JP6354474B2 - Sheet-like medium folding member, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet-like medium folding member, a sheet processing apparatus, and an image forming system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a configuration for reducing the folding height of a sheet-like medium in a sheet processing apparatus that receives a sheet-like medium formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile and performs a folding process. (For example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3).

  However, in the conventional configuration in which a plurality of pressure units are arranged in order to reduce the folding height of the sheet-like medium, the sheet-like medium is folded even if pressure is applied to obtain the intended effect of strengthening the folded part. In order to pressurize the whole part with the pressurizing part, the applied pressure is dispersed. For this reason, the applied pressure per unit area actually applied to the folded portion is small. However, if the number of pressurizing units is suppressed, the applied pressure is concentrated, and therefore, there is a problem that a sudden load fluctuation occurs on the driving unit of the pressurizing unit at the moment when the pressurizing unit comes into contact with the sheet-like medium.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet-like medium folding member capable of reducing a rapid load fluctuation at the time of pressing a sheet-like medium without arranging a plurality of pressure units.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention presses a folded portion of a folded sheet-like medium, and presses the folded portion in a direction perpendicular to the folded portion while being inclined to the folded portion. And a flange portion disposed so as to include at least a position different from the part in the orthogonal direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the sheet-like medium folding member which can reduce the rapid load fluctuation at the time of pressurization of a sheet-like medium can be provided, without arrange | positioning several pressurization parts.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of an image forming system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an example of the sheet folding apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pressing drive unit provided in the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4A is a side view thereof, and FIG. 4B is a front view thereof. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an example of the sheet-like medium folding member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, Fig.5 (a) is the perspective view, FIG.5 (b) is the front view. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an example of the sheet-like medium folding member which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of another example of the sheet-like medium folding member which concerns on this invention. FIGS. 8A to 8F are diagrams illustrating the operation of the pressing unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 8A to 8F are diagrams illustrating the operation of the pressing unit at each stage. FIGS. 9A to 9J are diagrams illustrating an operation of a pressing unit of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9A to 9J are diagrams illustrating a pressing portion when the pressing unit operates on a sheet-like medium. It is. It is a figure which shows the example of schematic structure of the control means of the sheet processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart of the press means of the sheet processing apparatus concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the schematic structural example of the misrotation prevention part of the press drive means based on 1st Embodiment of this invention, Fig.12 (a) is the perspective view, FIG.12 (b) is the side view, FIG. 12 (c) is a partial cross-sectional view of the erroneous rotation preventing portion.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an example of an image forming system 300 including a sheet folding processing apparatus 100 including a sheet processing apparatus 151 which is an example of a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, and an image forming apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 200 is connected to a paper feeding device 201, a sheet folding processing device 100, a paper feeding device 203, and a post-processing device 204 to form an image forming system 300. Note that the image forming system 300 does not necessarily have a post-processing device, and the number of paper feeding devices is not particularly limited.

  With the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the sheet folding processing apparatus 100 can perform each folding operation such as Z-folding, two-folding, outer three-folding, inner three-folding, simple four-folding, and four-tone folding. In the present embodiment, only Z-folding and bi-folding operations will be described later. The sheet 2, which is an example of a sheet-like medium on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 200, is sent from the upstream image forming apparatus 200 in the conveyance direction of the sheet 2 indicated by the arrow A to the sheet-like medium receiving port of the sheet folding processing apparatus 100. The sheet is conveyed into the sheet folding processing apparatus 100 through 110. In order to convey the sheet 2 to the downstream post-processing device 204 without folding, the sheet 2 is linearly moved along the eighth conveyance path 108 by switching the first switching claw 121 to the first posture. The sheet is allowed to pass through and discharged from the sheet carry-out port 140 as indicated by reference numeral B. When folding the sheet 2, the first switching claw 121 is switched to a second position different from the first position, the sheet 2 is guided to each conveyance path inside the sheet folding apparatus 100, and each folding operation is performed. Do. After the folding is completed, the sheet 2 is conveyed to the sheet processing apparatus 151, and the sheet processing apparatus 151 performs a folding increase process. The fold-in process is a process of pressing the folded portion of the sheet 2 that has already been folded (for example, the portions indicated by reference numerals D and E in FIG. 3) to make the fold of the folded portion have a sharper angle. Thus, the folding height of the paper 2 is reduced.

<Z-fold>
By setting the first switching claw 121 to the second position, the sheet 2 is guided from the sheet-shaped medium receiving port 110 to the first conveyance path 101. In the first conveyance path 101, the sheet 2 guided to the nip portion by the movement of a guide member (not shown) with respect to the nip portion between the first folding roller 111 and the second folding roller 112 is transferred to the nip portion. Pass through. The nip portion indicates an area where the sheet 2 is folded by sandwiching and pressing the sheet-like medium 2. Next, the leading edge of the sheet 2 hits the second stopper 142 disposed in the third transport path 103, and the sheet 2 temporarily stops. After the leading edge of the sheet 2 hits the second stopper 142, the bent portion of the sheet 2 enters the nip portion between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113, and the first folding is performed. Thereafter, when the sheet 2 is guided by the second switching claw 122 and conveyed to the fourth conveyance path 104, the leading end of the sheet 2 abuts against the third stopper 143 disposed in the fourth conveyance path 104. Next, the bent portion generated in the sheet 2 enters the nip portion between the fourth folding roller 114 and the fifth folding roller 115 and the second folding is performed, and the Z-folding is completed.

  After the Z-folding is completed, the sheet 2 is transported to the sixth transport path 106, and the sheet processing apparatus 151 performs a folding increase process. The sheet 2 on which the folding process has been performed passes through the sixth conveyance path 106 and is guided to the seventh conveyance path 107 by the third switching claw 123. Further, the sheet 2 is guided to the ninth transport path 109 by the fourth switching claw 124 and stacked on the sheet discharge unit 131. When the sheet 2 is conveyed to the sheet feeding device 203, the sheet 2 is guided to the sheet carry-out port 140 by the third switching claw 123 and is discharged out of the sheet folding process 100 as indicated by reference numeral B.

<Fold in half>
By setting the first switching claw 121 to the second position, the sheet 2 is guided from the sheet-shaped medium receiving port 110 to the first conveyance path 101. The leading edge of the sheet 2 hits the first stopper 141 of the second transport path 102 through the first transport path 101. The bent portion generated in the sheet 2 enters the nip portion between the first folding roller 111 and the second folding roller 112 to be folded, and the folding is completed.

  The folded sheet 2 after the folding is completed does not enter the third conveyance path 103, passes through the nip portion between the second folding roller 112 and the third folding roller 113, and is secondly switched by the second switching claw 122. 5 is guided to the conveyance path 105. Further, the folded paper 2 is transported to the sixth transport path 106, and the sheet processing apparatus 151 performs the folding process. The sheet 2 on which the folding process has been performed passes through the sixth conveyance path 106 and is guided to the seventh conveyance path 107 by the third switching claw 123. Further, the sheet 2 is guided to the ninth transport path 109 by the fourth switching claw 124 and stacked on the sheet discharge unit 131. When the sheet 2 is conveyed to the sheet feeding device 203, the sheet 2 is guided to the sheet carry-out port 140 by the third switching claw 123 and is discharged out of the sheet folding process 100 as indicated by reference numeral B.

  The basic configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 151 and the basic operation of the folding process for the folded paper 2 will be described. In this embodiment, the case where the Z-folded paper 2 shown in FIG. 3 is used as the folded paper 2 will be described. The Z-folded paper 2 has a folding part D and a folding part E.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet processing apparatus 151 includes folding members 1, which are examples of a sheet-like medium folding member, and folding portions D and E at a folding position S between the folding member 1 and the folding member 1. And a conveyance guide 3 as an opposing member to be pressed. The sheet processing apparatus 151 includes an elastic member 11 that urges the conveyance guide plate 3 toward the folding member 1. The sheet processing apparatus 151 detects that the folding unit D and E are in the folding position S, and the conveyance unit 152 that conveys the sheet 2 in the direction R corresponding to the left direction on the plane of FIG. In order to do so, it has a position detection sensor 25 that detects the positions of the folding portions D and E. The sheet processing apparatus 151 moves the folding member 1 in the direction K along the direction R, specifically rotates the pressing member 154 shown in FIG. 4 to press the folding portions D and E, and FIG. The control means 400 shown in FIG. 12 and the erroneous rotation prevention unit 30 shown in FIG.

  The folding member 1 is a rod-like member extending in this direction M with the direction M shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 8 being the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The folding member 1 is installed in the direction M so as to be longer than the length of the sheet passing area in the sheet processing apparatus 151 and include the sheet passing area. Only one folding member 1 is provided in the sheet processing apparatus 151. Therefore, the sheet processing apparatus 151 has only one folding position S, which is a pressurizing section that presses the folding portions D and E to perform folding processing. I have. The folding member 1 includes a shaft 4 that forms a rotation center, a convex pressing portion 5 that is disposed in an inclined state at the folding portions D and E, and flange portions 7 that are disposed at both ends.

The transport unit 152 includes a transport roller pair 153 a that transports the paper 2 to the folding position S and a transport roller pair 153 b that transports the paper 2 from the folding position S. The conveyance roller pairs 153 a and 153 b are arranged at positions where they do not interfere with the pressing force urging operation at the folding position S of the conveyance guide plate 3 and can be carried into and out of the folding position S of the paper 2.
The conveyance means 152 conveys the paper 2 to the folding position S along the surface of the conveyance guide plate 3 on the side facing the paper 2 by the rotation of the conveyance roller pairs 153a and 153b. In other words, the transport unit 152 transports the sheet 2 in the direction R perpendicular to the direction M and passes the folding position S. The conveying unit 152 may be a unit that is provided on the main body side of the sheet folding processing apparatus 100 and that conveys the sheet 2 to the sheet processing apparatus 151.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing drive means 154 includes a drive motor 27, a gear pulley 28 having a shaft 28 a, a timing belt 29, and a pulley 20 that rotatably supports the shaft 4, and the timing belt 29 is connected to the pulley 20 and the shaft 20. 28a. The pulley 20 is provided with a one-way clutch 21, and the shaft 4 is configured to rotate only in one direction, that is, the direction K, and idle in the other direction by the one-way clutch 21. The direction K is a direction along the direction R and is a direction orthogonal to the direction M in which the folded portions D and E are formed. The pressing drive means 154 rotates the shaft 4 in the direction K, thereby moving the pressing portion 5 in the direction K and pressing the folded portions D and E by the pressing portion 5.
The sheet processing apparatus 151 presses the sheet 2 conveyed to the folding position S by rotating the shaft 4 by the pressing drive unit 154 at the folding position S and moving the pressing section 5 in the direction K, thereby folding the section D. , E are folded and processed.

  When the sheet processing apparatus 151 stops while the pressing unit 5 is pressing the paper 2, if the paper 2 is pulled out from the downstream side in the direction R, the shaft 4 is idled by the operation of the one-way clutch 21. Therefore, it is prevented or suppressed that the paper 2 is torn and the pressing portion 5 is damaged. Further, since the one-way clutch 21 is provided, it is possible to divide the drive target according to the rotation direction of the drive motor 27. For this reason, it is possible to rotate another drive system such as another roller by rotating the drive motor 27 in the other direction from the rotation of the shaft 4, and the number of drive sources such as the drive motor 27. This leads to a reduction.

  The conveyance guide plate 3 guides the conveyance of the sheet 2 in the region including the folding position S in the direction R. The conveyance guide plate 3 is installed at the folding position S so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction M and the direction R, which is in contact with and away from the folding member 1. The width in the direction M of the transport guide plate 3 is at least equal to or greater than the length in the direction M, which is the width direction of the folded portions D and E of the paper 2 and the length in the direction M of the folding member 1. The length along the direction R of the conveyance guide plate 3 is a length that can ensure the conveyance of the sheet 2 and can fold the folding portions D and E at the folding position S. The conveyance guide plate 3 is preferably made of a material having a high strength and a small friction coefficient.

  The elastic member 11 is composed of a compression spring or a coiled leaf spring. The elastic member 11 is deformed when the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the conveyance guide plate 3, and presses the folding portion D and the folding portion E of the paper 2 between the conveyance guide plate 3 and the pressing portion 5, that is, at the folding position S. . The installation range in the direction M of the elastic member 11 is made substantially equal to or slightly larger than the length in the direction M of the folding member 1 so that the pressurizing force of the folding increase process becomes uniform.

The position detection sensor 25 detects the positions of the folding portions D and E in order to determine the timing for starting and stopping the rotational driving of the folding member 1. The detection information of the folding portions D and E by the position detection sensor 25 is input to the control unit 400, and the control unit 400 determines the timing for starting and stopping the rotation of the folding member 1.
As the position detection sensor 25, when the conveyance guide plate 3 is made of a transparent material such as hard glass or hard plastic, an optical detection sensor can be used. As the position detection sensor 25, an optical detection sensor can be adopted even when a metal plate obtained by plating steel is used as the transport guide plate 3. This is because the distance from the end of the paper 2 to the folding portions D and E is known, and the position of the folding portions D and E can be recognized by detecting the end of the paper 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the folding member 1 has a columnar base 6 that forms the outer peripheral portion of the shaft 4 in addition to the shaft 4, the pressing portion 5, and the flange portion 7 that have already been described. The pressing part 5 and the flange part 7 are protruded from the base part 6. The pressing portion 5 has a uniform height Ha from the base 6 to the tip 8a which is the tip position, and the flange portion 7 has a uniform height Hb from the base 6 to the tip 8b which is the tip position. The cross section of the pressing portion 5 is a semicircular shape in a direction perpendicular to the axis 4 or a square shape with chamfered corners. The tip 8b is planar.
As long as the base 6 forms the outer periphery of the shaft 4, the base 6 may have a cylindrical shape filled with the interior as in this embodiment, or may have a cylindrical column shape with a hollow interior. Good. Since the base 6 is cylindrical, the configuration is simplified by using the folding member 1 as a rotating body, and the sheet processing apparatus 151 can be reduced in size as compared with, for example, a configuration in which the folding member 1 is a flat plate. The same applies when the base 6 is cylindrical.

  The folding member 1 is preferably formed of a material having a small coefficient of friction in order to prevent breakage of the folded portions D and E due to friction with the pressing portion 5, and a resin such as POM (polyoxymethylene) is used as a mold. It is formed by molding. The folding member 1 may be formed of an aluminum alloy or the like with a mold. The flange portion 7 is also preferably made of a material having a small friction coefficient, like the pressing portion 5. The folding member 1 is not integrally formed as a whole. For example, the pressing portion 5 and the flange portion 7 may be formed separately.

  The pressing portion 5 extends roughly in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction R of the paper 2, but by rotating the shaft 4, the pressing portion 5 moves along the folding portions D and E and moves the paper 2 along the direction M. It is arranged in a direction R so as to incline in the direction K so that the entire area in the width direction is sequentially pressed and folded. Therefore, the pressing part 5 is provided so as to be inclined to the folding parts D and E. The pressing part 5 is arranged in a part in the direction R perpendicular to the folding parts D and E on the peripheral surface of the base part 6. This is to prevent the portion where the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the folding portion D or the folding portion E from changing in the direction M due to the rotational phase of the folding member 1. Further, this is to prevent the pressure at which the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the folding portions D and E from being changed by the rotation phase of the folding member 1 so that the folding increase processing is performed uniformly in the direction M.

In this embodiment, the pressing portion 5 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the folding member 1 in the direction M, and is arranged so as to be simultaneously in contact with the paper 2, specifically, the folding portions D and E, at two folding positions S. (FIG. 5).
Even if the pressing part 5 is simultaneously in contact with the folding parts D and E at two locations, even if the applied pressure of the entire folding member 1 is increased, the increase in the load torque of the drive motor 27 is suppressed and the productivity of the folding process is increased. Can be improved.

  The pressing portion 5 is not limited to being symmetric in the direction M, and may be arranged on the base portion 6 at a constant helical arrangement angle θ as shown in FIG. By using a constant helical arrangement angle θ, it is possible to apply a uniform pressing force to the folded portions D and E. By disposing the pressing portion 5 at the arrangement angle θ, the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the folding portions D and E at one place. Therefore, the load torque of the driving motor 27 is reduced, the driving motor 27 is reduced, and the driving system is reduced. It becomes possible to simplify. When the arrangement angle θ is small, the contact area between the pressing portion 5 and the folding portions D and E is small, so that the force required to press the folding portions D and E is small, and the drive motor 27 is reduced in size. It can be a motor. When the arrangement angle θ is large, the contact area between the pressing portion 5 and the folding portions D and E increases, so that the force required to press the folding portions D and E increases and the drive motor 27 becomes larger. Although it is necessary to use a motor, since the folding process is completed with a small amount of rotation, productivity is improved. The pressing portion 5 can be further configured to perform folding processing simultaneously at a plurality of three or more locations. By increasing the pressing force of the entire folding member 1, that is, by increasing the load torque of the drive motor 27, by simultaneously contacting the folding parts D and E with three or more pressing parts 5, productivity is improved. Can do.

  The flange portion 7 is disposed so as to include at least a position different from the position occupied by the pressing portion 5 in the direction K. As a result, even when the non-arranged position of the pressing portion 5 in the direction R is opposed to the paper 2 or the conveyance guide plate 3 by the rotation of the folding member 1, the flange portion 7 abuts on the paper 2 or the conveyance guide plate 3 to be folded. The load fluctuation with respect to the rotation of the member 1 is reduced.

  In this embodiment, each flange portion 7 includes all portions different from the portion occupied by the pressing portion 5 in the direction K, and occupies the same phase. Thereby, such load fluctuation is further reduced. The upstream end portion in the direction K of each flange portion 7 is connected and integrated with the end portion of the pressing portion 5 in the direction M, and the downstream end portion in the direction K is the central portion of the pressing portion 5 in the direction M. Overlaps the position occupied in direction K. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, in the K direction, the flange portion 7 is disposed on a part of the peripheral surface of the base portion 6, and the end portion position Ta of the pressing portion 5 and one end portion of the flange portion 7. The positions Tb are arranged so as to overlap each other in the region Tc. Therefore, the load fluctuation is reduced at the moment when the pressing portion 5 starts to contact the folding portions D and E and the moment when the contact with the folding portions D and E ends, that is, at the moment when the folding process starts and ends. Is done. Furthermore, noise at the moment when the pressing portion 5 contacts the folding portions D and E is also reduced.

  These advantages can be obtained without providing only one folding member 1, in other words, without providing a plurality of pressurizing portions. In this embodiment, the flange portion 7 is provided at both ends of the direction M, that is, at two locations, and the pressing portion 5 corresponds to two locations where the pressing portions 5 are in contact with the folding portions D and E, so that the load fluctuation and noise are further reduced. Yes. However, the flange portion 7 may be provided only at one end portion in the direction M as shown in FIG. 7 (a), or at the three end portions and the central portion in M as shown in FIG. 7 (b). It may be provided. The load variation and noise are reduced even in the configuration shown in FIG. 7A, and in the configuration shown in FIG. The thick paper 2 is smoothly carried into the folding position S and unloaded from the folding position S.

  As described above, the flange portion 7 can reduce a rapid load fluctuation at the time of pressurization when the folding portions D and E are pressed. In particular, referring to FIG. 5B, the load fluctuation is highly reduced by making the height Hb of the flange portion 7 from the base portion 6 coincide with the height Ha of the tip 8 a of the pressing portion 5. Due to these advantages, there is also an advantage that the degree of freedom in selecting the drive motor 27 of the pressing drive means 154 is improved.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a basic operation in the sheet processing apparatus 151. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the behavior when the folding portion D is subjected to the folding increase process when the distal end 8a of the pressing portion 5 and the distal end 8b of the flange portion 7 are in contact with the sheet 2 or the conveyance guide plate 3 at the folding position S. is there. In FIG. 9, a conveyance guide plate 3 (not shown) is disposed on the back side of the paper with respect to the paper 2, and the portion on the conveyance guide plate 3 side of the folding member 1 is on the front side of the paper with respect to the paper 2 from the lower side of the paper. It rotates in the direction K facing upward. The hatching position indicates a position where the front end 8 a of the pressing portion 5 contacts the paper 2 or a position where the front end 8 b of the flange portion 7 contacts the transport guide plate 3. It is assumed that the height Ha of the tip 8a and the height Hb of the tip 8b shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the folded sheet 2 is conveyed in the direction R along the surface of the conveyance guide plate 3 facing the folding member 1 by the conveyance unit 152. In the state shown in FIG. 8A, the pressing portion 5 is not in contact with the paper 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the flange portion 7 supports the folding member 1 by bringing the tip 8 b into contact with the conveyance guide plate 3, and holds a space in which the sheet 2 is conveyed in the folding position S. .

  As already described, since the folding member 1 is disposed so as to include the sheet passing region, the flange portions 7 positioned at both ends of the folding member 1 do not contact the sheet 2. That is, the flange portion 7 is provided corresponding to a position where the flange portion 7 is not in contact with the folding portions D and E in the direction M. This prevents damage caused by the flange portion 7 coming into contact with the paper 2. However, when the paper 2 is skewed, the flange portion 7 abuts against the side edge of the paper 2 and guides the conveyance of the paper 2.

Based on the timing at which the position detection sensor 25 detects the leading edge of the paper 2, the paper 2 is conveyed by the conveying means 152 at the timing at which the folded portion D of the paper 2 is conveyed to the folding position S as shown in FIG. Is stopped. When the conveyance of the sheet 2 is stopped, the folding member 1 is rotationally driven in the direction K by the pressing drive means 154.
When the folding member 1 is rotationally driven, the folding part D is pressurized in the direction M by the pressing part 5 moving in the direction K, and the folding process of the folding part D is performed. Since the tip 8a and the tip 8b have the same height, the tip 8a and the tip 8b simultaneously come into contact with the sheet 2 or the conveyance guide plate 3 at the folding position S as shown in FIG. Sudden load fluctuation at the time of pressurization when starting to press the folded portion D is reduced. 9 (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h), the tip 8a has a folding portion D at the center in the direction M at the folding position S. To the end side, and the folded portion D is pressed over the entire width in the direction M. When the tip 8a presses each end of the folding part D, the folding process of the folding part D is completed as shown in FIG. 9 (i), and the tip 8b starts to contact the conveyance guide plate 3.
When the folding process of the folding part D is completed over the entire width direction, the sheet 2 is conveyed in the direction R by the conveying unit 152 until the folding part E enters the folding position S as shown in FIG. . When the sheet 2 is conveyed, only the leading end 8b of the leading end 8a and the leading end 8b abuts on the conveying guide plate 3 as shown in FIG. 9 (j), and the folding portion E is conveyed into the folding position S. Is held.

  When the folding portion E is conveyed to the folding position S as shown in FIG. 8E, the conveyance of the paper 2 by the conveying means 152 is stopped, and the folding member 1 is again rotated in the direction K by the pressing drive means 154. Is done. By the rotation of the folding member 1 in the direction K, the folding part E is pressed in the direction M by the pressing part 5 and the folding process of the folding part E is performed. At this time, the folding member 1 is sequentially shown in FIGS. 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F, 9G, 9G, 9H, similarly to the folding process of the folding part D. The folding process of the folding part E is performed by the behavior.

  When the folding process of the folding portion E is completed over the entire width direction, the sheet 2 is again conveyed in the direction R by the conveying unit 152 and is carried out of the sheet processing apparatus 151 as shown in FIG. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 400 includes a control unit 410, a press control unit 420 as a press control unit, and a transport control unit 430 as a transport control unit. The control unit 400 includes a storage unit including a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and a CPU that controls operations and the like.

  The control unit 410 receives a detection signal from the position detection sensor 25 and inputs the detection signal to the pressing control unit 420 and the conveyance control unit 430. The conveyance control unit 430 controls the conveyance unit 152 by detecting the positions of the folding portions D and E with respect to the folding position S based on the detection signal of the sheet 2 from the position detection sensor 25 input from the control unit 410. By doing so, the conveyance of the sheet 2 is controlled. The pressing control unit 420 controls the pressing driving unit 154 based on the detection signal of the sheet 2 from the position detection sensor 25 input from the control unit 410. By controlling the pressing drive means, the operation of the folding member 1 is controlled according to the timing chart of FIG. 11 described below, and the folding process is performed on the folding portions D and E.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a timing chart of the rotation operation of the drive motor (not shown) of the transport unit 152 and the drive motor 27 of the press drive unit 154. Sections t4 to t5 and t8 to t9 are timings when the folding portions D and E enter the folding position S, respectively. a, b, and c indicate the rotational speed n of the drive motor of the conveying means 152, and d and e indicate the rotational speed n of the drive motor 27. “a” indicates the number of rotations of the driving motor increased when the leading edge of the sheet 2 is conveyed to the folding position S. b indicates the rotation speeds of the acceleration section and the deceleration section of the drive motor when the sheet 2 is positioned before and after the folding position S. c is when the rotational speed of the drive motor is 0 and the folding part D or E is stopped at the folding position S. d is the number of rotations of the drive motor 27 in the folded state of the folded portion D or E of the stopped paper 2, and e is the number of rotations of the drive motor 27 and the folding member 1 is stopped. It is.

  t1 to t12 indicate the elapsed time from when the sheet 2 is carried into the folding position S and the folding increase process is started to when it is finished and carried out. The sheet 2 is shifted to the stop state at t3 to t4 so that the folding part D stops at the folding position S, the sheet 2 is stopped at t4 to t5, and the sheet 2 is shifted to the transport state at t5 to t6. Meanwhile, the folding member 1 is shifted to the rotating state at t13 before t4, and the sheet 2 is conveyed at t5 before t14 when the folding member 1 stops. In this way, with the sheet 2 stopped at the folding position S, the pressing unit 5 pressurizes the sheet 2, here, the folded part D. The rotation of the folding member 1 is started before the sheet 2 stops, and the conveyance of the sheet 2 is started before the folding member 1 stops. Actually, a predetermined time is required until the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the paper 2 after the folding member 1 rotates and until the folding member 1 stops after the pressing portion 5 is separated from the paper 2. . By reducing the loss time included in the sections t13 to t4 and t5 to t14, the time required for the folding increase process is suppressed, and an advantage of improving productivity is obtained. t <b> 7 to t <b> 10 indicate the operation of the folding member 1 with respect to the second folding portion E of the paper 2.

  The control of the operation of the folding member 1 and the conveyance of the paper 2 shown in FIGS. The conveyance control unit 430 performs conveyance stop control for temporarily stopping the sheet 2 at the folding position S while the sheet 2 is being passed to the folding position S. The press control unit 420 performs drive start control that starts driving the press drive unit 154 before the conveyance stop control is performed. The conveyance control unit 430 cancels the conveyance stop control before the driving of the press driving unit 154 by the press control unit 420 started by the drive start control is stopped. As described above, a predetermined time is required from when the folding member 1 is rotated until the pressing portion 5 comes into contact with the paper 2 and after the pressing portion 5 is separated from the paper 2 until the folding member 1 stops. I need. However, the loss time included in the sections t13 to t4 and t5 to t14 illustrated in FIG. 11 is suppressed by the conveyance stop control, the drive start control, and the conveyance stop control release control by the pressing control unit 420 and the conveyance control unit 430. Thus, the above-described advantages can be obtained.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the configuration of the erroneous rotation prevention unit 30 for stopping the shaft 4 of the folding member 1 at a predetermined position, in other words, at a predetermined phase. The erroneous rotation prevention unit 30 is supported by the shaft 4 of the folding member 1 and is in contact with the filler 12 that rotates integrally with the shaft 4, the sensor 13 that detects the filler 12, and the filler 12 to stop the rotation of the folding member 1. And a rotation preventing member 16. The erroneous rotation prevention unit 30 includes a bracket 15 that rotatably supports the rotation prevention member 16, and a step screw 17 that is attached to the bracket 15. The erroneous rotation prevention unit 30 includes a torsion spring 14 attached between the rotation prevention member 16 and the bracket 15. When the pressing portion 5 occupies a position immediately upstream of the folding position S in the direction K, the folding member 1 occupies a predetermined phase where the tip of the filler 12 abuts against the rotation prevention member 16 and is detected by the sensor 13. When the tip of the filler 12 is detected by the sensor 13, input of a drive signal from the transport control unit 430 to the drive motor 27 is stopped. Even when the input of the drive signal to the drive motor 27 is stopped, the folding member 1 tries to continue to rotate due to the inertial force. However, since this inertial force is absorbed by the elastic force of the torsion spring 14, the folding member 1 is positioned at a position occupying a predetermined phase. In order to perform this positioning, the elastic force of the torsion spring 14 is set larger than the inertial force of the folding member 1. With this configuration, the folding member 1 can always start rotating from a predetermined phase.

  In a state where the folding member 1 occupies a predetermined phase, a drive signal is input from the transport control unit 430 to the drive motor 27 based on detection of the sheet 2 by the position detection sensor 25, and the shaft 4 starts to rotate. When the shaft 4 starts to rotate, the filler 12 starts to rotate in the direction K, and the rotation prevention member 16 rotates by a predetermined amount in the direction F1. When the filler 12 rotates in the direction K until it is no longer detected by the sensor 13, the filler 12 gets over the rotation preventing member 16. The rotation preventing member 16 released from contact with the filler 12 rotates in the F2 direction opposite to F1 by the elastic force of the torsion spring 14, and returns to the original position (home position). When the filler 12 is detected again by the sensor 13 after the folding member 1 further rotates in the direction K and the folding process of the folding part D or E is performed, the rotation prevention member 16 occupies the home position. The folding member 1 is positioned again at a predetermined phase.

  The folding member 1, the sheet folding apparatus 100 having the sheet processing apparatus 151, and the image forming system 300 reduce sudden load fluctuations of the driving motor 27 during the folding process, and the range of selection of the driving motor 27. To spread. For this reason, it is excellent in terms of cost and installation space, and it is possible to suppress a reduction in productivity and noise.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the present invention described in the claims is not specifically limited by the above description. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. The base constituting the sheet-shaped medium folding member is not limited to a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape, and may be a plate shape.
The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. .

1 Sheet-like medium folding member (folding member)
2 Sheet media (paper)
3 Opposing member (conveyance guide plate)
4 axis
5 Pressing part 6 Base part 7 Flange part 8a Tip position 8b of the pressing part 11 Tip position 11 of the flange part Elastic member 25 Position detection sensor 100 Sheet folding processing device 151 Sheet processing device 152 Conveying means 153a Conveying roller pair 153b Conveying roller pair 154 Press drive Means 200 Image Forming Apparatus 300 Image Forming System 400 Control Unit 410 Control Unit 405 Display Device Control Unit 406 Operation Unit Control Unit 420 Press Control Unit (Press Control Unit)
430 Transport control means (transport control unit)
D Folding part E Folding part K Direction perpendicular to the folding part M Direction along the folding part R Direction including the direction perpendicular to the folding part S Folding position Ta End part position of the pressing part Tb End part position of the flange part

JP 2007-045331 A JP 2009-149435 A JP 2011-156828 A

Claims (9)

A convex pressing portion arranged in a part in a direction orthogonal to the folding portion in a state inclined to the folding portion to press the folded portion of the folded sheet-like medium;
A sheet-like medium folding member having a flange portion disposed so as to include at least a position different from the part in the orthogonal direction. In the sheet-like medium folding member according to claim 1,
A plurality of the flange portions are sheet-like medium folding members provided in a direction along the folding portion. In the sheet-like medium folding member according to claim 1 or 2,
The sheet-like medium folding member, wherein the flange portion is arranged corresponding to a position that is not in contact with the folding portion in a direction along the folding portion. In the sheet-like medium folding member according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A sheet-like medium folding member in which a tip position of the pressing portion and a tip position of the flange portion coincide. In the sheet-like medium folding member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The flange portion is arranged in a part in the orthogonal direction,
A sheet-like medium folding member in which an end position of the pressing portion and a partial end position of the flange portion overlap each other in the orthogonal direction. In the sheet-like medium folding member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A sheet-like medium folding member in which a base portion having the pressing portion protruding thereon is cylindrical. A sheet-like medium folding member according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An opposing member that is disposed to face the sheet-like medium folding member and presses the folding portion at a folding position with the sheet-like medium folding member;
Conveying means for conveying the sheet-like medium in a direction including the orthogonal direction and passing the folding position;
A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a pressing drive unit that moves the pressing unit in a direction including the orthogonal direction and presses the folding unit by the pressing unit. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein
A pressure control means for controlling the pressure driving means;
Transport control means for controlling the transport means, the transport control means performs transport stop control to temporarily stop the sheet-like medium at the folding position while passing the sheet-like medium to the folding position,
The pressing control means performs driving start control for starting driving of the pressing driving means before the conveyance stop control is performed,
The sheet processing apparatus, wherein the conveyance control unit cancels the conveyance stop control before the driving of the pressing drive unit by the pressing control unit started by the driving start control is stopped.   An image forming system comprising the sheet-like medium folding member according to claim 1 or the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8.

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