JP2024080880A - Recording medium processing device and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device for suppressing deterioration in quality of folding processing caused by starting conveyance of a bundle of recording media while it is being folded, as compared with a case where no configuration is provided for regulating the conveyance of the bundle of recording media undergoing folding processing.SOLUTION: Conveyance rolls 449 receive driving force from a drive unit 500 equipped with a motor, and conveyance rolls 449 rotate. The first conveyance roll 449A receives the driving force from the drive unit 500 and rotates. The second conveyance roll 449B then receives the driving force from the first conveyance roll 449A and rotates. The conveyance rolls 449 convey a bundle of paper while pressing it down. On the other hand, pressure rolls 448 are rotating members that receive force from the bundle of paper and do not exert force on the bundle of paper to move it downstream in the direction of bundle conveyance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a recording medium processing device and an image forming system.

Patent Document 1 discloses a sheet folding device that includes a roll driving means for rotating first and second folding rolls, a blade driving means for moving a folding blade from a standby position toward a nip position of the folding rolls, and a drive control means for controlling the roll driving means and the blade driving means.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-233693 discloses a configuration in which a tip of a push-out plate that abuts against a fold of a sheet stack is moved by a driving means to a maximum insertion position where the tip passes through a pressing position of a folding roller.

JP 2008-184324 A JP 2000-143088 A

When transportation of a stack of multiple recording media is started while a folding process is being performed on the stack of recording media, the stack of recording media may become misaligned or some of the recording media that make up the stack of recording media may become misaligned.
The object of the present invention is to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case where there is no configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack undergoing the folding process.

The invention described in claim 1 is a recording medium processing device comprising an advancing member that advances toward a portion of a recording medium stack having one end and another end, the portion being located between the one end and the other end, and presses the recording medium stack; a pressing means that presses the recording medium stack, the pressed portion of which is the portion pressed by the advancing member and moves at the front; and a transport means that is arranged downstream of the pressing means in the movement direction of the recording medium stack and transports the recording medium stack pressed by the pressing means downstream, wherein no force is applied from the pressing means to the recording medium stack to move the recording medium stack downstream in the movement direction of the recording medium stack, or the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the transport means is greater than the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the pressing means.
The invention described in claim 2 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 1, wherein no force is applied from the pressing means to the recording medium stack to move the recording medium stack downstream in the movement direction of the recording medium stack, and the pressing means does not apply a force to the recording medium stack to move the recording medium stack downstream in the movement direction of the recording medium stack.
The invention described in claim 3 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 2, wherein the pressing means is composed of a pair of rotating members arranged in pressure contact with each other, and the pair of rotating members are rotating members that rotate in response to force from the recording medium stack, and do not apply a force to the recording medium stack that moves the recording medium stack downstream in the movement direction of the recording medium stack.
The invention described in claim 4 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 1, wherein the pressing means has a function of transporting the recording medium stack, and the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the transporting means is greater than the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the pressing means.
The invention described in claim 5 is the recording medium processing device described in claim 1, wherein when the transport means starts transporting the stack of recording media, the stack of recording media is in a pressed state by the pressing means.
The invention described in claim 6 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 1, wherein the transporting means transports the stack of recording media while pressing the stack of recording media, and the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the pressing means is greater than the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the transporting means.
The invention described in claim 7 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 1, wherein after the transport means starts transporting the stack of recording media, the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the pressing means decreases.
An eighth aspect of the present invention is the recording medium processing device according to the first aspect, wherein the advancing member reaches the transport means.
The invention described in claim 9 is a recording medium processing device comprising an advancing member that advances toward the recording medium stack from one of two surfaces of the recording medium stack and presses the recording medium stack, a regulating means that regulates the movement of the recording medium stack pressed by the advancing member relative to the advancing member, and a transporting means that contacts the recording medium stack whose movement is regulated by the regulating means and transports the recording medium stack.
The invention described in claim 10 is the recording medium processing device described in claim 9, wherein the regulating means contacts a surface opposite to the one surface of the recording medium stack to regulate the movement of the recording medium stack.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the recording medium processing device according to the ninth aspect, wherein the regulating means urges the stack of recording media toward the advancing member to regulate movement of the stack of recording media relative to the advancing member.
The invention described in claim 12 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 11, wherein the regulating means biases the pressed portion of the recording medium stack that is pressed by the advancing member toward the advancing member, thereby regulating the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member.
The invention described in claim 13 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 12, wherein the regulating means clamps the pressed portion toward the advancing member from the side opposite to the side on which the advancing member is located.
The invention described in claim 14 is the recording medium processing device described in claim 9, wherein the regulating means stops regulating the movement of the recording medium stack after the transporting means has started transporting the recording medium stack.
The invention described in claim 15 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 9, wherein the regulating means is arranged downstream of the recording medium stack in the movement direction of the recording medium stack and on the movement path of the recording medium stack, and moves to a location off the movement path after the transport means has started transporting the recording medium stack.
The invention described in claim 16 is a recording medium processing device described in claim 9, wherein the regulating means regulates the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member even while the recording medium stack is passing through the transporting means.
The invention described in claim 17 is the recording medium processing device described in claim 16, wherein the regulating means is arranged downstream of the recording medium stack in the movement direction of the recording medium stack and on the movement path of the recording medium stack, and after passing through the conveying means, moves to a location off the movement path.
The invention described in claim 18 is an image forming system comprising an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, and a recording medium processing device that processes the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming device, wherein the recording medium processing device is configured to include a recording medium processing device described in any of claims 1 to 17.

According to the invention of claim 1, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case where there is no configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack undergoing the folding process.
According to the invention of claim 2, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from coming off, compared to when a force is applied from the pressing means to the recording medium stack to move the recording medium stack downstream in the direction of movement of the recording medium stack.
According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the stack of recording media from falling off, compared to a configuration in which a pair of rotating members rotate by themselves upon receiving a driving force from a drive source.
According to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from coming off, compared to when the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported by the pressing means is faster than the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported by the transporting means.
According to the invention of claim 5, when the transport means starts transporting the stack of recording media, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the stack of recording media from coming off, compared to when the stack of recording media is not pressed by the pressing means.
According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from coming off, compared to a case in which the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the pressing means is smaller than the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the conveying means.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the conveyance means can convey the recording medium stack more smoothly than in a configuration in which the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the pressing means does not decrease.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the stack of recording media can be moved to the transport means more reliably than in a configuration in which the advancing member does not reach the transport means.
According to the invention of claim 9, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case where a configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack being folded is not provided.
According to the invention of claim 10, the movement of the stack of recording media can be regulated from the side opposite to one side of the stack of recording media, which is the side pressed by the advancing member.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member can be more reliably restricted, compared to when the recording medium stack is urged toward a direction other than the advancing member.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the pressed portion of the recording medium stack, which is the portion pressed by the advancing member, can be biased toward the advancing member, thereby restricting the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member.
According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the pressed portion can be sandwiched between the pressing portion and biased toward the advancing member from the side opposite to the side on which the advancing member is located.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, after the conveyance means starts conveying the recording medium bundle, the restriction of the movement of the recording medium bundle can be stopped.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the regulating means is positioned on the moving path of the stack of recording media, so that the movement of the recording media can be prevented from being hindered by the regulating means.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the movement of the recording medium bundle with respect to the advancing member can be restricted even while the recording medium bundle is passing through the transport means.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the regulating means is positioned on the moving path of the stack of recording media, so that the movement of the recording media can be prevented from being hindered by the regulating means.
According to the invention of claim 18, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case where a configuration is not provided to regulate the movement of the recording medium stack undergoing the folding process.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control unit. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a saddle stitching unit provided in the first post-processing device. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an advancing member, a pressing roll, and a transport roll. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the state after the advancing member has been advanced. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing the movements of the advancing member, the pressing roll, and the transport roll. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a state of a paper stack when the paper stack reaches a transport roll. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a load required for the advancement of the advancement member. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing other examples of the arrangement of the paper support members. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing other configuration examples. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing the movement of each part. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing other configuration examples of the regulating member, etc. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing the movement of each part. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing modified examples of a first restricting member and a second restricting member. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing other configuration examples. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing the movement of each part.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system 1. As shown in FIG.
The image forming system 1 shown in the figure includes an image forming device 2 that forms an image on paper P, which is an example of a recording medium, and a paper processing device 3 that processes the paper P on which the image has been formed by the image forming device 2.
The image forming method in the image forming apparatus 2 is not particularly limited, and the image is formed on the paper P in the image forming apparatus 2 using, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method.

The paper processing device 3, as an example of a recording medium processing device, includes a conveying device 10 that conveys paper P output from the image forming device 2 downstream, and a paper feed device 20 that supplies interleaving paper such as thick paper or window paper to the paper P conveyed by the conveying device 10.
The paper processing device 3 also includes a folding device 30 that performs folding processes such as a triple inner fold (C fold) and a triple outer fold (Z fold) on the paper P transported from the transport device 10, and a first post-processing device 40 that is located downstream of the folding device 30 and performs binding and folding processes on the paper stack.

The sheet processing apparatus 3 also includes a second post-processing apparatus 50 that is disposed downstream of the first post-processing apparatus 40 and performs processing on the sheet stack that has been bound and folded.
In this embodiment, the first post-processing device 40 produces a booklet made up of a stack of sheets that have been bound and folded, and the second post-processing device 50 processes this booklet.
The paper-sheet processing apparatus 3 is also provided with a control unit 100 that controls each unit of the paper-sheet processing apparatus 3 .

As shown in FIG. 1, the first post-processing device 40 is provided with a punching unit 41 that punches holes in the paper P, and an end-stitching stapler unit 42 that staples the ends of a paper stack.
The first post-processing device 40 is provided with a first stacking section 43 on which end-stitched paper stacks are stacked, and a second stacking section 45 on which paper P that is not processed by the first post-processing device 40 or paper P that has only been punched is stacked.
The first post-processing device 40 is also provided with a saddle stitching unit 44 that performs binding and folding processes on the paper stack to produce a double-page spread booklet.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 100.
The control unit 100 has an arithmetic processing unit 120 that executes digital arithmetic processing according to a program, a secondary storage unit 129 in which information such as the program is recorded, and a communication unit 130 that transmits and receives information to and from an external device.
The secondary storage unit 129 is realized by an existing information storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor memory, or a magnetic tape.

The arithmetic processing unit 120 includes a CPU 11a as an example of a processor. In this embodiment, the CPU 11a executes the processing according to this embodiment.
The arithmetic processing unit 120 is also provided with a RAM 11b used as a working memory for the CPU 11a, and a ROM 11c in which programs executed by the CPU 11a are stored.
The arithmetic processing unit 120 is also provided with a non-volatile memory 11d that is rewritable and capable of retaining data even if the power supply is interrupted.

The non-volatile memory 11d is composed of, for example, a battery-backed SRAM or a flash memory.
In this embodiment, the CPU 11a reads programs stored in the secondary storage unit 129 or the ROM 11c, thereby executing each process described below.
The arithmetic processing unit 120, the secondary storage unit 129, and the communication unit 130 are connected via a bus or a signal line.

The program executed by CPU 11a may be provided to control unit 100 in a state where it is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, or a semiconductor memory. In addition, the program executed by CPU 11a may be provided to control unit 100 using a communication means such as the Internet.

In this specification, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).
In addition, the operations of the processor may not only be performed by one processor, but may be performed by multiple processors in physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in this embodiment, and may be changed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the saddle stitching unit 44 provided in the first post-processing device 40. As shown in FIG.
The saddle stitching unit 44 is provided with a paper stacking section 440 in which the paper P is stacked. The paper stacking section 440 is provided with a paper support member 441 that supports the paper P that is transported sequentially. The paper support member 441 is made of a plate-shaped member. The paper support member 441 has a support surface 441A that supports the paper P from below.
The paper support member 441 is provided at an incline with respect to the horizontal and vertical directions, and is disposed so that the paper support member 441 faces downward toward the side opposite to the side where a pressing roll 448 (described in detail later) as an example of a pressing means is provided.

A guide member 450 is provided at a position facing the support surface 441A to guide the paper P moving downward. The guide member 450 is disposed with a gap between it and the paper support member 441, and is disposed along the paper support member 441.
The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with a feed roll 442 that feeds the paper P downward. The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with a pressed portion 443 against which the lower end portion, which is one end portion of the paper P, is pressed.

In this embodiment, this one end of the paper P is pressed against the pressed portion 443. In this way, the paper P is positioned in the direction in which the paper P is sent out by the send-out roll 442.
In this embodiment, the paper P sent out by the sending roll 442 moves downward along the paper support member 441. Then, in this embodiment, one end of the paper P, that is, the lower end, abuts against the pressed portion 443.

The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with a paper biasing member 444 that biases the paper P stacked on the paper support member 441 toward the pressed portion 443. The paper biasing member 444 is configured of a rotating member having an elastic piece provided on the outer periphery.
The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with a pressing member 445 that advances toward a side edge of the paper P and presses the side edge.

The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with a stapler 446 as an example of a binding means for performing a binding process on a sheet bundle made up of the sheets P accumulated in the sheet accumulation section 440 .
In this embodiment, a case where a stack of sheets is stapled is described. However, the sheets may be stapled by pressing the sheets P together without using staples.

The saddle stitching unit 44 is also provided with an advancing member 447 that advances from one side of the paper stack, which is an example of a recording medium stack, toward the paper stack and presses the paper stack.
In this embodiment, the advancing member 447 moves toward the paper stack by a link mechanism or a cam mechanism.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, a pressing roll 448 that functions as a pressing means is provided.
The pressing roll 448 is composed of a pair of rolls that sandwich the paper stack that is pressed by the advancing member 447 and fed to the pressing roll 448. In other words, the pressing roll 448 is composed of a pair of rotating members.

In this embodiment, the pair of rolls includes a first pressing roll 448A that is rotatably provided and located on the upper side, and a second pressing roll 448B that is rotatably provided and located on the lower side.
The first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B are provided in pressure contact with each other.
In this embodiment, an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring that biases at least one of the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B toward the other pressing roll 448 is provided.

In this embodiment, this elastic member urges at least one of the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B toward the other pressing roll, so that the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B are pressed against each other.
The pressing roll 448 presses the sheet stack that is pressed by the advancing member 447 and moves toward the pressing roll 448 .

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a transport roll 449 is provided as an example of a transport unit that transports the paper stack pressed by the pressing roll 448 downstream.
The transport roll 449 is disposed downstream of the pressing roll 448 in the moving direction of the paper stack, and transports the paper stack pressed by the pressing roll 448 to the second post-processing device 50 located downstream.

The transport roll 449 is also configured by a pair of rolls.
The transport rolls 449 include a first transport roll 449A that is rotatably provided and located on the upper side, and a second transport roll 449B that is rotatably provided and located on the lower side.
The first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B are provided in pressure contact with each other.
Similar to the pressure roll 448, in this embodiment, an elastic member such as a spring (not shown) is provided to bias at least one of the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B toward the other transport roll.
In this embodiment, the elastic member biases at least one of the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B toward the other transport roll, so that the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B are pressed against each other.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an advancing member 447, a pressing roll 448, and a transport roll 449. FIG.
Fig. 4A is a diagram of the advancing member 447, the pressing roll 448, and the transport roll 449 as viewed from above. Fig. 4B is a diagram of the advancing member 447, the pressing roll 448, and the transport roll 449 as viewed from the direction indicated by the arrow IVB in Fig. 4A.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the pressure roll 448 and the transport roll 449 are disposed in parallel to each other.

As shown in Fig. 4(A), each of the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B (see Fig. 4(B)) constituting the pressing roll 448 is provided with a cylindrical rotating shaft 448N and a cylindrical elastic body 448C attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 448N. The elastic body 448C is made of, for example, rubber or soft resin.
A plurality of elastic bodies 448C are provided, and are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 448N. A gap 448E is provided between adjacent elastic bodies 448C.
The first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B are in contact with each other at a contact portion 448G (see FIG. 4A).

4A, each of the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B (see FIG. 4B) is also provided with a cylindrical rotating shaft 449N and a cylindrical elastic body 449C attached to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 449N. The elastic body 449C is made of, for example, rubber or soft resin.
A plurality of elastic bodies 449C are provided, and are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 449N. A gap 449E is provided between adjacent elastic bodies 449C.
The first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B are in contact with each other at a contact portion 449G (see FIG. 4A).

In this embodiment, the transport roll 449 receives a driving force from a driving device 500 (see FIG. 4A) having a motor, and the transport roll 449 rotates.
More specifically, in this embodiment, the first transport roll 449A rotates by receiving a driving force from the drive device 500. Then, the second transport roll 449B (see FIG. 4B) rotates by receiving a driving force from the first transport roll 449A.

The first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B are in contact with each other at a contact portion 449G (see FIG. 4A), and the second transport roll 449B receives a driving force from the first transport roll 449A at this contact portion 449G.
Alternatively, a driving force may be supplied to each of the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B individually to rotate the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B individually.
The transport roll 449 in this embodiment transports the stack of sheets while pressing the stack of sheets.

On the other hand, the pressure roll 448 is a rotating member that rotates by receiving a force from the paper stack, and does not apply a force to the paper stack that moves the paper stack downstream in the moving direction of the paper stack.
In this embodiment, no driving force is supplied to the pressure roll 448 from a driving source such as a motor, and in this embodiment, no force acts on the paper stack from the pressure roll 448 to move the paper stack downstream in the movement direction of the paper stack.

In this embodiment, the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the pressing roll 448 is greater than the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the transport roll 449. Specifically, in this embodiment, the load 448X shown in FIG. 4B is greater than the load 449X.
In this embodiment, the pressure contact force between the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B is greater than the pressure contact force between the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B.
In other words, in this embodiment, the contact pressure between the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B at the contact portion 448G where they come into contact is greater than the contact pressure between the first conveying roll 449A and the second conveying roll 449B at the contact portion 449G where they come into contact.

The advancing member 447 (see FIG. 4A) is provided with a base 447A extending along the axial direction of the pressing roll 448, and a protruding portion 447C protruding from the base 447A towards the pressing roll 448 and the transport roll 449.
A plurality of protruding portions 447C are provided, and are aligned in the axial direction of the pressing roll 448 .

5A and 5B are diagrams showing a state after the advancing member 447 has been advanced.
In this embodiment, when the advancing member 447 advances toward the pressing roll 448 and the transport roll 449, as shown in FIG. 5A, the protruding portion 447C of the advancing member 447 enters into the gap 448E provided in the pressing roll 448.
Further, the protruding portion 447C of the advancing member 447 enters into the gap 449E provided in the transport roll 449.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the advancing member 447 advances, the protrusion 447C of the advancing member 447 passes between the rotation shaft 448N of the first pressing roll 448A and the rotation shaft 448N of the second pressing roll 448B, as shown in FIG. 5B.
Furthermore, when the advancing member 447 advances, the tip 447E of the protrusion 447C of the advancing member 447 reaches the space located between the rotation shaft 449N of the first transport roll 449A and the rotation shaft 449N of the second transport roll 449B.

In this embodiment, the advancing member 447 passes through a pressure roll 448 and reaches a transport roll 449 .
In this embodiment, the movement speed of the advancing member 447 when the stack of paper (not shown in Figure 5) being pressed by the advancing member 447 comes into contact with the transport roll 449 is the same as or greater than the peripheral speed of the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B that constitute the transport roll 449.

The operation of each part when folding and binding processes are performed will be described with reference to FIG.
When folding and stapling are performed, first, the feed roll 442 of the saddle stitching unit 44 sends the paper P (not shown in FIG. 3 ) sent from the upstream side to the paper support member 441 .
When multiple sheets of paper P are processed, the feed roll 442 feeds the paper P to the paper support member 441 multiple times.

As a result, a preset number of sheets P are accumulated on the sheet support member 441 , and a stack of sheets is generated on the sheet support member 441 .
When the paper stack is made up of one sheet of paper P, the single sheet of paper P is accumulated on the paper support member 441. In this specification, the term "paper stack" includes a single sheet of paper P.

When the sheets P are stacked on the sheet support member 441, the pressed portion 443 that supports the sheets P from below is stopped so that, for example, the center portion of the sheets P is positioned at the staple position by the stapler 446. At this time, the sheet biasing member 444 rotates and biases the stacked sheets P toward the pressed portion 443.
Furthermore, when the sheets P are accumulated on the sheet support member 441 , the pressing member 445 presses the side edge of the sheet P every time the sheet P is transported onto the sheet support member 441 .

After a predetermined number of sheets P are accumulated on the sheet support member 441, the sheets P are stapled, for example, at their center portions by the stapler 446.
When the binding process is not performed and only the folding process is performed, the binding process by the stapler 446 is not performed.
Next, the pressed portion 443 moves upward, and the folding portion where the folding process is performed is disposed in a position facing the tip portion 447E of the advancing member 447. More specifically, for example, the center portion of the paper stack is disposed in a position facing the tip portion 447E of the advancing member 447.

After the folding position of the paper stack has moved to a position facing tip 447E of advancing member 447, advancing member 447 advances toward the paper stack from one side of the paper stack and presses the paper stack.
As a result, the paper stack passes through an opening (not shown) provided in the paper support member 441 and heads toward the pressing roll 448 on the back side of the paper support member 441. In this embodiment, the advancing member 447 that presses the paper stack heads toward the pressing roll 448, and the paper stack being pressed by the advancing member 447 heads toward the pressing roll 448.
Then, when the stack of sheets reaches the pressure roll 448, the pressure roll 448 presses the stack of sheets from both sides thereof.

In the above, we have described a case where the pressed portion 443 is positioned so that when the paper P is stacked on the paper support member 441, the central portion of the paper P is positioned at the stapling position by the stapler 446, but the position of the pressed portion 443 is not limited to this.
When the binding process is not performed by the stapler 446 , the pressed portion 443 may be disposed so that the center portion of the paper P is located at a position facing the tip portion 447</b>E of the advancing member 447 .

After the paper stack is pressed by the pressing roll 448, in this embodiment, the paper stack reaches the transport roll 449. More specifically, in this embodiment, the advancing member 447 that presses the paper stack reaches the transport roll 449, and thereby the paper stack reaches the transport roll 449.
When the sheet stack reaches the transport roll 449 , the transport roll 449 starts transporting the sheet stack, and the sheet stack is sent to the second post-processing device 50 .
As described above, the advancing member 447 of this embodiment moves to the location where the transport roll 449 is installed. Therefore, the paper stack reaches the transport roll 449 and is transported by the transport roll 449.

In this manner, a stack of sheets is produced that has been bound by the stapler 446 and folded by the advancing member 447 and the pressure roll 448 , and this stack of sheets is then transported by the transport roll 449 .
Alternatively, the stapler 446 does not perform the binding process, and a stack of sheets is generated by only folding the sheets using the advancing member 447 and the pressing roll 448 , and this stack of sheets is then transported by the transport roll 449 .

6A to 6C are diagrams showing the movements of the advancing member 447, the pressure roll 448, and the transport roll 449.
When the folding process is performed, first, as shown in FIG. 6A, the advancing member 447 advances toward the sheet stack from one surface 923 of the sheet stack.
In this embodiment, the advancing member 447 advances toward the paper stack from one of the two surfaces of the paper stack, and the paper stack is pressed by the advancing member 447 .

At this time, in this embodiment, one end 921 of the paper stack is located at the lower side, and the other end 922 is located at the upper side.
In this embodiment, the advancing member 447 advances toward a portion of the paper stack that is located between one end 921 and the other end 922 and presses the paper stack.
More specifically, advancing member 447 advances toward a central portion of the stack of paper that is located at a midpoint between one end 921 and the other end 922, and presses the stack of paper.

As a result, in this example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the central portion of the paper stack, which is the portion of the paper stack that is pressed by advancing member 447, reaches pressure roll 448.
The central portion of the paper stack is a pressed portion 924, which is the portion of the paper stack that is pressed by the advancing member 447, and in this embodiment, this pressed portion 924 moves at the front, and this pressed portion 924 reaches the pressing roll 448.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the pressing roll 448 starts pressing the stack of sheets.
In this embodiment, the pressing roll 448 comes into contact with a surface 925 (see FIG. 6B) of the paper stack that becomes the outer side after folding, thereby pressing the paper stack.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the second pressing roll 448B contacts the portion of the outer surface 925 that is located between the pressed portion 924 and one end 921, and the first pressing roll 448A contacts the portion of the outer surface 925 that is located between the pressed portion 924 and the other end 922, thereby pressing the stack of paper.
Thereafter, in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6C, the transport of the paper stack is started by the transport roll 449. At this time, in this embodiment, the paper stack is in a state of being pressed by the pressure roll 448. As a result, in this embodiment, the separation of some of the papers P from the paper stack is suppressed.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the state of the paper stack when it reaches the transport roll 449. Note that in Fig. 7, the advancing member 447 is omitted from the illustration.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the sheet stack that reaches the transport roll 449 has already been pressed by the pressing roll 448 (not shown in FIG. 7) and is therefore flat.
Therefore, the paper stack moves to just before the contact portion 449G of the transport roll 449 without touching the transport roll 449. Then, the paper stack enters the contact portion 449G of the transport roll 449. When the paper stack enters the contact portion 449G, the paper stack receives the force from the transport roll 449, and moves downstream.

FIG. 8 shows a comparative example.
In this comparative example, the pressing roll 448 is not provided, and only the transport roll 449 is provided, and the transport roll 449 presses and transports the paper stack.
In this comparative example, when the paper stack pressed by the advancing member 447 reaches the transport roll 449, the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449, and as a result, the paper PN that is closest to the transport roll 449 in the paper stack is sent downstream by the transport roll 449. This causes the closest paper PN to separate from the paper stack.

In this comparative example, the peripheral speed of the transport roll 449 is greater than the movement speed of the advancing member 447 when the advancing member 447 reaches the transport roll 449 .
In this case, when the paper stack being pressed by the advancing member 447 reaches the transport roll 449, the closest paper PN is sent downstream by the transport roll 449, and the closest paper PN is separated from the paper stack.
Although not shown in the drawings, when a sheet stack is being bound, if the closest sheet PN is released, this closest sheet PN may be torn.

In this comparative example, when comparing the moving speeds in the direction indicated by the arrow 449Y in the figure, the moving speed of the surface of the transport roll 449 is greater than the moving speed of the advancing member 447.
In addition, in this comparative example, the frictional force acting between the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle and the surface of the transport roll 449 is greater than the frictional force acting between the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle.
In this case, when the stiffness of the sheets P constituting the sheet bundle is small, the closest sheet PN is released.

Furthermore, if the number of sheets P constituting the paper bundle is large, the contact pressure between the sheets P constituting the paper bundle and the transport roll 449 becomes even greater, making it easier for the nearest sheet PN to come off. Also, the thinner the stiffness of the sheets P constituting the paper bundle, the easier it is for the nearest sheet PN to come off.
Furthermore, the greater the friction coefficient of one of the two surfaces of the closest paper PN that is located on the transport roll 449 side, and the smaller the friction coefficient of the opposite surface that is located opposite to this one surface, the more likely it is that the closest paper PN will detach.
It should be noted that in order to prevent the closest paper sheet PN from being separated, it is possible to increase the moving speed of the advancing member 447. In this case, however, wrinkles are more likely to occur in the paper sheets P that constitute the paper stack.

In contrast, in the configuration of this embodiment, as described above, in addition to the transport roll 449, the pressing roll 448 is provided.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 6C, while the paper P is restrained by the pressure roll 448, the transport of the paper P by the transport roll 449 is started.
In this case, even if the closest paper PN is in a state where it is likely to be transported by the transport rolls 449, the movement of the closest paper PN is restricted, and the separation of the closest paper PN is suppressed.
7, the paper stack moves to just before the contact portion 449G of the transport roll 449 without touching the transport roll 449, and enters the contact portion 449G. In this embodiment, this also suppresses the above-mentioned separation of the closest paper PN.

In this embodiment, the pressure roll 448 (see FIG. 6C ) receives a force from the advancing member 447 via the stack of paper sheets, and rotates in response to the advancing member 447 .
In this case, the direction of the force acting on the paper stack from the pressure roll 448 is opposite to the direction of movement of the paper stack. In this case, the force acting on the paper stack from the pressure roll 448 does not cause the paper P to separate.
In addition, in the configuration in which the pressing roll 448 rotates following the advancing member 447 as in the present embodiment, a speed difference is unlikely to occur between the pressing roll 448 and the advancing member 447. In this case, wrinkles in the paper P due to the speed difference between the pressing roll 448 and the advancing member 447 are unlikely to occur.

In the above description, the pressing roll 448 does not have a function of transporting a stack of sheets. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing roll 448 may have a function of transporting a stack of sheets.
In this case, however, it is preferable to make the speed at which the sheet stack is transported by the transport rolls 449 faster than the speed at which the sheet stack is transported by the pressure rolls 448 .

In addition, in a configuration in which the pressing roll 448 has a function of transporting a stack of paper, it is preferable to make the peripheral speed of each of the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B provided on the pressing roll 448 slower than the movement speed of the advancing member 447 when the advancing member 447 passes through the pressing roll 448.
More specifically, it is preferable to make the peripheral speed of each of the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B slower than the movement speed of the advancing member 447 when the tip 447E of the protrusion 447C provided on the advancing member 447 (see Figure 4 (A)) passes next to the contact portion 448G between the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B.

Alternatively, after the transport of the paper stack by the transport roll 449 has begun, the pressure applied to the paper stack by the pressure roll 448 may be reduced.
In other words, after the paper stack is sandwiched between the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B provided in the transport roll 449, the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the pressure roll 448 may be reduced.

When reducing the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the pressing roll 448, for example, at least one of the first pressing roll 448A (see Figure 4 (B)) and the second pressing roll 448B that constitute the pressing roll 448 is moved in a direction away from the other pressing roll.
More specifically, when reducing the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the pressing roll 448, a moving mechanism is provided for moving at least one of the pressing rolls, and this moving mechanism is used to move at least one of the pressing rolls in a direction away from the other pressing roll.
This moving mechanism is not particularly limited and may be configured with a known mechanism such as a cam or link.

When at least one of the pressing rolls is moved in a direction away from the other pressing roll, the two may be moved completely apart, or at least one of the pressing rolls may be moved in a direction away from the other pressing roll while maintaining contact between the two.
In this specification, the mode of reducing the pressing force acting on the paper stack from the pressing roll 448 includes a mode of making this pressing force zero.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the case where the paper stack is pressed by the rotatable pressing roll 448 has been described as an example, but the rotation of the pressing roll 448 is not essential.
For example, a pair of members, at least one of which is made of a pad-like member, may be provided instead of the pressing roll 448. In this case, the paper stack is pressed by passing between the pair of members.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 (A) and (B), the pressing roll 448 and the transport roll 449 have the same shape, but the shape of the pressing roll 448 and the shape of the transport roll 449 may be different.
For example, the diameter of the elastic body 448C (see FIG. 4A) provided on the pressing roll 448 may be made different from the diameter of the elastic body 449C provided on the transport roll 449. In addition, the diameter of the rotating shaft 448N provided on the pressing roll 448 may be made different from the diameter of the rotating shaft 449N provided on the transport roll 449.
Furthermore, for example, the hardness of the elastic body 448C provided on the pressure roll 448 and the hardness of the elastic body 449C provided on the transport roll 449 may be made different.

Also, it is not always necessary to increase the coefficient of friction of the surface of the pressure roll 448, and the portion of the pressure roll 448 that comes into contact with the paper stack may be made of metal.
However, from the viewpoint of suppressing the collision noise caused by contact between the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B when a stack of paper passes through the pressing roll 448, and the occurrence of scratches caused by contact between the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B, it is preferable to construct the points where the first pressing roll 448A and the second pressing roll 448B come into contact with each other using an elastic material such as rubber.

4A, in the present embodiment, in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the paper stack, the position of the elastic body 448C provided on the pressing roll 448 coincides with the position of the elastic body 449C provided on the transport roll 449. However, the positions of the elastic body 448C and the elastic body 449C are not limited to this.
The position of the elastic body 448C provided on the pressing roll 448 in the orthogonal direction may be made different from the position of the elastic body 449C provided on the transport roll 449 in the orthogonal direction.

In addition, a reduction mechanism that contacts the pressing roll 448 and reduces the rotation speed of the pressing roll 448 may be provided.
When multiple stacks of paper are successively supplied to the pressing roll 448, the supply of one stack of paper to the pressing roll 448 causes the pressing roll 448 to rotate due to inertia, and this rotation may continue at the time the next stack of paper is supplied to the pressing roll 448.
If a lowering mechanism is provided, when the next stack of sheets is supplied to the pressure roll 448, the pressure roll 448 stops or the rotation speed of the pressure roll 448 is reduced.

When the pressure roll 448 is provided upstream of the transport roll 449 as in this embodiment, the force required for the transport roll 449 to transport the paper stack is reduced.
More specifically, the force required for the transport rolls 449 to transport the paper stack is smaller than when the transport rolls 449 both press and transport the paper stack.

In other words, the force required by the transport roll 449 to transport the paper stack is smaller than in a case where the pressure roll 448 is not provided and the transport roll 449 both presses and transports the paper stack.
Specifically, in this embodiment, the force required by the transport roll 449 to transport a stack of paper is a fraction to a few tens of times the force required when the transport roll 449 both presses and transports the stack of paper.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the load required for the advancing member 447 to advance.
If the pressing roll 448 is not provided and the transport roll 449 both presses and transports the paper stack, the load required for advancing the advancing member 447 becomes large, as shown by reference numeral 99A in FIG.
In contrast to this, in the case where the pressing roll 448 and the transport roll 449 are provided separately as in the present embodiment, the load required for advancing the advancing member 447 becomes smaller as indicated by the reference symbol 99B.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the paper support member 441. In FIG.
In the above, we have described an embodiment in which the paper support member 441 (see Figure 3) inclines toward the opposite side to the side where the pressure roll 448 is provided as it moves downward, but the arrangement of the paper support member 441 is not limited to this.
10 , the paper support member 441 may be inclined downward toward the side where the pressure roll 448 is provided. In this case, the support surface 441A supporting the paper P faces the pressure roll 448, and the paper P is accumulated on the pressure roll 448 side rather than the paper support member 441.

[Other configuration examples]
11A and 11B are diagrams showing another configuration example. Fig. 11A is a front view, and Fig. 11B is a top view. Fig. 11B shows a cross section of the paper stack taken along line XIB-XIB in Fig. 11A.
11A and 11B, in the moving direction of the paper stack, a transport roll 449 that transports the paper stack is provided downstream of the advancing member 447. Note that in this configuration example, the pressing roll 448 described above is not provided.
The advancing member 447 and the transport roll 449 are configured similarly to the advancing member 447 and the transport roll 449 shown in Fig. 4. The transport roll 449 comes into contact with the paper stack pressed by the advancing member 447, and transports the paper stack downstream.

In this configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a regulating member 510 is further provided as an example of a regulating means for regulating the movement of the sheet stack relative to the advancing member 447.
The regulating member 510 regulates the movement of the sheet stack pressed by the advancing member 447 relative to the advancing member 447 (described in detail later).
Furthermore, in this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 11A, a moving mechanism 520 for moving the regulating member 510 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the moving mechanisms 520 are provided on both the one end 511 side and the other end 512 side of the regulating member 510 in the width direction.
The width direction of the regulating member 510 coincides with the axial direction of the transport roll 449, and the regulating member 510 has one end 511 and the other end 512 that are located at different positions in the axial direction of the transport roll 449. The moving mechanism 520 is provided on both the one end 511 side and the other end 512 side.

Each of the moving mechanisms 520 operates based on an instruction from the CPU 11a (see FIG. 2) which is an example of a processor.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, a support member 522 that is rotatable around a rotation center 521 and supports a regulating member 510 is provided as a part of a moving mechanism 520 .
In this configuration example, there are provided a plurality of support members 522. Specifically, in this configuration example, two support members 522 are provided for each of the two movement mechanisms 520 provided.

Furthermore, in this configuration example, as another part of the moving mechanism 520, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), a rotating unit 523 is provided which has a driving source such as a motor (not shown) and rotates the support member 522 in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in the figure around a rotation center 521.
Figure 11 (A) shows the state in which the support member 522 is rotated clockwise by the rotating portion 523. In this state, the regulating member 510 supported by the support member 522 is biased toward the left side in the figure and moves in this left direction.
In other words, in FIG. 11A, the regulating member 510 is biased toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the sheet stack and is in the state of having moved toward the upstream side.

As shown in Figure 11 (B), the regulating member 510 has multiple protrusions 514 that protrude toward the upstream side in the movement direction of the paper stack, and in the state shown in Figures 11 (A) and (B), the tip portion 514A of this protrusion 514 is located upstream of the transport roll 449.
More specifically, each of the protrusions 514 passes through a gap 449E located between elastic bodies 449C provided on the transport roll 449 (see FIG. 11B ) and protrudes upstream of the transport roll 449.

In addition, each of the protrusions 514 passes between a rotating shaft 449N provided on the first transport roll 449A (see Figure 11 (A)) and a rotating shaft 449N provided on the second transport roll 449B, and protrudes upstream of the transport roll 449.
When each of the protrusions 514 protrudes upstream of the transport roll 449, a tip 514A of the protrusion 514 is positioned upstream of the transport roll 449 as shown in FIGS.

Figures 12(A) to (C) are diagrams showing the movement of each part. Figure 12(A) shows the same state as that shown in Figure 11(A). In each of Figures 12(A) to (C), a front view is shown in the lower part, and a top view is shown in the upper part.
In this embodiment, first, as shown in Figures 12 (A) and (B), the advancing member 447 advances toward the paper stack from one side 81 of the two sides of the paper stack and begins pressing the paper stack.
In this configuration example, when advancing member 447 starts to press the stack of sheets, the stack of sheets being pressed by advancing member 447 is pressed against regulating member 510 as shown in FIG. 12B.

In this embodiment, when the advancing member 447 begins to press the stack of paper, a regulating member 510 is waiting downstream of the stack of paper, and the stack of paper pressed by the advancing member 447 moves toward the waiting regulating member 510 and is pressed against this regulating member 510.
In this embodiment, when the advancing member 447 advances from the initial position by a predetermined amount, the stack of sheets pressed by the advancing member 447 is pressed against the regulating member 510 .

In the state shown in FIG. 12B, the regulating member 510 comes into contact with a surface 82 opposite to the one surface 81 of the sheet stack, and starts regulating the movement of the sheet stack.
In this embodiment, the regulating member 510 urges the sheet stack toward the advancing member 447 to regulate the movement of the sheet stack relative to the advancing member 447 .
Here, the biasing of the sheet stack by the regulating member 510 is not limited to the mode in which the regulating member 510 itself moves toward the sheet stack to bias the sheet stack.
The manner in which the regulating member 510 urges the stack of paper also includes a manner in which the regulating member 510 urges the stack of paper toward the advancing member 447 by pressing the stack of paper against the waiting regulating member 510, as in the configuration example shown in Figures 12 (A) and (B).

As shown in FIG. 12B , the regulating member 510 biases a pressed portion 924 , which is a portion of the stack of paper that is pressed by the advancing member 447 , toward the advancing member 447 , thereby regulating the movement of the stack of paper relative to the advancing member 447 .
The regulating member 510 urges the pressed portion 924 toward the advancing member 447 from the side opposite to the side where the advancing member 447 is located, sandwiching the pressed portion 924 , thereby regulating the movement of the sheet stack relative to the advancing member 447 .

In this configuration example, after the state shown in FIG. 12B, the stack of sheets reaches the transport rolls 449, and the transport rolls 449 start transporting the stack of sheets.
The transport roll 449 comes into contact with the sheet stack, which is pressed by the advancing member 447 and whose movement is restricted by the restricting member 510, and starts transporting the sheet stack.
In this embodiment, the regulating member 510 starts regulating the movement of the paper stack before the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449. In other words, in this embodiment, the regulating member 510 comes into contact with the paper stack before the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449.
To explain further, in this embodiment, before the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449 , the paper stack is sandwiched between the advancing member 447 and the regulating member 510 .

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the regulating member 510 may start regulating the movement of the paper stack immediately after the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449. In other words, the regulating member 510 may come into contact with the paper stack immediately after the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449.
In this case, there is a risk that the closest paper PN shown in Figure 8 will be transported by the transport roll 449, but a regulating member 510 (see Figure 12 (B)) is located immediately downstream of this closest paper PN, and the movement of this closest paper PN is regulated.
In this case, while the movement of the closest paper PN is restricted, the other remaining paper P advances toward the restricting member 510, and in this case too, the paper stack is sandwiched between the advancing member 447 and the restricting member 510. This also makes it difficult for some of the paper P to come off from the paper stack.

Thereafter, in this configuration example, the regulating member 510 (see FIG. 12B) moves downstream while being pressed by the paper stack moving downstream in the moving direction of the paper stack.
In this configuration example, the tip 514 A of the protrusion 514 of the regulating member 510 (see FIG. 12C ) moves downstream of the transport roll 449 .
When the tip 514A of the protrusion 514 moves downstream of the transport roll 449, the regulating member 510 moves to a position away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 12C. As a result, the regulating member 510 stops regulating the movement of the paper stack.

In this configuration example, after the transport rolls 449 start transporting the sheet stack, the regulating member 510 retreats to a position off the movement path 100R of the sheet stack, and stops regulating the movement of the sheet stack.
In this configuration example, as shown in Figures 12 (A) to (C), the regulating member 510 is configured to pass through the transport roll 449, which is the transport means, and the movement of the paper stack relative to the advancing member 447 is regulated even while the paper stack is passing through the transport roll 449.
More specifically, in this embodiment, the tip 514A of the protrusion 514 provided on the regulating member 510 (see FIG. 12(A)) passes through the transport roll 449 as shown in FIGS. 12(A) to (C), and the movement of the paper stack relative to the advancing member 447 is regulated even while the paper stack is passing through the transport roll 449.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the advancing member 447 starts to press the paper stack, the regulating member 510 is disposed in a state in which its tip portion 514A is located upstream of the transport roll 449.
Furthermore, when the advancing member 447 begins to press the paper stack, the regulating member 510 is positioned downstream of the paper stack in the movement direction of the paper stack, and is positioned on the movement path 100R of the paper stack, as shown in the lower part of Figure 12 (A).

In this state, the advancing member 447 starts to press the stack of sheets. Then, as described above, the stack of sheets reaches the transport rolls 449 while its movement is regulated by the regulating member 510, and is transported by the transport rolls 449.
After the transport rolls 449 start transporting the stack of sheets, the regulating member 510 moves to a position away from the movement path 100R of the stack of sheets, as shown in FIGS.

More specifically, in this embodiment, the rotating unit 523 (see FIG. 11A) operates in response to an instruction from the CPU 11a, and the support member 522 (see the lower part of FIG. 12C) rotates counterclockwise. This moves the regulating member 510 to a position away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.
In this embodiment, the regulating member 510 moves to a position off the movement path 100R of the paper stack after the leading end 514A passes through the transport roll 449. By the regulating member 510 moving to a position off the movement path 100R, the paper stack moves further downstream through this movement path 100R.

13A and 13B are diagrams showing other configuration examples of the regulating member 510 etc. Fig. 13A is a front view, and Fig. 13B is a top view.
The basic configuration of this configuration example is the same as that shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the configuration different from that shown in FIGS.

In this configuration example shown in Figure 13, as shown in Figure 13 (A), the regulating member 510 is composed of a first regulating member 510A arranged on the side of one of two areas 100U, 100B facing each other across the paper stack movement path 100R, the first regulating member 510A arranged on the side of area 100U, and a second regulating member 510B arranged on the side of the other area 100B.
In addition, in this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 13A, the moving mechanism 520 is provided with a first moving mechanism 520A that moves the first regulating member 510A and a second moving mechanism 520B that moves the second regulating member 510B.

Each of the first moving mechanism 520A and the second moving mechanism 520B has the same configuration as the moving mechanism 520 shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the first moving mechanism 520A includes a first support member 622 that is rotatably provided around a rotation center 621 and supports the first regulating member 510A, and a first rotating unit 623 that has a drive source such as a motor and rotates the first support member 622 in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the figure around the rotation center 621. A plurality of first support members 622 are provided.

Further, as the second moving mechanism 520B, a second support member 722 is provided rotatably about a rotation center 721 and supports the second restricting member 510B.
Furthermore, the second moving mechanism 520B includes a second rotating unit 723 that has a drive source such as a motor and rotates the second support member 722 in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in the figure around a rotation center 721. A plurality of second support members 722 are provided.

In this configuration example, the first support member 622 rotates in a clockwise direction in the figure by the first rotating portion 623, and the first regulating member 510A supported by the first support member 622 is urged toward the upstream side in the movement direction of the paper stack and moves toward this upstream side.
In addition, the second rotating portion 723 rotates the second support member 722 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, and the second regulating member 510B supported by the second support member 722 is urged toward the upstream side in the movement direction of the paper stack and moves toward this upstream side.
As a result, in this case as well, the tip portions 514A of the protrusions 514 provided on the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are positioned upstream of the transport rolls 449 as shown in FIG. 13A.

14(A) to (C) are diagrams showing the movement of each part.
In each of Figures 14(A) to 14(C), a front view is shown at the bottom and a top view is shown at the top. Also, Figure 14(A) shows the same state as that shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B).
In this configuration example, first, as shown in Figures 14 (A) and (B), the advancing member 447 advances toward the paper stack from one side 81 of the two sides that the paper stack has, and begins pressing the paper stack.
In this configuration example, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 14B, the stack of sheets pressed by the advancing member 447 is pressed against both the first restricting member 510A and the second restricting member 510B.

When the state shown in FIG. 14B is reached, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B come into contact with a surface 82 opposite to the above-mentioned one surface 81 of the stack of sheets of paper and begin regulating the movement of the stack of sheets of paper.
Thereafter, in this configuration example, the stack of sheets reaches the transport rolls 449, and the transport rolls 449 start transporting the stack of sheets.

In this configuration example as well, the transport roll 449 comes into contact with the sheet stack, which is pressed by the advancing member 447 and whose movement is restricted by the first restricting member 510A and the second restricting member 510B, and starts transporting the sheet stack.
As described above, the paper stack may come into contact with the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B after the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449. In this case, after the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B start regulating the movement of the paper stack.

Thereafter, the tip portions 514A (see the upper part of FIG. 14B) of the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move downstream of the transport roll 449.
14C, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a position away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack. As a result, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B stop regulating the movement of the paper stack.

In this configuration example, when the first regulating member 510A moves to a position away from the movement path 100R of the sheet stack, the first regulating member 510A moves to one area 100U located above the movement path 100R.
Furthermore, when the second regulating member 510B moves to a position away from the movement path 100R of the sheet stack, the second regulating member 510B moves to the other area 100B side located below the movement path 100R.

More specifically, in this configuration example, the first rotating unit 623 provided in the first moving mechanism 520A (see the lower part of Figure 14 (B)) is operated to rotate the first support member 622 provided in the first moving mechanism 520A in the counterclockwise direction in the figure.
Furthermore, the second rotating portion 723 provided in the second moving mechanism 520B is operated to rotate the second support member 722 provided in the second moving mechanism 520B in the clockwise direction in the figure.
As a result, the first restricting member 510A moves toward one region 100U (see the lower part of FIG. 14C), and the second restricting member 510B moves toward the other region 100B.
As a result, in this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are positioned at locations that are off the moving path 100R of the sheet stack.

It should be noted that the moving mechanism 520 shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is merely an example, and the moving mechanism 520 for the regulating member 510 is not particularly limited.
Any other moving mechanism 520 may be used, not limited to the moving mechanism 520 shown in Figures 11 to 14, as long as the mechanism can move the regulating member 510 upstream and downstream in the movement direction of the paper stack, and further move the regulating member 510 to a location off the movement path 100R of the paper stack.

In addition, the moving mechanism 520 may be one that has two separate moving parts, namely, a first moving part that moves the regulating member 510 along the movement path 100R of the paper stack, and a second moving part that moves the regulating member 510 in a direction away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack and in a direction toward this movement path 100R.
Furthermore, the elements constituting the moving mechanism 520 are not particularly limited, and the moving mechanism 520 may be constituted by combining known existing elements such as cams, links, cylinders, solenoids, and motors.

15A and 15B are diagrams showing modified examples of the first restricting member 510A and the second restricting member 510B shown in FIGS.
In this modified example, as shown in FIG. 15(A), a rotating roll 510F as an example of a rotatable rotating member is provided on each of an opposing surface 510C of the first regulating member 510A that faces the second regulating member 510B, and an opposing surface 510D of the second regulating member 510B that faces the first regulating member 510A.
A plurality of rotating rolls 510F are provided, and are arranged side by side in the moving direction of the paper stack.

In this modification, the first restricting member 510A is supported by the first supporting member 622 shown in FIG. 13A, and the second restricting member 510B is supported by the second supporting member 722 shown in FIG. 13A.
On the other hand, in this modified example, the first rotating part 623 (see FIG. 13(A)) that rotates the first support member 622 and the second rotating part 723 that rotates the second support member 722 are constituted by a biasing member, such as a spring, that applies a rotational force to these support members.

In this modified example, the first support member 622 and the second support member 722 are rotated by this biasing member, and the first regulating member 510A (see Figure 15 (A)) and the second regulating member 510B are biased to move toward the upstream side in the movement direction of the paper stack.
Furthermore, in this modified example, a guide portion 519 is provided at the tip portion 514A of the first restricting member 510A and the second restricting member 510B to guide the sheet stack that is pressed and moved by the advancing member 447 (see FIG. 13).

In this modified example shown in Figure 15, when the stack of paper being pressed and moved by the advancing member 447 reaches the first regulating member 510A (see Figure 15 (A)) and the second regulating member 510B, the stack of paper presses the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B.
As a result, similar to the movements shown in Figures 14(A) to (C), the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move downstream in the movement direction of the paper stack, and further move to a location away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.

In this configuration example, when the tip 514A of the protrusion 514 provided on each of the first regulating member 510A (see FIG. 15A) and the second regulating member 510B reaches downstream of the transport roll 449 (see FIG. 14B), the stack of paper receiving force from the transport roll 449 enters between the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B.
More specifically, in this configuration example, a guide portion 519 that guides the stack of paper receiving force from the transport roll 449 is provided at the tip portion 514A of the first regulating member 510A (see Figure 15 (A)) and the second regulating member 510B, and the stack of paper is guided by this guide portion 519 to enter between the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B.

As a result, the first and second restricting members 510A and 510B move in directions away from each other, as shown in FIG. 15B.
In this modified example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move in directions away from each other, so that the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a position away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.
Specifically, similarly to the above, the first regulating member 510A faces one region 100U side of the movement path 100R, and the second regulating member 510B faces the other region 100B side of the movement path 100R. As a result, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are positioned at positions off the movement path 100R.

When the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are positioned off the movement path 100R, a gap 100K is created between the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B, as shown in FIG. 15B.
In this configuration example, the paper stack receiving the force from the transport roll 449 (see FIG. 14C) moves in the gap 100K. In this case, the paper stack moves between the opposing surface 510C of the first regulating member 510A and the opposing surface 510D of the second regulating member 510B.

A rotating roll 510F is provided on the opposing surfaces 510C and 510D, and the stack of sheets passing between the opposing surfaces 510C and 510D is guided by the rotating roll 510F.
In this configuration example, when the rotating roll 510F guides the paper stack, the rotating roll 510F rotates by receiving a force from the paper stack. In other words, when the rotating roll 510F guides the paper stack, the rotating roll 510F rotates by being driven by the paper stack.

In this modified example, when a stack of paper passes between first regulating member 510A and second regulating member 510B, the first regulating member 510A and second regulating member 510B are moved by the biasing members provided on each of the first rotating portion 623 (see Figure 13 (A)) and the second rotating portion 723, and the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B return to their original positions.
14A, that is, the leading end 514A of the first regulating member 510A (see FIG. 15A) and the leading end 514A of the second regulating member 510B are positioned upstream of the transport roll 449.

In addition, in Figure 15, a case has been described in which a rotating roll 510F is provided in a configuration in which two regulating members 510, a first regulating member 510A and a second regulating member 510B, are provided. However, as shown in Figure 12, even in a configuration in which only one regulating member 510 is provided, a rotating roll 510F may be provided on this one regulating member 510.
Specifically, a rotating roll 510F (not shown in FIG. 12B) may be provided at a location indicated by reference symbol 510P in FIG. 12B. More specifically, the rotating roll 510F may be provided at a location of the regulating member 510 that faces the moving path 100R (see FIG. 12C) when the regulating member 510 is retracted from the moving path 100R.

16A and 16B are diagrams showing another configuration example, in which Fig. 16A is a top view and Fig. 16B is an enlarged view of the portion indicated by reference numeral 191 in Fig. 16A.
In the configuration example described above, the regulating member 510 moves upward or downward along the movement path 100R of the sheet stack.
In other words, in the configuration example described above, the regulating member 510 moves in the thickness direction of the sheet stack passing through the movement path 100R.

In contrast, in the configuration example shown in FIG. 16, the regulating member 510 moves in the extension direction of the paper P moving on the movement path 100R and in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the paper stack.
In other words, in this configuration example, the regulating member 510 moves in the width direction of the paper stack. More specifically, in this configuration example, the regulating member 510 moves in the axial direction of the transport roll 449.

In this configuration example as well, as shown in FIG. 16A, a first restricting member 510A and a second restricting member 510B are provided as the restricting member 510.
In this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A is provided so as to protrude from one side of the movement path 100R of the paper stack onto this movement path 100R, and the second regulating member 510B is provided so as to protrude from the other side of the movement path 100R of the paper stack onto this movement path 100R.
Furthermore, the first and second regulating members 510A and 510B are provided rotatably about a rotation center 521 located on the side away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.

Furthermore, in this configuration example, the movement mechanism 520 includes a first movement mechanism 520A that moves the first restricting member 510A and a second movement mechanism 520B that moves the second restricting member 510B.
The first moving mechanism 520A is provided with a first support member 673 that supports the first regulating member 510A. The first support member 673 is provided to be movable along the moving direction of the paper stack.
Furthermore, the first moving mechanism 520A is provided with a first moving section 674 that moves the first support member 673 along the movement direction of the paper stack, and a first rotating section 675 that rotates the first regulating member 510A around the rotation center 521.

Further, the second moving mechanism 520B is provided with a second support member 683 that supports the second regulating member 510B. The second support member 683 is provided to be movable along the moving direction of the paper stack.
Furthermore, the second moving mechanism 520B is provided with a second moving section 684 that moves the second support member 683 along the movement direction of the paper stack, and a second rotating section 685 that rotates the second regulating member 510B around the rotation center 521.

The configuration of the first moving portion 674 and the second moving portion 684 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cylinder or a rack-and-pinion mechanism.
Furthermore, the configuration of the first rotating part 675 and the second rotating part 685 is not particularly limited, and the first rotating part 675 and the second rotating part 685 are formed of, for example, a motor, a gear, or the like.

17(A) to (C) are diagrams showing the movement of each part.
In this configuration example as well, as shown in FIG. 17A, the advancing member 447 advances toward the paper stack from one surface 81 of the two surfaces of the paper stack and begins to press the paper stack.
Furthermore, the first and second regulating members 510A and 510B start regulating the movement of the stack of sheets relative to the advancing member 447 .

In this configuration example, when advancing member 447 starts to press the stack of sheets, both ends in the width direction of the stack of sheets being pressed by advancing member 447 are pressed against regulating member 510 as shown in FIG. 17A.
In this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 17A, the movement of both ends of one end 98A and the other end 98B in the width direction of the paper stack is restricted by a first restricting member 510A and a second restricting member 510B.

In this configuration example as well, a first regulating member 510A and a second regulating member 510B are arranged to wait downstream of the paper stack in the moving direction of the paper stack.
The stack of sheets pressed by the advancing member 447 moves toward the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B, which are waiting, and is pressed against the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B.

Thereafter, in this configuration example, as shown in FIG. 17B, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move downstream in the moving direction of the paper stack while being pressed by the paper stack.
More specifically, in this configuration example, the first moving section 674 and the second moving section 684 are activated to move the first support member 673 and the second support member 683, thereby moving the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B downstream in the movement direction of the paper stack.
At this time, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are in a state of protruding onto the movement path 100R (see FIG. 16) of the stack of sheets, and further in a state of being pressed by the stack of sheets.

In this configuration example, while the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are being pressed by the paper stack and moving downstream in the moving direction of the paper stack, the paper stack reaches the transport roll 449 as shown in Fig. 17(B) . As a result, transport of the paper stack by the transport roll 449 begins.
In this configuration example as well, the transport roll 449 comes into contact with the sheet stack, which is pressed by the advancing member 447 and whose movement is restricted by the first restricting member 510A and the second restricting member 510B, and starts transporting the sheet stack.

In this configuration example as well, before the sheet stack comes into contact with transport roll 449, first regulating member 510A and second regulating member 510B start regulating the movement of the sheet stack.
In other words, also in this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B come into contact with the sheet stack before the sheet stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449 .
To explain further, in this configuration example as well, before the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449, the paper stack is sandwiched between the advancing member 447, the first regulating member 510A, and the second regulating member 510B.

As described above, the first and second regulating members 510A and 510B may start regulating the movement of the paper stack immediately after the paper stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449 .
In other words, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B may come into contact with the sheet stack immediately after the sheet stack comes into contact with the transport roll 449 .

Thereafter, in this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B pass through the transport roll 449.
In this configuration example, when the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B pass the transport roll 449, as shown in Figure 17 (C), the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a position away from the paper stack movement path 100R (see Figure 16).
As a result, the first and second regulating members 510A and 510B stop regulating the movement of the sheet stack.

More specifically, in this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a position to the side of the paper stack movement path 100R, toward the width direction of the paper stack, and away from the paper stack movement path 100R.
This ends the regulation of the movement of the sheet stack by the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B.
After the transport of the sheet stack by the transport rolls 449 has started, the first and second regulating members 510A and 510B stop restricting the movement of the sheet stack.

In this configuration example as well, when the advancing member 447 starts to press the paper stack, as shown in Fig. 17A, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are disposed in a state where they are located upstream of the transport roll 449. More specifically, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are disposed in a state where they are located upstream of a contact portion 449G between the first transport roll 449A and the second transport roll 449B (not shown in Fig. 17).
Furthermore, when the advancing member 447 begins to press the stack of paper, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are positioned downstream of the stack of paper in the movement direction of the stack of paper, and are positioned on the movement path 100R of the stack of paper (see Figure 16).

Furthermore, in this configuration example, after the transport of the paper stack by the transport roll 449 begins, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a location away from the movement path 100R (see Figure 16) of the paper stack, as shown in Figure 17 (C).
More specifically, in this configuration example, the first rotating unit 675 (see FIG. 16) is actuated to rotate the first restricting member 510A in the counterclockwise direction, and the second rotating unit 685 (see FIG. 16) is actuated to rotate the second restricting member 510B in the clockwise direction.
As a result, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move to a position away from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.
In this configuration example as well, as shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C, after passing through transport rolls 449, first regulating member 510A and second regulating member 510B move to a position away from movement path 100R of the paper stack.

In this configuration example, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B are retracted from the movement path 100R of the paper stack using the first rotating unit 675 (see FIG. 16) and the second rotating unit 685, but the retraction method is not limited to this and other methods may be used.
For example, the load acting on the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B from the paper stack may be utilized to retract the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.

Specifically, in this case, for example, a biasing member such as a spring is used to cause the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B to protrude onto the movement path 100R of the paper stack.
In this case, a biasing member such as a spring is used to bias the first support member 673 (see FIG. 16) and the second support member 683 toward the upstream side in the moving direction of the paper stack, thereby moving them toward the upstream side.

In this case, the load acting on the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B from the paper stack is utilized to retract the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B from the movement path 100R of the paper stack.
In this case, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B move against the force from the biasing member that causes the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B to protrude onto the paper stack movement path 100R, and retreat from the paper stack movement path 100R.

More specifically, in this case, first, the load transmitted from the paper stack to the first support member 673 via the first restricting member 510A, and then the load transmitted from the paper stack to the second support member 683 via the second restricting member 510B, cause the first support member 673 and the second support member 683 to move downstream in the direction of movement of the paper stack.

When the first support member 673 and the second support member 683 move to a predetermined position, the first support member 673 and the second support member 683 abut against an abutting portion (not shown) and stop moving.
When the movement of the first support member 673 and the second support member 683 stops, the load acting from the paper stack on the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B increases.
As a result, the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B rotate, and the first regulating member 510A and the second regulating member 510B retreat from the movement path 100R of the sheet stack.

(Additional Note)
(((１)))
an advancing member that advances toward a portion of a recording medium bundle that has one end and another end and that is positioned between the one end and the other end, and presses the recording medium bundle;
a pressing means for pressing the stack of recording media, the stack being moved with a pressed portion being a leading portion, the pressed portion being a portion pressed by the advancing member;
a conveying means arranged downstream of the pressing means in a moving direction of the recording medium bundle, for conveying the recording medium bundle pressed by the pressing means downstream;
Equipped with
no force acts on the recording medium stack from the pressing means to move the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack,
Or,
a speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the conveying means is greater than a speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the pressing means;
Recording medium processing device.
(((２)))
no force acts on the recording medium stack from the pressing means to move the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack,
The recording medium processing device according to (((1))), wherein the pressing means does not apply a force to the recording medium stack that moves the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack.
(((３)))
The pressing means is composed of a pair of rotating members arranged in pressure contact with each other,
The pair of rotating members are rotating members that rotate in response to force from the stack of recording media, and do not apply a force to the stack of recording media that moves the stack of recording media downstream in the movement direction of the stack of recording media (((2))).
(((４)))
the pressing means has a function of conveying the stack of recording media,
The recording medium processing device described in (((1))), wherein the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the transport means is greater than the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported in the movement direction by the pressing means.
(((5)))
A recording medium processing device described in any one of ((1)) to ((4))), wherein when the transport means starts transporting the stack of recording media, the stack of recording media is in a pressed state by the pressing means.
(((６)))
the conveying means conveys the stack of recording media while pressing the stack of recording media;
A recording medium processing device according to any one of ((1)) to ((5)) above, wherein the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the pressing means is greater than the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the transport means.
(((７)))
A recording medium processing device described in any one of ((1)) to ((6))), wherein after the transport means starts transporting the stack of recording media, the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the pressing means is reduced.
(((8)))
The recording medium processing device according to any one of ((1)) to ((7))), wherein the advancing member reaches the transport means.
(((９)))
an advancing member that advances toward the recording medium bundle from one of two surfaces of the recording medium bundle and presses the recording medium bundle;
a restricting means for restricting movement of the recording medium stack pressed by the advancing member relative to the advancing member;
a conveying means for contacting the recording medium stack whose movement is restricted by the restricting means and conveying the recording medium stack;
A recording medium processing device comprising:
(((10)))
The recording medium processing device according to (((9))), wherein the regulating means regulates movement of the recording medium stack by contacting a surface of the recording medium stack opposite to the one surface.
(((１１)))
The recording medium processing device according to ((9))) or ((10))), wherein the regulating means urges the recording medium stack towards the advancing member to regulate movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member.
(((12)))
The regulating means biases a pressed portion of the stack of recording media that is pressed by the advancing member toward the advancing member, thereby regulating movement of the stack of recording media relative to the advancing member.
(((13)))
The recording medium processing device according to (((12))), wherein the regulating means urges the pressed portion toward the advancing member from the side opposite to the side on which the advancing member is located, with the pressed portion sandwiched therebetween.
(((14)))
The recording medium processing device according to any one of ((9)) to ((13))), wherein the regulating means stops regulating the movement of the recording medium stack after the transport means has started transporting the recording medium stack.
(((１５)))
The recording medium processing device described in any one of ((9)) to ((14))), wherein the regulating means is positioned downstream of the recording medium stack in the movement direction of the recording medium stack and on the movement path of the recording medium stack, and moves to a location off the movement path after the transport means begins transporting the recording medium stack.
(((１６)))
The recording medium processing device described in any one of ((9)) to (((15))), wherein the regulating means regulates the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member even while the recording medium stack is passing through the transporting means.
(((１７)))
The recording medium processing device described in (((16))), wherein the regulating means is positioned downstream of the recording medium stack in the movement direction of the recording medium stack and is positioned on the movement path of the recording medium stack, and after passing through the conveying means, moves to a location off the movement path.
(((１８)))
An image forming system comprising an image forming device which forms an image on a recording medium, and a recording medium processing device which processes the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming device, the recording medium processing device being configured to include any of the recording medium processing devices set forth in (((1))) to (((17))).

According to the recording medium processing device of (((1))), it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case in which a configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack during the folding process is not provided.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((2))), it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from detaching, compared to a case in which a force is applied from the pressing means to the recording medium stack, moving the recording medium stack downstream in the direction of movement of the recording medium stack.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((3))), it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the stack of recording media from becoming detached, compared to a configuration in which a pair of rotating members rotate by themselves upon receiving a driving force from a drive source.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((4))), it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from detaching, compared to a case in which the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported by the pressing means is faster than the speed at which the recording medium stack is transported by the transporting means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((5))), when the conveying means begins to convey the stack of recording media, it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the stack of recording media from coming off, compared to when the stack of recording media is not pressed by the pressing means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((6))), it is possible to prevent some of the recording materials contained in the recording medium stack from detaching, compared to a case in which the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the pressing means is smaller than the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the conveying means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((7))), the recording medium stack can be transported by the transport means more smoothly than in a configuration in which the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the pressing means does not decrease.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((8))), the recording medium stack can be moved to the transport means more reliably, compared to a configuration in which the advancing member does not reach the transport means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((9))), it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case in which a configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack is not provided.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((10))), the movement of the recording medium stack can be regulated from the side opposite to one side of the recording medium stack, which is the side that is pressed by the advancing member.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((11))), movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member can be more reliably restricted compared to when the recording medium stack is urged toward something other than the advancing member.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((12))), the pressed portion of the recording medium stack that is pressed by the advancing member can be biased toward the advancing member, thereby regulating the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((13))), the pressed portion can be sandwiched and biased toward the advancing member from the side opposite to the side on which the advancing member is located.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((14))), after the conveying device starts conveying the recording medium stack, the restriction on the movement of the recording medium stack can be stopped.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((15))), the regulating means is positioned on the movement path of the stack of recording media, and the movement of the recording media can be prevented from being hindered by this regulating means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((16))), the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member can be restricted even while the recording medium stack is passing through the transport means.
According to the recording medium processing device of (((17))), the regulating means is positioned on the movement path of the stack of recording media, and the movement of the recording media can be prevented from being hindered by this regulating means.
According to the image forming system of (((18))), it is possible to suppress a decrease in the quality of the folding process caused by the conveyance of the recording medium stack being started while the folding process is being performed on the recording medium stack, compared to a case where a configuration for regulating the movement of the recording medium stack being folded is not provided.

1...image forming system, 2...image forming device, 3...paper processing device, 81...one surface, 82...opposite surface, 100R...movement path, 447...advancing member, 448...pressing roll, 448A...first pressing roll, 448B...second pressing roll, 449...transport roll, 510...regulating member, 921...one end, 922...other end, 924...pressed portion

Claims (18)

an advancing member that advances toward a portion of a recording medium bundle that has one end and another end and that is positioned between the one end and the other end, and presses the recording medium bundle;
a pressing means for pressing the stack of recording media, the stack being moved with a pressed portion being a leading portion, the pressed portion being a portion pressed by the advancing member;
a conveying means arranged downstream of the pressing means in a moving direction of the recording medium bundle, for conveying the recording medium bundle pressed by the pressing means downstream;
Equipped with
no force acts on the recording medium stack from the pressing means to move the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack,
Or,
a speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the conveying means is greater than a speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the pressing means;
Recording medium processing device. no force acts on the recording medium stack from the pressing means to move the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack,
2. The recording medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means does not apply a force to the recording medium stack that moves the recording medium stack downstream in the moving direction of the recording medium stack. The pressing means is composed of a pair of rotating members arranged in pressure contact with each other,
3. The recording medium processing device according to claim 2, wherein the pair of rotating members are rotating members that rotate in response to a force from the stack of recording media, and do not apply a force to the stack of recording media that moves the stack of recording media downstream in the movement direction of the stack of recording media. the pressing means has a function of conveying the stack of recording media,
2. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the conveying means is faster than the speed at which the recording medium stack is conveyed in the movement direction by the pressing means. The recording medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium stack is pressed by the pressing means when the conveying means starts conveying the recording medium stack. the conveying means conveys the stack of recording media while pressing the stack of recording media;
2. The recording medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the pressing means is greater than the pressing force acting on the stack of recording media from the transport means. The recording medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force acting on the recording medium stack from the pressing means decreases after the conveying means starts conveying the recording medium stack. The recording medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the advancing member reaches the conveying means. an advancing member that advances toward the recording medium bundle from one of two surfaces of the recording medium bundle and presses the recording medium bundle;
a restricting means for restricting movement of the recording medium stack pressed by the advancing member relative to the advancing member;
a conveying means for contacting the recording medium stack whose movement is restricted by the restricting means and conveying the recording medium stack;
A recording medium processing device comprising: The recording medium processing device according to claim 9, wherein the regulating means contacts the surface of the stack of recording media opposite to the one surface to regulate the movement of the stack of recording media. The recording medium processing device according to claim 9, wherein the regulating means biases the stack of recording media toward the advancing member to regulate the movement of the stack of recording media relative to the advancing member. The recording medium processing device according to claim 11, wherein the regulating means biases a pressed portion of the stack of recording media that is pressed by the advancing member toward the advancing member to regulate the movement of the stack of recording media relative to the advancing member. The recording medium processing device according to claim 12, wherein the regulating means biases the pressed portion toward the advancing member from the side opposite the side where the advancing member is located, sandwiching the pressed portion. The recording medium processing device according to claim 9, wherein the regulating means stops regulating the movement of the recording medium stack after the transport means starts transporting the recording medium stack. The recording medium processing device according to claim 9, wherein the regulating means is disposed downstream of the recording medium bundle in the moving direction of the recording medium bundle and disposed on the moving path of the recording medium bundle, and moves to a location off the moving path after the conveying means starts conveying the recording medium bundle. The recording medium processing device according to claim 9, wherein the regulating means regulates the movement of the recording medium stack relative to the advancing member even while the recording medium stack is passing through the transporting means. The recording medium processing device according to claim 16, wherein the regulating means is disposed downstream of the recording medium stack in the moving direction of the recording medium stack and on the moving path of the recording medium stack, and moves to a location outside the moving path after passing through the conveying means. An image forming system comprising an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium, and a recording medium processing device that processes the recording medium on which the image has been formed by the image forming device, the recording medium processing device including the recording medium processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.