RECORDING MEDIUM PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM

Abstract

A recording medium processing apparatus includes: a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium; a cutting member that is provided alongside the first conveyance unit in a width direction of the conveyed recording medium and cuts the recording medium along a conveying direction of the recording medium; a second conveyance unit that is located upstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and conveys the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route; and a preventing or avoiding unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutting member in the conveying direction from being pulled by the second conveyance unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-165259 filed Sep. 27, 2023.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a recording medium processing apparatus, an image forming system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

(ii) Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-203308 discloses an image forming apparatus that includes a first conveyance roller pair that includes a first roller and a second roller, which are rotatable, and rotates while sandwiching paper to convey the paper, a rotary blade pair that includes a first rotary blade and a second rotary blade, which are rotatable, is located downstream of the first conveyance roller pair in a conveyance route of the paper, and rotates while sandwiching the paper to cut the paper parallel to a conveying direction of the paper, and a second conveyance roller pair that includes a third roller rotatable about the same rotation axis as that of the first rotary blade and a fourth roller rotatable about the same rotation axis as that of the second rotary blade and rotates while sandwiching the chip cut by the rotary blade pair to convey the chip in the conveying direction of the paper, and the rotational velocity of the second conveyance roller pair is controlled to be higher than the rotational velocity of the first conveyance roller pair.

SUMMARY

In some recording medium processing apparatuses, a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium and a cutting member that cuts the recording medium along a conveying direction are arranged side by side in a width direction of the conveyed recording medium, and a second conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium is located upstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction.

Here, in a case where the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance unit is not prevented from being pulled by the second conveyance unit, the recording medium may be displaced in the width direction by receiving a force from the cutting member and being pulled by the second conveyance unit.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to preventing displacement of a recording medium in a width direction, as compared with a configuration in which a recording medium conveyed by a first conveyance unit is not prevented from being pulled by a second conveyance unit.

Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and/or other disadvantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome any of the disadvantages described above.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a recording medium processing apparatus including: a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium; a cutting member that is provided alongside the first conveyance unit in a width direction of the conveyed recording medium and cuts the recording medium along a conveying direction of the recording medium; a second conveyance unit that is located upstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and conveys the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route; and a preventing or avoiding unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutting member in the conveying direction from being pulled by the second conveyance unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a second post-processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a cutting device when viewed from the direction indicated by arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a cutter unit and a fold-line forming device;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an information processing unit;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating functions performed by the information processing unit;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating an example in which looseness is formed in paper;

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating a modification of conveyance of the paper by a registration roller and a conveyance roller;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of looseness formation processing;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of looseness determination processing;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the second post-processing apparatus according to a modification;

FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating an example of a case where the paper, which is thin paper, is conveyed by the conveyance roller;

FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the paper, which is thick paper, is conveyed by the conveyance roller;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the second post-processing apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 15A to 15D are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the thin paper is conveyed by the registration roller;

FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the thick paper is conveyed by the conveyance roller;

FIGS. 17A to 17D are diagrams illustrating a state of an upstream conveyance roller and the registration roller when the paper is conveyed by the conveyance roller;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of pressing release processing;

FIGS. 19A to 19C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of the registration roller according to a fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operation processing; and

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed by a CPU.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Exemplary Embodiment

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 2 that forms an image on paper P, which is an example of a recording medium, and a first post-processing apparatus 3 and a second post-processing apparatus 4 that perform predetermined processing on the paper P having the image formed thereon by the image forming apparatus 2.

The image forming apparatus 2 uses an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method to form an image on the paper P.

The first post-processing apparatus 3 is located downstream of the image forming apparatus 2 in the conveying direction of the paper P and performs processing such as punching, folding, and binding on the paper P.

The second post-processing apparatus 4, which is an example of a recording medium processing apparatus, is located downstream of the first post-processing apparatus 3 in the conveying direction and performs processing such as cutting on the paper P.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4. The upper side of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be referred to as “upper”, the lower side of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 as “lower”, and the up-down direction of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 as the “up-down direction”. Further, the back side of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be referred to as “left”, the front side of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 as “right”, and the front-back direction of the second post-processing apparatus 4 illustrated in FIG. 2 as the “right-left direction”.

The second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a receiving port 41 that receives the paper P conveyed from the first post-processing apparatus 3, and a stacking portion 42 on which the paper P conveyed from the second post-processing apparatus 4 is stacked. Furthermore, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a cutting device 50 that cuts the paper P, a storage unit 60 that stores a portion of the paper P cut off by the cutting device 50, a sensor 50S that detects the position of the paper P, and a registration roller 52 that adjusts the timing at which the paper P is conveyed. Furthermore, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes an upstream conveyance roller 43 that is located upstream of the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction and conveys the paper P toward the registration roller 52, and a first downstream conveyance roller 44 and a second downstream conveyance roller 45 that are located downstream of the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction and convey the paper P toward the stacking portion 42. Furthermore, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes an acceptance device 40 that accepts an input of information by a user, and an information processing unit 100 that includes a central processing unit (CPU), which executes a program, and controls the entire second post-processing apparatus 4.

The acceptance device 40 includes a touch panel, or the like, and accepts information input by a user's operation.

The storage unit 60 is provided below the cutting device 50 and stores a portion of the paper P cut off by the cutting device 50 as waste.

The upstream conveyance roller 43 includes an upstream drive roller 431 and an upstream driven roller 432.

The upstream drive roller 431 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated).

The upstream driven roller 432 is provided to be opposed to the upstream drive roller 431 via a conveyance route. Furthermore, the upstream driven roller 432 presses the upstream drive roller 431 and is rotated by being driven by the upstream drive roller 431 with the rotation of the upstream drive roller 431. The pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 is achieved when, for example, a rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the upstream driven roller 432 is pressed toward the upstream drive roller 431 by a pressing member (not illustrated). Furthermore, the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the upstream driven roller 432 may be movable to the upstream drive roller 431 side and the side opposite to the upstream drive roller 431 side.

Further, a plurality of the upstream conveyance rollers 43 may be arranged side by side in the right-left direction.

The sensor 50S is located downstream of the upstream conveyance roller 43 and upstream of the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction and detects the conveyed paper P. Further, when detecting the paper P, the sensor 50S transmits the information indicating detection to the information processing unit 100.

When the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches the registration roller 52, which is an example of a second conveyance unit, the registration roller 52 temporarily stops the conveyance of the paper P and then conveys the paper P at a predetermined timing. Further, the registration roller 52 includes a registration drive roller 521 and a registration driven roller 522.

The registration drive roller 521, which is an example of a rotary member, rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated).

The registration driven roller 522, which is an example of an opposing member, is provided to be opposed to the registration drive roller 521 via the conveyance route. Further, the registration driven roller 522 presses the registration drive roller 521 and is rotated by being driven by the registration drive roller 521 with the rotation of the registration drive roller 521. The pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 is achieved when, for example, a rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the registration driven roller 522 is pressed toward the registration drive roller 521 by a pressing member (not illustrated). Furthermore, the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the registration driven roller 522 may be movable to the registration drive roller 521 side and the side opposite to the registration drive roller 521 side.

Moreover, a plurality of the registration rollers 52 may be arranged side by side in the right-left direction.

The first downstream conveyance roller 44, which is an example of a third conveyance unit, includes a downstream drive roller 441 and a downstream driven roller 442.

The downstream drive roller 441 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated).

The downstream driven roller 442 is provided to be opposed to the downstream drive roller 441 via the conveyance route. Furthermore, the downstream driven roller 442 presses the downstream drive roller 441 and is rotated by being driven by the downstream drive roller 441 with the rotation of the downstream drive roller 441.

Moreover, a plurality of the first downstream conveyance rollers 44 may be arranged side by side in the right-left direction.

Furthermore, the conveyance route of the paper P in the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a first conveyance route R1, a second conveyance route R2, a third conveyance route R3, and a fourth conveyance route R4.

The first conveyance route R1 is a conveyance route that passes through the cutting device 50.

The second conveyance route R2 is a conveyance route that is provided above the cutting device 50 and does not pass through the cutting device 50.

The third conveyance route R3 is a conveyance route that is located downstream of the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction and is used for the paper P having passed through the first conveyance route R1.

The fourth conveyance route R4 is a conveyance route that is located downstream of the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction, is provided below the third conveyance route R3, and is used for the paper P having passed through the first conveyance route R1. The paper P having passed through the first conveyance route R1 is stacked on the stacking portion 42 after passing through any one of the third conveyance route R3 and the fourth conveyance route R4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the cutting device 50 when viewed from the direction indicated by arrow III in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cutting device 50 includes a conveyance roller 51, a central rotary shaft 56, an outer rotary shaft 57, a cutter unit 58, and a fold-line forming device 59.

The conveyance roller 51, which is an example of a first conveyance unit, conveys the paper P. In the cutting device 50, the five conveyance rollers 51 are arranged side by side in the right-left direction. Further, the conveyance roller 51 includes a drive roller 511 and a driven roller 512.

The drive roller 511 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated).

The driven roller 512 is provided to be opposed to the drive roller 511 via the conveyance route. Furthermore, the driven roller 512 presses the drive roller 511 and is rotated by being driven by the drive roller 511 with the rotation of the drive roller 511.

Furthermore, the one conveyance roller 51 located in a central portion in the right-left direction among the five conveyance rollers 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the central conveyance roller 51. Further, the drive roller 511 of the central conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the central drive roller 511. Moreover, the driven roller 512 of the central conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the central driven roller 512.

Furthermore, out of the five conveyance rollers 51, the two conveyance rollers 51 located at both end portions in the right-left direction may be hereinafter referred to as the end-portion conveyance rollers 51. Further, the drive roller 511 of the end-portion conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the end-portion drive roller 511. Furthermore, the driven roller 512 of the end-portion conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the end-portion driven roller 512.

Moreover, out of the five conveyance rollers 51, the two conveyance rollers 51 located outside the central conveyance roller 51 and inside the end-portion conveyance roller 51 in the right-left direction may be hereinafter referred to as the outer conveyance rollers 51. Further, the drive roller 511 of the outer conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the outer drive roller 511. Further, the driven roller 512 of the outer conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as the outer driven roller 512.

Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the drive roller 511 is provided above the driven roller 512, but this is not a limitation.

The drive roller 511 may be provided below the driven roller 512. In other words, the positional relationship between the drive roller 511 and the driven roller 512 in the up-down direction may be opposite to that in the illustrated example.

The central rotary shaft 56 is a rotary shaft of the central conveyance roller 51. The central rotary shaft 56 includes a central drive rotary shaft 561 and a central driven rotary shaft 562.

The central drive rotary shaft 561 is a rotary shaft of the central drive roller 511. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the central drive rotary shaft 561 is fixed in position in the cutting device 50. Furthermore, the central drive rotary shaft 561 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated). With this rotation, the central drive roller 511 also rotates.

The central driven rotary shaft 562 is a rotary shaft of the central driven roller 512. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the central driven rotary shaft 562 is pressed upward by a pressing member (not illustrated), and thus the central driven roller 512 is pressed against the central drive roller 511.

The outer rotary shaft 57 is a rotary shaft of the outer conveyance roller 51 and the end-portion conveyance roller 51. The outer rotary shaft 57 includes an outer drive rotary shaft 571 and an outer driven rotary shaft 572.

The outer drive rotary shaft 571 is a rotary shaft of the outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the outer drive rotary shaft 571 is fixed in position in the cutting device 50. Further, the outer drive rotary shaft 571 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated). With this rotation, the outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511 also rotate.

The outer driven rotary shaft 572 is a rotary shaft of the outer driven roller 512 and the end-portion driven roller 512. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the outer driven rotary shaft 572 is pressed upward by a pressing member (not illustrated), and thus the outer driven roller 512 is pressed against the outer drive roller 511, and the end-portion driven roller 512 is pressed against the end-portion drive roller 511.

Furthermore, a configuration may be such that, while the central driven rotary shaft 562 is fixed in position in the cutting device 50, the central drive rotary shaft 561 is pressed by a pressing member (not illustrated), and thus the central drive roller 511 is pressed against the central driven roller 512.

Further, a configuration may be such that, while the outer driven rotary shaft 572 is fixed in position in the cutting device 50, the outer drive rotary shaft 571 is pressed by a pressing member (not illustrated), and thus the end-portion drive roller 511 is pressed against the end-portion driven roller 512.

The cutter unit 58, which is an example of a cutting member, cuts the paper P along the conveying direction. Furthermore, the cutter units 58 are provided at a left end portion and a right end portion of the cutting device 50 in the right-left direction.

The fold-line forming device 59, which is an example of a pressing member, forms a fold line in the paper P along the conveying direction. Furthermore, the fold-line forming devices 59 are provided at a left end portion and a right end portion of the cutting device 50 in the right-left direction.

Further, specific configurations of the cutter unit 58 and the fold-line forming device 59 will be described below.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance rollers 51 convey the paper P while nipping and pressing the paper P. Therefore, when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, the paper P receives a force in the conveying direction from the conveyance roller 51.

Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the two outer conveyance rollers 51, the two end-portion conveyance rollers 51, the two cutter units 58, and the two fold-line forming devices 59 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central conveyance roller 51.

Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance rollers 51 are provided such that a portion of the paper P sandwiched between the central conveyance rollers 51, a portion of the paper P sandwiched between the outer conveyance rollers 51, and a portion of the paper P sandwiched between the end-portion conveyance rollers 51 are overlapped with each other in the conveying direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the cutter unit 58 and the fold-line forming device 59. Furthermore, FIG. 4 illustrates the cutter unit 58 and the fold-line forming device 59 provided at the left end portion (see FIG. 3) of the cutting device 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cutter unit 58 includes a cutter 581 and a receiving member 582.

The cutter 581 is a disk-shaped blade. The cutter 581 is provided at the outer driven rotary shaft 572, and the end of the blade is aligned with the receiving member 582 in the right-left direction. Further, the cutter 581 is pressed by a spring (not illustrated) from the inner side (the right side in the illustrated example) toward the outer side (the left side in the illustrated example) in the right-left direction so that the end of the blade is pressed against the receiving member 582.

The receiving member 582 is provided at the outer drive rotary shaft 571. Further, the receiving member 582 is formed in a cylindrical shape and receives the blade of the cutter 581.

Furthermore, the fold-line forming device 59 includes a circular plate 591 and a groove portion 592.

The circular plate 591 is provided at the outer drive rotary shaft 571 and is formed like a circular plate. The circular plate 591 has a larger outer diameter than the end-portion drive roller 511 and the receiving member 582, and the end thereof enters the groove portion 592.

The groove portion 592 is provided at the outer driven rotary shaft 572 and is provided to be overlapped with the circular plate 591 in the right-left direction. Furthermore, the groove portion 592 has a groove which the end of the circular plate 591 enters.

The end-portion drive roller 511, the circular plate 591, and the receiving member 582 are arranged in order from the outer side (the left side in the illustrated example) in the right-left direction at the outer drive rotary shaft 571. Furthermore, the end-portion driven roller 512, the groove portion 592, and the cutter 581 are arranged in order from the outer side (the left side in the illustrated example) in the right-left direction at the outer driven rotary shaft 572.

Then, when the outer drive rotary shaft 571 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated), the end-portion drive roller 511 rotates, and the end-portion driven roller 512 rotates with the rotation of the end-portion drive roller 511. In this state, when the paper P is nipped by the end-portion conveyance roller 51, the cutter unit 58, and the fold-line forming device 59, the paper P is cut along the conveying direction by cutting a portion pressed by the cutter 581 while the paper P is conveyed. Furthermore, the paper P is conveyed in a state of being pressed against the groove portion 592 by the circular plate 591, and thus a fold line is formed on the paper P along the conveying direction. Here, the portion of the paper P where the fold line is formed is a portion of the paper P that is cut by the cutter unit 58 and becomes waste. Furthermore, the waste of the paper P is conveyed to the end-portion conveyance roller 51 and then fall to be stored in the storage unit 60.

As described above, when the fold line is formed in the waste of the paper P, the stiffness of the waste of the paper P is increased as compared with a case where the waste of the paper P is not folded, and thus the waste of the paper P is less likely to be scattered before falling down to the storage unit 60, which contributes to the size reduction of the storage unit 60.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the information processing unit 100.

The information processing unit 100 includes a processing unit 201, an information storage device 202 that stores information, and a network interface 203 that implements communications via a local area network (LAN) cable or the like.

The processing unit 201 includes a computer.

The processing unit 201 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 211, which is an example of a processor that executes various types of processing described below. Furthermore, the processing unit 201 includes a read only memory (ROM) 212 in which software is stored and a random access memory (RAM) 213 used as a work area.

The information storage device 202 is implemented by an existing device such as a hard disk drive, a semiconductor memory, or a magnetic tape.

The processing unit 201, the information storage device 202, and the network interface 203 are connected to each other via a bus 204 or a signal line (not illustrated).

A program executed by the CPU 211 may be provided to the information processing unit 100 in a state of being stored in a computer readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, and the like), optical recording medium (optical disk, and the like), magneto-optical recording medium, and semiconductor memory. Furthermore, a program executed by the CPU 211 may be provided to the information processing unit 100 using a communication way such as the Internet.

In this description, the processor refers to processors in a broad sense and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU)) and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processing unit (GPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and programmable logic devices).

Further, the operation of the processor may be performed not only by one processor but also by a plurality of processors existing at physically distant positions in cooperation with each other. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to only the order described in the present exemplary embodiment and may be changed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating functions performed by the information processing unit 100. Furthermore, FIG. 6 illustrates only the functions related to conveyance of the paper P among the functions performed by the information processing unit 100.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU 211, which is an example of a processor, executes a program stored in the ROM 212 or the information storage device 202 so that the information processing unit 100 functions as a paper information acquisition unit 101, an environment information acquisition unit 102, a usage information acquisition unit 103, a conveyance information acquisition unit 104, and a conveyance controller 105.

The processing described below is performed by each of the functional units of the paper information acquisition unit 101, the environment information acquisition unit 102, the usage information acquisition unit 103, the conveyance information acquisition unit 104, and the conveyance controller 105. These functional units are implemented when the CPU 211 executes a program, and the processing described below may also be regarded as processing performed by the CPU 211, which is an example of a processor.

The paper information acquisition unit 101 acquires the information indicating the type of the paper P to be cut by the cutter unit 58. Furthermore, the information indicating the type of the paper P may be referred to as paper information. Further, examples of the type of the paper P specified from the paper information include the basis weight of the paper P, the thickness of the paper P, the length of the paper P in the conveying direction, and the width of the paper P. Moreover, the width of the paper P is the length of the paper P in the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 3.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, for example, the user performs an operation on the touch panel provided in the acceptance device 40 and inputs information necessary for processing by the second post-processing apparatus 4.

The paper information acquisition unit 101 acquires paper information from the information accepted by the acceptance device 40.

Furthermore, the input of the information by the user may be performed by a terminal device such as a personal computer (PC) connected to the image forming system 1. In this case, the paper information acquisition unit 101 acquires the paper information from the information accepted by the terminal device.

The environment information acquisition unit 102 acquires the information indicating an index related to the environment of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided. Furthermore, the information indicating an index related to the environment of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided may be hereinafter referred to as environment information. Furthermore, examples of the index indicated in the environment information include humidity and temperature.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, a sensor (not illustrated) is provided, which detects the humidity and temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided, and the environment information acquisition unit 102 acquires the environment information from the sensor.

The usage information acquisition unit 103 acquires the information indicating an index related to the usage of the cutting device 50. Furthermore, the information indicating the index related to the usage of the cutting device 50 may be hereinafter referred to as usage information. Furthermore, examples of the index indicated in the usage information include the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutting device 50.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a counter (not illustrated) that counts the number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 each time the cutting device 50 cuts the paper P, and the usage information acquisition unit 103 acquires the usage information from the counter.

The conveyance information acquisition unit 104 acquires information on the conveyance of the paper P. Furthermore, the information on the conveyance of the paper P may be hereinafter referred to as conveyance information. Examples of the conveyance information include the information indicating the position of the paper P. According to the present exemplary embodiment, when the sensor 50S (see FIG. 2) detects the position of the paper P, the conveyance information indicating the detected position of the paper P is transmitted from the sensor 50S to the conveyance information acquisition unit 104.

The conveyance controller 105 controls conveyance of the paper P by the second post-processing apparatus 4. Furthermore, when a control condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 controls conveyance of the paper P to form looseness in the paper P between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction. More specifically, when the control condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 controls conveyance by the conveyance roller 51 and conveyance by the registration roller 52 to thus form looseness in the paper P. Further, the control condition is a condition specified for the conveyance controller 105 to perform control to form looseness in the paper P. The control conditions will be described below in detail.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 receive drive forces from different motors (not illustrated), respectively. The conveyance controller 105 controls the rotation velocities of the motors to control the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 and the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51. Furthermore, the conveyance velocity is a velocity at which the paper P is conveyed.

FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams illustrating an example in which looseness is formed in the paper P. Furthermore, FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 when the control condition is satisfied.

When the paper P reaches the registration roller 52, the conveyance controller 105 controls the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 to cause the registration roller 52 to convey the paper P as illustrated in FIG. 7A. Furthermore, the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 may be hereinafter referred to as a conveyance velocity V1.

Further, in the illustrated example, the paper P has reached the conveyance roller 51. More specifically, the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has reached a nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51. In this case, the conveyance controller 105 controls the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51 to be a velocity lower than the conveyance velocity V1 of the registration roller 52 and causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the paper P. Furthermore, the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51 is a portion sandwiched between the drive roller 511 and the driven roller 512. Further, the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51 may be hereinafter referred to as a conveyance velocity V2. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, as described above, the conveyance velocity V2 is lower than the conveyance velocity V1.

Next, as the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 proceeds, the paper P proceeds to the downstream side in the conveying direction, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. Furthermore, at this time, a portion of the paper P between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction is loosened downward with respect to a linear dash-dotted line L1 connecting a nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 and the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51. More specifically, since the conveyance velocity V1 of the registration roller 52 is higher than the conveyance velocity V2 of the conveyance roller 51, the degree that the paper P remains between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 increases with the lapse of time, and accordingly, looseness is formed in the paper P.

Furthermore, the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 is a portion sandwiched between the registration drive roller 521 and the registration driven roller 522.

Next, when the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 further proceeds, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the paper P further proceeds to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the degree of looseness of the paper P between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 increases.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 7D, when the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction passes the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52, the looseness in the paper P is removed, and the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, but not by the registration roller 52.

As described above, the conveyance controller 105 forms looseness in the paper P to prevent the paper P from being pulled by the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52. In other words, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed a predetermined conveyance route, the CPU 211 prevents a portion overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52. Examples of the predetermined conveyance route include the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the cutter units 58 are provided at the end portions of the cutting device 50 in the right-left direction (see FIG. 3), and the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction are pressed against the cutter 581 of the cutter unit 58 when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. In this case, a portion of the paper P pressed against the cutter 581 or the vicinity of this portion receives a force in a direction opposite to the conveying direction, and accordingly the conveyance velocity is likely to decrease.

In particular, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the fold-line forming devices 59 are provided at the end portions of the cutting device 50 in the right-left direction, and when the paper P is conveyed by the cutting device 50, the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction are pressed against the circular plates 591 of the fold-line forming device 59. In this case, a portion of the paper P pressed against the circular plate 591 or the vicinity of this portion receives a force in a direction opposite to the conveying direction, and accordingly the conveyance velocity is likely to decrease.

As described above, in the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction, the conveyance velocity is more likely to decrease in the end portion than in the central portion in the right-left direction.

Furthermore, when a portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction is pulled by the registration roller 52, the conveyance velocity of the portion of the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 further decreases, and in this case, the difference in the conveyance velocity of the paper P in the right-left direction increases. In other words, in the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction, the degree of delay of the conveyance velocity of the end portion in the right-left direction is larger than the conveyance velocity of the central portion in the right-left direction. Furthermore, the right-left direction of the paper P is the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 3. Further, the right-left direction of the paper P may also be regarded as the width direction of the paper P.

Then, when the degree of delay of the conveyance velocity of the end portion is larger than the conveyance velocity of the central portion in the right-left direction of the paper P, the paper P is likely to be pulled by the force in the conveying direction received by the central portion in the right-left direction of the paper P and the force received in the direction opposite to the conveying direction by the end portion in the right-left direction of the paper P. More specifically, the central portion and the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction are likely to be pulled in the opposite directions. In this case, a rotational moment acts on the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction, and a central portion of the paper P in the right-left direction is likely to be bent in a portion of the paper P located upstream of the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction. In other words, in the portion of the paper P located upstream of the cutting device 50 in the conveying direction, both the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction are likely to be displaced toward the central portion, and in this case, a portion of the paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 may vary.

On the other hand, as in the present exemplary embodiment, when the looseness is formed in the paper P between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction, the tension of the paper P between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 is reduced by the looseness of the paper P. In this case, as compared with the configuration in which the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 is not prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52, a reduction in the tension of the paper P accordingly prevents the displacement of both the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction toward the central portion. Therefore, the occurrence of variations in a portion of the paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is prevented.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the conveyance controller 105 performs control such that the conveyance velocity V1 of the registration roller 52 is higher than the conveyance velocity V2 of the conveyance roller 51.

In this case, it is not necessary to press the paper P in the thickness direction of the paper P in order to form looseness in the paper P. Furthermore, the thickness direction of the paper P is the up-down direction in FIGS. 7A to 7D.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, the conveyance controller 105 controls both the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51 and the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52, but this is not a limitation.

When the conveyance controller 105 performs control such that the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 is higher than the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51, the conveyance controller 105 may control one of the conveyance velocity of the conveyance roller 51 and the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 without controlling the other.

Further, the conveyance controller 105 controls the conveyance of the paper P to form, on the paper P, the looseness that satisfies a looseness condition. The looseness condition is a condition specified for the degree of looseness formed in the paper P from the viewpoint of preventing a decrease in the accuracy of conveyance of the paper P. Furthermore, examples of the degree of looseness include the vertical length of a portion of the paper P where looseness is formed from the dash-dotted line L1 connecting the nip portion N1 and the nip portion N2.

One of the looseness conditions is that the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is equal to or more than a predetermined lower limit value.

When the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is excessively small, the degree of reduction in the tension of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 due to the looseness is small, and in this case, the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction may be displaced toward the central portion in the right-left direction. Therefore, the lower limit value of the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is determined such that the displacement of the paper P, which may occur in the paper P, does not exceed an allowable degree. In other words, the lower limit value of the subtraction value obtained by subtracting the value of the conveyance velocity V2 from the value of the conveyance velocity V1 is determined according to the lower limit value of the degree of looseness formed in the paper P, and the conveyance velocity V1 and the conveyance velocity V2 are controlled by the conveyance controller 105 such that the subtraction value becomes equal to or more than the lower limit value.

Further, one of the looseness conditions is that the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is equal to or less than a predetermined upper limit value.

When the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is excessively large, a paper jam may occur due to the looseness. Therefore, the upper limit value of the degree of looseness formed in the paper P is determined such that a paper jam does not occur before the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction passes the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52. In other words, the upper limit value of the subtraction value obtained by subtracting the value of the conveyance velocity V2 from the value of the conveyance velocity V1 is determined according to the upper limit value of the degree of looseness formed in the paper P, and the conveyance velocity V1 and the conveyance velocity V2 are controlled by the conveyance controller 105 such that the subtraction value becomes equal to or less than the upper limit value.

In this way, the conveyance controller 105 forms, in the paper P, the degree of looseness that satisfies the looseness condition.

In this case, a decrease in the accuracy of conveyance of the paper P is prevented, as compared with the configuration in which looseness is formed in the paper P regardless of whether the looseness condition is satisfied.

Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the fold-line forming device 59 is provided outside the cutter unit 58 in the right-left direction and presses the paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 to form a fold line in the paper P along the conveying direction.

In this case, even when the force received by the paper P in the direction opposite to the conveying direction is larger than that in the configuration in which the fold-line forming device 59 is not provided in the second post-processing apparatus 4, the displacement of the paper P in the right-left direction is prevented more than that in the configuration in which the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 is not prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Modification

Next, a modification of the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 will be described.

The method for conveying the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 to form looseness in the paper P is not limited to the example illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating a modification of the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51. FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 when the control condition is satisfied.

When the paper P reaches the registration roller 52, the conveyance controller 105 causes the registration roller 52 to convey the paper P at the conveyance velocity V1, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has reached the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51. Then, according to the modification, in this case, the conveyance controller 105 does not operate the conveyance roller 51 and does not start the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51.

In this case, the paper P remains between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51, and as illustrated in FIG. 8B, looseness is formed in the paper P.

Then, when the degree of looseness formed in the paper P satisfies the looseness condition, the conveyance roller 51 conveys the paper P at the conveyance velocity V2 that is equal to or less than the conveyance velocity V1, as illustrated in FIG. 8C.

As described above, according to the modification, the conveyance velocity V2 may be a velocity lower than the conveyance velocity V1 or may be the same velocity as the conveyance velocity V1. In other words, according to the modification, since the looseness is formed in the paper P before the convey of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started, it is not necessary to form the looseness in the paper P due to the velocity difference between the conveyance velocity V1 and the conveyance velocity V2.

Furthermore, when the conveyance velocity V1 is lower than the conveyance velocity V2, the conveyance controller 105 controls the conveyance velocity V1 and the conveyance velocity V2 such that the looseness formed in the paper P satisfies the looseness condition until the paper P passes the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52.

As described above, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed a predetermined conveyance route, the conveyance controller 105 forms looseness in a portion located between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction.

In this case, even when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction is prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, the CPU 211 may also be regarded as a forming unit that, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed a predetermined conveyance route, forms looseness in a portion located between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction.

Further, the conveyance controller 105 provides a period in which, when the paper P conveyed by the registration roller 52 reaches the conveyance roller 51, the conveyance roller 51 does not convey the paper P and the registration roller 52 conveys the paper.

In this case, it is not necessary to press the paper P in the thickness direction of the paper P in order to form looseness in the paper P.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of looseness formation processing. The looseness formation processing is processing to form looseness in the paper P by the information processing unit 100. According to the present exemplary embodiment, when there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50, the looseness forming processing is started. Furthermore, when the paper information acquisition unit 101 acquires the paper information, the information processing unit 100 determines that there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50.

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the paper P has reached the registration roller 52 (Step (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 101). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the paper P has reached the registration roller 52 based on the presence or absence of the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104 and the position of the paper P indicated in the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104. While the negative result continues (NO in S101), the process of S101 is repeated.

When the paper P has reached the registration roller 52 (YES in S101), the conveyance controller 105 causes the registration roller 52 to convey the paper P at the conveyance velocity V1 (S102).

Next, the conveyance controller 105 determines whether a start condition is satisfied (S103). The start condition is a condition specified for the conveyance controller 105 to cause the conveyance roller 51 to start to convey the paper P. Furthermore, the start condition is different depending on whether the conveyance controller 105 forms the looseness in the paper P by either the method illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D or the method illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

When the conveyance controller 105 uses the method illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D to form the looseness in the paper P, the specified start condition is that the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has reached the nip portion N2 (see FIGS. 7A to 7D) of the conveyance rollers 51. The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the end of the paper P has reached the conveyance roller 51 based on the relationship between the position of the paper P indicated in the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104 and the conveyance velocity V1 of the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, when the conveyance controller 105 uses the method illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C to form looseness in the paper P, the start condition is not satisfied even when the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51, and looseness is formed in the paper P. Then, in this case, the specified start condition is that the degree of looseness formed in the paper P satisfies the looseness condition. The conveyance controller 105 specifies the degree of looseness formed in the paper P from the relationship between the time elapsed from the start of conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance velocity V1 of the registration roller 52 and determines whether the specified degree of looseness satisfies the looseness condition.

While a negative result continues in S103 (NO in S103), the process of S103 is repeated.

When the start condition is satisfied (YES in S103), the conveyance controller 105 causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the paper P at the conveyance velocity V2 (S104). Here, when the conveyance controller 105 uses the method illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7D to form the looseness in the paper P, the conveyance velocity V2 is a velocity lower than the conveyance velocity V1. Further, when the conveyance controller 105 uses the method illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C to form the looseness in the paper P, the conveyance velocity V2 is a velocity equal to or less than the conveyance velocity V1.

Furthermore, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the conveyance controller 105 provides a period in which the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is not started after the paper P reaches the conveyance roller 51, but this is not a limitation.

The conveyance controller 105 may provide a period in which, after the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started, and in the middle of the conveyance, the conveyance roller 51 does not convey the paper P but the registration roller 52 conveys the paper. Then, when the looseness formed in the paper P satisfies the looseness condition, the conveyance controller 105 may resume the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of looseness determination processing. The looseness determination processing is processing in which the information processing unit 100 determines whether to perform the looseness formation process (see FIG. 9). According to the present exemplary embodiment, the looseness determination processing is started each time there is an instruction to form an image by the image forming apparatus 2 (see FIG. 1). Furthermore, when the information indicating that there has been an instruction to form an image is acquired from the image forming apparatus 2, the information processing unit 100 determines that there has been an instruction to form an image.

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50 (S201). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether there has been an instruction to cut the paper P based on whether the paper information acquisition unit 101 has acquired the paper information.

When there has been no instruction to cut the paper P (NO in S201), the looseness determination processing is ended. In this case, since the paper P is conveyed to the stacking portion 42 through the second conveyance route R2 (see FIG. 2) in the second post-processing apparatus 4, the cutting of the paper P by the cutting device 50 and the conveyance of the paper P are not performed, and the looseness forming processing is not performed.

When there has been an instruction to cut the paper P (YES in S201), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the basis weight of the paper P to be cut by the cutting device 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold for the basis weight (S202). Hereinafter, the paper P to be cut by the cutting device 50 may be referred to as the target paper P. The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the basis weight of the target paper P indicated in the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 101 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold for the basis weight. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is that the basis weight of the target paper P is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold for the basis weight.

The threshold for the basis weight of the paper P is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the cutting device 50. The stiffness of the paper P is lower as the basis weight of the paper P is smaller, and therefore the paper P is likely to be displaced in the right-left direction when the paper P is subjected to the action of the cutter unit 58 (see FIG. 3) or the fold-line forming device 59, is pulled by the registration roller 52, or the like, while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Therefore, the basis weight of the paper P is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the basis weight of the target paper P is more than the predetermined threshold for the basis weight (NO in S202), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the thickness of the target paper P is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold for the thickness (S203). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the thickness of the target paper P indicated in the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 101 is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold for the thickness. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is that the thickness of the target paper P is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold for the thickness.

The threshold for the thickness of the paper P is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, similarly to the threshold for the basis weight of the paper P. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the thickness of the paper P is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the thickness of the target paper P is more than the predetermined threshold for the thickness (NO in S203), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the width of the target paper P is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the width (S204). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the width of the target paper P indicated in the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 101 is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the width. Further, one of the control conditions is that the width of the target paper P is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the width.

The threshold for the width of the paper P is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. As the width of the paper P is longer, the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction is more likely to be displaced toward the central portion in the right-left direction when the end portion is subjected to the action of the cutter unit 58 (see FIG. 3) or the fold-line forming device 59, is pulled by the registration roller 52, or the like, while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Therefore, the width of the paper P is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, which may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the width of the target paper P is less than the predetermined threshold for the width (NO in S204), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the length of the target paper P in the conveying direction is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the length in the conveying direction (S205). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the length of the target paper P in the conveying direction indicated in the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 101 is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the length in the conveying direction. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is that the length of the target paper P in the conveying direction is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the length in the conveying direction.

The threshold for the length of the paper P in the conveying direction is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. In a case where the paper P is displaced in the right-left direction over time when the paper P is subjected to the action of the cutter unit 58 or the fold-line forming device 59 or is pulled by the registration roller 52 while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, the degree of displacement is larger in a portion closer to the upstream side in the conveying direction of the paper P. Therefore, the length of the paper P in the conveying direction is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, which may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the length of the target paper P in the conveying direction is less than the predetermined threshold for the length in the conveying direction (NO in S205), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the humidity of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the humidity (S206). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the humidity indicated in the environment information acquired by the environment information acquisition unit 102 is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the humidity. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is that the humidity of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the humidity.

The threshold for the humidity of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. As the humidity of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is higher, the stiffness of the paper P is likely to be lower. Furthermore, as the stiffness of the paper P is lower, the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction is more likely to be displaced toward the central portion in the right-left direction when the end portion is subjected to the action of the cutter unit 58 or the fold-line forming device 59, is pulled by the registration roller 52, or the like, while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Therefore, the humidity is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, which may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the humidity of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is lower than the predetermined threshold for the humidity (NO in S206), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether the temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the temperature (S207). The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the temperature indicated in the environment information acquired by the environment information acquisition unit 102 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the temperature. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is that the temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the temperature.

The threshold for the temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. As the temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is higher, the stiffness of the paper P is likely to be lower, and the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction is likely to be displaced toward the central portion in the right-left direction when the end portion is subjected to the action of the cutter unit 58 or the fold-line forming device 59, is pulled by the registration roller 52, or the like, while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Therefore, the temperature is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, which may occur when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the temperature of the space where the image forming system 1 is provided is lower than the predetermined threshold for the temperature (NO in S207), the conveyance controller 105 determines whether a usage condition is satisfied (S208). According to the present exemplary embodiment, the specified usage condition is that the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the number of sheets. The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the cumulative number of sheets indicated in the usage information acquired by the usage information acquisition unit 103 is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the number of sheets. Furthermore, one of the control conditions is the usage condition.

The threshold for the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is determined from the viewpoint of the ease of displacement when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. As the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is larger, the degree of ablation of the blade of the cutter 581 (see FIG. 4) is larger, and the force required for the cutter 581 to cut the paper P increases. Then, as the force required for the cutter 581 increases, the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction is likely to be displaced toward the central portion in the right-left direction when the end portion is subjected to the action of the cutter 581 while the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51.

Therefore, the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is set as a threshold such that, in a case where the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is not prevented, the displacement of the paper P, which may occur when the paper P is conveyed to the cutting device 50, exceeds an allowable degree.

When the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is less than the predetermined threshold (NO in S208), the conveyance controller 105 conveys the paper P without performing the looseness forming processing (S209). In other words, the conveyance controller 105 conveys the paper P without forming looseness in the paper P.

Furthermore, when a positive result is obtained in any of S202 to S208, the conveyance controller 105 performs the looseness forming processing (S210).

Furthermore, when the paper P conveyed by the cutting device 50 is a paper bundle formed by bundling a plurality of sheets of paper, the object for the determination in S202 and S203 may be the basis weight of the paper bundle or the thickness of the paper bundle.

Furthermore, in the example described above, S202 to S208 in the looseness determination processing are all specified as control conditions, but this is not a limitation. The control condition may be at least one of S202 to S208 in the looseness determination processing.

Furthermore, in the description of the example described above, the usage condition is that the cumulative number of sheets of paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold for the number of sheets, but this is not a limitation.

The usage condition may be that the cumulative distance of conveyance of the paper P by at least one of the central conveyance roller 51, the outer conveyance roller 51, and the end-portion conveyance roller 51 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the distance.

Furthermore, the usage condition may be that the cumulative number of rotations of at least one of the central conveyance roller 51, the outer conveyance roller 51, and the end-portion conveyance roller 51 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the number of rotations.

Moreover, the usage condition may also be that the period in which the second post-processing apparatus 4 has been used is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold for the period.

Furthermore, in the description according to the present exemplary embodiment, the looseness formation processing is not performed when none of the control conditions are satisfied, but this is not a limitation.

In a case where none of the control conditions are satisfied, the looseness formation processing may be performed such that a smaller degree of looseness is formed in the paper P as compared with a case where any of the control conditions is satisfied.

(Modification of Second Post-Processing Apparatus 4)

Next, a modification of the second post-processing apparatus 4 will be described. The second post-processing apparatus 4 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to a modification. FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the modification, the two first conveyance routes R1 are provided between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the first conveyance routes R1 between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction include a lower first conveyance route R11 and an upper first conveyance route R12. The lower first conveyance route R11 and the upper first conveyance route R12 are overlapped with each other in the conveying direction.

The lower first conveyance route R11, which is an example of a curved conveyance route, is a conveyance route that is recessed downward with respect to a straight dash-dotted line L2 connecting the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51 and a nip portion N3 of the first downstream conveyance rollers 44. Furthermore, the nip portion N3 of the first downstream conveyance rollers 44 is a portion sandwiched between the downstream drive roller 441 and the downstream driven roller 442.

The upper first conveyance route R12, which is an example of an overlapped conveyance route, is a conveyance route located above the lower first conveyance route R11 and is a conveyance route along the dash-dotted line L2.

Further, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a conveyance route portion 71 and a switch gate 72.

The conveyance route portion 71 is a wall portion that forms the lower first conveyance route R11 and the upper first conveyance route R12. The conveyance route portion 71 includes a lower conveyance route portion 711 and an upper conveyance route portion 712.

The lower conveyance route portion 711, which is an example of a forming member, forms the lower first conveyance route R11. The lower conveyance route portion 711 is a wall portion that is provided below the lower first conveyance route R11 and is recessed downward along the lower first conveyance route R11.

The upper conveyance route portion 712 forms the upper first conveyance route R12. The upper conveyance route portion 712 is a wall portion that is provided above the lower conveyance route portion 711 and is provided along the dash-dotted line L2. In other words, the upper conveyance route portion 712 is a wall portion provided above the upper first conveyance route R12 along the upper first conveyance route R12.

The switch gate 72, which is an example of a guide member, is a sheet metal that is provided between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction and switches the conveyance route, through which the paper P passes, to any one of the lower first conveyance route R11 and the upper first conveyance route R12. The switch gate 72 is provided to extend linearly and rotates in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction around a rotary shaft (not illustrated). More specifically, the switch gate 72 does not rotate when receiving a force less than a predetermined value in the rotation direction and rotates when receiving a force equal to or more than the predetermined value in the rotation direction. Furthermore, examples of the force equal to or more than the predetermined value include a force acting on the switch gate 72 when the paper P, which is thick paper, hits against the switch gate 72. Furthermore, examples of the thick paper include the paper P whose basis weight is more than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is more than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition.

In the illustrated example, the switch gate 72 is provided to be opposed to the lower conveyance route portion 711 via the lower first conveyance route R11 and is provided along the lower conveyance route portion 711.

FIGS. 12A to 12D are diagrams illustrating an example of a case where the paper P, which is thin paper, is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Furthermore, examples of the thin paper include the paper P whose basis weight is equal to or less than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is equal to or less than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition. Further, the paper P, which is thin paper, may be hereinafter referred to as thin paper P1.

As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the thin paper P1 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, and thus the downstream end in the conveying direction hits against the switch gate 72. In this case, the switch gate 72 is pushed by the thin paper P1, but does not rotate because the force received from the thin paper P1 is small.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, as the thin paper P1 travels along the switch gate 72 and the lower conveyance route portion 711, the thin paper P1 passes the lower first conveyance route R11 while being curved.

Next, when the conveyance of the thin paper P1 by the conveyance roller 51 proceeds, the downstream end of the thin paper P1 in the conveying direction reaches the first downstream conveyance roller 44, as illustrated in FIG. 12C. Furthermore, at this time, looseness is formed in a portion of the thin paper P1 between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the thin paper P1 is conveyed along the lower first conveyance route R11 while passing between the switch gate 72 and the lower conveyance route portion 711 so that looseness is formed in the thin paper P1.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12D, the conveyance controller 105 causes the first downstream conveyance roller 44 to convey the thin paper P1 at a conveyance velocity higher than the conveyance velocity V2. Hereinafter, the conveyance velocity of the first downstream conveyance roller 44 may be referred to as a conveyance velocity V3. As described above, the conveyance velocity V3 is a velocity higher than the conveyance velocity V2.

FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the paper P, which is thick paper, is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. As described above, examples of the thick paper include the paper P whose basis weight is more than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is more than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition. Furthermore, the paper P, which is thick paper, may be hereinafter referred to as thick paper P2.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the thick paper P2 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, and thus the downstream end in the conveying direction hits against the switch gate 72.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the switch gate 72 is provided to be pushed by the thick paper P2 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and extend along the upper first conveyance route R12. Furthermore, the thick paper P2 travels along the switch gate 72 and the upper conveyance route portion 712 and thus passes the upper first conveyance route R12 without being curved. In addition, since the thick paper P2 has higher stiffness than the thin paper P1 (see FIG. 12B), the thick paper P2 travels along the upper first conveyance route R12 without sagging.

Furthermore, when the downstream end of the thick paper P2 in the conveying direction reaches the first downstream conveyance roller 44, the conveyance controller 105 causes the first downstream conveyance roller 44 to convey the thick paper P2 at the conveyance velocity V3 higher than the conveyance velocity V2, as illustrated in FIG. 13C.

As described above, the lower conveyance route portion 711 is provided between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 in the conveying direction and forms the lower first conveyance route R11 curved toward one side in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P, and the conveyance controller 105 performs control such that the conveyance velocity V3 of the first downstream conveyance roller 44 is higher than the conveyance velocity V2 of the conveyance roller 51.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, in order to efficiently convey the paper P, the conveyance controller 105 performs control so that the conveyance velocity V3 is higher than the conveyance velocity V2. In this case, when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44, the paper P is pulled by the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44, and thus wrinkles may occur in the paper P.

On the other hand, when the paper P is conveyed along the lower first conveyance route R11 so that looseness is formed in the paper P, the tension of the paper P between the conveyance roller 51 and the first downstream conveyance roller 44 is reduced by the looseness of the paper P. In this case, as compared with the configuration in which the paper P is conveyed along a straight conveyance route from the conveyance roller 51 to the first downstream conveyance roller 44, the occurrence of wrinkles in the paper P is prevented.

Furthermore, the switch gate 72 guides the paper P of a predetermined type to the lower first conveyance route R11 and guides the paper P of a type other than the predetermined type to the upper first conveyance route R12. Examples of the paper P of the predetermined type include the thin paper P1. Furthermore, examples of the paper P of a type other than the predetermined type include the thick paper P.

In this case, a load applied to the thick paper P is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the switch gate 72 guides the paper P to the lower first conveyance route R11 regardless of the type of the paper P.

Furthermore, in the description of the example described above, the upper first conveyance route R12 is a conveyance route that is not curved in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P, but this is not a limitation.

The upper first conveyance route R12 may be a conveyance route that is curved in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P by a degree smaller than that of the lower first conveyance route R11. In other words, it is appropriate that the upper first conveyance route R12 is a conveyance route that is less curved in the thickness direction than the lower first conveyance route R11 or is not curved in the thickness direction.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

Next, a second exemplary embodiment of the second post-processing apparatus 4 will be described. In the description according to the first exemplary embodiment, the looseness is formed in the paper P by controlling the conveyance of the registration roller 52 and the conveyance of the conveyance roller 51. Here, the configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 to form the looseness in the paper P is not limited to that described in the first exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, in the second exemplary embodiment, the configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 different from that of the first exemplary embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration as that of the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment may be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 14 illustrates a configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 from the registration roller 52 to the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the two first conveyance routes R1 are provided between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction in the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment. More specifically, the first conveyance routes R1 between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction include a lower first conveyance route R13 and an upper first conveyance route R14. The lower first conveyance route R13 and the upper first conveyance route R14 are overlapped with each other in the conveying direction.

The lower first conveyance route R13, which is an example of a curved conveyance route, is a conveyance route that is recessed downward with respect to the straight dash-dotted line L1 connecting the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 and the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51.

The upper first conveyance route R14, which is an example of an overlapped conveyance route, is a conveyance route located above the lower first conveyance route R13 and is a conveyance route along the dash-dotted line L1.

Further, the second post-processing apparatus 4 includes a conveyance route portion 73 and a switch gate 74.

The conveyance route portion 73, which is an example of a forming unit, is a wall portion that forms the lower first conveyance route R13 and the upper first conveyance route R14. The conveyance route portion 73 includes a lower conveyance route portion 731 and an upper conveyance route portion 732.

The lower conveyance route portion 731, which is an example of a forming member, forms the lower first conveyance route R13. The lower conveyance route portion 731 is a wall portion that is provided below the lower first conveyance route R13 and is recessed downward along the lower first conveyance route R13.

The upper conveyance route portion 732 forms the upper first conveyance route R14. The upper conveyance route portion 732 is a wall portion that is provided above the lower conveyance route portion 731 and is provided along the dash-dotted line L1. In other words, the upper conveyance route portion 732 is a wall portion provided above the upper first conveyance route R14 along the upper first conveyance route R14.

The switch gate 74, which is an example of a guide member, is a sheet metal that is provided between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction and switches the conveyance route, through which the paper P passes, to any one of the lower first conveyance route R13 and the upper first conveyance route R14. The switch gate 74 is provided to extend linearly and rotates in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction around a rotary shaft (not illustrated). More specifically, the switch gate 74 does not rotate when receiving a force less than a predetermined value in a rotation direction and rotates when receiving a force equal to or more than the predetermined value in the rotation direction. Furthermore, examples of the force equal to or more than the predetermined value include a force acting on the switch gate 74 when the paper P, which is thick paper, hits against the switch gate 74. Furthermore, examples of the thick paper include the paper P whose basis weight is more than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is more than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition.

In the illustrated example, the switch gate 74 is provided to be opposed to the lower conveyance route portion 731 via the lower first conveyance route R13 and is provided along the lower conveyance route portion 731.

FIGS. 15A to 15D are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the thin paper P1 is conveyed by the registration roller 52. Furthermore, examples of the thin paper P1 include the paper P whose basis weight is equal to or less than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is equal to or less than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition.

As illustrated in FIG. 15A, when the thin paper P1 is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the downstream end in the conveying direction hits against the switch gate 74. In this case, although the switch gate 74 is pushed by the thin paper P1, the switch gate 74 does not rotate because the force received from the thin paper P1 is small.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 15B, as the thin paper P1 travels along the switch gate 74 and the lower conveyance route portion 731, the thin paper P1 passes the lower first conveyance route R13 while being curved.

Next, as the conveyance of the thin paper P1 by the registration roller 52 proceeds, the downstream end of the thin paper P1 in the conveying direction reaches the conveyance roller 51, as illustrated in FIG. 15C. Further, at this time, looseness is formed in a portion of the thin paper P1 between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the thin paper P1 is conveyed along the lower first conveyance route R13 while passing between the switch gate 74 and the lower conveyance route portion 731 so that looseness is formed in the thin paper P1.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 15D, the conveyance controller 105 causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the thin paper P1.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are diagrams illustrating an example of the case where the thick paper P2 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51. Furthermore, as described above, examples of the thick paper P2 include the paper P whose basis weight is more than the threshold for the basis weight specified as a control condition and whose thickness is more than the threshold for the thickness specified as a control condition.

As illustrated in FIG. 16A, the thick paper P2 is conveyed by the registration roller 52, and thus the downstream end in the conveying direction hits against the switch gate 74.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, the switch gate 74 is provided to be pushed by the thick paper P2 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and extend along the upper first conveyance route R14. Furthermore, the thick paper P2 travels along the switch gate 74 and the upper conveyance route portion 732 and thus passes the upper first conveyance route R14 without being curved. In addition, since the thick paper P2 has higher stiffness than the thin paper P1 (see FIG. 15B), the thick paper P2 travels along the upper first conveyance route R14 without sagging.

Further, when the downstream end of the thick paper P2 in the conveying direction reaches the conveyance roller 51, the conveyance controller 105 causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the thick paper P2, as illustrated in FIG. 16C.

As described above, the configuration for forming looseness in the paper P in order to prevent pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 may be achieved not only by controlling the conveyance of the registration roller 52 and the conveyance of the conveyance roller 51, but also by the conveyance route portion 73. In other words, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the nip portion N1, the conveyance route portion 73 forms looseness in a portion located between the conveyance roller 51 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction.

Even in this case, when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction is prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, the conveyance route portion 73 forms looseness in the paper P to prevent the paper P conveyed by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 from being pulled by the registration roller 52. Therefore, the conveyance route portion 73 may also be regarded as a unit that, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, the conveyance route portion 73 includes the lower conveyance route portion 731 that is provided between the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction and forms the lower first conveyance route R13 that is curved downward in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P.

In this case, as compared with the configuration in which looseness is formed in the paper P without passing the paper P through the conveyance route curved in the thickness direction, variations in the degree of looseness formed in the paper P passing through the lower first conveyance route R13 are prevented.

Furthermore, the switch gate 74 guides the paper P of a predetermined type to the lower first conveyance route R13 and guides the paper P of a type other than the predetermined type to the upper first conveyance route R14. Examples of the paper P of the predetermined type include the thin paper P1. Furthermore, examples of the paper P of a type other than the predetermined type include the thick paper P.

In this case, a load applied to the thick paper P is reduced, as compared with the configuration in which the switch gate 74 guides the paper P to the lower first conveyance route R13 regardless of the type of the paper P.

Furthermore, in the description of the example above, the upper first conveyance route R14 is a conveyance route that is not curved in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P, but this is not a limitation.

The upper first conveyance route R14 may be a conveyance route that is curved in the thickness direction of the conveyed paper P by a degree smaller than that of the lower first conveyance route R13. In other words, it is appropriate that the upper first conveyance route R14 is a conveyance route that is less curved in the thickness direction than the lower first conveyance route R13 or is not curved in the thickness direction.

Further, in the description of the example above, the lower conveyance route portion 731 is recessed downward.

Here, according to the present exemplary embodiment, in a case where the paper P passes the lower first conveyance route R13, the degree of the downward recess in the lower conveyance route portion 731 is determined such that the looseness formed in the paper P satisfies the looseness condition.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

Next, the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to a third exemplary embodiment will be described. In the description according to the first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment, the second post-processing apparatus 4 forms looseness in the paper P to prevent the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52. Here, the configuration for preventing or avoiding the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52 is not limited to those described in the first exemplary embodiment and the second exemplary embodiment.

Furthermore, in the third exemplary embodiment, the configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 different from that of the first exemplary embodiment or the second exemplary embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration as that of the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment or the second exemplary embodiment may be omitted.

FIGS. 17A to 17D are diagrams illustrating a state of the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52 when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 17A, the paper P is conveyed by the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52. Furthermore, the paper P has not reached the conveyance roller 51. At this time, a nip portion N4 of the upstream conveyance rollers 43 and the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 are formed. Further, the nip portion N4 of the upstream conveyance rollers 43 is a portion sandwiched between the upstream drive roller 431 and the upstream driven roller 432.

Subsequently, when the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51 while the paper P is conveyed by the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52, the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started. Furthermore, at this time, as illustrated in FIG. 17B, the upstream driven roller 432 is retracted from the upstream drive roller 431 and the registration driven roller 522 is retracted from the registration drive roller 521 so that the nip portion N4 and the nip portion N1 are not formed. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance controller 105 performs control to move the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the upstream driven roller 432 so as to retract from the upstream drive roller 431 so that the upstream driven roller 432 is retracted from the upstream drive roller 431. Furthermore, the conveyance controller 105 performs control to move the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the registration driven roller 522 so as to retract from the registration drive roller 521 so that the registration driven roller 522 is retracted from the registration drive roller 521. Furthermore, the retraction of the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the upstream driven roller 432 or the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the registration driven roller 522 is achieved, for example, by the release of pressing by a pressing member (not illustrated) that presses the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the upstream driven roller 432 or the rotary shaft (not illustrated) of the registration driven roller 522.

When the upstream driven roller 432 is retracted from the upstream drive roller 431, the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 is released. Furthermore, when the registration driven roller 522 is retracted from the registration drive roller 521, the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 is released. Further, in this case, the paper P is conveyed only by the conveyance roller 51. More specifically, even when the paper P is overlapped with the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction, the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 without being conveyed by the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52.

Subsequently, as the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 proceeds, the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction, as illustrated in FIG. 17C. At this time, the retraction of the upstream driven roller 432 from the upstream drive roller 431 and the retraction of the registration driven roller 522 from the registration drive roller 521 are continued.

Subsequently, when the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 further proceeds, the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51 in the conveying direction, as illustrated in FIG. 17D. Then, when the paper P reaches downstream of the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction, the conveyance controller 105 causes the upstream driven roller 432 to proceed toward the upstream drive roller 431 and causes the registration driven roller 522 to proceed toward the registration drive roller 521. In this case, the upstream driven roller 432 is pressed against the upstream drive roller 431 again, and the registration driven roller 522 is pressed against the registration drive roller 521 again so that the nip portion N4 and the nip portion N1 are formed again. Although not illustrated, at this time, the paper P is conveyed by the first downstream conveyance roller 44 (see FIG. 2) or the second downstream conveyance roller 45.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of pressing release processing. The pressing release processing is processing in which the conveyance controller 105 releases the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 and the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522. According to the present exemplary embodiment, when there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50, the pressing release processing is started.

When the paper P reaches the upstream conveyance roller 43, the conveyance controller 105 starts conveyance of the paper P by the upstream conveyance roller 43 (S301).

When the paper P reaches the registration roller 52, the conveyance controller 105 starts conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 (S302).

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether a release condition is satisfied (S303). The release condition is a condition specified for the conveyance controller 105 to release the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 and the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522. Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the specified release condition is the start of the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51. The conveyance controller 105 specifies the current position of the paper P from the relationship between the position of the paper P and the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52 indicated in the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104 and determines whether the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 has been started based on the specified position of the paper P. While the negative result continues (NO in S303), the process of S303 is repeated.

Furthermore, when the release condition is satisfied (YES in S303), the process proceeds to the next step.

The conveyance controller 105 retracts the upstream driven roller 432 and the registration driven roller 522 to release the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 and the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 (S304).

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether a conveyance condition is satisfied (S305). The conveyance condition is a condition specified for the conveyance controller 105 to cause the upstream driven roller 432 to press the upstream drive roller 431 again and cause the registration driven roller 522 to press the registration drive roller 521. The conveyance condition is specified from the viewpoint of preventing the paper P from being pulled by the upstream conveyance roller 43 or the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51. Further, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the specified conveyance condition is that the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the nip portion N2 (see FIG. 17D) of the conveyance rollers 51 in the conveying direction. While the negative result continues (NO in S305), the process of S305 is repeated.

Furthermore, when the conveyance condition is satisfied (YES in S305), the process proceeds to the next step.

The conveyance controller 105 causes the upstream driven roller 432 and the registration driven roller 522 to proceed so that the upstream driven roller 432 presses the upstream drive roller 431 again and the registration driven roller 522 presses the registration drive roller 521 again (S306).

Furthermore, in the description according to the present exemplary embodiment, the release condition is the start of the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51, but this is not a limitation.

The release condition may be that the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51. Then, when the release condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 may release the pressing by the upstream driven roller 432 and the registration driven roller 522 before the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started.

Further, in the description according to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance condition is that the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the nip portion N2 of the conveyance rollers 51 in the conveying direction, but this is not a limitation.

The conveyance condition may be that the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 in the conveying direction. In other words, the conveyance condition may be satisfied when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51.

Furthermore, different conveyance conditions may be specified for the upstream conveyance roller 43 and the registration roller 52. Examples of the conveyance condition of the upstream conveyance roller 43 include that the upstream end of the paper Pin the conveying direction reaches downstream of the upstream conveyance roller 43 in the conveying direction. Furthermore, examples of the conveyance condition of the registration roller 52 include that the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the nip portion N1 of the registration rollers 52 in the conveying direction.

Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the release condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 retracts the upstream driven roller 432 from the upstream drive roller 431 and retracts the registration driven roller 522 from the registration drive roller 521, but this is not a limitation.

When the release condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 may displace the upstream driven roller 432 and the registration driven roller 522 so that the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 and the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 are prevented, as compared with those before the release condition is satisfied. In this case, the upstream driven roller 432 does not need to be retracted from the upstream drive roller 431, and the registration driven roller 522 does not need to be retracted from the registration drive roller 521.

As described above, when the paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51, the conveyance controller 105 prevents or avoids the paper P from being pulled by the registration roller 52. In other words, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, the CPU 211 prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, the conveyance controller 105 controls the registration driven roller 522 to be displaced to the side opposite to the registration drive roller 521 side. In other words, the CPU 211 is a processor that prevents or releases the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522.

In this case, the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction is prevented or avoided from being pulled by the registration roller 52, as compared with the configuration in which the registration driven roller 522 continues to press the registration drive roller 521.

Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance controller 105 prevents or releases the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 at least from when the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started until when the conveyance condition is satisfied. The conveyance condition may also be regarded as a predetermined condition for conveyance of the paper P.

In this case, the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction is prevented or avoided from being pulled by the registration roller 52, as compared with the configuration in which the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 is not prevented before the predetermined condition for the conveyance of the paper P is satisfied.

It may be determined whether the pressing release processing illustrated in FIG. 18 is performed depending on whether the control condition is satisfied. That is, in a case where there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50, the pressing release processing may be performed when any of the control conditions is satisfied, and the pressing release processing does not need to be performed when none of the control conditions are satisfied. Furthermore, when the pressing release processing is not performed, the pressing of the upstream drive roller 431 by the upstream driven roller 432 and the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 are not released regardless of the situation of the conveyance of the paper P.

Furthermore, in a case where none of the control conditions are satisfied, the pressing release processing may be performed such that the pressing force of the upstream driven roller 432 against the upstream drive roller 431 and the pressing force of the registration driven roller 522 against the registration drive roller 521 when the release condition is satisfied and the conveyance condition is not satisfied are larger than those in a case where any of the control conditions is satisfied.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

Next, the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment will be described. The second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is different from the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment to the third exemplary embodiment in the configuration for preventing or avoiding the portion of the paper P overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the configuration of the second post-processing apparatus 4 different from those of the first exemplary embodiment to the third exemplary embodiment will be mainly described, and the description of the same configuration as that of the second post-processing apparatus 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment to the third exemplary embodiment may be omitted.

FIGS. 19A to 19C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of the registration roller 52 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 19A, the registration roller 52 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the registration drive roller 521, the registration driven roller 522, a drive rotary shaft 523, a driven rotary shaft 524, a chute 525, a coil spring 526, and a restriction member 527.

Furthermore, the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 19A corresponds to the right-left direction illustrated in FIG. 2.

The registration drive roller 521 includes a first registration drive roller 5211, a second registration drive roller 5212, a third registration drive roller 5213, and a fourth registration drive roller 5214.

The first registration drive roller 5211, the second registration drive roller 5212, the third registration drive roller 5213, and the fourth registration drive roller 5214 are arranged side by side in the right-left direction. In the illustrated example, the first registration drive roller 5211, the second registration drive roller 5212, the third registration drive roller 5213, and the fourth registration drive roller 5214 are provided in this order from the right side of the registration rollers 52.

The registration driven roller 522 includes a first registration driven roller 5221, a second registration driven roller 5222, a third registration driven roller 5223, and a fourth registration driven roller 5224.

The first registration driven roller 5221, the second registration driven roller 5222, the third registration driven roller 5223, and the fourth registration driven roller 5224 are arranged side by side in the right-left direction. In the illustrated example, the first registration driven roller 5221, the second registration driven roller 5222, the third registration driven roller 5223, and the fourth registration driven roller 5224 are provided in this order from the right side of the registration rollers 52. Furthermore, the first registration driven roller 5221, the second registration driven roller 5222, the third registration driven roller 5223, and the fourth registration driven roller 5224 are provided to be opposed to the first registration drive roller 5211, the second registration drive roller 5212, the third registration drive roller 5213, and the fourth registration drive roller 5214 via the conveyance route.

The second registration drive roller 5212 and the second registration driven roller 5222, and the third registration drive roller 5213 and the third registration driven roller 5223 are each regarded as a first second conveyance unit.

Further, the first registration drive roller 5211 and the first registration driven roller 5221, and the fourth registration drive roller 5214 and the fourth registration driven roller 5224 are each regarded as a second second conveyance unit that is provided outside the first second conveyance unit in the width direction.

The drive rotary shaft 523 is a rotary shaft of the registration drive roller 521. More specifically, the drive rotary shaft 523 is a rotary shaft of the first registration drive roller 5211, the second registration drive roller 5212, the third registration drive roller 5213, and the fourth registration drive roller 5214. The drive rotary shaft 523 is fixed in position in the cutting device 50.

The driven rotary shaft 524 is a rotary shaft of the registration driven roller 522. The driven rotary shaft 524 includes a right driven rotary shaft 5241 that is a rotary shaft of the first registration driven roller 5221 and the second registration driven roller 5222, and a left driven rotary shaft 5242 that is a rotary shaft of the third registration driven roller 5223 and the fourth registration driven roller 5224. Both of the right driven rotary shaft 5241 and the left driven rotary shaft 5242 are displaceable in the up-down direction.

The chute 525 is a plate-like member that is provided to extend along the conveying direction and guides the paper P. The chute 525 is provided from the right side of the first registration driven roller 5221 to the left side of the fourth registration driven roller 5224 in the right-left direction and is provided from the upstream side to the downstream side of the registration driven roller 522 in the conveying direction. Furthermore, the chute 525 includes an upper chute 5251 provided above the conveyance route and a lower chute 5252 provided below the conveyance route.

The coil spring 526 is a spring having elasticity. One end and the other end of the coil spring 526 are attached to the upper chute 5251, and a portion between the one end and the other end is provided to press the driven rotary shaft 524 from above and press the driven rotary shaft 524 downward. Furthermore, the coil spring 526 includes a first coil spring 5261, a second coil spring 5262, a third coil spring 5263, and a fourth coil spring 5264. In the illustrated example, the first coil spring 5261, the second coil spring 5262, the third coil spring 5263, and the fourth coil spring 5264 are provided in this order from the right side of the registration rollers 52.

The first coil spring 5261 is provided to press a right end portion of the right driven rotary shaft 5241, and the second coil spring 5262 is provided to press a left end portion of the right driven rotary shaft 5241.

Further, the third coil spring 5263 is provided to press a right end portion of the left driven rotary shaft 5242, and the fourth coil spring 5264 is provided to press a left end portion of the left driven rotary shaft 5242.

The restriction member 527 is a member that restricts pressing of the driven rotary shaft 524 by the coil spring 526. The restriction member 527 includes a pin 5271 and two plate-like members 5272.

The pin 5271 is a columnar member provided to extend from a position overlapped with the first coil spring 5261 to a position overlapped with the fourth coil spring 5264 in the right-left direction. The pin 5271 rotates by receiving a drive force from a motor (not illustrated).

The plate-like member 5272 is formed in a plate shape and has one end attached to the pin 5271 and the other end attached to the coil spring 526. Out of the two plate-like members 5272, the first plate-like member 5272 is attached to the first coil spring 5261, and the second plate-like member 5272 is attached to the fourth coil spring 5264, although not illustrated. In other words, the plate-like member 5272 is not attached to the second coil spring 5262 and the third coil spring 5263.

In the above-described registration roller 52, when the paper P is not conveyed by the registration roller 52, the plate-like member 5272 is inclined, as illustrated in FIG. 19B. More specifically, the plate-like member 5272 is inclined such that the end of the plate-like member 5272 on the side attached to the first coil spring 5261 is located below the end of the plate-like member 5272 attached to the pin 5271. Furthermore, at this time, the right driven rotary shaft 5241 is pressed by the first coil spring 5261, and thus the first registration driven roller 5221 presses the first registration drive roller 5211 with a force F1. Then, when the paper P reaches the registration roller 52, the paper P hits against the nip portion N1 in the state of the registration roller 52 illustrated in FIG. 19B. Thus, the inclination of the paper P with respect to the conveying direction is corrected.

Furthermore, in a case where the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the conveyance controller 105 controls the motor (not illustrated) to rotate the pin 5271 in the counterclockwise direction when the pin 5271 is viewed from the right side of the pin 5271, as illustrated in FIG. 19C. In this case, the end of the plate-like member 5272 on the side attached to the first coil spring 5261 moves upward. Furthermore, when the end of the plate-like member 5272 moves upward, the first coil spring 5261 is biased upward, and thus the pressing of the right driven rotary shaft 5241 by the first coil spring 5261 is reduced, and accordingly, the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 is prevented. More specifically, the first registration driven roller 5221 presses the first registration drive roller 5211 with a force F2 smaller than the force F1. In other words, the pressure at the nip portion N1 is lower when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52 than when the paper P is not conveyed by the registration roller 52. Furthermore, the pressure at the nip portion N1 is a pressing force of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221.

Furthermore, the relationship among the first coil spring 5261, the first registration drive roller 5211, and the first registration driven roller 5221 has been described with reference to FIGS. 19B and 19C. Here, the relationship among the fourth coil spring 5264, the fourth registration drive roller 5214, and the fourth registration driven roller 5224 is the same as the relationship among the first coil spring 5261, the first registration drive roller 5211, and the first registration driven roller 5221. In other words, when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the restriction member 527 operates so that the pressing of the fourth registration drive roller 5214 by the fourth registration driven roller 5224 is prevented, as compared with when the paper P is not conveyed by the registration roller 52.

On the other hand, since the plate-like member 5272 is not attached to the second coil spring 5262 and the third coil spring 5263, the second coil spring 5262 and the third coil spring 5263 are not biased by the plate-like member 5272 even when the restriction member 527 operates. Therefore, even when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the pressing of the second registration drive roller 5212 by the second registration driven roller 5222 and the pressing of the third registration drive roller 5213 by the third registration driven roller 5223 are not prevented.

In this case, the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is more stable than in the configuration in which the pressing of the registration drive rollers 521 by all the registration driven rollers 522 is prevented when the paper P is conveyed by the registration rollers 52.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 and the pressing of the fourth registration drive roller 5214 by the fourth registration driven roller 5224 are prevented.

In this case, while the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51, the pulling of the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction by the registration roller 52 is reduced. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 is not prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52, a reduction in the tension of the paper P accordingly prevents the displacement of both the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction toward the central portion. Therefore, the occurrence of variations in a portion of the paper P cut by the cutter unit 58 is prevented.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of operation processing. The operation processing is processing in which the conveyance controller 105 operates the restriction member 527. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the operation processing is started when there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50.

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether a rotation condition is satisfied (S401). The rotation condition is a condition specified for the conveyance controller 105 to rotate the pin 5271 of the restriction member 527. Furthermore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the specified rotation condition is the start of the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52. The conveyance controller 105 specifies the current position of the paper P from the position of the paper P indicated in the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104 and determines whether the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 has been started based on the specified position of the paper P. While the negative result continues (NO in S401), the process of S401 is repeated. Furthermore, at the time when S401 is performed, the plate-like member 5272 of the restriction member 527 is located at the position illustrated in FIG. 19B.

When the rotation condition is satisfied (YES in S401), the conveyance controller 105 controls to rotate the pin 5271 in the counterclockwise direction when the pin 5271 is viewed from the right side of the pin 5271 of the restriction member 527 (S402). In this case, the plate-like member 5272 moves to the position illustrated in FIG. 19C.

The conveyance controller 105 determines whether the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has passed the registration roller 52 (S403). The conveyance controller 105 specifies the current position of the paper P from the relationship between the position of the paper P indicated in the conveyance information acquired by the conveyance information acquisition unit 104 and the conveyance velocity of the registration roller 52. Then, it is determined, from the specified position of the paper P, whether the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has reached downstream of the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction. While the negative result continues (NO in S403), the process of S403 is repeated.

When the paper P has passed the registration roller 52 (YES in S403), the conveyance controller 105 performs control to rotate the pin 5271 in the clockwise direction when the pin 5271 is viewed from the right side of the pin 5271 of the restriction member 527 (S404). In this case, the plate-like member 5272 returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 19B again.

Furthermore, the timing at which the paper P passes the registration roller 52 is after the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started. More specifically, the timing at which the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the registration roller 52 in the conveying direction is a timing after the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 is started and before the upstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction reaches downstream of the conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction.

Furthermore, in the description according to above-described example, the rotation condition is the start of the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52, but this is not a limitation.

The rotation condition may be that the downstream end of the paper P in the conveying direction has hit against the registration roller 52. Further, in a case where the rotation condition is satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 may rotate the pin 5271 even before the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is started.

As described above, when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51, the conveyance controller 105 prevents the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 and thus prevents the paper P from being pulled by the registration roller 52. In other words, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the nip portion N2, the CPU 211 prevents a portion overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, the CPU 211 may also be regarded as a unit that, in the paper P which is conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the nip portion N2, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutter unit 58 in the conveying direction from being pulled by the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, when the paper P is conveyed by the first registration drive roller 5211 and the first registration driven roller 5221, the conveyance controller 105 prevents the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221.

In this case, as compared with the configuration in which the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 is not prevented, the pulling of the end portion of the paper P in the right-left direction by the registration roller 52 is reduced when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52 and the conveyance roller 51. Therefore, as compared with the configuration in which the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 is not prevented from being pulled by the registration roller 52, a reduction in the tension of the paper P accordingly prevents the displacement of both the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction toward the central portion.

Furthermore, the conveyance controller 105 does not prevent the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 until the paper P comes into contact with the registration roller 52, and prevents the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 when the conveyance of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is started.

In a case where the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 is prevented before the paper P comes into contact with the registration roller 52, the paper P is less likely to hit against the nip portion N1. Furthermore, in a case where the paper P does not hit against the nip portion N1, even when the paper P comes into contact with the registration roller 52, the inclination of the paper P with respect to the conveying direction is less likely to be corrected. Conversely, as in the present exemplary embodiment, in a case where the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 is not prevented until the paper P comes into contact with the registration roller 52, the inclination of the paper P with respect to the conveying direction is prevented because the paper P is more likely to hit against the nip portion N1 than in the configuration in which the pressing of the first registration drive roller 5211 by the first registration driven roller 5221 is prevented before the paper P comes into contact with the registration roller 52.

Furthermore, it may be determined whether the operation processing illustrated in FIG. 20 is performed based on whether the control condition is satisfied. That is, in a case where there has been an instruction to cut the paper P by the cutting device 50, the operation processing may be performed when any of the control conditions is satisfied, and the operation processing does not need to be performed when none of the control conditions are satisfied. Furthermore, in a case where the operation processing is not performed, even when the paper P is conveyed by the registration roller 52, the plate-like member 5272 is continuously set at the position illustrated in FIG. 19B so that the pressing of the registration drive rollers 521 by all the registration driven rollers 522 does not need to be prevented.

Further, when none of the control conditions are satisfied, the conveyance controller 105 may make the rotation angle of the pin 5271 in the counterclockwise direction smaller in S402 of the operation processing than in a case where any of the control conditions is satisfied. In other words, in a case where none of the control conditions are satisfied, the operation processing may be performed such that the pressing force of the rotary member by the opposing member in the second second conveyance unit before the rotation condition is satisfied and the paper P passes the registration roller 52 is larger than that in a case where any of the control conditions is satisfied.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing performed by the CPU 211.

The CPU 211 executes a program to perform each processing illustrated in FIG. 21.

The CPU 211 controls the motor to convey the paper P by the registration roller 52 (S501). The function by which the CPU 211 causes the registration roller 52 to convey the paper P may be regarded as a second conveyance function.

The CPU 211 prevents or avoids the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 (S502). The function to prevent or avoid the pulling of the paper P by the registration roller 52 is performed by forming looseness in the paper P illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 8C and preventing or releasing the pressing of the registration drive roller 521 by the registration driven roller 522 illustrated in FIGS. 17A to 17D and FIGS. 19A to 19C.

The CPU 211 controls the motor to convey the paper P by the conveyance roller 51 (S503). The function by which the CPU 211 causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the paper P may be regarded as a first conveyance function.

The CPU 211 causes the cutter unit 58 to cut the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 51 along the conveying direction (S504). More specifically, the CPU 211 causes the conveyance roller 51 to convey the paper P in a state where the paper P is pinched by the cutter unit 58, and thus cutting of the paper P along the conveying direction is achieved. The function by which the CPU 211 causes the cutter unit 58 to cut the paper P may also be regarded as a cutting function.

The timing at which S502 is performed is not limited to the order illustrated in the figure. S502 may be performed at the same time as S501, or may be performed at the same time as S503 or S504.

Furthermore, the timings at which S503 and S504 are performed are not limited to the illustrated order. Steps S503 and S504 may be performed at the same time.

As described above, the program executed by the CPU 211 performs the function to, in the paper P which is conveyed by the first conveyance function and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevent or avoid a portion overlapped in the conveying direction with a portion to be cut by the cutting function from being pulled by the conveyance by the second conveyance function.

In this case, the displacement of both the end portions of the paper P in the right-left direction toward the central portion is prevented, as compared with the configuration in which the paper P conveyed by the first conveyance function is not prevented from being pulled by the conveyance by the second conveyance function.

Furthermore, in the description according to the above example, the first conveyance unit is the conveyance roller 51, but this is not a limitation.

A conveyance belt stretched around a plurality of conveyance rollers including the conveyance rollers 51 to convey the paper P may be provided for each of the conveyance rollers 51. In other words, the first conveyance unit may be a conveyance belt.

Further, in the description according to above-described example, the second conveyance unit is the registration roller 52, but this is not a limitation.

The second conveyance unit may be a conveyance belt stretched around a plurality of conveyance rollers including the registration rollers 52 to convey the paper P.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, the cutter unit 58 is provided at the position overlapped with the outer conveyance roller 51 and the end-portion conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction, but this is not a limitation.

The cutter unit 58 may be located upstream or downstream of the outer conveyance roller 51 or the end-portion conveyance roller 51 in the conveying direction as long as the cutter unit 58 cuts, along the conveying direction, the paper P conveyed by the outer conveyance roller 51 or the end-portion conveyance roller 51.

Furthermore, in the description according to the above example, both the switch gate 72 and the switch gate 74 are sheet metals having the rotation axis, but this is not a limitation.

The switch gate 72 and the switch gate 74 may be made of a resin material such as Mylar.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, the outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511 on the left side of the central conveyance roller 51 and the outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511 on the right side of the central conveyance roller 51 are provided on the same rotary shaft, but this is not a limitation.

The outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511 on the left side of the central conveyance roller 51 and the outer drive roller 511 and the end-portion drive roller 511 on the right side of the central conveyance roller 51 may be provided on different rotary shafts.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, the outer driven roller 512 and the end-portion driven roller 512 on the left side of the central conveyance roller 51 and the outer driven roller 512 and the end-portion driven roller 512 on the right side of the central conveyance roller 51 are provided on the same rotary shaft, but this is not a limitation.

The outer driven roller 512 and the end-portion driven roller 512 on the left side of the central conveyance roller 51 and the outer driven roller 512 and the end-portion driven roller 512 on the right side of the central conveyance roller 51 may be provided on different rotary shafts.

Furthermore, in the description according to the above example, the second post-processing apparatus 4 is located downstream of the first post-processing apparatus 3 in the conveying direction, but this is not a limitation.

The second post-processing apparatus 4 may be located upstream of the first post-processing apparatus 3 in the conveying direction. In particular, when the second post-processing apparatus 4 is not configured to cut the paper bundle including the plurality of sheets of paper P but is configured to trim the top and bottom of each of the conveyed sheets of paper P, the second post-processing apparatus 4 is located upstream of the first post-processing apparatus 3 in the conveying direction.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the scope described in the above exemplary embodiments. It is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that the technical scope of the invention also includes various modifications or improvements made to the above-described exemplary embodiment.

Furthermore, although a plurality of exemplary embodiments has been described above, a configuration included in one exemplary embodiment may be replaced with a configuration included in another exemplary embodiment, or a configuration included in one exemplary embodiment may be added to another exemplary embodiment.

APPENDIX

(((1)))

A recording medium processing apparatus comprising:

• • a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium;
  • a cutting member that is provided alongside the first conveyance unit in a width direction of the conveyed recording medium and cuts the recording medium along a conveying direction of the recording medium;
  • a second conveyance unit that is located upstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and conveys the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route; and
  • a preventing or avoiding unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutting member in the conveying direction from being pulled by the second conveyance unit.(((2)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((1))), wherein the preventing or avoiding unit is a forming unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, forms looseness in a portion located between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit in the conveying direction.

(((3)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((2))), wherein

• • the forming unit is a processor that controls a conveyance velocity of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit and/or the conveyance velocity by the second conveyance unit, and
  • the processor performs control such that the conveyance velocity of the second conveyance unit is higher than the conveyance velocity of the first conveyance unit.(((4)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((3))), further comprising:

• • a third conveyance unit located downstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction; and
  • a forming member that is provided between the first conveyance unit and the third conveyance unit in the conveying direction and forms a curved conveyance route that is curved toward one side in a thickness direction of the conveyed recording medium, wherein
  • the processor performs control such that the conveyance velocity of the third conveyance unit is higher than the conveyance velocity of the first conveyance unit.(((5)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((4))), further comprising a guide member that guides the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance unit to the conveyance route, wherein

• • the conveyance route includes an overlapped conveyance route that is overlapped with the curved conveyance route in the conveying direction and that is less curved in the thickness direction than the curved conveyance route or is not curved in the thickness direction, and
  • the guide member guides the recording medium of a predetermined type to the curved conveyance route and guides the recording medium of a type other than the predetermined type to the overlapped conveyance route.(((6)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((2))), wherein

• • the forming unit is a processor that controls conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit and conveyance of the recording medium by the second conveyance unit, and
  • the processor provides a period in which, when the recording medium conveyed by the second conveyance unit reaches the first conveyance unit, the first conveyance unit does not convey the recording medium and the second conveyance unit conveys the recording medium.(((7)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((2))), wherein the forming unit includes a forming member that is provided between the second conveyance unit and the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and forms a curved conveyance route that is curved toward one side in a thickness direction of the conveyed recording medium.

(((8)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((7))), wherein

• • the forming unit further includes a guide member that guides the recording medium conveyed by the second conveyance unit to the conveyance route,
  • the conveyance route includes an overlapped conveyance route that is overlapped with the curved conveyance route in the conveying direction and that is less curved in the thickness direction than the curved conveyance route or is not curved in the thickness direction, and
  • the guide member guides the recording medium of a predetermined type to the curved conveyance route and guides the recording medium of a type other than the predetermined type to the overlapped conveyance route.(((9)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of (((2))) to (((8))), wherein the forming unit forms, in the recording medium, a degree of the looseness that satisfies a predetermined condition.

(((10)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((1))), wherein

• • the second conveyance unit includes a rotary member that rotates and an opposing member that is opposed to the rotary member via a conveyance route of the recording medium and presses the rotary member, and
  • the preventing or avoiding unit is a processor that prevents or releases pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member.(((11)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((10))), wherein the processor prevents or releases pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member at least from when conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit is started until when a predetermined condition for conveyance of the recording medium is satisfied.

(((12)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((10))), wherein

• • the second conveyance unit includes at least a first second conveyance unit and a second second conveyance unit provided outside the first second conveyance unit in the width direction,
  • the cutting member is provided outside the first conveyance unit in the width direction, and
  • the processor prevents pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member in the second second conveyance unit when the recording medium is conveyed by the first second conveyance unit.(((13)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to (((12))), wherein the processor does not prevent pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member in the second second conveyance unit until the recording medium comes into contact with the second conveyance unit, but prevents the pressing when conveyance of the recording medium by the second conveyance unit is started.

(((14)))

The recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((13))), further comprising a pressing member that is provided outside the cutting member in the width direction and presses the recording medium cut by the cutting member to form a fold line in the recording medium along the conveying direction.

(((15)

An image forming system comprising:

• • an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; and
  • a recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, wherein
  • the recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((14))).(((16)))

A program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:

• • first conveying a recording medium;
  • cutting the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying along a conveying direction of the recording medium;
  • second conveying the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route on an upstream side of conveyance by the first conveying in the conveying direction of the recording medium; and
  • in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveying and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, preventing or avoiding a portion overlapped in the conveying direction with a portion cut by the cutting from being pulled by conveyance by the second conveying.

Claims

1. A recording medium processing apparatus comprising: a first conveyance unit that conveys a recording medium;a cutting member that is provided alongside the first conveyance unit in a width direction of the conveyed recording medium and cuts the recording medium along a conveying direction of the recording medium;a second conveyance unit that is located upstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and conveys the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route; anda preventing or avoiding unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, prevents or avoids a portion overlapped with the cutting member in the conveying direction from being pulled by the second conveyance unit.

2. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preventing or avoiding unit is a forming unit that, in the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveyance unit and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, forms looseness in a portion located between the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit in the conveying direction.

3. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit is a processor that controls a conveyance velocity of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit and/or the conveyance velocity by the second conveyance unit, andthe processor performs control such that the conveyance velocity of the second conveyance unit is higher than the conveyance velocity of the first conveyance unit.

4. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a third conveyance unit located downstream of the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction; anda forming member that is provided between the first conveyance unit and the third conveyance unit in the conveying direction and forms a curved conveyance route that is curved toward one side in a thickness direction of the conveyed recording medium, whereinthe processor performs control such that the conveyance velocity of the third conveyance unit is higher than the conveyance velocity of the first conveyance unit.

5. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a guide member that guides the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance unit to the conveyance route, wherein the conveyance route includes an overlapped conveyance route that is overlapped with the curved conveyance route in the conveying direction and that is less curved in the thickness direction than the curved conveyance route or is not curved in the thickness direction, andthe guide member guides the recording medium of a predetermined type to the curved conveyance route and guides the recording medium of a type other than the predetermined type to the overlapped conveyance route.

6. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit is a processor that controls conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit and conveyance of the recording medium by the second conveyance unit, andthe processor provides a period in which, when the recording medium conveyed by the second conveyance unit reaches the first conveyance unit, the first conveyance unit does not convey the recording medium and the second conveyance unit conveys the recording medium.

7. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit includes a forming member that is provided between the second conveyance unit and the first conveyance unit in the conveying direction and forms a curved conveyance route that is curved toward one side in a thickness direction of the conveyed recording medium.

8. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the forming unit further includes a guide member that guides the recording medium conveyed by the second conveyance unit to the conveyance route,the conveyance route includes an overlapped conveyance route that is overlapped with the curved conveyance route in the conveying direction and that is less curved in the thickness direction than the curved conveyance route or is not curved in the thickness direction, andthe guide member guides the recording medium of a predetermined type to the curved conveyance route and guides the recording medium of a type other than the predetermined type to the overlapped conveyance route.

9. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming unit forms, in the recording medium, a degree of the looseness that satisfies a predetermined condition.

10. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second conveyance unit includes a rotary member that rotates and an opposing member that is opposed to the rotary member via a conveyance route of the recording medium and presses the rotary member, andthe preventing or avoiding unit is a processor that prevents or releases pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member.

11. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor prevents or releases pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member at least from when conveyance of the recording medium by the first conveyance unit is started until when a predetermined condition for conveyance of the recording medium is satisfied.

12. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second conveyance unit includes at least a first second conveyance unit and a second second conveyance unit provided outside the first second conveyance unit in the width direction,the cutting member is provided outside the first conveyance unit in the width direction, andthe processor prevents pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member in the second second conveyance unit when the recording medium is conveyed by the first second conveyance unit.

13. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor does not prevent pressing of the rotary member by the opposing member in the second second conveyance unit until the recording medium comes into contact with the second conveyance unit, but prevents the pressing when conveyance of the recording medium by the second conveyance unit is started.

14. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member that is provided outside the cutting member in the width direction and presses the recording medium cut by the cutting member to form a fold line in the recording medium along the conveying direction.

15. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; anda recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, whereinthe recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1.

16. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; anda recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, whereinthe recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 2.

17. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; anda recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, whereinthe recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 3.

18. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; anda recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, whereinthe recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 4.

19. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; anda recording medium processing apparatus that processes the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus, whereinthe recording medium processing apparatus includes the recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 5.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process comprising: first conveying a recording medium;cutting the recording medium conveyed by the first conveying along a conveying direction of the recording medium;second conveying the recording medium having reached a predetermined conveyance route on an upstream side of conveyance by the first conveying in the conveying direction of the recording medium; andin the recording medium which is conveyed by the first conveying and whose upstream end in the conveying direction has not passed the predetermined conveyance route, preventing or avoiding a portion overlapped in the conveying direction with a portion cut by the cutting from being pulled by conveyance by the second conveying.