JPH0885664A - Storage device and bookbinding device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a storage device capable of performing high-speed scanning without causing a problem such as a scratch or a deformation in a bookbinding bundle. A storage device S includes an elevating and lowering transporting means 4 for receiving a bound bookbinding bundle and transporting it to a storing part 5, and the elevating and lowering transporting means 4.
And a storage section 5 for receiving and binding the bookbinding bundle from. On the storage section 5 side of the lifting transportation means 4,
In addition, the reflection type photo sensor 40 of the non-contact detection means K for detecting the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded and stored in the storage portion 5 under the bookbinding bundle transportation means 44 of the lifting / lowering transportation means 4 by a predetermined amount.
Has been placed. The reflection plate 60 of the non-contact detecting means K is arranged in the storage section 5, and the reflection plate 60 and the reflection type photo sensor 40 are arranged.
The bookbinding bundle is loaded between the and. The reflective photosensor 40 and the reflection plate 60 detect the uppermost part of the already loaded bookbinding bundle in the storage unit 5 at high speed without contacting the bookbinding bundle and without damaging the bookbinding bundle.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage device for stacking and storing a bound sheet bundle and a bookbinding device equipped with the storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a storage device used in a bookbinding apparatus for binding a copied sheet bundle, a tray for stacking and storing the sheet bundle after binding (bookbinding bundle) moves up and down. , As shown in FIG.

In the storage device shown in FIG. 11, when the bookbinding bundle is stored by the elevating carriage with the accommodating portion fixed, the photosensor 100 and the actuator 101 are provided on the elevating carriage side.
Is arranged, and the actuator 101 is brought into contact with the upper part of the stacked paper in the storage section, and the movement of the actuator 101 is detected by the photo sensor 100, so that the position of the uppermost bookbinding bundle in the height direction is detected. It has become.

[0004]

However, as shown in FIG.
In the above-mentioned conventional example shown in FIG. 2, the actuator comes into contact with the bookbinding bundle, so that the bookbinding bundle is scratched and high-speed scanning (high-speed position detection of the uppermost bookbinding bundle) cannot be performed.

Particularly, in the bookbinding apparatus using the hot melt bind tape, when the bookbinding bundle is loaded / stored in the storage device, the melted glue is not yet solidified by the heat, and the actuator comes into contact with the bookbinding bundle to exert an external force. When added, the bookbinding bundle may be deformed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage device capable of performing high-speed scanning without causing a defect such as a scratch or a deformation in a bookbinding bundle and a bookbinding device including the storage device. .

[0007]

The storage device of the present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is an elevating and lowering transportation means for receiving a bound bookbinding bundle and transporting it to the storage portion (5). A storage device (S) comprising: 4) and a storage section (5) for receiving a bookbinding bundle from the elevating transportation means (4) and loading and accommodating the bookbinding bundle, the elevating transportation means (4).
The non-contact detection means (K) for detecting the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded and stored in the storage section (5) is arranged on the storage section (5) side of the above.

The storage device (S) of the present invention further comprises a bookbinding bundle transporting means (44) for feeding the bookbinding bundle into the storage part (5) by the elevating and transporting means (4). Four
It is characterized in that the non-contact detecting means (K) is arranged below the predetermined amount by a predetermined amount.

Further, in the storage device (S) of the present invention, the non-contact detecting means (K) is provided with a reflection type photosensor (40) and a reflection plate (which reflects light from the reflection type photosensor (40). 60), of which the reflective photosensor (40) is arranged on the side of the elevating and lowering means (4),
The reflection plate (60) is arranged on the side of the storage section (5) so that the bookbinding bundle is stacked between the reflection plate (60) and the reflection type photo sensor (40).

Further, in the storage device (S) of the present invention, the non-contact detecting means (K) is provided with an ultrasonic sensor (40a) and a reflection plate (60) which reflects the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor (40a). ) And the ultrasonic sensor (40a)
Is arranged on the side of the elevating and lowering means (4), while the reflecting plate (60) is placed between the reflecting plate (60) and the ultrasonic sensor (40a) so that the bookbinding bundle is stacked. It is characterized by being placed on the side.

Further, the storage device (S) of the present invention is characterized by including a home position sensor (44c) for detecting the initial position of the lifting / lowering transportation means (4). Furthermore, the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention is characterized by including the storage device (S) and binding means (3) for supplying the bound bookbinding bundle to the storage device (S).

[0012]

Since the detection means of the present invention is the non-contact detection means (K), the non-contact detection means (K) detects the uppermost portion of the bookbinding bundle without contacting the bookbinding bundle which is the non-detection object. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, even if a plurality of storage parts (5) are arranged, one non-contact detection means (K) detects the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle.

The non-contact detecting means (K) is composed of a reflection type photo sensor (40) and a reflection plate (60), and a bookbinding bundle is loaded between the both (40, 60). Therefore, the entire area from the right side to the left side (see FIG. 7) of the bookbinding bundle is detected, and even when the bookbinding bundle is tilted and stacked, the uppermost portion of the bookbinding bundle is reliably detected.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the bookbinding bundle is loaded / stored in the storage section (5), the bookbinding bundle transport means (44) uses the bookbinding bundle previously loaded / stored in the storage section (5). The binding and storage work of the bookbinding bundle is performed without hitting the

Further, in the present invention, since the non-contact detecting means (K) is arranged below the bookbinding bundle conveying means (44) by a predetermined amount, the noncontact detecting means (K) detects the bookbinding bundle. At this point, the lowering operation of the elevating transportation means (4) is stopped, or the elevating transportation means (4) is further lowered by a certain amount, and then the operation is stopped to load and store the bookbinding bundle in the storage section (5). To do. Therefore, after detecting the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle previously loaded and stored in the storage section (5), it is not necessary to raise the elevating transportation means (4), and the bookbinding storage section (5) is required. Efficient loading / storing work to / from.

The present invention further comprises a non-contact detecting means (K),
Since it is composed of the ultrasonic sensor (40a) and the reflector (60), the color and temperature of the bookbinding bundle (for example, a bookbinding bundle using a hot-melt type bind tape is heated by the heat applied during bookbinding, The uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle in the storage section (5) is detected with high accuracy.

Further, according to the present invention, since the home position sensor (44c) for detecting the initial position of the ascending / descending transportation means (4) is provided, the bookbinding bundle previously loaded and stored in the storage section (5). While detecting the position of the uppermost part, the loading state of the bookbinding bundle is also detected, and the loading / storing work is performed according to the already loaded amount of the bookbinding bundle.

The reference numerals in the above parentheses are for comparison with the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0018]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bookbinding apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a conveyance path for conveying a sheet. The sheet conveying path 1 has a carry-in port 1a for receiving a sheet from the image forming apparatus and a discharge port 1b for discharging the sheet to a discharge tray, and a plurality of roller pairs 1c, guides 1d, 1e and a sheet guide 1d in the middle thereof.
A flapper 1f is provided that branches to the side (discharge port) and the guide 1e side.

Reference numeral 2 is an alignment tray for stacking and aligning sheets. The alignment tray 2 includes an upper guide 2a and a lower tray 2.
g, a stopper 2d with which the leading edge of the sheet abuts, and a propeller 2 made of an elastic body that sweeps the sheet toward the stopper 2d.
c, side sweeping means 2 for laterally aligning sheets
b and a gripper 2f that conveys the aligned sheet bundle to the heater 3 (binding means) while sandwiching the bundle.

6 is a glue tape reel for binding the sheet bundle. The gluing tape fed from the tape reel 6 is cut into a predetermined length (length of a sheet bundle) by a cutter (not shown), and then supplied to the heater 3.

Reference numeral 4 is a lifting transportation means. The up-and-down transportation means 4 receives a bookbinding bundle from the heater 3 side and conveys the bookbinding bundle to the storage section 5. Details of the lifting / lowering transportation means 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Reference numeral 41 is a frame forming the skeleton of the lifting / lowering means 4, and a timing belt 42 is connected to the frame 41. This timing belt 42
Is wound around a timing pulley 43 and a driven pulley 43a, and is driven by a stepping motor (not shown) linked to the timing pulley 43 to move up and down the elevating and transporting means 4. The four timing pulleys 43 are synchronously driven by the stepping motor, and the four timing belts 42 are synchronously operated by the timing pulleys. As shown in FIG. 3, the four timing belts 42 are fixed to the timing belt fixing portion 41a protruding from the frame 41.
Therefore, the frame 41 side moves in the vertical direction in FIG. 2 as the timing belt 42 operates.

Reference numeral 44 is a comb tooth tray as a bookbinding bundle transporting means. The comb-teeth tray 44 is movable in the left-right direction in FIGS. 2 and 3 with respect to the frame 41. That is, the comb tooth tray 44 is sandwiched between the driven roller 45 and the driving roller 46, and between the driven roller 48 and the driven roller 47 (the posture is kept substantially horizontal), and the driving roller 46 is held.
Can be moved to the left or right. The driven roller 45 and the driven roller 48 are rotatably attached to the frame 41 by a cantilever shaft 45a. Further, the driven roller 47 has a through shaft 47a whose both ends are pivotally supported by the frame 41.
It is fixed to. Further, the drive roller 46 has both ends fixed to a through shaft 46a pivotally supported by the frame 41, and is rotationally driven by a drive belt 49 connected to the through shaft 46a and a DC motor 50 driving the drive belt 49. It is like this.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a reflection type photo sensor having a long-distance focus. The reflective photosensor 40 is attached to the side wall of the frame 41. The mounting position of the reflection type photo sensor 40 is set so that the distance a between the upper surface of the comb tooth tray 44 and the optical axis of the reflection type photo sensor 40 becomes the discharge height of the bookbinding bundle. In this embodiment,
In consideration of the thickness of the regular bundle, etc., a = 20 mm.

By thus disposing the reflection type photosensor 40 below the comb tooth tray 44 by a predetermined amount, the comb tooth tray is detected when the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded in the storage section 5 is detected. Since 44 is positioned a predetermined amount above the uppermost portion of the bookbinding bundle, the work of raising the comb tooth tray 44 again becomes unnecessary, and the storage efficiency of the bookbinding bundle can be significantly improved.

Reference numeral 60 is a reflector provided so as to face the reflective photosensor 40. The reflection plate 60 only needs to have a high reflectance, and is made of a material such as an aluminum plate or a stainless plate as appropriate, and the wall facing the reflection type photosensor 40 of the storage section 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). It is fixed to the left side wall) 5a. As shown in FIG. 4, the wall 51 of the up-and-down transportation means 4 of the storage section 5 has a plurality of openings 51a extending downward (vertical direction) from the upper end in the drawing (in the present embodiment, the number of comb teeth of the comb tooth tray 44). Is formed in three places), and the comb tray 44 is formed.
It is possible to enter. Then, the opening 51a also functions as an optical path of the reflective photosensor 40.

The noncontact detection means K is constituted by the reflection type photosensor 40 and the reflection plate 60 arranged in this way. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the structure is simpler than that of the transmissive sensor in which the issuing unit and the light receiving unit are separately arranged, and therefore, the configuration of the up-and-down transportation means 4 can be simplified.

If the ultrasonic sensor 40a is used instead of the reflection type photo sensor 40, the color and temperature of the bookbinding bundle may be increased (the temperature of the bookbinding bundle may be high in gluing bookbinding using hot melt). It is not affected easily and enables stable and highly accurate detection.

A storage device S for stacking and storing a bookbinding bundle is constituted by the above-mentioned lifting / lowering transportation means 4, storage portion 5, and the like.

Next, the operation of the lifting / lowering transportation means 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
It is explained along.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the bundle (bookbinding bundle) Sa bound from the gripper 2f is received on the comb tooth tray 44.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the comb tooth tray 44 is driven leftward in the figure by the stepping motor 50, and the comb tooth tray 44 is moved to the storage portion 5 side by a predetermined amount.

Next, the elevating / transporting means 4 descends with the operation of the timing belt 42 driven by a stepping motor (elevating motor) not shown. At this time, the reflective photosensor 40 detects the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded in the storage section 5. That is, this lifting transportation means 4
The light emitted from the light emitting portion of the reflection type photosensor 40 attached to the side is reflected by the left side wall (reflection plate 60), and the reflected light is received by the light receiving portion of the reflection type photosensor 40. You can confirm that there is no. Further, since the reflection type photo sensor detects the entire area from the right side to the left side of the bookbinding bundle, even if the bookbinding bundle is loaded with an inclination, the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle can be detected by the reflection type photosensor 40. You can Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the comb tooth tray 44 enters the storage section 5, it is possible to prevent the comb tooth tray 44 from hitting the bookbinding bundle loaded in the storage section 5.

As shown in FIG. 7, the reflective photosensor 40 detects the already loaded bundle (bookbinding bundle) and stops the lifting motor. At this time, the height of the comb tooth tray 44 (the distance a between the already loaded bundle and the upper surface of the comb tooth tray (see FIG. 2)) is set even if the newly loaded bookbinding bundle is dropped onto the already loaded bookbinding bundle. The height is set so that the bundle does not collapse. In this embodiment, a = 20 mm as described above.

As shown in FIG. 8, the comb tray 44 includes
By the reverse driving of the stepping motor 50, the stepping motor 50 is quickly moved to the right side in the drawing to drop the bookbinding bundle Sa into the storage section.

The moving speed of the comb tray 44 at this time is
A speed of 100 mm / S or more is required, and in this embodiment, the speed is set to 300 mm / S.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is moved up by a timing belt 42 driven by a lifting motor (not shown) to return to an initial position,
This completes one cycle of bookbinding bundle storage.

As described above, in this embodiment, the reflection type photo sensor 40 or the ultrasonic sensor 4 in which the means for detecting the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded in the storage portion 5 is the non-contact detecting means K is used.
0a and the reflector 60, unlike the contact type conventional example, the bookbinding bundle is not damaged.
In the present embodiment using the non-contact detecting means K, one non-contact detecting means K is sufficient even when a plurality of storage parts 5 are arranged in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure of the storage device S can be simplified.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 10, 50a is a stepping motor for driving the up-and-down transportation means 4, and 44c is a home position sensor of the up-and-down transportation means 4.

A method of detecting the storage capacity of the storage section (stacker) 5 in this configuration will be described.

The up-and-down transportation means 4 descends from the home position by driving the stepping motor 50a.
At the same time, the reflection type sensor 40 is scanned, and when it is moved down by b, the upper surface of the storage bundle Sa is detected, and after stopping, it returns to the home position.

The movement amount b can be calculated by the number of steps of the stepping motor 50a.

For example, the amount of the bookbinding bundle currently stored is (height) c = f- (a + b) F: the lower surface of the bookbinding bundle transported from the (stacker) bottom of the storage unit 5 a: the bookbinding bundle The optical axis b of the reflective photosensor 40 from the bottom surface: the movement amount of the comb tray 44, and the future storage capacity of the bookbinding bundle is (height) d =
e-c e: The upper limit of the stacker.

By grasping this storable capacity, it becomes possible to inform the user of how much storage is possible.

The stored amount c may be presented to the user.

The above-described storage capacity detection is performed together with the initialization operation when the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the storage section (stacker) 5
The remaining amount of the bookbinding bundle in the storage unit 5 is detected, or the remaining amount of the bookbinding bundle in the storage unit 5 is detected after the user removes the bookbinding bundle from the storage unit (stacker) 5.

Thus, according to this embodiment, the storage section 5
It is possible to detect not only the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle therein but also the load amount of the bookbinding bundle.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the detecting means is the non-contact detecting means, the non-contact detecting means can detect the uppermost portion of the bookbinding bundle without contacting the bookbinding bundle as the non-detection object. , Without damaging the bookbinding bundle, and even if a plurality of storage sections are arranged, the top of the bookbinding bundle can be detected by one non-contact detection means, and the structure of the elevating and transporting means and thus the storage device can be simplified. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, since the non-contact detecting means is composed of the reflection type photo sensor and the reflecting plate, and the bookbinding bundle is loaded between them, the bookbinding bundle is inclined and loaded. Even if it is, the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle can be reliably detected. Therefore, stack the bookbinding bundle in the storage
When storing the bookbinding bundle, the bookbinding bundle transporting means does not hit the bookbinding bundle previously loaded and stored in the storage portion, and does not damage the already loaded bookbinding bundle.

Further, according to the present invention, the non-contact detecting means is disposed below the bookbinding bundle conveying means by a predetermined amount, so that the lowering operation of the elevating and conveying means is stopped when the noncontact detecting means detects the bookbinding bundle. Alternatively, the operation can be stopped after further lowering the elevating and lowering means by a certain amount, and the bookbinding bundle can be loaded and stored in the storage portion. Since it is not necessary, the loading / storing work of the bookbinding bundle in the storage portion can be efficiently performed, and the loading / storing work of the bookbinding bundle can be speeded up.

Further, in the present invention, since the non-contact detecting means is composed of the ultrasonic sensor and the reflecting plate, the color and temperature of the bookbinding bundle (for example, a bookbinding bundle using a hot-melt type binding tape is not provided). , The temperature may be high due to the heat applied during bookbinding), and the detection accuracy of the uppermost part of the bookbinding bundle in the storage section can be further improved.

Further, since the present invention is provided with the home position sensor for detecting the initial position of the elevating and lowering means, the uppermost position of the bookbinding bundle preliminarily loaded and stored in the storage portion can be detected and It is possible to detect the loading state of the bookbinding bundle and perform the loading / storing work according to the already loaded amount of the bookbinding bundle.

In addition, since the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention is equipped with the storage device having the non-contact detecting means as described above,
It is possible to significantly improve the reliability of the bookbinding apparatus without damaging the bookbinding stack loaded and stored in the storage section.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a storage unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a first operation explanatory view of the lifting transportation means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a second operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 7 is a third operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 8 is a fourth operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 9 is a fifth operation explanatory diagram of the same.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a conventional storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Heater (Binding Means) 4 Elevating Transportation Means 5 Storage Section 40 Reflective Photo Sensor (Non-contact Detection Means) 40a Ultrasonic Sensor (Non-contact Detection Means) 44 Comb Tooth Tray (Bookbinding Bundle Transportation Means) 44c Home Position Sensor 60 Reflections Plate (Non-contact detection means) S Storage device K Non-contact detection means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshimitsu Yamaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Yutaka Ota 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Kya Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Kozo Sakakibara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage device comprising: an elevating and lowering transport means for receiving a bound bookbinding bundle and transporting it to a storage section; and a storage section for receiving the bookbinding bundle from the up and down transportation means and loading and storing the bookbinding bundle. A storage device, characterized in that non-contact detection means for detecting the uppermost part of the bookbinding stack loaded and stored in the storage portion is arranged on the storage portion side of the elevating and lowering transportation means. 2. The elevating and transporting means comprises a bookbinding bundle transporting means for feeding the bookbinding bundle into the storage portion, and the non-contact detecting means is arranged below the bookbinding bundle transporting means by a predetermined amount. Storage device according to 1. 3. The non-contact detecting means is composed of a reflective photosensor and a reflecting plate for reflecting light from the reflective photosensor, and the reflective photosensor is arranged on the side of the elevator transportation means. On the other hand, the storage device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection plate is arranged on the side of the storage portion so that the bookbinding bundle is stacked between the reflection plate and the photo sensor. 4. The non-contact detecting means is composed of an ultrasonic sensor and a reflecting plate for reflecting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic sensor, of which the ultrasonic sensor is arranged on the side of the elevating and lowering means. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection plate is arranged on the side of the storage portion so that the bookbinding bundle is stacked between the reflection plate and the ultrasonic sensor. 5. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a home position sensor for detecting an initial position of the elevating and lowering transportation means. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A bookbinding apparatus, comprising: the storage apparatus according to the item 1; and binding means that supplies a bound bookbinding bundle to the storage apparatus.