Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6592056
-
Patent Number
6,592,056
-
Date Filed
Thursday, June 28, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 15, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Frishauf, Holtz, Goodman & Chick, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 412 1
- 412 8
- 412 37
- 412 36
- 412 900
- 412 901
- 412 902
- 239 63
- 239 75
- 239 569
- 239 583
- 239 586
- 239 584
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing a liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which connects the supply tube to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which detachably connects the connecting means on the glue container side to the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and delivers them from a nozzle opening, wherein there is provided a valve member provided inside the connecting means on the glue container side that makes the ejection opening to be opened and closed, and a protrusion is provided inside the connecting means on the supply tube side so that the protrusion presses the valve member to open the ejection opening when the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the supply tube side.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gluing device that applies a glue in a strap shape on an edge portion of a sheet that has been subjected to image forming processing and has been ejected out of an image forming apparatus while the sheet is being conveyed, a glue supply method to supply glue in a glue container to a glue discharging means, a glue supply device, a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding apparatus.
In recent years, there has been offered a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device wherein glue is applied for bookbinding at a prescribed position on a sheet on which an image has been recorded by a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a hybrid machine including the copying machine and printer.
A bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device that is presently used includes (1) a device to discharge glue on a sheet by the use of a glue discharging nozzle, (2) a device wherein a glue wheel is provided on a glue-containing box and glue is stuck to an outer circumferential surface of the rotating glue wheel so that the outer circumferential surface of the glue wheel may be brought into contact with a sheet for contact-transfer and (3) a hot melt coating device wherein a mixture of a hot melt agent (thermo-fusion agent) and heated and compressed air is discharged from a nozzle.
In a bookbinding apparatus disclosed in TOKUHYOSHOO No. 59-500907, with regard to a sheet conveyed in the first conveyance direction, the conveyance direction therefor is changed to the second conveyance direction that is perpendicular to the first conveyance direction, and then, glue is coated on an edge of the running sheet linearly so that sheets are pressurized and bound after being stacked and trued up.
In the gluing method and gluing device disclosed in TOKKAIHEI No. 7-80377, glue discharged from a glue-discharging nozzle is subjected to spraying of high pressure air to turn into a thin film.
A conventional supply device that is used presently and supplies glue to a glue-discharging means having a glue-discharging nozzle includes (1) a supply device wherein glue contained in a glue container is force-fed by compressed air and (2) a supply device wherein glue contained in a glue container is force-fed by a micro-gear pump.
The glue supply device and the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device both described above have the following problems.
(A) When external pressures are applied on a glue container in the course of storage of the glue container, glue in the glue container leaks out of an ejection opening.
(B) In the course of replacement of the glue container, glue in the glue container leaks out of an ejection opening.
(C) In the course of replacement of the glue container, air enters through an ejection opening to generate glue discharge failure caused by glue supply failure.
A first object of the invention is to solve the problems stated above, to improve a glue supply device of a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and to attain easy maintenance work, low noise and down-sizing all for a glue supply device, and thereby to provide a gluing device attaining automation of the glue supply device, the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device.
Further, the glue supply device in the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device stated above has the following problems.
(D) In the course of replacement of the glue container, when the glue ejection opening of the glue container is connected with a connection means connected to a supply tube that is connected to the glue discharging means, glue in the glue container leaks out of the connection means.
(E) The structure of the connection means that prevents leakage of glue in the course of replacement of the glue container turns out to be complicated. Further, operations for replacement of the glue container becomes complicated, resulting in occurrence of glue leakage and glue supply failure caused by erroneous operations.
A second object of the invention is to solve the problems stated above, to improve a glue supply device of a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and to attain prevention of glue leakage in the course of replacement of the glue container of the glue supply device, easy operations for replacement of the glue container, simplification of the structure of the connection means and stabilization of glue supply, and thereby to provide a glue supply device attaining automation thereof, the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(1) The problems (A), (B) and (C) stated above can be solved by a gluing device described in either one of the following Structures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the invention.
Structure 1: A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which connects the supply tube to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which detachably connects the connecting means on the glue container side to the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and delivers them from a nozzle opening, wherein there is provided a valve member provided inside the connecting means on the glue container side that makes the ejection opening to be opened and closed, and a protrusion is provided inside the connecting means on the supply tube side so that the protrusion presses the valve member to open the ejection opening when the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side.
Structure 2: A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which is connected to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side detachably and is connected to the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, wherein there is provided a valve member which is moved by gravity on an inclined face formed on an inner wall of the connecting means on the glue container side to close the ejection opening, and inside the connecting means on the supply tube side, there is provided a protrusion which presses the valve member to open the ejection opening when the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side.
Structure 3: A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which is connected to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side detachably and is connected to a receiving portion of the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, wherein the connecting means on the glue container side is provided with a first connection member that is connected to the ejection opening of the glue container, a valve member that is arranged inside the first connection member and has, on its tip portion, a cone portion, a second connection member that closes a glue flowing path with a cone surface which engages with the cone portion of the valve member and with a moving means that moves the second connection member, and the moving means moves the second connection member of the connecting means on the glue container side to separate the cone portion of the valve member from the cone surface of the second connection member and thereby to enable glue in the glue container to be supplied to the glue discharging means, interlocking with operations for connecting the connecting means on the supply tube side to the connecting means on the glue container side.
Structure 4: A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which is connected to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side detachably and is connected to a receiving portion of the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, wherein the connecting means on the glue container side is provided with a connection member that is connected to the ejection opening of the glue container, an elastic valve member that enables the ejection opening to be opened and closed, and an urging member that urges the elastic valve member to close the ejection opening, and inside the connecting means on the supply tube side, there is provided a protrusion which presses the elastic valve member to open the ejection opening when the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side.
Structure 5: A gluing device having therein a pressuring means which presses a glue container containing liquid glue to eject contained glue from an ejection opening, a supply tube through which the ejected glue is transported from the glue container, a connecting means on the glue container side which is connected to the glue container, a connecting means on the supply tube side which is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side detachably and is connected to a receiving portion of the supply tube, and a glue discharging means which receives the glue transported through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, wherein the connecting means on the glue container side is formed in a double-structure shape including a membrane member that closes the ejection opening of the glue container and is capable of being opened and closed and an outer cover member that protects the membrane member and has an opening which agrees positionally with the ejection opening when it is rotated, and after the ejection opening of the glue container and the opening of the outer cover member are made to agree with each other, the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side, and pressure is given by the pressuring means so that the membrane member may be ruptured by pressure of the glue in the glue container, thus the glue in the glue container is supplied to the glue discharging means.
(2) A bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device of the invention is characterized to be provided with the gluing device described in Structure 1 above, a housing means wherein a plurality of sheets subjected to glue-coating processing by the gluing device are housed to be arranged and a pressuring means that applies pressure on glue-coated portions of the arranged plural sheets.
(3) An image forming apparatus with a bookbinding apparatus is characterized to be provided with an image forming apparatus main body composed of an image writing means, an image forming means and a sheet conveyance means and with the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device described in item (2) above.
(4) The problems (D) and (E) stated above can be solved by a glue supply method described in Structure 6 or Structure 7.
Structure 6: A glue supply method for supplying glue ejected from a glue ejection opening of a capsule member that is connected to a flexible bag object containing liquid glue to a glue discharging means through a connecting means and a supply tube, wherein when the connecting means is advanced to be connected to the capsule member, a projected tip portion of a projection member fixed on a movable valve member that enables a glue-receiving opening of the connecting means to be opened and closed breaks through an inner cover that covers the glue ejection opening of the capsule member to open the glue ejection opening, and when the connecting means is further advanced, the projected tip portion comes in contact with a stop portion of the capsule member to make the movable valve member to retreat, and thereby, the glue receiving opening of the connecting means is opened.
Structure 7: A glue supply method for supplying glue ejected from a glue ejection opening of a capsule member that is connected to a flexible bag object containing liquid glue to a glue delivery means through a connecting means and a supply tube, wherein after the glue receiving opening of the connecting means and the glue ejection opening of the capsule member are made to agree with each other by advancing the connecting means and thereby connecting to the capsule member, a movable breaking member provided in the vicinity of the glue receiving opening of the connecting means is advanced by a driving means, and thereby an inner cover that covers a glue ejection opening of the capsule member is broken by a projected tip portion of the movable breaking member so that the glue ejection opening is opened.
(5) The problems (D) and (E) stated above can be solved by the glue supply device described in either one of Structures 8, 9 and 10.
Structure 8: A glue supply device having therein a glue container containing liquid glue, a pressuring means that presses the glue container to eject glue contained in the glue container, a supply tube through which the glue ejected from the glue container is conveyed, a glue discharging means that receives glue conveyed through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, and a connecting means that connects a capsule member of the glue container detachably to the supply tube, wherein the glue container has therein the capsule member, an inner cover that intercepts a part of the glue container and is capable of being broken and a stop portion fixed on the part of the glue container inside the inner cover, while, the connecting means is provided with a connection member having a glue receiving opening that is connected to the supply tube, a movable valve member that is supported movably in the connecting member and makes the glue receiving opening to be capable of being opened and closed, a projection member having a projected tip portion fixed on the movable valve member, and an elastic member that urges the movable valve member, and when the connecting means is advanced to be engaged with the capsule member for the purpose of connecting the connecting means to the glue container, the projected tip portion of the projection member breaks the inner cover to open the part of the glue container, and when the connecting means is further advanced, the projected tip portion comes into contact with the stop portion of the capsule member to make the movable valve member to retreat against urging force of the elastic member and thereby to open the glue receiving opening of the connecting member.
Structure 9: A glue supply device having therein a glue container containing liquid glue, a pressuring means that presses the glue container to eject glue contained in the glue container, a supply tube through which the glue ejected from the glue container is conveyed, a glue discharging means that receives glue conveyed through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, and a connecting means that connects a capsule member of the glue container detachably to the supply tube, wherein the glue container has the capsule member and an inner cover that intercepts a part of the glue container and is capable of being broken, while, the connecting means is provided with a connection member having a glue receiving opening that is connected to the supply tube, a movable breaking member having a projected tip portion supported movably in the vicinity of the glue receiving opening of the connection member, and a driving means that drives the movable breaking member, and when the connecting means is advanced by the driving means after the glue receiving opening of the connecting means and the capsule member are made to agree positionally with each other by advancing the connecting means and thereby by connecting the connecting means to the glue container, the inner cover is broken by the projected tip portion of the movable breaking member so that the part of the glue container is opened.
Structure 10: A glue supply device having therein a glue container containing liquid glue, a pressuring means that presses the glue container to eject out glue contained in the glue container, a supply tube through which the glue ejected from the glue container is conveyed, a glue discharging means that receives glue conveyed through the supply tube and discharges them from a nozzle opening, and a connecting means that connects a capsule member of the glue container detachably to the supply tube, wherein the glue container has the capsule member and an inner cover that intercepts a part of the glue container and is capable of being broken, while, the connecting means has therein a connecting member having a glue receiving opening that is connected to the supply tube, a movable breaking member having a projected tip portion supported movably in the vicinity of the glue receiving opening of the connecting member, and a driving means that drives the movable breaking member, and the movable breaking member stops at the position where the glue receiving opening of the connecting means is intercepted, when the glue container and the connecting means leave each other, to prevent glue in the connecting means and the supply tube from flowing out.
(6) A bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device of the invention is characterized to be provided with a glue supply device described in Structure 8, a glue discharging means that receives glue supplied from the glue supply device and discharges them from a nozzle opening, a conveyance means that conveys a sheet subjected to gluing processing conducted by the glue discharging means, a housing means that arranges and houses sheets subjected to the gluing processing, a pressuring means that conducts bookbinding by pressing a bundle of arranged sheets, and with a sheet ejection means that ejects a booklet thus bound.
(7) An image forming apparatus of the invention is characterized to be provided with an image forming apparatus main body composed of an image writing means, an image forming means and a sheet conveyance means and with a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device described in item (6) above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a general structural view of an image forming system composed of an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus and a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device.
FIG. 2
is a structural diagram showing sheet conveyance paths in a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device.
FIG. 3
is an illustrative diagram showing a process of gluing on a sheet and of bookbinding.
Each of FIGS.
4
(
a
)-
4
(
d
) is a perspective view showing a glue coating position for each type of a sheet.
FIGS.
5
(
a
) and
5
(
b
) represent respectively a top view and a front view both for the vicinity of a sheet correcting means and of a glue discharging means of a glue coating means.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged sectional view of a glue discharging means and a driving means.
Each of FIGS.
7
(
a
)-
7
(
c
) is an enlarged sectional view showing a process of movement of for both a first needle member and a second needle member.
FIG.
8
(
a
) is a perspective view and
FIG.
8
(
b
) is a sectional view both of a glue container.
FIG.
9
(
a
) is a top view and
FIG.
9
(
b
) is a front sectional view both of a glue supply means showing a initial state wherein a glue container is mounted on a glue supply means.
FIG. 10
is a top view of a glue supply means wherein a glue container mounted on a glue supply means is flat.
FIG. 11
is a top view of a pressing driving mechanism of a glue supply means.
FIG. 12
is a top view of a pressing releasing mechanism of a glue supply means.
FIGS.
13
(
a
)-
13
(
c
) represent sectional views showing respectively the non-contact state and contact state between a connecting means on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side.
FIGS.
14
(
a
)-
14
(
b
) represent enlarged sectional views of a connecting means on the glue container side respectively for non-supply and supply of glue.
FIG.
15
(
a
) is a top view of in the non-contact state and
FIG.
15
(
b
) is a front view in the contact state both for a driving means that moves a connecting means on the supply tube side.
FIGS.
16
(
a
) and
16
(
b
) show a second embodiment of a glue supply means, and represent enlarged sectional views of a connecting means on the glue container side respectively for non-supply and supply of glue.
FIGS.
17
(
a
)-
17
(
c
) show a third embodiment of a glue supply means and represent respectively a connecting means on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side respectively in the non-contact state and contact state
FIG. 18
shows a fourth embodiment of a glue supply means and represents a sectional top view of a connecting means on the glue container side.
FIG. 19
shows a fourth embodiment of a glue supply means and represents sectional front views of a connecting means on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side.
FIG. 20
shows a fifth embodiment of a glue supply means and represents a sectional top view of a connecting means on the glue container side.
FIGS.
21
(
a
) and
21
(
b
) show a fifth embodiment of a glue supply means and represent partial side views showing respectively the state where an opening of a connecting means on the glue container side is closed and the state where an opening of a connecting means on the glue container side is opened
FIGS.
22
(
a
)-
22
(
c
) show a fifth embodiment of a glue supply means and represent sectional views showing a connecting means on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side respectively in the non-contact state and the contact state.
FIGS.
23
(
a
)-
23
(
d
) show respectively sectional views of a capsule member of a glue container and a connecting means,
23
(
c
)-
23
(
c
) section of the capsule member and
23
(
d
) -
23
(
d
) section of the connecting means.
FIG.
24
(
a
) is a top view of a driving means for moving a connecting means under the non-contact state and
FIG.
24
(
b
) is a front view of a driving means under the contact state.
FIGS.
25
(
a
)-
25
(
c
) show sectional views showing a process of contact between a capsule member of a glue container and a connecting means.
FIG. 26
is a sectional view showing a process of glue supply in the second embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention.
FIG. 27
is a sectional view showing a process of glue supply in the second embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention.
FIGS.
28
(
a
)-
28
(
c
) show sectional views showing a process of glue supply in the eighth embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(First Embodiment)
A gluing device, a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding apparatus will be explained as follows, referring to drawings.
FIG. 1
is a general structural view of an image forming system composed of image forming apparatus main body A, image reading apparatus B and bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C.
In the image forming apparatus main body A, charging means
2
, image-wise exposure means (writing means)
3
, developing means
4
, transfer means
5
, neutralizing means
6
A, separation claw
6
B and cleaning means
7
are arranged around rotary image carrier (hereinafter referred to as a photoreceptor)
1
, and after the surface of photoreceptor
1
is charged uniformly by charging means
2
, scanning for exposure is conducted by a laser beam of image-wise exposure means
3
, and thereby, there is formed a latent image which is subjected to reversal development by developing means
4
, thus, a toner image is formed on the surface of photoreceptor
1
.
On the other hand, sheet S fed from sheet housing means
8
A is conveyed to a transfer position. In the transfer position, the toner image stated above is transferred by transfer means
5
onto sheet S. After that, electric charges on the reverse surface of the sheet S are neutralized by neutralizing means
6
A, then, the sheet S is separated from photoreceptor
1
by separation claw
6
B, then is conveyed by intermediate conveyance section
8
B to be heated and fixed by fixing means
9
, and is ejected by sheet ejection roller
8
C.
When conducting image forming on both sides of sheet S, sheet S which has been subjected to heating and fixing by fixing means
9
is diverged by conveyance path switching plate
8
D from the ordinary sheet ejection path and is switched back at reversal conveyance
8
E to be reversed, and then, is ejected out of an apparatus by sheet ejection roller
8
C. The sheet S ejected from the sheet ejection roller
8
C is fed into receiving portion
11
of bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device.
On the other hand, with regard to the surface of photoreceptor
1
which has been subjected to image processing, developing agents remaining on that surface are removed by cleaning means
7
at the position that is on the downstream side of separation claw
6
B, to be ready for the succeeding image forming.
On the top of the image forming apparatus main body A, there is supported automatic document feeder DF of a document moving type reading system to be capable of being opened and closed.
In the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C, truing-up and pressuring means
50
is arranged on the top stage in the illustration, glue coating means
40
and sheet skew and deviation correcting means (hereinafter referred to as a sheet correcting means)
30
are arranged on the intermediate stage, sheet direction changing means
20
is arranged on the lower stage, and cover sheet feeding means
80
is arranged on the lowermost stage, all of the foregoing being arranged, longitudinally and vertically.
On the right side of the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C in the illustration, there are arranged entrance portion conveyance means
10
and folding means
70
. On the left side of the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C in the illustration, there is arranged sheet ejection means
60
on which books subjected to gluing processing are stacked.
FIG. 2
is a structural diagram showing a sheet conveyance path in the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C.
FIG. 3
is an illustrative diagram showing a process of gluing on a sheet and of bookbinding.
The bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C is installed after being adjusted to the position and height where receiving portion
11
of entrance portion conveyance means
10
and sheet ejection roller
8
C of the image forming apparatus main body A agree in terms of position and height each other.
A conveyance path for sheet S connected to receiving portion
11
is branched to upper sheet conveyance path
12
leading to fixed sheet ejection tray
15
on the uppermost step and to lower sheet conveyance path
16
, and sheet S is fed to either one of them depending on selection of an angle occupied by switching gate G
1
.
The upper sheet conveyance path
12
is composed of conveyance rollers
131
-
133
, ejection roller
14
and a guide plate. The lower sheet conveyance path
16
is composed of conveyance rollers
171
,
172
and
173
, switching gate G
2
and a guide plate.
A sheet conveyance path connected to the lower sheet conveyance path
16
is branched to two systems leading respectively to sheet direction changing means
20
arranged on the intermediate stage and to folding means
70
arranged on the lowermost stage, and sheet S is fed to either one of them depending on selection of an angle occupied by switching gate G
2
.
(1) Direct sheet ejection to fixed sheet ejection tray
15
on the upper portion of an apparatus
Sheet S subjected to image forming which is ejected from the image forming apparatus main body A is guided to receiving portion
11
, then, passes through sheet conveyance path
12
, then, is conveyed by conveyance rollers
131
,
132
and
133
, then, interposed by ejection rollers
14
, and is ejected on fixed sheet ejection tray
15
that is located on the upper portion outside the apparatus to be stacked thereon successively.
In the course of conveyance of the sheet, switching gate G
1
closes sheet conveyance path
16
and makes sheet conveyance path
12
to be opened, so that passage of the sheet S to fixed sheet ejection tray
15
may be made possible.
(2) Processing of changing direction of a sheet by 90°
When establishment is made to the sheet direction changing mode, switching gate G
2
closes sheet conveyance path
18
B and keeps sheet conveyance path
18
A to be opened so that passage of the sheet S through the sheet conveyance path
18
A may be made possible.
Sheet S subjected to image forming which is ejected from the image forming apparatus main body A passes through receiving portion
11
, sheet conveyance path
16
and conveyance rollers
171
and
172
, and then, passes through sheet conveyance path
18
A formed by switching gate G
2
to be in an opened state, then, is changed in terms of its direction to the almost perpendicular direction on the left side in the drawing and is interposed by ejection rollers
173
to be fed into sheet direction changing means
20
.
The sheet S guided to the sheet direction changing means
20
passes through sheet conveyance path
200
opened to the upper portion of switching gate G
3
and is interposed by conveyance rollers
221
,
222
,
223
and
224
to be advanced in the arrowed left direction illustrated.
When a central portion of the sheet S arrives at rotating member
23
, sheet conveyance is suspended momentarily, and pressure contact for the conveyance rollers
221
,
222
,
223
and
224
is released and each of them is kept to be away. When upper rotary disk
23
A and lower rotary disk
23
B of the rotating member
23
interpose the sheet S and rotate under the condition that the conveyance rollers
221
-
224
are released from the pressure contact, the direction of the sheet S is changed by 90°. For example, sheet S in A4 size is changed by rotating member
23
to the direction of A4R.
The sheet direction changing means
20
can rotate sheet S by 90° and move the sheet S to one side simultaneously. Or, the sheet direction changing means
20
can rotate sheet S by 90° or move the sheet S to one side independently.
The sheet S whose rotation direction has been changed is conveyed by pressure contact rotation of conveyance rollers
221
-
224
, and is conveyed out of the sheet direction changing means
20
to be conveyed by conveyance rollers
241
and
242
, and its direction is changed upward by almost 90° in the illustration, then, the sheet S passes through switching gate G
4
to be further changed to the right side in the drawing, and it is fed into sheet correction means
30
.
Sheet S that requires no bookbinding processing with gluing passes through a sheet conveyance path on the left side of switching gate G
4
, and is conveyed by conveyance rollers
61
and
62
to be ejected by ejection roller
63
to elevating sheet ejection tray
64
that is located outside the apparatus.
(3) Sheet skew/deviation correcting means
Sheet correction means
30
that corrects skew and deviation of sheet S is composed of conveyance rollers
31
,
32
,
33
and
34
which can interpose sheet S and can release it, sheet conveyance path
300
, truing-up reference plate
36
and truing-up/correcting plate
37
, and thus, sheet S which has not been subjected to glue coating processing is brought into contact with the truing-up reference plate
36
to be trued up on its one side.
(4) Glue coating processing for sheet S
Sheet S fed into gluing means
40
from the sheet correction means
30
is moved toward the right side in the drawing. Both of sheet conveyance path
400
in a glue coating section of glue coating means
40
and sheet conveyance path
300
of sheet correction means
30
are formed to be almost in parallel with sheet conveyance path
200
of sheet direction changing means
20
, and a conveyance direction for sheet S is opposite to that for the sheet direction changing means
20
.
Glue discharging means
41
houses therein glue supplied from glue supply means
48
(see FIG.
5
), and discharges the glue on an edge portion on one side of running sheet S in a strap shape or in an intermitted broken line shape to form glue-coated portion N.
The sheet S which has been subjected to glue coating processing is conveyed upward while being interposed by conveyance rollers
431
,
432
and
433
, then, is conveyed along sheet conveyance path
400
formed by a guide plate, and is interposed by ejection roller
434
to be ejected to truing-up and pressuring means
50
.
(5) Thinning processing for glue-coated layer
In the vicinity of the downstream side of the glue coating means
40
, there is arranged membrane forming roller
44
fixed on the end of a rotary shaft of conveyance roller
433
.
Glue discharged from nozzle member
413
located on the tip portion of glue discharging means
41
form small semicylindrical glue-coated portion N on the surface of sheet S. When the sheet S is conveyed, glue-coated portion N formed on the sheet S is rolled by the membrane forming roller
44
located at the downstream side to become glue-coated portion N having a prescribed glue-coated thickness, thus, a flat and strap-shaped membrane glue-coated layer is formed.
(6) Truing-up and pressuring processing
First sheet S to be subjected to no glue coating processing is interposed by gripping means (gripper means)
51
and is placed at a prescribed position on sheet housing means (hereinafter referred to as a stacker)
52
with its leading edge portion coming in contact with stopper
53
. The gripping means
51
is moved while being supported by rotating belt
54
.
Second sheet S which has been subjected to glue coating processing is interposed by the gripping means
51
in the same way as in the foregoing, and is placed successively, with its glue coated portion N facing downward, on the preceding sheet S on the stacker
52
. The numeral
55
represents a pair of width-regulating member which can move in its lateral direction, and it regulates the lateral direction of sheet S.
Pressuring roller member
56
moves together with the gripping means
51
while being supported by rotating belt
54
. Pressuring roller member
56
moves while being in pressure contact with a gluing reverse side of sheet S, to ensure adhesion between sheets.
Pressuring processing for sheet S conducted by the pressuring roller member
56
may also be carried out every time each of the second sheet S and thereafter is placed on the stacker
52
. Or, the pressuring processing may also be carried out each time a plurality of sheets S are stacked.
Bookbinding for one copy which has been subjected to gluing processing is completed by the above-mentioned process. Incidentally, in this bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C, sheets S in quantity of the maximum number of 200 can be processed in terms of gluing to be bound.
(7) Stacking of a bundle of sheets and sheet ejection
On a part of a sheet stacking surface of stacker
52
, there are movably arranged a plurality of ejection belts
59
trained about driving roller
57
and driven roller
58
.
A bundle of sheets subjected to pressuring processing and bookbinding with gluing with its last sheet S being placed on the stacker
52
glides on a placement surface of the stacker
52
with the rear end portion of the bundle of sheets being held by ejection claw
59
a
of ejection belt
59
and it is interposed by ejection roller
63
of sheet ejection means
60
and is ejected on elevating sheet ejection tray
64
to be stacked thereon.
On the elevating sheet ejection tray
64
, both sheet S subjected to glue coating processing and sheet S subjected to no glue coating processing can be stacked, and elevating drive makes it possible for the elevating sheet ejection tray
64
to house a large quantity of sheets S.
(8) Cover sheet feeding
Cover sheet feeding means
80
is composed of sheet feed cassette
81
and sheet feed member
82
. A piece of cover sheet K fed from sheet feed cassette
81
passes through sheet feeding path
83
and conveyance roller
84
, to be fed into sheet direction changing means
20
, and it passes through sheet correction means
30
to be superposed on the top face or the bottom face of the bundle of sheets stated above for bookbinding with gluing.
A piece of cover sheet K fed from sheet feed cassette
81
passes through sheet feeding path
83
, and it is diverged by switching gate G
5
to be fed into folding means
70
stated later where it is folded double, and then, passes through conveyance roller
84
to be fed into sheet direction changing means
20
and is superposed on the bundle of sheets for bookbinding with gluing, after passing through sheet correction means
30
, glue coating means
40
and truing-up and pressuring means
50
.
(9) Folding processing
Sheet S conveyed from sheet conveyance path
16
to the lower portion in the drawing is diverged in switching gate G
2
, and is conveyed into folding means
70
through sheet conveyance path
18
B. The folding means
70
is composed of folding rollers
71
,
72
and
73
and of conveyance path switching plate
74
, and it conducts double folding or Z-folding for sheet S which has been fed in. The folded sheet S is merged by switching gate G
5
into a sheet feed path for a cover sheet, and is fed into sheet direction changing means
20
through conveyance roller
84
and switching gate G
2
, and it further passes through sheet correction means
30
, glue coating means
40
and truing-up and pressuring means
50
to be subjected to bookbinding with gluing.
Each of FIGS.
4
(
a
)-
4
(
d
) is a perspective view showing a glue coating position on each type of sheet S. FIG.
4
(
a
) is a diagram wherein glue coated portion N is formed in the longitudinal direction on the longer side of sheet S, FIG.
4
(
b
) is a diagram wherein glue coated portion N is formed in the lateral direction on the shorter side of sheet S, FIG.
4
(
c
) is a diagram wherein glue coated portion N is formed on double-folded sheet S, and FIG.
4
(
d
) is a diagram wherein glue coated portion N is formed on Z-folded sheet S.
FIG.
5
(
a
) is a top view in the vicinity of glue discharging means
41
of sheet correction means
30
and glue coating means
40
, while, FIG.
5
(
b
) is a front view in the vicinity of glue discharging means
41
of glue coating means
40
.
The sheet correction means
30
is arranged between conveyance roller
32
and conveyance roller
33
. The sheet correction means
30
is composed of truing-up reference plate
36
and truing-up/correcting plate
37
which face each other in the direction of a width of sheet S that is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.
The truing-up reference plate
36
is arranged to be fixed on the apparatus main body to be in parallel with the sheet conveyance direction. Sheet S comes in contact with a side edge portion of the truing-up reference plate
36
in the direction of a width of the sheet S, and thereby, the sheet S is positioned. The truing-up/correcting plate
37
can move in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction depending on the size of sheet S in its width direction, and it is moved by an unillustrated driving means from the prescribed retreated position in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, to press the side edge portion of sheet S. The truing-up/correcting plate
37
presses the vicinity of the center of the truing-up reference plate
36
through sheet S existing between them so as to prevent inclined contact of sheet S on the truing-up reference plate
36
and to make a side edge portion of sheet S to be in close contact with the truing-up reference plate
36
.
Between conveyance roller
34
and conveyance roller
431
, there is arranged glue discharging means
41
which applies glue on a side edge portion of sheet S. The glue discharging means
41
is driven by first driving means
42
A and second driving means
42
B to discharge glue on demand. Below the glue discharging means
41
, there is arranged collecting container
40
A. The numeral
48
represents a glue supply means that supplies glue to the glue discharging means
41
.
FIG. 6
is an enlarged sectional view of glue discharging means
41
and a driving means.
The glue discharging means
41
is composed of casing
410
, first needle member
411
, second needle member
412
and nozzle member
413
. The first driving means
42
A moves the first needle member
411
. The second driving means
42
B moves the second needle member
412
.
The nozzle member
413
has therein glue housing chamber
413
b
that houses glue and nozzle opening portion
413
a
. On the side of the nozzle member
413
, there is opened introduction opening
413
c
. Glue for sheet adhesion housed in glue housing container
47
which will be described later is force-fed by glue supply means
48
to be supplied from the introduction opening
413
c
into glue housing chamber
413
b
of the nozzle member
413
through supply tube
451
of conveyance means
45
.
The first needle member
411
moves through the nozzle opening portion
413
a
of the nozzle member
413
so that the nozzle opening portion
413
a
may be opened and closed. The second needle member
412
moves so that a glue supply path through which the glue in the glue housing chamber
413
b
of the nozzle member
413
flow may be opened and closed. Tip portion
411
a
of the first needle member
411
can move through tip opening portion
412
a
of the second needle member
412
.
When voltage is impressed on first solenoid SL
1
, plunger SL
1
a
is attracted, pin SL
1
b
presses down an end portion on the other side of first lever
421
, the first lever
421
is rotated counterclockwise about supporting shaft
425
, and an end portion on one side of the first lever
421
pushes up pin
416
A so that the first needle member
411
is pulled up in the axial direction.
Next, when voltage is impressed on second solenoid SL
2
, plunger SL
2
a
is attracted, pin SL
2
b
presses down an end portion on the other side of second lever
422
, the second lever
422
is rotated clockwise about supporting shaft
426
, and an end portion on one side of the second lever
422
pushes up pin
416
B so that the second needle member
412
is pulled up in the axial direction.
The second needle member
412
is force-fitted to be fixed in the lower end portion of tubular object
414
in a shape of a hollow cylinder. The tubular object
414
is fitted with bearing
415
A fixed on casing
10
and with bearing
415
B fixed on covering object
410
A, and it is supported to be movable up and down. The tubular object
414
is urged downward by spring
418
B. On the upper portion of the tubular object
414
, there is fixed pin
416
B which is connected with the second driving means
42
B.
Inside the tubular object
414
, there is housed the first needle member
411
in a movable manner. Tip portion
411
a
on the lower portion of the first needle member
411
is fitted with tip opening portion
412
a
of the second needle member
412
. Sliding member
417
A fixed on the intermediate portion of the first needle member
411
slides on an inner wall of the tubular object
414
.
Sliding member
417
B fixed on the upper portion of the first needle member
411
slides on the upper portion of an inner wall of the tubular object
414
. The sliding member
417
B is fitted with bearing
415
C force-fitted in supporting member
410
B which is fixed on the upper portion of casing
410
, and it is supported to be movable up and down.
Inside the casing
410
, there is force-fitted packing member
419
. The inner circumferential surface of the packing member
419
slides on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular object
414
, and seals an upper portion of the glue housing chamber
413
b.
On the sliding member
417
B, there is fixed pin
416
A which is connected with the first driving means
42
A. The sliding member
417
B is urged downward by spring
418
A.
On the flank on one side of the casing
410
, there is arranged first driving means
42
A which drives the first needle member
411
. On supporting shaft
425
fixed on supporting member
423
that is connected to the side of the casing
410
, there is supported first lever
421
to be capable of swinging. An end portion on one side of the first lever
421
holds pin
416
A that is connected to the first needle member
411
. An end portion on the other side of the first lever
421
comes in contact with pin SL
1
b
fixed on plunger SL
1
a
of the first solenoid SL
1
.
On the flank on the other side of the casing
410
, there is arranged second driving means
42
B which drives the second needle member
412
. On supporting shaft
426
fixed on supporting member
424
that is connected to the side of the casing
410
, there is supported second lever
422
to be capable of swinging. An end portion on one side of the second lever
422
holds pin
416
B that is connected to the second needle member
412
. An end portion on the other side of the second lever
422
comes in contact with pin SL
2
b
that is fixed on plunger SL
2
a
of the second solenoid SL
2
.
When voltage is impressed on first solenoid SL
1
, plunger SL
1
a
is attracted, pin SL
1
b
presses down an end portion on the other side of first lever
421
, the first lever
421
is rotated counterclockwise about supporting shaft
425
, and an end portion on one side of the first lever
421
pushes up pin
416
A so that the first needle member
411
is pulled up in the axial direction.
Next, when voltage is impressed on second solenoid SL
2
, plunger SL
2
a
is attracted, pin SL
2
b
presses down an end portion on the other side of second lever
422
, the second lever
422
is rotated clockwise about supporting shaft
426
, and an end portion on one side of the second lever
422
pushes up pin
416
B so that the second needle member
412
is pulled up in the axial direction.
Each of FIGS.
7
(
a
),
7
(
b
) and
7
(
c
) is an enlarged sectional view showing the movement process of the first needle member
411
and the second needle member
412
.
FIG.
7
(
a
) shows a first position wherein a tip portion of the second needle member
412
shuts tightly an inside of nozzle opening portion
413
a
of nozzle member
413
to cut a glue supply path, and tip portion
411
a
of the first needle member
411
protrudes from a tip portion of nozzle opening portion
413
a
for discharging glue of nozzle member
413
to create the covered state.
In this first position, no voltage is impressed on the first solenoid SL
1
and the second solenoid SL
2
, and the first needle member
411
is urged by spring
418
A to be protruded from the tip portion of nozzle opening portion
413
a
to be suspended. The second needle member
412
is urged by spring
418
B, and a tapered portion of the tip base portion of the second needle member
412
and an inclined portion inside the nozzle opening portion
413
a
of nozzle member
413
come into contact with each other, thus, the glue housing chamber
413
b
is held to be in the covered state, and discharging of glue is prevented.
FIG.
7
(
b
) shows the state of standby wherein voltage is impressed only on the first solenoid SL
1
to drive it, and the first lever
421
is swung to be suspended temporarily at the second position. In this second position, tip portion
411
a
of the first needle member
411
moves to the inside of the first position, and leaves the nozzle opening portion
413
a
of the nozzle member
413
to make the nozzle opening portion to be in the opened state, and it further retreats in the tip opening portion
412
a
of the second needle member
412
to be held in the state of standby before blue discharging.
The first driving means composed of the first solenoid SL
1
and the first lever
421
drives the first needle member
411
before glue coating operations to make the first needle member to reciprocate between the first position and the second position so that glue solidified on nozzle opening portion
413
a
of nozzle member
413
and on tip opening portion
412
a
of the second needle member
412
may be removed (purging).
The number of reciprocations and a length of the stroke of the reciprocation of the first needle member
411
for prevention of glue solidification are established to be the optimum conditions based on data of the nozzle opening portion
413
a
and of the first needle member
411
and on characteristics of glue.
Glue used in an embodiment of the invention represent adhesive agents of a vinyl acetate type, and viscosity thereof is 750-1500 mPa·s at the normal temperature.
Incidentally, reciprocations of the first needle member
411
for preventing glue solidification on the nozzle opening portion
413
a
is conducted before the start of gluing on sheet S, and solidified glue and glue discharged simultaneously are collected in the lower collecting container
40
A.
FIG.
7
(
c
) shows the state of coating wherein the first solenoid SL
1
is held to be impressed with voltage, and further, voltage is impressed on the second solenoid SL
2
, and the second lever
422
is swung to be stopped at the third position. In this third position, a tip portion of the second needle member
412
is moved to the inside of the second position to be held on the same plane as that for tip portion
411
a
of the first needle member
411
. When the second needle member
412
is moved, the nozzle opening portion
413
a
is held to its full-open state, a glue supply path is communicated, and glue in glue housing chamber
41
becomes possible to be discharged.
FIG.
8
(
a
) is a perspective view of glue container
47
and FIG.
8
(
b
) is a sectional view thereof.
The glue container
47
is composed of flexible bag object
471
that houses glue Na (crosshatched portion in illustration) and of capsule member
472
.
The capsule member
472
is composed of ejection opening
472
a
capable of ejecting glue Na housed in flexible bag object
471
container and of mounting portion
472
b
capable of mounting on glue supply means
48
.
The flexible bag object
471
has two flat portions
471
a
and
471
b
which face each other. These flat portions
471
a
and
471
b
are pressed by a flat pressing member described later, and thereby glue Na housed in the flexible bag object
471
is ejected from the ejection opening
472
a.
A material for the flexible film object forming the flat portions
471
a
and
471
b
is formed by a laminated material made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum foil and polyethylene (PE).
FIG.
9
(
a
) is a top view of glue supply means
48
showing the initial state where the glue container
47
is mounted on the glue supply means
48
, and FIG.
9
(
b
) is a sectional front view thereof.
The glue supply means
48
of the invention is composed of pressuring means (pneumatic apparatus such as a gas spring, hereinafter referred to as pneumatic apparatus) GS that presses the glue container
47
to supply housed glue Na to glue discharging means
41
and of a releasing means that releases the pressing to make the glue container
47
to be mounted or dismounted.
Two flat portions
471
a
and
471
b
of the flexible bag object
471
facing each other are pressed by pressing means
482
A and
482
B. The pressing means
482
A is supported rotatably on shaft
484
A fixed on arm
483
A. The arm
483
A is fixed on swinging shaft
485
A that is supported rotatably on casing
480
of the glue supply means
48
.
The arm
483
A fixed on the swinging shaft
485
A is swung by driving pressure of a pneumatic apparatus described later in the direction shown with a one-dot chain line. When the arm
483
A is swung, pressing member
482
A connected by shaft
484
A moves in the direction shown with a void arrow, and presses the flat portion
471
a
of the flexible bag object
471
.
Simultaneously with the foregoing, the arm
483
B fixed on the swinging shaft
485
B is swung by driving pressure of the pneumatic apparatus GS in the direction shown with a one-dot chain line. When the arm
483
B is swung, pressing member
482
B connected by shaft
484
B moves in the direction shown with a void arrow, and presses the flat portion
471
b
of the flexible bag object
471
.
FIG. 10
is a top view of glue supply means
48
wherein glue container
47
mounted on glue supply means
48
is flat.
When driving pressure of the pneumatic apparatus GS makes the pressing members
482
A and
482
B to press glue container
47
to create the illustrated state, protruded portion
489
(see FIG.
9
(
b
)) fixed on the end of the swinging shaft
485
B intercepts a detection optical path of sensor PS
1
to detect the final detection position, and an alarm for running short of glue in the glue container
47
is given to indicate replacement of the glue container
47
.
Prior to mounting of the blue container
47
on the glue supply means
48
, a driving source (motor M
1
shown in
FIGS. 9
(
a
) and
9
(
b
)) is started, then, arms
483
A and
483
B are swung conversely through a drive transmission mechanism (pressing releasing mechanism) described later, and pressing members
482
A and
482
B are moved from the closed position shown in
FIG. 10
to the open position shown in FIGS.
9
(
a
) and
9
(
b
). In the course of opening the pressing members
482
A and
482
B, pneumatic apparatus GS is compressed against extending force of plunger GSp.
Under the condition that the pressing members are in the position where they are opened shown in FIGS.
9
(
a
) and
9
(
b
), glue container
47
can be mounted on the glue supply means
48
from the upper portion of container mounting portion
481
or dismounted from the glue supply means
48
both in the direction perpendicular to the direction for the pressing members
482
A and
482
B to move.
When mounting glue container
47
on glue supply means
48
, supply tube
451
connected to introduction opening
413
c
of glue discharging means
41
is connected to ejection opening
474
of capsule member
472
of the glue container
47
through connecting member
46
on the supply tube side, then, switching valve
452
is opened and glue Na in flexible bag object
471
is communicated with glue discharging means
41
.
When starting glue supply, driving force of a driving source is kept to be in the state of suspension thereof, and the transmission mechanism is left to be in the state of free rotation by a one-way mechanism and a play mechanism through extending force caused by pressing load P of the pneumatic apparatus GS.
Under the state of free rotation, pressing members
482
A and
482
B are moved in the direction of an arrow by pressing load P of the pneumatic apparatus GS. When pressing members
482
A and
482
B are moved, flat portions
471
a
and
471
b
of flexible bag object
471
are pressed from both sides, and glue Na in the flexible bag object
471
is compressed and ejected from ejection opening
572
a
to be supplied to glue discharging means
41
.
When glue coating processing by glue discharging means
41
is not conducted, or when glue container
47
is mounted or dismounted, the pressing members
482
A and
482
B can be separated manually by operations of a releasing means to release pressing by driving the driving means conversely.
FIG. 11
is a top view of a pressing driving mechanism of glue supply means
48
.
Sector gear Z
13
is connected with joint GSj positioned at the tip of reciprocating plunger GSp of pneumatic apparatus GS. Main body section GSa of the pneumatic apparatus GS is fixed on casing
480
. The pneumatic apparatus GS is composed of a gas spring and urges in the direction of an arrow by protruding plunger GSp with uniform pressing load P.
The plunger GSp of the pneumatic apparatus GS is protruded from main body section GSa by pressing load P to rotate the sector gear Z
13
clockwise and thereby to rotate swinging shaft
485
A solidly. Further, arm
483
A fixed on the swinging shaft
485
A is also swung to rotate shaft
484
A in the direction of an arrow of illustrated one-dot chain lines. Pressing member
482
A supported on the shaft
484
A moves flexible bag object
471
of glue container
47
in the direction to compress it.
The sector gear Z
13
is engaged with sector gear Z
12
. When the sector gear Z
13
rotates clockwise, sector gear Z
12
is rotated counterclockwise to rotate solidly swinging shaft
485
B on which the sector gear Z
12
is fixed. Further, arm
483
B fixed on the swinging shaft
485
B is also rotated, then, shaft
484
B is rotated in the direction of an arrow of illustrated one-dot chain lines, and pressing member
482
B supported on the shaft
484
B is moved in the direction to compress the flexible bag object
471
of glue container
47
.
In the course of compressing glue container
47
with pneumatic apparatus GS, driving of motor M
1
for releasing compression is suspended, and a driving system for transmitting power to sector gears Z
12
and Z
13
is also kept to be in the state of suspension.
Inside the sector gear Z
12
, there is formed fan-shaped cavity
4851
, and inside the sector gear Z
13
, there is formed fan-shaped cavity
4852
. Further, on swinging shaft
485
A, there is embedded pin
4853
, and on swinging shaft
485
A, there is embedded pin
4853
, and on swinging shaft
485
B, there is embedded pin
4854
. When arm
483
A and
483
B are rotated by pressing load P of pneumatic apparatus GS in the direction to compress glue container
47
, each of pins
4853
and
4854
comes in contact with a side wall on one side of each of fan-shaped cavities
4851
and
4852
to rotate each of gears Z
12
and Z
13
, and thereby, arms
483
A and
483
B are swung and flexible bag object
471
is pressed by pressing members
482
A and
482
B.
FIG. 12
is a top view of a pressing releasing mechanism of glue supply means
48
.
When motor M
1
for releasing compression drives, worm gear Z
1
fixed on a rotary shaft of the motor M
1
rotates worm wheel Z
2
to further rotate gear Z
3
through timing belt TB. The gear Z
3
rotates swinging shaft
485
B through gears Z
4
, Z
5
, Z
6
, Z
7
, Z
8
, Z
9
, Z
10
and Z
11
.
Swinging shaft
485
B rotates shaft
484
B embedded in arm
483
B that is fixed on the swinging shaft
485
B in the direction of an arrow of illustrated one-dot chain lines, and moves pressing member
482
B supported on the shaft
484
B in the direction of its opening.
Sector gear Z
12
fixed on the lower shaft end portion of the swinging shaft
485
B is engaged with sector gear Z
13
fixed on the lower shaft end portion of the swinging shaft
485
A.
When the sector gear Z
12
is swung by motor M
1
and a gear train of a drive transmission mechanism to rotate in the illustrated clockwise direction, the sector gear Z
13
rotates in the illustrated counterclockwise direction. Swinging shaft
485
A on which the motor gear Z
13
is fixed also rotates integrally, and it swings arm
483
A, rotates shaft
484
A in the direction of an arrow of illustrated one-dot chain lines, and moves pressing member
482
A supported on shaft
484
A in its opening direction.
In the course of operations for releasing compression, pin
4854
embedded in swinging shaft
485
A comes in contact with the other side wall of cavity
4852
provided inside sector gear Z
13
, and rotates sector gear Z
12
counterclockwise.
When motor M
1
stops driving, each of fan-shaped cavities
4851
and
4852
becomes capable of moving freely within an angle of play between both side walls against each of pins suspended, and thus, each of arms
483
A and
483
B becomes capable of moving freely within this angle of play. Since pressing members
482
A and
482
B are made to be free for moving by free moving of the arms
483
A and
483
B, it becomes possible to move pressing members
482
A and
482
B easily by holding them, and thereby to make them to part from each other. When pressing members
482
A and
482
B are made to part from each other, glue container
47
can be mounted and dismounted.
Each of FIGS.
13
(
a
) and
13
(
b
) is a sectional top view showing the state wherein a connecting means on the supply tube side has been removed from a connecting means on the glue container side, and FIG.
13
(
c
) is a sectional top view showing the state wherein the connecting means on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side. FIG.
14
(
a
) is an enlarged sectional view of the connecting means on the glue container side when glue supply is suspended, and FIG.
14
(
b
) is an enlarged sectional view of the connecting means on the glue container side and the connecting means on the supply tube side both in the case of glue supply.
A connecting means on the glue container side is composed of male screw section
472
c
provided on capsule member
472
of glue container
47
and of female screw section
473
a
provided on cap portion
473
. On the tip portion of the cap portion
473
, there is provided ejection opening section
473
b.
In the hollow section inside the ejection opening section
473
b
, there is inserted spherical valve member
474
having a diameter that is greater than an inside diameter of the ejection opening section
473
b
. The valve member
474
is urged by elastic member
475
such as a coil spring to close the ejection opening section
473
b
from its inside. The elastic member
475
is held by washer
476
and rubber seal member
477
which are interposed between a tip portion of the capsule member
472
and the cap portion
473
.
An end portion on one side of supply tube
451
through which glue flows and is supplied to glue discharging means
41
is connected to outer cylinder member
461
of connecting means
46
on the supply tube side. Female screw section
461
a
provided on the outer cylinder member
461
engages with male screw section
462
a
provided on inner cylinder member
462
.
In a groove section provided on an inside diameter section of the inner cylinder member
462
, there is fitted O-ring
463
. On an outer end face of the inner cylinder member
462
, there is supported rotatably check valve
464
which is urged by spring
465
to close opening section
462
b
of the inner cylinder member
462
. On an inner end face of the inner cylinder member
462
, there is protruded protrusion
466
.
Between an outer end face of the inner cylinder member
462
and an inner end face of the outer cylinder member
461
, there is interposed rubber seal member
467
which prevents leakage of glue. On an inner end face of the inner cylinder member
462
, there is stuck rubber seal member
468
.
When connecting means
46
on the supply tube side is connected to the connecting means on the glue container side, an inside diameter section of the inner cylinder member
462
slides on and connected with an outer circumferential surface of the cap portion
473
through O-ring
463
to prevent leakage of glue. During the period of this connection, the rubber seal member
468
stuck on an inner end face of the inner cylinder member
462
comes in pressure contact with an outer end face of the cap portion
473
to prevent leakage of glue.
In virtue of this connection, the protrusion
466
of the connecting means
46
on the supply tube side presses an outer circumferential surface of the valve member
474
of the connecting means on the glue container side against urging of the spring to press and move the valve member toward the glue container side. With the movement of the valve member
474
, ejection opening section
473
b
of the cap portion
473
is opened. Glue contained in glue container
47
are pressurized by pressing members
482
A and
482
B to be ejected from ejection opening
472
a
, and then, the glue makes check valve
464
to swing against urging of the spring, and pass through the opened ejection opening
473
b
to flow in supply tube
451
.
FIG.
15
(
a
) is a top view wherein driving means
49
which moves connecting means
46
on the supply tube side is not connected, and FIG.
15
(
b
) is a front view wherein the driving means
49
is connected.
Gear Z
21
fixed on a driving shaft of motor M
2
rotates gear Z
22
through an unillustrated speed reducing gear train. One end of wire W
1
which is trained about pulley PL
1
fixed on a rotary shaft of the gear Z
22
is fixed on one end of moving object
490
. Wire W
2
fixed on the other end of the moving object
490
is trained about pulleys PL
2
and PL
3
, and is stretched by coil spring
491
.
On the moving object
490
, there is fixed connecting means
46
on the supply tube side which is composed of outer cylinder member
461
and inner cylinder member
462
. Sliding object
492
fixed on the base of the moving object
490
travels straight on the surface of slide rail
493
that is fixed on the apparatus main body. The slide rail
493
is equipped with a slide bearing and supports the moving object
490
so that it may travel straight.
The moving object
490
is pulled toward the glue container
47
by tension force of coil spring
491
, and it makes connecting means
46
on the supply tube side to move so that the inner cylinder member
462
may be connected to the cap portion
473
of the connecting means on the glue container side. Under the state of this connection, glue in the glue container
47
is supplied to glue discharging means
41
through the connecting means and supply tube
451
.
When the glue container
47
is mounted on or dismounted from glue supply means
48
, or when the glue container
47
is replaced, motor M
2
is driven to rotate pulley PL
1
through a drive transmission means such as a gear train, then, moving object
490
is moved straight by rotation of wire W
1
against tension force of coil spring
491
, and connecting means
46
on the supply tube is made to leave the connecting means on the glue container side.
(Second Example)
Each of FIGS.
16
(
a
) and
16
(
b
) shows another embodiment of a glue supply means of the invention, and FIG.
16
(
a
) is an enlarged sectional view of the connecting means on the glue container side under the condition of suspension of glue supply, while, FIG.
16
(
b
) is an enlarged sectional view of the connecting means on the glue container side under the condition of glue supply and the connecting means on the supply tube side. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in FIGS.
14
(
a
) and
14
(
b
) are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the first embodiment will be explained.
On an inner wall of cap portion
473
of the connecting means on the glue container side, there is formed inclined surface portion
473
c
. Spherical valve member
474
inserted in the cap portion
473
moves downward obliquely by gravity along the inclined surface portion
473
c
to close ejection opening
473
b.
When the connecting means on the glue container side is connected to the connecting means on the supply tube side, protrusion
466
of inner cylinder member
462
presses valve member
474
to make it to move upward obliquely along the inclined surface portion
473
c
. With the movement of the valve member
474
, ejection opening
473
b
of the cap portion
473
is opened, which makes glue which have passed through opening section
462
b
of inner cylinder member
462
to be sent to supply tube
451
.
(Third Embodiment)
Each of FIGS.
17
(
a
)-
17
(
c
) shows another embodiment of a glue supply means of the invention, and each of FIGS.
17
(
a
) and
17
(
b
) is a top sectional view showing the connecting means on the supply tube side and the connecting means on the glue container under the condition of non-connection, while, FIG.
17
(
c
) is a front view showing the connecting means on the supply tube side and the connecting means on the glue container under the condition of connection. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in FIGS.
14
(
a
)-
15
(
b
) are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the first embodiment will be explained.
Inside the cap portion
473
, there are housed dish-shaped valve member
478
, rubber seal members
4771
and
4772
and elastic member
475
such as a coil spring. Under the condition of non-connection between connecting means
46
on the supply tube side and the connecting means on the glue container side, the valve member
478
is urged by the elastic member
475
and is brought into pressure contact with rubber seal member
4772
to close ejection opening
473
b
. Under the condition of connection between connecting means
46
on the supply tube side and the connecting means on the glue container side, protrusion
466
protruded to the inside of inner cylinder member
462
presses valve member
478
so that the valve member
478
may be moved toward capsule member
472
to open ejection opening
473
b
. Glue in glue container
47
passes through the opened ejection opening
473
b
, then passes through opening
462
b
under check valve
464
swung by ejection pressure of the glue, and is sent to supply tube
451
forcibly.
(Fourth Embodiment)
Each of FIG.
18
and
FIG. 19
shows still another embodiment of a glue supply means of the invention, and
FIG. 18
is a sectional top view of a connecting means on the glue container side, while,
FIG. 19
is a sectional front view of connecting means
46
under the state of connection and the connecting means on the glue container side. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in FIGS.
14
(
a
) and
14
(
b
) are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the first embodiment will be explained.
Inside first cap portion
4731
fixed on capsule member
472
through screw fitting, there is fixed valve member
4740
which has therein glue flowing path
4741
, circular cone section
4742
and protrusion
4743
.
On the outer circumferential surface of a tip portion of the first cap portion
4731
, there is supported second cap portion
4732
to be capable of moving in the axial direction. On the end surface of the second cap portion
4732
, there is formed conical opening
4733
.
The numeral
4771
represents a rubber seal member inserted between an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
and an inner end surface of the first cap portion
4731
, while, the numeral
4772
represents a rubber seal member fixed on an end surface of a tip portion of the first capsule portion
4731
.
When moving object
490
is moved by driving means
49
to move connecting means
46
on the supply tube side in the axial direction, inner cylinder member
462
comes in pressure contact with the second cap portion
4732
through rubber seal member
468
to stop and to enter its state of connection.
Under the state of this connection, circular cone section
4742
of the valve member
4740
leaves conical opening
4733
of the second cap portion
4732
to form a space that makes it possible for glue to flow. Further, protrusion
4743
presses check valve
464
of the connecting means
46
on the supply tube side to make it to swing, so that opening
462
b
is opened forcibly. Under the condition of this connection, glue in glue container
47
passes through the glue flowing path
4741
in valve member
4740
, then, pass through conical opening
4733
opened by valve member
4740
and through opening
462
b
to be sent to supply tube
451
forcibly.
When glue container
47
is replaced, connection between the connecting means on the glue container side and the connecting means on the supply tube side is released. By driving of driving means
49
, connecting means
46
on the supply tube side fixed on moving object
490
is moved, then, engagement between protrusion
4743
and check valve
464
is canceled, and opening
462
b
is closed.
Cam member
495
is fitted rotatably with supporting shaft
494
that is embedded in slide rail
493
. Releasing lever
496
is formed integrally on the cam member
495
.
When the moving object
490
moves in the direction of an illustrated arrow to the right side in the course of cancellation of connection of the connecting means
46
on the supply tube side, a bottom portion of the moving object
490
presses a cam face on the top surface of cam member
495
to rotate the cam member
495
clockwise as illustrated. A tip portion of releasing lever
496
formed solidly with the cam member
495
presses a left end surface of the second cap portion
4732
to move it to the right side in the illustration. With this movement, conical opening
4733
of the second cap portion
4732
comes in contact with circular cone section
4742
of valve member
4740
to be closed, and it is kept to be in the state shown in FIG.
16
. Torsion spring
497
urges the cam member
495
toward the moving object
490
side. Stopper
498
regulates the upper limit position of the cam member
495
.
(Fifth Embodiment)
FIGS.
20
-
22
(
c
) show other embodiments of a glue supply means of the invention.
FIG. 20
is a sectional top view of a connecting means on the glue container side, FIG.
21
(
a
) is a partial side view of the state wherein an opening section of the connecting means on the glue container side is closed, and FIG.
21
(
b
) is a partial side view showing the closed the state wherein an opening section of the connecting means on the glue container side is opened. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in FIGS.
13
(
a
)-
13
(
c
) are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the first embodiment will be explained.
On an end surface of the tip portion of capsule member
472
, there is formed semicircular ejection opening
472
d
. On the circumference of ejection opening
472
d
, there is glued inner cover
479
which keeps glue Na contained in flexible bag object
471
hermetically. The inner cover
479
is formed by a thin film material in a laminated film shape that is made of an aluminum foil or polyethylene, and it is stuck on an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
through thermal fusion.
The inner cover
479
is protected by cap portion
4734
that engages with capsule member
472
rotatably. Namely, protrusion
4735
of the cap portion
4734
is engaged with a groove portion provided on an outer circumferential surface that is in the vicinity of a tip portion of the capsule member
472
, and it is rotatable. At the decentered position that is away from the center of the inner cover
479
, there is small diameter hole
4736
that is a through hole. When the small diameter hole
4736
is held at the position shown in FIG.
21
(
a
) where the small diameter hole is not overlapped on semicircular ejection opening
472
d
, the inner cover
479
is protected by the cap portion
4734
. With regard to unused glue container
47
wherein flexible bag object
471
is filled with glue Na, damage of the inner cover
479
caused by vibrations or shocks generated in the course of storage or transportation can be prevented by the cap portion
4734
. Further, for used glue container
47
, leakage of glue Na remaining in flexible bag object
471
can be prevented by the cap portion
4734
.
When there comes a position shown in FIG.
21
(
b
) where small diameter hole
4736
is overlapped with semicircular ejection opening
472
d
, after rotating the inner cover
479
, there turns out to be the standby position where the inner cover
479
can be opened.
Each of FIGS.
22
(
a
) and
22
(
b
) is a sectional top view showing connecting means
46
on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side which are in the state of non-connection, and FIG.
22
(
c
) is a sectional front view showing connecting means
46
on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side which are in the state of connection.
Prior to connection between connecting means
46
on the supply tube side and a connecting means on the glue container side, when there comes a position shown in FIG.
21
(
b
) where small diameter hole
4736
is overlapped with semicircular ejection opening
472
d
, after rotating the cap portion
4734
manually, or by an unillustrated rotating means, there turns out to be the standby position where the inner cover
479
can be opened.
Next, after connecting the connecting means
46
on the supply tube side to the connecting means on the glue container side by driving the driving means
49
, pressuring means GS is operated to pressurize glue container
47
. Pressurized glue in the glue container
47
passes through ejection opening
472
d
of capsule member
472
, then, damages inner cover
479
, passes through small diameter hole
4736
, then, opens check valve
464
, passes through opening
462
b
, and sent to supply tube
451
forcibly to be supplied to glue discharging means
41
.
When replacing glue container
47
, if motor M
2
for releasing pressing is operated to make the connecting means
46
on the supply tube side to leave the connecting means on the glue container side, check valve
464
is urged by the spring and opening
462
b
is closed.
Bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C of the invention is connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a compound machine thereof. For the sheets ejected out after being subjected to the required digital processing conducted by an image forming apparatus and to the processing such as a single-sided recording, a two-sided recording and pagination editing, cover attaching processing and gluing processing are conducted accurately and efficiently by an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C.
Incidentally, it is also possible to form the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device C of the invention as an independent apparatus, and thereby to conduct gluing and bookbinding for the sheets processed by other image forming apparatuses.
FIGS.
23
(
a
)-
23
(
d
) show the sixth embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention. Each of FIGS.
23
(
a
) and
23
(
b
) is a sectional view of capsule member
472
of glue container
47
and connecting means
46
to be connected to supply tube
451
, FIG.
23
(
c
) is a sectional view of capsule member
472
taken on line
23
(
c
)-
23
(
c
), and FIG.
23
(
d
) is a sectional view of connecting means
46
taken on line
23
(
d
)-
23
(
d
).
On an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
, there is glued and fixed inner cover
473
in the shape of a thin film thin, and it seals hollow ejection opening
472
a
and keeps glue Na contained in flexible bad object
471
to be in the sealed state. Inner cover
473
in the shape of a thin film is formed by a thin film material in a laminated film shape that is made of an aluminum foil or polyethylene, and it is stuck on an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
through thermal fusion.
On the outer surface of inner cover
473
in the shape of a thin film, there is glued and fixed plate-shaped rubber seal member
474
. At the central portion of the rubber seal member
474
, there is formed opening
474
a
. Rubber seal member
474
is formed by an elastic rubber material such as urethane rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), acrylnitryl butadiene rubber (NBR).
In a hollow portion which is positioned to be slightly inside an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
, there is solidly formed stopper section
472
c
having a diameter which is smaller than an inside diameter of ejection opening
472
a
. The stopper section
472
c
is connected with an inner wall of capsule member
472
through a plurality of connectors
472
d
, and a plurality of flow holes
472
e
are formed on the stopper section
472
c.
Connecting means
46
is connected to an end portion on one side of supply tube
451
that makes glue to flow therethrough and to be supplied to glue discharging means
41
. The connecting means
46
is composed of first connection member
461
which connects to supply tube
451
, second connection member
462
fixed on the opening of the first connection member
461
, third connection member
463
connected to the second connection member
462
through screw engagement, movable valve member
464
arranged movably inside the third connection member
463
, protrusion-shaped member
465
fixed on a tip portion of the movable valve member
464
, outer cover
466
fixed on a tip portion of the third connection member
463
, and compression spring
467
that urges the movable valve member
464
.
An exit portion of the second connection member
462
is connected with an inner wall of the second connecting member
462
through a plurality of connectors
462
a
, and it forms a plurality of flow holes
462
b
. At the center of the inside of the second connecting member
462
, there is formed protrusion
462
c
solidly. A tip portion of the protrusion
462
c
is in pressure contact with compression spring
467
.
The compression spring
467
presses the movable valve member
464
to make a circular cone surface formed on an outer circumferential surface of the movable valve member
464
to be brought into pressure contact with an inner wall surface in the vicinity of an opening of the third connecting member
463
.
A tip portion of the protrusion-shaped member
465
passes through opening
474
a
provided at the center of rubber seal member
474
, then, breaks through inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film, and comes in contact with stopper section
472
c
of capsule member
472
.
An inner circumferential surface of outer cover
466
comes in close contact with an outer circumferential surface of rubber seal member
474
and thereby prevents leakage of glue.
FIG.
24
(
a
) is a top view of driving means
49
that moves connecting means
46
in the state of non-connection, and FIG.
24
(
b
) is a front view of the driving means
49
in the state of connection.
Gear Z
21
fixed on a driving shaft of motor M
2
rotates gear Z
22
through an unillustrated speed reducing gear train. One end of wire W
1
that is trained about pulley PL
1
fixed on a rotary shaft of gear Z
22
is fixed on one end of moving object
490
. Wire W
2
fixed on the other end of the moving object
49
is trained about pulleys PL
2
and PL
3
and is stretched by coil spring
491
.
On the moving object
490
, there is fixed connecting means
46
. Sliding object
492
fixed on the base portion of the moving object
490
advances straight on the surface of slide rail
493
that is fixed on the supply device main body. The slide rail
493
is equipped with a slide bearing and supports the moving object
490
so that it may advance straight.
The moving object
490
is attracted by tensile force of coil spring
491
toward the glue container
47
side to move connecting means
46
connected with supply tube
451
so that the connecting means
46
may be connected with capsule member
472
of the glue container
47
.
When glue container
47
is mounted on or dismounted from container mounting section
481
of glue supply means
48
or when the glue container is replaced, motor M
2
is driven to rotate pulley PL
1
through a power transmission means such as a gear train, and thereby, the moving object
490
is moved straight by rotation of wire W
1
against tensile force of coil spring
491
so that connecting means
46
is made to leave the connecting means on the glue container side.
Each of FIGS.
25
(
a
)-
25
(
c
) is a sectional view showing how capsule member
472
of glue container
47
is connected with connecting means
46
.
FIG.
25
(
a
) shows the state wherein connecting means
46
is made to be close to glue container
47
. The connecting means
46
is moved by driving means
49
in the direction of an illustrated void arrow. Outer cover
466
starts fitting with rubber seal member
474
, and a tip portion of protrusion member
465
comes in contact with inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film.
FIG.
25
(
b
) shows the state wherein inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film is broken by a tip portion of protrusion member
465
. The connecting means
46
is further moved by the driving means
49
in the direction of an illustrated void arrow. After the outer cover
466
is fitted with rubber seal member
474
to make the inside of the connecting means
46
to be kept in the state of sealing, a tip portion of the protrusion member
465
breaks the inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film so that glue contained in glue container
47
is made to be capable of being ejected from capsule member
472
.
FIG.
25
(
c
) shows the state wherein glue ejected from capsule member
472
flows through connecting means
46
to be supplied to supply tube
451
. The connecting means
46
is moved by driving means
49
in the direction of an illustrated void arrow. A tip portion of protrusion member
465
breaks inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film, and then, it hits stopper section
472
c
and stops.
When the connecting means
46
is further moved toward the left side in the drawing, first connecting member
461
connected with supply tube
451
, second connecting member
462
, third connecting member
463
and outer cover
466
are further moved solidly in the direction of an illustrated void arrow, with protrusion member
465
and movable valve member
464
which are urged by compression spring
467
to be kept in the state of suspension. A clearance between an inner wall on the tip portion of the third connecting member
463
and a circular cone surface of an outer circumference of movable valve member
464
is formed by the movement of the connecting means
46
.
Glue in glue container
47
pressurized by pressing actions conducted by pressing members
482
A and
482
B shown in FIGS.
9
(
a
),
9
(
b
) and
10
passes through flowing path
472
e
in capsule member
472
, broken portion of inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film and opening
474
a
of rubber seal member
474
to be ejected, and are introduced in connecting means
46
which is in the state of connection.
Glue supplied into the connecting means
46
passes through opening
466
a
of outer cover
466
, a clearance section formed by separation of the third connecting member
463
and movable valve member
464
, an inner path of the second connecting member
462
, flowing path
472
e
of the second connecting member
462
and an inner path of the first connecting member
461
, and is supplied to supply tube
451
.
(Seventh Embodiment)
Each of
FIGS. 26 and 27
is a sectional view showing the seventh embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention.
FIG. 26
shows the state wherein connecting means
46
is connected to capsule member
472
.
FIG. 27
shows the state wherein inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film that is pasted on an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
has been broken by a movable breaking member. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in FIGS.
23
(
a
)-
23
(
d
) and FIGS.
14
(
a
) and
14
(
b
) are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the first embodiment will be explained.
On an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
, there is pasted inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film which seals a flow path of unused glue container
47
.
Connecting means
46
is composed of first connecting member
461
to be connected to supply tube
451
, second connecting member
462
to be connected to the first connecting member
461
and third connecting member
463
to be screw-engaged with the second connecting member
462
.
Between an end surface of an inner circumference of the second connecting member
462
and an end surface of an outer circumference of the third connecting member
463
, there is inserted rubber seal member
462
d
which prevents leakage of glue. Between an end surface of an inner circumference of the third connecting member
463
and an outer surface of inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film that is pasted on an end surface of a tip portion of capsule member
472
, there is interposed rubber seal member
463
a
which prevents leakage of glue. In the groove section provided on an inside diameter section of the third connecting member
463
, there are inserted a plurality of O-rings
463
b
. The O-rings
463
b
are in contact with an outer circumferential surface of capsule member
472
to prevents leakage of glue.
At the center inside the second connecting member
462
, there is protruded hollow glue ejection path
462
e
. There is provided hollow guiding section
462
f
, making an acute angle with an entrance section of the glue ejection path
462
e
. Movable breaking member
468
is fitted loosely in an inner wall of the guiding section
462
f
to be capable of moving straight.
A tip portion of the movable breaking member
468
has protrusion-shaped tip portion
468
a
with a sharp edge. Pin
468
b
embedded in a rear end portion of the movable breaking member
468
is engaged with one end of lever
469
. The lever
469
is supported on shaft
469
a
rotatably. The other end of the lever
469
is driven to swing by third solenoid SL
3
.
When the third solenoid SL
3
is not operating, the movable breaking member
468
is urged by a spring to slide inside the guiding section
462
f
, and the protrusion-shaped tip portion
468
a
is held to be in the retreated position shown in FIG.
26
.
When voltage is impressed on the third solenoid S
13
, the movable breaking member
468
slides inside the guiding section
462
f
against urging by a spring, and the protrusion-shaped tip portion
468
a
breaks inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film by breaking through it (see FIG.
27
). When an opening of capsule member
472
is opened by breakdown of the inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film, glue contained in glue container
47
becomes possible to be ejected from capsule member
472
.
When impression of voltage on the third solenoid S
13
is canceled after the inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film is broken by the movable breaking member
468
, the movable breaking member
468
is restored to its initial position shown in
FIG. 26
to make glue ejection path
462
e
to be in the state of full open. Glue ejected from capsule member
472
passes through the glue ejection path
462
e
that is in the state of full open, and is sent to supply tube
451
.
(Eighth Embodiment)
Each of FIGS.
28
(
a
)-
28
(
c
) is a sectional view showing the process of glue supply by the eighth embodiment of a glue supply device of the invention. Incidentally, with regard to symbols used in the drawings, parts having the same functions as those in
FIGS. 26 and 27
are given the same symbols. Further, the points which are different from those in the second embodiment will be explained.
FIG.
28
(
a
) shows the initial position where connecting means
46
is connected to capsule member
472
, and inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film has not yet been broken by movable breaking member
468
. A tip portion of the movable breaking member
468
closes an opening of glue ejection path
462
e
to prevent that glue flows out of supply tube
451
.
FIG.
28
(
b
) shows the state wherein the inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film has been broken by the movable breaking member
468
. A tip portion of the movable breaking member
468
has protrusion-shaped tip portion
468
a
with a sharp edge. When the movable breaking member
468
is advanced by an unillustrated driving means and thereby the protrusion-shaped tip portion
468
a
breaks inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film by breaking through it, an ejection opening of capsule member
472
is made to be in the state of open, making glue to be capable of being ejected.
FIG.
28
(
c
) shows the state of glue supply wherein movable breaking member
468
has retreated to open glue ejection path
462
e
. Immediately after breaking the inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film, the movable breaking member
468
is retreated by a driving means to open an opening of the glue ejection path
462
e
. Glue contained in glue container
47
is fed forcibly and ejected from an ejection opening of capsule member
472
which is in the state of open, then, pass through an opening of the glue ejection path
462
e
that is in the state of open to be supplied to supply tube
451
through the first connecting member
461
.
When the capsule member
472
and the connecting means
46
are made to leave each other for replacement of glue container
47
, the movable breaking member
468
is advanced and is held at the position where it closes an opening of the glue ejection path
462
e
. This prevents that glue flows out from the glue ejection path
462
e
side.
For the driving means that moves the movable breaking member
468
to its initial position, the position where inner cover
473
in a shape of a thin film is broken, and the position to open the opening of the glue ejection path
462
e
, a plurality of solenoids or compound operations of an interlocking mechanism and solenoids by driving means
49
are used.
Incidentally, a shape of the tip portion of the movable breaking member
468
is not limited to a double-sided inclination form shown in
FIG. 26 and a
single-sided inclination form shown in FIG.
18
. Further, it is also possible to employ the structure wherein a needle-shaped member having a sharp point is protruded on a tip portion of the movable breaking member
468
.
Bookbinding apparatus C with a gluing device equipped with a glue supply device of the invention is connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a compound machine thereof. Sheets ejected after being subjected to requested digital processing by an image forming apparatus and to processing of single-sided recording, two-sided recording or pagination editing are bound immediately by an image forming apparatus equipped with bookbinding apparatus C with a gluing device of the invention, through stable and efficient gluing processing.
It is also possible to make the bookbinding apparatus C with a gluing device of the invention to be an independent apparatus so that it can conduct gluing and bookbinding for sheets processed by other image forming apparatuses.
As is apparent from the explanation stated above, the following effects are produced by a gluing device, a bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device and an image forming apparatus with a bookbinding apparatus.
(1) In the gluing device described in the invention, even when external pressure is applied on a glue container when the glue container is stored or transported, glue contained in the glue container is prevented from leaking out because a valve member (spherical inner cover) presses in the direction to close an ejection opening. Further, leakage of glue from a joint for a glue container in the course of replacement of the glue container and occurrence of glue coating failure caused by entry of air in a joint for a glue container are prevented, which is effective for raising of the efficiency and for an improvement of bookbinding quality.
(2) In the gluing device described in the invention, it is easy to purge air when filling a glue container with glue.
Further, leakage of glue from a joint for a glue container in the course of replacement of the glue container and occurrence of glue coating failure caused by entry of air in a joint for a glue container are prevented.
(3) In the gluing device described in the invention, it is easy to purge air when filling a glue container with glue. Further, when external pressure is applied on a glue container when the glue container is stored or transported, glue contained in the glue container is prevented from leaking out because a valve member (dish-shaped inner cover) presses in the direction to close an ejection opening. Further, leakage of glue from a joint for a glue container in the course of replacement of the glue container and occurrence of glue coating failure caused by entry of air in a joint for a glue container are prevented.
(4) In the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device of the invention, leakage of glue from a joint for a glue container in the course of replacement of the glue container and occurrence of glue coating failure caused by entry of air in a joint for a glue container are prevented. When external pressure is applied on a glue container when the glue container is stored or transported, it is possible to prevent by an outer cover that an inner cover (thin film material) is broken by glue in a glue container.
(5) In the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device of the invention, with regard to glue fed out from a glue supply means to a glue discharging device under the prescribed pressure, glue in a certain amount is discharged from a glue discharging means, and is coated evenly on an edge portion of a sheet. The sheet subjected to glue coating processing is housed in a sheet housing means of a collating and pressuring means wherein close contact with the glue coated portion is conducted, which improves quality of finish for bookbinding.
(6) In an image forming apparatus equipped with the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device of the invention, it is possible to conduct bookbinding processing automatically in succession by conducting gluing processing with the bookbinding apparatus with a gluing device, for the sheets ejected at high speed from the image forming apparatus.
Further, the following effects are produced by a glue supply method and a glue supply device of the invention.
(7) In the glue supply method and the glue supply device described in the invention, leakage of glue to the outside from a capsule member or a connecting means can be prevented, when the capsule member for ejection of glue in a glue container is connected with a supply tube to be connected to a glue discharging means through a connecting means. Further, when removing the connecting means from the capsule member, glue remaining in the supply tube does not leak out because a movable valve member of the connecting means is brought into contact with an inner wall of the third connecting member by urging of a compression spring.
Further, when replacing a glue container, it is possible for an operator to conduct replacement operations simply without soiling hands by breaking the inner cover in a shape of a thin film that seals a glue ejection opening of the capsule member with a protrusion-shaped member to supply to the supply tube side, after fixing a glue container on a container mounting section.
(8) In the glue supply method and the glue supply device described in the invention, leakage of glue to the outside from a capsule member or a connecting means can be prevented, when the capsule member for ejection of glue in a glue container is connected with a supply tube to be connected to a glue discharging means through a connecting means. Further, when replacing a glue container, it is possible for an operator to conduct replacement operations simply without soiling hands by breaking the inner cover in a shape of a thin film that seals a glue ejection opening of the capsule member with a movable breaking member to supply to the glue supply tube side, after fixing a glue container on a container mounting section.
(9) When a glue container is mounted or dismounted with a glue supply device described in the invention, the movable breaking member that breaks an inner cover in a shape of a thin film is on standby at the position to intercept a glue ejection path and conducts operations of a movable switching valve. Further, when removing the connecting means from the capsule member, glue remaining on the supply tube side is prevented from leaking to the outside of from the connecting means.
Claims
- 1. A gluing device comprising:(a) a glue container containing a liquid glue; (b) a pressuring means for pressing the glue container to eject the glue from an ejection opening; (c) a supply tube through which the glue is transported from the ejection opening; (d) a first connecting means provided on a glue container side for connecting the supply tube to the glue container; (e) a second connecting means provided on a supply tube side for detachably connecting the first connecting means to the supply tube; and (f) a glue discharging means for receiving the glue transported through the supply tube and for delivering the glue from a nozzle opening, wherein the first connecting means comprises therein a valve member for opening and closing the ejection opening, and the second connecting means comprises therein a protrusion so that the protrusion presses the valve member to open the ejection opening when the second connecting means is connected to the first connecting means.
- 2. The gluing device of claim 1, wherein the second connecting means comprises therein a check valve and an urging means, when the second connecting means is connected to the first connecting means, the glue contained in the glue container is ejected by the pressuring means from the ejection opening to make the check valve to be open, and when the second connecting means is not connected to the first connecting means, the check valve is made to be closed by the urging means.
- 3. The gluing device of claim 1, wherein the first connecting means comprises a resilient member for closing the ejection opening by urging the valve member.
- 4. The gluing device of claim 3, wherein the valve member is a spherical valve having a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the ejection opening.
- 5. The gluing device of claim 3, wherein the valve member is a dish-shaped valve having an area greater than an area of the ejection opening.
- 6. The gluing device of claim 1, wherein the first connecting means has an inclined surface portion on an inner wall thereof, and the valve member closes the ejection opening by moving along the inclined surface portion by gravity thereof.
- 7. The gluing device of claim 1, wherein the second connecting means is mounted to a moving body connected to a driving source, which is capable of moving forward and backward, and the first connecting means and the second connecting means are connected to or separated from each other, by driving the moving body.
- 8. A gluing device comprising:(a) a glue container containing a liquid glue; (b) a pressuring means for pressing the glue container to eject the glue from an ejection opening; (c) a supply tube through which the glue is transported from the ejection opening; (d) a first connecting means provided on a glue container side which is connected to the glue container; (e) a second connecting means provided on the supply tube side which is detachably connected to the first connecting means and is connected to a receiving portion of the supply tube; and (f) a glue discharging means for receiving the glue transported through the supply tube and for discharging the glue from a nozzle opening, wherein the first connecting means comprises a first connection member that is connected to the ejection opening of the glue container, a valve member that is arranged inside the first connection member and has, on its tip portion, a cone portion, a second connection member that closes a glue flowing path with a cone surface which engages with the cone portion of the valve member and has a moving means that moves the second connection member, and wherein the moving means moves the second connection member of the first connecting means to separate the cone portion of the valve member from the cone surface of the second connection member and thereby to enable the glue in the glue container to be supplied to the glue discharging means, interlocking with operations for connecting the second connecting means to the first connecting means.
- 9. The gluing device of claim 8, wherein the second connecting means comprises therein a check valve and an urging means and the valve member has a projection portion, when the second connecting means is not connected to the first connecting means, the check valve is held to be closed by the urging means, and when the second connecting means is connected to the first connecting means, the projection portion comes into contact with the check valve whereby the glue flowing path is opened, the glue contained in the glue container is supplied to the glue discharging means.
- 10. The gluing device of claim 8, wherein the second connecting means is mounted to a moving body connected to a driving source, which is capable of moving forward and backward, and the moving means moves the second connection member by driving the moving body and whereby enables the glue in the glue container to be supplied to the glue discharging means.
- 11. A gluing device:(a) a glue container containing a liquid glue; (b) a pressuring means for pressing the glue container to eject the glue from an ejection opening; (c) a supply tube through which the glue is transported from the glue container; (d) a first connecting means provided on the glue container side which is connected to the glue container; (e) a second connecting means provided on the supply tube side which is detachably connected to the first connecting means and is connected to a receiving portion of the supply tube; and (f) a glue discharging means for receiving the glue transported through the supply tube and for discharging the glue from a nozzle opening, wherein the first connecting means is formed in a double-structure shape including a membrane member that closes the ejection opening of the glue container and is capable of being opened and closed and an outer cover member that protects the membrane member and has an opening which agrees positionally with the ejection opening when it is rotated, and wherein after the ejection opening of the glue container and the opening of the outer cover member are made to agree with each other, the second connecting means is connected to the first connecting means, and the pressuring means presses so that the membrane member is ruptured by pressure of the glue in the glue container, thus the glue in the glue container is supplied to the glue discharging means.
- 12. The gluing device of claim 11, wherein the second connecting means comprises therein a check valve and an urging means, when the second connecting means is not connected to the first connecting means, the check valve is held to be closed by the urging means, and when the second connecting means is connected to the first connecting means, the glue flowing path is opened by pressure of the glue in the glue container caused by the pressuring means, thus the glue in the glue container is supplied to the glue discharging means.
- 13. The gluing device of claim 11, wherein the second connecting means is mounted to a moving body connected to a driving source, which is capable of moving forward and backward, and the first connecting means and the second connecting means are connected to or separated from each other, by driving the moving body.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-202042 |
Jul 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-238355 |
Aug 2000 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4473425 |
Baughman et al. |
Sep 1984 |
A |
5152455 |
Palmers |
Oct 1992 |
A |
5782410 |
Weston |
Jul 1998 |
A |
6164568 |
Muller et al. |
Dec 2000 |
A |
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
59-500907 |
May 1984 |
JP |
07-080377 |
Mar 1995 |
JP |