JPH10212065A - Bookbinding device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable bookbinding without shifting the position of a bind tape with respect to a sheet bundle. SOLUTION: A fixed fence 6 of a sheet aligning device 600 is provided.
07a and the movable fence 607b are used as means for measuring an actual dimension in a direction (alignment direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. The bookbinding apparatus CPU determines the cutting length of the bind tape in the tape cutting section (tape supply apparatus) 611 and the bookbinding section (tape heating apparatus) based on the measured actual dimensions.
The setting position of the bind tape at 700A is determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus for automatically gluing and binding a sheet bundle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of sheets (sheet bundles) conveyed after an image forming process is completed from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.
There is known a bookbinding apparatus that automatically glues and binds documents.

In this bookbinding apparatus, a sheet conveyed after image forming processing is stored in a sheet aligning unit, and aligned in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. In this way, the sheet aligning unit aligns sheets (sheet bundles) for the number of bookbinding sheets.

[0004] During this time, the bind tape wound on the tape reel is fed out by the tape feeding means and cut into a predetermined length by the tape cutting means. Then, the cut strip-shaped bind tape is conveyed to the bookbinding unit by the tape conveying unit, and set at a predetermined position of the bookbinding unit by the positioning unit. And after this,
The bind tape is heated by the heating means.

[0005] The sheet bundle that has been aligned by the sheet aligning unit is carried out of the sheet aligning unit by the sheet bundle conveying means and set in the bookbinding unit. At this time, the leading end surface of the sheet bundle is hit against the heated bind tape, and the melted adhesive penetrates between the sheets to glue the sheet bundle.

Conventionally, the above-mentioned tape feeding means feeds a bind tape to a length corresponding to a specified dimension of a sheet size (in the alignment direction). The positioning means positions the bind tape at a position corresponding to a prescribed size of the sheet size (in the alignment direction).

[0007]

However, as shown in FIG. 14, in some bookbinding completed products bound by the above-described conventional bookbinding apparatus, the position of the bind tape is shifted with respect to the sheet bundle, and the binding is performed. There was a problem with the quality. this is,
(1) Dimensions differ slightly depending on the manufacturer even for sheets of the same fixed size. (2) When the toner image is thermally fixed, the size of the sheet changes due to heat shrinkage, and the like.

For example, if the actual size of the sheet size used is smaller than the specified size, the size of the bind tape cut based on the specified size of the sheet does not match, and the bind tape is longer than the sheet bundle. It becomes noticeable (FIG. 14A). If the actual size of the sheet size used is larger than the specified size, the bind tape becomes shorter than the sheet bundle (FIG. 14).
(B)).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a bookbinding apparatus that can perform bookbinding without shifting the position of a bind tape with respect to a sheet bundle.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet aligning section for aligning positions of a plurality of sheets conveyed after image forming processing in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction, and a sheet bundle. A tape cutting unit for cutting a bind tape to be glued to a predetermined length, and a bookbinding for gluing and binding the sheet bundle that has been subjected to the alignment processing by the sheet alignment unit using the bind tape cut by the tape cutting unit. And a binding unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a sheet actual dimension measuring means for measuring an actual dimension in a sheet alignment direction at a stage before bookbinding.

More specifically, the cutting length of the bind tape to be cut by the tape cutting section and the setting position of the bind tape in the bookbinding section are determined based on the actual dimensions measured by the actual sheet dimension measuring means. Is what you do.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an online sheet processing apparatus for continuously performing a series of steps from image formation on a sheet to bookbinding of an image-formed sheet.

The present online sheet processing apparatus includes a reading / feeding apparatus 100 for reading original information and feeding sheets one by one, an image forming apparatus 200 for forming an image on fed sheets, A bookbinding device 300 that pastes and binds a plurality of image-formed sheets (sheet bundle);
A sorting apparatus 400 for sorting the sheets on which images have been formed is connected in order.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of a bookbinding apparatus 300 to which the present invention is applied.

In the bookbinding apparatus 300, a sheet transporting apparatus 500, a sheet aligning apparatus (sheet aligning section) 600, a tape heating apparatus (bookbinding section) 700A, and a plurality of tape reels 8 are provided.
00a and 800b, a finished product transfer device 900, a plurality of stackers 1000a and 1000b, and the like.

An image-formed sheet that is not bound in the bookbinding apparatus 300 passes through a path 501. The image-formed sheet to be bound is conveyed to the sheet aligning apparatus 600 through the path 502. In this case, the flapper 503 closes the path 501 and opens the path 502.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the sheet aligning device 600.

The image-formed sheet that has passed through the path 502 is discharged onto the alignment tray 602 by the carry-in roller pair 601. At this time, the sheet is placed on the upper guides 603a and 603a.
03b, 603c and the lower guide 604.

The sheet discharged onto the alignment tray 602 is conveyed on the tray 602 by the alignment paddle 605 rotating in the counterclockwise direction, and the leading edge of the sheet is hit against the leading edge reference shutters 606a and 606b. Both ends in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction are fixed alignment fence 607a and movable alignment fence 607.
b (movable in the direction of the arrow). This allows
The image-formed sheet conveyed onto the alignment tray 602 is aligned at a predetermined position on the alignment tray 602 with the sheet leading end and the sheet width direction.

When a predetermined number of sheets (the number of bound sheets) of the image-formed sheets have been aligned on the alignment tray 602, the left and right fixing of the sheet bundle conveying device 608 waiting at the sheet bundle holding position at the leading end side of the alignment tray 602 is performed. Side gripper 6
08a and the movable-side gripper 608b (movable in the direction of the arrow) are aligned as shown in FIG.
07 is pinched.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4B, the leading edge reference shutters 606a and 606b are in the retracted state, and the grippers 608a and 608b start conveying the sheet bundle 307. At this time, the sheet bundle 307 includes the grippers 608a,
Guides 609a, 609 moving integrally with 608b
b, 609c. At the time when the conveyance of the sheet bundle 307 is started, the stop fingers 610a and 610b are in the state shown in FIG. 3 on the sheet bundle 307, and the image-formed sheets discharged onto the alignment tray 602 during the conveyance of the sheet bundle 307 are transferred. Store temporarily.

The rear end of the sheet bundle 307 is aligned with the alignment tray 602.
4C, the front end reference shutters 606a and 606b return to the alignment state, as shown in FIG. In addition, the stop fingers 610 a and 610 b return to the state shown in FIG. 2 and drop the stored plurality of sheets onto the alignment tray 602.

FIG. 6 shows a tape supply device (tape cutting unit).
611 is shown.

The bind tape T wound on the tape reel 800a or 800b is supplied to a feed roller pair 61.
2 (driven by a feeding motor (not shown)), and cut into a predetermined length by a tape cutter 613. The bind tape T cut into a strip shape is supplied by a pair of transport rollers 614 to a tape transport device (carriage) 615 waiting at a tape receiving position (X1 position in FIG. 7). Note that this tape transport device 6
A plurality of transport roller pairs 616 to 618 are provided in 15.

The tape transport device 615 that has received the bind tape T at the tape receiving position moves to the tape transfer position (X2 position in FIG. 7) and sends out the bind tape T. As shown in FIG. 8A, the bind tape T sent out from the tape transport device 615 has a transport roller pair 61 as shown in FIG.
9A, the tape guides 704 and 70 in front of the main heater 701 of the tape heating device 700A are moved by the positioning portion 619B as shown in FIG. 8B.
5 (see FIGS. 2 and 7). The positioning section 619B is attached to an endless belt 619C (driven by a positioning motor (not shown)).

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the strip-shaped bind tape T set in the tape guides 704 and 705.
A thick hot melt adhesive layer B1 is applied to the center in the width direction on one surface of the bind tape T, and thin hot melt adhesive layers B2 and B2 are applied to both sides in the width direction.

The bind tape T is a tape guide 704,
When set to 705, the main heater 701 waiting at the standby position moves to the bookbinding position and starts preheating the bind tape. Thereby, the thick hot melt adhesive layer B1 is melted. FIG. 8B shows this state.

The leading edge (bound edge) of the sheet bundle 307 conveyed by the grippers 608a and 608b
Is pressed against the bind tape T heated by the main heater 701. As a result, the hot melt adhesive B1 melted on the bind tape T flows between the respective sheets to glue the sheet bundle 307. Thereafter, the side heaters 702 and 70 waiting at the standby position
3 moves to the bookbinding position and heats and presses both sides of the bind tape T in the width direction. As a result, the thin hot melt adhesive B2 is melted, and both sides in the width direction of the bind tape T are bonded to the front and back covers of the sheet bundle 307.
This completes the bookbinding operation.

Thereafter, the grippers 608a and 608b convey the bookbinding completed product 307 from the bookbinding position in order to deliver the completed sheet bundle (bookbinding completed product) 307 to the completed product conveying device 900. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the bookbinding completed product 307 is transported to the delivery position and stopped.

When the bookbinding finished product 307 reaches the delivery position, the receiving tray (rotating tray) 901a, 901a of the finished product transfer device 900 located at the home position in FIG.
901b moves to the receiving position and is ready to receive the finished product. This state is shown in FIG. The receiving trays 901a and 901b rotate upward from the standby position shown in FIG. 2 to the receiving position.

The bookbinding completed product 307 is placed in the receiving tray 901
a and 901b, the grippers 608a and 608b holding the bookbinding finished product 307 release the holding state and return to the sheet bundle holding position of the alignment tray 602. This state is shown in FIG.

The gripper 608 returns to the sheet bundle holding position.
a and 608b are removed from the bookbinding completed product 307, and then the receiving trays 901a and 901a on which the bookbinding completed product 307 is placed.
1b rotates downward and returns to the standby position in FIG. On the way, the finished bookbinding product 307 is received by receiving trays 901a and 901b.
It is moved onto a feed tray (horizontal tray) 902 from above.

When the receiving trays 901a and 901b return to the standby position, the completed bookbinding product 307 is stored in the stacker 1000a or 1000b by the completed product transfer device 900. First, the feed tray 902 is arranged near the upper end of the stacker. This state is shown in FIG. Next, the feeding tray 902 is moved in the stacker direction, and the finished bookbinding product 307 is fed into the stacker. This state is shown in FIG. Next, the delivery tray 902 is lowered to load the bookbinding finished product 307 in the stacker. This state is shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a portion related to the present invention.

In the bookbinding apparatus 300, the sheet aligning section 20
The actual size in the alignment direction of the sheet is measured using 00 (600). Then, based on the measurement information, the bookbinding device C
PU 3000 calculates the actual dimensions.

Then, the bookbinding device CPU 3000 executes the tape reel 800a (8
00b), the feed amount (cut length) of the bind tape T is determined, and the drive amount of the feed motor 4001 is controlled. As a result, the feeding roller pair 4002 (61
2) pays out the bind tape T to the same length as the actual size in the sheet alignment direction, and the tape cutter 613 cuts the bind tape T to that length.

The bookbinding apparatus CPU 3000 determines the set position of the bind tape based on the calculation result (actual dimensions) and controls the driving amount of the positioning motor 5001. Thus, the positioning member 5002 (619B) positions the bind tape at a position corresponding to the set position of the sheet bundle.

Hereinafter, the sheet aligning unit 2000 (600)
In the following, a method for measuring the actual dimensions in the sheet alignment direction will be described.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the matching fence 607.
4 shows the configuration of a drive mechanism for driving the first and second a, 607b in the sheet alignment direction.

First, components and the like will be described.

Reference numeral 632 denotes a base for supporting the alignment tray 602, and 623 denotes a mount for a drive mechanism for the alignment fences 607a and 607b.

Reference numerals 624A and 624B denote stepping motors capable of normal and reverse rotation, 625 a motor pulley, 626 a drive belt, and 627 a link drive pulley.

628 is a drive wheel, 629 is a drive link, 630 is a sensor mounting plate, and 631A and 631B are position detecting sensors (photo sensors) of the matching fences 607a and 607b.

633 to 636 are matching fences 607
a and 607b, roller members 620 and 621 are guide portions for guiding the roller members 633 to 636 in the sheet alignment direction, and 622 is a tapered portion (gradually higher) extending from the concave portion of the guide portions 620 and 621 to the alignment tray 602. The seat is raised so that the sheet does not collide with the step.)

Next, the operation will be described.

When the stepping motors 624A and 624B are driven, the motor pulley 625 rotates,
The link drive pulley 627 rotates via the drive belt 626, and the drive wheel 628 attached to the link drive pulley 627 rotates.

The drive link 629 is connected to the drive wheel 628.
Is rotatably mounted around the mounting portion. On the other hand, the other end of the drive link 629 is
Roller member 633 attached to 7a, 607b and rotatably attached around the attachment portion.

The rotation of the drive wheel 628 causes the roller member 633 to move in the sheet alignment direction while being guided by the guide portion 620. As a result, the matching fence 607a,
607b moves in the sheet alignment direction. At this time, the roller members 634 to 636 are also guided by the guide portions 620 and 621.

Next, the sheet alignment operation will be described.

The fixed fence 607 a
Before the size of the sheet conveyed above is determined (at the time of standby), the apparatus stands by at the sheet alignment position detected by the position detection sensor 631A. FIG. 11 shows this state.

On the other hand, the movable fence 607b is waiting at a standby position (this position is outside the sheet alignment position) detected by the position detection sensor 631B before the sheet is carried into the alignment tray 602. FIG. 11 shows this state.

The movable fence 607 b
When the size of the sheet conveyed onto the sheet 2 is determined, before the sheet is conveyed onto the alignment tray 602, a sheet receiving position outside the sheet size position by a predetermined amount (outside the side in the sheet alignment direction). Go to

The moving side fence 607b, which has moved to the sheet receiving position, carries the sheets onto the matching tray 602 until a predetermined number (several of the number of bookbinding sheets) are carried onto the matching tray 602. Each time, the movement is repeated between the sheet receiving position → the standby position (pass) → the sheet alignment position → the standby position (pass) → the sheet receiving position. In this case, after the fence 607b has passed the standby position, the stepping motor 624B is driven to the predetermined number of pulses, that is, the number of drive pulses for moving to the maximum width position of the sheet size variation, and the fence 607b is moved to the matching position. Let it.

When the predetermined number of sheets (several of the number of bookbinding sheets) have been conveyed onto the alignment tray 602, the movable fence 607b receives a sheet every time the remaining sheets are conveyed onto the alignment tray 602. The movement is repeated between the position, the standby position (pass), the sheet alignment position, the standby position (pass), and the sheet receiving position. In this case, after the fence 607b has passed the standby position, the stepping motor 624 is driven by a predetermined number of pulses, that is, the number of drive pulses for moving the sheet size to the minimum width position, and the fence 607b is moved to the sheet alignment position. Move. At this time, the driving pulse speed, the driving current, or the driving voltage of the stepping motor 624B is controlled so that the fence 607b is not pushed into the sheet bundle by a predetermined amount or more in the area of the sheet size variation.

By the above operation, the number of sheets (sheet bundles) to be bound on the alignment tray 602 is aligned.

Next, the operation for measuring the actual size of the aligned sheet in the alignment direction will be described.

When the alignment of the sheet bundle is completed, the fixed gripper 608a and the movable gripper 608b of the sheet bundle conveying device 608 hold the sheet bundle. Subsequently, the fence 607b is moved from the sheet receiving position to the standby position (pass) →
It moves from the sheet alignment position to the standby position (pass) to the sheet receiving position. In this case, after the fence 607b has passed the standby position, the stepping motor 624B is turned on by a predetermined number of pulses.
That is, the fence 607b is applied to the sheet without any gap by driving the number of drive pulses to move to the minimum width position of the sheet size variation. Then, the stepping motor 6 reverses from the sheet alignment position to pass through the standby position.
The number of drive pulses (measurement information) of 24B is counted.

The product (distance) of the number of drive pulses counted until the fence 607b is reversed from the sheet alignment position and passes the standby position and the movement amount per pulse of the stepping motor 624B is represented by the fence 607a. Subtracting from the distance between each standby position of the fence 607b,
The actual dimensions in the sheet alignment direction can be calculated.

[0060]

As described above, according to the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention, the cutting length of the bind tape and the set position of the bind tape are determined based on the actual dimensions of the sheet to be bound. Thus, bookbinding can be performed without shifting the position of the bind tape with respect to the sheet bundle, and a high-quality bookbinding completed product can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a configuration example of an online sheet processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view showing a configuration of a bookbinding apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet aligning apparatus provided in the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an operation when a sheet bundle aligned by the sheet alignment apparatus is transported to a bookbinding position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an operation when a bookbinding completed product that has been bound at the bookbinding position is delivered to a finished product transport device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the tape supply device supplies a bind tape cut into strips to the tape transport device.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the tape transport device that transports the bind tape has moved from the tape receiving position to the tape delivering position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the bind tape carried by the tape transport device is set at the bookbinding position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an operation when the finished product transport device stores a bookbinding completed product in a stacker.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a part related to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a driving mechanism that drives an alignment fence in a sheet alignment direction.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a driving mechanism that drives an alignment fence in a sheet alignment direction.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a bind tape used in the bookbinding apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a defective completed product bound by a conventional bookbinding apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 307 Sheet bundle 600 Sheet aligning device (sheet binding unit) 607a Fixed fence (sheet actual dimension measuring unit) 607b Movable fence (sheet actual dimension measuring unit) 611 Tape supply unit (tape cutting unit) 700A Tape heating unit (bookbinding unit) 3000 Bookbinding device CPU (control means) T bind tape

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet aligning section for aligning positions of a plurality of sheets conveyed after image forming processing in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction, and a bind tape for gluing a sheet bundle to a predetermined length. And a bookbinding unit for gluing and binding the sheet bundle that has been subjected to the alignment processing by the sheet alignment unit using the bind tape cut by the tape cutting unit. A bookbinding apparatus, comprising: a sheet actual dimension measuring means for measuring an actual dimension in a sheet alignment direction at a stage before bookbinding. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for determining a cutting length of the bind tape to be cut by the tape cutting section based on an actual size measured by the actual sheet size measuring means. The bookbinding device as described. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for determining a setting position of the bind tape in the bookbinding section based on an actual size measured by the actual sheet size measuring means. Bookbinding equipment. 4. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sheet aligning unit for aligning the sheet in the sheet aligning unit is used as the sheet actual dimension measuring unit.