CN101289149B

CN101289149B - Slice treating device and slice treating method

Info

Publication number: CN101289149B
Application number: CN200810126919XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 井口健; 饭塚千秋; 川口贵弘; 真野真一郎
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba TEC Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp; Toshiba TEC Corp
Priority date: 2008-06-18
Filing date: 2008-06-18
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-18
Also published as: CN101289149A

Abstract

The invention provides a thin-section treatment device and a treatment method thereof. Whatever the thin-section pages forming a laminated thin-section are or transportation resistance is, and the like, retreat action of the laminated thin-sections after binding treatment, started from a binding device, can be carried out steadily, wherein, when the laminated thin-section after binding treatment moves from the binding device to the retreating direction by a stacking device, an integration roll butt-joints the laminated thin-section held by the stacking device to assist the movement of the laminated thin-section.

Description

Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sheet processing technique for performing predetermined processing on a sheet.

Background

Conventionally, in a sheet processing apparatus that performs a predetermined process such as a binding process or a folding process on a sheet, after the binding process is performed on a sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is moved to a position where the folding process is performed.

In this case, in the sheet bundle movement, a stopper for sheet bundle adjustment used in the stapling process is moved, and the sheet bundle is moved to a predetermined folding process standby position by its own weight along with the stopper.

However, in the above-described conventional technique, in the configuration of the retracting operation in which the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is separated from the binding apparatus by the self-weight of the sheet bundle, when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is large, or when the conveyance resistance of the sheet bundle is large due to the influence of static electricity or the like, the sheet bundle conveyance may not be performed normally.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus and a sheet processing method that can stably perform a retracting operation for retracting a sheet bundle after a binding process from a binding apparatus regardless of the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle, conveyance resistance, or the like.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an information acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information relating to a sheet bundle that is a target of a folding process performed by a folding blade and information relating to an environment in which the folding process is performed; and a folding position adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, the position being in contact with the folding blade, based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a stacking device that holds a sheet stack and is movable substantially parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet stack; an alignment roller that is capable of abutting against or separating from a sheet surface of the sheet held by the stacking device, and that aligns the sheet by abutting the rotating roller surface against the sheet so that the sheet strikes a reference position in the stacking device; a binding device configured to bind the sheet bundle integrated by the integrating roller and moved to a predetermined position by the stacking device; and a control unit configured to cause the alignment roller that is rotating to abut against the sheet bundle held by the stacking device when the stacking device moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction in which the sheet bundle is retracted from the binding device.

In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet processing method, a sheet processing apparatus including: a stacking device for holding a sheet stack and moving substantially parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet stack; an alignment roller that abuts against and separates from a sheet surface of the sheet held by the stacking device, and that causes the sheet to collide with a reference position in the stacking device and align the sheet by causing a rotating roller surface to abut against the sheet; and a binding device configured to perform a binding process on the sheet bundle that is bound by the binding roller and moved to a predetermined position by the stacking device, wherein when the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is moved in a direction to retract from the binding device by the stacking device, the binding roller that is rotating is brought into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking device.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a pressing portion serving as a binding portion for performing binding processing on a sheet bundle conveyed to a binding position in a sheet conveying path, the pressing portion pressing a sheet surface of the sheet bundle when performing the binding processing; a binding section configured to face an inside of the sheet conveying path from an opening provided in an inner wall of the sheet conveying path, and bind and fix the sheet bundle by operating a receiving section for receiving the sheet bundle pressed by the pressing section together; and an elastic member supported by either one of the wall surface of the sheet conveying path and the receiving portion, and covering a vicinity of an upstream end of the receiving portion in a sheet conveying direction in the sheet conveying path.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a roller pair capable of performing sheet conveyance at a first conveyance speed and a second conveyance speed greater than the first conveyance speed; a folding blade that moves from a standby position to a nip portion of the roller pair to fold a sheet to be folded into the roller pair driven at the first conveying speed; and a conveyance control unit that switches the sheet conveyance speed based on the roller pair from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed at a predetermined timing, the predetermined timing being a predetermined timing during a period from when the folding blade starts a return operation to a standby position in conjunction with a pushing operation of the sheet bundle, to when a rear end of the sheet bundle pushed into the nip portion of the roller pair by the folding blade passes through the nip portion of the roller pair.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a sensor for detecting the relatively moving sheet; a size calculation unit that calculates the size of the sheet based on the detection result of the sensor; and a processing position adjusting unit that adjusts a position at which a predetermined process is performed on a sheet bundle to be processed, based on the sheet size calculated by the size calculating unit.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a first sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet; a second sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet conveyed in the first sheet conveying path in a zigzag manner, the second sheet conveying path including at least one of an opening, a protrusion, and a recess in the vicinity of a position where the second sheet conveying path meets the first sheet conveying path; and a sliding unit configured to pull out the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path as a whole to the outside of the apparatus.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram for explaining a sheet processing apparatus 1F according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an image processing apparatus M including the sheet processing apparatus 1F;

fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a basic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus 1F according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining an operation from when a sheet conveyed in the conveyance path a comes into contact with the stacking claw 21 of the stacking apparatus 2 to when the sheet is arranged;

fig. 4 is a view for explaining a lateral integration portion for integrating sheet side ends in the stacker tray 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining the constitution of the vicinity of the stacking tray 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the constitution of the vicinity of the stacking tray 1;

fig. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining in detail a sheet folding mechanism in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining in detail a sheet folding mechanism in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is an explanatory view for explaining in detail a sheet folding mechanism in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining in detail an operation flow of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining in detail an operation flow of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation flow of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention in detail;

fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining in detail an operation flow of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation flow in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention in detail;

fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining in detail the flow of the operation of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation flow of the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention in detail;

fig. 17 is an explanatory view for explaining the above-described problem in the folding process of the sheet bundle in detail;

fig. 18 is an explanatory view for explaining the above-described problem in the folding process of the sheet bundle in detail;

fig. 19 is an explanatory view for explaining the above-described problem in the folding process of the sheet bundle in detail;

fig. 20 is an explanatory view for explaining the above-described problem in the folding process of the sheet bundle in detail;

fig. 21 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 22 is a functional block diagram in a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a timing chart showing the driving timing of the auxiliary roller and the like;

fig. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of the vicinity of the folding roller pair 89 in the third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of the vicinity of the folding roller pair 89 in the third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 27 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 28 is a structural view illustrating a driving mechanism for rotationally driving the folding roller pair 89 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 29 is a structural view illustrating a driving mechanism for rotationally driving the folding roller pair 89 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 30 is a timing chart for explaining drive control in the rotational drive of the folding roller pair 89 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 31 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 32 is an explanatory view for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 33 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 34 is an explanatory view for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 35 is an explanatory view for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 36 is an explanatory view for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 37 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drawer structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 38 is an explanatory view for explaining a sheet processing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 39 is an explanatory view for explaining a sheet processing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 40 is an explanatory view for explaining a sheet processing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus 1F according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an image processing apparatus M including the sheet processing apparatus 1F.

As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus M in the present embodiment includes: an image reading apparatus 1A for reading an image of an original; an image forming apparatus 1P for forming an image on a sheet; the sheet processing apparatus 1F performs predetermined post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1P. In the configuration example shown in the figure, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 1P is conveyed in a sheet conveying direction (arrow direction) in the figure and supplied to the sheet processing apparatus 1F.

Next, the sheet processing apparatus 1F according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a basic configuration of a sheet processing apparatus 1F according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The sheet processing apparatus 1F according to the present embodiment has the following functions: a folding processing function of performing a folding process on a sheet supplied from the image forming apparatus 1P with a center position in a sheet conveying direction as a folding position; and a binding function of binding the sheet bundle moved to the predetermined position by the stacking apparatus 2 by the binding apparatus 5. Hereinafter, the unit for performing the folding process and the unit for performing the binding process are collectively referred to as a saddle (saddle) unit.

In the sheet processing apparatus 1F and the image processing apparatus M according to the present embodiment, sheets such as OHP films may be processed as media, not only paper media such as plain paper and thick paper. For convenience of explanation, the following description will be made by taking, as an example, a case where sheets to be processed are paper media in the sheet processing apparatus 1F and the image processing apparatus M.

The saddle unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1F is disposed at a position as lower as possible in the vertical direction of the sheet processing apparatus 1F. The sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus 1P are temporarily stacked and accommodated in the stacking tray 1 through the conveying path a. The stacking tray 1 in the present embodiment is disposed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction. The auxiliary roller 42 driven by rotation assists the sheets stacked and stored in the stacking tray 1 to slide down, and the lower side end of the sheet is caught and integrated by a stacking claw (so-called stopper) of the stacking apparatus 2.

The timing for assisting the sheet movement by the auxiliary roller 42 is determined based on the sheet detection timing of the discharge roller sensor 41 (such a sensor has a function as an optical sensor and a medium sensor, and can detect the reflectance, surface roughness, thickness, and the like of the sheet surface) included in the conveyance path a. In this way, the stack of sheets temporarily stored in the stacking tray 1 is aligned by the lateral aligning mechanism 3 while holding both end positions in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.

The sheet bundle on the stacking tray 1 thus integrated is subjected to the binding process by the binding devices 5 provided in the vicinity of both ends in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.

The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process by the binding device 5 is subjected to the folding-in-half process by the folding blade 100 and the folding roller pair 89.

The sheet bundle on which the double folding process is performed and the folded portion is conveyed to the nip position of the additional folding roller 7 is subjected to the additional folding process by the additional folding roller 7.

Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining the operation from the time when the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path a is stopped by the stacking claw 21 of the stacking apparatus 2 to the time when the sheet is integrated.

In the conveying mechanism that conveys the sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 1P to the stacker tray 1, the driving force from the conveying motor 40 is transmitted to the gear/pulley 402a through the gear trains 401a and 401 b. The driving force transmitted to the gear/pulley 402a is transmitted to the respective conveying rollers through the timing belt 403 wound around the gear/pulley 402 a.

The auxiliary roller 42 needs a certain degree of elasticity and friction force in order to align the sheet by hitting the stacking claw 21 as a reference stopper. Further, it is preferable that the auxiliary roller 42 includes the following materials: even if the rotation driving amount of the auxiliary roller 42 exceeds a normal amount when the sheet collision operation to the stacking claw 21 is performed in a state where the sheet is completely nipped by the auxiliary roller 42, the material can absorb an excessive force applied to the sheet to some extent, and suppress the occurrence of buckling of the sheet. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a sponge roller, for example, is used as the auxiliary roller 42. Of course, as long as the material of the auxiliary roller 42 has the above-described required characteristics, other materials may be used.

The auxiliary roller 42 is rotated by transmitting a driving force from the conveying motor 40 through a timing belt 421 wound around the gear/pulley 402a around which the timing belt 403 is wound. In order to contact the sheets stacked on the stacking tray 1, the auxiliary roller 42 is moved in the moving direction shown in fig. 3 by an auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 provided below the conveying path, with the support shaft of the connecting gear/pulley 402a as a fulcrum.

The auxiliary roller 42 rotates in the direction of arrow B in the same rotational direction as the discharge roller 43, and the discharge roller 43 is supported by the support shaft together with the gear/pulley 402B. Thus, in a state where the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 is turned on and the auxiliary roller 42 is in contact with the stacking tray 1, the sheet is conveyed so as to assist the sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow C shown in fig. 3 to slide down in the direction of arrow D into the stacking tray 1 by its own weight, and the sheet end can be brought into contact with and integrated with the stacking claw 21 serving as a reference stopper.

Fig. 4 is a view for explaining a lateral alignment portion for aligning sheet side ends in the stacking tray 1.

The transverse alignment portion herein has a function of aligning the end portions in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 1. The lateral integration portion includes: a driving part including a lateral integration motor 30 as a stepping motor, a gear 301, a rack 302a, and a rack 302 b; a horizontal aligning plate 31a, a horizontal aligning plate 31b, and a frame 32 as a supporting frame for supporting these components.

The driving force from the laterally integrated motor 30 is transmitted to the gear 301. The racks 302a and 302b are engaged with the gear 301, respectively, and the racks 302a and 302b move in the arrow direction shown in fig. 4 as the gear 301 rotates. The racks 302a and 302b are attached to the horizontal aligning plates 31a and 32b, respectively, and the horizontal aligning plates 31a and 32b are moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by the movement of the racks 302a and 302 b.

Further, the positions in the moving direction of the

lateral integration plates

31a, 31b are managed by the pulses of the lateral integration motor 30 based on the detection result in the lateral integration motor HP sensor 33 provided on the rack 32. Here, HP refers to home position (home position).

Fig. 5 and 6 are perspective views for explaining the structure of the vicinity of the stacking tray 1.

The stacking portion as a positioning stopper of the lower end of the stack of sheets stacked on the stacking tray 1 includes: a driving section including an integrated motor 20 as a stepping motor, a gear 201, a gear/pulley 202, and a timing belt 203; stacking

claws

21a, 21b, and support portions 22 for supporting these members.

The driving force from the stacker motor 20 is transmitted to a gear/pulley 202 through a gear 201, and is transmitted to a timing belt 203 wound around the gear/pulley 202. Thereby, the support portion 22 fixedly connected to the timing belt 203 moves in the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 6 (the vertical direction in the drawing).

The support portion 22 includes stacking

claws

21a and 21b, and the stacking

claws

21a and 21b move in the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 5 and 6 in accordance with the movement of the support portion 22.

In this way, when the folding blade 100 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle in the folding process, the stacking portion in the present embodiment can move substantially parallel to the surface direction of the sheet when the folding blade 100 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle while holding the sheet bundle.

The stacking

claws

21a and 21b include

flexible members

210a and 210b, respectively, and the sheet bundle held by the stacking

claws

21a and 21b is pressed and held on the reference surface by these flexible members.

Further, based on the detection result in the stacker motor HP sensor 23, the positions in the moving direction of the stacking

claws

21a, 21b are managed by the pulse of the stacker motor 20.

Next, the half-folding mechanism in the present embodiment will be explained.

Fig. 7 to 9 are explanatory views for explaining the sheet folding mechanism in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention in detail.

As shown in fig. 7, the sheet folding-back unit 92 includes: a folding roller pair 89 for folding the sheet nipped at the nip portion into two; a folding blade 100 as a pressing member for pressing the sheet bundle into the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89; a guide member (regulating member) 102 holds the vibrating plate 100 so as to be movable toward the folding roller pair 89, and regulates a swing in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the folding blade 100 before the sheet is overlapped into the nip portion.

The folding roller pair 89 includes a fixed folding roller (first roller) 89a and a movable folding roller (second roller) 89 b.

The movable folding roller 89b is rotatably fixed to an apparatus frame, not shown. The movable folding roller 89b is rotatably supported by one end 104b of the arm 104, and is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the folding blade 100 so as to be able to contact and separate from the fixed folding roller 89a, and the arm 104 is rotatably held on a device frame, not shown, around a fulcrum 104 a.

A spring 106 is attached to the other end portion 104c of the arm portion 104, and a movable folding roller 89b urged by the arm portion 104 that rotates about a fulcrum 104a is pressed against the fixed folding roller 89a, thereby forming a nip portion. Further, the one end portion 104b of the arm portion 104 is provided with a first support hole 104d, and the first support hole 104d enables the movable folding roller 89b to move linearly instead of making an arc when the arm portion 104 rotates. The fixed folding roller 89a and the movable folding roller 89b are driven to rotate by a drive motor, not shown.

The folding blade 100 includes: plate portion 90 pushing the stack of sheets; a first holding member 108 and a second holding member 110 that hold the plate portion 90 therebetween; and side plates 112 attached to both ends of the second holding member 110 in a direction orthogonal to the plate moving direction.

A stud bolt 114 is provided on the front portion of the side plate 112, that is, on the folding roller pair 89 side, and a shaft 116 (a first projection 114 and a second projection 116) is provided on the rear portion, and the folding blade 100 is slidably held by the guide member 102 via the double bolt 114 and the shaft 116. Further, the longer the interval between the stud bolt 114 and the shaft 116 is, the more stable the posture of the folding blade 100 is, and therefore, in the present embodiment, the mounting position of the stud bolt 114 is set at a position closer to the folding roller pair 89 side than the front end of the plate portion 90.

The stud bolt 114 and the shaft 116 as the sliding members are not limited to the above-described configurations, and the first protrusion 114 and the second protrusion 116 may be both stud bolts and shafts, or both rollers that are rotatable. The attachment position of the stud bolt 114 to the side plate 112 is not limited to the above configuration.

Further, driving units 118 for sliding the folding blade 100 are provided at both ends of the shaft 116. The driving unit 118 includes: a camshaft 120; a groove cam 122 which is formed with a groove portion 122a and is rotatable about the camshaft 120; a follower member 124. A roller 126 such as a roller follower as a contact is rotatably guided in the groove portion 122a of the groove cam 122, and the roller 126 is attached to the follower member 124.

A follower turning shaft 128 is provided at one end of the follower 124, and the follower turning shaft 128 is attached to an unillustrated apparatus frame. The groove cam 122 is rotationally driven by a driving motor, not shown, connected to one end of the cam shaft 120. When the roller 126 is guided along the groove portion 122a by the rotation of the groove cam 122, the follower 124 repeats the reciprocating motion of the oscillator about the follower rotation shaft 128 in accordance with the eccentricity of the groove portion 122 a.

Next, the drive mechanism of the folding roller pair 89 and the folding blade 100 will be described in detail.

The folding mechanism includes a folding motor 800 as a DC motor, a timing belt 801, a one-line clutch 802,

gears

803a, 803b, 803c, 804d, 803e, 803f, 803g, 901a, and 901b, and an electromagnetic clutch 900 (see fig. 8 and 9).

First, the driving force from the folding motor 800 is transmitted to the gear 803a through the timing belt 801 hooked between the folding motor 800 and the gear 803 a. As the gear 803a rotates, the electromagnetic clutch 900 and the gear 803b are rotationally driven. A one-line clutch 802 is included on the gear 803b, and when the folding motor 800 is rotated in the forward direction, rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear 803b to the folding roller 89a through the gear 803c, the gear 803d, and the gear 803 e. On the other hand, when the folding motor 800 is rotated in the reverse direction, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear 803b to the folding roller 89a through the gear 803f, the gear 803g, the gear 803d, and the gear 803 e.

In the present embodiment, the folding blade 100 is driven by the driving force from the folding motor 800, and after the electromagnetic clutch 900 is turned on, the driving force is transmitted to the gear 901a and the gear 901b, and the folding blade 100 is driven by the rotation of the driving unit 118 in fig. 7 connected to the gear 901 b.

Further, based on the detection results of the encoder actuator 810 and the folding motor encoder sensor 811 connected to the folding motor 800, the rotation speed of the folding roller pair 89 and the movement position of the folding blade 100 are managed by the encoder pulses of the folding motor 800.

Fig. 10 to 16 are explanatory diagrams for explaining an operation flow in the sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, an operation flow when sheets are stacked and stored in the stacking tray 1 will be described.

When the image forming apparatus issues a discharge signal for the first page based on the double-folding operation, the conveyance motor 40 starts to be driven (S1), and the stacking apparatus 2 and the horizontal aligning

plates

31a and 31b are moved to the standby position (S2, S3).

Thereafter, the sheet is detected by the discharge roller sensor 41, and after the Off (Off) of the sensor is detected (S4a, Yes), the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 is turned on only when the sheet reaches the stacker tray 1 by a predetermined pulse drive (S4b, Yes) (S5).

By turning on the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422, the auxiliary roller 42 conveys the sheet conveyed to the stacking tray 1 to the stacking apparatus 2.

When the conveying motor is driven by the predetermined number of pulses (S6, Yes) after the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 is turned on, the driving of the transverse alignment motor 30 is started to perform the transverse alignment operation of the sheet (S7).

After the driving of the lateral direction matching motor 30 is started, when the transport motor 40 is driven by a predetermined number of pulses, the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 is turned off (S8), and then, when the lateral direction matching operation is completed, the lateral direction matching motor 30 is rotated in the reverse direction, i.e., the opening direction, and the lateral

direction matching plates

31a and 31b are driven to the standby position (S9).

Further, at S4 shown in fig. 10, after the discharge roller sensor 41 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, when the sheet currently being processed (the sheet whose trailing edge is detected) is the first page, the conveyance speed is lowered. This is because, when the sheet is the first page, since there is no sheet on the stacking tray 1, the frictional force applied to the sheet is small, and when the sheet is discharged from the discharge roller 43, which is the final roller of the conveying path a, onto the stacking tray 1, the sheet may excessively fly upward. Therefore, if there is one sheet on the stacking tray 1 like the sheets after the second page, the sheets rub against each other, and therefore, the problem of excessive flying-out of the sheets does not occur.

The predetermined pulse for activating (On) the auxiliary roller 42 is the same as the standby position of the stacking apparatus 2, and differs from sheet size to sheet size, as designated by the image forming apparatus, from S5 shown in fig. 10 to S8 shown in fig. 11.

The predetermined pulse at S6 shown in fig. 11 differs depending on the conveying speed of the sheet after the first page or the second page. This is because, based on the lateral aligning operation of the

lateral aligning plates

31a and 31b, in a state where the auxiliary roller 42 is located at the standby position, the lateral aligning plates need to be brought into contact with the end portions in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and the driving of the lateral aligning operation (S7) is also performed for a predetermined time before the timing (S8) at which only the auxiliary roller 42 is stopped.

Next, the operation flow when the stapling process and the folding process are performed on the sheet bundle stacked and stored in the stacking tray 1 will be described.

After the operations up to S9 in fig. 11 for stacking and storing the sheets on the stacking tray 1 are overlapped, if the sheets having the number of pages for performing the folding processing are stacked (S10, Yes), the horizontal aligning motor 30 is driven again in the aligning direction to perform the horizontal aligning operation (S11).

Thereafter, the horizontal aligning motor 30 is driven in the opening direction, and the horizontal aligning plate is driven to the guide position at the time of the stapling operation (S12).

At the same time as the start of the operation at S12, the first stapler motor located on the back side of the left and right staplers is driven to perform the stapling process (S13).

After a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of driving the first stapler motor in S13 (S14), the second stapler motor on the operator side is driven to perform the staple process (S15).

After the binding process performed on the sheets by the binding device 5 is completed, the lateral registration motor 30 is driven in the opening direction to move the lateral registration plate from the binding guide position to the standby position (S16).

After a predetermined time has elapsed since the driving of the horizontal alignment motor in S16 (S17), the stacking motor 20 is driven to move the stacking position from the stapling position to the folding position, and the bundle conveying operation is performed (S18).

After the stack feeding operation is completed, the lateral alignment motor 30 is driven again in the alignment direction to perform the lateral alignment operation (S19), and then the lateral alignment motor is driven in the opening direction to be driven to the guide position at the time of the folding operation (S20).

Simultaneously with the start of driving of the lateral-direction matching motor 30 in S20, the folding motor 800 and the electromagnetic clutch 900 are turned on, and the folding operation is started (S21). Further, since a high torque is required for the folding operation of the folding motor 800 and a large load is applied to the electromagnetic clutch 900, the folding motor 800 may be started after a predetermined time has elapsed after the electromagnetic clutch 900 is turned on.

When the folding process is performed and the sheet bundle is detected by the additional folding position detection sensor 7 by the discharge conveyance of the folding roller pair 89 (S22), the stacking motor 20 and the traverse integrating motor 30 are driven to move to the home position (S23, S24).

On the other hand, from the sheet bundle detection timing of the additional folding position detection sensor 71 (see fig. 2) in S22, the folding roller pair 89 is driven by only a predetermined pulse, and when the leading end of the sheet bundle reaches the additional folding position (S25, Yes), the driving of the folding motor 800 is stopped to stop the sheet bundle at the additional folding position (S26).

After the sheet bundle is stopped at the additional folding position, the additional folding motor is driven to drive the additional folding roller 7 from the home position toward the front of the folding roller pair (S27), and then, the additional folding roller is driven from the direction toward the home position (S28) to perform the additional folding process.

Next, when the next job is performed, in the process of performing the additional folding operation at S28, the stacking apparatus motor 20 is driven to move the stacking apparatus to the receiving position of the next sheet (S29).

After the additional folding processing is completed, the folding motor 800 is driven to start the discharge conveyance operation (S30).

After the folding motor driving at S30 is started and a predetermined pulse is driven (S31), the horizontal aligning motor 30 is driven to move the horizontal aligning plate to the receiving position of the next sheet in the next job (S32), as in the stacking apparatus.

When it is detected that the discharge sensor is turned Off (Off) by the discharge conveyance operation (Yes at S33), the folding motor 800 is driven only by a predetermined pulse (S34), and then the folding motor 800 is stopped (S35).

If there is a next job, the process is continued from S4 shown in fig. 9, and if there is no next job, the process is overlapped and a stop command from the image forming apparatus is waited for.

(control of the standby position of the stacker during folding treatment)

In the above configuration, the following may occur: when folding a sheet bundle, if the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle subjected to the folding processing is large or if the folding processing is performed on a large-mass sheet such as thick paper, the stacking apparatus positions the sheet bundle at a predetermined alignment position. However, the sheet bundle slides downward during the folding process due to the influence of gravity or friction, and the accuracy of the folding process varies.

Fig. 17 to 20 are explanatory views for explaining the above-described problem in the folding process of the sheet bundle in detail.

As shown in fig. 17, for example, when the number of sheets of the sheet bundle S subjected to the folding processing is small, in S18 shown in fig. 13, when the stacking claw is adjusted to the folding position and the center portion of the sheet is adjusted to the position of the folding blade 100, the folding processing after S21 is performed, and as shown in fig. 18, the accuracy of the folding position (folding after forming the folding mark at the center position of the sheet) can be obtained.

However, as shown in fig. 19, for example, when the number of sheets of the sheet bundle S 'subjected to the folding processing is large, even if the folding processing is performed while the sheet center portion is adjusted to the position of the folding blade 100 in the processing of S18 as in the case shown in fig. 17, the sheet bundle S' does not follow when the folding blade 100 pushes the sheet bundle S 'into the folding roller pair 89 because the entire weight of the sheet bundle S' is large. That is, during the folding process, the sheet bundle S 'slides down due to the influence of the gravity g, and the folding roller pair 89 is held between the center position K of the original sheet bundle S' and the upper side, so that the sheet bundle cannot be folded at an appropriate folding position (see fig. 20).

In order to solve such a problem, the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment employs the following configuration.

Fig. 21 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The sheet processing apparatus 1F according to the present embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 1101 and a folding position adjustment unit 1102. The folding position adjustment unit 1102 may be hardware independent of the CPU 801, may be combined with software of the CPU 801, or may be combined with software of a processor other than the CPU 801. For example, the folding position adjustment unit 1102 may be realized by the CPU 801 executing a program stored in the MEMORY 802, but is not limited thereto.

The information acquisition unit 1101 acquires at least one of information on a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing by the folding blade 100 and information on an environment in which the folding processing is performed.

Specifically, the information acquisition unit 1101 acquires at least one of the following information: for example, the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing (for example, acquired from the image forming apparatus 1P); the sheet material constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing (for example, obtained from the feed roller sensor 41); the sheet thickness of the sheet bundle constituting the folding processing target (for example, obtained from the discharge roller sensor 41); a sheet type constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing (for example, acquired from the image forming apparatus 1P); the direction of sheets constituting the sheet bundle when the folding process is performed (for example, obtained from the image forming apparatus 1P); the temperature and the humidity (for example, obtained from a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 1P or the sheet processing apparatus 1F).

The various information for the information acquisition unit 1101 may not necessarily be acquired from the sheet processing apparatus 1F alone, but may be acquired from an external device connected so as to be able to communicate with the image forming apparatus 1P or the image processing apparatus M depending on the situation.

The folding position adjusting unit 1102 controls the stacker motor 20 based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit 1101 to change the position of the stacking pawl 21, thereby adjusting the position of the sheet bundle to be folded, which is brought into contact with the folding blade 100.

Specifically, when the information acquiring unit 1101 acquires information on the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be folded, the folding position adjusting unit 1102 lowers the position of the sheet bundle to be folded in contact with the folding blade 100 (raises the stacking claw 21) as the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be folded increases. When the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is extremely small, such as one or two, and when the folding position is less affected, the adjustment of the contact position of the folding blade 100 is not performed until a predetermined number of sheets (for example, five sheets) is reached, and the adjustment is performed only when the sheet bundle is composed of six or more sheets.

Further, when the information acquisition unit 1101 acquires information on the friction coefficient of the sheet constituting the sheet bundle that is the folding processing target, the lower the friction coefficient of the sheet constituting the sheet bundle that is the folding processing target, the more likely the sheet bundle slides downward during the folding processing, and therefore, the folding position adjustment unit 1102 may also lower the position of the sheet bundle that is the folding processing target at which the folding blade 100 is brought into contact.

Further, when the information acquisition unit 1101 acquires information on the sheet type of the sheet bundle constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, the larger the sheet size of the sheet bundle constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, the more easily the sheet bundle is slid downward during the folding processing, and therefore, it is preferable that the folding position adjustment unit 1102 lowers the position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, at which the folding blade 100 is brought into contact.

As described above, the higher the bending rigidity of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is, or the heavier the weight of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is, the more difficult the operation of pushing the sheet bundle in by the folding blade 100 becomes, and therefore, the folding position adjusting unit 1102 lowers the position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, at which the folding blade 100 is brought into contact, based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit 1101.

Further, it is preferable that the information acquisition unit 1101 acquires various kinds of information for sheets as follows: the sheet is positioned on the side closest to the folding roller 89 (the side not close to the folding blade) among sheets constituting a sheet bundle as a folding object of the folding blade 100, which has a particularly large influence on the relationship with the folding roller pair 89 in the folding process.

The CPU 801 has a function of performing various processes in the sheet processing apparatus 1F, and also has a function of realizing various functions by executing a program stored in the MEMORY 802. The MEMORY 802 includes, for example, a ROM or a RAM, and has a function of storing various information or programs used in the sheet processing apparatus 1F.

Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for example, a sheet processing apparatus having the following configuration can be provided.

(1) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the folding position adjusting means may decrease the position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, which is brought into contact with the folding blade, as the bending rigidity of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is higher, based on the information acquired by the information acquiring means.

(2) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the folding position adjusting means may decrease the position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, which is brought into contact with the folding blade, as the weight of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is increased, based on the information acquired by the information acquiring means.

(3) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the information acquiring means acquires information on the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, and the folding position adjusting means lowers the position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, at which the folding blade is brought into contact, as the number of sheets of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing increases.

(4) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the information acquiring means acquires information on a sheet friction coefficient of a sheet bundle constituting the folding processing target, and the folding position adjusting means lowers a position of the sheet bundle constituting the folding processing target, at which the folding blade is brought into contact, as the sheet friction coefficient of the sheet bundle constituting the folding processing target is lower.

(5) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the information acquiring unit may acquire information on a sheet type of a sheet bundle constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, and the folding position adjusting unit may decrease a position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, which is brought into contact with the folding blade, as a sheet size of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing increases.

(6) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the information acquiring unit acquires a position located on a side closest to the folding blade, among sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing by the folding blade.

(7) The sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration includes a stacking device that holds the sheet bundle and is movable substantially parallel to a surface direction of the sheet when the folding blade is brought into contact with the sheet bundle in the folding process.

The folding position adjusting means is a sheet processing apparatus that adjusts a position of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing, the position being in contact with the folding blade, by changing a position of the stacking device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to stably realize highly accurate folding processing without being limited to the number of sheets, the material, and the like of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

This embodiment is a modification of the above embodiments. In the following, the same reference numerals are given to the portions having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(assistance by an auxiliary roller during sheet bundle conveyance)

In the movement of the sheet bundle at this time, the following configuration is known: a stopper for positioning a sheet bundle used in the binding process is moved, and the sheet bundle is moved to a predetermined folding process standby position while following the stopper by its own weight.

However, in the above-described conventional technique, in the configuration of the retracting operation in which the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is separated from the binding apparatus by the self-weight of the sheet bundle, when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is large or the conveyance resistance of the sheet bundle is large due to the influence of static electricity or the like, the sheet bundle conveyance may not be performed normally.

In order to solve the above problem, the sheet processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention employs the following configuration.

Fig. 22 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation in the second embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 24 is a timing diagram showing a driving timing of the auxiliary roller and the like. In fig. 23, the center position of the sheet bundle when the stapling process is executed in the stacking tray 1 is N1, the center position of the sheet bundle when the folding process is executed is N2, and the sheet bundle conveyance distance from the position N1 to the position N2 is l.

The sheet processing apparatus 1Fb according to the present embodiment includes a drive control unit 2001 and an information acquisition unit 2002. The drive control unit 2001 may be hardware independent of the CPU 801, may be a combination of the CPU 801 and software, or may be a combination of another processor and software different from the CPU 801. For example, the drive control unit 2001 may be realized by the CPU 801 executing a program stored in the MEMORY 802, but is not limited thereto.

The auxiliary roller 42 (the registration roller) can be brought into contact with and separated from the sheet surface of the sheet held by the stacking apparatus 2, as in the case of the above embodiment, and has the following functions: the rotating roller surface is brought into contact with the sheet, and the sheet is pushed to a reference position in the stacking apparatus 2 and aligned.

When the stacking apparatus 2 moves the sheet bundle S ' subjected to the binding process in a direction to retreat from the binding apparatus 5 (a direction to move to a position to be subjected to the folding process), the drive control unit 2001 rotationally drives the conveying motor 40 to apply the conveying force to the auxiliary roller 42, turns on the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422, and then brings the auxiliary roller 42 into contact with the sheet bundle S ' held by the stacking apparatus 2 to assist the movement of the sheet bundle S '.

The information acquiring unit 2002 acquires at least one of the following information: information on the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to the binding process by the binding apparatus 5 (for example, acquired from the image forming apparatus 1P); information related to the sheet thickness of the sheet bundle constituting the binding process target by the binding apparatus 5 (for example, acquired from the discharge roller sensor 41), and information related to the size of the sheet bundle constituting the binding process target by the binding apparatus 5 in the moving direction of the stacking apparatus 2 (for example, acquired from the image forming apparatus 1P).

When the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to the staple processing is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of sheets, the drive control unit 2001 causes the auxiliary roller 42 to come into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus 2 when the stacking apparatus 2 moves the sheet bundle in a direction to retract (retracting) the sheet bundle from the stapling apparatus 5. In general, if the number of sheets constituting a sheet stack is large, the following tendency is exhibited: the thickness of the entire sheet stack increases, and the friction between the wall surface of the stacking tray or the like and the sheet stack increases (the conveyance resistance of the sheet stack increases). Therefore, when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large, the auxiliary conveyance by the auxiliary roller is performed, and the sheet bundle can be stably moved in the direction of retreating from the binding apparatus 5.

The drive control unit 2001 is configured as follows: when the stack of sheets subjected to the binding process is moved in the direction of retreating from the binding apparatus 5 by the stacking apparatus 2, the thicker the thickness of the sheets constituting the stack of sheets to be bound, the longer the time for the auxiliary roller 42 to abut on the stack of sheets held by the stacking apparatus 2.

This is because, if the thickness of the sheet constituting the sheet stack is thick, the thickness of the entire sheet stack increases, and the friction between the wall surface of the stacking tray or the like and the sheet stack tends to increase (the conveyance resistance of the sheet stack increases), and therefore the time for assisting the conveyance of the sheet stack is extended.

When the stacking apparatus 2 moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retreat from the binding apparatus 5 (i.e., in a direction to convey the sheet bundle to the sheet standby position when the folding process is performed), the drive control unit 2001 preferably causes the auxiliary roller 42 to come into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus 2 at an earlier timing as the sheet size of the sheet bundle to be subjected to the binding process is larger. When the size of the sheet constituting the sheet bundle is large, the lower end of the sheet held by the stacking tray is located at a position lower than the small-size sheet, and therefore, it is preferable to advance the timing at which the auxiliary roller 42 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle.

The drive control unit 2001 causes the auxiliary roller 42 to abut against the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus 2 until a timing later than the timing of the withdrawal operation of moving the sheet bundle subjected to the binding processing from the binding apparatus 5 in the withdrawal direction by the stacking apparatus 2. Thus, when the retreat operation is performed, the sheet bundle end can be reliably aligned with the reference position of the stacking device 2.

After the auxiliary roller 42 is brought into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus 2, the drive control unit 2001 controls the conveying motor 40 and the auxiliary roller electromagnetic unit 422 so that the auxiliary roller 42 is separated from the sheet bundle in a state where the auxiliary roller 42 is rotated. This ensures a sheet gap assisted by the conveyance of the auxiliary roller 42, and prevents the occurrence of wrinkles or creases in the sheet bundle.

When the stacking apparatus 2 moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in the retracting direction from the binding apparatus 5, the drive control unit 2001 preferably rotationally drives the auxiliary roller 42 in contact with the sheet bundle at a circumferential speed faster than the retracting speed of the stacking apparatus 2. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the auxiliary roller 42 interferes with the conveyance of the sheet bundle by the stacking apparatus 2 when the conveyance speed of the auxiliary roller 42 is slower than the retreat speed (speed of moving the sheet bundle) of the stacking apparatus 2.

In the present embodiment, it is preferable that the auxiliary roller 42 is disposed at a position capable of coming into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus at a position on the downstream side in the retreat direction of the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus at a timing when the stacking apparatus 2 starts the retreat operation of the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in the retreat direction away from the binding apparatus 5. This is because if the auxiliary roller 42 abutting on the upstream side in the retreat direction assists the movement of the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle whose rear end is pressed may be curved.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even when the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle is large or when it is difficult to convey the sheet bundle due to the influence of static electricity or the like, when the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is moved in the direction of retreating from the binding apparatus by the stacking apparatus, the sheet bundle can be conveyed normally.

Further, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, a sheet processing apparatus configured as follows can be provided.

(1) The sheet processing apparatus configured as described above further includes a folding processing unit that is located on the movement path of the stacking apparatus and performs folding processing on the stack of sheets conveyed to the predetermined folding position. The drive control unit may assist the movement of the sheet bundle held by the stacking device by bringing the registration roller into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking device when the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is moved from the predetermined position to the predetermined folding position by the stacking device.

(2) The sheet processing apparatus configured as described above further includes a folding processing unit that is located on the movement path of the stacking apparatus and performs folding processing on the sheet bundle conveyed to the predetermined folding position. When the stack of sheets subjected to the binding process is moved from the predetermined position to the predetermined folding position by the stacking device, the drive control unit brings the registration roller into contact with the stack of sheets held by the stacking device to assist the movement of the stack of sheets.

(3) In the sheet processing method configured as described above, the sheet processing apparatus further includes a folding processing unit that is located on a moving path of the stacking apparatus and performs folding processing on the sheet bundle conveyed to the predetermined folding position. When the stack of sheets subjected to the binding process is moved from the predetermined position to the predetermined folding position by the stacking device, the aligning roller is brought into contact with the stack of sheets held by the stacking device to assist the movement of the stack of sheets.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, there is provided a technique capable of stably performing the retracting operation of the sheet bundle after the staple processing from the staple device without being limited to the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle, the conveyance resistance, and the like.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

This embodiment is a modification of the above embodiments. In the following, the same reference numerals are given to the portions having the same functions as those described in the above embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(prevention of paper jam near the binding unit by elastic sheet)

In general, from the viewpoint of downsizing of the apparatus and the like, it is preferable that the binding apparatus 5 for performing the binding process on the sheet and the folding roller pair 89 are close to each other.

In such a configuration in which the two are close to each other, it is very difficult to provide a conveying guide or a shutter constituting a wall surface of the sheet conveying path between the binding device 5 and the folding roller pair 89, and a paper jam is very likely to occur between the conveying surface and the binding device due to sheet conveyance.

In order to solve the above problem, the sheet processing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention employs the following configuration.

Fig. 25 and 26 are explanatory views showing a detailed configuration of the vicinity of the folding roller pair 89 in the third embodiment of the present invention.

The binding device 5 in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a pusher (presser) (pressing portion) 5b and a driver (receiver) 5 a.

The ram 5b has a function of bending the tip of the needle, and when the staple processing is performed, the tip of the needle presses the sheet surface of the sheet bundle against the sheet stacking reference surface of the driving unit 5a, and the sheet bundle is driven by the driving unit 5 a.

The driving unit 5a is disposed so as to face the inside of the sheet conveying path from an opening provided in the inner wall of the sheet conveying path, and has the following functions: elastically receives the sheet bundle pressed by the press head 5b, and provides stapling.

In this way, the binding process for the sheet bundle is performed by cooperation of the platen 5b and the driving section 5 a.

In the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, an elastic sheet (corresponding to an elastic member) 51 having flexibility is provided to guide the leading end portion of the sheet conveyed to the stapler 5 to the sheet stacking reference surface of the driving portion 5 a. The elastic sheet 51 is formed of, for example, a film-like member made of resin.

The elastic sheet 51 is supported at one end by a holding member 52 made of a relatively rigid material (for example, metal or resin) fixed to the driving portion 5a, and extends toward the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction (at least to a position near the downstream end in the sheet conveying direction of the roller surface covering the folding rollers) so as to be inclined toward the inner wall of the sheet conveying path on the side where the driving portion 5a is provided or the folding roller pair 89.

Due to the elastic sheet 51 thus configured, the following can be prevented: when the stack of sheets subjected to the binding process by the binding device 5 is lowered to the folding position of the folding roller pair 89 (folding process section) by the stacking device 2, the stack of sheets or the binding device is pulled toward the elastic sheets 51. Further, since the elastic sheet 51 covers the gap between the binding device 5 and the folding roller pair 89, it is possible to avoid the sheet from entering the gap and causing a jam.

In the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, a shutter 88 capable of covering the folding roller pair 89 is provided in order to prevent the leading end of the sheet from interfering with the folding roller pair 89 when the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path a is stacked on the stacking tray 1. The elastic sheet 51 fixed to the driving unit 5a lifts the sheet leading end passing through the upper surface of the shutter 88, and guides the sheet leading end to the sheet stacking reference surface of the driving unit 5 a.

The driving portion 5a in the present embodiment can move 10mm in the retreat direction from the sheet conveying path at the time of the staple processing, and the elastic sheet 51 follows the movement of the driving portion 5a without disturbing the stacked state of the sheet bundle positioned on the sheet stacking reference surface of the driving portion 5a or the like and deforming along the outer shape of the folding roller 89 b.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent sheet jamming from occurring, and to dispose the folding roller pair for folding processing 89 and the binding apparatus for binding processing 5 close to each other, which contributes to improvement of productivity.

Further, since the elastic sheet is used as a sheet guide member of the driving section 5a to the sheet stacking reference surface, it is possible to flexibly cope with whether the sheet to be subjected to the binding processing is thick paper or thin paper, and it is possible to realize the binding processing without adversely affecting the deformation of the sheet during the binding processing.

(fourth embodiment)

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

(control of sheet bundle conveyance speed by folding roller pair at the time of folding processing)

In a sheet processing apparatus that performs folding processing by a folding roller pair 89 and a folding blade 100 on a sheet bundle, a large rotational load is applied to the folding roller pair 89 after the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is pressed into the folding roller pair 89 until the folding processing by the folding roller pair 89 is completed. Therefore, in general, in order to cause the folding roller pair 89 to exert a strong torque, the rotation speed of the motor is reduced by the gear train, and the folding roller pair 89 is rotationally driven only in a state of the reduced rotation speed (a state of low-speed rotation and high-torque).

However, the very large torque required for the folding processing of the sheet bundle is only required during the period from the time when the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is pressed into the folding roller pair 89 to the time when the folding processing by the folding roller pair 89 is completed, and the rotational driving of the folding roller pair 89 during the other period is not necessarily required to have a high torque, and for example, the sheet bundle after the folding processing is conveyed downstream.

Therefore, in the case of such a simple sheet bundle conveyance that does not require high torque, there is a problem in productivity in driving the folding roller pair 89 in a low-speed rotation state for exhibiting high torque.

Next, the drive control of the folding roller pair 89 in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

Fig. 27 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, fig. 28 and 29 are diagrams illustrating a driving mechanism for rotationally driving the folding roller pair 89 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 30 is a timing chart illustrating drive control in the rotational driving of the folding roller pair 89 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

First, a functional block of the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

The sheet processing apparatus 1Fc according to the present embodiment includes an information acquisition unit 4001, a conveyance control unit 4002, a CPU 801, and a MEMROY 802. The conveyance control unit 4002 may be hardware independent of the CPU 801, may be a combination of the CPU 801 and software, or may be a combination of a processor and software different from the CPU 801. For example, the conveyance control unit 4002 can be realized by the CPU 801 executing a program stored in the MEMORY 802, but is not limited to this.

The information acquisition unit 4001 acquires the following information: information on the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing by the folding blade 100 (for example, acquired from the image forming apparatus 1P); information on the sheet thickness of the sheet bundle constituting the folding processing target by the folding blade 100 (for example, acquired from the discharge roller sensor 41), and the like.

The conveyance control unit 4002 controls the folding motor 800 so as to switch the sheet conveyance speed by the folding roller pair 89 from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed at a predetermined timing, which is a period from after the folding blade 100 starts the operation of pushing the folded sheet bundle and the operation of returning to the standby position to when the trailing end of the sheet bundle pushed into the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89 by the folding blade 100 passes through the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89 (preferably, a period from after the start of the operation of returning to when the folding blade 100 stops at the predetermined standby position).

The drive control of the folding motor 800 by the conveyance control unit 4002 is performed based on information such as a data table, a timing chart, and a function held by the conveyance control unit 4002 or the MEMORY 802.

A one-way clutch 802 is connected to a gear 803b for transmitting drive from the folding motor 800 to the folding roller pair 89.

For example, the folding motor 800 is rotated in the arrow E direction shown in fig. 28. Then, the timing belt 801, the gear 803a, and the electromagnetic clutch 900 cause the gear 803b to rotate in the direction of the arrow H. If the gear 803b rotates in the arrow H direction, the drive is transmitted to the gear 803c, and the drive-side folding roller 89a is rotationally driven in the arrow J direction through the gear 803d and the gear 803 e.

In this way, by rotating the folding motor 800 in the direction of arrow E and transmitting the driving force by using the gear train of the gear 803c having a large reduction ratio, the folding roller 89 can be rotated at a low rotation speed (first conveyance speed) and a high torque.

On the other hand, when the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction of arrow F shown in fig. 29, the timing belt 801, the gear 803a, and the electromagnetic clutch 900 are driven in the direction opposite to the rotation direction shown in fig. 28, and the gear 803b is rotated in the direction of arrow I by the gear 803a and the electromagnetic clutch 900. If the gear 803b rotates in the arrow I direction, the drive is transmitted to the

gears

803f and 803g, and the drive-side folding roller 89a is rotationally driven in the arrow J direction through the

gears

803d and 803 e.

In this way, the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction of arrow F, and the folding roller 89 can be rotated at high speed (second conveyance speed) by transmitting the driving force using the gear train of the gears 803F and 803g having a small reduction ratio.

Further, according to the mechanisms shown in fig. 28 and 29, not only the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction E, but also the driving-side folding roller 89a is rotated in the direction of arrow J even when the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction F. Therefore, the conveying direction of the sheet bundle by the folding roller pair 89 can be made the same direction.

According to the above mechanism, at the time of folding processing, the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction of the arrow E in the rotation direction having a high reduction ratio to drive at a low speed and a high torque, and the sheet bundle to be processed is pushed into the nip portion of the roller pair driven at the first conveying speed by the folding blade 100 moving from the standby position toward the nip portion of the roller pair. After the folding process of the sheet bundle is completed, the folding motor 800 is once stopped, and when the sheet bundle is conveyed, the folding motor 800 is rotated in the direction of the arrow F in the opposite direction, so that the sheet bundle can be conveyed at high speed.

Specifically, the conveyance controller 4002 switches the sheet conveyance speed by the folding roller pair 89 from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2 at a predetermined timing, which is a predetermined timing during a period from when the folding blade 100 starts the pushing operation of the folded sheet bundle and the return operation to the standby position to when the leading end of the folding blade 100, which has started the movement to the standby position, passes the downstream end position of the folding roller pair 89 in the movement direction when the return operation of the folding blade 100 is started. In this way, the folding process can be performed in a single stack, and then the switching from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed can be performed as quickly as possible, which contributes to the improvement of the productivity of the entire apparatus.

Further, it is preferable that the conveyance control section 4002 delays the timing for switching the sheet conveyance speed by the folding roller pair 89 from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed as the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing increases or as the thickness of the sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing increases.

In this way, when the target is a sheet bundle that requires high torque to perform the folding process, the folding process can be reliably performed by maintaining the time for which the sheet bundle is conveyed at the first conveyance speed (low speed, high torque) for a long time.

When the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is less than the predetermined number of sheets, the conveyance control unit 4002 preferably drives the folding roller pair 89 at only the second conveyance speed during a period from when the folding blade 100 starts the operation of pushing the sheet bundle and returning the sheet bundle to the standby position to when the rear end of the sheet bundle pushed into the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89 by the folding blade 100 passes through the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89.

In general, when the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing is less than a predetermined number of sheets, a large torque is not required for the rotational driving of the folding roller pair 89, and therefore, it is possible to contribute to improvement in productivity by carrying the sheet bundle at a high speed and a low torque from the stage of sandwiching the sheet bundle between the folding roller pair 89.

Next, acceleration control in driving the folding roller pair 89 by the conveyance control section 4002 will be described.

In general, when a sheet bundle is nipped and conveyed by the folding roller pair 89, if the conveying speed is changed rapidly, wrinkles may occur in the sheet bundle subjected to the folding processing, or the sheet itself may be damaged.

Therefore, if the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing increases, the conveyance control unit 4002 in the present embodiment performs PWN control by the motor step signal of the folding motor 800, thereby further reducing the acceleration a2 when the sheet conveyance speed by the folding roller pair 89 is switched from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed. This is because, when the number of sheets constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing is large, if the folding roller pair 89 is suddenly accelerated, wrinkles are likely to occur in the sheet bundle.

On the other hand, if the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is larger, the conveyance control section 4002 performs PWM control by the motor step signal of the folding motor 800, thereby further increasing the acceleration when the sheet conveyance speed by the folding roller pair 89 is switched from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed. This is because, if the folding roller pair 89 is suddenly accelerated when the sheet constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing is thin, the sheet bundle is broken, but sudden acceleration can be received when the sheet is thick.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, for example, a sheet processing apparatus having the following configuration can be provided.

(1) The sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration includes an information acquiring unit for acquiring information on a sheet thickness of a sheet bundle constituting a sheet bundle to be subjected to folding processing by a folding blade. The conveyance control device increases the acceleration when the sheet conveyance speed of the roller pair is switched from the first conveyance speed to the second conveyance speed, the acceleration being the acceleration when the sheet constituting the sheet bundle to be subjected to the folding processing becomes thicker.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to greatly improve productivity when the sheet bundle after the folding process is performed and the sheet bundle after the folding process is conveyed to the downstream side, and it is possible to prevent the sheet bundle from being wrinkled during the folding process.

(fifth embodiment)

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

(correction based on detection result of position where sheet bundle is made to stand by stacking apparatus)

In general, when a sheet bundle is subjected to a stapling process or a folding process, a sheet size in a conveying direction of sheets constituting the sheet bundle to be processed is calculated based on a predetermined value of the sheet size (for example, A3, a4, B4, B5, or the like), and when it is determined that the sheet size is deviated from the predetermined value, an error notification is performed.

In a conventional sheet processing apparatus, when a user supplies sheets of a size other than a predetermined size as targets of a stapling process or a folding process, there is a case where these processes cannot be executed.

Next, in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the drive control of the stacking apparatus 2 when performing the stapling process and the folding process will be described in detail.

Fig. 31 is a functional block diagram of a sheet processing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The sheet processing apparatus 1Fd according to the present embodiment includes a size calculation unit 5001 and a processing position adjustment unit 5002. The processing position adjustment unit 5002 may be hardware independent of the CPU 801, may be a combination of the CPU 801 and software, or may be a combination of a processor and software different from the CPU 801. For example, the processing position adjustment unit 5002 can be realized by the CPU 801 executing a program stored in the MEMORY 802, but is not limited to this.

The size calculation section 5001 calculates the size of the sheet passing through the discharge roller sensor 41 in the conveyance direction based on the detection result of the discharge roller sensor 41. Specifically, the size calculation unit 5001 calculates the sheet length based on the number of driving steps of the conveyance motor 40 from the detection of the leading edge of the sheet by the discharge roller sensor 41 to the detection of the trailing edge of the sheet.

The processing position adjustment unit 5002 adjusts the position at which the stapling processing or the folding processing is performed on the sheet bundle that is the target of the stapling processing or the folding processing, based on the sheet size calculated by the size calculation unit 5001.

Next, the adjustment of the processing position of the sheet bundle in the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The distance from the stapling position of the original stapling apparatus 5 to the standby position of the stacking claw 21 is set to L0, the theoretical length in the transport direction of the designated sheet size is set to L1, and the distance from the stapling position to the folding position is set to L2.

When the sheet length (actually measured value) calculated by the size calculation unit 5001 is L4, for example, when the actually measured value L4 is "L4 > L1", the processing position adjustment unit 5002 drives the stacking motor 20 by a distance of only "(L1-L4)/2" and lowers the stacking pawl 21.

At the above position, after sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 1 to the final page and the stapling process is performed on the stacked sheet bundle, the stacking claw 21 is driven only by "L2" to perform the folding process and discharge.

On the other hand, for example, when the sheet length calculated by the size calculation unit 5001 is L4, and when the measured value L4 is "L4 < L1", for example, the processing position adjustment unit 5002 drives the stacking motor 20 by a distance of "(L1-L4)/2" and raises the stacking pawl 21.

With this configuration, even if the designated sheet size is different from the actual measurement value of the sheet actually supplied from the image forming apparatus 1P, the staple processing and the fold processing can be performed with high accuracy by adjusting the processing position.

Accordingly, the stacking claw 21 is first caused to stand by at a position corresponding to the sheet size, and correction of an error amount is only required, so that correction of an error can be performed in a short time, which is preferable in terms of productivity.

Although the configuration is shown here in which the size of the sheet to be subjected to the stapling process or the folding process is calculated based on the detection result of the discharge roller sensor 41, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured such that: for example, a sheet end detection sensor, not shown, for detecting an end of the sheet moved by the stacking apparatus 2 is provided, and the sheet length is calculated based on the detection result of the sensor.

For example, the correction of the processing position of the sheet stack is performed by the following processing flow.

First, the processing position adjusting unit 5002 drives the stacking motor 20 to move the stacking claw 21 to the sheet waiting position, and waits for the sheet bundle with the number of sheets to be processed to be aligned.

Next, the processing position adjusting portion 5002 raises the stacking claw 21 until the sheet end detecting sensor turns on.

Here, ,

l0 is the distance from the binding position to the stacking claw 21 in the sheet waiting state

L1-theoretical value of sheet length (specification value)

L2 is the distance from the sheet end detection sensor to the stacking claw 21 in the sheet waiting state

L3 is the distance from the position where the binding process is performed to the position where the folding process is performed

In this case, the actual measurement length of the sheet can be obtained from the timing when the sheet edge detection sensor is turned on.

When the conditions are as follows:

l0 ═ L1/2+ (maximum flake length-theoretical flake length)

L2 ═ L1+ (maximum flake length-theoretical flake length)

At this time, the process of the present invention,

the sheet length is L2 — the number of sheet end detection movement steps × the movement distance of 1 step.

The size calculation unit 5001 calculates the actual measurement length of the sheet to be processed based on the above calculation formula.

The processing position adjustment unit 5002 moves the center position in the sheet conveying direction to the stapling position based on the following calculation formula.

Number of binding position moving steps

(number of sheet end detection moving steps- (maximum sheet length-theoretical value of sheet length)/moving distance of 1 step)/2

(in this case, if the calculation result is positive, it will rise, and if the calculation result is negative, it will fall)

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the dimensional accuracy (length) of a sheet to be used is not accurate in performing the sheet folding processing or the folding processing, the sheet can be subjected to the stapling processing and the folding processing with high accuracy.

(sixth embodiment)

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

This embodiment is a modification of the above embodiments. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the portions having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(sheet processing apparatus capable of pulling out the saddle unit as a whole)

A conventional sheet processing apparatus that performs a binding process or a folding process includes: the configuration includes a binding device that performs binding processing on sheets, a folding roller pair and a folding blade that perform folding processing on sheets, and a zigzag path conveying portion that conveys sheets to the binding device or the folding roller pair.

In order to remove a sheet or perform maintenance when a sheet jam (sheet jam) occurs, the following configuration is known in the conventional sheet processing apparatus: a configuration in which only a portion of a conveyance guide constituting a sheet conveyance path for holding sheets when predetermined processing is performed by a binding device, a folding roller, and the like is pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus; or only the vicinity of the folding roller pair is pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus. In the conventional sheet processing apparatus having such a configuration, in general, for example, a conveyance guide or the like constituting a conveyance path for performing zigzag conveyance is developed while being held in the sheet processing apparatus to remove a jammed sheet.

However, even if the conveying guide is deployed in the sheet processing apparatus, even this cannot be said to be sufficient for removing the sheet, and it is often difficult to remove the sheet.

In order to solve the above problem, a sheet processing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention employs the following configuration.

Fig. 32 to 37 are explanatory views illustrating an extraction structure of each unit in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The saddle unit 3000, which performs the stapling process and the folding process in the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe, includes rail portions 3001a and 3001b fixedly connected to the saddle unit 3000 as shown in fig. 33. The guide rail portions 3001a and 3001b are supported by the post-processing apparatus main body frame by the guide portions 3400 so as to be slidable in the reader direction perpendicular to the paper surface in fig. 32, whereby the saddle unit 3000 (the entire range surrounded by the broken line X shown in fig. 32) can be pulled out to the front side of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe as shown in fig. 34. Here, the frame portion (for example, see fig. 33) corresponds to a sliding portion, and the frame portion is used as a whole to support the rail portion 3001a, the rail portion 3001b, the guide portion 3400, the binding device 5, the folding roller pair 89, and the like.

Here, the first conveying path is used to convey sheets to be subjected to the staple processing or the half-folding processing to the processing position, and the second conveying path is used to convey the sheets conveyed on the first sheet conveying path in a zigzag manner for the staple processing or the half-folding processing. The second conveying path here has at least one of an opening, a protrusion, and a recess (a shape portion that can easily be covered by a sheet) in the vicinity of a position (see fig. 32) in the conveying path where the second conveying path meets the first sheet conveying path. In general, when the conveying guide on the downstream side in the sheet traveling direction in the first sheet conveying path among the conveying guides constituting the second sheet conveying path has the above-described portion that easily receives the sheet, sheet jamming is particularly likely to occur.

Here, the amount of drawing out the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe from the saddle unit 3000 is set to be at least the amount of drawing out the entire mechanism of the saddle unit 3000 from the sheet processing apparatus 1 Fe. For example, the following structure is provided: when the size of the image forming apparatus 1P in the depth direction is large and the front surface of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe and the front surface of the image forming apparatus 1P are different by only the distance Y (see fig. 34), the saddle unit is pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe by the amount of the pull-out amount plus the distance Y. Thus, the sliding portion in the present embodiment can pull out the first conveying guide and the second conveying guide to a position where the development of the first conveying guide and the second conveying guide, which will be described later, is not hindered by the image forming apparatus 1P.

In the saddle unit 3000 in a state where the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe is pulled out, the first guide 3110 constituting the wall surface on the outer side in the curvature radius direction of the first sheet conveying path includes a pull-out handle 3111, and is configured to be rotatable with the lower side end portion as a fulcrum. By pulling the withdrawal handle 3111 toward the user, the first guide 3110 can be unfolded as shown in fig. 35. The main body frame of the saddle unit 3000 is provided with conveyance

guide holding members

3200a and 3200b, and normally, as shown in fig. 33, the first conveyance guide 3110 is held in a closed state.

Further, the second conveyance guide 3120 is also configured to be pivotable about a lower side end portion as a fulcrum, and to be expandable as shown in fig. 36, similarly to the first conveyance guide 3110, and constitutes a wall surface on the inner side in the curvature radius direction of the first sheet conveyance path.

The first conveyance guide 3110 and the second conveyance guide 3120 are connected by the connection member 3300, and have a first state shown in fig. 35 in which the first conveyance guide 3110 is spread by a predetermined angle, and a second state shown in fig. 36 and 37 in which the first conveyance guide 3110 is further spread after the first conveyance guide 3110 is spread from the first state.

The sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured as follows: the first conveyance guide 3110 is unfolded from the first state to the second state by the action of the link member 3300, and the second conveyance guide 3120 is also unfolded accordingly.

Thus, the first conveyance guide 3110 and the second conveyance guide 3120 can be gradually expanded, so that it is naturally easy to remove the sheet in the sheet conveyance path, and as shown in fig. 37, it is also easy to remove the sheet from the vicinity of the zigzag portion and the folding roller pair 89 located inside the apparatus with respect to the first sheet conveyance path.

In the present embodiment, a material having high transparency is used for the first conveyance guide 3110, and a material having low transparency is used for the second conveyance guide 3120, and the color is close to black. This can improve the visibility of the sheet remaining in the sheet conveying path in a state where the conveyance guide is deployed in a state where the saddle unit 3000 is pulled out of the apparatus. The form of the first conveyance guide 3110 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, an opening may be formed in the first conveyance guide 3110, and a jammed sheet may be checked through the opening. In this case, the opening formed on the first conveyance guide 3110 is preferably, for example, an elongated hole extending in the sheet conveyance direction. Accordingly, a wide range in the sheet conveying direction can be visually recognized from the outside of the first conveyance guide 3110 between the first conveyance guide 3110 and the second conveyance guide 3120, which contributes to improvement of maintenance. Of course, by using a material with high transparency in the first conveyance guide 3110 and forming the above-described opening, it is needless to say that further improvement in maintainability can be facilitated.

Further, here, a configuration is shown in which the first sheet conveying path, the second sheet conveying path, the binding device 5, the folding roller pair 89, and the folding blade 100 can be pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe as a whole by the sliding portion, but this is not limitative.

When the folding blade 100 and the folding roller pair 89 for the folding process are disposed near the zigzag position (merging position) for downsizing, a jam is likely to occur near the folding roller pair 89.

Therefore, in such a case, a configuration in which at least the first sheet conveying path, the second sheet conveying path, and the folding roller pair 89 can be pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe as a whole can be easily accommodated by forming the sliding portion so as to correspond to a jam occurring in the vicinity of the folding roller pair 89.

On the other hand, if the binding device 5 is disposed near the zigzag position (merging position) for downsizing, a paper jam is likely to occur near the binding device 5.

Therefore, in such a case, a configuration in which at least the first sheet conveying path, the second sheet conveying path, and the binding apparatus 5 are pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe as a whole can be easily accommodated by forming the slide portion so as to correspond to a jam occurring in the vicinity of the binding apparatus 5.

The sheet processing apparatus 1Fe according to the present embodiment includes a plate-like member 3500 extending at least in the sliding direction of the sliding portion and covering at least a part of the unit that can be pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus 1Fe through the sliding portion, the outside of the unit being in the direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the sliding portion.

In this way, the plate-like member 3500 extending in the sliding direction covers the outside of the saddle unit in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of catching of the member, clothes, or the like when the saddle unit is housed in the sheet processing apparatus 1 Fe. The plate member 3500 is a top portion of the saddle unit, but is not limited to this, and may be disposed on a side wall portion or a bottom portion of the saddle unit.

Further, according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a sheet processing apparatus configured as follows can be provided, for example.

(1) In the sheet processing apparatus configured as described above, the second guide is unfolded following the unfolding operation of the first guide.

(2) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the first guide has at least one opening formed therein, and the opening allows the first sheet conveying path to be visually recognized from the outside in a state where the first guide is not spread.

(3) The sheet processing apparatus configured as described above includes a plate-like member extending at least in the sliding direction of the sliding unit, and the plate-like member covers an outer side of at least a part of the unit that can be pulled out of the sheet processing apparatus by the sliding unit in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the sliding unit.

(4) In the sheet processing apparatus configured as described above, the second guide is unfolded following the unfolding operation of the first guide.

(5) In the sheet processing apparatus having the above configuration, the first guide has at least one opening formed therein, and the opening allows the first sheet conveying path to be visually recognized from the outside in a state where the first guide is not spread.

(6) In the sheet processing method configured as described above, the second guide is unfolded following the unfolding operation of the first guide.

(7) In the sheet processing method configured as described above, the first guide is formed with at least one opening that allows the first sheet conveying path to be visually recognized from the outside in a state where the first guide is not spread.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to contribute to improvement in maintainability when sheet clogging or the like occurs near the zigzag position.

(seventh embodiment)

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

(control of timing of movement of the stacker and horizontal aligning plate to the Standby position)

In the related art, a horizontal aligning plate for aligning an end in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction when performing a binding process and a folding process and a stacking claw for blocking and aligning the end in the sheet conveying direction manage positions until a selected process is completely overlapped without returning to the home position based on the number of pulses of a stepping motor.

Therefore, the position of the lateral alignment plate or the stopper is likely to be displaced due to the influence of individual differences of the components, individual differences in the assembly of the device, or the like. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of sheets are processed or different kinds of processes are successively performed on the sheets, if the positional deviation is accumulated, a large positional deviation may occur.

In order to solve the above problems, the following methods are known: that is, although the control method of returning the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process or the folding process to the original position once by the movement of the stacking apparatus to ensure the positional accuracy is adopted, the horizontal aligning plate and the stacking claw also have a function of guiding the sheet bundle, and therefore, there are the following problems: if the timing of returning to the home position is wrong, the accuracy of the folding position is deviated. Further, starting the driving of the lateral aligning plates and the stacking claws after the folding process of the stack causes an excessive waiting time, resulting in a problem of an increase in the process time.

Thus, the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment employs the following configuration. Fig. 38 is an explanatory view for explaining a sheet processing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the horizontal aligning

plates

31a and 31b and the stacking claw 21 function to position the sheet in the sheet conveying direction and guide the sheet in the width direction until the folding roller pair 89 bites into the sheet bundle in the folding process by the folding roller pair 89 (see, for example, fig. 4 and 5). The

lateral aligning plates

31a and 31b align the ends of the sheet bundle in the direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, and the stacking claw 21 collides with the end of the sheet bundle in the sheet conveying direction and aligns the sheet bundle with the reference positions of the stapling position and the folding position for each sheet type.

In order to perform the folding addition process on the sheet bundle subjected to the folding process by the folding roller pair 89, after the sheet is detected by the folding addition position detection sensor 71, the

lateral alignment plates

31a and 31b and the stacking claw 21 are moved to the home position, wherein the folding addition position detection sensor 71 detects the position of the sheet bundle discharged from the folding roller pair 89.

When it is determined whether or not the sheet bundle is nipped by the folding roller pair 89 based on the drive pulse at the time of driving the folding blade 100, the deviation is large because it depends on the moving distance until the sheet bundle is actually nipped by the folding roller pair 89.

In contrast, if the detection result of the folding additional position detection sensor 71 disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the folding roller pair 89 is used, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the sheet bundle is caught by the folding roller pair 89.

In this way, with the configuration in which the

lateral aligning plates

31a and 31b and the stacking claw 21 are moved to the original position after the sheet is detected by the folding additional position detection sensor 71, the sheet bundle can be aligned at an appropriate position by the

lateral aligning plates

31a and 31b and the stacking claw 21, and thus, it is possible to contribute to improvement in the accuracy of the folding position and the stapling position.

(eighth embodiment)

Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

(control of the timing of movement of the stacker and horizontal aligning plate to the sheet receiving position of the next sheet)

In a conventional sheet processing apparatus that performs a binding process or a folding process, a horizontal aligning plate for aligning an end in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of sheets when the binding process or the folding process is performed and a stacking claw for colliding and positioning the end in the conveying direction of sheets are moved to a receiving position of a next sheet for performing the process after the binding process or the folding process is overlapped.

However, there is a problem in terms of productivity because an extra waiting time is generated for starting driving of the horizontal aligning plate or the stacking claw for aligning the next sheet after the actual stacking process for the sheet stack is performed.

On the other hand, if the movement of the lateral integration plate or the stacking claw is started before the folding process of the sheet stack is finished, there is a problem in that: for example, when a folding process is performed on a large-size sheet bundle and then a folding process is performed on a small-size sheet bundle, a horizontal aligning plate or a stacking claw which is moved in advance interferes with the sheet bundle in the folding process, and a flaw is generated in the sheet bundle in the folding process.

Thus, the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment employs the following configuration.

Fig. 39 and 40 are explanatory views for explaining a sheet processing apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

In general, a very large torque is required for the folding process of the sheet bundle, and the folding roller pair 89 is rotationally driven at a low speed at the time of the folding process by the folding roller pair 89. Further, since the sheet bundle having passed through the folding roller pair 89 is stopped in order to perform the additional folding process again, when the stacking claw 21 is moved to a position to receive the sheet for processing of the next page, the stacking claw 21 comes into contact with the rear end of the sheet bundle in the folding process.

Therefore, it is preferable to set the timing at which the stacking claw 21 starts moving from the home position or the stop position at which the folding process is performed to the position at which the sheet to be processed next page is received, to a timing at which the rear end of the stack of sheets in the folding process and the stack of sheets being conveyed after the folding process do not come into contact with each other.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, after the folding process of the sheet bundle, the folding motor 800 is stopped, and after the additional folding process of driving the additional folding roller 7 is started and until the additional folding process is stopped, the horizontal aligning plate and the stacking claw are moved to positions to receive sheets to be processed for the next sheet.

Further, for example, if the stacking claw 21 starts driving at a timing at which the folding blade 100 abuts against the sheet bundle and moves at the same moving speed as the sheet bundle conveying speed based on the folding roller pair 89, the sheet bundle end may be held by the stacking claw 21 until the folding blade 100 bites the sheet bundle into the folding roller pair 89.

On the other hand, in the case where the

lateral aligning plates

31a and 31b are used to perform folding processing on a large-sized sheet and a stack of sheets to be processed next is small-sized, as shown in fig. 39, when a stack of sheets exists on the stacking tray 1, the lateral aligning plates cannot be moved from the aligning position Q of the preceding stack of sheets to the receiving position T as the standby position. Therefore, after the timing of discharging the sheet bundle from the stacking tray 1, the horizontal aligning

plates

31a and 31b need to be moved to the receiving position of the sheet to be processed next.

Therefore, it is preferable that the timing at which the horizontal aligning

plates

31a and 31b move from the home position or the stop position when the folding process is performed to the receiving position of the sheet bundle to be processed next is the timing at which the rear end of the sheet bundle subjected to the folding process has passed through the vicinity of the center of the nip portion of the folding roller pair 89 (see the broken line shown in fig. 40).

Each step of the processing (sheet processing method) in the above-described sheet processing apparatus is realized by causing the CPU 801 to execute a sheet processing program stored in the MEMROY 802.

In the present embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the functions for implementing the present invention are recorded in advance in the device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same functions may be downloaded from a network, or a recording medium storing the same functions may be installed in the device. The recording medium may be any form as long as it is a device-readable medium such as a CD-ROM that can store a program. Further, the function obtained by the above-described form of installation or download is to realize its function in cooperation with an OS (operating system) or the like inside the apparatus.

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the following technique can be provided: the retracting operation of retracting the sheet bundle after the binding process from the binding apparatus is stably performed without being limited to the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle, the conveyance resistance, and the like.

Claims

1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

a stacking device that holds a sheet stack and moves substantially parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet stack;

an alignment roller that abuts against and separates from a sheet surface of a sheet held by the stacking device, and aligns the sheet by making the rotating roller surface abut against the sheet, thereby making the sheet collide against a reference position in the stacking device;

a binding device configured to apply a binding process to the sheet bundle integrated by the integrating roller and moved to a predetermined position by the stacking device; and

and a control unit configured to cause the rotating registration roller to abut against the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an information acquisition unit for acquiring information on the number of sheets constituting the sheet stack,

when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle in a direction to retract the sheet bundle from the binding apparatus, the control unit causes the registration roller to abut against the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration roller is disposed so as to abut on a position lower than a center of the sheet bundle in a vertical direction when the binding device performs the binding process on the sheet bundle.

4. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration roller abuts against the stack of sheets moving to a position lower than the predetermined position, and rotates at a circumferential speed higher than a moving speed of the stacking means.

5. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, said integration roller abutting on said sheet bundle until a timing later than said moving bundle of said stacking means.

6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

an information acquisition unit for acquiring information relating to a sheet thickness constituting the sheet stack,

the control unit may cause the joining roller to contact the stack of sheets held by the stacking apparatus for a longer time when the stack of sheets subjected to the binding process is moved in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus by the stacking apparatus as the thickness of the sheets becomes thicker.

7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on a size of sheets constituting the sheet stack in a moving direction of the stacking device,

when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus, the control unit causes the registration roller to abut against the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus at an earlier timing as a sheet size of the sheet bundle to be bound increases.

8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the integration roller is separated from the sheet stack in a rotating state after abutting against the sheet stack.

9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of rollers; and

a folding blade that presses the sheet bundle moved by the stacking device into the nip portion of the roller pair by moving the folding blade from a standby position toward the nip portion of the roller pair,

after the stack of sheets is moved to a predetermined folding position by the stacking device and the integrating roller is separated from the stack of sheets, the folding blade presses the stack of sheets into a nip portion of the roller pair.

10. A sheet processing method, a sheet processing apparatus of the sheet processing method comprising: a stacking device that holds a sheet stack and moves substantially parallel to a sheet surface of the sheet stack; an alignment roller that abuts against and separates from a sheet surface of the sheet held by the stacking device, and aligns the sheet by making the rotating roller surface abut against the sheet, thereby making the sheet collide against a reference position in the stacking device; and a binding device for binding the sheet bundle integrated by the integrating roller and moved to a predetermined position by the stacking device,

in the sheet processing method, it is preferable that,

when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus, the rotating registration roller is brought into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus.

11. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

acquiring information on the number of sheets constituting the sheet stack,

when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the aligning roller is brought into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus.

12. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

the aligning roller is disposed so as to abut on a position lower than a center of the sheet bundle in a vertical direction when the sheet bundle is subjected to the binding process by the binding device.

13. The sheet processing method according to claim 10. Wherein,

the alignment roller abuts against the sheet bundle moving downward from the predetermined position, and rotates at a circumferential speed greater than a moving speed of the stacking device.

14. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

the integrating roller abuts against the sheet bundle until a timing later than the moving stack of the stacking device.

15. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

obtaining information relating to the thickness of the sheets constituting the stack,

the thicker the sheet thickness is, the longer the time for the registration roller to come into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus.

16. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

acquiring information on the size of sheets constituting the sheet stack in the moving direction of the stacking device,

when the stacking apparatus moves the sheet bundle subjected to the binding process in a direction to retract from the binding apparatus, the alignment roller is brought into contact with the sheet bundle held by the stacking apparatus at an earlier timing as the sheet size of the sheet bundle to be bound is larger.

17. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

18. The sheet processing method according to claim 10,

the sheet processing apparatus further includes: a pair of rollers; and a folding blade that presses the sheet bundle moved by the stacking device into the nip portion of the roller pair by moving from a standby position to the nip portion of the roller pair,