching unit of a booklet stacking device according to a first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bookbinding system including a bookbinding device to which the booklet stacking device according to the first embodiment of the present application is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a bookbinding apparatus to which the booklet stacking apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present application is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view illustrating the operation of the booklet stacking device according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a comb tray of the booklet stacking device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the booklet direction switching means in the booklet stacking apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram centering on a controller serving as control means in the booklet stacking device according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the booklet loading device according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a booklet loaded by the booklet loading device according to the first embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a booklet loading device according to a second embodiment of the present application.

11 (a) to 11 (g) are diagrams showing other forms of the booklet direction switching means, wherein the upper diagram is a front view and the lower diagram is a plan view.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Elevating and lowering transport unit 28 Comb tray 101 Image forming apparatus 102 Bookbinding apparatus 103, 104 Stacker 105 Photosensitive drum 106, 107 Transportation path 108 ..Alignment unit 109 ... Glue unit 110 ... Booklet discharge unit 131 ... Drive means 133,134 ... Timing belt 135 ... Rotating tray 141,142 ... Gear 143 ... Stepping motor (Rotary tray rotation motor) 200: Controller 201: Booklet counter 202: Bundle presence / absence detection sensor 203: Comb tray motor 204: Timing belt motor 205: Rotating tray lifting / lowering motor 206 ..Ranging sensor 207 ・ ・ ・ Memory Sa ・ ・ ・ Booklet Ta ・ ・ ・ Hot melt tape

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Ishizuka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A booklet stacking apparatus for receiving, stacking, and storing booklets bound by a booklet, comprising: a booklet direction switching means for reversing and placing a binding side portion and a non-binding side portion of the received booklet; And a control means for controlling the operation of the booklet direction switching means. 2. The booklet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein said control means switches on / off of said booklet direction switching means every time the set number of booklets is stacked. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising counter means for counting the number of booklets, and judging whether or not the set number of booklets has been reached based on a counter value of said counter means. Booklet loading device. 4. The booklet stacking device according to claim 2, wherein the set number of booklets can be arbitrarily input by a user. 5. A setting means for automatically setting the number of booklets to be reversed according to the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored.
The booklet loading device according to 3 or 4. 6. The booklet according to claim 1, wherein when the total number of booklets to be finally stacked and stored is smaller than the predetermined number of booklets, the booklets are not inverted. Booklet loading device.