JP2009154396A - Sheet bundle storage device, book-binding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet bundle storage device capable of preventing a storing jam when book-bound sheet bundles are stored in a stack tray in an upright position and capable taking out simultaneously stored sheet bundles from the front of a line in succession. <P>SOLUTION: The stack tray is provided with a bundle position holding means, thereby storing a sheet bundle in an upright position. The stack tray is freely moved between carry-in and takeout positions for a sheet bundle. The stack tray is provided with a position deflecting means for making the carry-in position and the takeout position different from each other in the angled position of a stored sheet bundle. This position deflecting means has, for example, first and second support members for holding sheet bundles at different angled positions, and moves the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray from the first support member to the second support member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet bundle storage device that stores back-bound and bound sheet bundles, a bookbinding apparatus that uses the sheet bundle storage device, and an image forming system, and relates to an improvement in a storage structure for bookbinding and bound sheet bundles.

  In general, when an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, the sheet is aligned in a bundle and bound to the cover sheet and stored in the stack tray, or the bookbinding is performed by aligning and stacking the image formed sheet and binding to the cover sheet. The device is widely known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a storage stack tray is constituted by a tray member, and a sheet bundle bound on a cover is stacked and stored on this tray. For this reason, the conveyor which carries out a sheet bundle is comprised so that it may move up and down according to the stacking amount of a sheet bundle. Further, in Patent Document 2, a similar stacking tray is formed in a box (box shape), and a sheet bundle bound from above is stored in a standing position in this box.

The stack tray for storing the bundle of sheets thus finished is to store the stack of sheets (booklet) in a stacked manner as disclosed in Patent Document 1, or as disclosed in Patent Document 2. In a standing position, it is stored in the front and back. The former requires a lift mechanism that moves up and down the stacking and storage trays and a conveyor mechanism that carries the sheet bundle on the uppermost sheet, leading to an increase in the size of the apparatus. The latter is a sheet bundle stored in a standing position ( The booklet is known to fall.
JP 2004-209869 A JP 2005-305822 A

  As described above, when the front-bound sheet bundle is stacked and stored vertically in the horizontal posture as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the adhesive of the back-bound back cover portion is not completely solidified, Or when it leaks out from an edge, an adhesive agent may adhere to the cover surface of the sheet bundle stacked up and down. In such a case, it is necessary to discard the sheet bundle as a cover mistake. At the same time, when the adhesive on the back cover portion is not completely solidified, the back cover may be wrinkled or out of shape due to the weight of the sheet bundle stacked up and down.

  In view of this, it is proposed in Patent Document 2 to store the bound sheet bundle in a standing position. However, in this publication, the sheet bundle is stacked in a tilted standing position on a box-shaped stack tray. Stored. For this reason, when the user tries to take out a part of the stack from the stack tray in the course of continuously mounting, there is a problem that it is difficult to take out the sheet bundle in the foremost row so that the subsequent sheet bundle leans against it. .

  As described above, the conventional storage device that stores the sheet bundle in the standing position, when supporting the frontmost sheet bundle in the standing position by the support member, inclines the support surface of the support member by a predetermined angle and follows the sheet. Overlapping so that the bundle leans. This is to prevent the sheet bundle in the front row from collapsing and causing a storage jam when storing the bundle of sheets finished with binding at the end of the stack tray.

  However, when taking out the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray, taking out from the frontmost sheet bundle is troublesome because the sheet bundle following the sheet bundle is leaning. In particular, in order to take out a sheet bundle that has been finished in a continuous bookbinding process and check the finished state, it is necessary to stop the apparatus once, pull out the stack tray to the outside, and sequentially take out the last sheet bundle. For this reason, there is a drawback that the work of taking out the sheet bundle becomes troublesome.

  Therefore, when the sheet bundle is stored in the stack tray in the standing posture, the inventor stores the sheet bundle by providing a posture deflection unit in the bundle posture holding means (support member) that holds the sheet bundle in the standing posture. When holding the sheet bundle, hold it at an angle suitable for storing the succeeding sheet bundle at the end of the overlapped sheet bundle, and when taking out the sheet bundle, take the angle attitude suitable for taking out the frontmost sheet bundle. I came up with the idea of deflecting.

  The present invention does not cause a storage jam when a subsequent sheet is carried into a stack tray in a standing position when a bundle of finished sheet bundles is stored in a standing position, and the stored sheet bundle can be sequentially taken out from the front row. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible sheet bundle storage device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for deflecting the angular posture of the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray at a low cost with a simple structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a stack posture holding means on the stack tray to store the sheet bundle in a standing posture, and the stack tray is configured to be freely movable between a sheet bundle carrying-in position and a taking-out position. The stack tray is provided with posture deflecting means for varying the angular posture of the sheet bundle stored at the carry-in position and the take-out position. The posture deflecting unit includes, for example, first and second support members that hold the sheet bundle at different angular postures, and moves the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray from the first support member to the second support member. Consists of operating means. The specific configuration will be described below.

  A stacking device for back-bound and bound sheet bundles, the stack tray for stacking and storing the sheet bundles in a vertical standing position, and a carry-in area disposed at the rear end in the stacking direction of the stack trays A take-out area disposed at a stacking direction front end of the stack tray, a bundle posture holding means provided in the stack tray so as to hold a sheet bundle from the carry-in area in a standing posture, and A stack posture holding means or a shift means for sequentially moving the stack tray from the carry-in area to the take-out area side. The stack tray is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable between a carry-in position for carrying the sheet bundle into the carry-in area and a take-out position for taking out the stored sheet bundle, and the stack tray has the carry-in position and the take-out position. And a posture deflecting means for changing the angular posture of the stored sheet bundle.

  The bundle posture holding means includes a first support member that holds the sheet bundle in a posture at the carry-in position and a second support member that holds the sheet bundle in a posture at the take-out position. The sheet bundle stored in the stack tray is constituted by an operating means that moves from the first support member to the second support member.

  The actuating means includes a push member that presses and moves the sheet bundle supported by the first support member toward the second support member in conjunction with the movement of the stack tray from the carry-in position to the take-out arrangement. To do.

  The first support member includes a first inclined support surface that is inclined at a predetermined angle so that the sheet bundle from the carry-in area is tilted to the preceding stored sheet bundle in a standing posture, and the second support member is And a second inclined support surface inclined at a predetermined angle so that the sheet bundle falls from the take-out area toward the subsequent sheet bundle side. The first inclined support surface and the second inclined support surface are inclined by a predetermined angle in different angular directions with respect to the vertical direction.

  A bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention includes a back binding means for binding back portions of sheet bundles arranged in a bundle shape, a sheet bundle carrying means for carrying out the sheet bundle bound by the back binding means in a standing position, A stack tray that stacks and stores the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle carrying-out means in the standing posture and the stack tray that stacks and stores the sheet bundle in the standing posture is disposed at the rear end in the stacking direction. A carry-in area; a take-out area arranged at the leading end of the stack tray in the stacking direction; and a bundle posture holding means provided in the stack tray so as to hold a sheet bundle from the carry-in area in a standing posture. And a shift means for sequentially moving the bundle posture holding means or the stack tray from the carry-in area to the take-out area side. The stack tray is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable between a carry-in position for carrying the sheet bundle into the carry-in area and a take-out position for taking out the stored sheet bundle, and the stack tray has the carry-in position and the take-out position. And a posture deflecting means for changing the angular posture of the stored sheet bundle.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming unit that sequentially forms an image on a sheet, a stacking unit that stacks and stacks sheets from the image forming unit in a bundle, and a back binding of a sheet bundle from the stacking unit. Adhesive layer forming means for adding an adhesive layer to the end surface, cover binding means for binding a cover sheet to the sheet bundle from the adhesive layer forming means, and sheet bundle storage for storing the sheet bundle from the cover binding means The sheet bundle storage device has the above-described configuration.

  The present invention is provided with posture deflecting means for changing the angular posture of the sheet bundle stored in a standing posture in the process of moving the stack tray from the carry-in position to the take-out position, and therefore has the following effects. .

  When a subsequent sheet bundle is carried in, the sheet bundle in the stack tray is held at an angle suitable for the carry-in, so that the last sheet bundle already stored falls and the subsequent sheet bundle is carried in. It won't interfere and cause storage jams.

  At the same time, when the sheet bundle is taken out, the sheet bundle is held at an angle suitable for the take-out, so that it can be sequentially taken out from the frontmost sheet bundle, and there is no fear that the rear side sheet bundle collapses during the take-out.

  Further, according to the present invention, the stack tray is provided with first and second support members for holding the sheet bundle at different angles and the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray is moved from the first support member to the second support member. By providing the posture deflecting means, it is possible to deflect the storage posture of the sheet bundle with a simple structure at low cost.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming system using the same, and FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the bookbinding apparatus.

  The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A that sequentially prints sheets, a bookbinding apparatus B attached downstream of the image forming apparatus A, and a post-processing apparatus disposed downstream of the bookbinding apparatus B. C. Then, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A is bound by the bookbinding apparatus B. Further, a sheet that is not subjected to bookbinding processing is configured to pass through the bookbinding apparatus B and to post-process the sheet by the post-processing apparatus C.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
First, the image forming apparatus A can employ various structures such as a copying machine, a printer, and a printing machine, but an electrostatic printing apparatus is illustrated. In the image forming apparatus A, a paper feed unit 2, a printing unit 3, a paper discharge unit 4, and a control unit are built in a casing 1. A plurality of cassettes 5 corresponding to the sheet size are prepared in the sheet feeding unit 2, and a sheet having a size designated by the control unit is fed out to the sheet feeding path 6. A registration roller 7 is provided in the sheet feeding path 6 and the sheet is fed to the downstream printing unit 3 at a predetermined timing after the leading edges of the sheets are aligned.

  The printing unit 3 is provided with an electrostatic drum 10. A print head 9, a developing device 11, a transfer charger 12, and the like are disposed around the electrostatic drum 10. The print head 9 is composed of, for example, a laser light emitter, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 10. A toner ink is attached to the latent image by the developing device 11 and printed on a sheet by the transfer charger 12. . This print sheet is fixed by the fixing device 13 and carried out to the paper discharge path 17. The paper discharge unit 4 is provided with a paper discharge port 14 and a paper discharge roller 15 formed in the casing 1. Reference numeral 16 denotes a circulation path. The print sheet from the paper discharge path 17 is turned upside down on the switchback path and then sent to the registration roller 7 again to form an image on the back surface of the print sheet. In this way, the print sheet on which one side or both sides are formed is carried out from the paper discharge port 14 by the paper discharge roller 15.

  In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a scanner unit which optically reads a document image to be printed by the print head 9. As is generally known, the platen 23 on which a document sheet is placed and set, a carriage 21 that scans a document image along the platen 23, and an optical device that photoelectrically converts an optical image from the carriage 21. It comprises a reading means (for example, a CCD device) 22. In the illustrated example, a document feeder 25 for automatically feeding a document sheet to the platen is provided on the platen 23.

[Configuration of bookbinding device]
Next, the bookbinding apparatus B attached to the image forming apparatus A will be described. The bookbinding apparatus B includes a stacking unit 40 that stacks and arranges printing sheets in a bundle in the casing 30, an adhesive application unit 55 that applies adhesive paste to the sheet bundle from the stacking unit 40, and an adhesive. A cover binding means 60 for binding the cover sheet to the coated sheet bundle is configured.

[Configuration of transport route]
The conveyance path of each sheet will be described. In the casing 30, a carry-in path 31 having a carry-in entrance 31 a continuous with the paper discharge port 14 of the image forming apparatus A is provided. The conveyance path 34 is connected via a path switching flapper 36. A bookbinding path 33 is connected to the intermediate sheet transport path 32 via the stacking unit 40, and a post-processing path 38 is connected to the cover sheet transport path 34. The bookbinding path 33 is arranged in a direction that cuts the apparatus in a substantially vertical direction, and the cover transport path 34 is arranged in a direction that crosses the apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction.

  The bookbinding path 33 and the cover transport path 34 intersect (orthogonal) each other, and a cover binding means 60 described later is disposed at the intersection. The carry-in path 31 configured as described above is connected to the paper discharge port 14 of the image forming apparatus A, and receives a print sheet from the image forming apparatus A. In this case, the image forming apparatus A carries out a print sheet (saddle stitching sheet) on which content information is printed and a print sheet (hereinafter referred to as a cover sheet) on which a title used as a cover cover is printed. In this way, the carry-in path 31 is branched into the intermediate sheet conveyance path 32 and the cover sheet conveyance path 34, and the print sheets are distributed and conveyed to the respective paths via the path switching flapper 36.

  On the other hand, an inserter device 26 is connected to the carry-in path 31 so that cover sheets that are not subjected to printing processing by the image forming apparatus A are separated from the paper feed tray 26a one by one and supplied to the carry-in path 31. is there. The inserter device 26 is provided with one or a plurality of stages of paper feed trays 26a. A paper feed means for separating and feeding stacked sheets one by one at the front end of the tray, and a downstream side of the paper feed means. A paper feed path 27 is provided, and the paper feed path 27 is connected to the carry-in path 31 via a path switching piece 28. Further, the transport roller 31b is provided in the carry-in path 31, the transport roller 32a is provided in the intermediate paper transport path 32, the grip transport means (sheet bundle transport means; the same applies hereinafter) 47 and the bundle posture deflection means 64 described later. And a paper discharge roller (paper discharge means) 66 are disposed. Further, a transport roller 34a is disposed in the cover transport path 34, and a transport roller 38a is disposed in the post-processing path 38, and each is coupled to a drive motor.

[Configuration of stacking unit]
A stacking tray 41 (hereinafter referred to as “tray”) disposed in the paper discharge port 32b of the intermediate paper conveyance path 32 stacks and stores sheets from the paper discharge port 32b in a bundle shape as shown in FIG. Is constituted by a tray member arranged in a substantially horizontal posture, and a forward / reverse rotation roller 42a and a carry-in guide 42b are provided above the tray member. The forward / reverse rotation roller 42a transfers the print sheet to the front end side of the tray 41 by forward rotation, and the rear end of the sheet by the regulating member 43 disposed at the rear end of the tray by reverse rotation. Also, the tray 41 is provided with sheet side aligning means (not shown), and both side edges of the printed sheet stored on the tray are aligned to the reference position. Printing sheet from the transport path 32 are sequentially piled up bundle in collated on the tray 41.

[Configuration of sheet bundle conveying means]
The bookbinding path 33 is provided with grip conveying means 47 for transferring the sheet from the tray 41 to the adhesive application position E on the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip conveying means 47 deflects the sheet bundle accumulated on the tray 41 from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture, and applies the adhesive along the bookbinding path 33 arranged substantially in the vertical direction. Transfer set to position E. For this reason, the tray 41 is moved from the stacking position (solid line in FIG. 2) to the transfer position (broken line in FIG. 2), and the sheet bundle is transferred to the grip conveying means 47 prepared at the transfer position.

[Configuration of adhesive application part]
An adhesive application means 55 is disposed at the adhesive application position E of the bookbinding path 33. As shown in FIG. 3A, the adhesive application means 55 includes a glue container 56 that accommodates a hot-melt adhesive, an application roll 57, and a roll rotation motor MR. The paste container 56 is divided into a liquid adhesive storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a liquid agent storage chamber) 56a and a solid adhesive storage chamber (hereinafter referred to as a solid agent storage chamber) 56b, and an application roll 57 is rotatable in the liquid agent storage chamber 56a. It has been incorporated. A paste sensor 56S that detects the remaining amount of adhesive is disposed in the liquid agent storage chamber 56a. The illustrated glue sensor 56S also serves as an adhesive temperature sensor, and detects the temperature of the liquefied adhesive in the liquid storage chamber 56a, and at the same time, determines the remaining amount of adhesive by the temperature difference of the part immersed in the adhesive. To detect. The glue container 56 is embedded with a heating element (heating means) 50 such as an electric heater. The glue sensor 56S and the heating means 50 are connected to a control CPU 75, which will be described later, and adjust the temperature of the adhesive in the liquid agent storage chamber 56a to a predetermined melting temperature. The application roll 57 is made of a heat-resistant porous material, and is configured to impregnate the glue and swell the glue layer around the roll.

  The glue container 56 configured as described above is reciprocated along the sheet bundle. The conceptual diagram is shown in FIG. 3B, and the glue container 56 is formed in a short length (dimension) with respect to the lower end edge of the sheet bundle (the back cover portion at the time of bookbinding) S1, and the coating contained therein Along with the roll 57, it is supported on the guide rail 52 of the apparatus frame so as to move along the lower edge S1 of the sheet bundle. The glue container 56 is connected to a timing belt 53 attached to the apparatus frame, and a driving motor MS is connected to the timing belt 53.

  Therefore, the glue container 56 is reciprocated by the drive motor MS between the home position HP and the return position RP where the backward operation is started along the sheet bundle. Each position is set to the positional relationship shown in FIG. 3B, and the return position RP is set based on sheet width size information. Further, when the apparatus power is turned on (initial time), the home position HP is set, and after a predetermined time from the sheet grip signal of the grip sensor Sg provided in the preceding grip conveying means 47, for example (sheet bundle is adhesive application position E). (Estimated time to reach) from the home position HP to the return position RP. Simultaneously with this movement, the application roll 57 starts to rotate by the roll rotation motor MR. Note that SP shown in the figure is a home position sensor for the glue container 56. The adhesive application means 55 configured in this manner is rotated by the drive motor MS, and the glue container 56 starts to move along the guide rail 52 from the left side to the right side in FIG. In this outward path, the application roll 57 is pressed against the sheet bundle to disperse the sheet end, and in the return path from the return position RP to the home position HP, a predetermined gap is formed with the sheet end to apply the adhesive. The feed amount of the grip conveying means 47 is adjusted by a lifting motor (not shown).

[Configuration of cover binding means]
A cover binding means 60 is disposed at the cover binding position F of the bookbinding path 33. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover binding means 60 includes a back plate 61, a back folding plate 62, and a folding roll 63. At the cover binding position F, the above-described cover transport path 34 is arranged, and the cover sheet is fed from the image forming apparatus A or the inserter 26. Therefore, the back plate 61 is composed of a plate-like member that backs up the cover sheet, and is disposed in the bookbinding path 33 so as to be able to advance and retreat. A (medium paper) sheet bundle is joined in an inverted T shape to the cover sheet supported by the back plate 61. Therefore, the back folding plate 62 is composed of a pair of left and right press members, and is configured to be moved toward and away from each other by a driving means (not shown) in order to back fold the back portion of the cover sheet joined in an inverted T shape. Yes. Further, the folding roll 63 is composed of a pair of rollers for clamping and finishing the back-folded sheet bundle.

[Configuration of bundle posture deflection means and cutting means]
At the cutting position G located on the downstream side of the folding roll 63, a bundle posture deflecting means 64 for deflecting the top and bottom direction of the sheet bundle and a cutting means 65 for cutting the periphery of the sheet bundle are arranged. The bundle posture deflecting unit 64 deflects the sheet bundle mounted from the cover binding position E in a predetermined direction (posture) and feeds the sheet bundle to the downstream cutting unit 65 or the storage device D. The cutting means 65 cuts and aligns the periphery of the sheet bundle. Therefore, the bundle posture deflecting unit 64 includes rotary tables 64 a and 64 b that grip and rotate the sheet bundle sent from the folding roll 63.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary tables 64a and 64b are provided on a unit frame 64x attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable up and down. A pair of rotary tables 64a and 64b are rotatably supported by the unit frame 64x with the bookbinding path 33 interposed therebetween, and one movable rotary table 64b is in the sheet bundle thickness direction (a direction orthogonal to the bookbinding path 33). It is supported to move freely. The rotary tables 64a and 64b are provided with turning motors Mt1 and Mt2 (not shown) so as to deflect the posture of the sheet bundle in the bookbinding path 33. The movable rotary table 64b is equipped with a grip motor (not shown) that moves in the left-right direction in FIG.

  Accordingly, the sheet bundle guided into the bookbinding path 33 is gripped by the pair of left and right rotary tables 64a and 64b, and the orientation direction of the sheet bundle is deflected by the turning motors Mt1 and Mt2 (not shown). For example, the sheet bundle having the back portion carried downward is turned 180 degrees, and the small edge portion is sent downward to the discharge roller 66 on the downstream side. Further, it is possible to perform a trimming cut in which the sheet bundle is sequentially rotated by 90 degrees, and the top portion, the ground portion, and the fore edge portion are deflected downward at the cutting position G on the downstream side to cut the three peripheral directions of the sheet bundle. The movable rotary table 64b is provided with a grip sensor (not shown) to detect that the sheet bundle is securely gripped between the left and right rotary tables 64a and 64b, and the post-detection rotary table 64a. , 64b is driven to turn. The unit frame 64x can move the sheet bundle up and down along the bookbinding path 33 by a lifting motor MA. This constitutes a jog mechanism for offsetting the sheet bundle to be conveyed to the paper discharge roller 66 by a predetermined amount as will be described later. This is because the cutting width at the cutting position G is set by the amount.

[Composition of cutting means]
A cutting means 65 is disposed downstream of the bundle posture deflecting means 64. As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting means 65 includes a cutting edge press member 65b for pressing and supporting the cutting edge of the sheet bundle on the blade receiving member 65a, and a cutting blade unit 65c. The cutting edge press unit 65b is disposed at a position facing the blade receiving member 65a disposed in the bookbinding path 33, and includes a pressure member that is moved in a direction orthogonal to the sheet bundle by a driving unit (not shown). The cutting blade unit 65c includes a flat blade-shaped cutting blade 65x and a cutter motor MC that drives the cutting blade 65x. By the cutting means 65 having such a configuration, a predetermined amount of the peripheral edge except the back portion of the sheet bundle that has been bound into a booklet is cut and aligned.

[Configuration of waste storage box]
Below the cutting position G, a waste storage box 68 is provided in parallel with the storage device D, and stores a piece of paper cut by the cutting blade 65x. Therefore, a sweeper means 69 is provided immediately below the cutting position G. The sweeper 69 is swung in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not shown), and is positioned immediately below the cutting position G when cutting a sheet bundle. Then, the cut piece is guided to the waste storage box 68, and after cutting, the sheet bundle is retracted from the cutting position G so that the sheet bundle can be stored in the storage device D. The waste storage box 68 is provided with a full detection sensor (full detection sensor) 68Sf and a near full detection sensor 68Sn for detecting the storage amount of the cut piece of paper stored therein. The near-full detection sensor 68Sn is arranged so as to detect a piece of paper corresponding to one time for cutting the peripheral edge of the sheet bundle so as not to become full during cutting of the sheet bundle.

[Sheet bundle storage device]
On the downstream side of the cutting position G, a paper discharge roller (paper discharge means) 66 and a sheet bundle storage device D are arranged. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the sheet bundle storage device D stores the sheet bundle in a standing posture. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet bundle storage device D is arranged in a drawer shape on the casing 30, and is configured to be able to be pulled out on the side surface side (left side in FIG. 1) of the device. The user can visually recognize from the direction of the arrow (upper surface direction) shown in FIG.

[Sheet bundle storage device]
The present invention relates to the sheet bundle storage device D in the bookbinding apparatus B as described above, and this will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the bookbinding apparatus B is provided with a paper discharge port 66a in the bookbinding path 33, and a paper discharge roller 66 is disposed in the paper discharge port 66a. A storage device D is disposed downstream of the paper discharge roller 66.

  The sheet bundle storage device D includes a stack tray 72 that stores sheet bundles (hereinafter referred to as “booklet sheets”) in a standing posture, and a bundle posture holding unit (described later) that is placed on the stack tray and holds booklet sheets in a standing posture. Support members 74a, 74b) 74, a shift means 75 for moving the bundle posture holding means 74 or the stack tray itself, and a posture deflection means 76. Each configuration will be described.

  The stack tray 72 is provided in a box-shaped stacker 70 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5A, and the stacker 70 is installed by a carrier 71 so that it can be pulled out in the horizontal direction. 70h shown is a drawer handle. Accordingly, the stacker 70 has a box shape and is arranged below the bookbinding apparatus B so that it can be pulled out of the apparatus (left side of the figure).

  Therefore, the stack tray 72 is constituted by a tray member on which a booklet sheet is placed in an upright posture as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, and a carry-in area 72a at one end and a take-out area 72b at the other end. Is formed. The booklet sheets are stored in a standing position on the stack tray 72 so as to overlap sequentially from the carry-in area 72a to the take-out area 72b.

  The bundle posture holding means 74 is formed of a support member 74a (hereinafter referred to as “first support member”) that is integrally formed with the stack tray 72 and supports the booklet sheet at an angle (θ1 in the drawing). . The first support member 74a has an inclined support surface 74x that supports the booklet sheet at a predetermined angle θ1 with respect to the vertical direction. When the booklet sheet is carried in from the carry-in area 72a, the booklet sheet already stored is inclined and supported at a predetermined angle (θ1) so that the booklet sheet does not fall down and prevent the carry-in. Accordingly, the booklet sheets are sequentially stacked and stored on the stack tray 72 so as to lean against the preceding sheet bundle (state shown in FIG. 4A).

  The stack tray 72 is provided with a shift means 75 that moves to the take-out area 72b side every time a booklet sheet is stored from the carry-in area 72a to form a storage area for subsequent sheets. The shift means 75 is configured to move the stack tray 72 itself intermittently or to move the stacker 70 equipped with the stack tray 72 intermittently.

  The illustrated one is configured to move the stack tray 72. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5B, the stack tray 72 is slidably fitted and supported on the bottom wall of the stacker 70, and the sliding rack 73 is provided with a plurality of sliding rollers 73r. The stack tray 72 is placed on the sliding roller 73r. Accordingly, the stack tray 72 is slidably supported in the left-right direction in FIG. 5A, and is configured to be movable from the carry-in position (solid line position in FIG. 5A) to the take-out position (chain line position in the figure).

[Configuration of shift means]
Therefore, the stack tray 72 is provided with a shift means 75 that moves the stack tray each time a booklet sheet is loaded. The illustrated shift means 75 includes a rack 75r integrally formed at the bottom of the stack tray 72, a pinion 75p meshed with the rack, and a shift motor 75M that rotationally drives the pinion. The carry-in area 72a is provided with a fullness detection sensor 67Sf. The booklet sheet carried into the stack tray is detected by the fullness detection sensor 67Sf, and the shift motor 75M is rotationally driven by the detection signal. Then, the stack tray 72 moves to the left side of FIG. 5 and the full detection sensor 67Sf is turned off. When the shift motor 75M is stopped by the OFF signal of the full detection sensor 67Sf, the operation of moving the stack tray 72 by a predetermined amount is completed.

[Configuration of attitude deflection means]
Therefore, the present invention is provided with the following posture deflection means 76 on the stack tray 72 movably between the carry-in position (solid line position in FIG. 5 (a)) and the take-out position (chain line position in the figure) as described above. It is a feature. The posture deflecting means 76 supports the booklet sheets stored in a standing posture on the stack tray so that the sheet bundle following the sheet bundle preceding the state shown in FIG. At the position, the sheet bundle preceding the sheet bundle following the state of FIG. 4B is inclined and supported so as to lean against it.

  Therefore, the stacker 70 is provided with a second support member 74b on the carry-in area 72a side. The second support member 74b has an inclined support surface 74y that supports the booklet sheet at a predetermined angle θ2 with respect to the vertical direction. The inclination angle θ2 and the inclination angle θ1 of the first support member 74a are inclined in different directions with respect to the vertical direction. That is, the first support member 74a is inclined by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the vertical direction, and the second support member 74b is inclined by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction.

  The booklet sheets stored on the stack tray are held in posture by the first support member 74a at the carry-in position (the state shown in FIG. 4A), and held by the second support member 74b in the take-out position. For this reason, the posture deflection means 76 is constituted by an actuating means for moving the sheet bundle from the first support member 74a to the second support member 74b. The illustrated one is a push member 76p that presses and moves the booklet sheet held by the first support member 74a toward the second support member 74b, a lock claw 76r that holds the push member 76p in an activated state, and an inactive state. The attitude deflection means 76 is constituted by the actuating solenoid 76L that moves to the state.

  Explaining the configuration together with the operation, the push member 76p projects into the stacker 70 in the state shown in FIG. At this time, the push member 76p is locked to the lock claw 76r by the action of the urging spring 76S so as not to rotate clockwise in the figure. At this carry-in position, the booklet sheet is held in posture by the first support member 74a. Therefore, when the stacker 70 is pulled out and moved to the take-out position side, the booklet sheet stored on the stack tray is pushed down by the push member 76p that is locked and locked as shown in FIG. Therefore, the booklet sheet is held in posture by the second support member 74b.

  A position sensor 76E that detects the position of the stack tray 72 at the timing when the booklet sheet is moved from the first support member 74a to the second support member 74b is disposed in the apparatus frame (state shown in FIG. 7A). The operation solenoid 76L is energized by a signal from the position sensor 76E. Then, the lock claw 76r and the push member 76p are unlocked (the state shown in FIG. 7B). As a result, the push member 76p is in an idle state in which it freely rotates, and the stack tray 72 is pulled out toward the take-out position.

  In a state where the stack tray 72 shown in FIG. 7C is moved to the take-out position, the push member 76p returns to the vertical posture by its own weight. In this state, the energization of the operating solenoid 76L is cut off, and the push member 76p returns to the initial state of FIG. Note that the timing of this energization cut-off detects the position of the flag provided on the stack tray 72 by the previous position sensor 76E.

[Configuration of post-processing equipment]
The bookbinding apparatus B is provided with a post-processing apparatus C. The post-processing apparatus C is provided with a post-processing path 38 connected to the cover sheet transport path 34. The post-processing path 38 includes a staple unit, a punch unit, and a stamp unit. Post-processing devices such as these are arranged, and a print sheet from the image forming apparatus A is received via the cover sheet conveyance path 34, subjected to a staple process, a punch process, and a seal process, and is carried out to a discharge tray 37. Further, the sheet from the image forming apparatus A that is not subjected to such post-processing is stored in the paper discharge tray 37.

[Configuration of control means]
Next, the configuration of the control means in the above apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the control means will be described. FIG. 8 is a control block diagram. In the system in which the image forming apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B are connected as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the control CPU 70 provided in the image forming apparatus A includes A control panel 71 and mode setting means 72 are provided. A control CPU 75 is provided in the control unit of the bookbinding apparatus B, and the control CPU 75 calls a bookbinding process execution program from the ROM 76 and executes each process in the bookbinding path 33.

  Further, the control CPU 75 receives a post-processing mode instruction signal, a job end signal, sheet size information, and other information required for bookbinding and a command signal from the control CPU 70 of the image forming apparatus A. On the other hand, in the carry-in path 31, the bookbinding path 33, and the cover sheet transport path 34, sheet sensors Se1 to Se6 for detecting the sheet (sheet bundle) to be transported are arranged at the positions illustrated in FIG. Therefore, the detection signal of each of the sheet sensors Se1 to Se6 is transmitted to the control CPU 75, and the control CPU 75 performs “stacking unit control unit 75a” “adhesive application unit control unit 75b” “cover cover binding unit control unit 75c” “cutting unit control unit”. 75d "and" stack control unit 75e ". Then, the bookbinding process is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[Description of paper ejection operation]
Next, the bookbinding processing operation by the control CPU 75 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The image forming conditions and the post-processing mode are set on the control panel 71 of the image forming apparatus A (St001). The post-processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “bookbinding processing mode”, “staple mode”, “stamp mode”, “punch mode”, “jog mode”, or the like. In the printout mode, a sheet on which an image has been formed is carried out and stored in a paper discharge tray 37 (shown in the post-processing apparatus C) without bookbinding and post-processing.
In the bookbinding mode, the sheets on which images have been formed are aligned and collected, and are combined with the cover sheet and stored in the stacker 70. In the staple mode, the image-formed sheet is stapled by a staple unit provided in the post-processing apparatus C. In the stamp mode, the stamping process is performed. Similarly, the punch mode is the punching process, and the jog mode is the sorting process. The process is executed by the processing apparatus C, and then stored in the paper discharge tray 37.

  Therefore, when the “bookbinding mode” is selected as the post-processing mode, the image forming apparatus A executes an image forming operation and carries out the image-formed sheet to the paper discharge port 14 (St002). In the bookbinding apparatus B, the sheet is received in the carry-in path 31. At this time, the control CPU 75 positions the route switching flapper 36 in the state shown in FIG. The sheet is sent to the paper discharge port 32b by the transport roller 32a, and is sequentially stacked and stored on the stacking tray 41 (St003).

  Therefore, upon receiving a job end signal (St004) from the image forming apparatus A, the control CPU 75 carries out the sheet bundle on the stacking tray 41 by the grip conveying means 47 and deflects its posture by 90 degrees. As a result, the sheet bundle aligned on the stacking tray 41 is deflected from the horizontal posture to the vertical posture, and is transferred to the adhesive application position E on the downstream side through the bookbinding path 33 (St005).

  The control CPU 75 feeds the cover sheet from the cover transport path 34 before and after the feeding set of the sheet bundle to the adhesive application position E. This cover sheet may be supplied after being formed with an image from the image forming apparatus A or supplied from the inserter apparatus 26. When the sheet is fed from the inserter device 26, the control CPU 75 operates sheet feeding means (not shown) to separate the sheets one by one from the sheet feeding tray 26a and feed them to the sheet feeding path 27.

  The sheet sent to the paper feed path 27 is conveyed to the carry-in path 31 by the conveyance roller 27a. At this time, the control CPU 75 positions the path switching piece 28 in the state shown in FIG. The cover transport path 34 is provided with a registration mechanism 34b for correcting the posture of the sheet, and the sheets aligned by the registration mechanism 34b reach the cover binding position F by being transported by a predetermined amount from this position and are set stationary. (St006). Following the cover sheet feeding and setting, the control CPU 75 drives the adhesive application means 55 to apply the adhesive to the sheet bundle set at the adhesive application position E (St007). The glue container 56 provided with the application roll 57 moves to the right in FIG. 3B along the lower edge of the sheet bundle, and applies the adhesive impregnated on the roll surface to the sheet bundle.

  After completion of the adhesive application operation, the control CPU 75 transfers the sheet bundle to the cover binding position F on the downstream side by the grip conveying means 47. Then, since a cover sheet is set at this position, the cover sheet is backed up to the back plate 61 and the sheet bundle is joined in an inverted T shape. Next, in this state, the back folding plate 62 press-forms the back part of the cover sheet and mounts the sheet bundle (St008).

  After the above cover processing, the control CPU 75 determines whether or not the cutting mode is selected (St009). In the cutting mode, the grip conveying means 47 is released from the sheet bundle and returned to the initial position. At this time, the cutting blade 65x is positioned at the cutting position G, and receives the falling sheet bundle (St010). In this state, the movable rotary table 64b is moved from the standby position to the sheet gripping position, and the sheet bundle is nipped between the rotary table 64a (St011). Next, after moving the cutting blade 65x to the standby position, the control CPU 75 turns the rotary tables 64a and 64b by 90 degrees to deflect the top of the sheet bundle to the lower end (St012). Therefore, the sheet bundle is pressed and held by the cutting edge press member 65b, and a predetermined amount is cut by the cutting blade 65x (St013).

  Next, the control CPU 75 retracts the cutting edge press member 65b to the standby position, then turns the sheet bundle 180 degrees, deflects the posture so that the ground portion becomes the lower end, and cuts the lower end portion. Next, the control CPU 75 similarly retracts the cutting edge press member 65b to the standby position, and then turns the sheet bundle 90 degrees to deflect the posture so that the fore edge is at the lower end, and cuts the lower end. After cutting and aligning the peripheral edge of the sheet bundle in this way, the control CPU 75 shifts to a paper discharge operation when the cutting of the sheet bundle in three directions is completed (St014). On the other hand, when the cutting mode is not selected in step St010, the control means 75 operates the paper discharge roller 66 (St015) and stores the sheet bundle in the stacker 70 (St016).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention and an image forming system using the same. FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory view of a bookbinding apparatus in the apparatus of FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the adhesive agent application means in the apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) shows the structure of a glue container, (b) Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the application | coating operation | movement of an adhesive agent. 1A and 1B are perspective views of an outer appearance of a sheet bundle storage device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a storage posture of a sheet bundle at a carry-in position, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a sheet bundle storage device in the apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is an overall configuration diagram of the storage device, (b) is a configuration diagram of a stack tray bottom, and (c) is a shift means. Illustration. 4A and 4B are explanatory views of a posture deflecting unit according to the present invention, in which FIG. 4A shows a state where a sheet bundle is in a carry-in position, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the attitude | position deflection | deviation means concerning this invention, (a) is a state figure locked, (b) shows the state unlocked, (c) State explanatory drawing which pulled out the stacker . The block diagram which shows the structure of the control means in the apparatus of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing bookbinding processing operations in the apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

A image forming apparatus B bookbinding apparatus D sheet bundle storage apparatus 30 casing 67Sf full detection sensor 70 stacker 70h drawer handle 71 carrier 72 stack tray 72a carry-in area 72b take-out area 73 sliding rack 73r sliding roller 74 bundle posture holding means 74a first support member 74b Second support member 74x inclined support surface (θ1)
74y inclined support surface (θ2)
75 Shift means 75r Rack 75p Pinion 75M Shift motor 76 Attitude deflection means (actuation means)
76p Push member 76r Lock claw 76L Actuation solenoid 76S Biasing spring 76E Position sensor

Claims (6)

A storage device for backbound and bound sheet bundles,
A stack tray for storing a stack of sheets stacked in front and back in a vertical position;
A carry-in area arranged at the rear end of the stack tray in the stacking direction;
An extraction area arranged at the leading end of the stack tray in the stacking direction;
A bundle posture holding means provided in the stack tray so as to hold the sheet bundle from the carry-in area in a standing posture;
Shift means for sequentially moving the bundle posture holding means or the stack tray from the carry-in area to the take-out area side;
With
The stack tray is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable between a carry-in position for carrying the sheet bundle into the carry-in area and a take-out position for taking out the stored sheet bundle,
An apparatus for storing sheet bundles in a bookbinding apparatus, comprising: attitude deflecting means for varying an angular attitude of the sheet bundle stored in the stack tray between the carry-in position and the take-out position. The bundle posture holding means includes a first support member that holds the sheet bundle in the posture at the carry-in position, and a second support member that holds the sheet bundle in the pickup position.
2. The posture deflecting means comprises an actuating means for moving a sheet bundle stored in the stack tray from the first support member to the second support member. A sheet bundle storage device in the bookbinding apparatus. The actuating means includes a push member that presses and moves the sheet bundle supported by the first support member toward the second support member in conjunction with the movement of the stack tray from the carry-in position to the take-out arrangement. The sheet bundle storage device in the bookbinding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet bundle storage apparatus is used. The first support member includes a first inclined support surface that is inclined at a predetermined angle so that the sheet bundle from the carry-in area is inclined to the preceding stored sheet bundle in a standing posture,
The second support member includes a second inclined support surface that is inclined at a predetermined angle so as to fall on the sheet bundle side that follows the sheet bundle from the take-out area,
The sheet bundle storage device in the bookbinding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first inclined support surface and the second inclined support surface are inclined at a predetermined angle in different angular directions with respect to the vertical direction. A back binding means for binding back portions of sheet bundles arranged in a bundle,
A sheet bundle carrying-out means for carrying out the sheet bundle bound by the back binding means in a standing posture;
A stack tray for stacking and storing the sheet bundle from the sheet bundle carrying-out means in a standing position,
A carry-in area arranged at the rear end portion in the stacking direction of the stack tray, which is stacked and stored in a standing posture in front and back;
An extraction area arranged at the leading end of the stack tray in the stacking direction;
A bundle posture holding means provided in the stack tray so as to hold the sheet bundle from the carry-in area in a standing posture;
Shift means for sequentially moving the bundle posture holding means or the stack tray from the carry-in area to the take-out area side;
With
The stack tray is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable between a carry-in position for carrying the sheet bundle into the carry-in area and a take-out position for taking out the stored sheet bundle,
The bookbinding apparatus, wherein the stack tray is provided with posture deflecting means for varying the angular posture of the sheet bundle stored at the carry-in position and the take-out position. Image forming means for sequentially forming images on sheets;
A stacking unit that stacks and stacks sheets from the image forming unit in a bundle;
An adhesive layer forming means for adding an adhesive layer to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle from the stacking means;
A cover binding means for binding the cover sheet to the sheet bundle from the adhesive layer forming means;
A sheet bundle storage device for storing the sheet bundle from the cover binding means;
With
An image forming system comprising the sheet bundle storage device having the configuration according to claim 1.

Images