JP5481990B2 - Recording material post-processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material post-processing apparatus that applies a crease to a recording material.

For example, various techniques have been proposed for attaching a crease that serves as a standard for folding in a subsequent half-folding process or the like on a recording material on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus.
As a conventional technique described in the publication, for example, a fixed block is provided with a creasing blade, and a V-shaped groove is provided in an elevating block disposed at a portion facing the creasing blade, and a folding line is formed with a sheet bundle interposed therebetween. There is a technique attached (see Patent Document 1).
Further, as a conventional technique described in other publications, a crease forming mold having an edge-shaped convex portion and a pressing body that moves up and down so as to come in contact with and separate from the edge-shaped convex portion are sandwiched between them. There exists a technique for attaching a crease line (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2000-301851 A JP-A-60-258065

  In the present invention, when a recording material with a folding line is stacked, the recording material to be supplied next collides with the folding line of the recording material already loaded, so that the loaded recording material is The purpose is to suppress disturbance.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a folding line forming means for forming a folding line on a recording material, a reducing means for reducing a peak height of the folding line formed on the recording material by the folding line forming means, and the reduction. Stacking means for stacking the recording material in which the peak height of the fold line is reduced by means so that the convex portion of the fold line faces upward, and the reduction means is arranged in the conveying direction of the recording material. The recording material post-processing apparatus has a flat surface extending and reduces the peak height by sandwiching the crease formed on the recording material with the flat surface .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the crease forming unit forms the fold line on the recording material in a state where the recording material is sandwiched, and the reduction unit uses the fold line formed on the recording material. 2. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the peak height is reduced by being sandwiched by the crease forming means.
The invention according to claim 3 is a temporary stacking unit that sequentially stacks the recording materials in which the peak height of the crease has been reduced by the reducing unit, and aligns the ends of the stacked recording materials, 3. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a discharging unit that discharges a bundle of the plurality of recording materials arranged by the temporary stacking unit toward the stacking unit.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the recording material in which the peak height of the fold line is reduced by the reduction means is sequentially stacked, and the temporary stacking means for aligning the ends of the plurality of recording materials stacked, A binding unit that receives a bundle of a plurality of the recording materials aligned by the temporary stacking unit and performs a binding process on the folding line in the bundle, and the stack that has been subjected to the binding process by the binding unit. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a discharging unit that discharges toward the recording medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the groove is disposed above the conveyance path in which the recording material is conveyed, and a groove is formed at a portion facing the conveyance path along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording material. A forming member and an advancing / retreating member that is disposed on the lower side of the conveyance path so as to face the groove, and advances / retreats between a position that enters the groove across the conveyance path and a position that retracts from the conveyance path; Between the position where the recording material is pressed down with the recording material sandwiched between the groove forming member and the position where the recording material is retracted. A pressing member that advances and retreats, and by causing the pressing member to advance, the recording material is sandwiched between the groove forming member and then the advancing and retracting member is advanced to form a crease on the surface of the recording material. The advance / retreat member and the holding part After moving the recording material along the conveying path, the fold line is moved to a position where the pressing member and the groove forming member are opposed to each other, and the pressing member is advanced again to move the groove. The recording material post-processing apparatus is characterized in that the pressing member is retracted after the folding line of the recording material is sandwiched between the forming member and the forming member.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the pressing member is provided so as to sandwich the advance / retreat member from the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material, and the leading end of the advance / retreat member is not protruded from the press member. The recording between the first position where the pressing member is retracted from the conveyance path and the groove forming member with the pressing member advancing into the conveyance path in a state where the tip of the advance / retreat member does not protrude from the pressing member. With the recording material sandwiched between the second position where the material is sandwiched and the pressing member and the groove forming member, the tip of the advance / retreat member protrudes from the pressing member, and the fold line is placed on the recording material. 6. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising an interlocking advance / retreat mechanism for interlocking advance / retreat of the pressing member and the advance / retreat member with the third position to be formed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably reduce the height of the crease line of the recording material and stack the recording material with the crease line as compared with the case without the present configuration. In this case, it is possible to prevent the loaded recording material from being disturbed by the collision of the recording material supplied next to the crease of the recording material already loaded.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it can be compared with the case not having the present structure, more with a simple device configuration, reduce the peak height of the crease of the recording material.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the disorder of the alignment of the recording material in both the temporary stacking unit and the stacking unit, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided, it is possible to suppress disturbance of the alignment of the bundle of recording materials to be subjected to the binding process.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a recording material with a crease is loaded, compared to the case without this configuration, the recording material that has already been loaded is supplied next. It is possible to prevent the loaded recording material from being disturbed by the collision of the recording material to be recorded.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the peak height of the crease line of the recording material can be reduced with a simpler configuration as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the recording material processing apparatus with which this Embodiment was applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a post-processing apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a positioning accommodation receiver. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an end binding device. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the processing apparatus for bookbinding. It is the top view which looked at FIG. 5 from VI direction. (A) is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of a crease device, (b)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating the crease formed in a recording material by a crease device. It is a figure for demonstrating the control system of a recording material processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the recording material process control process in the control system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state by which the some recording material to which the crease was provided in the crease mode is positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receptacle. It is a figure which shows the state by which the some recording material used as the object of edge binding in the edge binding mode was positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver. It is a figure which shows the state in which the some recording material to which the stripe | line | column was given in each in the saddle stitching mode is conveyed from the positioning accommodation receiver to the saddle stitching apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the folding apparatus from the one side of the post-processing apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the folding apparatus from the other side of the post-processing apparatus. It is the front view which looked at the folding apparatus from the conveyance direction of the recording material. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the upper frame and the groove formation block from the crease apparatus shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the creasing unit further from the crease device shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the folding apparatus shown in FIG. 17 from the bottom face side. It is a perspective view of the creasing unit provided in a crease device. It is the rear view which looked at the creasing unit shown in FIG. 19 from the bottom face side. It is a figure which shows a state when the eccentric cam of the raising / lowering apparatus of a folding device is located in a bottom dead center. It is a figure which shows a state when the eccentric cam of the raising / lowering apparatus of a folding device is located in the intermediate point. It is a figure which shows a state when the eccentric cam of the raising / lowering apparatus of a folding device is located in a top dead center. It is a figure for demonstrating the phase difference relationship of each eccentric cam of the raising / lowering apparatus of a folding apparatus. It is a figure for demonstrating the rotational behavior of each eccentric cam of the raising / lowering apparatus of a folding device. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the operation example of process I-III of the folding line provision process by a folding line apparatus, (d) is a figure which shows an example of the folding line process state to the recording material in each process. It is. It is a figure for demonstrating the crease provision process and crease crushing process by a crease apparatus. It is a figure (continuation) for demonstrating the crease provision process and crease crushing process by a crease apparatus. It is a figure (continuation) for demonstrating the crease provision process and crease crushing process by a crease apparatus. It is a figure (continuation) for demonstrating the crease provision process and crease crushing process by a crease apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording material processing apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied.

<Outline of recording material processing apparatus>
The recording material processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, an image forming apparatus 21 including a printer or a copier that forms an image on a recording material S by an electrophotographic method, and a recording after an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 21. A post-processing device 22 is provided as an example of a recording material post-processing device that performs various post-processing on the material S.

Here, the image forming apparatus 21 includes an apparatus housing 30 in which the image forming unit 40 is built, and includes a protruding portion 31 that protrudes upward on one side in the width direction of the top of the apparatus housing 30. The recording material S is discharged from the protruding portion 31.
On the other hand, the post-processing device 22 has a post-processing device casing 100 provided on the side of the image forming apparatus 21, and various post-processing tools are disposed in or outside the post-processing device casing 100. In addition, a transport unit 90 is disposed on the top 32 of the image forming apparatus 21 other than the projecting portion 31 of the apparatus housing 30 so that the recording material S discharged from the projecting portion 31 is conveyed to the post-processing device housing 100 side. It is configured.

<Image forming apparatus>
The image forming apparatus 21 includes an image forming unit 40 inside the apparatus housing 30, and a plurality of (four in this example) recording material supply devices 50 (specifically, four levels in this example) are provided below the image forming unit 40. 50a to 50d), a recording material conveyance path 51 extending from the recording material supply device 50 to the image forming unit 40 in the vertical direction is provided.
Here, the image forming unit 40 is of an intermediate transfer type adopting, for example, an electrophotographic system, and includes a plurality of photoconductors 41 that form and hold toner images of respective colors, and an intermediate transfer that is disposed to face the photoconductors 41. Belt 47. Around each photoconductor 41, a charging device 42 that charges each photoconductor 41, an exposure device 43 that forms a latent image on the charged photoconductor 41, and a static image formed on each photoconductor 41. A developing device 44 that develops the electrostatic latent image into a visible image, a transfer device 45 that primarily transfers the toner image on each photoconductor 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 47, and a cleaning that cleans residual toner on the photoconductor 41. The apparatus 46 is provided as a main part. Between the recording material conveyance path 51 and the intermediate transfer belt 47, a secondary transfer device 52 for secondary transfer of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 47 to the recording material S is disposed. A fixing device 53 for fixing an unfixed toner image on the recording material S is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer portion of the material conveyance path 51. Further, an alignment roll 54 that aligns and conveys the recording material S and a cleaning device 55 for cleaning residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 47 are also provided in front of the secondary transfer portion.

<Post-processing device>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the post-processing device 22.
The transport unit 90 constituting the post-processing device 22 has a unit housing 91 that extends along the top 32 other than the protruding portion 31 of the device housing 30, and the recording material conveyance path 92 is provided in the unit housing 91. And a first transport roll 111 to a fourth transport roll 114 are disposed along the recording material transport path 92.

  In addition, a recording material conveyance path 102 that leads to the recording material conveyance path 92 of the transport unit 90 is provided in the post-processing apparatus housing 100 that constitutes the post-processing apparatus 22 together with the transport unit 90, and this recording material conveyance path. A fifth conveyance roll 115 and a sixth conveyance roll 116 are disposed at 102, and a folding line device 500 is disposed between the fifth conveyance roll 115 and the sixth conveyance roll 116. Further, a positioning receiving 150 for temporarily positioning and storing a plurality of recording materials S is disposed below the sixth transporting roll 116. The fifth transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116 have a function of transporting the recording material S in the recording material transport direction (from left to right in FIG. 2) and the direction opposite to the recording material transport direction (see FIG. 2 has a function of transporting the recording material S from the right side to the left side.

In addition, the post-processing apparatus housing 100 is provided with a seventh transport roll 117 that transports a bundle of recording materials S stored in the positioning storage receiver 150.
Further, an end binding device 170 that binds the end of the bundle of recording materials S positioned in the positioning storage receiver 150 is disposed below between the fifth transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116.

Further, a bookbinding processing device 200 that performs bookbinding processing on the bundle of recording materials S is provided on the side of the post-processing device housing 100 so as to be movable up and down, and below the bookbinding processing device 200. A movable discharge receiving receptacle 250 as an example of a stacking unit for storing a bundle of post-processed recording materials S such as end-stitching and saddle-stitching and recording materials S that are not post-processed is provided to be movable up and down.
Here, the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 is provided with a saddle stitching device 220 that binds the central portion of the bundle of recording materials S. The saddle stitching device 220 is located downstream of the saddle stitching device 220 in the recording material conveyance direction. Are provided with an eighth transport roll 118 (see FIG. 5 described later) for transporting a bundle of recording materials S that are saddle-stitched.

<Positioning receptacle>
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the configuration of a positioning and receiving receptacle 150 as an example of the temporary stacking means. Here, Fig.3 (a) has shown the side view of the positioning accommodation receiver 150, and FIG.3 (b) has shown BB sectional drawing of Fig.3 (a).
The positioning and receiving receptacle 150 is inclined so that the recording material S discharged from the sixth transporting roll 116 provided in the recording material transporting path 102 can be naturally dropped, with the opposite side to the recording material S discharging direction being downward. In addition, a positioning wall 151 is formed at the lower end thereof, and a side edge positioning wall 152 is formed on a side edge adjacent to the positioning wall 151.
In addition, a plurality (three in this example) of rotation alignment members 153 are provided in the vicinity of the positioning wall 151 of the positioning housing receiver 150, and a pressing alignment member that presses the recording material S to a portion facing the side edge positioning wall 152. 156 is provided.
In the present embodiment, the rotation aligning member 153 has a plurality of elastic blades 155 arranged around the rotation shaft 154 in the radial direction, and is placed on the positioning receiving receptacle 150 while elastically deforming the elastic blades 155 during the rotation operation. The recording materials S are aligned toward the positioning wall 151.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the push-aligning member 156 is moved and arranged at a predetermined position by a driving mechanism (not shown) according to the size of the recording material S, and is urged by a spring 158. The recording material S is pressed against the side edge positioning wall 152 side by the pressing plate 157.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the support structure of the seventh transport roll 117 as an example of the discharge unit is a drive roll 161 that is rotationally driven by a support shaft whose position is fixed, and the drive roll 161. A contact / separation roll 162 that rotates freely following the drive roll 161 when the recording material S is held between the drive roll 161 and the drive roll 161 is held by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown). Yes.
In the present embodiment, for example, in the process in which the recording material S is accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150, the contact / separation roll 162 of the seventh transport roll 117 is moved from the drive roll 161 as shown in FIG. They are placed apart. As a result, the recording material S discharged from the sixth transporting roll 116 moves as indicated by P1 in the figure, and then falls when the rear end of the recording material S leaves the sixth transporting roll 116, and this time. It moves in the direction shown by P2 in the figure along the positioning and receiving receptacle 150, and is positioned and accommodated in the positioning and receiving receptacle 150 by the rotation aligning member 153 and the push aligning member 156.

<End binding device>
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the end binding device 170. 4 corresponds to the end binding device 170 shown in FIG. 3A viewed from above.
The end binding device 170 has a function of binding the end portion of the recording material S positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150 with a binding needle.
The end binding device 170 includes a corner end binding device 170a that binds one corner portion of the recording material S and a side edge end binding device 170b that mainly binds one side edge portion of the recording material S. The corner end binding device 170a and the side edge end binding device 170b are provided to be movable along the guide track 171 and are driven by a drive mechanism 175 (for example, a mechanism that moves following the drive belt). It moves to the target position. The guide track 171 has an arcuate curved track 172 provided at a portion corresponding to one corner of the recording material S and a linear track 173 provided along one side edge of the recording material S. doing. In particular, in the present embodiment, the corner end binding device 170a is arranged as an initial position corresponding to the curved track portion 172, and the side edge end binding device 170b is set as the initial position in the curved track portion 173. It is arranged at a part away from the part 172.

<Bookbinding processing equipment>
FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the configuration of the bookbinding processing apparatus 200, and FIG. 6 is a top view of the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 as seen from the VI direction shown in FIG.
A bookbinding processing casing 210 provided in the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 includes an upper partition member 212 and a lower partition member 213 that partition the recording material conveyance path 211 in the vertical direction.
Here, the lower partition member 213 is set to have a shorter projecting dimension from the post-processing device casing 100 than the upper partition member 212, and the lower portion of the upper partition member 212 where the lower partition member 213 does not exist is It opens as a discharge opening 214 for the bundle of recording materials S to the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250.
A movable partition member 240 is provided below the lower partition member 213. For example, the movable partition member 240 partially forms gear teeth (not shown) that mesh with the drive gear 241, and moves along the partition screen of the lower partition member 213 according to the rotation of the drive gear 241. . In this case, when the size of the recording material S is large, the movable partition member 240 supports the recording material S and enables the saddle stitching apparatus 220 to perform the saddle stitching process. It moves according to the size.
Further, a saddle stitching device 220 and an eighth transport roll 118 are incorporated in the bookbinding processing casing 210.

<Saddle stitching device>
The saddle stitching device 220 as an example of the binding means is provided in a fixed manner with respect to a direction (width direction) intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording material S, and is a saddle stitching device main body installed on the upper partition member 212. 221 and an opposing member 230 provided in a part of the lower partition member 213 so as not to hinder the conveyance of the bundle of recording materials S.
The saddle stitching device main body 221 has a support base 222 fixedly installed on the upper partition member 212, a movable binding portion 223 that is swingable with respect to the support base 222 is provided, and is opened in a part of the upper partition member 212. The binding needle is driven into the bundle of recording materials S in the recording material conveyance path 211 through the driven opening 224. The movable binding portion 223 has a function of driving a binding needle.
Further, the opposing member 230 is made of a hard material, and is arranged corresponding to the saddle stitching position of the movable binding portion 223.

Here, the 8th conveyance roll 118 as an example of a discharge | emission means has the drive roll 161 on the lower side similarly to the 7th conveyance roll 117 mentioned above, and has the contact / separation roll 162 on the upper side. The drive force from the drive motor 261 is transmitted to the drive roll 161 via the drive transmission mechanism 262 and the support shaft 263. On the other hand, the contact / separation roll 162 is pushed toward the drive roll 161 by a spring (not shown).
Further, the eighth transport roll 118 is provided between the pair of saddle stitching devices 220, and the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 are arranged to face each other via the roll opening 225 of the upper partition member 212.
Then, the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 constituting the eighth transport roll 118 are in a separated state when the seventh transport roll 117 transports the bundle of recording materials S. . On the other hand, when the saddle stitching process by the saddle stitching device 220 is completed, the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 constituting the eighth transport roll 118 are transported with the bundle of recording materials S interposed therebetween. .

<Folding line device>
7A is a diagram for explaining the outline of the folding device 500, and FIGS. 7B to 7D are diagrams for explaining the folding Sa formed on the recording material S by the folding device 500. FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the folding device 500 has a folding line with a folding line Sa along the central portion in the conveyance direction of the recording material S conveyed by the fifth conveyance roll 115 and the sixth conveyance roll 116. A crease forming unit 500a as an example of a forming unit, and a crease crushing unit 500b as an example of a reducing unit that crushes the crease Sa formed on the recording material S by the fold forming unit 500a. A position detector 103 for detecting the position of the recording material S is provided in a portion of the recording material conveyance path 102 that is between the folding device 500 and the sixth conveyance roll 116.

  In the folding device 500, after the central portion in the conveyance direction of the recording material S is disposed at a portion corresponding to the folding line forming portion 500a as shown in FIG. 7B, the folding line as shown in FIG. 7C. A crease line Sa is formed on the recording material S by the forming unit 500a, and the crease line Sa is crushed by the crease line crushing part 500b as shown in FIG. The muscle device 500 is discharged outside. The details of the crease forming part 500a and the crease crushing part 500b will be described later.

<Control system>
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a control system of the recording material processing apparatus used in this embodiment.
First, the image forming apparatus 21 operates the operation unit 400 that operates the size, the number of copies, the presence / absence of punching processing, the presence / absence of the binding mode, and the like of each operation object (based on information from the operation unit 400). And a control device 410 for controlling a motor / detector 420).
Further, the post-processing device 22 includes a control device 430 that communicates with the control device 410 of the image forming apparatus 21, and each control object (motor, detector, etc.) 440 is transferred by the control device 430. In addition to control, the folding device 500 provided in the post-processing device 22, the recording material positioning processing in the positioning storage receiver 150, the end binding device 170, the saddle stitching device 220, the movable discharge storage receiver 250, and the like are controlled. Is.

<Operation of recording material processing apparatus>
Next, the operation of the recording material processing apparatus used in this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a recording material processing control process in the control system shown in FIG.
The control device 410 of the image forming apparatus 21 and the control device 430 of the post-processing device 22 first determine whether or not post-processing is performed based on information input from the operation unit 400 (step 101). If it is determined, the normal mode is executed. Next, it is determined whether or not end binding is specified as post-processing (step 102). If it is determined that end binding is specified, the end binding mode is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that the end binding is not specified, it is then determined whether or not a folding line is specified as post-processing (step 103), and it is determined that no folding line is specified. In this case, another mode (for example, a drilling mode) is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that the folding line is specified, it is further determined whether saddle stitching is specified (step 104). When it is determined in step 104 that saddle stitching is designated, the saddle stitching mode is executed, and when it is determined that saddle stitching is not designated, the folding line mode is executed.

  Now, among the above-described post-processing modes, the normal mode except the other modes, the folding line mode, the end binding mode, and the saddle stitching mode will be specifically described.

<Normal mode>
In the normal mode, when an image is formed by the image forming unit 40 on the recording material S supplied from the recording material supply device 50 (50a to 50d), the imaged recording material S passes through the fixing device 53 and is transport unit. After moving to the post-processing device 22 via 90, it is discharged and accommodated in the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250 without any post-processing.
In the normal mode, since the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 is retracted upward, the recording material S transported in the post-processing apparatus 22 is moved without being moved through the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 as it is. Will be discharged.

<Folding line mode>
In the folding line mode, the recording material S on which image formation has been performed by the image forming apparatus 21 is conveyed to the recording material conveyance path 102 of the post-processing apparatus 22 via the transport unit 90.
Then, after the recording material S carried into the recording material conveyance path 102 is detected by the position detector 103, the fifth time when the center of the recording material S in the conveyance direction reaches the folding line processing position by the folding line device 500. The driving of the transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116 is stopped once.

In this state, the crease formation unit 500a of the crease device 500 performs a process of applying the crease Sa to the central portion in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. Subsequently, as will be described later, the fifth conveyance roll 115 and the sixth conveyance roll 116 rotate in the reverse direction to shift the central portion in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, that is, the position of the folding line Sa, and The crease crushing part 500b performs a process of crushing the crease Sa formed on the recording material S. The details of the folding line applying process by the folding line forming unit 500a and the folding line crushing process by the folding line crushing part 500b in the folding line device 500 will be described later.
Thereafter, the recording material S to which the crease line Sa is applied is once positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150.

  Here, FIG. 10 shows a state in which a plurality of recording materials S each provided with a folding line Sa are positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150. FIG. 10 illustrates a state in which the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 constituting the seventh transport roll 117 sandwich the bundle of recording materials S, but a plurality of pieces constituting the bundle of recording materials S are illustrated. Until all of the recording material S is positioned and accommodated in the positioning and receiving receptacle 150, the contact / separation roll 162 of the seventh transport roll 117 is kept away from the drive roll 161 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure). doing. For this reason, the seventh transport roll 117 does not hinder the transport operation of the recording material S sent from the recording material transport path 102 to the positioning storage receiver 150.

  Further, in the positioning storage receiver 150, the recording materials S that are sequentially supplied are stored in a state where the positions in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are aligned by the rotation alignment member 153 and the push alignment member 156. As a result, the plurality of recording materials S are stacked on the positioning storage receiver 150 in a state where the creases Sa provided in the respective recording materials S are aligned. By repeating this operation as many times as the number of recording materials S constituting the bundle, a desired number of recording material S bundles are aligned in the positioning storage receiver 150.

  When the target number of recording materials S are aligned by the positioning receiving 150, the contact / separation roll 162 of the seventh transport roll 117 is set to the state shown by the solid line in the drawing, so that the seventh transport roll 117 is moved. The bundle of the recording material S to which the folding lines have been added in the positioning storage receiver 150 is conveyed while being sandwiched together, and is discharged to the movable discharge storage receiver 250 as it is.

  In the folding line mode, the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 is retracted upward from the recording material S discharge position. For this reason, the bundle of recording materials S discharged from the positioning storage receiver 150 in the folding line mode is set to a positional relationship in which the bundle of recording materials S is discharged to the movable discharge storage receiver 250 without going through the bookbinding processing apparatus 200, as in the normal mode. Is done.

<End binding mode>
In the edge binding mode, the recording material S on which image formation has been performed by the image forming apparatus 21 is guided to the post-processing apparatus 22 via the transport unit 90.
Then, the recording material S guided to the post-processing device 22 is sequentially positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150 via the recording material conveyance path 102.

  Here, FIG. 11 shows a state in which a plurality of recording materials S to be end-bound are positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150. FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 constituting the seventh transport roll 117 sandwich the bundle of recording materials S. However, as in the above-described folding line mode, recording is performed. The contact / separation roll 162 of the seventh transport roll 117 is kept away from the drive roll 161 until all of the plurality of recording materials S constituting the bundle of materials S are positioned and accommodated in the positioning accommodation receiver 150. Yes.

  In the positioning and receiving receptacle 150, the recording materials S that are sequentially supplied are stored in a state where the positions in the vertical and horizontal directions are aligned by the rotation aligning member 153 and the push aligning member 156. By repeating this operation as many times as the number of recording materials S constituting the bundle, a desired number of recording material S bundles are aligned in the positioning receiving 150.

When the target number of recording materials S are aligned in the positioning storage receiver 150 in this way, the end binding device 170 causes the end of the bundle of recording materials S positioned in the positioning storage receiver 150 (the recording material S of the recording material S). The corner of the bundle is bound with one binding needle 190 at one corner or two edges on one side.
Then, when the end binding processing by the end binding device 170 is completed, the seventh transport roll 117 is set to the state shown in FIG. 11, thereby transporting the bundle of the end-bound recording materials S in the positioning storage receiver 150. Then, it is discharged to the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250.

  In the end binding mode, the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 is retracted above the discharge position of the recording material S in the initial state, as in the normal mode and the folding line mode. For this reason, the bundle of the recording material S that has been subjected to the end binding processing and is discharged from the positioning storage receiver 150 in the end binding mode is set to a positional relationship in which it is discharged to the movable discharge storage receiver 250 without going through the bookbinding processing apparatus 200. .

<Saddle stitching mode>
In the saddle stitching mode, first, the bookbinding processing apparatus 200 moves from the top to the bottom, and stops at a position corresponding to the discharge position of the recording material S and capable of the saddle stitching process.
In the saddle stitching mode, the image-formed recording material S discharged from the image forming apparatus 21 is guided to the post-processing apparatus 22 via the transport unit 90. Thereafter, in the post-processing device 22, first, the crease applying process and the crease crushing process are performed on the recording material S by the crease device 500 in the same manner as the above-described crease mode. Then, the recording material S with the fold line Sa added at the central portion in the transport direction is once discharged and stored in the positioning storage receiver 150, and aligned in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. By repeating this operation as many times as the number of recording materials S constituting the bundle, a desired number of recording material S bundles are aligned in the positioning storage receiver 150. During this time, the drive roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 constituting the seventh transport roll 117 are placed in a separated state.

  When the target number of recording materials S are aligned by the positioning receiving 150, the driving roll 161 and the contact / separation roll 162 of the seventh transport roll 117 are set to sandwich the recording material S bundle. The conveyance roll 117 sandwiches the bundle of the recording material S with the folding lines in the positioning housing receiver 150 and conveys the bundle toward the bookbinding processing apparatus 200.

Here, FIG. 12A shows a state in which a bundle of recording materials S, each of which has been subjected to the folding line application process, is conveyed from the positioning housing receiver 150 toward the bookbinding processing apparatus 200.
At this time, the bundle of recording materials S is conveyed by a distance m necessary to match the saddle stitching position by the saddle stitching device 220 and the position in the conveyance direction center of the bundle of recording materials S, that is, the formation position of the folding line Sa. Is done. Therefore, the distance m is set to a different size according to the size of the recording material S. Note that, while the bundle of recording materials S is conveyed from the positioning storage receiver 150 to the saddle stitching device 220 using the seventh conveyance roll 117, the contact / separation roll 162 of the eighth conveyance roll 118 is set in a state of being separated from the drive roll 161. Has been.

When the bundle of recording materials S is carried into the saddle stitching device 220 and stopped in this way, the saddle stitching device 220 performs saddle stitching with the binding needle 190 on the folding line Sa of the bundle of recording materials S.
Here, FIG. 12B shows a state in which the saddle stitching device 220 performs saddle stitching with the stitching needle 190 on the folding line Sa of the bundle of recording materials S.
Then, when the saddle stitching process by the saddle stitching device 220 is completed, the eighth transport roll 118 is set to the state shown in FIG. 12B, and transported across the bundle of recording materials S subjected to the saddle stitching process. Then, it is discharged to the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250. In the present embodiment, the seventh conveying roll 117 is separated in conjunction with the bundle of recording materials S being sandwiched between the eighth conveying rolls 118, and the bundle of recording materials S is conveyed. Stabilized.

<Configuration of folding line device and folding line applying process by folding line device>
Next, the configuration of the crease device 500 and the crease application process performed by the crease device 500 will be described in more detail.
13 is a perspective view of the folding device 500 as viewed from one side of the post-processing device 22 (for example, the front side in FIG. 2), and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the folding device 500 on the other side (for example, the post-processing device 22). It is the perspective view seen from the rear side in FIG. FIG. 15 is a front view of the folding device 22 as viewed from the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. Further, FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper frame 511 and a groove forming block 502 (details will be described later) are removed from the folding device 500 shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a state where a creasing unit 501 (details will be described later) is further removed from the folding device 500 shown in FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 is a bottom view showing the folding device 500 shown in FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the side. 19 is a perspective view of the creasing unit 501 provided in the folding device 500, and FIG. 20 is a rear view of the creasing unit 501 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 13 to 20, the folding device 500 includes a device frame 510 in which an upper frame 511 and a lower frame 512 are connected by two side plates 513. 510 includes a bracing unit 501, a groove forming block 502, and an elevating device 503. Among these, the creasing unit 501 is provided below the recording material conveyance path 102 (see FIG. 7A) as an example of the conveyance path so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording material S. The recording material S has a function of attaching a fold line Sa along the central portion in the conveyance direction. Further, the groove forming block 502 is disposed on the upper side of the recording material conveyance path 102 so as to face the creasing unit 501. Further, the lifting device 503 is arranged so as to lift and lower the creasing unit 501 with respect to the groove forming block 502. Here, in the present embodiment, the creasing unit 501, the groove forming block 502, and the lifting device 503 function as the crease forming part 500 a and the crease crushing part 500 b. That is, the creasing unit 501, the groove forming block 502, and the lifting device 503 have a function as the crease crushing part 500 b in addition to the function as the crease forming part 500 a.
As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, the apparatus frame 510 is positioned with respect to the post-processing apparatus casing 100 by the positioning pins 515 and 516 and then fixed by the adjusting screw 517. ing.

  Here, the creasing unit 501 is a creasing as an example of an advancing / retreating member made of a thin plate material such as SUS and extending along the central portion in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, as particularly shown in FIGS. An example of a blade 520, a pair of holding plates 521 that retain the upper portion of the scoring blade 520, and a pressing member that is fixedly disposed on the outside of the pair of holding plates 521 by a fixing tool 523 such as a screw. And a plurality of (three in this example) ring-shaped cam followers 525 (525a) fixed at the center in the longitudinal direction and in the vicinity of both ends of the lower portions of the pair of holding blocks 522. ˜525c). Here, the pair of pressing blocks 522 and the cam followers 525 (525a to 525c) are made of, for example, POM (polyacetal). In the following description, of the pair of pressing blocks 522, the one disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the recording material S is referred to as an upstream pressing block 522a, and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording material S. What is arranged in FIG. 6 is referred to as a downstream pressing block 522b (see, for example, FIG. 16).

  Both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the holding plate 521 are disposed so as to penetrate through the holes of the side plate 513 of the device frame 510 and extend upward in the guide plate 519 attached to the side plate 513 of the device frame 510. It is held so as to be movable up and down along the guide groove 519a. Further, the bracing unit 501 has a recess 524 for avoiding a situation in which the fixture 524 such as a screw for fixing the holding plate 521 and the fixture 524 of the holding plate 521 interfere with the vertical movement of the presser block 522. In order to prevent interference with the cam follower 525c (525) located at the center of the strip 522d, a notch 522e formed by partially cutting the holding block 522 is provided corresponding to the cam follower 525c (525).

  Next, a groove forming block 502 as an example of a groove forming member is positioned and fixed to the upper frame 511 via a positioning pin 531, and a slit-like portion is provided at a portion corresponding to the line insertion blade 520 of the line insertion unit 501. The insertion groove 530 (see FIGS. 21 to 23 described later) is formed.

  Further, the elevating device 503 as an example of the interlocking advance / retreat mechanism has a rotation shaft 540 that penetrates through the both side plates 513 of the device frame 510, and eccentric cams 541 (541a to 541a to 541) are located near the center and both ends of the rotation shaft 540. 541c) is fixed coaxially, and the corresponding eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is positioned in the cam follower 525 (525a to 525c). In the present embodiment, the eccentric cams 541a and 541b are disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the center in the longitudinal direction of the scoring unit 501.

  And the raising / lowering apparatus 503 is further provided with the drive motor 542 which transmits a driving force to the rotating shaft 540 via the drive transmission mechanism 543 which consists of a drive transmission gear train, for example. The drive motor 542 and the drive transmission mechanism 543 are attached to one side plate 513 of the apparatus frame 510. Further, a rotating plate 544 is provided in which a part of the drive transmission gear train of the drive transmission mechanism 543 is cut out coaxially with the drive transmission gear provided coaxially with the rotation shaft 540. The reference position (home position) of the eccentric cam 541 is grasped by detecting the position of the cutout of the rotating plate 544 with the optical detector 545.

Furthermore, a support block 550 is provided in the lower frame 512 of the apparatus frame 510 in a state of being separated in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction, and a long bearing groove 551 is formed in the support block 550. A rotating shaft 540 is rotatably supported in the bearing groove 551. The support block 550 is provided with a plurality of spring receiving recesses 552 along the longitudinal direction. The spring receiving recess 552 holds a lower portion of a spring 553 made of, for example, a coil spring. The holding block 522 of the insertion unit 501 is elastically supported.
As shown in FIG. 20, an insertion hole 527 for fitting the upper part of the spring 553 is provided in the lower part of the holding block 522 provided in the creasing unit 501.

<Operation by lifting device>
Next, an operation example by the elevating device 503 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 21 is a view showing a state when the eccentric cam 541 of the lifting device 503 of the folding device 500 is located at the bottom dead center.
At this time, the cam follower 525 that moves following the eccentric cam 541 is also located at the lowest position. As a result, the scoring blade 520 of the scoring unit 501 is located at the lowest standby position. Note that the position of the creasing unit 501 (more specifically, the creasing blade 520 and the groove forming block 502) corresponds to the first position.

Here, a guide inclined surface 528a is formed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material S on the side of the upstream holding block 522a facing the groove forming block 502, and a flat surface 528b is formed on the downstream side. ing. Here, the guide inclined surface 528 a is provided so as to widen the conveyance path of the recording material S toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. On the other hand, the flat surface 528b is provided along the surface of the opposing groove forming block 502.
On the other hand, on the side of the downstream holding block 522b that faces the groove forming block 502, a guide inclined surface 529a is formed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material S, and a flat surface 529b is formed on the downstream side. Yes. Here, the guide inclined surface 529a is provided so as to widen the conveyance path of the recording material S toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material S. On the other hand, the flat surface 529b is formed along the surface of the opposing groove forming block 502.

FIG. 22 is a view showing a state when the eccentric cam 541 of the lifting device 503 of the folding device 500 is located at the intermediate point. This corresponds to a state in which the eccentric cam 541 is rotated 90 ° clockwise in the drawing from the state shown in FIG.
When the eccentric cam 541 rotates, the amount of eccentricity caused by the eccentric cam 541 rises from the bottom dead center position, and accordingly, the cam follower 525 also follows and rises, and the muscle insertion blade 520 of the muscle insertion unit 501 rises. Since the fixture 523 penetrates the holding plate 521 of the insertion blade 520, the pressing block 522 is also raised through the fixture 523.
In this state, the flat surface 528b of the upstream holding block 522a and the flat surface 529b of the downstream holding block 522b are in contact with the opposing surface of the groove forming block 502, and the recording material S is transported. The recording material S is pressed by the pressing block 522. At this time, the leading edge of the scoring blade 520 is disposed so as not to protrude to the insertion groove 530 side from the contact portion between the pressing block 522 and the groove forming block 502. Note that the position of the creasing unit 501 (more specifically, the creasing blade 520 and the groove forming block 502) at this time corresponds to the second position.

FIG. 23 is a view showing a state when the eccentric cam 541 of the lifting device 503 of the folding device 500 is located at the top dead center. This corresponds to a state in which the eccentric cam 541 is further rotated 90 ° clockwise from the state shown in FIG.
When the eccentric cam 541 further rotates, the amount of eccentricity due to the eccentric cam 541 further increases from the midpoint position, and the eccentric cam 541 reaches the top dead center position, and accordingly, the cam follower 525 reaches the highest position. It reaches, and the creasing blade 520 of the creasing unit 501 is inserted into the insertion groove 530 of the groove forming block 502.
When the scoring blade 520 is inserted into the insertion groove 530 of the groove forming block 502, the recording material S slides against the pressing force of the recording material S by the pressing block 522, and the scoring blade 520 is moved to the recording material. A linear crease is formed along the central portion in the transport direction of S.
At this time, the fixing tool 523 passes through the holding plate 521 of the scoring blade 520. If the through hole of the fixing tool 523 is formed as a long hole extending vertically from the position of FIG. Even if the holding plate 521 is raised, the position of the fixing member 523 is not raised, and as a result, the position of the pressing block 522 is kept unchanged from the state shown in FIG. In this state, the pressing block 522 is pressed against the groove forming block 502 via the recording material S by the urging force of the spring 553. Note that the position of the creasing unit 501 (more specifically, the creasing blade 520 and the groove forming block 502) corresponds to the third position.

<Setting the phase difference of the eccentric cam of the lifting device>
FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining the phase difference relationship between the eccentric cams 541 (541a to 541c) of the lifting device 503 of the folding device 500. FIG. FIG. 25 is a view for explaining the rotational behavior of the eccentric cams 541 (541a to 541c) of the lifting device 503 of the folding device 500. Further, FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining a folding line processing step by the folding line device 500, and FIGS. 26A to 26C are operation examples of steps I to III of the folding line applying process by the folding line device 500. FIG. 26D is a diagram illustrating an example of a folding line processing state for a recording material in each step.

  In the lifting device 503, when the driving force from the drive motor 542 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 540 via the drive transmission mechanism 543 and the eccentric cams 541 (541 a to 541 c) are sequentially rotated, one end side in the longitudinal direction of the muscle insertion unit 501. The eccentric cam 541 (541a in this example) located at the position first reaches top dead center (step I), and the eccentric cam 541 (541b in this example) located at the other longitudinal end of the scoring unit 501 is determined in advance. Next, the top dead center is reached with the obtained phase difference θab (for example, 30 °) (step II), and finally an eccentric cam 541 (541c in this example) positioned at the longitudinal center of the scoring unit 501 is determined in advance. The top dead center is reached with a phase difference θbc (for example, 30 °) (step III).

Here, supplementing each eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c), as shown in FIG. 24, each eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) has a bottom dead center Pmin at the same phase position, and is eccentric. The cam 541a reaches the top dead center Pmax with a phase difference θa from the bottom dead center Pmin, the eccentric cam 541b reaches the top dead center Pmax with the phase difference θb from the bottom dead center Pmin, and the eccentric cam 541c reaches the top dead center Pmin. The top dead center Pmax is reached with a phase difference θc.
In this embodiment, the phase differences θa to θc are set to have a relationship of θa <θb <θc, and the timing at which each eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) reaches the top dead center Pmax is the phase difference θab (= θb). −θa) and θbc (= θc−θb).

  Each eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is positioned at the bottom dead center at the same phase position (0 °) (see FIG. 21) as shown in FIG. 522 reaches the state of contact with the groove forming block 502 (see FIG. 22), then, the eccentric cam 541a first reaches the top dead center (see FIG. 23), and the eccentric cam 541b reaches the top dead center after the phase difference θab. , And after the phase difference θbc, the eccentric cam 541c reaches the top dead center and returns to the initial state by one rotation.

For this reason, along with the operation of the lifting device 503, as shown in FIGS. 26 (a) to 26 (c), in the process I, the scoring blade 520 rises toward the one end side in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 26 (d) shows. A partial folding line from the end to the center of the recording material S as shown by the solid line I is formed, and in the process II, the scoring blade 520 rises toward the other end in the longitudinal direction, and the dotted line II in FIG. A partial folding line is formed from the end to the center of the recording material S as shown, and in the process III, the scoring blade 520 rises most at the center in the longitudinal direction, and the recording material as shown by a one-dot chain line III in FIG. A partial crease line near the center of S is formed.
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the partial crease line is formed from the longitudinal end of the recording material S to the center and then the partial crease line is applied to the center of the recording material S. Compared with a case where the height of the recording material S is raised uniformly, a fold line formation defect at the center in the longitudinal direction of the recording material S is less likely to occur.
Here, from the viewpoint of stabilizing the crease formation by the crease unit 501, the rotation shaft 540 of the elevating device 503 is rotated a plurality of times, and the formation operation of the partial crease at the same location by the crease blade 520 is performed. It may be repeated.

The crease applying process and the crease crushing process for the recording material S by the crease device 500 will be specifically described.
FIG. 27 to FIG. 30 are diagrams for explaining the folding line applying process and the folding line crushing process by the folding apparatus.
First, as shown in FIG. 27A, the recording material S is conveyed along the recording material conveyance direction using the fifth conveyance roll 115 and the sixth conveyance roll 116 (see FIG. 7), and the folding device 500 is formed. Carry in. Next, the driving of the fifth transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116 is stopped as the central portion in the transport direction of the recording material S reaches the portion facing the creasing blade 520 of the folding device 500. As a result, the recording material S stops in a state where the central portion in the conveyance direction is located at the opposing portion between the scoring blade 520 and the insertion groove 530. Note that the position of the central portion of the recording material S in the transport direction is the size of the recording material S (the length with respect to the transport direction) and the leading end side of the recording material S in the transport direction is the position detector 103 (see FIG. 7). It depends on the elapsed time since it was detected.

  At this time, the eccentric cams 541 (541a to 541c) are stopped by the rotary shaft 540 at positions corresponding to bottom dead centers (see FIG. 21), and the scoring unit 501 and the pressing block 522 are provided as groove forming blocks. It is placed in a position where it is saved from 502. As a result, the creasing blade 520 of the creasing unit 501 is in a state of being pulled into the back side of the presser block 522. Thereby, a space for carrying the recording material S is formed between the groove forming block 502, the scoring blade 520, and the pressing block 522.

Here, in the present embodiment, a curved guide surface 536 is formed at the upstream edge portion of the insertion groove 530 of the groove forming block 502 in the recording material conveyance direction, and at the downstream side of the insertion groove 530 in the recording material conveyance direction. A linear guide surface 537 is formed. The guide surfaces 536 and 537 on the groove forming block 502 side are formed with shoulders around the folding line Sa of the recording material S when the line insertion blade 520 of the line insertion unit 501 is inserted into the insertion groove 530 as will be described later. We are careful not to be.
When the recording material S is carried into the folding device 500, the guide inclined surface 528a formed on the upstream holding block 522a and the guide inclined surface 529a formed on the downstream holding block 522b are along the conveyance direction. The recording material S to be conveyed is guided by each surface.

  Next, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is rotated 90 ° clockwise from the bottom dead center (see FIG. 21) via the rotating shaft 540, and is positioned at the intermediate point (see FIG. 22). As shown in (b), the creasing unit 501 and the pressing block 522 are advanced to the groove forming block 502 side, and the flat surface 528b of the upstream pressing block 522a and the flat surface 529b of the downstream pressing block 522b and the groove forming block 502 are shown. The recording material S is sandwiched between the two. At this time, the scoring blade 520 is maintained in the state of being pulled into the back side of the presser block 522, and the scoring blade 520 does not contact the recording material S in this state.

  Subsequently, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is rotated clockwise from the intermediate point via the rotating shaft 540 and sequentially positioned at the top dead center (see FIG. 23), as shown in FIG. 28 (a). Then, the scoring blade 520 is projected from the back side of the holding block 522 into the insertion groove 530. Accordingly, a partial folding line is formed in the center of the recording material S in the conveyance direction, for example, in the order of the rear side, the near side, and the central side in the figure, and as a result, the recording material S has a folding line Sa. Note that slip occurs between the groove forming block 502 and the pressing block 522 and the recording material S when the fold line Sa is formed.

  Thereafter, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is rotated 180 ° clockwise from the top dead center via the rotating shaft 540 and is positioned at the bottom dead center (see FIG. 21), and the result is shown in FIG. As described above, the creasing unit 501 and the pressing block 522 are retracted from the groove forming block 502 again.

  Next, by rotating the fifth transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116 (see FIG. 7) in the direction opposite to the normal time, the recording material S on which the folding line Sa is formed is reverse to the normal transport direction. As shown in FIG. 29A, the crease line Sa formed on the recording material S is stopped in a state where it is positioned above the flat surface 528b formed on the upstream holding block 522a.

  Then, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is rotated 90 ° clockwise from the bottom dead center (see FIG. 21) via the rotating shaft 540, and is positioned at the intermediate point (see FIG. 22). b), the creasing unit 501 and the presser block 522 are advanced to the groove forming block 502 side, the flat surface 528b of the upstream presser block 522a, the flat surface 529b of the downstream presser block 522b, and the groove forming block 502, The recording material S is sandwiched between them. At this time, the fold line Sa of the recording material S is sandwiched between the flat surface 528b of the upstream holding block 522a and the opposite surface of the groove forming block 502, and the fold line Sa is crushed in the crease line Sa. The power of is added. At this time, the scoring blade 520 is maintained in the state of being pulled into the back side of the presser block 522, and the scoring blade 520 does not contact the recording material S in this state.

  Subsequently, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) is rotated counterclockwise from the intermediate point (see FIG. 22) through the rotating shaft 540 and positioned at the bottom dead center (see FIG. 21). As shown in FIG. 30A, the creasing unit 501 and the pressing block 522 are retracted from the groove forming block 502 again. At this time, since the rotation shaft 540 is rotated counterclockwise, the eccentric cam 541 (541a to 541c) does not reach the top dead center in this process, and the recording material S is formed by the scoring blade 520. No other fold line Sa is applied. Accordingly, the pressing by the flat surface 528b of the upstream holding block 522a and the opposing surface of the groove forming block 502 against the fold line Sa of the recording material S is released. As a result, the fold line Sa of the recording material S is released. Will be crushed and the peak height H will decrease (see FIGS. 7C and 7D).

  Thereafter, by rotating the fifth transport roll 115 and the sixth transport roll 116 (see FIG. 7) again in the normal direction, as shown in FIG. The recording material S with the reduced height H is conveyed in the conveying direction and discharged from the folding device 500.

  When the above-described folding line mode and saddle stitching mode are executed, the recording material S to which the folding line Sa is provided so as to be a convex part projecting upward is positioned and received by a positioning receiving 150, for example, as shown in FIG. Are sequentially discharged and loaded. At this time, if the leading end of the recording material S to be transported next collides with the fold line Sa of the recording material S already loaded on the positioning storage receiver 150, the recording stacked on the positioning storage receiver 150. There is a concern of disturbing the alignment of the material S.

Further, when the above-described folding line mode is executed, the recording material S to which the folding line Sa is provided so as to protrude upward is made into a bundle of the recording materials S in the positioning housing receiver 150 and then moved together. The paper is sequentially discharged and loaded on the discharge container receiver 250. Further, when the above-described saddle stitching mode is executed, the recording material S to which the crease line Sa is provided so as to protrude upward is bundled with the recording material S in the positioning storage receiver 150, and the bookbinding processing apparatus 200. After being conveyed to the saddle stitching device 220 and subjected to the saddle stitching process on the folding line Sa of the bundle of recording materials S, the recording material S is sequentially discharged and stacked on the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250. At this time, if the leading end of the bundle of recording materials S to be conveyed next collides with the folding line Sa of the bundle of recording materials S already loaded on the movable discharge receptacle receiver 250, the movable discharge receptacle receiver 250. There is a concern that the alignment of the bundle of recording materials S loaded on the recording medium S may be disturbed.
These situations are more likely to occur as the peak height H of the folding line Sa formed on the recording material S is higher.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in the folding device 500, first, the folding line Sa is formed on the recording material S using the folding line forming part 500a, and then the recording material S is used using the folding line crushing part 500b. After the crease line Sa formed in the slab is crushed, the height H of the mountain is reduced, and then the sheet is discharged to the positioning housing receiver 150. As a result, a situation in which the alignment of the bundles of the recording materials S is disturbed in the positioning storage receiver 150 or the movable discharge storage receiver 250 due to the folding line Sa is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, since the folding line Sa is processed after the folding line Sa is formed on the recording material S, the folding line Sa is folded even if the peak height H of the folding line Sa is reduced. The ease is the same as before the crease line Sa is crushed. Therefore, for example, compared with a case where the weak fold line Sa is formed by reducing the force applied to the recording material S (when the peak height H of the fold line Sa formed on the recording material S is simply lowered). It becomes easy to fold the bundle of recording materials S to which Sa is applied along the folding line Sa.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the stack height of the bundle of recording materials S is smaller than that in the case where the folding lines Sa formed on the recording material S are directly discharged to the movable discharge receiving receptacle 250 without being crushed. Therefore, the number of recording materials S that can be stored in the movable discharge storage receiver 250 is also increased.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the folding device 500 uses the holding block 522 used for fixing the recording material S for forming the folding line Sa on the recording material S in the folding device 500, and the folding formed on the recording material S. Since the line Sa is crushed, the configuration of the apparatus is simplified compared to the case where the crease line forming part 500a and the crease line crushing part 500b are provided separately.

In the present embodiment, the recording material S is crushed with the fold line Sa sandwiched between the flat surface 528b of the upstream holding block 522a and the groove forming block 502, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, the crease line Sa of the recording material S may be sandwiched between the flat surface 529b of the downstream pressing block 522b and the groove forming block 502, and then crushed.
In the present embodiment, the creasing unit 501, the groove forming block 502, and the lifting device 503 are configured to have the functions as the crease forming unit 500 a and the crease crushing unit 500 b, but are not limited thereto. Instead of the crease forming unit 5001, the groove forming block 502, and the elevating device 503, the crease forming part 500a may be configured, and the crease crushed part 500b may be provided separately from these.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Image forming apparatus, 22 ... Post-processing apparatus, 40 ... Image forming part, 90 ... Transport unit, 150 ... Positioning receiving receptacle, 170 ... End binding apparatus, 200 ... Bookbinding processing apparatus, 220 ... Saddle stitching apparatus, 250 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Movable discharge | emission accommodation receptacle, 500 ... Folding line device, 500a ... Folding line formation part, 500b ... Folding line crushing part, 501 ... Reinforcement unit, 502 ... Groove formation block, 503 ... Elevating device, 520, 520 ... Reinforcing line blade 522 ... Holding block, 522a ... Upstream holding block, 522b ... Downstream holding block

Claims (6)

A crease forming means for forming a crease in the recording material;
Reducing means for reducing the ridge height of the crease formed in the recording material by the crease formation means;
Stacking means for stacking the recording material in which the peak height of the fold line is reduced by the reduction means so that the convex part of the fold line faces upward,
The recording material post-processing characterized in that the reduction means has a flat surface extending in the conveyance direction of the recording material, and reduces the peak height by sandwiching the crease formed on the recording material with the flat surface. apparatus. The crease forming means forms the crease on the recording material with the recording material sandwiched therebetween,
The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reduction unit reduces the peak height by sandwiching the crease formed on the recording material with the crease formation unit. Temporary stacking means for sequentially stacking the recording materials in which the peak heights of the creases are reduced by the reducing means and aligning the ends of the plurality of the recording materials stacked;
3. The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a discharging unit that discharges a bundle of the plurality of recording materials aligned by the temporary stacking unit toward the stacking unit. Temporary stacking means for sequentially stacking the recording materials in which the peak heights of the creases are reduced by the reducing means and aligning the ends of the plurality of the recording materials stacked;
Binding means for receiving a bundle of a plurality of the recording materials aligned by the temporary stacking means, and performing a binding process on the folding line in the bundle;
The recording material post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: a discharging unit that discharges the bundle subjected to the binding process by the binding unit toward the stacking unit. A groove forming member that is disposed on the upper side of the conveyance path through which the recording material is conveyed, and has a groove formed along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording material at a portion facing the conveyance path;
An advancing / retreating member that is disposed on the lower side of the conveying path so as to face the groove, and advances / retreats between a position that enters the groove across the conveying path and a position that is retracted from the conveying path;
Arranged on the lower side of the conveying path, advances and retreats between a position where the recording material is sandwiched between the groove forming member and the recording material is pressed against the groove, and a position where the recording material is retracted. And a holding member that
The advancement / retraction member is advanced to advance the retreat member after the recording material is sandwiched between the groove forming member by advancing the pressing member, and a crease is formed on the surface of the recording material. After moving the recording material along the conveying path, the fold line is moved to a position where the pressing member and the groove forming member are opposed to each other, and the pressing member is advanced again to move the groove. A recording material post-processing apparatus, wherein the pressing member is retracted after the folding line of the recording material is sandwiched between the forming member and the forming member. The pressing member is provided so as to sandwich the advance / retreat member from the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording material,
A first position for retracting the pressing member from the conveying path without protruding the tip of the advancing / retracting member, and conveying the pressing member without protruding the tip of the advancing / retreating member from the pressing member. A second position where the recording material is sandwiched between the groove forming member by advancing into the path, and a tip of the advance / retreat member with the recording material sandwiched between the pressing member and the groove forming member. claims to protrude from the pressing member and a third position for forming the creases on the recording material, and further comprising an interlocking forward and reverse mechanism for advancing and retracting in conjunction with the pressing member and the reciprocating member The recording material post-processing apparatus according to 5 .

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