JP2002348033A - Method and device for post-processing paper sheet, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the quality of the finished appearance of a paper sheet bundle by preventing a folded part of the paper sheet bundle from swelling in a thick shape after passing through a holding position of a folding roller pair. SOLUTION: In a paper sheet post-processing method for folding the paper sheet bundle by pressing a center part in the carrying direction of the paper sheet bundle carried on a paper sheet stacking table to the holding position of the folding roller pair while pressing the center part by a paper sheet projecting means, the center parts in the carrying direction of the paper sheet bundle is pressed to the holding position of the folding roller pair by driving the paper sheet projecting means, a folded part is formed at the holding position of the folding roller pair. when reaching the predetermined position over the holding position, the folding plate member of the paper sheet projecting member is drawn. After the paper sheet bundle is maintained for a predetermined time while held by the folding roller pair, the folding roller pair is driven to discharge the paper sheet bundle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic copying machine,
The paper discharged after image formation from an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction peripheral having these functions is sequentially taken into a paper post-processing apparatus, and post-processing such as binding processing and folding processing is performed on the paper. The present invention relates to a paper post-processing apparatus having a function of discharging paper to a paper discharge unit, a paper post-processing method, and an image forming apparatus including the paper post-processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A paper post-processing device called a finisher is used as a device for collating and stapling a plurality of image-recorded sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus by the number of copies and stapling them.

The paper post-processing apparatus is connected in function to an image forming apparatus main body such as a copying machine or a printer, and is driven in response to a sequence operation of a copy or print process.

Accordingly, for an image forming apparatus capable of performing an image forming process at a high speed, a paper post-processing apparatus capable of performing a function following the processing speed and capable of performing a high-speed processing is required. You.

[0005] Such a paper post-processing apparatus has already been disclosed in JP-A-60-142359 and JP-A-60-15846.
Nos. 3 and 62-239169, and JP-A-62-28
Nos. 8002 and 63-267667, JP-A-2-27
No. 6691, JP-A-8-319054, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-4
It is disclosed in each publication of 1991.

The bookbinding apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-183449 has a cover feeder, and performs a bookbinding finishing operation such as punching or stapling after overlapping a group of copy sheets and a cover. .

JP-A-6-72064 and 7-1874
No. 79 and No. 8-192951 are paper post-processing devices having a saddle stitching function.

[0008]

The conventional paper post-processing apparatus has the following problems.

A center folding roller pair for pressing and folding the center of the sheet bundle in the transport direction, and a middle folding plate member for projecting the fold portion of the sheet bundle while moving toward the holding position of the center folding roller pair; In the sheet bundle folding means, the front end portion of the center folding plate member is advanced, and the fold portion of the sheet bundle is protruded and clamped at the clamping position of the pair of rotating middle folding rollers. Was half-folded.

However, the fold portion of the sheet bundle after passing through the sandwiching position of the pair of center-folding rollers that are driving and rotating tends to expand due to the residual stress of the sheet. Become. In particular, in a sheet bundle having a large number of sheets, the swelling of the sheet bundle is remarkable, and the finished appearance quality of the sheet bundle is deteriorated.

[0011]

The above-mentioned problem in the center folding process is solved by the following method and apparatus.

(1) After pressing the center of the sheet bundle conveyed on the sheet stacking table in the conveying direction to the holding position of the center folding roller pair while pressing the sheet by means of the sheet ejecting means, the sheet bundle is subjected to the center folding process. In the processing method, the center of the sheet bundle in the conveying direction is pushed into the holding position of the center folding roller pair by the driving of the sheet ejecting unit, and a center folding portion is formed at the holding position of the center folding roller pair. When the sheet reaches the predetermined position, the middle folding plate member is pulled out, and the sheet bundle is held for a predetermined time in a state where the sheet bundle is held between the pair of center folding rollers. And discharging the sheet bundle.

(2) The central portion in the transport direction of the sheet bundle conveyed onto the sheet stacking table is pushed into the holding position of the pair of center folding rollers while being pressed by the sheet ejecting means, so that the sheet bundle is subjected to the center folding process. A first driving unit configured to drive a center folding plate member of the sheet ejecting unit;
Second driving means for driving and rotating the pair of center folding rollers;
A control unit for controlling the driving of the first drive unit and the second drive unit, and after the center folding portion of the sheet bundle exceeds the sandwiching position of the pair of center folding rollers, the center folding plate member For a predetermined time from the time when the sheet is pulled out, after holding the vicinity of the center folding portion of the sheet bundle between the pair of center folding rollers, driving the pair of center folding rollers to discharge the sheet bundle. Characteristic paper post-processing device.

(3) A sheet post-processing apparatus having the center folding plate member, the center folding roller pair, the first driving unit, the second driving unit, the detecting unit, and the control unit according to (2), an image forming unit, An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming apparatus main body including a sheet conveying means.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[One Embodiment of Image Forming Apparatus] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus main body A, an image reading apparatus B, and a sheet post-processing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a post-processing apparatus) C. is there.

The main body A of the image forming apparatus includes a charging unit 2, an image exposure unit (writing unit) 3, a developing unit 4, and a transfer unit 5 around a rotating image carrier (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive member) 1.
A, an image forming unit in which a charge removing unit 5B and a cleaning unit 6 are arranged. The image forming unit forms a latent image by performing an exposure scan based on image data read from a document by the laser beam of the image exposing unit 3 after uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor 1 by the charging unit 2. Then, the latent image is reversely developed by the developing means 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 1.

On the other hand, the transfer paper (hereinafter referred to as paper) S fed from the paper storage means 7A is sent to the transfer position.
At the transfer position, the toner image is transferred onto the sheet S by the transfer unit 5A. After that, the paper S is discharged by the discharging means 5B.
As a result, the charge on the back surface is erased and separated from the photoreceptor 1,
The sheet is conveyed by the intermediate conveying section 7B, subsequently heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, and discharged from the sheet discharging section 7C.

When forming images on both sides of the sheet S,
The sheet S, which has been heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, is branched off from a normal sheet discharge path by a transfer path switching plate 7D, is switched back by a reverse transfer unit 7E, is turned over, and then passes through an image forming unit again. Form an image on the back of S,
After passing through the fixing unit 8, the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging unit 7C to the outside of the apparatus. The paper S discharged from the paper discharge unit 7C is used for the post-processing device C
To the receiving unit 11.

On the other hand, the developer remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 after image processing is removed by the cleaning means 6 to prepare for the next image formation.

An image reading device B provided with an automatic document feeder of a document moving type reading system is installed above the image forming device main body A.

[Structure of Sheet Post-Processing Apparatus] The post-processing apparatus C connected to the image forming apparatus main body A includes an entrance conveying section 10, a shift processing section 20, a binding processing section 30, a stapling section (binding section) 40, a cover feeding section. It comprises a paper section 50, a center folding section 60, and a paper discharge section 80.

The entrance conveying section 10 conveys the sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A to each processing section. The shift processing unit 20 sorts the paper S conveyed from the entrance conveyance unit 10 into shift processes and discharges the paper S to an elevating paper discharge table 82 described later. The binding processing unit 30 stacks the sheets S conveyed from the entrance conveyance unit 10 and performs saddle stitching processing or edge stapling processing by stapling means 40 described later. The center folding processing unit 60 performs a center folding process by folding a central portion of the sheet S in the sheet transport direction, and discharges the sheet S to a lower sheet discharge table 83 described later. The cover sheet feeding unit 50 feeds a cover sheet (hereinafter, referred to as a cover sheet) K and conveys it to the shift processing unit 20 or the binding processing unit 30.

The paper discharge unit 80 includes an upper paper discharge table 81 that directly discharges and stores the paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A without performing post-processing via the entrance conveyance unit 10, and a shift processing. Alternatively, it has an elevating and lowering sheet discharge tray 82 for storing a sheet bundle subjected to edge binding processing, and a lower sheet discharging table 83 for storing a sheet sheet subjected to center folding processing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a sheet transport path of the post-processing device C, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper mechanism of the post-processing device C.

The post-processing apparatus C is installed with its position and height adjusted so that the receiving section 11 of the sheet S carried out of the image forming apparatus main body A coincides with the paper discharge section 7C of the image forming apparatus main body A. .

The paper S transport path connected downstream of the entrance roller pair 12 of the receiving unit 11 in the paper transport direction has three systems: an upper first transport path, a middle second transport path, and a lower third transport path. The paper S is fed to one of the transport paths by selecting the angle occupied by the switching means G1 and G2.

(Discharged to the upper paper discharge tray 81) The image-formed paper S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A is introduced into the receiving portion 11, is conveyed by the entrance roller pair 12, and passes through the entrance. The length of the sheet S in the transport direction is detected by the entrance sensor PS1 for detection. The paper S is the first
The driving roller 14A and the driven roller 1 of the upper conveying roller pair 14 pass through the right passage 13 of the switching means G1.
4B, the sheet is nipped and conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 15 and then nipped by a pair of discharge rollers 16 to be discharged onto an upper sheet discharge table 81 at an upper portion outside the apparatus, and sequentially stacked (first conveyance). Road).

In the paper transport process, the switching means G1
Is swung by the drive of the solenoid SD1 to close the passage 17 and open the passage 13 to allow the paper S to pass to the upper discharge tray 81.

The upper discharge tray 81 can store up to about 200 sheets S, and the operator can easily take it out from the upper part of the post-processing device C.

(Shift processing or non-sorting) When this transport mode is set, the switching means G1 closes the passage 13 and keeps the passage 17 open while the solenoid SD1 is in the off state. 17 passes.

The image-formed sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus main body A passes through the receiving portion 11, the entrance roller pair 12, and passes through the passage 17 formed below the switching means G1 in an open state. Then, the sheet is nipped by the pair of conveying rollers 18, passes through the passage 21 above the second switching means G <b> 2 that is obliquely below the second conveying path, is pinched by the pair of conveying rollers 22, and is conveyed through the path 23. The upper roller 26A and the lower roller 26 are sandwiched by a roller pair (shift roller pair) 24.
The sheet is discharged onto the elevating sheet discharge table 82 outside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 26 composed of B and is placed (second conveyance path). Reference numeral 27 denotes a swinging unit that swings the upper roller 26A so as to be able to pinch and separate from the lower roller 26B.

The elevating sheet discharge table 82 can accommodate a maximum of about 3000 sheets S.

[End Binding Process] The image-formed paper S, which has been subjected to the image forming process in the image forming apparatus main body A and sent to the receiving section 11 of the post-processing apparatus C, is subjected to the entrance roller pair 12,
Passing through the passage 17 below the first switching means G1,
The sheet is nipped by the pair of conveying rollers 18 and conveyed to the third conveying path.

When a sheet S having a size larger than A4 size and B5 size is conveyed in the third conveying path, the solenoid SD2 is driven, and the sheet S passes through the passage 31A below the switching means G2, and flows downstream. The sheet is nipped and transported by the transport roller pair 32. The sheet S is further driven downstream of the driving roller 3.
4A and a driven roller 34B, the sheet S is nipped and sent out, is discharged to the space above the intermediate mounting table 35 which is inclined, and is stacked on the intermediate mounting table 35 or the intermediate mounting table 35. After the paper S is slid up and in contact with the upper surface of the paper S, the trailing end of the paper S in the traveling direction is discharged from the pair of transport rollers 34, and then the paper S is turned down by its own weight, and slides down on the inclined surface of the intermediate mounting table 35. Then, the leading end of the sheet S in the traveling direction abuts on the sheet abutting surface of the edge stapling abutting member 41 near the staple means 40 and stops.

In the third conveyance path, the small-sized paper S such as A4 size or B5 size is continuously and efficiently conveyed to improve the copy productivity. A parallel passage 31B and a switching means G3 are provided.

A solenoid SD2 for the switching means G2,
When the solenoid SD3 for the switching means G3 is driven together, the leading ends of the switching means G2 and G3 both swing counterclockwise in the drawing to close the passages 21 and 31A and open the passage 31B.

The leading end of the first sheet S sent out from the pair of transport rollers 18 passes through the passage 31B, contacts the peripheral surface of the pair of transport rollers 34 in the rotation stopped state, and stops.

Next, the energization of the solenoid SD3 is turned off, and the tip of the switching means G3 swings clockwise, closing the passage 31B and opening the passage 31A. The leading end of the second sheet S sent from the pair of transport rollers 18 passes through the passage 31A, and the pair of transport rollers 34 in the rotation stopped state.
Stops in contact with the peripheral surface of.

At a predetermined timing, the conveying roller pair 34 is driven to rotate, and the two sheets S are nipped and conveyed at the same time, and are discharged onto the intermediate mounting table 35. The third and subsequent sheets are discharged one by one.

Reference numeral 36 denotes an upstream width adjusting means comprising a pair of width adjusting members provided on both side surfaces of the intermediate mounting table 35. At least one width aligning member of the upstream width aligning means 36 is movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and is opened wider than the sheet width when the sheet S is discharged onto the intermediate mounting table 35, When sliding down on the intermediate mounting table 35 to stop against the end binding abutment member 41,
The width of the sheet bundle is aligned (width alignment) by tapping the side edge of the sheet S in the width direction. At this stop position, when a predetermined number of sheets S are stacked and aligned on the intermediate mounting table 35, a stapling process is performed by the stapling means 40, and the sheet bundle is stapled.

A notch is formed in a part of the sheet stacking surface of the intermediate mounting table 35, and a plurality of discharge belts 38 wound around a driving pulley 37A and a driven pulley 37B are rotatably driven. . A part of the discharge belt 38 includes a discharge claw 3.
8a are integrally formed, and the tip portion draws an elliptical locus as shown by a chain line in the figure. The stapled sheet bundle is placed on the discharge belt 38 while the rear end of the sheet S is held by the discharge claw 38a of the discharge belt 38, and slides on the mounting surface of the intermediate mounting table 35 to be slantingly upward. And is advanced to the position where the discharge roller pair 26 is held. The sheet bundle nipped by the rotating discharge roller pair 26 is discharged and stacked on the elevating discharge table 82.

[Cover Sheet Feeding] The cover sheet feeding section 50 includes a sheet feeding tray 5
1. A cover sheet placing section comprising a movable bottom plate 52 and a push-up lever 53, and a cover sheet feeding means comprising a feed roller 54, a sheet feeding roller 55, a separating roller 56, and the like.

One cover sheet K fed from the cover sheet feeding section 50 passes through the passage 57 and passes through the nipping position between the drive roller 14A and the driven roller 14C of the transport roller pair 14, and
After passing through the path 19 and the pair of conveying rollers 18, it reaches the intermediate mounting table 35 via the pair of conveying rollers 32, the path 33 and the pair of conveying rollers 34 of the third path.

The transport roller pair 14 is located at the center of the drive roller 1.
4A and two driven rollers 14B and 14C which are in pressure contact with the driving roller 14A. When the drive roller 14A is driven to rotate to the left as shown, the driven roller 14B is rotated to the right to transport the sheet S transported from the passage 13 upward. At the same time, the driven roller 14C also rotates clockwise to convey the cover sheet K conveyed from the passage 57 to the lower passage 19. Therefore, the first rotation of the driving roller 14A causes the first rotation.
The sheet S on the transport path and the cover K on the fourth transport path can be transported simultaneously in opposite directions.

[Saddle Stitching Process] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a staple processing section and a center folding processing section of the post-processing apparatus C.

The stapling means 40 has a two-part structure of an upper mechanism 40A and a lower mechanism 40B, and forms a passage 42 through which the sheet S can pass.

The staple means 40 are arranged in two sets in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and can be moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by driving means (not shown). The stapling means 40 hits the staples SP at two places at the center in the paper width direction (see FIG. 6A).

When the mode is set to the saddle stitching mode, the end stapling abutment member 41 near the staple processing position of the stapling means 40 is retracted from the fifth conveyance path, and almost simultaneously therewith, the center stapling abutment member 43 downstream therefrom. Is activated and passage 42
Is shut off (see FIG. 2).

When the size (length in the transport direction) of the cover sheet K and the sheet S is set or detected, the center binding butting member 43 moves to a predetermined position and stops.

After the cover sheet K is placed at a predetermined position on the intermediate placement table 35, the sheet S carried out from the image forming apparatus main body A is
Are sequentially stacked on the upper surface of the cover sheet K placed on the intermediate placement table 35 from the entrance transfer section 10 of the post-processing device C, and the end of the sheet S is It is positioned in contact with the contact member 43. Paper S during saddle stitching
The downstream width aligning means 46 comprising a pair of width aligning members for regulating the width direction of the sheet S, similarly to the upstream width aligning means 36, adjusts the widthwise side end of the sheet S every time one sheet S is carried in. Tap lightly to adjust the width.

The upstream width aligning means 36 and the downstream width aligning means 46 selectively perform width alignment driving by setting the edge binding processing or the saddle binding processing. That is, only the upstream width aligning means 36 is driven during the edge binding processing, and the downstream width aligning means 4 is driven.
6 is not driven. During the saddle stitching process, the upstream width aligning means 3
6 and the downstream width matching means 46 are driven. During the saddle stitching process, the downstream width matching means 46 is driven later than the upstream width matching means 36.

At the time of the saddle stitching process, first, the upstream side width aligning means 36 first aligns the width of the sheet S which is transported on the intermediate mounting table 35 and advances on the upstream side of the staple means 40 to align the sheets. Next, the sheet S that passes through the stapling means 40 and advances toward the saddle stitching abutting member 43
The width adjustment is performed by the downstream width alignment means 46 to align the sheets. In this way, the paper S and the cover K, which advance on the intermediate mounting table 35 and are extended from the staple means 40 to the upstream side and the downstream side, are The width adjustment is performed accurately over the entire length of the paper S by the side width alignment means 46.

After the final sheet S is positioned and mounted on the intermediate mounting table 35, the staple unit 40 performs the saddle stitching process on the sheet bundle including the cover K and all the pages of the sheet S. By this saddle stitching process, the staple SP is driven into the center of the cover K and the sheet S in the transport direction. Staple S
P is a lower mechanism 40 having a staple needle driving side.
B, an upper mechanism 40 having a staple needle bending side
It is driven toward A.

[Center Folding Process] After the saddle stitching process, the saddle stitching abutment member 43 swings to open a passage downstream of the passage 42. The sheet bundle composed of the cover sheet K and the sheet S subjected to the saddle stitching process passes through the curved path and the intermediate conveying roller pair 61, is guided on the conveying belt 62 obliquely below by the guide plate 63, and is conveyed. 2 The sheet bundle is conveyed on the sheet stacking unit (sheet stacking table) 64, and the leading end of the sheet bundle in the conveying direction abuts on the folding unit abutting member 650, which is a positioning member of the folding unit movable abutting unit 65, and a predetermined position is reached. (The sixth transport path shown in FIG. 2). The folding portion abutting member 650 can be moved to a predetermined position by setting or detecting the sheet size and driving means.

At the center of the stopped sheet bundle in the transport direction, that is, diagonally below the saddle stitching position, a sheet ejecting means 66 is provided. A center-fold forming section 67 and a pressing section 68 are installed diagonally above the saddle stitching position.

The center folding section 60 includes a sheet protruding means 6
6, a center folding section 67, a pressing section 68, and the like.

In response to the center-folding start signal, the center-folding plate member 661, which is a movable protruding plate of the sheet-projecting means 66, goes straight obliquely upward, and the leading end of the center-folding plate member 661 is formed of a cover sheet K and a sheet S. The central portion of the bundle is pushed up, and the sandwiching portion of the center folding roller pair 671 that is driven and rotated via the sheet bundle is pushed open to swing and separate.

After the leading end of the center folding plate member 661 has passed through the holding portion, the center folding plate member 661 retreats, and the center portion of the sheet bundle is pressed by the center folding forming portion 67 to form a fold. Is done. This fold substantially coincides with the driving position of the staples SP on the sheet bundle by the saddle stitching process.

A pair of center folding rollers 671A, 671B (hereinafter, referred to as a pair of center folding rollers 67) that rotate the center folding forming section 67.
1), the central portion of the sheet bundle having a fold formed by being pressed is fed to the pressing unit 68 to pinch a pair of pressing rollers 681A and 681B (hereinafter, referred to as a pair of pressing rollers 681). The fold is more strongly compressed at the position.

The fed sheet bundle is conveyed while being clamped by the pressurizing section 68, and is discharged onto the lower sheet discharge table 83 outside the apparatus (the seventh conveying path shown in FIG. 2).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the transport path of the cover sheet K and the sheet S, and the process of saddle stitching and center folding of the sheet bundle.
FIG. 6B is a plan view of a sheet that has been subjected to saddle stitching processing by stapling the staples SP at two places in the center thereof along the fold portion a where the sheet S is folded in the middle, and FIG. FIG. 6 (c) is a perspective view of the post-processed sheet bundle in a spread state.

The cover K is placed on the sheet feeding tray 51 of the cover sheet feeding section 50 with the first surface (the first page p1 and the eighth page p8) facing upward. The cover sheet K fed from the sheet feeding tray 51 by the sheet feeding means is conveyed through the fourth and third conveyance paths, and is placed on the intermediate table 35 on the first surface (p1, p1).
8) is placed on its lower side.

Next, the sheet S on which an image has been formed and carried out from the image forming apparatus main body A is introduced into the post-processing apparatus C with the first side (the third page p3 and the sixth page p6) facing downward. You. The sheet S is transported from the entrance transport unit 10 to the third transport path, and the first sheet S is placed on the cover K placed on the intermediate placing table 35.
It is placed face down.

The cover K and the paper are aligned on the intermediate mounting table 35, and the staples SP are driven by the staple means 40 to perform saddle stitching.

The sheet bundle subjected to the saddle stitching process passes through the fifth transport path, is placed at a predetermined position on the second paper loading section 64 and the transport belt 62, and stops. At this time, the sheet bundle is such that the sheet S has the first side (p3, p6) facing upward and the cover K
Are placed with the first surface (p1, p8) facing upward.

Next, the center-folding process is performed by the pushing-up operation of the sheet ejecting means 66 and the rotation of the pair of center-folding rollers 671, and subsequently, the sheet is nipped and conveyed by the pressurizing unit 68 to discharge the lower sheet outside the machine. It is discharged onto the table 83.

The sheet bundle (booklet) produced by the saddle stitching process and the center folding process has the first surface (p1, p8) of the cover K facing outward and the second surface (p2, p7) on the back surface. Further, the first side (p3, p6) of the sheet S, which is the content, and the second side (p4, p5) of the sheet S are disposed inside the sheet S. As shown in the figure, the sheet S has eight pages (p1 to p8). You can align the pages of the booklet.

In the operation section of the image forming apparatus main body A, the booklet production automatic mode is selected and set, the cover K is stacked on the sheet feeding tray 51, and printing is started. The image process is performed,
The sheet S carrying the image is subjected to saddle stitching processing and center folding processing by the post-processing device C to continuously produce a booklet.
Is discharged.

In the operation unit of the post-processing apparatus C, the booklet production manual mode is selected and set, and the cover K and one image-formed sheet S below the cover K are stacked on the sheet feed tray 51. When the feeding operation is started, the saddle stitching process and the center folding process are performed on the cover sheet K and the sheet S by the control means 90 (see FIG. 17 described later) of the post-processing device C, and one booklet is Produced and discharged.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the center folding processing section 60 including the folding section movable abutting means 65, the sheet ejecting means 66, the center folding forming section 67, and the pressing section 68. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the center folding processing unit 60.

The folding section movable abutting means 65 abuts against the leading end of a sheet bundle of various sizes conveyed on the second sheet stacking section 64 to position the leading end. The folded portion butting member 650 is fixed to the holding member 651. The holding member 651 is driven by the motor M1 and has a rod-shaped guide member 6.
Slide 52 moves linearly. Actuator 653
The folding unit sensor PS2 detects that the sheet S conveyed on the second sheet stacking unit 64 passes through the leading end.

The control unit 90 causes the driving unit to reciprocate the folding unit abutting member 650 in the transport direction of the sheet bundle in accordance with the timing at which the leading end of the sheet bundle in the transporting direction abuts on the folding unit abutting member 650. The leading edge of the paper S is surely aligned.

After the leading edge of the sheet S is aligned, the movable holding member 662 moves straight along the fixedly arranged bar-shaped guide member 663 in response to the center folding start signal, and the middle folding plate member 661 fixed to the movable holding member 662. Project above the sheet placement surface. The center fold plate member 661 has a knife shape made of a thin plate such as a stainless steel plate, and has a sharp end at the tip. The front end portion of the center fold plate member 661 is formed on a low friction surface, and is subjected to, for example, gloss finish, surface treatment such as fluororesin coating, or the like.

One pressing means of the center-fold forming section 67 supports a center-fold roller 671A that is driven by being connected to a drive source, and rotatably supports the center-fold roller 671A.
A movable member 672 that is a support member that can swing around 3A
A and a spring 674A locked to one end of the movable member 672A and biasing the center folding roller 671A in the direction of the holding position.
Consisting of

The other pressing means of the center folding forming section 67 has the same structure, and includes the center folding roller 671B and the movable member 672.
B, a support shaft 673B, and a spring 674B.

A pressurizing section 68 is disposed downstream of the center folding forming section 67 in the sheet transport direction. The pressing unit 68 includes a pair of pressing rollers 681 (a second pair of center folding rollers) driven by being connected to a driving source.

The pair of pressure rollers 681A and 681B have a rubber coating layer. For example, the rubber coating layer is ethylene-
It is formed from an elastic material such as propylene rubber (EPDM).

When the pressure roller pair 681 is a metal roller, when the rear end of the sheet bundle passes through the holding position of the pressure roller pair 681, a striking sound is generated due to the collision between the metal rollers. It is effective that one of the pressure roller pairs 681 be a hard roller made of metal or the like in order to maintain a uniform pressing force during the folding process.

The sheet bundle having the fold a formed by being pressed by the rotating center folding roller pair 671 is sent to the holding position of the pressure roller pair 681, and the fold a
Is further pressurized, and is discharged to the lower discharge tray 83 outside the apparatus.

(Driving Mechanism of Center Folding Roller) FIG. 9 shows a center folding roller driving means for driving the center folding roller pair 671, the pressure roller pair 681, and the conveyor belt 62 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of (second driving means) 670.

The motor M2 is connected to a timing belt (hereinafter, referred to as a timing belt).
A two-stage pulley P1 rotatably supported on an intermediate shaft via a belt B1) is rotated. A belt B2 is stretched over the pulley P1, and rotates the pulley P2. The pulley P2 rotates the drive roller 611 of the intermediate transport roller pair 61 via the belt B3.

The belt B2 that winds the pulley P2 winds the pulleys P3 and P4 of the intermediate shaft and the pulley P5 fixed to the shaft end of the pressure roller 681B and rotates them at the same time.
P6 and P7 are tension pulleys.

The driving roller 621 fixed on the rotating shaft of the pulley P2 rotates the transport belt 62 stretched between the driving roller 621 and the driven roller 622.

The intermediate shaft pulley P3 rotates a pulley P8 fixed to the shaft end of the center folding roller 671A via the belt B4. The intermediate shaft pulley P4 rotates a pulley P9 fixed to the shaft end of the center folding roller 671B via a belt B5.

The pulley P8 at the shaft end of the center folding roller 671A
Incorporates a one-way clutch CA. The pulley P9 at the shaft end of the center folding roller 671B incorporates a one-way rotation clutch CB.

The gear g1 fixed to the shaft end of the pressure roller 681B is connected to a gear g4 via gears g2 and g3 rotatably supported at a fixed position on a panel of the apparatus main body.

The gear g3 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 689 planted on a panel of the apparatus main body. Gear g4
Is fixed to the shaft end of the pressure roller 681A supported by the rocking plate 687.

The two rocking plates 687 are respectively rockably supported on both shaft ends of a support shaft 689 to which the gear g3 is fixed.
It is biased by a spring 688. Both shaft ends of the pressure roller 681A to which the gear g4 is fixed are rotatably supported by a swing plate 687.

Pressure roller 68 supported on rocking plate 687
1A swings around a support shaft 689, is urged by a spring 688, and presses against the pressure roller 681B.

(Driving Mechanism of Middle Folding Plate Member) FIG.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a center folding plate member driving unit (first driving unit) 660 that moves a center folding plate member 661. Since the sheet protruding means 66 is symmetric with respect to the illustrated center line CL, a part of the drawing is omitted. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the center folding plate member driving unit (first driving unit) 660. FIGS. 10 and 11 each show a state immediately before the center folding process of the sheet bundle.

The motor M3 rotates the large-diameter gear g8 via the gears g5, g6 and g7. The gear g8 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 665 implanted on the fixed substrate 667. An eccentric cylindrical member 664 is integrally formed at the bottom of the gear g8. The annular concave portion 664A formed in the eccentric cylindrical member 664 is rotated by the rotation of the gear g8 to support the shaft 665.
With the eccentric shaft 664B different from the center of rotation as the center of rotation,
Make an eccentric motion.

The roller 666 implanted in the movable holding member 662 is movably transferred to the inner wall of the annular concave portion 664A. 666A is a locus of movement of the center of the roller 666.

The movable holding member 662 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate linearly along two guide members 663 arranged in parallel with the fixed substrate 667. The rotation of the gear g8 causes the annular concave portion 664A to move eccentrically, so that the roller 666 moves along the inner wall of the annular concave portion 664A, and causes the movable holding member 662 to reciprocate rectilinearly along the two guide members 663. . Middle folding plate member 6 fixed to movable holding member 662
61 also moves straight back and forth.

(Center folding process of paper) FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the fold part a of FIG.

When the driving of the motor M3 is started, the center folding plate member 661 held by the movable holding member 662 moves forward.
The leading end of the center folding plate member 661 protrudes from the center (folded portion a) of the sheet S in the sheet conveying direction, and feeds the sheet S to the holding position X of the center folding roller pair 671 that has stopped rotating. I do.

When the leading end of the center folding plate member 661 protrudes from the folded portion of the sheet S and slides on the outer peripheral surface of the pair of center folding rollers 671 and feeds it to the holding position X, each axis of the pair of center folding rollers 671 is moved. One-way rotating clutch C provided at the end
By A and CB, the center folding roller pair 671 rotates with the moving sheet S and is driven and rotated only in the sheet conveying direction.

The leading end of the center folding plate member 661 is slightly (0.5 to 10 m) away from the sandwiching position X of the center folding roller pair 671.
m) The sheet S is advanced to the pushed maximum pushing position Y and the sheet S is pushed into the half-fold state, and then the returning operation is started. During the return operation of the leading end of the center folding plate member 661, after the center folding portion of the sheet S has passed the sandwiching position X of the center folding roller pair 671, the driving of the motor M2 is started, and the driving rotation of the center folding roller pair 671 is started. To start.

The center folding plate member 661 continues the return operation, and the center folding plate member 661 moves from the folding portion of the sheet S.
Is pulled out, and the folded portion of the sheet S is nipped and held by the outer peripheral surface of the pair of center folding rollers 671 to be strongly creased.

From the sheet S folding portion to the middle folding plate member 6
When the leading end of 61 is pulled out, the pair of center folding rollers 67
In No. 1, since the one-way rotation clutches CA and CB prevent reverse rotation, the sheet S does not retreat.

The above is the basic operation of the center folding process. Details of the sheet post-processing device of the present invention for improving folding performance
This will be described in detail in first to fourth embodiments described later.

(Paper Pressing Process) FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet S that has been subjected to the center folding process passes through the pressing unit 68.

The leading end of the sheet S that has passed the sandwiching position of the rotating center folding roller pair 671 is connected to the rotating pressing roller pair 6.
81 is sent to the holding position. The leading end of the sheet S has a pressing roller 681B rotating at a fixed position and a swing plate 687.
The fold part a is further strongly attached by being sandwiched between the pressure roller 681A which is supported swingably and rotates.

The movable member 672A is supported so as to be able to swing around a support shaft 673A, and is urged by a spring 674A. The swing plate 687 is supported so as to be swingable about a support shaft 689, and is urged by a spring 688.

The bundle of half-folded paper conveyed by being sandwiched between the pair of center-folding rollers 671 is pushed between the pair of pressure rollers 681 with the roller interval increased, and is sandwiched by the pair of pressure rollers 681 so that the fold is firmly formed. After being attached, the sheet bundle is smoothly conveyed regardless of the thickness of the sheet bundle.

(Paper Discharge) FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet after the half-folding and pressure processing is discharged.

The leading end of the sheet S that has passed the holding position of the rotating pressure roller pair 681 is carried out of the apparatus. Paper S
When the rear end portion passes, the center folding roller pair 671 returns to the initial state in which it is closed, and the front end portions of the movable members 672A and 672B come into contact with the elastic stop member 678 and stop.

The center folding roller pair 671 and the pressure roller pair 681 are not limited to each pair, and any number of pairs may be arranged as needed.

[Sheet Folding Control of Sheet] FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the center folding process of the sheet S. FIG. 16 is a timing chart of the process of folding the sheet S in the middle, and FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the control of the post-processing device. Hereinafter, control of the step of performing the center folding process on the sheet S by the control unit 90 will be described.

(1) FIG. 15A shows an initial state before the center folding process starts. The movable member 672A that supports the center folding roller 671A and the movable member 672B that supports the center folding roller 671B are symmetrical so that the center folding plate member 661 is inserted into the holding position X between the center folding rollers 671A and 671B. It is arranged, is equally urged by the springs 674A, 674B, and is held in a stopped state by the stop member 678. In this stopped state, the center folding rollers 671A,
The distal ends of the movable members 672A and 672B are connected to the stop member 6 so that the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the movable members 671B come close to or lightly contact each other.
78 (see FIG. 14). In this initial state, the center folding plate member 661 is stopped at the standby position W.

(2) FIG. 15 (b) shows the center folding roller 6
This shows a state in which the middle fold portion (folded portion a) of the sheet S passes through the sandwiching position X between 71A and 671B.

When the driving of the motor M3 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) is started, the center folding plate member 661 moves forward. The leading end of the center folding plate member 661 protrudes from the center (folded portion a) of the sheet S in the sheet transport direction, and the center folding rollers 671A and 671.
71B is driven to rotate and sent to the holding position X, and the paper S
Fold in half.

(3) FIG. 15 (c) shows a state where the leading end of the sheet S has reached the maximum pushing position Y beyond the nipping position X.

The middle folding plate member 661 is further driven forward by the motor M3 to press the middle folding portion of the sheet S, thereby holding the middle folding rollers 671A and 671B which are driven and rotated at the holding position X.
Reaches the maximum pushing position Y exceeding. The sheet S includes a center folding plate member 661 and center folding rollers 671A and 671B.
And are conveyed to form a fold portion a (see FIG. 12). Maximum pushing position Y of the center folding plate member 661
The arrival is controlled by an HP sensor that detects an initial position (home position) HP of the center folding plate member 661 and a timer.

(4) FIG. 15D shows the center folding roller 6.
7A illustrates a state in which the middle fold portion of the sheet S is pressed by 71A and 671B, and a state where the middle fold plate member 661 returns to the standby position W.

When the center folding plate member 661 is at the maximum pushing position Y
Is controlled by an HP sensor (not shown) and a timer (not shown), the forward drive of the center folding plate member 661 is stopped, and the driven rotation of the center folding rollers 671A and 671B is also stopped. When the center folding rollers 671A and 671B press and hold the vicinity of the fold portion of the sheet S in a stopped state, the center folding plate member 6 is stopped.
61 retreats and separates from the sheet folding part. When the center folding plate member 661 retreats and separates from the sheet center folding portion, the sheet S responds to the retreat of the center folding plate member 661 by temporarily driving the center folding rollers 671A and 671B to rotate forward. Retreat from the pushed-in position Y may be prevented.

The center folding rollers 671A and 671B hold the stopped state until a predetermined time t1 elapses from the time when the center folding plate member 661 reaches the maximum pushing position Y, and strongly press the middle folding portion of the sheet S. ing.

A predetermined time t until the driven rotation of the center folding rollers 671A and 671B is stopped and the driving rotation is started.
1 is set within a range of 1 to 5 seconds. Or paper S
The predetermined time t1 may be variably set in accordance with the number of sheets. That is, the larger the number of sheets S, the longer the predetermined time t1 is variably set.

(5) FIG. 15 (e) shows the center folding roller 6
7A illustrates the conveyance of the sheet S by 71A and 671B.

When the center folding plate member 661 is in the maximum pushing position Y
After a lapse of a predetermined time t1 from the point in time at which the rotation of the motor M3 is started, that is, after a lapse of a predetermined time t2 by the timer from the start of the rotation of the motor M3, the rotation of the motor M2 is started.
The sheets 71A and 671B pinch and transport the sheet S that has been subjected to the half-fold processing.

(6) FIG. 15F shows that the sheet S is formed by folding the center folding rollers 671A and 671B and the pressing rollers 681A and 681A.
1B illustrates a state in which the sheet is conveyed while being held by 1B.

After the end of the measurement of the predetermined time t2, the motor M2 is driven to start the forward rotation of the center folding rollers 671A and 671B and the pressing rollers 681A and 681B. After a lapse of a predetermined time t3 by the timer, the drive rotation of the motor M2 is stopped. The fold portion a of the sheet S is further strengthened by the forward rotation drive of the pressure rollers 681A and 681B and the pressing at the time of stop (see FIG. 13).

The paper discharge sensor PS3 detects the passage of the fold of the paper S, and after a lapse of a predetermined time t3, the motor M2 stops the forward rotation. During this predetermined time t3, the paper S
Are center folding rollers 671A and 671B and pressure roller 681
A, 681B is discharged outside the machine by the forward rotation drive (see FIG. 14).

[Folding Height of Center-Folded Sheet] FIG. 1
FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for measuring the swelling of the sheet S that has been subjected to the center folding process.

The sheet S that has been subjected to the half-folding process is placed on the flat plate D, and the maximum bulging height (folding height) H of the sheet S and the flat plate D are set.
The scale is read vertically by comparing it with the scale of the scale E set up vertically.

[0126]

[Table 1]

Table 1 shows the results of actually measuring the folding height H of the sheet S that has been subjected to the center folding process. Center folding rollers 671A, 6
The folding pressure at the holding position X of 71B is 30 kg.
/ 35 cm. The axial length of the center folding rollers 671A and 671B is 350 mm, and the peripheral speed of the rollers is 580 mm /
s.

Each of the sheets S was A3 size, basis weight 64.
g / m ² (55 kg paper). The number of sheets S is 2
5, 5, 10, and 16. Folding height H of paper S
Is the average of a plurality of measured values.

FIG. 18B is a characteristic diagram of the folding height H of the sheet S that has been subjected to the center folding process. In the figure, a solid line shows an example according to the present invention, and a broken line shows a comparative example of the prior art.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the average value of the folding height H of the sheet S is equal to the maximum number of sheets 1 that can be subjected to the center folding process.
In the case of six sheets, it was 38 mm, which was smaller than the folding height of 41 mm of the comparative example of the prior art, and good results were obtained.
Even when the number of sheets S is two, five, or ten, the folding height H of the sheet S is smaller in the embodiment according to the present invention than in the comparative example of the related art, and good results are obtained. Was.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the paper post-processing apparatus connected to the copying machine is shown. However, the paper post-processing apparatus used by connecting to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile, or a light printing machine or the like. It is also applicable to

[0132]

As described above, the following excellent effects can be obtained by the paper post-processing method and the paper post-processing apparatus of the present invention.

In the sheet post-processing apparatus for center-folding the sheet bundle, the central part in the transport direction of the sheet bundle is pushed by the middle folding plate member of the sheet ejecting means and pushed into the sandwiching position of the pair of center folding rollers. By holding the middle folded portion of the sheet bundle at a predetermined position beyond the sandwiching position of the roller pair for a certain period of time, the residual stress at the fold portion of the sheet bundle disappears, and the swelling of the middle folded sheet bundle is reduced. Become. In particular, the swelling of the sheet bundle in the sheet bundle having a large number of sheets is reduced, and the finished appearance quality of the sheet bundle is improved.

Further, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile,
Sheets discharged after being subjected to a desired high-speed image forming process by an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine are subjected to a center folding process in a sheet post-processing apparatus by an accurate operation corresponding to the number of sheets. A booklet without bulging of the fold portion can be quickly manufactured without impairing the productivity of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus main body, an image reading device, and a sheet post-processing device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet conveyance path of a post-processing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an upper mechanism of the post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a staple processing unit and a center folding processing unit of the post-processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conveyance path of a cover and a sheet, and a saddle stitching and center folding process of a sheet bundle.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a sheet that has undergone saddle stitching, a perspective view of a sheet bundle that has undergone saddle stitching and center folding, and a perspective view that has the post-processed sheet bundle open.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a center folding section.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a center folding processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a center folding roller driving unit.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a center folding plate member driving unit (first driving unit).

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a center-folding-plate member driving unit (first driving unit).

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the leading end of a sheet passes through a center-fold forming section.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet that has been subjected to the center folding process passes through a pressing unit.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sheet that has undergone center folding and pressure processing is discharged.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a sheet folding process step.

FIG. 16 is a timing chart of a step of performing a center folding process on a sheet.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating control of the post-processing device.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for measuring the swelling of a sheet that has undergone center folding, and a characteristic diagram of the folding height of the sheet that has undergone center folding.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 60 center folding processing unit 64 second sheet stacking unit (sheet stacking table) 65 folding unit movable abutting unit 66 sheet ejecting unit 660 center folding plate member driving unit (first driving unit) 661 center folding plate member 67 center folding forming unit 670 Center folding roller driving unit (second driving unit) 671 Center folding roller pair (first center folding roller pair) 671A, 671B Center folding roller 68 Pressure unit 681 Pressure roller pair (second center folding roller pair) 681A, 681B Pressure roller 90 Control means A Image forming apparatus main body C Paper post-processing device (post-processing device) H Maximum bulging height (folding height) S Paper W Stand-by position X Nipping position Y Maximum pushing position a Folding portion ( Center fold)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Wakabayashi 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Hirohiko Okabe 47F term of 1067 Wakamatsucho, Tokorozawa-shi, Saitama 3F108 AA01 AB01 AC02 AC03 BA03 BA09 CD01 GA02 GA03 GA04 GB01 GB03 HA02 HA39

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet post-processing in which a central portion of a sheet bundle conveyed on a sheet stacking table in a conveying direction is pushed into a sandwiching position of a pair of center folding rollers while being pressed by sheet ejecting means, and the sheet bundle is center-folded. In the method, the central portion of the sheet bundle in the conveying direction is pushed into the holding position of the pair of center folding rollers by driving the sheet ejecting means, and a center folding portion is formed at the holding position of the pair of center folding rollers, and the center of the sheet bundle is moved beyond the holding position. At the predetermined position, the middle folding plate member of the sheet ejecting means is pulled out, and the sheet bundle is held for a predetermined time in a state of being held between the pair of middle folding rollers. And a sheet post-processing method for discharging the sheet bundle. 2. A sheet post-processing in which a central portion in a conveying direction of a sheet bundle conveyed onto a sheet stacking table is pushed into a sandwiching position of a pair of center folding rollers while being pressed by sheet ejecting means, and the sheet bundle is center-folded. In the apparatus, a first driving unit for driving a center folding plate member of the sheet ejecting unit, a second driving unit for driving and rotating the pair of center folding rollers, and driving of the first driving unit and the second driving unit. And a control unit for controlling the center folding of the sheet bundle for a predetermined time from when the center folding plate member is pulled out after the center folding portion of the sheet bundle exceeds the sandwiching position of the center folding roller pair. A sheet post-processing device for driving the rotation of the pair of center folding rollers to discharge the bundle of sheets after holding the vicinity of the portion in a state of being sandwiched by the pair of center folding rollers. 3. A detecting means is provided on the downstream side of the holding position of the pair of center folding rollers in the sheet conveying direction, and when the detecting means detects the passage of the leading end of the sheet bundle, the first driving means causes the center folding to be performed. 3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plate member is retracted from the center folding portion of the sheet bundle. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the center folding unit is held for a predetermined time after the center folding plate member is pulled out from the center folding unit of the sheet bundle. Paper post-processing device. 5. A sheet number detecting means for detecting the number of sheets of the sheet bundle, wherein the time for the center folding roller pair to pinch the sheet bundle is variably controlled according to the number of sheets of the sheet bundle. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2, wherein 6. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a pressure roller pair downstream of the center folding roller pair in the sheet bundle conveyance direction. 7. The center folding plate member, the center folding roller pair, the first driving means, and the second folding member according to any one of claims 2 to 6.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet post-processing device having a driving unit, a detecting unit, and a control unit; and an image forming apparatus main body including an image forming unit and a sheet conveying unit.