JP4467486B2 - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention accepts a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine, or another office machine, and performs a process of folding the sheet in two at the staple binding position after the staple binding. In particular, the present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus that can be used, and an image forming apparatus that incorporates / connects the sheet processing apparatus.

  Accepts sheets transported from image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, and performs various processes such as alignment, sorting, stacking, staple binding, folding, envelope filling, binding processing, bookbinding, punching, inspection, and processing. A sheet processing apparatus for performing the above has been put into practical use. Also, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, such a sheet processing apparatus is built in or connected as a purchase option.

  A sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an apparatus capable of receiving sheets formed with an image by a main body of a copying machine and performing processing such as stacking, sorting, and needle binding. A processing unit (a so-called bookbinding unit) is provided that staples at a predetermined transverse line and then folds the needle at the transverse line.

  When such a bookbinding process is performed, if an image is formed in the folded portion of the sheet (a region along the transverse line of the two folds), the frictional force between the sheets is reduced or the sheet is cured. There is a problem that the force in the direction of shifting the sheets increases, and the sheets are easily damaged when the stacked sheets are folded in half with the needle hole of the needle binding as a base point.

  In order to solve this problem, the sheet processing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 prohibits the bookbinding process when an image is formed in the folded portion of the sheet. The forming apparatus is instructed so that an image is not formed at the folded portion of the sheet.

JP 11-322180 A

  In recent years, colorization of image forming apparatuses has progressed, and there has been a demand for graphic output images. However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a blank portion is provided in advance in the folded portion of the sheet, the image forming area on the sheet can be limited, and there is a problem in specification that it cannot cope with so-called borderless printing. .

  The present invention can prevent the sheet from being damaged when the sheet is folded in two without prohibiting the image formation at the folded portion of the sheet, and thus can perform the sheet binding process safely and reliably even on the sheet printed with no border. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  The sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a needle binding unit that staples the folding position of the stacked sheets, and the sheet that has been stapled by the needle binding unit is bent at the folding position, and is sandwiched and added in a folded state. A sheet processing apparatus including a folding unit that performs pressure conveyance, and determines an image amount of a predetermined region adjacent to the folding position, and when the image amount is large, the number of staples at the folding position is smaller than when the image amount is small. It is equipped with an increasing control means.

  In the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention, the number of staples is increased when the image amount of the folded portion (the area along the fold line) is large, compared to the case where the image amount is small (for example, when there is none). The number of needle holes increases, the load in the direction of shifting the sheet is dispersed, and the needles are less likely to tear the needle holes.

  Further, since the number of staples is not increased when the image amount of the folded portion is small, compared to the case where the number of staples is increased regardless of the amount of image, the wasteful consumption of the needle and the increase in processing time are meaningless. Can be prevented.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the bookbinding unit, FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the staple binding position, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of sheet image discrimination, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the folding state.

  The sheet processing apparatus 2 according to this embodiment includes, for example, a staple unit 18 that is a staple binding unit, folding rollers 26 and 27 and a protruding unit 25 that are bending units, and a sheet stopper 23 and a width-adjusting member 300 that are alignment units. , 301 and a CPU 200 as control means. The folding means includes, for example, an ejection unit 25 that is an ejection means, and folding rollers 26 and 27 that are transportation means, for example, folding rollers 26 and 27 that are transportation members, and a blade 25a that is an ejection member, for example. Have. The alignment means includes, for example, a sheet stopper 23 that is a contact member, and width adjusting members 300 and 301 that are moving members, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet processing apparatus 2 is arranged / connected to the downstream side of an image forming apparatus (so-called multi-function machine) 1 having functions such as a copying machine, a FAX, a network printer, and a printing apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 sandwiches and conveys the sheet P on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit 110 between the discharge roller 1a and the discharge roller 1b, and discharges the sheet P to the sheet processing apparatus 2.

  The sheet processing apparatus 2 includes an entrance flapper 3 at a sheet introduction portion facing the paper discharge roller 1a and the paper discharge roller 1b. The inlet flapper 3 is connected to an inlet solenoid (not shown), and switching from the stack mode to the binding mode is performed when the inlet solenoid is turned on, and switching from the sorting mode to the stack mode is performed when the inlet solenoid is turned off.

[Stack mode configuration]
A stacker discharge roller 5 and a stacker discharge roller 6 are disposed downstream of the sheet discharge guide 4 that guides the sheet P in the horizontal direction. The sheet P sandwiched and conveyed between the stacker discharge roller 5 and the stacker discharge roller 6 is discharged / stacked on the stacker tray 7. The stacker tray 7 is moved up and down along the frame 8 by a drive mechanism (not shown). A sensor 84 for detecting the sheet P is disposed in the paper discharge guide 4.

[Composition of copy mode]
The sheet P whose direction has been changed downward by the inlet flapper 3 is guided to the bookbinding unit 210 by the sheet guides 11 and 12. A conveyance roller 13 and a conveyance roller 14 pressed by the conveyance roller 13 are disposed on the downstream side of the sheet guides 11 and 12, and a switching flapper is provided in the upper sheet guides 34 and 35 following the sheet guides 11 and 12. 15 and 16 are arranged.

  The switching flappers 15 and 16 are driven by a switching solenoid (not shown), and are configured to take two positions, a one-dot chain line and a solid line shown in the drawing, corresponding to ON / OFF of the switching solenoid.

  The sheet guides 11, 12, 34, and 35 constitute a first conveyance path 201 together with the sheet guides 20 and 21 that are positioned below in the drawing. In the first conveyance path 201, elastic rollers 17a and 22a made of sponge-like rubber material are disposed, and the elastic members 17d and 22d disposed to face the elastic rollers 17a and 22a are respectively The elastic rollers 17a and 22a are biased.

  A staple unit 18 is disposed below the elastic roller 17a. As shown in FIG. 2, the staple unit 18 is provided with two staplers 18a and 18b, and each of the staplers 18a and 18b includes a staple needle and a driving motor. As shown in FIG. 1, the staple unit 18 is configured to be swingable around a rotation shaft 18c. The staplers 18a and 18b are stapled by a CPU (Central Processing Control Unit) 200 and a staple binding operation. Controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an anvil 19 is disposed on the seat guide so as to face the staple unit 18. When the anvil 19 staples a bundle of sheets P by the staple unit 18, the staple needle tip is guided by the mold surface 19 a of the anvil 19 to crush the staple needle tip.

  The width guide members 300 and 301 are supported by the sheet guides 20 and 21 disposed on the downstream side of the staple unit 18 so as to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the width adjusting members 300 and 301 are configured to press the both sides of the sheet P in the first conveyance path 201 to align the sheet P, and for staple binding by the staple unit 18. In advance, the width-adjusting members 300 and 301a mesh with the pinion gears 302a and 303a of the two motors 302 and 303 that are operated by signals from the CPU 200, so that the width-adjusting members 300 and 301 are The sheet P is moved in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the bundle of sheets P.

  A sheet stopper 23 is disposed below the width adjusting members 300 and 301. The sheet stopper 23 is a member that receives the leading end of the sheet P that has entered between the sheet guides 20 and 21 as shown in FIG. 2 and aligns the sheet P in the first conveyance path 201 in the conveyance direction. It is. The sheet stopper 23 has two purposes. One is the positioning of the sheet P when stapled by the staple unit 18, and the other is the position of the sheet P when the sheet P is folded by the folding rollers 26 and 27. Positioning.

  The sheet stopper 23 is movable in the direction of the arrow in the figure along the sheet guides 20 and 21 when the rollers 23a are guided in the guide grooves formed in the frame 8. A rack (not shown) attached to the sheet stopper 23 meshes with the pinion gear 23b of the motor 23c, and the CPU 200 controls the operation of the motor 23c, whereby the sheet stopper 23 moves up and down. A sensor 85 is arranged for detecting the leading edge of the sheet.

  The second conveyance path 202 is branched from the middle of the first conveyance path 201. Folding rollers 26 and 27 that are controlled by the CPU 200 are arranged on the branching portion 203 side of the second conveyance path 202. The folding rollers 26 and 27 are pressed against each other with a predetermined pressure. On the left side of the folding rollers 26 and 27 in the drawing, a discharge guide 28 constituting the second conveyance path 202 is disposed. The discharge guide 28 is for guiding the bundle of sheets P discharged from the folding rollers 26 and 27 to the nip gap between the discharge roller 30 and the roller 31.

  The protruding unit 25 is disposed at a position facing the branching portion 203 of the second transport path 202. As shown in FIG. 7, the blade 25a of the ejection unit 25 is retracted to the outside of the sheet guides 35 and 21 before the sheet folding operation, but when the sheet folding operation is performed, the folding rollers 26 and 27 Projects to just before the nip position.

  A discharge sensor 29 disposed on the exit side of the rollers 26 and 27 detects the leading end and the trailing end of the folded sheet bundle. A discharge tray 32 disposed below the stacker tray 7 is for stacking a bundle of sheets discharged from the gap between the discharge roller 30 and the roller 31. The discharge tray 32 is also moved up and down along the frame 8 independently of the stacker tray 7 by a drive mechanism (not shown).

  A folding roller cover 33 as a shutter for closing the branching portion 203 is disposed in the vicinity of the branching portion 203 of the second transport path 202. The folding roller cover 33 covers the folding rollers 26 and 27 (partitioning from the first conveyance path 201), thereby connecting the sheet guide 20 straight, and the sheet P conveyed through the first conveyance path 201 is a folding roller. 26 and 27 are prevented from being caught.

  Prior to the start of the folding operation of the sheet bundle, when the shutter driving motor 33b is driven by the CPU 200, the folding roller cover 33 opens the branch portion 203.

  The folding roller cover 33 functions to prevent the leading edge of the sheet P that has entered between the sheet guides 34 and 35 from being caught by the folding rollers 26 and 27. The folding roller cover 33 is slid along the first conveyance path 201 as a roller 33 a rotatably attached is guided by a guide groove (not shown) formed in the frame 8. Racks (not shown) are attached to both ends of the folding roller cover 33, and the racks mesh with the pinion gears 33c of the shutter drive motor 33b. Accordingly, the driving force of the shutter drive motor 33b moves the folding roller cover 33 up and down via the pinion gear 33c.

[Operation overview]
As shown in FIG. 4, in step S <b> 11, the CPU 200 determines whether or not the bookbinding process is based on the processing data transmitted from the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1. When the alignment mode is set in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 1, the process proceeds to step S12, where the sheet P is brought into contact with the sheet stopper 23 and aligned. That is, the entrance flapper 3 closes the entrance of the paper discharge guide 4 to guide the sheet P downward, and the sheet P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 13, the conveyance roller 14, and the elastic rollers 17a and 22a, as shown in FIG. Thus, the elastic rollers 17a and 22a are idled in a state where the leading end of the sheet P is abutted against the sheet stopper 23.

  In this way, the sheets P discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 are successively abutted against the sheet stopper 23 and are superposed in a vertical and horizontal alignment state up to a set number. At this time, since the folding roller cover 33 is in a position covering the folding rollers 26 and 27, even if the sheet P being conveyed through the first conveyance path 201 is bent due to curl or the like, the sheet P is not folded. 27 does not get caught.

  When the set number of sheets P are stacked on the first conveyance path 201, the width adjusting members 300 and 301 reciprocate based on the sheet size information sent from the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet bundle is aligned so that the center of the sheet P comes to the center of the sheet conveyance path.

  In step S13, based on the image information sent from the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 1, the image is formed in the folding portion A shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not there is. If there is no image in the folding portion A, the process proceeds to step S20, and two crossing lines B are stapled by the two staplers 18a and 18b in the state shown in FIG.

  However, if an image is formed in the folded portion, the process proceeds to step S14, and the width adjusting members 300 and 301 are moved 15 mm toward the front side of FIG. 1 from the state shown in FIG. As shown, the staplers 18a and 18b are positioned. Therefore, in step S15, two staples are executed by the two staplers 18a and 18b in a form shifted by 15 mm from the normal position on the transverse line B to the back side.

  In step S16, the width-adjusting members 300 and 301 are moved 30 mm rearward from the state shown in FIG. 5A, and the staplers 18a and 18b are positioned as shown in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, in step S17, two staples are executed by the two staplers 18a and 18b in a form shifted by 15 mm from the normal position on the transverse line B to the front side.

  That is, when an image is not formed in the folding part A of the sheet P shown in FIG. 6, two staples are executed at regular positions on the transverse line B, but an image is formed in the folding part A. If there is a total of four staples, the left and right positions of 15 mm centering on the normal position on the transverse line B are executed.

  In step S18, the folding operation is executed in the same procedure shown in Patent Document 1. In order to fold the stapled sheet bundle, the sheet stopper 23 moves downward to position the transverse line B of the sheet P at the nip position of the folding rollers 26 and 27. At this time, the folding roller cover 33 also moves downward and stops at a position where the folding roller cover 33 does not interfere with the folding operation of the protruding unit 25.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion unit 25 is operated to protrude the blade 25a to the center position of the bundle of sheets P and feed the folded end portion into the nip gap between the folding rollers 26 and 27. The rollers 26 and 27 start rotating and bite into the folded sheet bundle, and are rolled into the nip gap and conveyed, and the folded sheet bundle passes through the folding rollers 26 and 27.

  In step S19, the folded sheet bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray 32 by the discharge roller 30 and the discharge roller 31, and a series of sheet folding operations is completed.

  In the sheet processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the structure for folding in half is composed of folding rollers 26 and 27 composed of a pair of rollers and a protruding unit 25 composed of a blade 25a and the like, and binding of a sheet bundle by the blade 25a. The folded position is projected into the nip gap between the folding rollers 26 and 27 and folded, and the folded sheet bundle is pressed and conveyed by the folding rollers 26 and 27 and folded in half. As a result, the sheet bundle discharged to the discharge tray 32 is folded in two along the transverse line B in FIG.

  Conventionally, when folding processing is performed in a sheet processing apparatus, if the friction coefficient between the stacked sheets P is low, when the folded sheet bundle is drawn by the folding rollers 26 and 27, slip occurs between the sheets. As a result, there is a possibility that tearing with the needle hole as the base point occurs at the binding position. This tear is likely to occur immediately after the start of folding. At this time, if an image is formed at the folding start portion, that is, the folding portion A of the sheet P shown in FIG. 6 and the toner adheres, the inner portion of the sheet P folded when being pulled by the folding rollers 26 and 27 is formed. It becomes easy to return and tearing easily occurs.

  However, in the sheet processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment, the number of staples is increased so that slip does not easily occur. Therefore, the sheet P does not break, and therefore the yield is high, the reliability is high, and the sheet is saved. Thus, the bookbinding process can be completed with high efficiency.

  That is, the image amount of the predetermined area close to the folding position is determined, and when the image amount is large, the number of staples is increased as compared with the case where the image amount is small. The load in the direction of shifting is distributed, making it difficult for the needle to tear the needle hole. Accordingly, even when the amount of image is large, the phenomenon of frictional force due to the amount of image and the hardening of the sheet are offset, and the tearing of the sheet P can be suppressed as in the case where the amount of image is small.

  Further, since the number of staples is not increased when the image amount of the folded portion is small, compared to the case where the number of staples is increased regardless of the amount of image, the wasteful consumption of the needle and the increase in processing time are meaningless. Can be prevented.

  Further, since the sheet is relatively moved with respect to the needle binding means by utilizing the aligning means for aligning the side surfaces of the sheets, the number of times of needle binding is increased, so that accurate needle binding with no deviation in front and rear along the folding position can be performed. In addition, there is no need to arrange a plurality of needle binding means or provide a moving mechanism for the needle binding means.

  Further, since the number of staples is changed in two stages, that is, when an image is present in a band-like region sandwiching the folding position, there is no need for calculation of image processing or handling of image data with a large amount of data, and the normal operation of the CPU 200 Does not interfere with the control operation. In addition, the number of sensors in the case of determining the image amount of the sheet by providing sensors in-house can be reduced.

  Further, since the CPU 200 determines the presence / absence of an image based on communication information from the image forming apparatus disposed on the upstream side, it is not necessary to determine the image amount by providing a sensor in advance and reading the output.

  As described above, the sheet processing apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment uses the same width adjusting members 300 and 301 used for alignment when the aligned sheet bundle is bound by the fixed staplers 18a and 18b. The sheet bundle is moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet bundle conveyance direction, and after the binding processing is performed by the same fixed staplers 18a and 18b, the sheet bundle is again conveyed using the same width adjusting members 300 and 301. The sheet bundle is moved in a direction orthogonal to the direction, and the unfixed place is bound by the same fixed staplers 18a and 18b.

  Therefore, without changing any parts, apparatus, structure, or assembly of the conventional sheet processing apparatus that staples the regular position at two locations, only a slight change and addition of the processing program installed in the CPU 200 can be used. It is possible to reliably prevent tearing of the sheet P during processing, and at the same time, it is possible to expand the image forming area, that is, to cope with borderless printing.

  In addition, since the quality of the bookbinding process in the sheet processing apparatus 2 has been improved, the reliability and overall print quality of the image forming system including the image forming apparatus 1 and the sheet processing apparatus 2 are also improved, saving sheets and reducing troubles. Improvements in operating rate and reduction of maintenance costs were realized.

  Note that the sheet processing apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes the individual and independent frame 8 and the CPU 200 (control input / output device and arithmetic unit). The control unit of the image forming apparatus may be configured to execute overall control of the image forming system including all the mechanisms and operations of the sheet processing apparatus 2.

  In addition, instead of determining the presence or absence of an image based on communication information from the image forming apparatus, the sheet processing apparatus 2 may be provided with a sensor that detects an image. For example, an image reading sensor (about 1 to 10 dpi is sufficient) is arranged on the sheet guides 11 and 12 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to detect the image of the passing sheet, and the CPU 200 combines the conveyance distance with the image at the center of the sheet. The presence or absence can be determined.

  In addition to so-called multifunction machines and copiers, image forming apparatuses can be used in combination with other image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, multifunction machines, etc., and are integrated into the housing of these image forming apparatuses. It is also possible to commercialize.

  In addition, since the present embodiment achieves quality improvement and borderless printing in the bookbinding process, the application is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and various inspections that can perform the bookbinding process, The present invention can also be used in combination with an upstream apparatus that performs processing, processing, and the like, and is not limited to the stackable tray that can be moved up and down, the system configuration, and the like.

2 is an explanatory diagram of configurations of a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a structure of a bookbinding unit. It is explanatory drawing of arrangement | positioning of a widthening member. It is a flowchart of a bookbinding process. It is explanatory drawing of a needle | hook binding position. It is explanatory drawing of the image discrimination | determination of a sheet | seat. It is explanatory drawing of a folding state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Sheet processing apparatus 18 Needle binding means (staple unit)
18a, 18b Needle binding means (stapler)
23 Alignment means (sheet stopper)
25 Protruding means (extruding unit)
25a Extruding member (blade)
26, 27 Conveying means (folding rollers)
200 Control means (CPU)
201 1st conveyance path 202 2nd conveyance path 203 Branch part 300,301 Alignment means (width adjustment member)

Claims (7)

A needle binding means for binding the folding position of the stacked sheets;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a folding unit configured to bend the sheet stapled by the needle binding unit at the folding position, sandwich the sheet in a folded state, and convey it under pressure;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that determines an image amount of a predetermined area close to the folding position and increases the number of staples at the folding position when the image amount is large than when the image amount is small. Aligning the side surfaces of the sheets to be stapled, and having alignment means capable of moving the superimposed sheets relative to the needle binding means along the folding position;
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the alignment unit to shift the staple binding position to operate the staple binding unit to increase the number of staple bindings at the folding position. A roller member that pressurizes and conveys the sheet in the folded state;
The folding means has a plate-like protruding member capable of protruding movement facing the sheet at the nip position of the roller member;
3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit projects the projecting member at a nip position of the rotating roller member to sandwich the sheet between the roller members.   The sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit increases the number of staples when there is no image in a band-like region sandwiching the folding position.   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines presence / absence of the image based on communication information from an image forming apparatus that is disposed upstream and forms an image on the sheet. Sheet processing device. An abutting member capable of moving up and down to hold the sheet in an upright state by abutting the leading end of the sheet;
A moving member that restrains the side surface of the sheet held by the contact member and moves the sheet in the width direction;
Needle binding means for binding the sheet held by the contact member;
A protruding member that linearly protrudes and bends the sheet held by the contact member;
A conveying member that is disposed opposite to the protruding member and that pressurizes and conveys the bent portion of the sheet in a folded state;
The contact member is moved up and down to sequentially position the needle binding means and the protruding member at the folding position of the sheet, and the stapled contact sheet is overlapped with the contact member and the needle binding means is used to staple the sheet. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that is bent by the protruding member and sandwiched between the conveying members after
When there is an image in a predetermined region close to the folding position, the control means operates the moving member to move the needle binding means relative to the sheet, so that the control means does not have the image. A sheet processing apparatus that performs needle binding with an increased number of times. Image forming means for forming an image on the sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet processing unit that processes the sheet image-formed by the image forming unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing unit is the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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