Patent Grant
10308060
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus for applying binding processing to sheets, and an image forming system including the sheet post-processing apparatus.
A sheet post-processing apparatus including a sheet binding mechanism that receives sheets, on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus, on a processing tray and applies binding processing to the sheet bundle on the processing tray has heretofore been known. Among methods for binding a sheet bundle by the sheet post-processing apparatus is a method for sandwiching the sheets between a pair of crimping members having recesses and protrusions of tooth shape, and pressing the sheets to form crimps so that fibers of the sheets are entangled with and fastened to each other.
According to the method for binding a sheet bundle by crimping, if the pressing force between the pair of crimping members is small, sheets of less entangleable fibers, such as sheets of thick paper and sheets of special paper, are likely to exfoliate from the bound sheet bundle. If the pressing force between the pair of crimping members is small, sheets are also likely to exfoliate from a thick sheet bundle. On the other hand, if the pressing force of the crimping members is large, thin paper, plain paper, and thin sheet bundles can be broken or damaged. In other words, there has been a problem that the method cannot accommodate various sheet types since a binding failure or sheet damage occurs depending on the sheet type.
There is provided a setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind sheets, and binding is applied along a predetermined direction as many times as the number of binding points set by the setting unit.
This facilitates changing fastening force of the sheets, so that appropriate fastening force can be secured according to conditions.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a cassette 5 which can store about 100 sheets, and a storage 6 which can store about 1000 sheets. The sheets in the cassette 5 or the storage 6 are taken out and sent to an image forming unit 1A one by one.
The image forming unit 1A performs printing on a sheet. The image forming unit 1A includes a beam projector 12, a developing device 13, and a transfer charger 14. The beam projector 12 forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum 11. The developing device 13 applies toner ink to the electrostatic latent image. The transfer charger 14 transfers the image ink formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to a sheet. A fixing roller 15 arranged downstream heats and fixes the image on the sheet. The sheet is conveyed to the sheet post-processing apparatus 4.
The document reading apparatus 2 includes a first platen 16 and a second platen 17. The first and second platens 16 and 17 are made of transparent glass and horizontally juxtaposed on an upper part of the apparatus. The first platen 16 is used to read a document that is manually set. The second platen 17 is used to read a document that moves at a predetermined speed.
The document reading apparatus 2 includes a reading carriage 18 and a photoelectric conversion unit inside. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a condenser lens 20 and a photoelectric conversion element 21 such as a CCD image sensor. The reading carriage 18 includes a lamp which emits light to a document, and two mirrors which guide the light reflected from the document to the condenser lens 20 and the photoelectric conversion element 21.
The reading carriage 18 reciprocates in a sub scanning direction (horizontal direction) under the first platen 16. The reading carriage 18 irradiates a document with light, and reads the document by photoelectrically converting the reflected light from the document by the photoelectric conversion element 21. Image data on the document read by the photoelectric conversion element 21 is transmitted as an image signal to the beam projector 12.
The document feed apparatus 3 passes a document set on a sheet feed tray 22 over the second platen 17 by a sheet conveyance mechanism 24, and discharges the document to a sheet discharge tray 23. The reading carriage 18 stops at a position under the second platen 17 and reads the document passing over the second platen 17.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 applies binding processing to sheets on which images are formed (printed) by the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 includes a binding part 50, first and second stacking trays 56 and 57, an insert tray 52, a first conveyance path 53, a second conveyance path 54, and a third conveyance path 55. The binding part 50 performs binding processing on sheets. Sheets are discharged to the first and second stacking trays 56 and 57. Sheets such as a document, color paper, and a slip sheet are set on the insert tray 52. The first conveyance path 53 guides a sheet from the image forming apparatus 1 to the binding part 50. The second conveyance path 54 guides a sheet from the insert tray 52 to the binding part 50. The third conveyance path 55 branches off the first conveyance path 53 and guides the sheet from the image forming apparatus 1 to the first stacking tray 56.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 further includes a sheet feed mechanism and a plurality of conveyance roller pairs. The sheet feed mechanism separates and feeds the sheets on the insert tray 52 one by one. The plurality of conveyance roller pairs is arranged at appropriate intervals to convey sheets along the first to third conveyance paths 53, 54, and 55. A downstream portion of the first conveyance path 53 and a downstream portion of the second conveyance path 54 constitute a common conveyance path (third conveyance path) 56a. A discharge roller pair 60 for discharging a sheet from a discharge port 58 is arranged on the common conveyance path 56a. A carry-out sensor 59 detects the sheet conveyed to the discharge port 58.
The paddle 65 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 65a. The paddle 65 is driven by a paddle driving motor M1 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the diagram, and thereby pushes out the sheets 30 toward the trailing edge regulation plates 62. The discharge belt 66 is stretched between a pair of pulleys. The discharge belt 66 is driven by a discharge motor M5 to discharge the sheets on the processing tray 61 to the second stacking tray 57.
The side regulation plate 63a and 63b are provided on the left and right side ends of the processing tray 61, with the sheets 30 therebetween. The side regulation plate 63a is connected to a first shift motor M2 via a rack mechanism (not shown). The side regulation plate 63b is connected to a second shift motor M3 via a rack mechanism. The side regulation plates 63a and 63b are thus moved to reciprocate in the width direction of the sheets 30 by forward and backward rotations of the first and second shift motors M2 and M3.
The sheets sequentially discharged from the first and second conveyance paths 53 and 54 onto the processing tray 61 are aligned one by one by the trailing edge regulation plates 62, the side regulation plates 63a and 63b, and the paddle 65. The aligned sheets are positioned to a binding position of the binding unit 64 which is provided at a corner on one side of the processing tray 61.
The positioning will be described in detail. A sheet 30 carried out to the processing tray 61 is moved toward the trailing edge regulation plates 62 by the rotation of the paddle 65 as shown in
The lower tooth member 71 of the binding tool 70 is provided so that its upper surface 71a is flush with the sheet placing surface of the processing tray 61. Binding teeth 71c of recessed and protruded shape are formed on an inner bottom of a groove portion 71b. Binding teeth 72c of recessed and protruded shape to mesh with the binding teeth 71c of the lower tooth member 71 are formed on the bottom of the upper tooth member 72.
An eccentric cam 73 is in contact with a top surface 72a of the upper tooth member 72. Rotation of the eccentric cam 73 moves the upper tooth member 72 downward so that the binding teeth 72c of the upper tooth member 72 mesh with the binding teeth 71c of the lower tooth member 71. The sheets between the binding teeth 72c of the upper tooth member 72 and the binding teeth 71c of the lower tooth member 71 are thereby pressed to expose fibers on the surfaces of the sheets, and the fibers of the sheets are entangled with and fastened to each other.
The eccentric cam 73 is connected to a binding motor M4 via drive transmission gears 74, 75, and 76. The binding motor M4 is driven to rotate the eccentric cam 73. The eccentric cam 73 is configured so that if the eccentric cam 73 is rotated by a half turn, the upper tooth member 72 moves from a standby position to a meshing position and moves to the standby position again. That is, the binding tool 70 presses and binds the sheets as the eccentric cam 73 is rotated by a half turn.
A tension spring 78 is provided to move the upper tooth member 72 to the standby position. One end of the tension spring 78 is attached to an attachment tab 72b formed on the upper surface 72a of the upper tooth member 72. The other end of the tension spring 78 is attached to an attachment pin 79 which is provided on a side plate (not shown) of the apparatus. As shown in
As described above, the binding unit 64 integrally includes the binding tool 70, the eccentric cam 73, the drive transmission gears 74, 75, and 76, the driving motor M4, and the tension spring 78. The binding unit 64 is configured to move along one side of the sheets on the processing tray 61 according to a guide groove 80 provided near the end portion of the processing tray 61.
Specifically, a pair of slide pins 67a and 67b is provided in parallel on the end portion of the binding unit 64. The slide pins 67a and 67b are engaged with the guide groove 80 which is formed in a unit frame along the width direction of the sheets. A unit moving mechanism 69 shown in
The binding tool 70 is configured to be capable of reciprocation by itself in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, aside from movement by the binding unit 64 in the width direction of the sheets. The binding tool 70 includes a binding tool moving mechanism 49 (see
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an input unit 14a which includes an operation panel and is arranged on a front side where the user of the image forming system is positioned. The user of the image forming system inputs various types of information, including image finishing specifications, size information about sheets to be printed, binding mode information, and bonding force information, from the operation panel of the input unit 14a.
The main body control unit 12a controls the document reading apparatus 2 and the document feed apparatus 3 according to the contents input to the input unit 14a. The main body control unit 12a then controls the image forming apparatus 1 to print images of documents read by the document reading apparatus 2 on sheets and send the sheets to the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 in succession. In addition, the main body control unit 12a outputs sheet information indicating the size, type, and the number of sheets to be printed, the binding mode information, and the bonding force information to the sheet post-processing control unit 13a based on the contents input to the input unit 14a. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a outputs a binding unavailability signal and other signals indicating the state of the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 to the main body control unit 12a.
The sheet post-processing control unit 13a controls a post-processing operation which is performed on the image-formed sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a includes a CPU, and controls an operation of the entire sheet post-processing apparatus 4 by executing a control program stored in a ROM 15a. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a is therefore connected with the binding motor M4, the paddle driving motor M1, the first and second shift motors M2 and M3, the binding tool moving mechanism 49, the unit moving mechanism 69, and a conveyance driving device 35. The binding motor M4 drives the eccentric cam 73 of the binding tool 70. The paddle driving motor M1 drives the paddle 65 to rotate. The conveyance driving device 35 includes a plurality of driving motors for driving the conveyance roller pairs arranged on the conveyance paths 53, 54, and 55, and the discharge roller pair 60.
The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then controls the driving of the paddle driving motor M1 to rotate the paddle 65 and perform trailing edge alignment processing on the sheet discharged to the processing tray 61 (step S2). As shown in
After the alignment of the trailing edge of the sheet 30 ends, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a performs alignment processing in the width direction (step S3). In this alignment processing, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the first side regulation plate 63a toward the second side regulation plate 63b. One end of the sheet 30 in the width direction is thus pushed by the first side regulation plate 63a, and the sheet 30 moves toward the second side regulation plate 63b. The other end of the sheet 30 in the width direction then comes into contact with the second side regulation plate 63b. Both ends of the sheet 30 are thereby aligned in the width direction as shown in
The distance by which the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the first side regulation plate 63a toward the second side regulation plate 63b is determined according to the sheet size. More specifically, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the first side regulation plate 63a to a position at which the distance between the side regulation plates 63a and 63b is slightly shorter than the length of the sheet 30 in the width direction. The sheet size is included in the sheet information from the main body control unit 12a.
Next, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a determines whether the sheet 30 positioned by the alignment of the trailing edge and the width direction on the processing tray 61 is the last sheet (step S4). If the sheet 30 is not determined to be the last one, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a returns to step S1 and repeats the processing of step S2 and subsequent steps. The sheets 30 delivered from the discharge port 58 in succession are thus accumulated on the processing tray 61. Information about the last sheet is included in the sheet information transmitted from the main body control unit 12a sheet by sheet. Whether the sheet 30 is the last one is determined based on the sheet information. If the sheet 30 is determined to be the last one, the binding unit 64 performs binding processing on the sheets 30 (step S5). The sheets 30 binding-processed on the processing tray 61 are then discharged to the second stacking tray 57 (step S6).
Binding modes in the present embodiment include a “corner binding mode” in which the sheets 30 are bound at a corner and a “two-point binding mode” in which the sheets 30 are bound at two points along a side. The binding modes are specified by way of operation buttons provided on the input unit 14a. The bonding force information is also an input item to be input to the input unit 14a by the user. Binding forces for the crimp binding, “high”, “normal”, and “low”, are specified by way of operation buttons provided on the input unit 14a. If the user intends to perform temporary binding by which bound sheets can be easily exfoliated afterward, “low” is selected. In the “corner binding mode” according to the present embodiment, “oblique binding” for applying binding in a direction crossing two sides of a corner of the sheets is performed on the corner of the sheets. In the “two-point binding mode”, “parallel binding” for applying binding in a direction parallel to one side of the sheets 30 is performed on two points along the one side of the sheets 30.
Obtaining such pieces of information, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a makes various settings about binding. Initially, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a sets the number of binding points based on the bonding force information (binding point number setting unit/first setting unit) (step S14). For example, if the user selects “high” on the operation panel of the input unit 14a, the number of binding points is set to “3”. If “normal” is selected, the number of binding points is set to “2”. If “low” is selected, the number of binding points is set to “1”. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a thus has a function as a setting unit for setting the number of binding points of the sheets 30.
The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then sets a region or regions available for binding (effective binding region(s)) based on the sheet size information and the binding mode information (step S15). In the case of corner binding, an effective binding region is set in a normally-set margin portion at a corner of the sheets 30. In the case of two-point binding, effective binding regions are set in a normally-set margin portion on one side of the sheets 30.
Next, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a sets a binding position(s) based on the sheet size information, the binding mode information, and the number of binding points (binding position setting unit/second setting unit) (step S16). To set the binding position(s), a data table is previously set in the program. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a extracts and sets suitable data from the table based on the sheet size, the binding mode, and the number of binding points. It will be understood that the post-processing control unit 13a may calculate the binding position(s) from the sheet size, the binding mode, and the number of binding points each time without using the previously-stored data.
In the present embodiment, the binding position(s) is/are evenly set within each effective binding region. More specifically, if the number of binding points is one, the binding position is set at the center position in the effective binding region. If the number of binding points is two, the effective binding region is divided into two equal blocks, and the binding positions are set at the centers of the respective blocks. If the number of binding points is three, the binding positions are set at the centers of three equal blocks.
In setting the binding position(s), the sheet post-processing control unit 13a determines whether the set position(s) is/are available for binding (step S17). If any of the set binding position(s) is unavailable for binding, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a resets all the settings of the binding position(s) (step S21). The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then outputs an error signal to the main body control unit 12a to notify the main body control unit 12a that the binding processing is not possible (step S22). The main body control unit 12a then informs the user that the binding mode and the number of binding points input from the input unit 14a are not executable. The state in which binding is not possible refers to when crimps overlap. Crimps can overlap if the sheet size is small or if the number of binding points is large.
If the binding processing is possible, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a performs either corner binding mode processing or two-point binding mode processing according to the selected binding mode (steps S18, S19 and S20).
The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then controls the driving of the binding motor M4 to actuate the binding tool 70 and apply binding to a set corner binding position (step S112). If the binding at the set binding position ends, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a determines whether binding has been completed as many times as the set number of binding points (step S113). If binding has not been completed as many time as the set number of binding points (set number of times of binding), the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the binding tool 70 by a pitch h toward the diagonal center of the sheets 30, with the binding unit 64 stopped at the predetermined stop position K1 (step S114). The sheet post-processing control unit 13a thereby moves the binding tool 70 to the next binding position, and actuates the binding tool 70 to apply binding (step S115). If the set number of binding points is not reached, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a further moves the binding tool 70 to the next set binding position and actuates the binding tool 70. In such a manner, as shown in
As described above, in the case of the corner binding mode, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a controls the binding tool 70 to apply the binding processing to a plurality of binding points along the diagonal direction toward the center of the sheets 30. If the binding positions are at the corner of the sheets 30, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a thus applies the binding processing along the diagonal direction of the sheets 30.
If the set number of times of binding is reached (“YES” in step S113), the sheet post-processing control unit 13a returns the binding tool 70 to K1 which is the initial position (step S116). The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then controls the unit moving mechanism 69 to return the binding unit 64 to the home position HP, and ends the corner binding mode processing (step S117).
As shown in
After the application of the binding to the binding position Q2, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a checks again whether binding has been completed as many times as the set number of binding points (step S213). If binding has not been completed as many times as the set number of binding points, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the binding unit 64 to the set next binding position Q3 and applies binding. The sheet post-processing control unit 13a then repeats the operation of steps S213 to S215 until binding is completed as many times as the set number of binding points. More specifically, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a moves the binding unit 64 to the binding positions Q1 to Q6 of the sheets 30 and repeats the operation for applying binding.
In the two-point binding mode, the binding points are grouped in twos. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has three levels of operation of fastening force, “high”, “normal”, and “low”. If the fastening force is set to “high”, the sheet post-processing apparatus performs binding at six points. If the fastening force is set to “normal”, the sheet post-processing apparatus performs binding at four points. If the fastening force is set to “low”, the sheet post-processing apparatus performs binding at two points.
As described above, in the case of the two-point binding mode, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a controls the binding tool 70 to apply the binding processing to a plurality of binding points along the direction of the one side of the sheets 30. If the binding positions lie in positions parallel to the side of the sheets 30, then the sheet post-processing control unit applies the binding processing along the direction of the side.
After binding has been applied to the sheets 30 as many times as the set number of binding points, the sheet post-processing control unit 13a returns the binding unit 64 to the home position HP and ends the two-point binding mode processing (step S216).
In the foregoing embodiment, the effective binding region(s) is/are divided into equal blocks according to the number of binding points, and binding positions are set at the centers of the respective blocks. However, as shown in
In the foregoing embodiment, the corner binding uses oblique binding in which the sheets are bound in a direction crossing the two sides of the corner as shown in
According to the foregoing embodiment, the binding force is manually set by using the operation buttons “high”, “normal”, and “low” provided on the input unit 14a. However, the main body control unit 12a or the sheet post-processing control unit 13a may automatically determine and set an appropriate number of binding points and appropriate binding positions based on information about sheet types, such as thin paper, plain paper, thick paper, and special paper, and the binding mode information input from the input unit 14a.
The sheet post-processing apparatus 4 described above is configured to be able to set the number of binding points, and can thereby freely adjust the fastening force of a sheet bundle. This allows appropriate binding according to the number of sheets in the sheet bundle, the type of the sheets, and the like. Since the fastening force of the sheet bundle can be freely adjusted, binding desired by the user can be easily performed.
In the corner binding mode, the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 performs binding on a plurality of points toward the inner side of the sheets 30. In the two-point binding mode, the sheet post-processing apparatus 4 performs binding on a plurality of points along the one side of the sheets 30. This can prevent interference with handling of the bound sheet bundle. In other words, if binding is applied to a plurality of points, the binding positions are set in a direction according to the binding mode. This offers excellent handling of the bound sheet bundle.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-179235, filed Sep. 14, 2016, all the contents of which are incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-179235 | Sep 2016 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8246033 | Sato | Aug 2012 | B2 |
| 8333372 | Awaya | Dec 2012 | B2 |
| 8342499 | Shiraishi | Jan 2013 | B2 |
| 9415560 | Morinaga | Aug 2016 | B2 |
| 20160360053 | Suzuki | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-168890 | Mar 2013 | JP |
| 2014-073681 | Apr 2014 | JP |
| 2014-114113 | Jun 2014 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180079247 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |
