JP2009001415A - Paper center folding device and paper post-processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper center folding device for folding a bundle of paper capable of accurately pushing the folding position of the bundle of paper folded by sandwiching a folding plate for pushing the bundle of paper between a pair of folding rollers. <P>SOLUTION: Two fixed rollers 128 are fixed to a device frame 134 in position and a movable roller 130 energized toward the fixed rollers 128 are slidably mounted on the device frame 134, thereby slidably sandwiching a bundle of paper pressing member 100 between the fixed rollers 128 and the movable roller 130. When a bundle of paper A is pressed into the nip portion of the pair of rollers 88, the movable roller 130 is moved, following changes in the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88 to accurately move the folding plate 89 in the folding position of the bundle of paper A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding device of a sheet post-processing apparatus provided at a subsequent stage of an image forming apparatus or the like.

  Conventionally, paper that has been subjected to processing such as binding, punching holes, folding a bundle of sheets that have undergone saddle stitching, etc., on paper on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, or facsimile machine Post-processing devices are known. These paper post-processing devices are sequentially loaded with a normal paper post-processing device for discharging normal image-formed paper and sorted paper bundles as they are into a paper stacking tray disposed at the upper side of the casing. In the middle of the sheets to be ejected to the dedicated paper bundle stacking tray, the center part of a plurality of paper bundles is saddle-stitched by driving the saddle stitching stapler, transported to the folding means and folded in half. A folding device is provided.

  Of these, the sheet folding device includes a pair of folding rollers and a folding plate, and the binding position of the sheet bundle is projected to the nip portion of the folding roller pair by the folding plate to fold the sheet bundle, and the folding roller pair holds the pressure. Convey and fold in half. As a result, the sheet bundle discharged to the dedicated sheet bundle stacking tray is folded in half at the binding position at the center of the sheet bundle and discharged in a bound state.

  However, in the conventional paper post-processing apparatus, one of the pair of folding rollers is a movable roller, and this movable roller moves upward according to the thickness of the sheet bundle, and the distance between the nip portions of the pair of folding rollers. Is changing. On the other hand, since the projection position by the folding plate is always constant, the folding plate does not necessarily project at the center between the nips of the pair of folding rollers, so that there is a problem that the folding position of the sheet bundle cannot be accurately projected.

In order to solve this problem, a paper post-processing device has been proposed in which a folding plate follows a folding position of a paper bundle when the paper bundle is sandwiched between folding roller pairs. The sheet post-processing apparatus includes a folding plate, two sliding rollers provided on the folding plate, and a guide groove provided on the apparatus main body so that the sliding rollers move toward the pair of folding rollers. At least one of the two sliding rollers has a diameter smaller than the width of the guide groove. Further, one end of the spring is attached to the roller shaft of the sliding roller having the small diameter, and the other end of the spring is connected to the device It attaches to the main body and urges the sliding roller (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-193175

  However, in the conventional paper post-processing apparatus, since the sliding roller is attached to the folding plate, if the folding plate moves back and forth, the sliding roller also moves back and forth. Since the other end of the spring for biasing is fixed to the apparatus main body, the spring is inclined as the sliding roller moves.

  Here, the normal spring is attached to the sliding roller and the apparatus body via hook-shaped or ring-shaped mounting portions provided at both ends, and the mounting portion is rubbed when the sliding roller moves ( Rotating and sliding) In addition, it is expensive to newly provide a bearing or the like to avoid this wear.

  In addition, for example, when the folding plate is biased downward by a spring, if the spring is tilted as the folding plate moves, the direction of the biasing force is dispersed, and the downward force weakens so that the correct folding position can be struck. In some cases, if a sufficient downward force is to be secured, a strong spring is required and costs increase.

  Furthermore, when the spring is tilted with the movement of the folding plate, a force is applied in a direction parallel to the movement direction of the folding plate, and therefore an extra driving force is required to move the folding plate.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and includes a sheet folding device that can accurately push the folding position of a sheet bundle while reducing costs, and the sheet folding device. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet post-processing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sheet folding apparatus according to the present invention is capable of contacting and separating a fixed folding roller fixed at a predetermined position and the fixed folding roller, and a sheet bundle together with the fixed folding roller. A movable folding roller that forms a nip portion for clamping, a paper bundle pushing member that moves toward the nip portion and pushes the paper bundle into the nip portion, and a plurality of rotatable fixed members that are fixed to the support member. The roller is disposed on the movable folding roller side between the rollers and the plurality of fixed rollers, is movably attached to the support member, and is slidably sandwiched by the plurality of fixed rollers. And a urging means for urging the movable roller against the sheet bundle pushing member, wherein the movable roller extends in a direction intersecting the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member. It is characterized in that dynamic.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet folding device that can accurately push the folding position of a sheet bundle while reducing the cost, and a sheet post-processing device including the sheet folding device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 2 that reads an image to be read and an image forming unit 3 that forms an image. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a paper post-processing device 4 that performs various processing of paper after image formation.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a transparent document placing table 5, a carriage 6, an exposure lamp 8 provided on the carriage 6, a reflection mirror 10, an imaging lens 11 for converging the reflected light, and an image by taking the reflected light and light. A CCD 12 (Charge Coupled Device) that converts information into an analog signal is provided.

  The image forming unit 3 includes a photoconductor 16, a laser unit 14 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 16, a charging device 18 that is sequentially arranged around the photoconductor 16, a developing device 20, a transfer device 22, and a cleaner. 24 and a static elimination lamp 26.

  When light is applied from below the document placing table 5 to the document placed on the document placing table 5 or the document sent by the automatic document feeder 28 by the exposure means including the carriage 6 and the exposure lamp 8, The reflected light is guided by the reflecting mirror 10, converged by the imaging lens 11, and the reflected light image is projected onto the CCD 12. The image information captured by the CCD 12 is output as an analog signal, converted to a digital signal, subjected to image processing, and then transmitted to the laser unit 14.

  When image formation is started, the charging device 18 supplies a predetermined charge to the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 16 which is discharged and rotated at a predetermined discharge position. A laser beam is irradiated from the laser unit 14 to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 16 charged to a uniform potential in the axial direction by the charging device 18 in accordance with image information transmitted from the CCD 12. When the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of the original is formed and held on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 16 by irradiation with the laser beam, a developer (for example, toner) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 16 by the developing device 20. ) And the electrostatic latent image is converted to a toner image, ie developed.

  A developing roller (not shown) is rotatably provided in the developing device 20, and the developing roller is disposed so as to face the photoconductor 16 and rotates to supply toner to the photoconductor 16. When the toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 16, the image is electrostatically transferred by the transfer device 22 onto the paper conveyed from the paper supply device 30. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 34 via the conveying belt 32, and the toner image transferred onto the sheet is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 34, that is, fixed. The paper on which the image formation is completed by fixing the toner image is discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 by the discharge roller 35 and sent to the paper post-processing apparatus 4.

  On the other hand, after the toner remaining on the photoconductor 16 that has not been transferred is removed by the cleaner 24 positioned downstream of the transfer device 22 in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 16, the residual charge on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 16 is reduced. , And is removed by the static elimination lamp 26.

  Next, the paper post-processing apparatus 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper post-processing device 4 performs post-processing on the paper transported from the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with an input instruction from the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 1 or a processing instruction from the PC. A finisher unit (ordinary sheet post-processing device) 40 that performs post-processing other than the half-folding process and the saddle stitching process, for example, a normal sort process and a sheet bundle end binding process, and a saddle that performs the middle folding process and the saddle stitching process. And a unit section (sheet folding processing apparatus) 42.

  The finisher unit 40 includes a second branching member 50 that switches the conveyance path according to the sheet printing process, a first sheet stacking tray 54 on which normal printing sheets are stacked, and a time required for binding processing and sheet unloading. An intermediate standby tray 58 for storing the temporarily conveyed sheets, a first processing tray 62 for placing a bundle of sheets to be bound, a stapler 64 for binding the bundle of sheets, A second paper stacking tray 68 that can be driven up and down is provided on which a bundle of sheets subjected to sorting and binding processing is stacked.

  The saddle unit 42 has a first branching member 46 that switches the conveyance path according to the printing process of the paper, a second processing tray 72 that is arranged substantially vertically, and a first that determines the paper conveyance path according to the paper size. The first sheet deflecting plate 74 and the second sheet deflecting plate 76 are provided. Below the second processing tray 72, a linear vertical conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a straight path) 79 composed of guides 79 a and 79 b provided substantially vertically is disposed. The sheet folding device (sheet folding device) 90 having the saddle stitching stapler (saddle stitching device) 81 and the anvil 83, the pair of folding rollers 88 and the folding plate 89, and the leading edge of the sheet entering the linear path 79 are received sequentially. A stopper 80 is arranged. Further, the saddle unit 42 includes a dedicated sheet bundle stacking tray 96 on which the sheet bundle folded by the sheet folding device 90 is stacked.

  In the sheet post-processing apparatus 4, the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 is carried into the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 by the entrance roller 44.

  In normal printing without special post-processing, the conveyance path is deflected by the first branch member 46 and the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance roller 48 in the finisher section 40. Subsequently, the sheet is deflected by the second branch member 50, conveyed in the direction of the carry-out roller 52, and then discharged and stacked on the first sheet stacking tray 54 by the carry-out roller 52.

  When the folding process or the saddle stitching process is performed without performing the folding process or the saddle stitching process, the sheet is first deflected in the conveyance path by the first branching member 46, It is conveyed to the conveyance roller 48 in the finisher 40. Subsequently, the sheet is deflected by the second branch member 50, conveyed in the direction of the conveyance roller 56, and then sent to the intermediate standby tray 58 by the conveyance roller 56.

  The intermediate standby tray 58 includes a pair of standby tray parts (not shown) that can move to the left and right, and receives sheets in a state in which the standby tray parts are closed. This intermediate standby tray 58 adjusts the flow of the paper by temporarily storing a predetermined number of papers that are sequentially conveyed so that the paper can be carried out at the downstream of the paper conveyance path, which will be described later, and the end of the paper bundle. By securing the time required for binding, the paper post-processing is smoothed. The standby tray roller 60 is for aligning sheets accumulated in the intermediate standby tray 58.

  Subsequently, when a predetermined number of sheets are accumulated in the intermediate standby tray 58, the standby tray components are opened, and the sheet bundle falls to the first processing tray 62 by its own weight. The sheet sent to the first processing tray 62 is aligned vertically and horizontally by an alignment member (not shown).

  When binding a bundle of sheets, when a predetermined number of sheets are aligned and accumulated in the first processing tray 62, the stapler 64 performs a binding process. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process by the stapler 64 is carried out and loaded onto the second sheet stacking tray 68 by the transport mechanism 66.

  When only the sorting process is performed, the sheets fed to the first processing tray 62 and aligned are not subjected to the binding process by the stapler 64, and are transported and stacked on the second sheet stacking tray 68 by the transport mechanism 66. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the half-folding process or the saddle stitching process is performed, the sheet conveyed to the sheet post-processing device 4 by the entrance roller 44 is first deflected by the first branch member 46 and the saddle unit section It is conveyed to the third conveyance roller 70 at 42. Further, the paper transport path is determined by the first paper deflecting plate 74, the second paper deflecting plate 76, and the guide member 78 according to the paper size. For example, when the paper size is A3, the first paper When the paper size is B4, the conveyance path indicated by the arrow X in front of the deflection plate 74 passes through the gap between the first paper deflection plate 74 and the guide member 78, and in front of the second paper deflection plate 76, as indicated by the arrow Y. When the paper size is A4, the conveyance path is sent to a linear path 79 disposed substantially vertically below the second processing tray 72 via the conveyance path indicated by the arrow Z along the guide member 78. The tip is received by the stopper 80. The other end of the sheet whose leading edge is received by the stopper 80 is located in the second processing tray 72, and the sheets conveyed along the conveying paths indicated by the arrows X, Y, and Z are sequentially transferred to the second processing tray 72. It is piled up. At this time, the stopper 80 is arranged at a position where the center (black dot of A) of the sheet bundle represented by A in FIG. 2 matches the binding position where the center binding stapler 81 and the anvil 83 are bound.

  The stopper 80 is provided with a rack 86 and a pinion gear 87 that meshes with the rack 86. By transmitting power to the pinion gear 87 from a motor (not shown), the stopper 80 moves along a straight path 79. It can move up and down. The stopper 80 is a positioning unit that performs positioning when stapled by the saddle stitching stapler 81 and folding when the sheet bundle is folded by the sheet folding device 90, and includes the second processing tray 72 and the linear path 79. And an accumulating means for temporarily accumulating the conveyed paper. The sheet bundle is aligned vertically and horizontally by a stopper 80 and a lateral alignment member (not shown).

  When a predetermined number of sheets are aligned and stored in the stopper 80, the sheet bundle is subjected to a binding process at the center by the saddle stitch stapler 81 and the anvil 83. When the binding process is performed on the sheet bundle, the stopper 80 is lowered until the center portion where the sheet bundle binding process has been performed reaches the position of the folding plate 89 of the sheet folding device 90. The folding plate 89 is usually retracted to the outside of the linear path 78 from the guide 78b so as not to hinder the conveyance of the sheet, and moves when the folding process is performed on the sheet bundle, and strikes the central portion of the sheet bundle. , And are pushed out toward a pair of folding rollers 88 in pressure contact with each other.

  Therefore, when the sheet bundle is lowered by the stopper 80 and the folding position (the center portion subjected to the binding process) reaches the position of the sheet folding apparatus 90, the folding plate 89 of the sheet folding apparatus 90 moves to the center of the sheet bundle. The folding roller pair 88 nips and conveys the sheet bundle while nipping and pressing it, and folds the sheet bundle in two at the folding position of the sheet bundle.

  The sheet bundle subjected to the folding process by the sheet folding device 90 is conveyed to the carry-out roller 94 through the conveyance path 92 and then discharged and stacked on the dedicated sheet bundle stacking tray 96 by the carry-out roller 94.

  Next, the sheet folding apparatus 90 of the sheet post-processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet folding device 90 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, one of the driving means 116 such as the arm 104 and the groove cam 120 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet folding device 90 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a pair of folding rollers 88 that folds a sheet bundle in two, and a sheet bundle pushing member 100 that pushes the sheet bundle into a nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88. And a pressing member supporting means 102 for supporting the sheet bundle pressing member 100 so as to be movable toward the folding roller pair 88.

  The pair of folding rollers 88 includes a fixed folding roller 88a that is rotatably fixed to a device frame (not shown), and one end 104b of an arm 104 that is supported on the device frame (not shown) so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum 104a. It is comprised from the movable folding roller 88b supported so that it can rotate and move up and down and can contact | separate with respect to the fixed folding roller 88a. A spring 106 is attached to the other end 104c of the arm 104, and the movable folding roller 88b urged by the arm 104 pivoted about the fulcrum 104a presses against the fixed folding roller 88a so that a nip portion is formed. Forming. The one end 104b is provided with a first support hole 104d for moving the movable folding roller 88b up and down (linearly) when the arm 104 rotates. The fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b are rotated by a drive motor (not shown).

  The sheet bundle pushing member 100 includes a folding plate 89 that protrudes the sheet bundle, first and second holding members 108 and 110 that sandwich and hold the folding plate 89, and guides attached to both ends of the second holding member 110. A frame 112 is provided. The guide frame 112 has an L shape having a side plate 112a and a bottom plate 112b extending in a direction orthogonal to the side plate 112a, and is supported by the pushing member support means 102 so as to be slidable on the bottom plate 112b.

  A shaft 114 is fixed to the side plate 112 a of the guide frame 112, and driving means 116 for sliding the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is provided at both ends of the shaft 114.

  The driving means 116 includes a cam shaft 118, a groove portion 120 a, a groove cam 120 that can rotate around the cam shaft 118, and a driven member 122. In the groove 120 a of the groove cam 120, for example, a roller 124 such as a roller follower that is a contactor is rotatably guided, and the roller 124 is attached to the driven member 122. A driven member rotating shaft 126 is provided at one end of the driven member 122, and the driven member rotating shaft 126 is attached to the apparatus frame. The groove cam 120 is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) connected to one end of the cam shaft 118. Therefore, when the roller 124 is guided along the groove 120a by the rotation of the groove cam 120, the driven member 122 reciprocates like a pendulum around the driven member rotating shaft 126 according to the eccentricity of the groove 120a. repeat.

  The other end of the driven member 122 is provided with a second support hole 122a for linearly moving the sheet stack pushing member 100 when the driven member 122 rotates. The shaft 114 is connected to the driven member 122 via 122a.

  The pushing member support means 102 is disposed between two fixed rollers 128 that are rotatably fixed to a device frame (support member) (not shown), and is fixed between the fixed rollers 128, and can be moved up and down rotatably on the device frame. A movable roller 130 is provided. Of the two fixed rollers 128, the one on the folding roller pair 88 side is the front fixed roller 128b, the other is the rear fixed roller 128c, and the movable roller 130 is a movable folding roller with the sheet bundle pushing member 100 interposed therebetween. The sheet stack pushing member 100 is urged (downward in the drawing) by a spring (urging means) 132.

  The sheet bundle pushing member 100 is sandwiched between two fixed rollers 128 and a movable roller 130. That is, in the present embodiment, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is supported on the bottom surface of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 at the upper part of the two fixed rollers 128, and at the lower part of the movable roller 130 at the guide frame. The upper surface of the bottom plate 112b of 112 is supported so as to be sandwiched. With this configuration, since the rotational force of the groove cam 120 is converted into a linear motion, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 can linearly reciprocate in the direction of the folding roller pair 88, In the folding process, the sheet bundle can be guided to the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88.

  As an example of how to attach the pushing member support means 102 to the apparatus frame, as shown in FIG. 4, the roller shaft 128a of the fixed roller 128 is fixed to the apparatus frame (support member) 134, and the movable roller 128 is fixed. 130 roller shafts 130 a are fixed to an L-shaped movable plate 136. Two long holes 136a extending in the vertical direction are provided on the side surface of the movable plate 136, and can be slid by the shaft 138 and the E ring 139 fixed to the apparatus frame 134 through the long holes 136a. It is fastened. Therefore, the movable roller 130 can slide in the vertical direction with respect to the apparatus frame 134.

  Further, a convex portion 136b is formed on the lower surface of the movable plate 136, and one end 132a of the spring 132 is engaged with the convex portion 136b. The other end 132b of the spring 132 is fixed to the lower apparatus frame 134, for example, so that the movable plate 136 is urged downward, and the movable roller 130 is also urged downward. The biasing direction by the spring 132 is ideally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member 100, but is inclined with respect to the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 due to the configuration of the apparatus. May be. Here, the convex portion 136b is provided on the bottom plate of the movable plate 136, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed on the upper portion of the movable plate 136. Further, the roller shaft 130a of the movable roller 130 may be directly slidably attached to the apparatus frame 134 without using the movable plate 136.

Next, the folding operation of the sheet folding device 90 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the folding operation of the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the arm 104 for biasing the movable folding roller 88b and the driving means 116 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is slidably held between two fixed rollers 128 and a movable roller 130. That is, the fixed roller 128 is slidably in contact with the bottom surface of the bottom plate 112 b of the guide frame 112 of the paper bundle pushing member 100, and the movable roller 130 is slidably in contact with the top surface of the bottom plate 112 b of the guide frame 112. Slides toward the folding roller pair 88. The movable roller 130 urges the sheet bundle pushing member 100 downward by a spring 132.

  Further, the folding plate 89 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is ideally configured so that the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b are in order to accurately project the sheet bundle into the nip portion between the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b. It arrange | positions on the common tangent (henceforth a common tangent) B shown with a broken line.

  One end 132a of the spring 132 is attached to the movable roller 130 side, and the other end 132b is attached to the lower apparatus frame 134.

  In FIG. 5A, the sheet bundle A bound by the saddle stitch stapler 81 and the anvil 83 is conveyed to the folding position by the stopper 80. At this time, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 stands by at a predetermined position (standby position). Further, the sheet folding device 90 includes, for example, a photoelectric sensor such as a micro sensor as detection means (not shown), and the position detection means detects that the sheet bundle pushing member 100 has reached the standby position, By controlling the rotation of the drive motor, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 stands by at the standby position.

  When the folding process is started, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides toward the pair of folding rollers 88, and the leading end of the folding plate 89 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 pierces the center of the sheet bundle A. Also at this time, the folding plate 89 slides on the common tangent line B.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 that has protruded the sheet bundle A further slides toward the folding roller pair 88 and guides the sheet bundle A to the nip portion of the folding roller pair 88. The folding plate 89 is on the common tangent line B and the movable roller 130 does not slide upward until just before the sheet bundle A enters the nip portion.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, when the sheet bundle pushing member 100 further slides and the sheet bundle A is pushed into the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88, the movable folding roller 88b that has taken in the sheet bundle A is The bundle A moves upward by the thickness of the fold. That is, the distance between the nips of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b changes.

  On the other hand, a force is applied to the folding plate 89 upward due to the thickness of the sheet bundle A. Therefore, simultaneously with the upward movement of the movable folding roller 88b, the folding plate 89 is shifted upward from the common tangent line B by the thickness of the sheet bundle A so as to follow the folding position of the sheet bundle A. The center between the fixed fold roller 88a and the movable fold roller 88b can be accurately projected.

  The folding plate 89 is displaced from the common tangent line B and moves upward. When the folding plate 89 projects from the center between the nips of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b, the contact point between the guide frame 112 and the rear fixed roller 128c is a fulcrum. Then, the spring 132 of the movable roller 130 is moved while being extended upward.

  When the sheet bundle A is taken in and pinched by the folding roller pair 88, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is pulled out from the nip portion of the folding roller pair 88 by the drive mechanism 116 and slides to the standby position. By repeating this operation, folding processing is performed continuously. Further, the sheet bundle A taken in by the pair of folding rollers 88 is conveyed with nipping pressure, folded in half, and discharged to a dedicated sheet bundle stacking tray 96.

  When the sheet bundle A is pierced by the folding plate 89, the position of the folding plate 89 does not change along the common tangent line B until the sheet bundle A is pressed by the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88. It is preferable to follow when the bundle A is pinched by the nip portion. However, the folding plate 89 is urged by the sheet bundle A at a portion protruding from the sheet bundle A (the front end of the folding plate) before the sheet bundle A is clamped by the nip portion. Therefore, it is preferable that the position of the movable roller 130 is closer to the folding roller pair 88 than the position at which the folding plate 89 starts to push the sheet bundle A, as shown in FIG.

  According to the sheet folding apparatus 90 of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the first embodiment, a sliding roller is provided on the sheet bundle pushing member 100 as in the conventional apparatus, and sliding is performed along the guide groove. Instead, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is sandwiched between two fixed rollers 128 fixed to the device frame 134 and a movable roller 130 attached to the device frame 134 so as to be movable up and down. That is, since the fixed roller 128 and the movable roller 130 are attached to the apparatus frame 134 side, even if the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides, the movable roller 130 does not move together with the sheet bundle pushing member 100. There is no further tilt from the tilt of the initial arrangement. Therefore, the one end 132a of the spring 132 attached to the movable roller 130 side and the other end 132b of the spring 132 attached to the apparatus frame 134 side are not slid and worn, and there is no extra cost.

  The biasing direction by the spring 132 is ideally perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member 100, and the spring 132 does not tilt when the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides. Therefore, the force for urging the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is not dispersed, and an accurate folding position can be reached. At the same time, when the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides, the urging force by the spring 132 is not applied in the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member 100, so that a driving force for sliding the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is applied. There is no extra cost.

  Further, the movable roller 130 is movable up and down, and when the distance between the nips of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b changes when the sheet bundle A is nipped by the nip portion, the movable roller 130 is moved. Since the hand moves following the change, the folding position of the sheet bundle A can be accurately picked.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the sheet folding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a restriction roller 140 and a notch 142 are further provided.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the above embodiment, and only different parts will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a regulation roller (regulation member) 140 is rotatably fixed to a device frame 134 to which a fixed roller 128 is attached via a regulation roller shaft 140a. The lower part of the regulation roller 140 is in contact with the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 in the same manner as the movable roller 130 so that the sheet bundle pushing member 100 can slide sufficiently. The size of the restriction roller 140 is not particularly defined, but at least the width h1 where the restriction roller 140 and the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 overlap is greater than the width H where the movable roller 130 and the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 overlap. Is also narrower.

  Further, the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is formed with a notch (regulation release means) 142, and the width h2 of the notch 142 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the width h1. The length h3 in the longitudinal direction is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the regulation roller 140. The width h2 is preferably h1 <h2 << H, and the length h3 in the longitudinal direction may not necessarily be greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the regulation roller 140.

Next, the folding operation of the sheet folding device 90 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the folding operation of the sheet folding device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the guide frame 112 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is sandwiched between two fixed rollers 128, a movable roller 130, and a regulating roller 140. That is, the fixed roller 128 is in contact with the bottom surface of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100, and the movable roller 130 and the regulation roller 140 are slidably in contact with the top surface of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112. The bundle pushing member 100 slides toward the folding roller pair 88 while the sliding direction is regulated by the regulating roller 140. The movable roller 130 urges the sheet bundle pushing member 100 by a spring 132.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the folding process is started, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides on the common tangent line B indicated by a broken line toward the folding roller pair 88, and the sheet bundle pushing member 100 The front end of the folding plate 89 pierces the center of the sheet bundle A.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 protruding the sheet bundle A further slides toward the folding roller pair 88, and the sheet bundle A is guided to the nip portion of the folding roller pair 88. Here, after the folding plate 89 projects the sheet bundle A as shown in FIG. 7A, the sheet bundle A moves until just before entering the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88 as shown in FIG. In the meantime, a force (reaction force) corresponding to the hardness of the sheet and the thickness of the sheet bundle A is applied to the tip portion of the folding plate 89 that projects the sheet bundle A. On the upper side, the displacement of the folding plate 89 is regulated by the regulating roller 140 so that the folding plate 89 slides on the common tangent line B until immediately before the sheet bundle A enters the nip portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the notch portion 142 moves to just before the contact point between the regulating roller 140 and the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 when the sheet bundle A comes just before entering the nip portion. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, when the sheet bundle pushing member 100 further slides and the sheet bundle A is pushed into the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88, the movable folding roller 88b taking in the sheet bundle A The bundle A moves upward by the thickness of the fold. That is, the distance between the nips of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b changes.

  On the other hand, an upward force due to the thickness of the sheet bundle A is also applied to the folding plate 89. At the same time, the notch 142 has moved below the restricting roller 140, so that the restricting roller 140 fits into the notch 142, and the restriction on the upward displacement of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is released. As a result, the guide frame 112 of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 can pass through the regulating roller 140 and move upward. Therefore, the folding plate 89 moves upward from the common tangent line B by the thickness of the sheet bundle A so as to follow the folding position of the sheet bundle A, so that the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b are accurately moved. The center between nips can be struck.

  The sheet bundle pushing-in member 100 whose restriction has been released moves upward from the common tangent line B with the contact point between the guide frame 112 and the rear fixed roller 128c as a fulcrum, and the center between the nip between the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b. , The movable roller 130 also moves while extending the spring 132 upward.

  When the sheet bundle A is taken in and pinched by the folding roller pair 88 at the folding position, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is pulled out from the nip portion of the folding roller pair 88 by the drive mechanism 116. At this time, since the sheet bundle A is not energized, the folding plate 89 returns to the common tangent line B and the restriction roller 140 returns to the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112. The sheet bundle pushing member 100 is slid by the restriction roller 140. The direction of movement is restricted again and the robot slides to the standby position. By repeating this operation, folding processing is performed continuously. Further, the sheet bundle A taken in by the pair of folding rollers 88 is conveyed with nipping pressure, folded in half, and discharged to a dedicated sheet bundle stacking tray 96.

  According to the sheet folding apparatus 90 of the sheet post-processing apparatus of the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the upward displacement of the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is regulated by the regulation roller 140. As a result, the folding position of the sheet bundle A can be reliably guided to the nip portion in a state where the folding plate 89 protrudes until immediately before the nip portion of the pair of folding rollers 88 is clamped. Can be better. Further, when the sheet bundle A is pinched by the nip portion, the restriction of the restriction roller 140 is released by the notch portion 142, so the distance between the nips of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b changes. However, since the folding plate 89 moves following the change, the folding position of the sheet bundle A can be accurately picked up.

  The lower portion of the regulation roller 140 is in contact with the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 to such an extent that the sheet bundle pushing member 100 can slide sufficiently. However, the regulation roller 140 is arranged so that the sheet bundle pushing member 100 can easily slide. The lower portion of the guide plate 112 may be in close proximity to the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 in a non-contact manner.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the notch 142 is provided at the front position along the long side of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112 as shown in FIG. 6, but the present invention is not limited to this. , It may be arranged at any position along the long side. Alternatively, an opening provided in the bottom plate 112b may be used instead of the notch.

  Further, the regulation roller 140 may be provided on the side plate 112a instead of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame 112, and the cutout portion 142 may be provided on the side plate 112a.

  Further, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is disposed horizontally, but it is naturally not limited to this configuration. When the common tangent line B of the pair of folding rollers 88 is inclined, the sheet bundle pushing member 100 is arranged to be inclined along the common tangent line B, and the pushing member supporting means 102 is also arranged accordingly. At this time, the urging direction of the movable roller 130 is preferably perpendicular to the guide frame 112. However, since the spring 132 is attached to the movable roller 130 and the sheet bundle pushing member 100 slides on the movable roller 130, the spring 132 urges perpendicularly to the sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member 100. Even if they are not arranged in such a manner, an extra driving force for sliding the sheet bundle pushing member 100 will not become significant.

  When the arrangement of the fixed folding roller 88a and the movable folding roller 88b is reversed, the bottom surface of the bottom plate 112b of the guide frame is sandwiched between the upper portion of the movable roller 130 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 112b is sandwiched between the lower portion of the fixed roller 128. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it may support and the movable roller 130 may be urged | biased upwards.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, You may implement in addition to various deformation | transformation in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet post-processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a sheet folding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic perspective view which shows the pushing member support means of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a folding operation of the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The schematic perspective view which shows the paper folding device of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. Schematic which shows folding operation | movement of the sheet folding device of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device
3 Image forming section
4 Paper post-processing equipment
72 Second processing tray
79 Straight vertical transport path (straight path)
80 stopper
81 Saddle Stitcher (Saddle Stitcher)
88 Folding roller pair
88a Fixed folding roller
88b Movable folding roller
89 Folding plate
90 Paper folding device (paper folding device)
100 Paper bundle pushing member
102 Pushing member support means
128 fixed roller
130 Moving roller
132 Spring (biasing means)
134 Device frame (support member)
140 Regulation roller (regulation means)
142 Notch (regulation release means)

Claims (7)

A fixed folding roller fixed at a predetermined position;
A movable folding roller that is capable of coming into contact with and separating from the fixed folding roller, and that forms a nip portion that clamps a bundle of sheets together with the fixed folding roller;
A sheet bundle pushing member that moves toward the nip portion and pushes the sheet bundle into the nip portion;
A plurality of fixed rollers which are fixed to the support member and are rotatable;
The movable movable roller is disposed between the plurality of fixed rollers on the movable folding roller side, is movably attached to the support member, and slidably holds the sheet bundle pushing member with the plurality of fixed rollers. Koro,
Urging means for urging the movable roller against the sheet bundle pushing member;
The sheet folding device, wherein the movable roller moves in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member.   2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein the movable roller is disposed at a position closer to the fixed folding roller and the movable folding roller than a position at which the sheet bundle pushing member starts to push the sheet bundle. Folding device. Further, on the side where the movable roller is disposed across the sheet bundle pushing member, the position is fixed to the support member, and slidably contacts the sheet bundle pushing member, and the moving direction of the sheet bundle pushing member A regulating member that regulates,
A restriction releasing means provided on the sheet bundle pushing member for releasing the restriction of the movement direction by the restriction member when the sheet bundle pushing member pushes the sheet bundle into the nip portion;
The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   4. The sheet folding device according to claim 3, wherein the restriction member is a roller, and the restriction release means is a notch or an opening provided in the sheet bundle pushing member. .   5. The movable roller according to claim 1, wherein the movable roller is urged by the urging means in a direction intersecting a sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member. The sheet folding device.   5. The movable roller according to claim 1, wherein the movable roller is urged by the urging unit in a direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the sheet bundle pushing member. Paper folding device. Storage means for temporarily storing the conveyed paper;
A saddle stitching means for binding a bundle of sheets stored in the storage means;
A sheet post-processing apparatus including a sheet folding device that folds the sheet bundle bound by the saddle stitching unit into two in a protruding manner;
The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet folding apparatus is the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1.

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