JPH11106127A - Folding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding machine capable of stably providing a paper sheet folding position even if the basic weight of sheet is varied. SOLUTION: This folding machine is provided with a pair of paper sheet folding rollers to fold paper sheets and a first folding stopper with which the top end part of paper sheet to be feed is brought in contact to determine the folding position of paper sheet. Also the first folding stopper is provided with an elastic body 226 with which the end part of a paper sheet P to be feed is brought in contact and a support member 232 to which the elastic body 226 is fixed. The support member 232 is disposed so that it is always positioned at a place apart by a specified distance sideways from the extension of a sheet feed route. The elastic body 226 is made of rubber and foaming resin such as foaming urethane. When the top end part of the paper sheet P to be feed is brought in contact with the elastic body 226, a part of the elastic body 226 with which a paper sheet is brought in contact is displaced according to the rigidity of the paper sheet to absorb the displacement of a folding position due to a deflection of the paper sheet itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording material such as recording paper connected to an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine or a copying machine and conveyed from the image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "paper" for simplicity).
For a paper folding device mounted on a finisher or the like that performs post-processing such as sorting, binding, folding, punching, and the like, in particular, a loop is formed by applying the leading end of a sheet to a stopper, and the loop is engaged with a roller. The present invention relates to a paper folding device that folds paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various finishers have been proposed for performing various post-processings on an image-formed sheet conveyed from an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine or a copying machine (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-66).
No. 143). Here, post-processing refers to sorting paper into a number of copies, binding using staples, folding in two (hereinafter, referred to as bag folding), or folding in three in a Z shape (hereinafter, Z).
Folding) and punching holes for files.

In the field of such a finisher, a loop is formed by bringing the leading edge of a conveyed sheet into contact with a folding stopper which is a sheet leading end regulating member, and the loop is engaged in the nip of a pair of sheet folding rollers. 2. Description of the Related Art A paper folding device that folds a paper sheet is generally known.

In this paper folding apparatus, a desired folding position can be obtained by changing the position of the folding stopper with respect to the pair of folding rollers. That is, a mechanism is widely used in which a user specifies a sheet size and a folding mode, and the folding stopper is automatically positioned in the sheet conveying path in accordance with the designation.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional paper folding apparatus, as shown in FIG. 21A, a metal or resin is used as the folding stopper 703 with which the leading edge of the conveyed paper comes into contact. Generally, a plate having high rigidity (hereinafter, referred to as a “rigid body”) such as a plate made of steel is used.

However, when a rigid body is used as the folding stopper, there is a problem that the folding position of the sheet is shifted due to the difference in the basis weight (weight per 1 m ² , g / m ² ) of the sheet to be conveyed.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, a sheet transport path 702 between the guide plates 701 and 701 is provided.
The paper P conveyed through the inside is folded by a rigid folding stopper 70.
3, the conveyance in the direction of the arrow in the figure is completely regulated. For this reason, when the basis weight of the sheet is small, the sheet P is bent in a wave shape in the sheet transport path 702, for example, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the basis weight of the paper is large, the paper P is stored in the paper transport path 702, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), there is not much deflection. Also,
When the basis weight of the sheet is large, as shown in FIG. 21D, the sheet P has a large repulsive force when coming into contact with the folding stopper 703 which is a rigid body, and may be rebounded from the folding stopper 703. There is also. In general, when the basis weight of the paper is large, the rigidity of the paper tends to increase.

In such a situation, when a sheet is folded by a pair of sheet folding rollers (not shown) arranged on the right side in the figure,
Since the distance from the folding stopper 703 to the paper folding roller pair is determined, a phenomenon that the folding position of the paper is different occurs. In other words, when the basis weight of the paper is small, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the folding position H of the sheet is shifted in a direction away from the folding stopper 703. On the other hand, when the basis weight of the paper is large, the folding position H of the paper is shifted in a direction approaching the folding stopper 703 as shown in FIG.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper folding apparatus capable of stably obtaining a folding position of a sheet even if the basis weight of the sheet is different.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

(1) a paper folding section for making a fold on the paper;
A sheet leading edge regulating means for determining the folding position of the sheet by contacting the leading edge of the conveyed sheet. And a support member provided at a position laterally separated from an extension of the paper transport path and to which the elastic body is fixed. In this paper folding apparatus, when the leading end portion of the paper conveyed from the upstream side abuts on the elastic body, the elastic body abuts on the elastic body according to the rigidity of the paper in the vertical (transport) direction. It can be elastically displaced in the paper transport direction.

(2) The paper folding device, wherein the elastic body is made of one of rubber and foamed resin.

(3) The hardness of the elastic body is 15 to 60H
s (JIS A).

(4) a paper folding section for folding the paper;
A sheet leading edge regulating means for determining the folding position of the sheet by contacting the leading edge of the conveyed sheet, wherein the sheet leading edge regulating means comprises: A paper folding device comprising: a member; and a support member to which the contact member is attached via a spring member.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional explanatory view showing an embodiment in which a finisher 100 on which a paper folding device 200 according to the present invention is mounted is connected to a copying machine 10 as an image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a main part of FIG.

In this specification, the direction in which the paper is transported is referred to as a "paper transport direction", and the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction is referred to as a "paper transport orthogonal direction". Also,
The paper orientation when the longitudinal direction of the paper is along the paper transport direction with respect to the paper transport direction is referred to as “vertical”, and the paper orientation when the longitudinal direction of the paper is orthogonal to the paper transport direction is “horizontal”. That.

<Copier 10> The copier 10, to which the finisher 100 is connected, reads the image on the document surface, temporarily stores it in a memory, performs various image editing processes as necessary, and then uses a well-known electrophotographic method. This is a so-called digital copying machine that forms an image on a sheet and discharges the copied sheets one by one from the sheet discharging unit 10b.

The copying machine 10 has an automatic document feeder 12 (hereinafter, referred to as "ADF") mounted on an upper part thereof. The ADF 12 is loaded on the tray 14
One or a plurality of originals (original group) are fed one by one onto a platen glass (not shown) of the copying machine 10, and after the image reading is completed, the originals are discharged onto a tray 16 and stacked.

The copying machine 10 of the present embodiment is a so-called first page system for starting a copying operation from the first page of a document group or the like.
A document group or the like is set with the first page facing upward. In the first page system copier, for example, in the case of two-sided copying in which a single-sided original is copied on the front and back of one sheet, there is no need to specify or detect whether the original group is an odd number or an even number, and the copying operation is performed quickly And the like.

The original set on the platen glass by the ADF 12 or the like is read by an image reader (not shown) built in the copying machine 10, converted into digital data, and stored in the memory of the control unit. Is done. The copy operation is executed by reading out the image data and adding necessary editing, for example, changing the page order, image inversion processing, or copy processing on both sides.

A paper reversing mechanism 2 for reversing the front and back of the copied paper is provided near the discharge section 10b of the copying machine 10.
0 is provided, which will be described later.

<< Schematic Configuration and Schematic Operation of Finisher 100 >> [Schematic Configuration] The finisher 100 of the present embodiment folds the sheets discharged from the discharge unit 10b of the copying machine 10 and conveyed one by one as necessary. And Z-shaped folding (Z-folding), punching for filing holes at the end of paper, and stapling for stapling paper bundles are performed selectively or in combination. Things. Also, this finisher 1
In the case of 00, the paper transporting mode, the stacking mode, the folding mode, and the like are determined on the assumption that the apparatus is connected to the copier 10 or the printer as the image forming apparatus of the first page system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the finisher 100 includes a carry-in section 150 for carrying the paper P discharged from the discharge section 10b into the finisher 100, and a paper fold for folding the paper conveyed one by one. The apparatus 200, a punching apparatus 300 for punching a filing hole in the sheet P conveyed one by one, a post-processing tray section 400 for stacking and aligning sheets before performing stapling, and a downstream side of the post-processing tray section 400 A stapling apparatus 500 for stapling a stacked and aligned stack of sheets, a stacking tray unit 600 capable of storing both a stapled stack of sheets and a non-stapled sheet, and discharge from the finisher 100 And a paper discharge tray unit 110 on which sheets to be loaded are stacked.

The loading section 150 includes the transport roller 101 and a guide plate. The paper folding device 200 includes a plurality of paper folding rollers 207, 208, and 209, and folds the paper P between the paper folding rollers 207, 208, and 209. Further, the stapling apparatus 500 is configured to be movable in two directions, that is, the sheet conveyance direction and the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction of the sheet bundle stacked and aligned in the post-processing tray unit 400.

In order to convey the sheet to each section in the finisher 100, conveying rollers 104, 106, 111, and 121 are arranged on the sheet conveying path. Further, in order to transport the sheet bundle, the sheet bundle transport rollers 114 and 115, 116, 117 and 11
9 and 120 are arranged. Discharge rollers 109 for discharging the paper P to the paper discharge tray unit 110, discharge rollers 113 for discharging the paper P to the post-processing tray unit 400, and paper P or a paper bundle And discharge rollers 122 and 123 for discharging the paper.

A plurality of switching claws 201, 103 and 107 are provided in the middle of the paper transport path for switching the paper transport destination. The switching claw 201 disposed between the carry-in section 150 and the paper folding device 200 causes the paper P to
Switch whether or not to send to 00. This switching claw 201
The punching device 300 is disposed downstream of the
Drilling can be performed on any of the paper conveyed from the paper folding device 200 or the paper conveyed from the paper folding device 200. The punch device 300 includes a punch blade 303 and a registration roller 308 for determining a punch position.
Switching claw 103 arranged downstream of punch device 300
Transfer the sheet P to the discharge tray 110 or the post-processing tray 40
The transport is switched between 0 and the paper P is directly transported toward the stacking tray 600. The switching claw 107 disposed downstream of the switching claw 103 switches between transporting the paper P toward the discharge tray unit 110 and transporting the paper P toward the post-processing tray unit 400.

Further, in order to drive and stop each part in the finisher 100, a plurality of sensors 10 for detecting sheets are provided in the middle of the sheet or sheet bundle conveyance path.
2, 105, 108, 112, 118, 124, 225
And so on.

Further, the finisher 100 of the present embodiment
Has a deflection unit 170 for preventing a discharge failure when a sheet bundle subjected to saddle stapling as in a weekly magazine is discharged to the stacking tray unit 600. Deflection means 170 in the illustrated example
Has a side guide member 670 that is disposed between the accumulation tray 601 and the discharge rollers 122 and 123 and that displaces one end of the sheet discharged to the accumulation tray 601 by the discharge rollers 122 and 123 upward.

The stacking tray 600 is formed by a well-known method.
It can be moved up and down depending on the amount of sheets or sheet bundle to be discharged, and is gradually moved downward as the amount of sheets or sheet bundle increases.

[Outline Operation] As described above, the finisher 100 is capable of performing a plurality of sheet post-processings (folding, punching, and stapling). Can be arbitrarily selected.

For example, when the user selects a mode in which stapling is not performed, the discharge unit 10 of the copying machine 10
The sheet P discharged from b is subjected to a process selected by the user by the folding device 200 and the punching device 300,
Rollers are conveyed toward the discharge tray unit 110 or the accumulation tray unit 600, and are stacked on these tray units 110 and 600.

On the other hand, when the user selects the stapling mode, the user first selects the sheet P by the paper folding device 200 and the punching device 300, similarly to the case where the stapling mode is not selected. Is performed. Then, the predetermined number of sheets P that have been folded or punched are conveyed toward the post-processing tray unit 400, and are sequentially stacked and aligned on the post-processing tray unit 400. Thereafter, the stacked and aligned sheets are roller-conveyed as one sheet bundle and sent to the stapling apparatus 500.

After stapling at a position desired by the user in the stapling apparatus 500, the stapled sheet bundle is conveyed by a roller toward the stacking tray section 600 and stacked on the stacking tray section 600.

In the finisher 100, means for processing each conveyed sheet, that is, the paper folding device 20
0 and the punching device 300 are arranged at the most upstream branch point (switching claw 103) of the transport path to each of a plurality of sheet stacking units (collectively, the discharge tray unit 110, the post-processing tray unit 400, and the stacking tray unit 600). Is located further upstream than the position where it is performed. For this reason, it is possible to discharge the sheet that has been subjected to the sheet processing (folding and punching in this embodiment) for each sheet to any of the sheet stacking units.

Hereinafter, the main mechanism of the finisher 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail.

<< Paper Folding Apparatus 200 >> FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the paper folding apparatus 200, and FIG.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the jam processing is performed.
(B) and FIG. 6 are a sectional view and a bottom view, respectively, showing a mechanism for regulating the first folding position in the paper folding device 200, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a major part of the first folding stopper. It is.

The paper folding device 200 includes the finisher 100
1 is built in the finisher 100 so as to be able to be pulled out to the front side (front side in FIG. 1), and is engaged with and supported by a rail member (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction of the finisher 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the paper folding device 200 includes:
Loading unit 2 that guides the paper to be folded into the folding device 200
51, a registration unit 252 that corrects the inclination of the paper conveyed into the paper folding device 200, a first conveyance unit 253 that regulates a first folding position of the paper received from the registration unit 252, and a fold on the paper. , A second transport unit 255 that regulates the second folding position, and an unloading unit 256 that transports the folded sheet from the paper folding device 200 to the punch device 300. ing.

[Loading Unit 251] The loading unit 251 includes a switching claw 201 that selectively guides a sheet to the paper folding device 200 and a transport roller 2 that transports the sheet guided into the paper folding device 200.
02, 203, a solenoid (not shown) for rotating the switching claw 201, and a sheet detection sensor 225 for detecting a sheet carried into the sheet folding device 200.

[Resist Unit 252] Resist Unit 252
Selects the registration rollers 205 and 206 provided downstream of the loading unit 251, a paper folding motor (not shown) for driving the registration rollers 205 and 206, and the intermittent connection between the paper folding motor and the registration rollers 205 and 206. And an unillustrated electromagnetic clutch. The registration rollers 205 and 206 are a pair of rollers composed of straight rollers, and the surface friction coefficient μ of one roller 205 is set lower than the surface friction coefficient μ of the other roller 206. Further, the guide 260 disposed upstream of the registration rollers 205 and 206 has a shape such that the leading end of the sheet reliably contacts the roller 205 having the lower surface friction coefficient μ.

The procedure for correcting the sheet inclination is as follows. First, the sheet detection sensor 225 detects the leading edge of the conveyed sheet. At this time, the electromagnetic clutch is off and the driving force of the paper folding motor is
5, not transmitted to 206.

Next, after (t + t1) seconds, the electromagnetic clutch is turned on to transmit the drive to the registration rollers 205 and 206 to convey the sheet downstream. Here, t is the time [sec] for the leading edge of the paper to reach the nip portion between the registration rollers 205 and 206.

By the above operation, the paper is transported between the transport rollers 202 and 203 and the registration rollers 205 and 206 by V × t1 [mm] (V = paper transport speed [mm /
Seconds]). By forming the loop, the leading edge of the sheet follows the nip portion due to the strength of the sheet, and the inclination of the sheet is corrected.

[First Conveying Unit 253] The first conveying unit 253 provided on the downstream side of the registration unit 252 moves in and out of the paper conveying path according to the paper size and the folding mode, and contacts the leading edge of the paper. First folding stoppers 215, 216, 217 and 2 for regulating the first folding position of the paper
23, first folding stoppers 215, 216 and 217
, And a stepping motor 210 that rotationally drives the cams 211, 212, and 213.

First folding stoppers 215, 216, 217
The first folding stopper 217 has a function of regulating the first folding position of two types of paper with one stopper, which will be described in detail later.

The three cams 211, 212 and 2
13 are fixed to the camshaft 224 with their phases shifted from each other, and the three first folding stoppers 215, 216, and 217 respectively alternately enter the paper transport path one time while the camshaft 224 makes one rotation. It is designed to retreat.

[Paper Folding Section 254] Registration Roller 20
The paper folding portion 254 provided between the downstream position of the first and second folding stoppers 215 and the upstream position of the first folding stopper 215 has three folding rollers 207, 208 and 209. Each of the paper folding rollers 207, 208 and 209 has a straight shape.

Each of the folding rollers 208 and 209 is pressed against the folding roller 207, and the folding rollers 207 and 208 form a pair.
09 is a pair. Hereinafter, the pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 208 will be referred to as “paper folding roller pair 207 and 208”.
And the pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 209 are also referred to as “a pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 209”. Paper folding roller pair 2
07 and 208 are arranged such that the nip portion is continuous with the first transport portion 253.

[Second transport unit 255] Paper folding roller pair 20
7, 208 and the pair of paper folding rollers 207, 209
A second transport unit 255 provided between the second folding stopper 219 that contacts the leading edge of the sheet and regulates the second folding position of the sheet, and a second folding stopper 219 that corresponds to the sheet size. A solenoid (not shown) for switching the sheet contact position, and the leading end of the sheet folded first by the sheet folding roller pairs 207 and 208 are connected to the sheet folding roller pair 20.
7, a switching member 218 for selectively guiding the nip portion toward the nip portion or the direction toward the second folding stopper 219, and a solenoid (not shown) for rotating the switching member 218.

[Discharge Unit 256] The discharge unit 256 is provided downstream of the pair of sheet folding rollers 207 and 209, and has discharge rollers 203 and 204. Note that the roller 203 is also a roller constituting the transport rollers 202 and 203.

In the above configuration, the folding roller pair 20
7 and 209, a portion between the conveyance path on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction at the time of the first folding toward the sheet folding roller pair 207 and 208 and the conveyance path of the second conveyance section 255 provided with the second folding stopper 219. It is arranged at the starting point of the transport path of the discharge section 256. In other words, the paper folding roller 207 commonly used for both of the two paper folding roller pairs is arranged on the upstream side in the paper transport direction when performing the first folding.

[Jam Clearing Mechanism] Referring to FIG. 4, a paper jam generated in the paper folding section 254 of the paper folding apparatus 200 will be described.
That is, a mechanism for handling a jam will be described.

The paper folding roller 20 in the paper folding section 254
7, 208 and 209 have a relatively high pressing force because the paper must be strongly folded. For example, the weight per roller is 10 kg. For this reason, when the paper is wound around any of the paper folding rollers 207, 208, and 209 at the time of a paper jam, the jam processing for removing the paper of the paper jam is a very difficult operation.

Therefore, in the paper folding apparatus 200 of this embodiment, one of the two paper folding rollers 208 and 209 pressed against the paper folding roller 207 is released, and the paper folding unit By opening 254,
The workability of the jam clearance around the paper folding rollers 207, 208, 209 is improved. The configuration will be described below.

Second transport unit 255, one sheet folding roller 2
09 and the guide 261 of the discharge portion 256 are integrally held to form the opening unit 222. The opening unit 222 is rotatably supported around a fulcrum 262 provided on a frame of the paper folding device 200.

Further, a lock lever 220 configured to surround the periphery of a portion farthest from the fulcrum 262 (corresponding to the upper end portion in the figure) of the opening unit 222 rotates around a fulcrum 263 provided on the frame. It is movably supported. Lock lever 2 along the direction perpendicular to the paper
Each of the front and rear portions of the lock 20 has one lock shaft 227.
Is provided. When the opening unit 222 is closed, the respective lock shafts 227 engage with the concave portions 222a formed in the opening unit 222, and the opening unit 22 is closed.
2 is securely locked to the paper folding device 200.

Lock lever 220 and release unit 222
And are connected via a link member 221. The link member 221 rotates while holding the opening unit 222 in conjunction with the rotation of the lock lever 220, thereby preventing the opening unit 222 from dropping when unlocking.

[Detailed Configuration of First Folding Stopper] FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and FIG. 6, the first folding stoppers 215, 216, 217, 223, the cams 211, 21
2, 213, the stepping motor 210, and the camshaft 224 are integrally held by the stopper unit frame 228.

The first folding stoppers 215, 216, 21 other than the stopper 223 arranged at the most downstream in the sheet transport direction.
Numeral 7 is provided with a fulcrum on the stopper unit frame 228 and is configured to be rotatable. On the other hand, the first folding stopper 223 is fixed to the stopper unit frame 228, and is always in a state of protruding into the paper transport path.

First folding stoppers 215, 216, 217
Is moved by the rotation of the cams 211, 212, 213 and the camshaft 224 disposed below the frame 228. Cam 211, 2
Reference numerals 12 and 213 are attached to the camshaft 224 in different phases. First stopper 215, 21
Each of the rollers 6 and 217 alternately moves in and out of the paper transport path while the camshaft 224 makes one rotation.
The camshaft 224 is driven to rotate by a stepping motor 210. By rotating and driving the stepping motor 210 by a predetermined angle according to the folding mode and the sheet size, it is possible to control which of the first folding stoppers is to be moved.

The camshaft 224 is provided with a light shielding plate 231.
With the rotation of, moves to and from the detection unit of the home position sensor 230. The position where the home position sensor 230 detects the light shielding plate 231 is the home position of the camshaft 224. At this time, all the retractable first folding stoppers 215, 216, and 217 except the first folding stopper 223 project. Not.

The first folding stopper 217 is one,
The shape is such that it exerts a function of regulating two types of folding positions. Specifically, as clearly shown in FIG.
Both ends have a shape protruding toward the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction from the center. Such a shape is applied only when the leading end regulating position of a sheet having a smaller sheet width in the sheet conveying orthogonal direction is downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the leading end regulating position of a sheet having a larger sheet width. . In this case, as a matter of course, the stopper for the sheet having the larger sheet width must be disposed outside the stopper for the sheet having the smaller sheet width along the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction. In other words, a notch having a width dimension equal to or larger than the sheet width of the smaller sheet width of the two types of sheets is formed on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and the sheets located on both sides of the notch are formed. The upstream edge in the transport direction and the bottom edge of the notch function as stoppers for contacting the leading end portions of two different types of paper.

In the illustrated embodiment, the stopper portion 217a which is disposed on the outside and is used when folding A3 paper into a bag is used.
And B which is disposed downstream of the stopper portion 217a.
A first folding stopper 217 is configured by integrating a stopper portion 217b used for Z-folding four sheets.

The advantages of adopting the above-described configuration are as follows. First, since one sheet leading end regulating member is disposed at each of the plurality of sheet leading end regulating positions, there is no variation in the sheet leading end regulating position. Second,
Since a plurality of paper leading end regulating members can be operated by rotation of one camshaft, the driving source is one motor 210.
Only needs to be done. Third, by providing one sheet leading end regulating member 217 with two types of sheet leading end regulating functions and by fixing the most downstream sheet leading end regulating member 223, the operating components can be simplified. Thus, a high-precision paper edge regulation function can be obtained with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

In order to operate a plurality of paper leading end regulating members, one camshaft and one motor can be used as described above. However, if necessary, the drive system is divided into two parts, for example. It is also possible to add camshafts and the like.

In this embodiment, as shown in a schematic perspective view in FIG. 7, the first folding stoppers 215, 216,
Each of the elastic members 217 and 223 has an elastic member 226 with which the leading end portion of the sheet P to be conveyed contacts, and a support member 232 to which the elastic member 226 is fixed.

First folding stoppers 215, 216, 217
As described above, is configured to be able to move out and into the paper transport path, but only the elastic body 226 protrudes into the paper transport path. The same applies to the first folding stopper 223. That is, the support member 232 is provided so as to always be located at a position laterally separated by a predetermined distance from an extension of the paper transport path. Here, “from the extension of the paper transport path to the side” is used not in a straight line along the paper transport path, but in a side direction substantially orthogonal to the straight line, and in the illustrated embodiment, substantially downward. It has been. The support member 232 is made of a rigid body such as a metal or a resin.

The elastic body 226 is fixed on the support member 232 by bonding or screwing from the bottom, and the structure of the first folding stopper is extremely simple. The elastic body 226 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is made of rubber, foamed resin such as urethane foam, or the like.

As described above, the first folding stoppers 215, 21
6, 217, and 223, when the leading end portion of the sheet conveyed from the upstream side abuts on the elastic body 226, the elastic body 2 according to the rigidity of the sheet in the vertical (conveying) direction.
The portion where the sheet abuts 26 can be elastically displaced in the sheet transport direction.

That is, when the basis weight of the sheet is small, the rigidity of the sheet is also small. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, the conveyed sheet comes into contact with the elastic body 226 and the sheet itself becomes wavy. However, the displacement of the portion of the elastic body 226 in contact with the sheet in the sheet conveying direction is small. On the other hand, if the basis weight of the paper is large, the rigidity of the paper also increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the paper to be conveyed does not bend much even if it comes into contact with the elastic body 226. ,
The portion of the elastic body 226 with which the sheet abuts is displaced by a predetermined distance in the sheet transport direction.

For this reason, when the basis weight of the sheet is large and the portion of the elastic body 226 which comes into contact with the sheet is displaced in the sheet conveying direction, the folding position determined by being caught by the sheet folding roller pair 207, 208 is changed. It will be shifted in the direction away from the first folding stopper. Note that if the basis weight of the sheet is small and the portion of the elastic body 226 where the sheet comes into contact is not displaced so much in the sheet conveying direction, the pair of sheet folding rollers 207 is used.
The amount by which the folding position determined by being bitten by the sheet 208 shifts away from the first folding stopper is smaller than when the basis weight of the sheet is large.

As described above, the elastic member 2 is formed in accordance with the rigidity of the sheet.
The displacement of the folding position caused by the displacement of the portion of the sheet 26 contacting the sheet acts to absorb the displacement of the folding position caused by bending of the sheet itself. As a result, even if the basis weights of the sheets are different, the folding position of the sheet can be stably obtained. Therefore, the size of the folded sheet is also made uniform, and the folding quality is improved.

Further, in order to more completely absorb the deviation of the folding position caused by the bending of the sheet itself, it is possible to appropriately set the degree of displacement of the portion of the elastic body 226 which contacts the sheet. Specifically, the hardness of the elastic body 226 is set to 15
It is desirable to set it to ６０60 Hs (JIS A). Here, if the hardness of the elastic body 226 is smaller than 15 Hs, the dent (displacement) of the portion of the elastic body 226 that the paper comes into contact with is too large, and the direction of the reverse direction is larger than the deviation of the folding position caused by the bending of the paper itself. Deviation becomes large. On the other hand, if the hardness of the elastic body 226 is greater than 60 Hs, the dent (displacement) of the portion of the elastic body 226 that the paper comes into contact with is too small, and it is not possible to sufficiently absorb the deviation of the folding position caused by bending of the paper itself. . More preferably, the hardness of the elastic body 226 is preferably set to around 40 Hs. In addition,
The hardness is measured by a spring-type hardness test (A type) specified in JIS-K6301.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the first folding stopper. The illustrated first folding stopper includes a contact member 233 with which the leading end portion of the conveyed sheet contacts,
The contact member 233 has a support member 232a attached via a spring member 234.

The support member 232a and the contact member 233
Is made of a rigid body such as metal or resin. However, it is also possible to use an elastic body such as rubber having a slightly higher hardness as the contact member 233. As the spring member 234,
Although a compression coil spring as shown is used, a leaf spring or the like may be used. In addition, one contact member 23
The number of spring members 234 used for 3 is arbitrary. As described above, according to the modified example of the first folding stopper, it is possible to obtain the same effect as when the above-described elastic body 226 is used.

In order to more completely absorb the deviation of the folding position caused by the bending of the sheet itself, the spring member 2 is adjusted to adjust the degree of displacement of the contact member 233 in the sheet conveying direction.
34 can be set as appropriate. Therefore, when the spring member 234 is used, more precise control of the folding position is possible.

[Explanation of Operations in Various Folding Modes] The paper folding apparatus 200 includes (1) Z-folding, (2) bag-folding, and
(3) The copier 10 has three paper folding modes of center folding.
When the paper folding is selected by the operation panel provided in, the operation in each mode is controlled.

(1) Z-folding mode FIG. 10 shows the paper folding apparatus 20 in the A3Z-folding mode.
It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state of 0. In addition, the paper P in the figure
11 shows the states at different times in the paper folding apparatus 200 in an overlapping manner (the same applies to FIGS. 11 and 12).

The Z-fold mode refers to large-size paper (A3
Or B4) is folded in a Z-shape to finish it to approximately half the length along the paper transport direction.

The paper P discharged from the discharge section 10b of the copying machine 10 is conveyed to the switching claw 201 in the "vertical" direction with the image forming surface facing upward, and the rotation of the switching claw 201 causes the paper P to be fed into the paper folding device 200. Transport rollers 202 and 20
3 The sheet P is further conveyed, and after the registration unit 252 performs an operation of correcting the inclination of the leading end of the sheet, the first folding stoppers 215, 216, 217,
223.

Immediately after the copy start is instructed, the stepping motor 2 according to the sheet size and the folding mode is set.
10 is rotated by a predetermined number of steps, and the position (projection position or retreat position) of the first folding stopper 215, 216 or 217 is determined. In the Z-fold mode, if the sheet is A3 length, as shown in FIG.
All of the folding stoppers 215, 216, 217 are retracted,
Only the fixed first folding stopper 223 projects. If the paper is B4 length, the first
The folding stopper 217 is moved to the projecting position.

When the sheet is further transported after the leading end of the sheet abuts on the first folding stopper 223, a loop is formed near the nip of the pair of sheet folding rollers 207, 208, and finally the pair of sheet folding rollers 207, 208 Bite into the nip. Thus, the first folding is performed.

The shape of the guide 264 near the nip of the pair of paper folding rollers 207, 208 is such that the loop of the paper P is always formed stably in the direction toward the nip of the pair of paper folding rollers 207, 208. It goes without saying that it is configured.

The first folding position is the position of the paper folding device 20.
The position is approximately ／ of the total length of the sheet in each sheet size from the edge of the sheet, which is the leading end side when the sheet is conveyed to the zero position. In the present specification, such a first fold is defined as “3/4 fold (3/4 fold)” for convenience of explanation. Also,
The first fold that is performed at a position approximately one-fourth of the entire length of the sheet from the leading edge of the sheet is referred to as “quarter fold (1/4 fold)”.
Is defined.

When "Z-folding" is instructed from the copying machine 10, the switching member 218 operates to a position where the sheet P is guided toward the second folding stopper 219. The leading end of the sheet P conveyed by the sheet folding roller pairs 207 and 208 is set at the second folding stopper 219 switched according to the sheet size.
Abut.

After the leading edge of the sheet abuts on the second folding stopper 219, when the sheet is further conveyed by the sheet folding roller pair 207, 208, a loop is formed near the nip of the sheet folding roller pair 207, 209, and finally a loop is formed. Is engaged in the nip between the pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 209. As a result, the second folding is performed. The second folding position is a position that is approximately の of the entire length of the sheet.

Also in this case, the pair of paper folding rollers 207,
Needless to say, the shape of the guide 265 near the nip of 209 is such that the loop of the paper P is always stably formed in the direction toward the nip of the pair of folding rollers 207 and 209.

The sheet P that has undergone the second folding and the Z-folding is completed is fed to a discharge section 256 by a pair of sheet folding rollers 207.
The sheet is conveyed by the transfer roller 209 and is discharged from the paper folding device 200 by the discharge rollers 203 and 204.

In the Z-fold mode, folded paper is
It is possible to perform a so-called mixed loading process of mixing and post-processing the unfolded paper. More specifically, mixed processing of A3 length Z-folded paper and A4 width non-folded paper, or mixed loading of B4 length Z-folded paper and B5 width unfolded paper can be performed.

In these mixed loading modes, a sheet to be folded is placed at the finisher 1 after a sheet not to be folded.
When the paper is to be loaded into the finisher 100, the paper to be folded can be loaded into the finisher 100 at a normal paper interval. However, conversely, when the unfolded paper is carried into the finisher 100 after the paper to be folded, if the unfolded paper is carried into the finisher 100 at a regular paper interval, the page disorder will occur. No, there is a possibility that problems such as collision between papers may occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the latter case, a weight is applied to the transport of the unfolded sheet, and the next unfolded sheet is stored in the finisher 100 until the folded sheet is discharged from the paper folding apparatus 200. To prevent the pages from getting out of order.

Further, in consideration of the good appearance of the type after the mixed processing, it is preferable that the above-mentioned second fold does not protrude outside than the unfolded sheet. Therefore, the second
It is preferable that the folding position is slightly shifted from the half position of the entire length of the sheet to the edge of the sheet which is the leading end side when the sheet is carried into the sheet folding apparatus 200.

As described above, when the sheet is Z-folded, the surface on which the image is formed is a pair of the sheet folding rollers 207 and 208.
The paper is conveyed so as to face the paper, and approximately three quarters of the length in the paper conveyance direction from the leading end of the paper on the first folding stopper 217 side.
After the first fold is performed at the position, the sheet is conveyed starting from the fold by the first fold, and the loop formed by contacting the second fold stopper 219 is formed by the pair of paper folding rollers 207. In step 209, the second folding is performed, and a conveyance path around the registration unit 252 on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction at the time of the first folding toward the pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 208 and a second folding stopper 219 are provided. The sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path of the unloading section 256 between the second conveyance section 255 and the conveyance path of the second conveyance section 255.

In this manner, the folded portion is positioned at the top with the fold and on the side where the image is formed, and can be discharged downward. Thereby, in the first page system, the sheet bundle including the Z-folded sheet is stacked without disorder of the page order, and the side to be stapled opposite to the folded portion is provided in the sheet transport direction, and It can be accommodated in the vicinity of the stapling apparatus 500 described in detail.

Therefore, when the stapling process is performed, the stapling process may be performed at a position on the regulating member side provided in the sheet conveying direction in a state where the sheets are stored in the post-processing tray section 400. The bundle transport amount can be shortened, stable staple position accuracy can be obtained, and paper shift during transport can be reduced.

When the Z-folded sheet is to be discharged toward the post-processing tray 400 for temporary storage, the sheet with the fold is discharged first, and the sheet is again discharged from the post-processing tray 400. Paper discharge port 401 for transport
a (see FIG. 14), the folded portion is located on the side of the sheet discharge port 401a, so that the swelling of the folded portion closes the sheet discharge port 401a or the post-processing has already been performed. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the sheet discharged to the tray unit 400 enters the opening and causes an inconsistency.

In addition, even when the first page system is employed, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the paper folding device 200 including the paper folding roller pairs 207 and 208 and the paper folding roller pairs 207 and 209 is disposed below the finisher. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a compact configuration that effectively uses space without increasing the size of the device.

(2) Bag Folding Mode FIG. 11 shows a paper folding apparatus 2 in the A3 bag folding mode.
It is sectional drawing which shows the operation state of 00.

The bag folding mode is a mode in which the sheet is folded in two at the center.

The paper P discharged from the discharge section 10b of the copying machine 10 goes through the same process as in the Z-fold mode described above.
The sheet is conveyed toward the first folding stoppers 215, 216, 217, 223.

Even in the bag folding mode, the rotation of the stepping motor 210 is controlled, and if the sheet is A3 length, only the first folding stopper 217 is moved to the projecting position as shown. If the sheet is B4 length, only the first folding stopper 216 is moved to the protruding position, and if the sheet is A4 length, the first folding stopper 215 is moved.
Only the protruding position is moved. Then, through the same process as in the above-described Z-folding mode, the sheet P is caught in the nip of the pair of sheet folding rollers 207 and 208 and is subjected to the first folding.

In response to an instruction to perform "folding" from the copying machine 10, the switching member 218 operates to a position for guiding the sheet P toward the nip between the pair of sheet folding rollers 207 and 209.
Then, the sheet P conveyed by the pair of paper folding rollers 207 and 208 has a fold at the fold portion.
9 and the discharge roller pair 20
3, and is discharged from the paper folding device 200.

(3) Center Folding Mode FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the paper folding device 200 in the center folding mode.

The center folding mode is a mode in which a fold is formed in the center of the sheet in advance in order to perform stapling processing on the fold portion of the sheet bundle having a fold in the center like a weekly magazine.

The sheet P discharged from the discharge section 10b of the copying machine 10 receives the first folding stoppers 215, 216, 217, and 223 in the same manner as in the Z-fold mode and the bag-fold mode described above.
Conveyed toward.

Since the position of the fold is the same in the center folding mode as in the bag folding mode, the first fold position is the same as in the bag folding mode.
The retracting movement of the folding stoppers 215, 216, 217 is controlled, and the sheet P is caught in the nip of the pair of sheet folding rollers 207, 208 to perform the first folding.

When "center folding" is instructed from the copying machine 10, the switching member 218 is operated to a position where the sheet P is guided toward the second folding stopper 219. The first folded sheet P is a pair of sheet folding rollers 207 and 208.
Is transported toward the second folding stopper 219.

The rollers 202 and 205 provided in the paper folding device 200 are provided t2 seconds after the trailing edge of the first folded paper P is detected by the paper detection sensor 225 provided in the carry-in section 251. And 207 are changed from forward rotation (direction of arrow a in the figure) to reverse rotation (arrow b in the figure).
Direction). t2 is a time that satisfies the condition of (y / V)>t2> (x / V). Here, V: paper transport speed x: distance between the paper detection sensor 225 and the lower end of the switching claw 201 y: between the leading edge of the paper after the detection of the trailing edge of the paper and the end of the first folding and the second folding stopper 219 Is the distance.

By the reverse rotation of the rollers 202, 205 and 207, the fold formed at the center of the sheet P comes out of the pair of sheet folding rollers 207 and 208. Further, the edge of the sheet, which has become the rear end when the paper is loaded into the paper folding device 200, becomes the leading end, and is guided by the paper folding switching claw 201 which is maintained in the same state as when the paper is loaded. Through
The paper is discharged from the paper folding device 200. In this way, it is possible to convey the paper P with the fold at the center in the open state to the downstream side.

[Switching of Sheet Reversal During Folding] As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet reversing mechanism 20 for reversing the front and back of a sheet after copying is provided near the discharge section 10b of the copying machine 10. Further, the copier 10 has a first path 21 for discharging the paper from the discharge unit 10b after the paper is reversed by the paper reversing mechanism 20, and the paper is reversed after the paper is reversed by the paper reversing mechanism 20 in the copier 10. Path 2 for further copying (double-sided copying) on the back side of the copied face
2, and a third path 23 for directly discharging the paper from the discharge unit 10b without passing through the sheet reversing mechanism. The three paths can be selectively switched.

The copying machine 10 determines whether the paper to be copied is to be folded, based on the operation mode set by the user and the size of the paper to be copied.
The information is output to the finisher 100.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the process for setting the paper transport path.

If the copy mode is not the duplex copy mode ("N" in step S11), and if the determination result is "paper folded" (S12 "Y"), the copying machine 10 To the third path 23 (S1
3). The sheet does not pass through the sheet reversing mechanism 20 and is discharged from the discharge unit 10b without being reversed. On the other hand, when the determination result is “not a sheet to be folded” (S12 “N”), the copying machine 10 switches the sheet transport path to the first path 21.
The sheet passes through the sheet reversing mechanism 20, is reversed, and is discharged from the discharge unit 10b (S14). Finisher 100
Is based on information output from the copying machine 10, switching control of a switching claw 201 disposed upstream of the paper folding device 200,
Further, the positions of the first and second folding stoppers 215, 216, 217, 223 and 219 according to the folding mode are controlled.

If the copy mode is the double-sided copy mode (S11 "Y"), the paper transport path is temporarily switched to the second path 22 after the first side has been copied (S15 "N").
S16). After copying of the second side is completed (S15
“Y”), the above-described operation is performed according to the determination result as to whether or not the sheet is folded.

<< Post-processing Tray Unit 400 >> FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the post-processing tray unit 400 and a stapling apparatus 500 provided downstream thereof.

Incidentally, for convenience of explanation, the post-processing tray 401
The alignment along the paper transport direction (FD direction) when the paper is transported from the printer to the stapling apparatus 500 is referred to as “FD alignment”.
The alignment along the paper transport width direction (CD direction), which is a direction perpendicular to the paper transport, is also referred to as “CD alignment”.

The post-processing tray section 400 has a post-processing tray 401 which is already turned upside down in the upstream portion and temporarily stores the paper discharged by the discharge roller 113 face down, and a paper in the post-processing tray 401. Outlet 401a
Leading edge stopper 409 which is arranged at the edge and performs FD alignment of paper
And a pair of horizontal alignment plates 402 for performing CD alignment of the sheet discharged by the discharge roller 113, and the leading end stopper 40 by contacting the leading end of the sheet discharged by the discharge roller 113.
Rear end stopper 4 for stably performing FD alignment by
03, and first sheet bundle transport rollers 114 and 115 for transporting a predetermined number of sheets stored in the post-processing tray 401 to the stapling apparatus 500 as one bundle.

The post-processing tray 401 is provided with the paper discharge port 4
01a is arranged to be inclined downward at a predetermined angle. A pair of horizontal alignment plates (hereinafter, also referred to as “horizontal alignment plate pairs”) 402 are symmetrically movable along the CD direction, and the rear end stopper 403 is movably arranged along the FD direction. . The FD alignment and the CD alignment are performed in the post-processing tray 401.
Is performed each time a sheet is stored in the printer. The first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 include a lower roller 114 and an upper roller 115, and the upper roller 115 moves substantially vertically and is configured to be able to press against or separate from the lower roller 114. I have.

The pair of horizontal alignment plates 402 is
The post-processing tray 4 is composed of a plate member having a height dimension (L1) larger than the maximum height of the sheet bundle that can be accommodated thereon.
01 are attached to a pair of racks 420 provided along the CD direction on the back side of the drive unit 01, respectively. Rack 420
Are mounted facing each other so as to sandwich a gear 421 that is rotationally driven by a stepping motor 408. As the gear 421 rotates, the horizontal alignment plate pair 402 moves symmetrically along the CD direction. Specifically, the horizontal alignment plate pair 402 is
At the time of forward rotation of 8, it moves in the direction approaching each other, and at the time of reverse rotation, it moves in the direction away from each other.

At the standby position of the horizontal alignment plate pair 402,
There is a first standby position and a second standby position. The first standby position is a standby position before the sheet is discharged by the discharge roller 113. The second standby position is a standby position that is slightly larger than the sheet size and waits for the sheet to be ejected by the ejection roller 113, though it is changed according to the sheet size to be ejected. The horizontal alignment plate pair 402 includes a first standby position, a second standby position, and a discharge roller 113.
Thus, the sheet discharged can be freely moved between alignment positions for CD alignment.

A plurality of sensors used for positioning the horizontal alignment plate pair 402 are provided on the lower surface of the post-processing tray 401, and the horizontal alignment plate pair 402 is integrally provided with a light shielding plate for blocking light from each sensor. Attached to. The light shielding plate shields the light from the sensor, whereby the first and second standby positions are located. The positioning of the alignment position of the horizontal alignment plate pair 402 is performed by controlling the number of pulses applied to the stepping motor 408 and controlling the rotation amount of the gear 421.

The tip stopper 409 is connected to the bottom plate 409a.
And the closing part 4 rising from the tip of the bottom plate part 409a.
09b, and is attached to the lower surface of the post-processing tray 401 so as to be rotatable around a fulcrum 430 provided on the bottom plate 409a. The front end stopper 409 is urged by a spring or the like to
01 is in contact with the projection on the lower surface. The closing portion 409b of the leading end stopper 409 forms an alignment reference side in the paper transport direction of the paper stored in the post-processing tray 401. Then, by pulling a link arm (not shown) connected to the bottom plate portion 409a backward by a solenoid, the closing portion 409b of the leading end stopper 409 rotates in an arc around the fulcrum 430 and moves downward, and The sheet discharge port 401a for carrying out the bundle to the stapling apparatus 500 is opened.

The rear end stopper 403 is connected to the plate-like member 412.
And a sponge member 411 attached to the surface of the plate-shaped member 412 that is in contact with the sheet, and a structure 413 supporting the plate-shaped member 412. The plate member 41
A substantially upper half of 2 is formed in a round shape slightly curved toward the sheet discharge port 401a from a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the post-processing tray 401.

By forming the plate-shaped member 412 of the rear end stopper 403 into a round shape, the following advantages are obtained. That is, regardless of the number of sheets already ejected and stored on the post-processing tray 401, the sheet size, or the presence or absence of the folding process, the stapling device 5
The trailing end of the sheet (corresponding to the leading end of the sheet when discharged from the discharge roller 113) in the sheet conveying direction when the sheet is conveyed toward 00 is always stably abutted on the plate member 412 of the rear end stopper 403. . As a result of this contact, the sheet is moved in the direction opposite to the direction in which the sheet is ejected. As a result, the leading end of the sheet along the sheet transport direction contacts the leading end stopper 409, and FD alignment is ensured. Further, the Z-folded paper has a state in which the trailing edge of the paper along the paper transport direction is slightly raised due to the fold. For this reason, by using the plate-shaped member 412 having an R-shaped upper portion, the sheet bundle including the Z-folded paper can be uniformly pushed into contact with the leading end stopper 409, and the sheet bundle including the Z-folded paper can be stapled. The deviation in the sheet conveyance direction when the sheet is conveyed to the printer 500 can be reliably corrected.

The structure 413 of the rear end stopper 403 is engaged with a spiral shaft 404 provided at the center of the lower surface of the post-processing tray 401 so as to extend in the paper transport direction.
The spiral shaft 404 is connected to a drive motor 40 composed of a DC motor via a drive transmission unit (not shown) composed of a gear train.
6. Then, the rear end stopper 403 moves forward and backward by a desired amount along the sheet conveying direction by rotating the spiral shaft 404 by appropriately rotating the drive motor 406 in the forward and reverse directions.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing various staple modes. As shown in the figure, there are three types of staple modes: a normal staple mode, a paper folding staple mode, and a mixed staple mode. The normal staple mode is a mode for stapling a sheet bundle consisting of only unfolded sheets, the folding staple mode is a mode for stapling a sheet bundle consisting of only folded sheets, and the mixed staple mode is a sheet without folding. This is a mode in which a stapling process is performed on a sheet bundle in which the sheet bundle and the folded sheet are mixed.

Regardless of the type of the staple mode,
Sheets with and without sheet folding are stacked on a post-processing tray 401 before stapling, are CD-aligned by a pair of horizontal alignment plates 402, and are FD-aligned by a rear end stopper 403.

When the CD alignment and the FD alignment are completed in the post-processing tray 401, the sheet bundle is nipped by the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115, and the leading end stopper 409 is rotated to open the sheet discharge port. The bundle is conveyed to the stapling apparatus 500 through 401a.

<< Stapling Device 500 >> [Structure of Stapling Device 500] FIG. 16 shows the stapling device 500 with the first and second sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 to 114.
FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of the stapling apparatus 500 together with the configuration shown in FIG.

The stapling apparatus 500 performs a stapling process on a predetermined position of a sheet bundle nipped and conveyed by the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 located upstream of the stapling apparatus 500 in the sheet conveying direction. Yes, the head unit 501 and the anvil unit 5
02 and a support mechanism 5 for supporting both these units 501 and 502 movably and rotatably in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance.
20, a first drive mechanism 521 for moving both units 501 and 502 and a second drive mechanism 522 for rotating
Having. The stapling apparatus 500 is configured such that a member for connecting or connecting the head unit 501 and the anvil unit 502 does not cross the sheet transport path.

Further, a downstream side of the stapling apparatus 500 is provided with a second
The sheet bundle transport rollers 116 and 117 and a second staple position used for positioning the staple position with respect to the sheet bundle as described later.
A sensor 118 is provided.

The head unit 501 is a unit that cuts and folds staples housed in a staple cartridge (not shown) one by one, folds the staples into a U-shape, and punches out a sheet bundle with the staples. The unit 501 has a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a staple stored in a staple cartridge.

The anvil unit 502 is a unit that bends the legs of the staples from which the sheet has been punched inward and receives the impact of the stapling operation by the head unit 501. The unit 502 includes a receiving plate that bends the staples inward and a support plate that receives the impact of the stapling operation.

As shown conceptually in FIG. 17, the support mechanism 520 includes a frame 510 having a pair of side walls 509a and 509b, and a support shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance and supported by the frame 510. 503, 506. Side walls 509a and 50 in frame 510
9b is set to be at least the dimension of the paper that can be passed in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. Support shaft 503,
A support shaft 503 is inserted through the head unit 501 and a support shaft 506 is inserted through the anvil unit 502. Both units 501, 5
Numeral 02 is freely movable along the support shafts 503 and 506 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance, and is rotatable about the support shafts 503 and 506.

The first drive mechanism 521 has a spiral shaft 504 inserted into the head unit 501 and a spiral shaft 507 inserted into the anvil unit 502. The spiral shafts 504 and 507 extend in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance and are supported by the frame 510. The rotation of the spiral shaft 504 causes the head unit 501 to move in the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction while being guided by the support shaft 503, and the rotation of the spiral shaft 507 causes the anvil unit 502 to move in the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction while being guided by the support shaft 506. Go to

The second drive mechanism 522 has a drive shaft 505 inserted through the head unit 501 and a drive shaft 508 inserted through the anvil unit 502. Each of the drive shafts 505 and 508 extends in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance and is supported by the frame 510. Drive shaft 505
Due to the rotation of the head unit 501, the driving force for performing the stapling operation is transmitted, and the head unit 501 rotates around the support shaft 503. By the rotation of the drive shaft 508, the anvil unit 502 performs the needle bending operation. The driving force for the rotation is transmitted to rotate around the support shaft 506. Each unit 501,
The drive shaft 505,
For 508, a shaft having a rectangular cross section that does not cause slippage is used. In the case where the drive shaft is formed of a round bar member, slippage between the drive shaft and each of the units 501 and 502 may be eliminated by a key and a key groove.

Each of the units 501 and 502 is
The plurality of inserted shafts 503 to 505 and 506 to 508 make it possible to move linearly and independently in parallel along the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction.

The head unit 501 and the anvil unit 502 are provided with a spiral shaft 50 having the same phase.
By the rotation of 4, 507, it moves along the sheet conveyance orthogonal direction. A timing belt 511 is stretched around each of the spiral shafts 504 and 507. This belt 5
11 is connected to the drive motor 512. The drive motor 512 is composed of a DC motor,
3, the rotation amount can be controlled. With this configuration, each of the units 501 and 502 can be moved by the same amount of movement. The first drive mechanism 521 includes the spiral shafts 504 and 507 and the timing belt 5.
11, a drive motor 512 and the like.

A home position sensor 516 is attached to the frame 510 to detect the home position of each of the units 501 and 502. The home position sensor 516 is a light transmission type sensor and the head unit 5
01 with the home position sensor 516.
, Both of the units 501 and 502 can be moved to the home position. The moving distance of the units 501 and 502 is set based on this home position.

The head unit 501 and the anvil unit 502 are driven by needle driving by the rotation of the drive shafts 505 and 508. Each drive shaft 505, 50
8, a belt 514 is stretched. The belt 514 is connected to a drive motor 515. With this configuration, each of the units 501 and 502 can be driven at an arbitrary position in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance to perform the stapling. The second drive mechanism 522 includes these drive shafts 5
05, 508, a belt 514, a drive motor 515, and the like.

[Description of Operation] The head unit 501 and the anvil unit 502 of the stapling apparatus 500
Is initially stopped at the home position where the sensor 516 is shielded from light. The sheet discharged from the copying machine 10 is conveyed to the post-processing tray 401 and stacked and aligned. And
When sheets for one job are stacked on the post-processing tray 401, the sheet bundle is conveyed toward the stapling apparatus 500.

First sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 as conveying means for conveying the sheet bundle to the stapling apparatus 500.
Are configured such that the moving distance of the sheet bundle can be controlled by the amount of rotation. The first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 11
By 5, the sheet bundle is conveyed and stopped so that any selected staple position on the sheet bundle matches the stapling operation position.

Thereafter, the drive motor 512 for movement is driven while the amount of rotation is detected by the pulse disk 513, and the belt 51 is driven.
1, the spiral shafts 504, 507 are driven to rotate. As a result, each of the units 501 and 502 moves by the same amount of distance toward the selected staple position.

When both units 501 and 502 stop at the selected staple position, drive motor 515 is driven, and drive shafts 505 and 508 are driven to rotate via belt 514. As a result, the units 501 and 502 are each driven to rotate, and stapling is performed.

When stapling is performed on a plurality of points on a straight line along the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance, after the first stapling is completed, both units 501 and 502 are driven by the drive motor 512 for movement. It is driven to move to the next stapling position, and thereafter, the drive motor 515 is driven to perform stapling. By repeating this operation sequentially, the stapling process for a plurality of locations is completed.

Referring to FIG. 16, the stapling device 5
First sheet bundle transport rollers 114 and 115 composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers are disposed in the upstream part of the second sheet bundle, and second sheet bundle transport rollers 116 and 1 composed of a pair of upper and lower rollers in the downstream part.
17 are arranged. A first sheet bundle conveying roller 114,
115 and the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116, 1
The distance from the nip position 17 is set to a dimension slightly shorter than the smallest size of the conveyed sheets.

The first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are
The pressure contact / separation movement is free by driving the first DC motor. The rollers 114 and 115 are driven to rotate by a stepping motor. By controlling the number of rotations of the stepping motor, the transport amount of the sheet bundle is controlled. The second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 have the same configuration, and can be pressed and separated independently of the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 by driving the second DC motor. Further, the rollers 116 and 117 are driven to rotate by the same stepping motor that drives the rollers 114 and 115 to control the transport amount of the sheet bundle. Each of the rollers 114 to 117 is formed of a low-hardness roller of the same type and the same shape. However, roller 1
The roller diameters of the rollers 16 and 117 are smaller than the rollers 114 and 115.

As shown in FIG. 16, a first sensor 137 for detecting the edge of the conveyed sheet bundle is provided near the downstream of the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115. A second sensor 118 is provided near the downstream of the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117. Each of the sensors 118 and 137 is installed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the staple stapling position.

Note that at least the first sheet bundle conveying roller 1
The paper conveyance path between the first and second sensors 114 and 115 and the second sensor 118 is formed of a straight conveyance guide.

The leading end of the sheet bundle is aligned by the leading end stopper 409 during temporary accumulation. In this state the first
Since the press-contact of the sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 is started, the leading end of the sheet bundle is held by the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 while being aligned.

Since the sheet conveying path from the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 to the staple position is not bent and has a straight shape, the sheet bundle is moved by the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 to the staple position. Even when the sheet bundle is conveyed up to the position, the leading end of the sheet bundle is kept aligned.

If the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 11
If the paper transport path downstream from 5 in the transport direction is curved in an arc shape, the paper bundle is long along the guide plate with a small radius of the arc, and is shortened along the guide plate with a large radius of the arc,
The leading end of the sheet bundle is inclined with respect to the guide plate. If the staples are driven vertically into the guide plate in this state, the sheet bundle will be bound diagonally.

Therefore, the first sheet bundle conveying roller 11
4 and 115 stapling the stapling device 5
When stapling by 00, the sheet conveying path from the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 to the stapling position must be straight.

As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the sheet bundle nipped and transported by the first sheet bundle transport rollers 114 and 115 is transferred to the second sheet bundle transport roller 116 by the second sheet bundle transport roller 116.
117, the first sheet bundle transport roller 11
4 and 115, the stapling device 500 performs stapling processing on the sheet bundle nipped and transported only by the second sheet bundle transport rollers 116 and 117. Until the sheet bundle nipped and transported by the transport rollers 114 and 115 is nipped by the second sheet bundle transport rollers 116 and 117, the leading end of the sheet bundle must be kept aligned. Therefore, the first sheet bundle conveying roller 11
It is necessary that the sheet conveyance path from the fourth and 115 to the second sensor 118 which is the position of the sheet bundle at which the second sheet bundle conveyance rollers 116 and 117 start nipping is a straight shape.

Incidentally, the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 11 holding the sheet bundle downstream of the staple position as described above.
7, the transport path downstream of the second sensor 118 does not need to be straight, but may be curved, for example, in an arc shape. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from becoming large.

[Staple Position Control] When the staple mode is selected, the sheets are stacked on the post-processing tray 401. At this time, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are used.
Are separated from each other. When the temporary stacking of paper is completed,
The first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 shift to the pressure contact state to pinch the sheet bundle, and the leading end stopper 409 is retracted outside the sheet bundle conveying path. Then, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are rotated to convey the sheet bundle, and the staple position is determined along the sheet conveying direction.

In the staple mode, (1) leading edge binding along the sheet bundle transport direction, (2) center binding along the central portion of the sheet bundle along the sheet bundle transport direction, and (3) sheet binding Since there are three modes, that is, the rear end binding for binding the rear end portion along the bundle transport direction, the positioning operation differs according to each mode. Hereinafter, the positioning operation of each mode will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) Leading edge binding The leading end of the sheet bundle is temporarily stopped at the leading end stopper 409.
The FD alignment has already been performed with the closing portion 409b of the serving as a regulating surface. Therefore, in the front end binding mode, in order to determine the staple position, regardless of the sheet size, even if the sheet bundle is, for example, a Z-folded sheet bundle as described above, a predetermined amount of sheet It is only necessary to transport the bundle. More specifically, the first sheet bundle transport roller 114 is added by an amount obtained by adding a distance (usually about 10 mm) from the end face of the sheet bundle leading end to the position where the stapling is desired to the distance from the closing portion 409b of the leading end stopper 409 to the stapling apparatus 500. , 115 to convey the sheet bundle.

Thereafter, the rollers 114 and 115 are stopped, and
The stapling device 500 is operated to perform the stapling process on the sheet bundle, and after the stapling process is completed, the conveyance of the sheet bundle is resumed, and the leading end of the stapling device is moved to the second sheet bundle conveying roller 116.
When the number reaches 117, the conveyance is stopped. Then, the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 shift to the pressure contact state, hold the leading end of the sheet bundle, and rotate the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 to resume the conveyance of the sheet bundle.

While the sheet bundle is being conveyed, the first DC motor is driven so that only the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are separated. Thereafter, the sheet bundle is transferred to the stacking tray 600
Is transported by the second sheet bundle transport rollers 116 and 117.

The transport amount of the sheet bundle is controlled by managing the number of pulses of the stepping motor because the first and second sheet bundle transport rollers 114 to 117 are driven to rotate by the stepping motor.

(2) Saddle stitching In the saddle stitching mode, the stapling process is performed on the central portion of the sheet bundle along the sheet conveying direction.
The amount of paper bundle transport for stapling varies depending on the paper size. Further, the transport amount is longer than that in the leading edge binding mode.

Since the conveyance of the sheet bundle is performed by using a stepping motor, it is theoretically possible to control the conveyance amount even if the conveyance amount becomes long by controlling the number of pulses. However, the sheet bundle transport roller 11
Since variations in the diameter and nip width of 4-117 cannot be completely eliminated, the longer the transport amount, the more the
The error included in the amount actually conveyed increases. Therefore, in order to reduce this error, the sheet bundle is conveyed in the saddle stitching mode as follows.

First, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 11
5, the sheet bundle is transported by the second sheet bundle transport roller 1
When the leading end of the sheet bundle is detected by the second sensor 118 disposed downstream of the sheets 16 and 117, the conveyance of the sheet bundle is stopped when the sheet bundle is further conveyed by a predetermined amount according to the sheet size. Then, a stapling process is performed on the sheet bundle.

At this point, since the leading end of the sheet bundle has sufficiently reached the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117, the sheet bundle is nipped by the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117. Then, while rotating the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 to restart the sheet bundle conveyance, the first DC motor is driven while conveying the sheet bundle to separate only the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115. State. Thereafter, the sheet bundle is nipped and conveyed toward the accumulation tray section 600 by the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117.

Note that the saddle stitching mode is accepted only for a sheet having a length twice or more the minimum length of the sheet to be conveyed.

By the way, in order to shorten the total time required to convey the sheet bundle and to enhance the productivity, in the case of the above-mentioned leading edge binding and saddle stitching, the first sheet bundle transport roller 11 is used.
Before performing the separating operation of the stapling device 50,
0, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 11 located upstream of
5 and the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116, 1
In both cases, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are separated from each other in the middle of the conveyance.

(3) Rear End Binding In the rear end binding mode, first, the first sheet bundle transport roller 11
4 and 115, the sheet bundle is nipped and conveyed, and when the leading end of the sheet bundle reaches the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 sufficiently, the conveyance is stopped, and the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 are stopped.
To hold the sheet bundle.

When the nipping by the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 is completed, the first DC motor is driven and the first DC motor is driven.
The sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 are separated. At this time, the conveyance of the sheet bundle is stopped. This is different from the case of the leading edge binding and the saddle binding described above. At the time when the sheet bundle is nipped by the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117, the stapling process has not been performed yet. , 115 do not wait for the sheet bundles to be completely separated from each other, the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 and the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 1
In the case where there is a shift in the start timing of 17 or a slight shift in the transport speed, each sheet in the sheet bundle shifts, so that such a shift of the sheet bundle is prevented.

After the separation operation of the first sheet bundle conveying rollers 114 and 115 is completed, the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 115
By rotating 117, the conveyance of the sheet bundle is restarted. When the leading end of the sheet bundle is detected by the second sensor 118, the conveyance of the sheet bundle is stopped again when the sheet is further conveyed by a predetermined amount corresponding to the sheet size. After the conveyance of the sheet bundle is stopped, the stapling process is performed on the sheet bundle.

After the stapling process is completed, the conveyance of the sheet bundle by the second sheet bundle conveying rollers 116 and 117 is restarted, and the sheet bundle is nipped and conveyed to the stacking tray 600 as it is.

In the above-described transport mode, the transport amount to be controlled is set based on the position of the second sensor 118.
It is also possible to set the transport amount in the rear end binding mode based on the position of the first sensor 137 disposed downstream of the first sheet bundle transport rollers 114 and 115. In such a conveyance mode, the sheet bundle is conveyed by a predetermined amount after the trailing end of the sheet bundle is detected by the first sensor 137. Therefore, it is only necessary to convey the sheet bundle by a fixed amount regardless of the sheet size.
Moreover, since the first sensor 137 is relatively close to the staple position, the transport amount to be controlled is reduced,
This is also advantageous in increasing the positioning accuracy.

<< Paper Discharge Unit >> As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge unit for discharging paper to the stacking tray unit 600 includes the first and second sheet bundle transport rollers 114, 115, and 11 described above.
6 and 117, third sheet bundle transport rollers 119 and 120 for transporting a sheet bundle, transport rollers 121 disposed downstream of the switching claw 103 for transporting one sheet, and stacking a sheet bundle or one sheet. It has discharge rollers 122 and 123 that carry in the tray section 600.

Accordingly, a stack of sheets discharged from the post-processing tray 401 and subjected to predetermined stapling by the stapling apparatus 500 and one sheet of paper that has been conveyed through another conveyance path and that has not been stapled are stored in the stacking tray 600. In this configuration, both paper and paper are stacked.

<< Configuration of Control System >> A control system for controlling each of the above-described processes will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a control system for performing each processing.

The main components of this control system are a copying machine CPU 910 for controlling the operation of the copying machine, an ADF CPU 950 for controlling the operation of the ADF 12, and a finisher CPU 980 for controlling the operation of the finisher. Each CPU
Has a ROM 9 in which respective control programs are stored.
11, 951, 981 and a RAM 912 as a work area,
952 and 982 are provided.

The CPU 910 for the copying machine has an image memory 825 for storing the read image and an image for performing image processing such as image rotation and enlargement / reduction based on the image information stored in the image memory 825. A signal processing unit 820 is provided. Further, the image signal processing unit 820
The CCD line sensor 822 of the image reader is connected via an A / D converter 821 that converts the read analog signal into a digital signal. Further, the image signal processing unit 820 converts the output image information from the digital signal into an analog signal. A laser 832 of an image forming apparatus (not shown) is driven via a D / A converter 831 that converts the signal into a signal.

The finisher CPU 980 includes driving means such as a motor and a solenoid for executing the above-described operation of each part of the finisher, and a paper detection sensor 225 provided in the paper transport path of the finisher and in the paper folding part 254. And sensors such as the home position sensor 230 are connected.

The ROM 981 connected to the finisher CPU 980 stores a predetermined number of sheets, which is a threshold value for determining the leading edge binding and the trailing edge binding. This is because, when a sheet bundle is conveyed by a roller, the misalignment of the sheet is larger as the conveyance distance is longer, that is, as the rear end binding is larger, and as the number of sheet bundles is larger. In the post-processing tray portion where the paper is temporarily accumulated, the productivity is lower than that of the rear end binding, so that it is possible to select the front end binding or the rear end binding. In the present embodiment, the selection is automatically made based on whether or not the number of sheets is greater than a predetermined number which is a threshold value. Note that it is of course possible to adopt a configuration in which the user selects.

Here, the copying machine CPU 910 performs basic operations (for example, image reading, storage in memory, image editing, image formation on paper, output, etc.) as a copying machine, and also calculates the number of output sheets. Do. Specifically, the number of documents counted when the ADF 12 performs the document feeding operation under the control of the ADF CPU 950 is obtained from the ADF CPU 950, and output based on the number of documents and the copy mode input from the operation panel OP. Calculate the number. Then, the calculated number of output sheets is transmitted to the finisher CPU 980, where a selection is made between the front end binding and the rear end binding, and when the rear end binding is selected, the CPU 91 for the copying machine is selected.
For 0, an instruction for image rotation is given. Thereby, as described above, the leading edge binding or the trailing edge binding is automatically selected and executed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical concept of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the first folding stoppers 215, 216, and 217 are extended and retracted by the camshaft 224 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. The stopper is the first folding stopper 215 '.
Only the position may be changed by the first stopper drive motor 210 '. In this case, if the home position sensor 230 'directly detects the first folding stopper 215', the first folding stopper 21
The home position return of 5 'can be detected. However,
In this configuration, the number of parts is small and inexpensive as compared to the configuration described above, but the time required to move to the home position,
Alternatively, there is a problem that it takes time to move from the home position to the restriction position, and rapid processing cannot be performed. On the other hand, if the first folding stoppers 215, 216, and 217 are controlled to move back and forth by the camshaft 224 described above, it is possible to cope with quick processing.

[0182]

As described above, according to the present invention, the portion of the paper leading end regulating member with which the paper abuts is displaced in accordance with the rigidity of the paper. It works to absorb the deviation of the folding position caused by bending. As a result, even if the basis weights of the sheets are different, the folding position of the sheets can be stably obtained. Therefore, the size of the folded sheet is also made uniform, and the folding quality is improved.

Further, by appropriately setting the degree of displacement of the portion of the sheet leading end regulating member with which the sheet comes into contact, the deviation of the folding position caused by bending of the sheet itself can be more completely absorbed, and The folding position can be obtained more stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional explanatory view showing an embodiment in which a finisher according to the present invention is connected to a copying machine as an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of the finisher.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a paper folding device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the paper folding apparatus performs a jam processing.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are main-portion cross-sectional views showing a mechanism for regulating a first folding position in the paper folding device.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of a first folding stopper.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views showing a state in which a conveyed sheet abuts on a first folding stopper.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a main part of a modification of the first folding stopper.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of the paper folding device in the A3Z folding mode.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of the paper folding device in the A3 bag folding mode.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of the paper folding device in the center folding mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting a paper transport path.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a post-processing tray section and a stapling apparatus provided downstream thereof.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing various staple mode modes.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram illustrating a stapling apparatus together with first and second sheet bundle conveying rollers.

FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a stapling apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a positioning operation in a staple mode.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system that controls operations of the copying machine and the finisher.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a paper folding device including a first folding stopper according to another embodiment.

21A is a perspective view showing a main part of a folding stopper of a conventional folding device, and FIGS. 21B to 21D are side views showing a state in which a conveyed sheet abuts on the folding stopper. is there.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are plan views illustrating a folding position of a sheet by a conventional folding device, where FIG. 22A is a plan view illustrating a folding position of the sheet when the basis weight of the sheet is small, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a folding position of a sheet when the amount is large.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Copy machine, 100 ... Finisher, 200 ... Paper folding apparatus, 207,208,209 ... Paper folding roller, 210 ... Stepping motor, 212-213 ... Cam, 215-217,223 ... 1st folding stopper (paper edge regulation) 219: Second folding stopper, 224: Cam shaft, 226: Elastic body, 232, 232a: Supporting member, 233: Contact member, 234: Spring member, 254: Paper folding part, P: Paper.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A paper folding device comprising: a paper folding unit that folds a sheet; and a paper edge regulating member that determines a folding position of the sheet by abutting a leading edge portion of the conveyed sheet. The member has an elastic body with which the leading end of the conveyed paper abuts, and a support member provided at a position laterally separated from an extension of the paper conveyance path and to which the elastic body is fixed. Paper folding device. 2. The paper folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is made of one of rubber and foamed resin. 3. The elastic body has a hardness of 15 to 60 Hs.
The paper folding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the paper folding apparatus is (JIS A). 4. A paper folding device comprising: a paper folding section for forming a fold on a sheet; and a paper edge regulating member for determining a folding position of the sheet by abutting a leading edge of the conveyed sheet. The paper folding device, wherein the member includes a contact member with which a leading end portion of the conveyed paper contacts, and a support member to which the contact member is attached via a spring member.