JP2011148100A - Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of performing a squaring process without deformation of the binding needle when the folded top part of a booklet which is folded and bound with a binding needle is pressed and subjected to a squaring process.
SOLUTION: A booklet S held by a lower holding plate 631 and an upper holding plate 633, and a lower holding plate 631 and an upper holding plate 633, which hold the booklet S by a lower holding surface 631a and an upper holding surface 633a facing each other. The first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651 having the first press contact surface 650p and the second press contact surface 651p that press-contact the fold top portion T and deform the fold top portion T, and the first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece. Moving means for moving 651 along the fold top T, and the central portion G of the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p is more than the both end portions H of the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p. A squaring processing device 600 that is recessed in the press-contact direction P of the booklet S is configured.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming system for processing a folded top portion of a booklet formed of folded sheets.

  When approximately 20 or more sheets are folded together, a booklet with the vicinity of the folding top curved may be finished. These booklets are not fully folded and open immediately when folded, giving them an unsightly appearance. Since such a booklet cannot be placed in a flat state, it has been difficult to stack many copies. In order to cope with such a problem, a sheet processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 that squares a folded top portion of a booklet as one of deformation processes is disclosed.

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 includes a clamping jaw that holds and fixes a booklet in a folded state, a stop plate that can regulate the length of the booklet protruding from the clamping jaw, and a pressure roller that presses the back of the booklet , And a sheet processing apparatus. According to such a sheet processing apparatus, the back portion of the booklet is squared, and flattening of the back portion of the booklet is realized. In that sense, the above-mentioned poor-looking appearance is corrected, and the booklet posture is stabilized even when a large number of booklets are stacked.

JP 2001-260564 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Literature 1, when the folded booklet is bound with a stapler or the like and the folding top portion of the booklet is squared, there is a possibility that the binding needle is not accurately aligned with the center line of the folding top portion. is there. In this case, the binding needle may be deformed by applying a pressing force by the pressing roller. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b).

  FIG. 22A is a process diagram showing a process in which the folded top portion T of the booklet S is subjected to a squaring process after the folded booklet S is bound by a stapler or the like. As shown in FIG. 22A, in the center-folded booklet S that is originally processed, it is desirable that the binding position of the binding needle h is the center position H2 of the folding top portion T. However, the binding position of the binding needle h tends to be a position H1 deviated from the center of the folding top portion T due to the performance of the device that creates the half-fold booklet S, external factors acting on the booklet S, and the like.

  FIG. 22B is a perspective view showing a configuration of an unpleasant booklet S in which the central portion of the binding needle h is curved upward. As shown in FIG. 22B, when the binding needle h is located at the position H1 shifted to the upper side as described above, when the folding top portion T of the booklet S is squared, the central portion of the binding needle h becomes the upper side. The shape is not good looking curved. This is due to the following reason (see FIG. 22A). That is, when the pressing force L1 of the pressing roller described in Patent Document 1 is applied to the binding needle h, a component force L2 is generated in a direction in which the binding needle h is moved along the curved surface of the folding top T. . Since the end portion of the binding needle h cannot move even when receiving the force of the component force L2, the central portion of the binding needle h is curved upward. Further, when the binding needle h is located at a position shifted downward, the central portion of the binding needle h is curved downward after the squaring process of the folding top portion T by the pressure roller. In addition, when the position of the binding needle h is the binding position H2 that coincides with the center of the folding top portion T, the component force L2 is not generated, so that the binding needle h is not curved.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is a sheet process that can perform a squaring process without deformation of the binding needle when the folded top part of a booklet that has been folded and bound with a binding needle is pressed and subjected to a squaring process. It is an object to provide an apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a holding unit that holds a booklet formed by a folded sheet with a pair of holding members facing each other, and a folding top portion of the booklet held by the holding unit. A pressure contact means having a pressure contact member that deforms the fold top portion by pressure contact, and a moving means that moves the pressure contact member along the fold top portion, and the pressure contact member presses the fold top portion. The center part of the booklet in the thickness direction is recessed in the press-contacting direction of the booklet from both ends of the booklet in the thickness direction of the booklet.

  According to the present invention, the binding needle of the folded booklet is easily subjected to a force in the normal direction of the pressure contact surface. The force in the tangential direction of the folding top applied to the binding needle is reduced. As a result, when the folding top portion of the booklet that has been folded and bound with the binding needle is pressed and subjected to a squaring process, the squaring process can be performed without deformation of the binding needle.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a copying apparatus to which a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applicable. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a sheet processing apparatus and a squaring processing apparatus. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the structure of a squaring processing apparatus. It is a partially expanded side view etc. which show the structure of a stopper piece, a 1st press-contact piece, and a 2nd press-contact piece. It is a perspective view etc. which show the structure of the booklet S before performing a squaring process with a squaring processing apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the main member of the squaring unit in alignment with the QQ line | wire of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the main member of the squaring unit in alignment with the RR line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the contact state in which the folding top part T contact | abuts a stopper piece, a 1st press contact piece, and a 2nd press contact piece. It is process drawing which shows operation | movement of a squaring unit. It is process drawing which shows operation | movement of a squaring unit. It is process drawing which shows operation | movement of a squaring unit. 1 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus. It is a block diagram of a squaring process control part. It is a flowchart which shows the control process of the squaring process control part when the squaring process mode is selected. It is a flowchart which shows the control process of the squaring process control part when the mode without squatting process is selected. It is a flowchart which shows the control process of the squaring process control part when the mode with squatting process is selected. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which a stopper piece receives the folding top part of a booklet. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which a 1st press-contacting piece press-contacts the folding top part of a booklet. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which a 2nd press-contacting piece press-contacts the folding top part of a booklet. It is sectional drawing which shows the contact state which the stopper piece which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, a 1st press contact piece, a 2nd press contact piece, and a folding top part contact | abut. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the press-contacting piece which concerns on a modification. It is process drawing which shows the process by which the folding top part of a booklet is squaring-processed after binding the folded booklet with a stapler etc. by a prior art.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of example. However, since the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the mechanism to which the present invention is applied and various conditions, particularly specific descriptions are provided. Unless otherwise, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming system including a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a copying apparatus 1000 that is an image forming system according to the present embodiment includes a printer unit 300, a finisher 500, a saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 (see FIG. 2), a squaring processing device 600, and the like. Have. The main body of the image forming apparatus includes a document sheet feeding unit 100, an image reader unit 200, and a printer unit 300. The printer unit 300 includes an image forming unit 1003 that forms an image on a sheet.

  The printer unit 300 includes a photosensitive drum 111, an exposure control unit 110, a developing device 113, and a transfer device 116. The exposure control unit 110 receives a document sheet image data read by the image sensor 109 and subjected to predetermined image processing. The exposure control unit 110 outputs laser light corresponding to the image signal. The laser beam is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 while being scanned by the polygon mirror 110a. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the scanned laser beam is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111. The photosensitive drum 111, the developing unit 113, and the transfer unit 116 constitute an image forming unit 1003.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111 is developed by the developing device 113 and visualized as a toner image. On the other hand, the sheet is conveyed to the transfer unit 116 from any one of the cassettes 114 and 115, the manual feeding unit 125, and the double-sided conveyance path 124 that constitute the feeding unit 1002. The visualized toner image is transferred to a sheet by the transfer device 116. The sheet after the transfer is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing device 117.

  The sheet passes through the fixing device 117 and is once guided to the path 122 by the flapper 121. When the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the flapper 121, the sheet is switched back and conveyed to the discharge roller 118 by the flapper 121. The sheet is discharged from the printer unit 300 by the discharge roller 118. Accordingly, the sheet is discharged from the printer unit 300 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing downward (face down). When the sheet is paper, this phenomenon is called reverse paper discharge. In the case of duplex printing of a sheet, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes through the flapper 121, the sheet is switched back and guided to the duplex conveyance path 124 by the flapper 121.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the finisher 500 and the squaring processing device 600. A finisher 500 shown in FIG. 2 fetches and aligns a plurality of sheets, performs a bundling process for bundling as a single sheet bundle, a stapling process (binding process) for stapling the rear end side of the sheet bundle, a sorting process, a non-sorting process, and the like. It is a device. The finisher 500 includes a conveyance path 520 for taking in the conveyed sheet. The conveyance path 520 is provided with a plurality of conveyance roller pairs. A punch unit 530 serving as a hole punching processing unit is provided in the middle of the transport path 520. The punch unit 530 is driven as necessary, and performs punching (punching) processing at the rear end portion of the conveyed sheet.

  Next, the configuration of the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 will be described. A switching flapper 514 is disposed in the middle of the lower transport path 522. The sheet switched by the switching flapper 514 passes through the saddle discharge path 523 and is sent to the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800. The sheet is delivered to the saddle entrance roller pair 801, the entrance is selected by a flapper 802 operated by a solenoid according to the size, and is carried into the storage guide 803 of the saddle stitch bookbinding portion 800. The sheet is conveyed by the sliding roller 804 until the leading end contacts the movable sheet positioning member 805. The saddle entrance roller pair 801 and the sliding roller 804 are driven by a motor M1. In addition, a stapler 820 is provided in the middle of the storage guide 803 so as to face the storage guide 803. The stapler 820 is divided into a driver 820a that projects a needle and an anvil 820b that bends the projected needle. Note that the sheet positioning member 805 stops at a position where the central portion in the sheet conveyance direction X becomes the binding position of the stapler 820 when the sheet is carried in. The sheet positioning member 805 is movable under the driving of the motor M2, and changes its position according to the sheet size.

  A pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b is provided on the downstream side of the stapler 820, and a protruding member 830 is provided at a position opposite to the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b. When the protruding member 830 protrudes toward the sheet bundle stored by driving the motor M3 with the position retracted from the storage guide 803 as the home position, the sheet bundle is pushed into the nip of the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b. Fold it. Thereafter, the protruding member 830 returns to the home position again. A pressure F1 sufficient to crease the sheet bundle is applied between the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b by a spring (not shown). The creased sheet bundle is conveyed to the squaring processing device 600 (see FIG. 1) via the first fold conveyance roller pair 811a and 811b and the second fold conveyance roller pair 812a and 812b. The first fold conveying roller pair 811a and 811b and the second fold conveying roller pair 812a and 812b are also applied with pressures F2 and F3 sufficient to convey and stop the folded sheet bundle.

  The pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b, the first pair of folding and conveying rollers 811a and 811b, and the pair of second folding and conveying rollers 812a and 812b are rotated at a constant speed by the same motor M4 (not shown). When the sheet bundle bound by the stapler 820 is folded, the sheet positioning member 805 is set so that the staple position of the sheet bundle comes to the nip position of the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b after the staple process is completed. Descent a predetermined distance from the place. Accordingly, the sheet bundle can be folded around the position where the stapling process is performed. The alignment plate pair 815 is a pair of alignment plates that has a surface protruding to the storage guide 803 around the outer peripheral surface of the pair of folding rollers 810a and 810b and aligns the sheets stored in the storage guide 803. The alignment plate pair 815 is positioned in the sheet width direction by moving in the sandwiching direction with respect to the sheet under the driving of the motor M5.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the squaring processing device 600. As shown in FIG. The squaring processing device 600 is arranged on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction X with respect to the saddle stitch binding unit 800 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the squaring processing device 600 includes a booklet receiving unit 610. The booklet receiving unit 610 includes a lower conveyance belt 611 extending in the sheet conveyance direction X in order to receive and convey the booklet S from the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800. When the booklet S is delivered, the lower conveyor belt 611 rotates in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, when the booklet S falls from the second fold conveyance roller pair 812a, 812b, the booklet S is received in a posture that has been conveyed without rolling.

  A pair of side guides 612 is disposed outside the lower conveyance belt 611 that sandwiches the lower conveyance belt 611. The position of the booklet S in the sheet width direction Y is corrected by the side guide pair 612 operating in the sheet width direction Y orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction X. Further, a pressing guide 614 that prevents the booklet S from being opened is formed above the side guide pair 612. The pressing guide 614 functions as a guide for smoothly delivering the booklet S to the downstream portion in the sheet conveying direction X. Further, conveyance claws 613 that move in parallel with the lower conveyance belt 611 are disposed on both sides of the lower conveyance belt 611. The conveyance claw 613 moves in the forward direction and the reverse direction at substantially the same speed as the lower conveyance belt 611. When a slip occurs between the lower conveying belt 611 and the booklet S, the conveying claw 613 comes into contact with the rear end of the booklet S and reliably pushes the rear end of the booklet S downstream in the sheet conveying direction X. . Note that the lower conveyance belt 611, the side guide pair 612, and the conveyance claws 613 operate by being driven by drive motors SM1, SM2, and SM3, respectively. The booklet reception entrance detection sensor 615 detects whether or not the booklet S received from the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 is on the lower conveyance belt 611. The booklet receiving exit detection sensor 616 can transmit an input signal for operating the side guide pair 612 and the conveyance claw 613 by detecting the booklet S.

  The transport unit 620 includes a lower transport belt 621 and an upper transport belt 622 that receive the booklet S from the booklet receiving unit 610 and transport the booklet S downstream in the sheet transport direction X. The upper conveyor belt 622 can be rotated by the thickness of the booklet S around the fulcrum 623 and is pressed against the lower conveyor belt 621 by a spring (not shown). The upper conveyor belt 622 and the lower conveyor belt 621 are driven by a drive motor SM4.

  The squaring processing device 600 positions the folding top portion T of the booklet S and presses the folding top portion T of the booklet S while positioning the folding top portion T of the booklet S and the holding unit 630 that holds the vicinity of the folding top portion T of the booklet S from above and below. It is comprised by the squaring unit 640 which is a means.

  The holding unit 630 as a holding unit includes a lower holding plate 631 that is a first holding member and an upper holding plate 633 that is a second holding member. The lower holding plate 631 has a lower holding surface 631a (see FIG. 8) which is a first holding surface for holding the booklet S from the lower side, and the upper holding plate 633 holds the booklet S from the upper side. The upper holding surface 633a (see FIG. 8) is a surface. The holding unit 630 holds the booklet S formed of a folded sheet with the lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a facing each other. The lower holding plate 631 is fixed, but the upper holding plate 633 is configured to be movable up and down.

  The upper part of the holding unit 630 is a rigid holding base 632 that is moved up and down via links 636, 637, and 638 by driving of the drive motor SM5, an upper holding plate 633 that is connected by a slide connecting member 634, and an outer periphery of the slide connecting member 634. A compression spring 635 disposed on the surface. When the holding base 632 is in the upper position, the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 are separated from each other, and the booklet S is conveyed therebetween. When the holding base 632 is in the lower position, the booklet S is securely held between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 by the compression spring 635 that expands and contracts according to the thickness of the booklet S. The lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a on which the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 hold the booklet S are smooth surfaces without protrusions.

  The front and back surfaces of the booklet S in the vicinity of the folding top portion T of the booklet S are gripped inside the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 by the contact surface on which such a smooth surface is formed. For this reason, when the squaring process is performed, it is possible to prevent the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 from being in contact with the front and back covers of the booklet S. Further, since the folded top portion T is surrounded by the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 and the first press contact piece 650 or the second press contact piece 651, an excessive press force is not applied, and the booklet S Squared with a width approximately equal to the thickness. As a result, a good-looking booklet S is created. The top dead center detection sensor 639 is a sensor that detects that the holding base 632 is in the upper position. The thickness detection sensor 681 is a sensor that detects the thickness of the booklet S by detecting the position of the upper holding plate 633 when the booklet S is fixed.

  The squaring unit 640 includes a first pressure contact piece 650 and a second pressure contact piece 651 that are a plurality of pressure contact members, a switching base 644 and a slide screw 645 that are switching means. Further, the squaring unit 640 includes timing belts 652a and 652b that are moving means, and a stopper piece 649 that is a positioning means (see 649a and 649b in FIG. 6). The first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651 are deformed by being pressed against the folding top portion T at the press contact positions (see FIG. 8) where the press contact surfaces 650p and 651p reach, respectively, and are coaxial with the support shaft 648a. Provided. The first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 are arranged between the holding member pair, that is, the lower holding plate 631 and the upper side with respect to the folded top portion T of the booklet S held by the lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a facing each other. It enters between the holding plates 633 (see FIG. 8) and comes into pressure contact therewith. In the press contact, the second press contact piece 651 and the first press contact piece 650 are rotating members that rotate by the rotation of the support shaft 648a.

  FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged side view showing the configuration of the stopper piece 649a, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651. FIG. FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged side view showing a configuration of a modified example of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651. As shown in FIG. 4A, there are a plurality of, that is, two, first pressure contact pieces 650 and second pressure contact pieces 651 as pressure contact means. The number of press contact means is not limited to two, and may be larger. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the squaring processing device 600, the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p, which are pressure contact surfaces, are configured as follows. That is, the central portion G in the thickness direction Q of the booklet S on the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p is from both end portions H in the thickness direction Q of the booklet S on the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p. Also, the booklet S is formed to be recessed in the press-contact direction P.

  That is, the surface of the thick second pressure contact piece 651 corresponding to the thick booklet S is continuous so that the outer diameter of the central portion G is smaller than the diameter D3 (see FIGS. 8E and 8F) of both end portions H. It is curved and has a concave shape. On the other hand, the surface of the thin first pressure contact piece 650 corresponding to the thin booklet S is continuous so that the outer diameter of the central portion G is smaller than the diameter D2 of the both end portions H (see FIGS. 8C and 8D). The curved surface is concave and formed. The stopper pieces 649a and 649b are formed in a cylindrical shape. Among these, the recess amount of the central portion G with respect to the diameter D2 of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the diameter D3 of the second pressure contact piece 651 is preferably about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm. This value enables the cornering process of the fold top portion T having a good appearance without deformation of the binding needle h described later. However, the change can be made according to various conditions of the copying apparatus 1000 and the booklet S, and is not limited.

  If comprised in this way, the binding needle h of the booklet S folded will become easy to receive the force of the normal line direction (direction perpendicular | vertical to a surface) of the 1st press-contact surface 650p and the 2nd press-contact surface 651p. The force in the tangential direction of the folding top portion T applied to the binding needle h is reduced. As a result, when the folding top portion T of the booklet S folded at the position of the binding needle h is pressed and subjected to a squaring process, the squaring process can be performed without deformation of the binding needle h. By applying the present invention, a booklet S that looks good as a product is obtained. By providing a plurality of the first press contact pieces 650 and the second press contact pieces 651, either the first press contact surface 650p or the second press contact surface 651p is selected according to the thickness of the sheet bundle, and the folded top portion T is deformed. Can be processed. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the configuration of the booklet S before the squaring processing device 600 performs the squaring process. The saddle stitch bookbinding section 800 aims to create a half-fold booklet S in which the binding position coincides with the center of the folding top T. However, due to the difference in the timing at which the sheet bundle enters the pair of folding rollers 810 of the saddle stitch bookbinding portion 800, the binding position (two places) of the binding needle h is the folding top portion T (broken line) as shown in FIG. ) May be created. This is because the load (static electricity, guide resistance, etc.) applied to the sheet bundle before being folded in two by the folding roller pair 810 is different vertically in the length direction of the sheet bundle. The amount of deviation of the binding position of the binding needle h increases as the booklet has a larger number of sheets and is thicker.

  FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second press contact piece 651 and its surroundings in a state where the second press contact piece 651 presses the folding top portion T of the booklet S. The binding needle h is shifted upward with respect to the folding top portion T. The second pressure contact piece 651 moves along the folding top portion T while pressing the folding top portion T, but pressure is similarly applied to the binding needle h protruding from the folding top portion T in the middle. As described above, since the second pressure contact piece 651 has the concave second pressure contact surface 651p with the central portion G of the surface retracted, the pressed binding needle h follows the curvature of the fold top portion T. A force J toward the center of the booklet S is applied so as to prevent the movement. Therefore, the squaring process of the folded top portion T is executed without deforming the binding needle h. The folded top portion T crushed by the concave second pressure contact piece 651 is rounded as much, but the amount is small and the quality of the booklet S is not deteriorated.

  Even in the booklet S where the binding needle h is positioned below the folding top portion T, the second pressure contact piece 651 has a concave shape symmetrical in the thickness direction of the booklet S, so that the binding needle h is deformed. The crease T is not rounded.

  Here, returning to FIG. The first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651 are press contact members that are formed in a columnar shape and rotate around a support shaft 648 a parallel to the thickness direction Q of the booklet S. The first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p are formed in a U shape in a sectional view. Note that the surface of the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p may not be limited to a configuration formed in a concave shape with a gentle continuous curve. As shown in FIG. 4B, for example, the first press contact surface 750p of the first press contact piece 750 and the second press contact surface 751p of the second press contact piece 751 are not limited to a U shape, It may be formed in a V shape. That is, the surfaces of the first pressure contact surface 750p and the second pressure contact surface 751p may be formed in a V shape in which straight lines intersect. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.

  The plurality, that is, the two second pressure contact pieces 651 and the first pressure contact pieces 650 have different thicknesses and outer diameters. Accordingly, the thicknesses of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 are different, and the pressure contact position of the first pressure contact surface 650p of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 from the folded top portion T of the booklet S before deformation. The deformation regions in the pressure contact direction up to the pressure contact position of the second pressure contact surface 651p are different. As will be described in detail later, the deformation region in the pressure contact direction of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 is larger as the thickness of the booklet S to be held is larger. The thickness and outer diameter of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b are also different from those of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651.

  The switching base 644 and the slide screw 645 (see FIG. 3) as switching means are configured to be able to selectively switch between the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 and the stopper pieces 649a and 649b. Timing belts 652a and 652b, which are moving means, move the selected first pressure contact piece 650 and second pressure contact piece 651 along the folding top T. The squaring unit 640 is configured to select one of the first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651 based on the thickness of the booklet S and move it while making press contact along the folding top portion T. .

  Stopper pieces 649a and 649b (see FIGS. 8A and 8B) serving as positioning means position the folded top portion T of the booklet S to be conveyed at a predetermined position (receiving position 649p) in the sheet conveying direction X. The selected first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651 are in contact with the booklet S in which the folding top portion T is positioned at the receiving position 649p by the stopper pieces 649a and 649b. Although details will be described later, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b function as receiving members that receive the folded top portion T of the conveyed booklet S at the receiving position 649p.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the main members of the squaring unit 640 as seen from the direction along the line QQ in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the squaring unit 640 includes two moving units, a moving unit 656a and a moving unit 656b. These moving units 656a and 656b can move along slide shafts 642 and 643 shown in FIG. 3 supported by a frame (not shown). As shown in FIG. Is supported so as to be movable. For the movement in the direction of the arrow A, the moving units 656a and 656b are attached to the timing belt 652a by a connecting member 653a. The timing belt 652a is driven by a drive motor SM6 via pulleys 654a and 655a.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the main members of the squaring unit 640 as seen from the direction along the line RR in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, as described above, the squaring unit 640 includes two moving units such as a moving unit 656a and a moving unit 656b. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the squaring unit 640 includes slide shafts 642 and 643 that are supported by a frame (not shown) and extend in the horizontal direction. The moving unit 656a and the moving unit 656b are supported to be movable in the direction of arrow A.

  The moving unit 656a includes a moving base 641a, and the moving unit 656b includes a moving base 641b. Slide shafts 646 and 647 are fixed to the moving base 641a so as to extend in the vertical direction. A switching unit 657 is slidably supported along the slide shafts 646 and 647. The switching unit 657 moves in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow B along the slide screw 645 by driving a slide screw 645 arranged in parallel with the slide shafts 646 and 647 and a drive motor SM8 that rotates the slide screw 645. It is configured to be possible.

  The switching unit 657 includes a switching base 644. A support shaft 648a is rotatably attached to the switching base 644. As described above, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b which are positioning means, the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 which are pressure contact members are fixed to the support shaft 648a.

  The stopper piece 649a is a member that positions the booklet S at a position where the booklet S is deformed (squared) by colliding with the above-described stopper piece 649b and the folded top portion T of the booklet S being conveyed abuts. . The first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 are members that deform (square) the booklet S by pressing the folded top portion T of the booklet S. The switching unit 657 is changed according to the thickness of the booklet S by the arrow B in FIG. Switch by moving in the direction of. The switching unit 657 has a reference position detection sensor 659, which is a reference position when moving in the direction of arrow B.

  The moving unit 656b is attached to the timing belt 652b by a connecting member 653b, and is driven by a drive motor SM7 via pulleys 654b and 655b. The moving unit 656b has a moving base 641b. A support shaft 648b is rotatably attached to the moving base 641b. A stopper piece 649b is fixed to the support shaft 648b. The stopper piece 649b is a member that cooperates with the stopper piece 649a and is positioned at a position where the cornering process is performed when the folded top portion T of the booklet S being conveyed abuts. The moving unit 656a and the moving unit 656b have reference position detection sensors 658a and 658b, respectively, which serve as reference positions when moving in the arrow A direction.

  The stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651 are movable in the sheet width direction Y parallel to the folding top portion T of the booklet S because of the configuration described above. The sheet cannot be moved in the sheet conveyance direction X perpendicular to the folding top T of S (see FIG. 8). The stopper piece 649a can be moved up and down, but the stopper piece 649b is configured not to move up and down.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a contact state in which the folded top portion T of the booklet S contacts the stopper pieces 649a and 649b and a pressure contact state in which the booklet S is in pressure contact with the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651. The stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651 shown in FIG. 8 are all formed in a disk shape. The thicknesses and outer diameters of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651 will be described in detail below. In FIG. 8, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651 are not expressed by forming recesses, but this is for convenience in order to make the dimensions of each member easier to see. It is only expressed as such. Therefore, in reality, it is assumed that a concave portion is formed on each of the pressure contact surfaces of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651.

  As described above, the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633, which are holding members, have a lower holding surface 631a and an upper holding surface 633a, respectively. When viewed from the direction orthogonal to the lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a (the directions of the support shafts 648a and 648b), the lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a include the entire region of the folded top portion T of the booklet S. Hold S. This will also be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b have a diameter D1. The booklet S enters between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633. The booklet S is positioned between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 at a position that does not protrude from the downstream side of the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 in the sheet conveying direction X. . The height between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 is set to H1 in advance, and is set higher than the thickness of the booklet S being conveyed. This is for preventing the folded top portion T of the booklet S from getting over the stopper piece 649a and the stopper piece 649b even when the booklet S is thick.

  As the booklet S created by the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 in the present embodiment, a booklet in which 25 sheets are folded in half from a booklet in which one sheet is folded in two is assumed. Among them, the booklet S in which 1 to 10 sheets are folded in half is not subjected to the squaring process, and the booklet S in which 11 to 25 sheets are folded in half is subjected to the squaring process.

  This is because a booklet obtained by folding one to ten sheets in half is thin and the bending portion of the folding top portion T is small, so that it is difficult to secure a deformation area (pressure contact amount) to be squared as deformation processing. Because the folding is sufficient, the ease of opening the booklet does not change even when the squaring process is performed. A booklet in which 11 to 25 sheets are folded in half is squared. And since the booklet which folded the sheet | seat from 11 sheets into 25 sheets is thick in addition to being thick, the thickness of a booklet is divided into two steps. When the thickness of the booklet S is from T2 to T3 as shown in FIG. 8C, FIG. 8D, FIG. 8E, and FIG. 8F, the first pressure contact piece 650 having the thickness H2 is formed. When the thickness of the booklet S is from T4 to T5, the sheet processing is performed by switching to the second pressure contact piece 651 having the thickness H3.

  The diameter D1 of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the diameter D2 of the first pressure contact piece 650, and the diameter D3 of the second pressure contact piece 651 are in a relationship of D1 <D2 <D3. In the case of the first pressure contact piece 650 used for squaring the relatively thin booklet S, the deformation region (pressure contact amount) P2 = (D2−D1) / corresponding to the size of the bending portion of the folded top portion T. 2. This P2 can also be said to be the amount of entry with respect to the folding top portion T of the first pressure contact surface 650p. In the case of the second pressure contact piece 651 used for squaring the thick booklet S, the deformation region (pressure contact amount) P3 = (D3-D1) / 2 corresponding to the size of the curved portion of the folded top portion T. . This P3 can also be said to be the amount of entry with respect to the folded top portion T of the second pressure contact piece 651. The deformation area (pressure contact amount) of the thick booklet S is set to be larger than that of the thin booklet S (P2 <P3).

  In the present embodiment, the upper and lower holding surfaces 631a and 633a of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 in the deformation regions P2 and P3 do not come into contact with the folding top portion T of the booklet S before the folding top portion T of the booklet S is pressed. When the folding top portion T of the booklet S is pressed by the pressure contact pieces 650 and 651, the folding top portion T of the booklet S that is not in contact with the upper and lower holding surfaces 631a and 633a of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 starts to be deformed. However, the upper and lower holding surfaces 631a and 633a of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 restrict deformation between the holding surfaces, that is, the thickness exceeding the thickness of the booklet held by the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633. At this time, the upper and lower holding surfaces 631a and 633a of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 in the deformation regions P2 and P3 function as a pressing surface that suppresses deformation of the folded top portion T in the thickness direction of the booklet S. In this way, the deformation process is performed within the holding surface interval, so that the deformation in the thickness direction of the fold top portion T is limited, and the loadability is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the pressing surfaces of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 are set as smooth surfaces that are continuous with the holding surfaces of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633 that are parallel to each other. It is only necessary to suppress the deformation, and it is not always necessary to be parallel. Further, the pressing surface does not need to be continuous with the holding surfaces of the upper and lower holding plates 631 and 633, and may be provided as a separate member.

  In the present embodiment, the deformation region (pressure contact amount) to be squared as the deformation processing is not the positioning position by the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, but the size of the diameter of the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651. It is set. As described above, since the thin booklet S and the thick booklet S are positioned by the same stopper pieces 649a and 649b, they can be positioned at the same position regardless of the thickness of the booklet S. In the present embodiment, the press contact piece used for the squaring process in which the booklet S is thin has a low height and a small diameter. If the booklet S is thick, the press contact piece used in the squaring process is thin. The height is high and the diameter is large. This is because the positioning position is the same regardless of the thickness of the booklet S, and the pressure contact amount of the thick booklet S is always larger than that of the thin booklet S. This is for avoiding insufficient deformation of the thick booklet S and stabilizing the shape of the booklet S subjected to the squaring process.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness of the booklet S is divided into two, and the case where two types of first pressure contact pieces 650 and second pressure contact pieces 651 having different thicknesses and outer diameters are used is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, three types, four types, or more types of pressure contact pieces having different thicknesses and outer diameters may be used.

  Further, even for a booklet S having the same thickness, the stiffness (ease of deformation) of the booklet S may differ depending on the media used. In such a case, the shape of the pressure contact piece is not limited to a disk shape. That is, the shape of the pressure contact surface may be changed, for example, the center of the pressure contact surface that presses the folded top portion of the pressure contact piece is convex. Alternatively, a plurality of press contact pieces having different press contact surface shapes may be prepared, and the plurality of press contact pieces may be switched depending on the medium being used.

  9, 10, and 11 are process diagrams showing the operation of the squaring unit 640. As described above with reference to FIG. 6, when the moving units 656 a and 656 b slide, the stopper pieces 649 a and 649 b, the first pressure contact piece 650, and the second pressure contact piece 651 become the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate of the holding unit 630. It is possible to move between 633 in the direction of arrow A. When the moving unit 656a is disposed at a position away from between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633, the switching unit 657 shown in FIG. 7 slides along the slide screw 645. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 to be disposed between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 are switched. Arranging at the position where the moving unit 656a is removed means that the moving unit 656a is disposed beside the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 (see FIG. 9A).

  As shown in FIG. 9A, when the booklet S is positioned by the holding unit 630, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b are located between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 in the center in the sheet width direction Y. Is arranged inside the width dimension of the booklet S. Thereby, the folding top part T of the booklet S is abutted against the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, and the booklet S is positioned. The fact that the booklet S has been conveyed to the stopper pieces 649a and 649b is detected by the positioning detection sensor 626. Further, the thickness of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b is set to be thicker than the thickness of the booklet S so that the folded top portion T of the thick booklet S can be abutted and positioned (FIGS. 8A and 8B). )reference). When the stopper pieces 649a and 649b are located between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633, the upper holding plate 633 cannot hold the booklet S. For this reason, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b have only a function of positioning the booklet S, and do not have a function of press-contacting the booklet S (see FIGS. 8A and 8B).

  As shown in FIG. 9B, after the booklet S is positioned, the stopper pieces 649 a and 649 b are arranged beside the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633. The folded top portion T of the booklet S and the vicinity thereof are pressed and held between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 of the holding unit 630. At this time, the folding top T of the booklet S does not protrude from the downstream end surfaces of the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 in the sheet conveying direction X. At this time, the booklet S is sandwiched between the lower conveyance belt 621 and the upper conveyance belt 622 of the conveyance unit 620, and thus does not shift.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the switching unit 657 (see FIG. 7) is driven based on the thickness of the booklet S detected by the thickness detection sensor 681 (see FIG. 3), and the stopper piece 649a is The first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 are switched. FIG. 10A shows a state where the second pressure contact piece 651 has been switched.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the moving unit 656a is moved from one corner of the booklet S toward the other corner. As a result, the second pressure contact piece 651 is pressed against the folded top portion T of the booklet S, and the back portion of the booklet S is subjected to a squaring process. As shown in FIG. 11A, when the moving unit 656a is moved beyond the other corner of the booklet S and reaches the vicinity of the moving unit 656b, the moving unit 656a is stopped. As shown in FIG. 11B, the booklet S subjected to the squaring process is conveyed downstream in the sheet conveying direction X.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the squaring unit 640 includes a transport unit 660. The conveyance unit 660 includes a lower conveyance belt 661 and an upper conveyance belt 662. The booklet S is squaring processed to become a booklet K. In the booklet K, the holding unit 630 is released from being pressed and conveyed to the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction X by the lower conveyance belt 661 and the upper conveyance belt 662. The upper conveyor belt 662 can be rotated about the fulcrum 663 by the thickness of the booklet K, and is pressed against the lower conveyor belt 661 by a spring (not shown). The lower conveyance belt 661 and the upper conveyance belt 662 are drivingly connected to the conveyance unit 620 and are driven by a drive motor SM4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the squaring processing apparatus 600 includes a conveyor belt 671 on which the booklet K discharged from the transport unit 660 is stacked. The conveyor belt 671 repeats a predetermined amount of movement each time the booklet K is ejected based on the driving force of the drive motor SM10 and conveys the booklet K in the sheet conveying direction X, and the booklet downstream in the sheet conveying direction X. Load K. Note that the discharge of the booklet K from the transport unit 660 is detected by the discharge detection sensor 664.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the copying apparatus 1000. As shown in FIG. 12, the CPU circuit unit 150 in the copying apparatus 1000 has a CPU (not shown), and controls each control unit according to the control program stored in the ROM 151 and the setting of the operation unit 1. That is, the CPU circuit unit 150 controls the document feeding control unit 101, the image reader control unit 201, the image signal control unit 202, the printer control unit 301, the finisher control unit 501, and the external I / F 203. The document feeding control unit 101 controls the document sheet feeding unit 100, the image reader control unit 201 controls the image reader unit 200, and the printer control unit 301 controls the printer unit 300. Further, the finisher control unit 501 controls the finisher 500 and the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800, and the squaring processing control unit 601 controls the squaring processing device 600 based on a command from the finisher control unit 501.

  The operation unit 1 includes a plurality of keys for setting various functions relating to image formation, a display unit for displaying a setting state, and the like. The operation unit 1 outputs a key signal corresponding to each key operation by the user to the CPU circuit unit 150 and displays corresponding information on the display unit based on the signal from the CPU circuit unit 150.

  The RAM 152 is used as an area for temporarily storing control data and a work area for operations associated with control. An external I / F 203 is an interface between the copying apparatus 1000 and an external computer 204, develops print data from the computer 204 into a bitmap image, and outputs it to the image signal control unit 202 as image data. Further, the image of the original sheet read by an image sensor (not shown) is output from the image reader control unit 201 to the image signal control unit 202. The printer control unit 301 outputs the image data from the image signal control unit 202 to an exposure control unit (not shown).

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the squaring process control unit 601. As shown in FIG. 13, the squaring process control unit 601 controls each drive motor. That is, the squaring processing control unit 601 controls driving of the drive motor SM1 for the conveyance belt, the drive motor SM2 for the side guide pair 612, and the drive motor SM3 for the conveyance claw 613 of the booklet receiving unit 610. The squaring processing control unit 601 controls driving of the transport unit 620, the drive motor SM4 of the transport unit 660, and the drive motor SM5 for the holding unit. Further, the squaring process control unit 601 controls the driving of the squaring process drive motor SM6, the squaring process drive motor SM7, the pressure contact piece switching drive motor SM8, and the conveyor belt 671 drive motor SM10. .

  Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of each part of the squaring processing device 600 will be described together with the flow of the booklet S regarding the squaring processing in the squaring processing device 600. First, when the saddle stitching mode is selected, the operation unit 1 can select whether or not to set the squaring process mode. When the squaring process mode is not selected, the saddle stitch booklet S created by the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 is discharged to the conveyor belt 671 by the lower conveyance belt 611, the conveyance claw 613, the conveyance unit 620, and the conveyance unit 660. (See FIG. 3). At this time, the side guide pair 612, the upper holding plate 633, and the moving units 656a and 656b are retracted to a position that does not block the sheet conveyance path. When the squaring processing mode is selected, the squaring processing device 600 operates as described below.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a control process of the squaring process control unit 601 when the squaring process mode is selected. As shown in FIG. 14, the squaring process mode is selected (step S1, hereinafter, “step” is simply referred to as “S”, for example, S1). The squaring processing control unit 601 causes the squaring processing device 600 to perform an initial operation (S2). In this initial operation, the side guide pair 612 is moved to the reference position, and the transport claws 613 are moved to the reference position. Further, the holding base 632 is moved to the upper position, and the top dead center detection sensor 639 is turned on. In addition, the moving units 656a and 656b are moved to the reference position, and the reference position detection sensors 658a and 658b are turned on. In addition, the switching unit 657 is moved to the reference position, and the reference position detection sensor 659 (see FIG. 7) is turned on.

  In the squaring processing control unit 601, before the booklet S is created by the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 and discharged to the receiving unit 610 of the squaring processing device 600 by the second folding conveying roller pair 812a and 812b, The number of sheets, the sheet size, and the number of booklets to be created are notified (S3). The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether the notified number of sheets is 11 or more (S4). When the number of sheets in the booklet S is 10 or less (NO), the squaring process control unit 601 selects the mode without squatting process (S5), and the number of sheets in the booklet S is 11 or more. In the case (YES), the squaring processing mode is selected (S6).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a control process of the squaring process control unit 601 when the squaring process-free mode is selected. As shown in FIG. 15, the squaring process control unit 601 moves the side guide pairs 612 disposed on both sides of the conveyance path of the receiving unit 610 to the standby position according to the booklet size (S21). When receiving the notification that the booklet S is discharged from the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 (S22), the squaring process control unit 601 drives the drive motor SM1 to rotate the lower conveyance belt 611 (S23). The booklet S is conveyed.

  The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the entrance detection sensor 615 is turned on (S24). In the case of YES, the squaring processing control unit 601 determines whether or not the exit detection sensor 616 is turned on (S25). In the case of YES, the conveyance of the booklet S is temporarily stopped after receiving the sheet bundle detection result (S26). In addition, regarding the processes of S24 and S25, in the case of NO, the squaring process control unit 601 follows the same control process (S24, S25) again. After S26, the squaring process control unit 601 aligns the layout of the booklet S by the side guide pair 612 based on the driving force of the driving motor SM2 (S27).

  The squaring process control unit 601 turns on the drive motor SM4 to drive the transport unit 620 and the transport unit 660 (S28). The squaring processing control unit 601 drives the conveyance claw 613 and the lower conveyance belt 611 disposed upstream of the receiving unit 610, drives the conveyance claw 613 by driving the drive motor SM3, and resumes the conveyance operation of the booklet S. (S29).

  The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the exit detection sensor 616 is OFF (S30). In the case of YES, it means that the discharge of the booklet S has been detected, and the squaring process control unit 601 retracts the conveying claw 613 upstream in the sheet conveying direction (S31). In the case of NO, the squaring process control unit 601 follows the same control process (S30) again.

  In the squaring processing control unit 601, the booklet K conveyed by the conveyance unit 620 and the conveyance unit 660 is discharged to the conveyor belt 671, and the booklets K are sequentially stacked in a stacking shape. The discharge detection sensor 664 detects whether the booklet K has been discharged (S32). In the case of YES, the squaring process control unit 601 turns off the drive motor SM4 and stops driving the transport unit 620 and the transport unit 660 (S33). In the case of NO, the squaring process control unit 601 follows the same control process (S32) again.

  The squaring processing control unit 601 determines whether or not the discharged booklet K is the final booklet K after stopping the driving of the transporting unit 620 and the transporting unit 660 (S33). If YES, the squaring process control unit 601 completes the job (S35), and if NO, the control process is followed again from S21.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the squaring process control unit 601 when the squaring process presence mode is selected. As shown in FIG. 16, the squaring process control unit 601 moves the side guide pairs 612 disposed on both sides of the conveyance path of the receiving unit 610 to the standby position according to the booklet size (S51). The squaring process control unit 601 switches to the stopper piece 649a by the switching unit 657, and the moving units 656a and 656b move to the positioning position (S51). The positioning position varies depending on the size of the booklet S. When the folding top T of the booklet S hits the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b do not rotate, and the folding top T of the booklet S is maintained parallel to the moving direction of the moving units 656a and 656b. Is set to

  When notified that the booklet S from the saddle stitch bookbinding unit 800 has been discharged (S52), the squaring processing control unit 601 rotates the lower conveyance belt 611 based on the drive of the drive motor SM1 (S53). The squaring process control unit 601 conveys the booklet S and determines whether or not the entrance detection sensor 615 is turned on (S54). If YES, the squaring processing control unit 601 transports the booklet S and determines whether or not the exit detection sensor 616 is ON (S55). If NO, the same control is performed again. The process (S54) is followed.

  As a result of determining whether or not the exit detection sensor 616 is turned on (S55), the squaring processing control unit 601 stops driving the drive motor SM1 and, if YES, conveys the lower part of the receiving unit 610. The rotation of the belt 611 is temporarily stopped (S56). In the case of NO, the same control process (S55) is followed again. After the lower conveyor belt 611 is stopped, the squaring processing control unit 601 performs the alignment operation of the booklet S by the side guide pair 612 based on the drive of the drive motor SM2 (S57).

  The squaring process control unit 601 drives the drive motor SM4 by turning on the drive motor SM4 to drive the transport unit 620 and the transport unit 660 (S58). The squaring process control unit 601 turns on the drive motor SM1 to drive it, and rotates the lower conveyance belt 611 of the receiving unit 610 (S59). Further, the squaring processing control unit 601 drives the drive motor SM3 to be turned on, and resumes the conveyance of the booklet S by the conveyance claw 613 and the lower conveyance belt 611 disposed upstream of the reception unit 610. (S59).

  The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the exit detection sensor 616 has been turned off (S60). The squaring processing control unit 601 detects that the booklet S has been ejected in the case of YES, and retracts the conveying claw 613 upstream in the sheet conveying direction X (S61). The same control process is followed (S60).

  The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the positioning detection sensor 626 is turned on (S62) as a result of retracting the conveyance claw 613 upstream in the sheet conveyance direction X (S62). If the squaring process control unit 601 is YES, the positioning detection sensor 626 has detected the booklet S conveyed by the conveyance unit 620, and the drive motor SM4 is turned off to turn off the conveyance unit 620 and The driving of the transport unit 660 is stopped (S63). The following flow will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the squaring processing device 600 showing a state in which the stopper pieces 649a and 649b receive the folded top portion T of the booklet S. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the squaring processing device 600 showing a state in which the first press contact piece 650 presses the folded top portion T of the booklet S. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the squaring processing device 600 showing a state in which the second press contact piece 651 presses the folded top portion T of the booklet S. As shown in FIG. 17, the folding top T of the booklet S abuts against the stopper pieces 649 a and 649 b, and the folding top T of the booklet S is from the downstream end of the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 in the sheet conveying direction X. The booklet S is positioned at a position where it does not protrude. The squaring processing control unit 601 is configured such that the moving unit 656a and the moving unit are located at a position (aside from the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633) that is separated from between the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633, that is, at a standby position. 656b is moved (S64). The squaring processing control unit 601 moves the holding base 632 to the lower position by driving the drive motor SM5 (S65), and presses and holds the folded top portion T of the booklet S by the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633. The squaring process control unit 601 detects the position of the upper holding plate 633 in a state where the booklet S is pressed and held by the thickness detection sensor 681 (S66), and thereby the thickness of the booklet S is measured.

  Next, when the thickness of the booklet S is in the range from T2 to T3, the squaring processing control unit 601 switches to the first pressure contact piece 650 (S67), and the thickness of the booklet S is set to the above-described T4. To T5, the second pressure contact piece 651 is switched (S68). Then, the squaring process control unit 601 moves the moving unit 656a (S69), and controls the driving of the first press contact piece 650 or the second press contact piece 651 so as to perform the squaring process on the folded top portion T of the booklet S. This process is shown in FIGS. 18 (a) and 19 (a). FIG. 18A shows a state where the first press contact piece 650 is squaring, and FIG. 19A shows a state where the second press contact piece 651 is squaring.

  As described above, the folding top portion T of the booklet S is surrounded by the first holding plate 650 or 651 in addition to being surrounded by the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633, so that an excessive pressing force is applied to the folding top portion T. A smooth surface having a width substantially equal to the thickness of the booklet S is formed without being added. Therefore, the back of the booklet S is not inadvertently deformed. Further, the stoppers 649a and 649b are positioned at the same position regardless of the thickness of the booklet S, and the press contact amount of the thick booklet S is always larger than the thin booklet S depending on the height and diameter of the press contact piece. Set. Then, by avoiding excessive deformation of the thin booklet S and insufficient deformation of the thick booklet S, the booklet S having a good appearance can be created stably.

  When the movement of the moving unit 656a is completed, the squaring process control unit 601 moves the holding base 632 to the upper position (S70), and separates the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633. Then, the squaring processing control unit 601 drives the transport unit 620 and the transport unit 660 based on the drive of the drive motor SM4 (S71), and the booklet K transported by the transport unit 660 moves to the conveyor belt 671 that is a conveyor tray. And discharged. This process is shown in FIGS. 18B and 19B. The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the discharge detection sensor 664 has detected whether or not the discharge of the booklet K has been completed (S72). If YES, the squaring process control unit 601 stops driving the transport unit 620 and the transport unit 660 by driving the drive motor SM4 (S73). The booklets K discharged to the conveyor belt 671 are sequentially stacked in a tiled shape. The squaring process control unit 601 determines whether or not the discharged booklet K is the final booklet K (S74). If YES, the job is terminated (S75). If NO, S51 is performed again. Return to the control process.

  According to the configuration of the first embodiment, the binding needle h of the folded booklet S is likely to receive a normal force of the first press contact surface 650p and the second press contact surface 651p. The force in the tangential direction of the folding top portion T applied to the binding needle h is reduced. As a result, when the folding top portion T of the booklet S that has been folded and bound with the binding needle h is pressed and subjected to a squaring process, the squaring process can be performed without deformation of the binding needle h. For this reason, a booklet S having a good appearance is obtained. By providing a plurality of the first press contact pieces 650 and the second press contact pieces 651, the folding top portion T can be deformed by the first press contact surface 650p and the second press contact surface 651p according to the thickness of the sheet bundle.

  For the squaring process, the booklet S is positioned at the same position regardless of the thickness of the booklet S, and the first booklet 650 having a small thickness and a small diameter is used for the thin booklet S. Uses the second pressure contact piece 651 having a large thickness and a large diameter. Thus, by changing the pressure contact amount in accordance with the thickness of the booklet S, the thin booklet S can be set to have a small pressure contact amount, and the thick booklet S can be set to have a large pressure contact amount. As a result, excessive deformation of the folded top portion T of the thin booklet S and insufficient deformation of the folded top portion T of the thick booklet S can be avoided, and the shape of the booklet S subjected to the squaring process can be stabilized. Further, by making the positioning position of the booklet S constant, there is no need to drive the stopper pieces 649a and 649b in the sheet conveyance direction X, and the copying apparatus 1000 and the squaring processing apparatus 600 can be simplified and simplified. Is done.

  Moreover, the phenomenon that the folding top part T swells is suppressed. That is, the first press contact piece 650 or the second press contact piece 651 enters between the lower holding surface 631a and the upper holding surface 633a and presses the folded top portion T of the booklet K. Therefore, the phenomenon that the folded top portion T of the press-contacted booklet K spreads outside the booklet K and the width of the angled surface becomes larger than the thickness of the booklet K is suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
As described above, in the first embodiment, the case where the squaring process is performed by switching the pressure contact pieces having different heights and diameters according to the thickness of the booklet S has been described. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the first press contact piece 850 and the second press contact piece 851 that are the press contact pieces having the same diameter are used although the height differs depending on the thickness of the booklet S. Note that in the second embodiment, identical symbols are assigned to configurations identical to those in the first embodiment and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a main part showing the relationship between the stopper piece 649, the first pressure contact piece 850, the second pressure contact piece 851 and the folding top portion in the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 20, the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 850, and the second pressure contact piece 851 are not represented by recesses, but this is for convenience in order to make the dimensions of each member easier to see. It is only expressed as such. Therefore, in reality, it is assumed that concave portions are formed on the pressure contact surfaces of the stopper pieces 649a and 649b, the first pressure contact piece 850, and the second pressure contact piece 851.

  As shown in FIG. 20, in the present embodiment, the holding unit 630 having the lower holding plate 631 and the upper holding plate 633 can change the distance with respect to the first press contact piece 850 and the second press contact piece 851. In addition, it can be slid by a driving source (not shown) in the direction of arrow C in the figure. The first pressure contact piece 850 and the second pressure contact piece 851 are different in height between H2 and H3, but have the same diameter at D4. Here, when the thickness of the booklet S is T2 to T3, the first pressure contact piece 850 holds the deformation region (pressure contact amount) P4, and when the thickness of the booklet S is T4 to T5, the second pressure contact piece 851 holds it. As the unit 630 slides in the pressure contact direction, the deformation region (pressure contact amount) is subjected to a squaring process at P5.

  Here, an example in which the thickness of the booklet S is divided into two ranges and two types of pressure contact pieces having different heights are used is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. As in the first embodiment, the number of types of pressure contact pieces to be used may be increased by further dividing the booklet thickness into three and four cases. Conversely, one pressure contact piece may be used, and the deformation area (pressure contact amount) may be changed according to the thickness of the booklet.

  Further, although the distance between the pressure contact piece and the holding unit 630 is changed by the holding unit 630 sliding in the pressure contact direction, it may be changed by the squaring unit 640 sliding in the pressure contact direction with respect to the holding unit 630. . That is, at least one of the squaring unit 640 and the holding unit 630 may slide in the pressure contact direction.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the booklet S created by the saddle stitching bookbinding unit 800 has been described as a booklet S folded in half from 1 to 25 sheets. The maximum number of sheets that can be processed varies depending on the capacity. Further, although the booklet S to be squared has been described as a booklet in which 11 or more sheets are folded in half, the number of sheets to be squared may be changed depending on the basis weight or thickness of the media. The invention is not limited in any way. In addition, it was divided into two cases depending on the thickness of the booklet to be squared, and it was explained that the two types of crimping pieces with different heights and diameters were used for the cornering treatment. The types of pressure contact pieces to be used may be increased, and the present invention is not limited in any way. In the present embodiment, the thickness of the booklet S is detected by a sensor, and the cases are classified. However, the case classification is determined based on conditions that can determine the thickness of the booklet S, such as the basis weight, thickness, and number of sheets of media. You may go.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 21 is a side view showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the pressure contact piece. Note that in the third embodiment, identical symbols are assigned to configurations identical to those in the first and second embodiments and descriptions thereof are omitted. Although not exemplified in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, the plurality of first press contact pieces 650 and second press contact pieces 651 are formed on the press contact surface according to the thickness. The depth of the recess in the press-contact direction P of the booklet S may be different. Here, in addition to the first press contact piece 650 and the second press contact piece 651, a third press contact piece 902 and a fourth press contact piece 901 are newly provided. The first press contact surface 650p of the first press contact piece 650, the second press contact surface 651p of the second press contact piece 651, and the third press contact surface 902p of the third press contact piece 902 have the same recess depth in the press contact direction P of the booklet S. Is formed. However, only the fourth pressure contact surface 902p of the fourth pressure contact piece 902 is different from the depth of the recess in the pressure contact direction P of the booklet S (for example, the depth is shallow).

  In addition, although not exemplified in the first embodiment and the second embodiment as other embodiments, the plurality of press contact members are a press contact member having a concave press contact surface and a press contact having a planar press contact surface. The structure in which a member is mixed may be sufficient. As described above, the thicker the booklet S to be squared, the greater the amount of deformation of the binding needle. However, when the thin booklet S is squared, a pressure contact member having a concave pressure contact surface is used. Since there is no need, at least one press contact member having a concave press contact surface may be provided. That is, the first pressure contact piece 650 and the second pressure contact piece 651 are used for the squaring process of the thick booklet S, and the first pressure contact surface 650p and the second pressure contact surface 651p are the central part in the thickness direction Q of the booklet S. G is formed to be recessed in the press-contact direction P of the booklet S from both end portions H in the thickness direction Q of the booklet S on the press-contact surface. On the other hand, another press contact member may be formed with a flat planar press contact surface along the thickness direction Q of the booklet S of the press contact surface for squaring processing of the thin booklet S.

  The concave shape of the press contact surface is effective for preventing deformation of the binding needle during the squaring process, but is not necessary for the squaring process of the booklet S that is not stapled, so the press contact member having the concave press contact surface. It is sufficient that at least one is provided. However, the shape of the folding top portion T of the booklet S as a product needs to be aligned regardless of the presence or absence of staple binding, and which one to use may be selected according to the user's preference.

631 Lower holding plate (holding means)
633 Upper holding plate (holding means)
631a Lower holding surface (holding surface)
633a Upper holding surface (holding surface)
644 switching base (switching means)
645 Slide screw (switching means)
650 First pressure contact piece (pressure contact member)
650p first pressure contact surface 651 second pressure contact piece (pressure contact member)
651p Second pressure contact surface 652a Timing belt (moving means)
652b Timing belt (moving means)

Claims (10)

Holding means for holding a booklet formed of a folded sheet with a pair of opposing holding members;
Pressure contact means having a pressure contact member that press-contacts the folded top portion of the booklet held by the holding means and deforms the folded top portion;
Moving means for moving the pressure contact member along the folding top,
The press contact member is characterized in that a central portion in the thickness direction of the booklet of the press contact surface that presses the folded top portion is recessed in the press contact direction of the booklet from both ends of the press contact surface in the thickness direction of the booklet. Sheet processing device.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing unit includes a plurality of pressing members.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of pressure contact members have different heights of the pressure contact surfaces in the thickness direction of the booklet.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of press contact members are formed in a columnar shape and rotate around a support shaft parallel to a thickness direction of the booklet.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of press contact members have a larger diameter as a height of the press contact surface is higher.   The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of press contact members have the same diameter.   As the height of the pressure contact surface increases, at least one of the pressure contact means and the holding means moves in the pressure contact direction so that the position of the pressure contact surface when pressing the folded top portion is closer to the holding means in the pressure contact direction. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a sheet processing apparatus.   At least one of the plurality of press contact members has a press contact surface in which a central portion of the press contact surface in the thickness direction of the booklet is recessed in the press contact direction of the booklet from both ends of the press contact surface in the thickness direction of the booklet. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is a pressure contact member.   9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the depths of the depressions in the press-contact direction formed on the press-contact surfaces of the plurality of press-contact members are different from each other. An image forming unit for forming an image;
A sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An image forming system comprising:

Images