JP2008030315A - Adhesive applicator, bookbinding device and imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adhesive applicator which can always apply an adhesive under best-suited temperature conditions during applying the adhesive to a sheet bundle and thereby, ensure secure adhesion of the sheet bundle. <P>SOLUTION: The adhesive applicator includes a paste application means which applies the adhesive to the sheet bundle retained in a paste application position by a sheet bundle retention means and is made up of a paste storage container, a heating means which thermally melts the adhesive and a paste temperature control means which controls the heating means. In addition, a sheet temperature distinction means for distinguishing a sheet temperature, is provided which is retained by the sheet bundle retention means. The paste temperature control means controls the heating means based on sheet temperature information from the sheet temperature distinction means. The sheet temperature distinction means controls the heating means by distinguishing the sheet temperature in a paste application position, referring to a detection temperature from a temperature sensor for detecting the sheet temperature and setting a target temperature based on the sheet temperature information. The temperature sensor is installed in the sheet bundle retention means or arranged on the upstream side of the sheet bundle retention means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adhesive application device that applies an adhesive to a bundle of sheets such as a document, a bookbinding apparatus provided with the same, and an image forming system, and temperature control when applying a hot melt adhesive to a sheet bundle Related to improvements.

  In general, this type of bookbinding apparatus stacks sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus or the like in a bundle, aligns the parts, and applies an adhesive to the back binding end surface of the sheet bundle, and then feeds it through a different path from the sheet bundle. It is widely known as an apparatus that automatically binds to a bound cover sheet. In particular, printing systems that form images on sheets by using an image forming apparatus and align the copies and bind the cover sheets to the sheet bundle and bind them into a booklet form are widely used recently.

  Conventionally, such a bookbinding apparatus is, for example, disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus are stacked on a tray and aligned, and an adhesive is applied to a back-binding end surface of the sheet bundle, and then the sheet is collected. An apparatus has been proposed in which a bundle is bound to a cover sheet and the adhesive is solidified and bonded. The adhesive is composed of a glue container and an application roll built in the adhesive container, and the adhesive in the container is applied to the sheet bundle by the application roll. In this case, a hot melt adhesive is mainly used in which a solid adhesive is replenished in the container, and this is melted and liquefied by a heating means and applied by an application roll.

In this way, hot melt adhesives that are heated and melted at room temperature and applied to sheet bundles and solidified after application are solid in the distribution and storage process, and are easy to handle, and even when used, they are melted and liquefied. The applied adhesive solidifies slowly after being applied to the sheet bundle, so that processing such as cover binding can be performed during this time, and the processing such as bookbinding processing is easy. On the other hand, it is necessary to maintain the adhesive in a heated and melted state in the apparatus, and if the post-treatment is not performed on the sheet bundle after application within a predetermined time, the adhesive solidifies and the cover sheet cannot be bound. Disadvantages are known.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-114196 (FIG. 2)

  As described above, when a sheet bundle and a cover sheet are bound and mounted in the bookbinding apparatus, the following problems occur when a conventionally widely used hot melt adhesive is used. If the temperature of the melted and liquefied adhesive is high, the viscosity of the adhesive is low, so the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle may drip and stain the cover sheet, or the interior of the device, and the cover sheet may be removed in the subsequent process. Adhesives may leak out on the front and back cover when bonded and folded back.

  On the other hand, if the adhesive temperature is low, the sheet does not enter between the leaves of the sheet, so there is a case where the entire area of the back cover of the cover sheet cannot be evenly bonded in the missing page or the subsequent process. In any case, in order to cause bookbinding failure, setting the adhesive temperature to an optimum condition is an important issue in the bookbinding process. Conventionally, however, various attempts have been made to set the optimum conditions for the selection of the adhesive and its heating control. The present inventor has found out that the temperature of the sheet itself affects the temperature control of the adhesive as follows.

  That is, since the sheet carried out from the image forming apparatus or the like is already heated to a considerably high temperature, the adhesive applied thereto is greatly affected by the temperature of the sheet itself. For example, when an adhesive having an appropriate temperature is applied to a relatively high temperature sheet bundle, it may penetrate more than necessary between sheet leaves and protrude into the print area, and may cause a problem that the cover sheet is soiled by dripping. Similarly, if an adhesive at an appropriate temperature is applied to a relatively low temperature sheet bundle, it quickly solidifies and does not penetrate between the sheet leaves. Cause problems to occur. Conventionally, such a problem has been forced to set the optimum adhesive temperature by repeating the bookbinding process and to control the temperature.

  In this way, when trying to set the adhesive temperature to the optimum condition, the sheet temperature is different between when the adhesive is applied to the sheet bundle from the image forming apparatus and when the adhesive is applied to the sheet bundle from the inserter apparatus. The former is relatively high and the latter is relatively low, causing the problems described above. Also in the case of a sheet bundle from the former image forming apparatus, the sheet temperature differs depending on the apparatus configuration, and a large temperature difference occurs between ink jet printing and electrostatic printing. Similarly, the sheet temperature varies greatly depending on the image forming method such as single-sided printing and double-sided printing, or the size of the print area.

  Further, the sheet temperature when the adhesive is applied varies greatly depending on the environmental temperature at which the initial temperature of the sheet varies and the sheets are aligned in a bundle and conveyed and set at the glue application position. For example, the temperature inside the apparatus is relatively close to room temperature when the apparatus is started up, but if used continuously, the temperature inside the apparatus becomes relatively high, causing the above-mentioned problems.

  Therefore, the present invention can always apply the adhesive at a suitable temperature condition when applying the heat-melted adhesive to the sheet bundle, regardless of the configuration of the apparatus for supplying the sheet, and a reliable adhesion can be obtained. The main object is to provide an adhesive application device with few bookbinding defects, a bookbinding device including the same, and an image forming system.

  The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. The sheet bundle holding means holds the sheet bundle at the glue application position, the glue application means for applying the adhesive to the sheet bundle, the glue storage container, the heating means for heating and melting the adhesive in the container, and the heating means It is comprised by the paste temperature control means which controls. A sheet temperature determining means for determining the temperature of the sheet held by the sheet bundle holding means is provided, and the glue temperature control means controls the heating means based on the sheet temperature information from the sheet temperature determining means. Constitute. This makes it possible to adjust the adhesive temperature according to the temperature of the sheet.

  The sheet temperature discriminating means is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the sheet temperature in the sheet bundle holding means, or a temperature sensor is disposed on, for example, a sheet stacking tray located on the upstream side of the sheet bundle holding means. The sheet temperature at the glue application position is determined based on the detected temperature. And based on the sheet temperature information from this discrimination | determination means, setting temperature is set and a heating means is controlled.

  The sheet temperature determining means includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the apparatus where the sheet bundle holding means is arranged, for example, the internal temperature of the bookbinding apparatus, and approximates the detected temperature of the temperature sensor as the sheet temperature. It is also possible to control the heating means by setting a set temperature based on the sheet temperature information.

  Further, the sheet temperature discrimination means includes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the apparatus in which the sheet bundle holding means is disposed, and sheet temperature from operation time information from when the sheet is unloaded from the image forming apparatus to the glue application position. It is also possible to set the set temperature based on this temperature information.

  When approximating the sheet temperature, it is more accurate to approximate the sheet temperature at the glue application position from the initial temperature of the sheet supplied to the sheet holding means, the apparatus internal temperature, and the operation time of the sheet. In this case, the initial temperature of the sheet is set in advance depending on whether the temperature of the sheet carried out from the image forming apparatus or the like is directly detected, or whether the sheet is supplied from the image forming apparatus or the inserter apparatus. It is also possible to leave. When the sheet is supplied from the image forming apparatus, the initial temperature of the sheet can be approximated and set from the image forming conditions. As for the image forming conditions, the initial temperature may be estimated from information such as whether the image is formed on one side or both sides, the sheet size, the printing area, the image forming speed, the fixing temperature, and the like.

  The present invention is provided with sheet temperature determining means for determining the temperature of the sheet bundle when applying adhesive to the sheet bundle held at the glue application position by the sheet bundle holding means, and the sheet temperature from the sheet temperature determining means Since the temperature of the adhesive is controlled based on the information, the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle penetrates between the sheet leaves without being dripped and scattered, and is firmly solidified and bonded. Further, even when the cover is mounted on the cover sheet after application, it is possible to provide a aesthetically pleasing cover without any irregularities or wrinkles on the spine cover and without missing pages.

  Further, the sheet temperature discriminating means is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sheet bundle at the glue application position, so that it is possible to accurately discriminate the sheet temperature with a simple configuration, and the temperature for detecting the temperature inside the apparatus. The adhesive can be controlled to a suitable temperature condition with a simple structure such as the sheet temperature can be approximated from the sensor.

  As described above, since the adhesive temperature is controlled according to the temperature of the sheet on which the adhesive is applied, accurate bookbinding and cover processing are possible, and the adhesive temperature is set higher than necessary. There is no fear that the adhesive will evaporate in a large amount and the foreign matter will be scattered, and there will be no significant odor emission.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image forming system provided with a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory view of a bookbinding apparatus B, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a glue storage container.

"Configuration of image forming system"
The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus (a copying machine shown in the figure) A, a bookbinding apparatus (bookbinding section) B connected to a paper discharge port 19 of the image forming apparatus A, and a bookbinding apparatus B. And a post-processing apparatus (post-processing unit) C disposed downstream of the sheet, and a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus A is automatically bound by the bookbinding apparatus B or automatically by the post-processing apparatus C. Constitutes a post-processing system. The bookbinding apparatus B incorporates the adhesive application device according to the present invention as a unit.

  First, the image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The image forming apparatus A includes an image forming unit 3 provided in the casing 2, an image reading device (scanner unit) 7 mounted on the upper part of the casing 2, and a document. It comprises a supply device (ADF unit) 5. An image forming unit 3 is provided in the casing 2 and forms an image on a sheet such as plain paper or an OHP sheet supplied from the paper supply unit 9. The image forming unit 3 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 8 by the light irradiating unit 13, attaches toner with a developing unit, and transfers the toner onto a sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 9. This transfer sheet is fixed by the fixing device 6 and carried out from the paper discharge port 19. In the case of double-sided printing in which images are formed on the front and back sides of a sheet, the sheet printed on one side is turned upside down by the switchback path 17 and then sent again to the photosensitive drum 8 from the circulation path 18 to be printed on the back side and discharged. Unload from 19 In addition, 12 shown in the figure is a manual sheet feeding port, for example, for supplying a thick sheet such as a cover sheet and a special sheet such as a coating sheet.

  An image reading device (scanner unit) 7 is disposed on the casing 2. The image reading device 7 scans a document placed on the platen with a photoelectric conversion element and transfers image data to the data storage unit 14 of the image forming unit 3. Further, the image reading device 7 is provided with a document supply device (ADF unit) 5 for automatically feeding a document to the platen. The document feeder 5 separates the documents set on the sheet feeding tray one by one and automatically feeds them to the platen. Such an image forming apparatus A is widely used and known in various structures. However, the image forming apparatus A is not limited to the electrostatic printing system shown in the figure, and a system such as screen printing or ink jet printing can be employed.

"Configuration of bookbinding equipment"
A bookbinding device B is attached to the paper discharge port 19 of the image forming apparatus A. As shown in FIG. 1, the bookbinding apparatus B includes a “stacking portion B1” that stacks and aligns sheets in a bundle, an “adhesive application portion B2” that applies an adhesive to the sheet bundle, and a sheet bundle. It is composed of a “cover binding portion B3” for binding the cover sheets, a “trimming cutting portion B4” for cutting the periphery of the binding sheet, and a “storage stack portion B5” for storing the sheet bundle.

  Then, after receiving the image-formed sheet from the sheet carry-in path T1 connected to the paper discharge port 19 of the image forming apparatus A, a series of sheets are stacked and aligned in the stacking unit B1, and then this is applied in the adhesive application unit B2. Gluing is performed on one side edge (back part) of the bundle-like sheet, and the booklet-like sheet is formed by binding together with the cover sheet at the cover binding portion B3. Thereafter, the trimming part B4 cuts and finishes the peripheral edge of the booklet sheet, and stores the booklet sheet in the storage stack part B5 so that a series of bookbinding processes are performed.

  The bookbinding apparatus B includes a sheet carry-in path T1 that is continuous with the paper discharge port 19 of the image forming apparatus A, an intermediate paper transport path T2 that is continuous with the carry-in path T1, and a cover sheet transport path T3. The sheets from A are sorted and conveyed. Further, a bookbinding path T4 is provided on the downstream side of the intermediate sheet conveyance path T2 via the stacking unit B1, and the bookbinding path T4 is configured to intersect with the cover sheet conveyance path T3 (the illustrated one is orthogonal). In the sheet carry-in path T1, an image forming apparatus A and an inserter apparatus D that selectively supplies sheets are provided. This apparatus is configured to prepare one or a plurality of trays, separate sheet bundles set in the tray one by one, and supply a cover sheet or a middle sheet from the sheet feeding path to the sheet carry-in path T1. Has been.

  The stacking unit B1 will be described. The stacking unit B1 is composed of a stacking tray 42 that is disposed with a vertical step formed at the sheet discharge port 40 of the intermediate paper transport path T2. The illustrated stacking tray 42 is disposed on the downstream side of the sheet discharge port 40 so as to stack and store sheets from the sheet discharge port 40 in a substantially horizontal posture. The stacking tray 42 is provided with a carry-in guide 41, a carry-in roller 45 that can be rotated forward and backward, and a rear end regulating member 43, and guides a sheet from the paper discharge port 40 onto the tray by the carry-in guide 41. 45 to carry in. Further, the rear end regulating member 43 is provided with an abutment regulating surface that abuts the rear end of the sheet to regulate the position, and in particular, the illustrated one regulates the positioning of the end surface on which the adhesive is applied to the stacked sheet bundle in a subsequent process. And the sheet is aligned with the abutting regulation surface by the reverse rotation of the carry-in roller 45.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the stacking tray 42 is provided with alignment means for aligning the side edges of the sheets, and aligns the sheet width direction by restricting the width of the sheet loaded from the sheet discharge port 40 in the conveyance orthogonal direction. This aligning means is provided with, for example, a pair of aligning members that engage with the left and right side edges of the sheet above the tray, and when aligning the sheets with the center reference, the left and right aligning members are the same toward the sheet center (reference line). It is configured to reciprocate by an amount. Further, when the sheets are aligned on the one side reference, one alignment member is fixed at the reference position, and the opposite alignment member is reciprocated.

  The stacking tray 42 configured as described above is attached to the apparatus frame so as to be movable up and down in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1, and moves between an upper stacking position P1 and a lower unloading position P2. This moves the stacking tray 42 from the stacking position P1 to the unloading position P2 spaced apart from the stacking position P1, and takes over and transports it to the sheet bundle holding means (bundle transporting means; hereinafter the same) 55 that unloads the sheet bundle at the unloading position P2. Because of that. By arranging in this way, the apparatus can be configured in a compact manner, and the sheet bundle aligned on the tray can be taken over by the sheet bundle holding means 55 in an orderly manner. A bookbinding path T4 is provided downstream from the stacking tray 42, and a sheet bundle holding unit 55 is provided in the bookbinding path T4.

  The sheet bundle conveying means 55 deflects the sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulation tray 42 from a substantially horizontal posture to a vertical posture (direction b as viewed in FIG. 1), and an adhesive application position P3 (hereinafter referred to as glue application) in the bookbinding path T4. To the position). For this reason, the sheet bundle holding means 55 is composed of a pair of gripper members that grip the front and back of the sheet bundle, and a unit frame (not shown) that carries the gripper members and rotates approximately 90 degrees. The unit frame is supported by the apparatus frame so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 1, and is configured to turn approximately 90 degrees by a turning motor (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, main grippers 55a and 55b and sub grippers 56a and 56b are configured in the unit frame configured as described above. The main grippers 55a and 55b are constituted by long plate-like members so as to grip the paste application end surface (back portion; hereinafter the same) of the sheet bundle over the entire length, and the sub grippers 56a and 56b are the main grippers at the center of the sheet bundle. The shafts 55a and 55b are pivotally supported by a rotating shaft 55c. The main grippers 55a and 55b and the sub grippers 56a and 56b are configured to be pressed and separated by a grip motor (not shown). In this way, the sheet bundle holding means 55 is composed of the main and sub grippers. When the sheet bundle is conveyed from the stacking tray 42 to the glue application position P3 on the downstream side by both grippers, the lower end edge of the sheet bundle is skewed. It is for correcting.

  The lower end edge (glue application end face) of the sheet bundle is abutted against the path guide plate 57 (shown in FIG. 4) of the cover sheet transport path T3 with the main grippers 55a and 55b being released, and along this path guide plate 57 The posture is corrected and gripped by the main grippers 55a and 55b. For this skew correction, the sub grippers 56a and 56b are pivotally supported by the main grippers 55a and 55b so as to be able to swing in the sheet width direction, and the path guide plate 57 is used as a reference for the sheet bundle posture for applying glue (a glue applying roller described later). In parallel with the moving direction of The path guide plate 57 is retracted from the bookbinding path T4 after skew correction.

  The sheet bundle holding means 55 is provided with a bundle thickness detecting means (not shown) for detecting the thickness of the sheet bundle. This bundle thickness detecting means is arranged on the movable member of the main grippers 55a and 55b or the sub grippers 56a and 56b, and the distance by which the gripper moves from the release position (home position) to the nip position where it abuts on the surface of the sheet bundle is, for example, a slider. The bundle thickness is detected by detecting with a sensor. The thickness information of the sheet bundle detected in this way is used for controlling the subsequent operation, for example, adjusting the amount of subsequent glue application according to the thickness of the sheet bundle.

  Next, the configuration of the adhesive application part B2 will be described. The adhesive application part B2 is disposed at the glue application position P3 of the bookbinding path T4, and an adhesive container (hereinafter referred to as an adhesive container) and the application incorporated in the container are provided. It comprises a roll and container moving means for moving the glue container along the glue application end face of the sheet bundle for coating operation. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the glue container 66 is composed of a container body 66a for storing a hot melt adhesive and an application roll 67, and the glue container 66 is filled with a solid adhesive. The adhesive is heated and melted and applied to the sheet bundle by the application roll 67. For example, a heater (heating means) 66b such as an electric heater is built in the container body 66a to melt and melt the adhesive in the container. 66c shown in the figure is a glue temperature sensor, and the container body 66a includes a rotating body (not shown) that stirs the adhesive, and current is supplied to the heater 66b based on the temperature detected from the sensor. The stirring rotator acts to make the adhesive temperature in the container uniform.

  The coating roll 67 is made of impregnating heat-resistant rubber, and is rotatably supported on the container body 66a by a rotating shaft 67a. A roll rotation motor MR is connected to the rotation shaft 67a. The glue container 66 configured in this manner is fitted and supported by guide rails 68 provided on the apparatus frame, and the guide rails 68 extend along the glue application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle held by the sheet bundle holding means 55 described above. It is arranged in parallel with this. As described above, the glue container 66 incorporating the application roll 67 is supported so as to reciprocate along the glue application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle, and is fixed to a timing belt 69 stretched along the guide rail 68. A shift motor MS is connected to the timing belt 69. Accordingly, the guide rail 68, the timing belt 69, and the shift motor MS constitute a “container moving means”.

  The glue container 66 includes a coating area L1 for applying glue to the glue application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle, and a retracting area L2 that can be moved to a retracted position (home position HP shown in the figure) spaced apart from the area L1. It is configured as follows. Then, the shift motor MS reciprocates between the home position HP, the standby position WP, and the return position RP. At the home position HP, the glue container 66 is located when the apparatus is started up, and the suction means 70 is disposed at the home position HP. The standby position WP positions the glue container 66 when the glue is applied to the subsequent sheet bundle when the glue is continuously applied. Therefore, the standby position WP is preferably laid out in the vicinity of the paste application area L1. Similarly, the return position RP is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the paste application region L1.

  When the glue container 66 moves from the standby position WP to the return position RP, glue may be applied to the glue application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle by the application roll 67, but the illustrated one is applied in the forward path and the return path of the glue container 66. I try to cloth. That is, in the forward path (movement from WP to RP), the coating roll 67 presses and separates the end surface S1 of the sheet bundle, and in the return path (movement from RP to WP), the coating roll 67 contacts the glue application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle. Apply glue. At this time, the gap between the roll surface and the paste application end surface S1 of the sheet bundle is adjusted so that the application amount is large when the sheet bundle is thick and small when the sheet bundle is thin. The glue application amount is adjusted by the sheet conveyance amount of the sheet bundle holding means 55.

  The present invention is characterized in that the temperature control of the adhesive contained in the glue container 66 is configured as follows. As described above, the paste container 66 has a structure in which the coating roll 67 and the heating means 66b are built in the container body 66a, and the adhesive is accommodated in the container body. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the control temperature of the heating means 66b (hereinafter referred to as “control temperature Ta”) is set in the heating means 66b by a control CPU 80, which will be described later, and this control temperature Ta and the paste temperature disposed in the paste container 66 are set. The detected temperature Ts of the sensor 66c is compared, and the electric power supplied to the heater (heating means) 66b via the heating means control circuit 81 is adjusted based on the comparison result.

  Various methods can be used as the method for setting the control temperature Ta. For example, when the target set temperature Tc of the adhesive is 150 ° C., the control temperature Ta is set to 90 ° C. when the adhesive temperature is 60 ° C. or less, for example. When the adhesive temperature reaches 90 ° C., the control temperature Ta is set to 120 ° C., and when the adhesive temperature reaches 120 ° C., the control temperature Ta is set to the target set temperature Tc. For example, when the adhesive temperature is 90 ° C., the control temperature Ta is set to 120 ° C., and then when the adhesive temperature reaches 120 ° C., the control temperature Ta is set to the target set temperature Tc. The temperature values are for explanation of stepwise temperature control, and are set to appropriate values each time according to the characteristics of the adhesive.

  In this way, the control temperature Ta is set stepwise toward the target set temperature Tc because the temperature of the adhesive reacts slowly with respect to the electric power applied to the heating means 66b so that the control temperature Ta approaches the target temperature stepwise. This is to avoid overheating. At the same time, this stepwise control is different while the temperature of the adhesive in the paste container is different between the vicinity of the heating means 66b and the vicinity of the paste temperature sensor 66c and causes a control error. This is because the temperature is controlled.

  Accordingly, the present invention sets the “target set temperature Tc” according to the temperature of the sheet to which the glue is applied, and for this reason, the sheet supported by the sheet bundle holding means 55 at the glue application position P3. The sheet temperature determining means 83 for determining the temperature of the sheet is provided. The sheet temperature can be detected by a temperature sensor that directly detects the sheet, or various other modes such as a method of estimating from other conditions such as an image forming method are possible. (1) A mode in which the sheet temperature is directly detected, (2) A mode in which the sheet temperature is detected on the upstream side of the glue application position, (3) A mode in which the sheet temperature is set (estimated) from the apparatus internal temperature, (4) Sheet An aspect in which the temperature is set (estimated) from the sheet supply source apparatus and (5) an aspect in which the sheet temperature is set (estimated) from an image forming state such as an image forming apparatus will be described.

(1) “Mode of directly detecting sheet temperature”
In the case of (1), the temperature sensor Th1 is disposed in the sheet bundle holding means (bundle conveying means) 55, and the paste temperature control means 80b configured by the control CPU 80 based on the detected temperature from the temperature sensor Th1. Sets "target set temperature Tc" and controls the heating means control circuit 81 of the heating means 66b based on this target set temperature Tc. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, a temperature sensor Th1 is disposed in a main gripper 55 (shown is a fixed main gripper 55a) constituting the sheet bundle holding means 55, and this temperature sensor Th1 is a gripper member. It is cut off thermally and is composed of a temperature detecting element such as a thermocouple. Therefore, when the sheet bundle is gripped between the main grippers 55a and 55b, the temperature of the sheet is detected by the temperature sensor Th1.

  Based on the sheet temperature detected by the temperature sensor Th1, the glue temperature control means 80b sets the “target set temperature Tc” of the heating means 66b. For this reason, the control CPU 80 stores the reference set temperature Tb set from the adhesive characteristics in the RAM 84. In the RAM 84, an optimum temperature value is stored as a reference set temperature Tb according to one or more types of adhesives to be used. Accordingly, the glue temperature control means 80b calls the reference set temperature Tb from the RAM 84, corrects the reference set temperature Tb with the sheet temperature value from the temperature sensor Th1, and sets the “target set temperature Tc”.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the reference set temperature Tb is Tbx ° C. as shown in FIG. 8, when the detected temperature Ts of the sheet is Ts 1 ° C. or less, the “target set temperature Tc” is high when the sheet temperature is low such as Tby ° C. Set low when high. When the detected temperature Ts is equal to or higher than Ts1 ° C., the “target set temperature Tc” is set to the reference set temperature Tb. This temperature correction is set in two steps in the figure, but can be set in three steps or more. For example, when the sheet temperature is very high (Ts 2 ° C. or higher), the “target set temperature Tc” is set to Tbz lower than the reference set temperature Tb as shown by the chain line in the figure.

(2) “Aspect of detecting sheet temperature upstream of glue application position”
In the case of (2), a temperature sensor Th2 is disposed upstream of the sheet bundle holding means (bundle conveying means) 55. For example, the temperature sensor Th2 is disposed on the stacking tray 42 to detect the temperature of the sheet bundle stacked on the tray. Although not shown, for example, the temperature sensor Th <b> 2 is arranged on the abutting regulation surface of the rear end regulating member 43 arranged on the tray means 42. The setting of the “target set temperature Tc” based on the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor Th2 is the same as in the case of the above (1), and the description thereof is omitted.

(3) “Mode of setting (estimating) the seat temperature from the temperature in the apparatus”
In the case of (3), a temperature sensor Th3 for detecting the temperature in the apparatus in which the sheet bundle holding means 55 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as environmental temperature) is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, a temperature sensor Th3 is arranged in the bookbinding apparatus B as shown in FIG. 1, and the temperature in the apparatus is detected. When the adhesive temperature control means 80b sets the “target set temperature Tc” of the adhesive as in the case of (1) above, the sheet temperature determination means 83 sets the target set temperature Tc based on the environmental temperature. To do. In this case, a sheet temperature corresponding to the environmental temperature is preset in the control CPU 80 and stored in the RAM 84. This sheet temperature is previously determined by experiment, for example, when the environmental temperature is A ° C., the sheet temperature is (A ° C. ± α ° C.). It is determined as follows.

  In the sheet temperature estimation method, the actual sheet temperature may vary depending on the number of sheet bundles. For example, when the number of sheets is 3 and 30, the operation time of the sheets placed under the environmental temperature (in-apparatus temperature) is simply 10 times different. Accordingly, when the temperature inside the apparatus is different from the room temperature, it is preferable to estimate the sheet temperature according to the sheet operation time (in the configuration of FIG. 1, the time from the image forming apparatus A to the bundle application position P3 after being bundled and accumulated). . In this case, the control CPU 80 is provided with time measuring means 85 including a reference clock and a counter, and the reference set temperature Tb is corrected by the environmental temperature detected from the temperature sensor Th3 and the sheet operating time measured by the time measuring means 85. To set the target set temperature Tc.

Further, the operation time of the sheet is as follows when the sheet conveyance speed from the image forming apparatus A to the stacking tray 42 is set in advance without providing the time measuring unit 85 as described above. It is also possible to calculate the operating time of the seat.
Sheet operation time = ((sheet transfer time from discharge port 19 to stacking tray 42) × (number of sheets) × correction value) + (transfer time of sheet bundle from stacking tray 42 to paste application position P3)
The correction value in this case is a time correction when the sheets are continuously carried out.

(4) “Mode in which sheet temperature is set (estimated) from sheet supply device”
In the case of (4), the initial temperature of the sheet temperature at the glue application position P3 differs depending on the apparatus (in the illustrated case, the image forming apparatus A or the inserter apparatus D) to which the sheet is supplied. That is, the sheet supplied from the image forming apparatus A is heated at a relatively high temperature such as 40 ° C. to 50 ° C., for example. Further, the sheet temperature supplied from the inserter device D varies depending on the sheet supply source device, for example, at normal temperature. Therefore, the sheet temperature determination means 83 calculates the sheet temperature at the glue application position P3 from the “initial temperature”, “in-apparatus temperature (environment temperature)”, and “sheet operation time” of the sheet. Others are the same as the case of said (1).

(5) “Mode in which sheet temperature is set (estimated) from image forming state such as image forming apparatus”
The above-mentioned “initial temperature” of the sheet may be directly calculated, for example, by measuring the temperature of the sheet carried out from the sheet discharge port 19, but can also be calculated as follows. The initial temperature of the sheet is estimated based on the fixing temperature of the image forming temperature. In this case, the sheet from the image forming apparatus A is mainly heated by the fixing device 6 and is carried out at the fixing temperature. Therefore, this fixing temperature is set as the initial temperature. At this time, the sheet temperature differs between when printing on one side of the sheet and when printing on both sides. Similarly, the sheet temperature varies depending on the image forming speed such as the sheet size, printing area, and enlargement / reduction. Therefore, the initial temperature of the sheet is estimated from these image forming conditions.

  The operation of the glue temperature control means 80b configured as described above will be described with reference to the control block shown in FIG. The control unit of the bookbinding apparatus B includes a control CPU 80 and is connected to the control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus A via an interface. A control panel 91 is provided in the control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus A, and processing modes such as a printout mode, a bookbinding mode, and a post-processing mode are set. In the printout mode, the bookbinding apparatus B receives a sheet from the sheet discharge port 19 of the image forming apparatus A, and carries it out from the sheet carry-in path T1 through the cover sheet conveyance path T3 onto the sheet discharge tray of the post-processing apparatus C. Similarly, in the post-processing mode, the sheet is transported to the post-processing apparatus C via the cover sheet transport path T3, and post-processing such as stapling, punching punching, and stamping stamp is performed on the paper discharge tray by the post-processing apparatus C. Take it out. The bookbinding mode will be described below.

  The bookbinding apparatus B includes a control CPU 80, a control program for executing bookbinding processing is stored in the ROM 87, and a RAM 84 in which control data such as the reference set temperature Tb is stored is connected. Therefore, the control CPU 80 is provided with an inserter device controller 88a, a bookbinding and binding controller 88b, and a cutting unit controller 88c described later. Therefore, the glue temperature control means 80b is incorporated in the bookbinding and binding control section 88b and connected to the control circuit 81 of the heating means 66b as described above. Then, the heating means 66b is controlled according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the apparatus power is turned on (St001), the control CPU 80 raises the adhesive temperature of the glue container 66 to a predetermined temperature (initialization operation) (St002). The target set temperature Tc for controlling the heating means 66b at this time is set to a reference set temperature Tb set from the characteristics of the adhesive, for example. When the adhesive temperature reaches the set temperature, an end of initialization (St003) is issued to the image forming apparatus A. Next, the image forming apparatus A designates the bookbinding mode in the mode setting (St004). Then, the image forming apparatus A sequentially forms an image on the sheet and carries out the sheet from the paper discharge port 19 (St005). The bookbinding apparatus B guides the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 19 to the sheet carry-in path T1, and stacks it on the stacking tray 42 from the intermediate paper transport path T2 (St006). When a predetermined sheet is stacked on the stacking tray 42, the control CPU 80 receives a job end signal from the image forming apparatus A, and after the sheet bundle holding unit 55 deflects the sheet bundle on the tray from a horizontal posture to a vertical posture, It transfers to the predetermined glue application position P3 (St007).

  In the process of transferring the sheet bundle from the stacking tray 42 to the paste application position P3, the control CPU 80 adjusts the power applied to the heating unit 66b based on the sheet temperature determined by the sheet temperature determining unit 83 (St008). This sets the target set temperature Tc according to any one of the above-described aspects (1) to (5). Next, the control CPU 80 activates the shift motor MS and executes an adhesive application operation (St009). When this glue application operation is completed, the control CPU 80 executes a cover binding operation described later (St010), and then executes a cutting process (St011).

  In parallel with the cover binding operation and the cutting process, the sheets transported from the image forming apparatus A are stacked on the stacking tray 42, and the heating unit 66b is controlled based on the temperature of the subsequent sheet bundle as described above. . The sheet temperature is expected to gradually increase as the bookbinding operation described above continues. This is because the apparatus temperature is close to room temperature at the start-up, and the apparatus temperature (the above-mentioned environmental temperature) rises in the process of continuously executing each operation. The glue temperature control means 80b adjusts the target temperature Tc according to the increase in the sheet temperature.

  Next, the configuration of the cover binding portion B3 will be described. The bookbinding path T4 is provided with a cover binding position P4 on the downstream side of the glue application position P3, and the cover sheet conveying path T3 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the bookbinding path T4 at the cover binding position P4. Back folding plates 58a and 58b and a back plate 59 are arranged at the cover binding position P4 located at this intersection. The back folding plates 58a, 58b are composed of a pair of left and right plate-like members across the bookbinding path T4, and are provided so as to be movable between a position separated from each other (retracted position) and an operating position in contact with each other. It is connected to.

  The back plate 59 is disposed so as to be movable between a retracted position retracted from the bookbinding path T4 and an operating position entering the path, and is connected to an operating means (not shown) such as an electromagnetic solenoid. Therefore, the sheet bundle to which the adhesive is applied by the application roll 67 is conveyed to the cover binding position P4 by the sheet bundle holding means 55. At this time, the cover sheet is already fed and set from the cover sheet conveyance path T3 to the cover binding position P4. In this configuration, the sheet bundle is transferred from the bookbinding path T4 to the cover binding position P4 with the back folding plates 58a and 58b positioned at the retracted position and the backrest plate 59 positioned at the operating position.

  Then, the sheet bundle is joined to the cover sheet in an inverted T shape. At this time, the back plate 59 supports the cover sheet as a backup. Next, when the back folding plate 58 is moved from the retracted position to the operating position, the left and right back folding plates 58a and 58b press-mold the back portion of the cover sheet. In this process, the adhesive applied to the sheet bundle is solidified to bind the cover sheet and the sheet bundle.

  Next, the configuration of the trimming cutting part B4 will be described. As described above, the sheet bundle that is bound together with the cover sheet in a booklet form is sent to the folding roll 60 on the downstream side by the sheet bundle holding means 55. At this time, the back plate 59 and the back folding plates 58a and 58b are respectively retracted to the retracted positions. In the bookbinding path T4, a cutting position P5 is provided on the downstream side of the cover binding position P4, and a cutting means 61 is disposed. The cutting unit 61 includes a rotary table 62, a cutting edge press unit 63, and a cutting blade 64, which are sequentially arranged on the downstream side of the bookbinding path T4. The rotary table 62 grips the sheet bundle sent from the folding roll 60 and deflects the direction, and simultaneously conveys the lower end edge of the sheet bundle so as to form a cutting margin set in advance at the cutting position P5. . Therefore, the rotary table 62 is provided with a turning motor and a lifting motor.

  The cutting position P5 includes a cutting blade 64 and a cutter motor Mc that drives the cutting blade 64, and cuts a sheet bundle by a predetermined amount. The illustrated cutting blade 64 is constituted by a flat blade cutter, and is supported by the apparatus frame so as to be movable between a standby posture retracted from the bookbinding path T4 and the cutting posture shown in FIG. 2, and is reciprocated by a cutter motor Mc. The sheet bundle is cut by the above.

  Next, the storage stack portion B5 will be described. On the downstream side of the cutting blade 64, a stacker 65 for accommodating a sheet bundle and a waste disposal tray 66 are disposed. The cut sheet bundle is stored in a box-shaped stacker 65 by a paper discharge roller 67. In addition, a waste disposal tray 66 is provided adjacent to the stacker 65, and accommodates paper scraps cut by the upstream cutting blade 64. Reference numeral 100 denotes a sweeper member that swings so as to guide paper scraps from the cutting blade 64 to a waste disposal tray, and includes a drive motor (not shown).

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image forming system including a bookbinding apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a bookbinding apparatus in the system of FIG. 1. The internal structure of the adhesive agent storage container concerning this invention is shown, (a) is the sectional drawing, (b) is sectional drawing different from (a). FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of sheet bundle holding means in the system of FIG. 1. Explanatory drawing of the shift structure which moves the adhesive agent storage container of FIG. 4 along a sheet | seat bundle. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit in the image forming system of FIG. 1. The operation | movement flow of the execution program of bookbinding operation | movement in the bookbinding apparatus of FIG. The graph which shows temperature correction.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus B Bookbinding apparatus P1 Accumulation position P2 Unloading position P3 Adhesive application position (glue application position)
T1 Sheet carry-in path T2 Middle sheet transport path T3 Cover sheet transport path T4 Bookbinding path Th1 to Th3 Temperature sensor 42 Stack tray 55 Sheet bundle holding means (bundle transport means)
61 Cutting means 66 Paste container 66a Container body 66b Heater (heating means)
66c Glue temperature sensor 67 Application roll 70 Suction means 80 Control CPU
80b Glue temperature control means 81 Heating means control circuit 83 Sheet temperature discrimination means 84 RAM
85 Timekeeping means 87 ROM
88a Inserter device control unit 88b Bookbinding control unit 88c Cutting unit control unit 90 Control unit (image forming apparatus)
MR roll rotation motor MS shift motor

Claims (10)

Sheet bundle holding means for holding the sheet bundle at the glue application position;
Glue application means for applying an adhesive to the sheet bundle at the glue application position;
A paste storage container including the paste applying means and containing a hot-melt adhesive inside;
Heating means for heating and melting the adhesive contained in the paste storage container;
Paste temperature control means for controlling the heating means;
Sheet temperature determining means for determining the temperature of the sheet held in the sheet bundle holding means;
With
The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the glue temperature control means controls the heating means based on sheet temperature information from the sheet temperature discrimination means. The sheet temperature determining means includes a temperature sensor disposed on the sheet bundle holding means,
The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the glue temperature control unit controls the heating unit based on a sheet temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The sheet bundle holding means is composed of a bundle conveying means for conveying and setting a sheet bundle from the upstream stacking tray means to the glue application position,
The sheet temperature determining means includes a temperature sensor disposed on the stacking tray means,
The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the glue temperature control means sets the glue temperature based on the sheet temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The sheet temperature determining means includes a temperature sensor that detects an environmental temperature in the apparatus in which the sheet bundle holding means is arranged,
The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the glue temperature control unit controls the heating unit based on an environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor. A stacking tray means for aligning sheets fed sequentially in a bundle;
A bundle conveying means for conveying and setting the sheet from the stacking tray means to the downstream glue application position;
Glue application means for applying an adhesive to the sheet bundle at the glue application position;
A paste storage container including the paste applying means and containing a hot-melt adhesive inside;
Heating means for heating and melting the adhesive contained in the paste storage container;
Paste temperature control means for controlling the heating means;
A cover conveying means for feeding a cover sheet to a cover binding position located downstream of the glue applying means;
A cover binding means that is arranged at the cover binding position and binds a cover sheet to the sheet bundle;
Sheet temperature determining means for determining the sheet temperature at the glue application position;
With
The sheet temperature determining means is composed of a temperature sensor arranged in the stacking tray means or the bundle conveying means,
The bookbinding apparatus, wherein the glue temperature control means controls the heating means based on the sheet temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
A stacking tray means for aligning sheets conveyed from the image forming means in a bundle;
A bundle conveying means for conveying and setting the sheet bundle from the stacking tray means to the downstream glue application position;
Glue application means for applying an adhesive to the sheet bundle at the glue application position;
A paste storage container including the paste applying means and containing a hot-melt adhesive inside;
Heating means for heating and melting the adhesive contained in the paste storage container;
Paste temperature control means for controlling the heating means;
A cover conveying means for feeding a cover sheet to a cover binding position located downstream of the glue applying means;
A cover binding means that is arranged at the cover binding position and binds a cover sheet to the sheet bundle;
Sheet temperature determining means for determining the sheet temperature at the glue application position;
With
The image forming system, wherein the glue temperature control means controls the heating means based on sheet temperature information from the sheet temperature discrimination means. The sheet temperature discrimination means is
A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the apparatus in which the bundle conveying means is disposed;
The sheet includes a timing unit from the image forming unit to the glue application position,
The glue temperature control means calculates the set temperature of the heating means from the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the time measured by the time measuring means, and controls the heating means based on the set temperature. The image forming system according to claim 6. The sheet temperature determining unit includes a temperature sensor that detects an internal temperature of the apparatus in which the bundle conveying unit is disposed,
The glue temperature control means includes an environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor, initial temperature information of a sheet carried out from the image forming means, and a sheet operating time from the image forming means to the glue application position. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein a set temperature of the heating unit is calculated from the information, and the heating unit is controlled based on the set temperature. The initial temperature information of the sheet is acquired from detection information of a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the sheet carried out from the image forming unit, or image forming information that forms an image on the sheet by the image forming unit,
9. The image forming system according to claim 8, wherein the image forming information includes at least one of sheet size, front and back surface printing, printing area, image forming speed, and fixing temperature. The sheet operating time information is conveyed and set from the image forming means to the stacking tray means, the number of sheets stacked on the stacking tray, and from the stacking tray means to the glue application position. The image forming system according to claim 8, wherein the image forming system is time information calculated from a sheet bundle transfer time.

Images