JPH01133867A - Paper folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a paper folding device used in a copying machine or the like.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a technology in this type of field, the one shown in FIG. 8 is known. The outline is as follows.

FIG. 8 shows a Z-folding type paper folding device.

In this paper folding device, a pair of feed rollers 22 is disposed near the entrance of the entrance guide plate 21, and the paper can be drawn into the entrance guide plate 21 by the pair of feed rollers 22. Further, blades 23 are connected to the lower side of the entrance guide plate 21.
The paper drawn into the entrance guide plate 21 is inserted deep into the blade 23. Furthermore, a resistor 24 is attached to the blade 23 so that it can protrude into the blade 23. Then, the lower end of the paper inserted into the blade 23 through the entrance guide plate 21 is placed in the register 24.
It's starting to come into contact with. The installation of this resistor 24 depends on the location.If the size of the paper in the feeding direction is a, for example, the resistor 24 is installed at a location that is (1/4) a from the nip of the paper folding rollers 25 and 26. 24 is attached. On the other hand, according to this paper folding device,
The feed roller pair 22 is mounted at a location approximately (1/4) a from the nip of the paper folding rollers 25 and 26. As a result, even after the lower end of the paper inserted into the blade 23 hits the register 24, the state in which the paper is forcibly conveyed from the rear end side by the feed roller pair 22 is maintained, so that the lower end of the paper After hitting the register 24, one paper folding reroller 25.26
Nearby, the middle part of the paper ((1/4) a part from the front edge)
becomes slack, and the slack portion is drawn into the blade 27 by the paper folding rollers 25 and 26. At this time, the slack portion of the paper is folded in by the paper folding reroller 25.

Further, a resistor 28 is attached within the blade 27 so as to be able to protrude into the blade 27. The upper end of the folded portion of the sheet inserted into the blade 23 by the paper folding rollers 25 and 26 abuts against the register 28. To explain the installation location of this register 28, if the paper feed direction size is a, for example,
Paper folding reroller 25.26 and paper folding reroller 26.29
The resistor 28 is attached at a location that is (1/4) a from the nip. Therefore, according to this paper folding device, even after the upper end of the folded portion of the sheet inserted into the blade 27 hits the register 28, the paper folding roller 2
5.26, the trailing edge of the paper is being forcibly conveyed upwards, and after the upper edge of the folding part of the paper hits the register 28, the middle part of the paper is transported near the paper folding rollers 26 and 29. The slack portion is pulled toward the exit guide plate 3o by the paper folding rerollers 26 and 29. This causes the paper to be Z-folded,
The paper is ejected by a paper ejection roller 31 provided in the middle of the exit guide plate 30.

However, the following problems occur in the paper folding device configured in this way.

That is, in this paper folding device, registers 24 and 28 are used to set the paper folding position of the paper.
．． The front end or the folded end of the paper is mechanically abutted against the paper folding roller 28 to form a slack part near the paper folding roller, and the slack part is passed to the paper folding roller 25, 26 or the paper folding reroller 26, 29.
I try to fold it in by. Therefore, when folding sheets of various sizes, that is, when folding sheets of various sizes at different folding positions, it is necessary to provide a register for each size of sheet.

Further, in the above paper folding device, the number of register drive devices corresponding to the number of registers is required. Therefore, there was a problem in that the configuration of the paper folding device became large and complicated.

Furthermore, in this paper folding device, the paper folding position is determined by the installation position of the register, so it is extremely difficult to finely adjust the paper folding position.

Furthermore, in this paper folding device, registers 24, 28
Since there are as many drive devices as there are registers, if a jam occurs in the blades 23, 27, it is extremely difficult to remove the paper.

In addition, with this paper folding device, the paper mechanically abuts against the registers 24 and 28 during paper folding, resulting in a problem of large noise.

(Objective) The present invention was made in view of the above points, and its main object is to provide a small and simple paper folding device.

(Structure) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an entrance guide plate;
an exit guide plate and a switchback guide plate arranged so as to be branched on the exit side of the entrance guide plate;
A first pair of paper folding rollers disposed at the entrance of the exit guide plate, a second pair of paper folding rollers disposed at the entrance of the switchback guide plate, and a pair of paper folding rollers disposed at the entrance of the exit guide plate and the switchback guide plate. a detector that detects the paper insertion state;
a driving device that can rotate the first and second paper folding roller pairs in forward and reverse directions; a paper folding return guide plate that controls the direction of feeding and returning the paper; The present invention includes a control device for controlling the rotation direction of the second pair of paper folding rollers and the paper folding return guide plate.

According to the paper folding device configured as described above, the insertion state of paper into the exit guide plate and the switchback guide plate is detected, and the rotation direction of the paper folding reroller is controlled and the paper folding return guide is controlled according to the detection result. The paper feed back direction is controlled by a plate, which allows the paper to be folded appropriately, so there is no need to provide registers according to the paper folding position as in the past. The path is simply constructed, and the paper folding device itself can be downsized.

Embodiments of the paper folding device according to the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a copying machine to which the paper folding device of this embodiment is applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 represents the main body of the copying machine, reference numeral 2 represents an automatic document feeder (ADF), and reference numeral 3 represents a paper folding device.

Here, the paper folding device 3 is configured as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, this paper folding device 3 includes an entrance guide plate 4, an exit guide plate 5 disposed so as to be bifurcated on the exit side of the entrance guide plate 4, and A switchback guide plate 6 is provided.

A pair of feed rollers 7 is disposed at the entrance of the entrance guide plate 4, and the paper P can be drawn deep into the entrance guide plate 4 by the pair of feed rollers 7. Further, a pair of paper folding rollers 8 is disposed in the middle of the entrance guide plate 4, so that the paper P can be reliably fed to the exit side of the entrance guide plate 4 by the pair of paper folding rollers 8. It has become.

On the other hand, a paper folding turn guide plate 9 is disposed near the exit of the entrance guide plate 4. This paper folding return guide plate 9
is driven by a link and solenoid means (not shown) on the axis of a paper folding roller 13b, which will be described later, so that the paper folding return guide plate 9 is moved to the guide position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. and a retracted position shown by a solid line in the figure.

To further explain this paper folding return guide 9,
The paper folding return guide plate 9 is arranged in nine grooves formed on the surface of the paper folding reroller 13b as shown in FIG.
The top surface 9b (FIG. 1) is configured to function as a guide surface for the paper P, and its tip 9c (FIG. 1) is formed into a smooth rounded shape. and,
When the paper folding guide plate 9 is in the guide position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1), its tip 9c faces the nip of paper folding rollers 10a and 10b, which will be described later.

Further, a first pair of paper folding rollers 10 is arranged at the entrance of the exit guide plate 5. This paper folding reroller pair 10 is composed of paper folding rerollers 10a and 10b. and,
When the paper folding rollers 10a, 10b rotate in the forward direction (see FIG. 5), the paper P is drawn deep into the exit guide plate 5, while the paper folding rollers 10a, 1
When 0b rotates in the opposite direction (see FIG. 6), the paper P is pulled out from the exit guide plate 5.

On the other hand, a pair of paper ejection rollers 11 is arranged at the exit of the exit guide plate 5, and the pair of paper ejection rollers 11 causes the paper P in the exit guide 5 to fall onto a paper ejection tray 12 arranged outside the machine. It is now possible to do so.

Further, a second pair of paper folding rollers 13 is arranged at the entrance of the switchback guide plate 6. This second paper folding reroller pair 13 is composed of rollers 13a and 13b.
One of the rollers 13a is the paper folding roller pair 10.
It is composed of a roller 1ob that constitutes. moreover,
A pair of auxiliary rollers 14 is disposed in the middle of the switchback guide plate 6. And these paper folding rerollers 1
3a, 13b and the auxiliary roller pair 14 rotate in the forward direction (
(see Fig. 5), the paper P can be pulled out from inside the switchback guide plate 6 as appropriate.
When the paper folding rollers 13a and 13b rotate in opposite directions (see FIG. 6), the paper P is drawn deep into the switchback guide plate 6.

Further, in this paper folding device, a drive device such as a forward/reverse motor is used as a drive device so that the paper folding roller pair 10.13 and the auxiliary roller pair 14 can be rotated in both forward and reverse directions. It is being

In addition, in this paper folding device, an encoder 15 as shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the shaft end of the roller 10a, and a photosensor 16 reads the pulses generated by the encoder, thereby causing the paper folding roller 10a to rotate. The amount can be detected.

On the other hand, a photo sensor (not shown) is provided near the exit of the pair of paper folding rollers 10.13 (the inner back side of the exit guide plate 5, the inner back side of the switchback guide plate 6). The starting point of insertion into the switchback guide plate 6 can be confirmed.

In this paper folding device, when the insertion of the paper P into the exit guide plate 5° switchback guide plate 6 is confirmed, a confirmation signal is output from the photo sensor to the control device.
The subsequent rotation amount (time) of the paper folding reroller 10a is counted by the pulse generated by the encoder, and the paper folding reroller 1
When the amount of rotation of 0a reaches a predetermined amount of rotation, the paper folding roller pair 10.13 is reversed and the position of the paper folding return guide 9 is changed as appropriate.

The above-mentioned predetermined amount of rotation at that time varies depending on the paper size and the way the paper is folded, so it is set in advance according to the paper size and the way the paper is folded.

In addition, in the paper folding device of the above embodiment, the paper folding roller 10
a, 10b (13a), and 13b are made of smooth, high-friction synthetic rubber. and,
These three paper folding rollers 10a, 10b (13a),
13b are gear-driven or pressure-driven at the same speed while keeping a small distance from each other.

Further, in the paper folding device of the embodiment, the paper folding reroller 10a,
13b is fixed in position, and the paper folding reroller 10 is
b (13a) is adjusted in the vertical direction in FIG. 1 and then fixed to provide a gap between the paper folding rollers. At this time, it is important that the gap between the paper folding rollers is sufficient to convey the paper P and that wrinkles do not occur in the paper P during folding. Therefore, in the paper folding device of this embodiment, the gap is set to 1, but not particularly limited, to 0.0.
The width is about 1 to 0.1 mm.

Next, the operation of the paper folding device configured as described above will be explained.

(1) Through mode (Fig. 5) At this time, the paper folding rerollers 10a, 10b (13a)
, 13b are rotated in the forward direction as shown in FIG. 5, and the paper folding return guide plate 9 is in a state where it is urged to the guide position. As a result, the paper P is ejected out of the machine without being folded, as shown by the broken line, through the entrance guide plate 4 and the exit guide plate 5.

(2) Z-folding mote (Figures 6 and 7) At this time, first, the paper folding reroller 10a.

10b (13a) and 13b are rotated in the forward direction in the same way as in the transparent mode shown in FIG. 5, and the sheet P immediately enters the exit guide plate 5 side from the entrance guide plate 4. Then, when the leading edge of the paper P reaches approximately point Q (this is a point (1/4) a from the nip between the rollers 10a and 10b; where a is the length of the paper P), the paper folding roller 10a, 10b
(13a), 13b and the auxiliary roller pair 14 are rotated in the opposite direction, and the paper folding return guide plate 9 is returned to its original retracted position.

That is, by counting the pulses generated by the encoder from the time when the paper P is inserted deep into the exit guide plate 5, it is confirmed that the paper P has reached the Q point, and after reaching the Q point, the paper folding rollers 10a and 10b (13a), 13b and the auxiliary roller pair 14 are rotated in the opposite direction, and the paper folding return guide plate 9 is returned to its original retracted position.

Then, the paper P is returned to the front end side or rearward by the paper folding roller pair 10. At this time, the rear end side of the paper P is still forcibly conveyed upward by the paper folding entrance roller pair 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The part (1/4) a from the front end of the paper is loosened, and the slack part is folded in by the paper folding rerollers 13a and 13b, and is drawn deep into the switchback guide plate 6.

Then, the folded end is at approximately the R point (this is the roller 13a, 1
From nip 3b to (1/4.)a),
Paper folding rollers 10a, 10b (13a)
, 13b, the auxiliary roller pair 14 is rotated in the forward direction, and the paper folding return guide plate 9 is urged to the guide position.

After that, the paper P is switched back, so that the central part of the paper P becomes slack, and the slack part is folded by the paper folding rollers 10a and 10b, as shown in FIG.

Then, the paper P that has been folded is directly discharged from the machine.

Thus, the sheets P after the paper folding are arranged into pages on the tray 12 as shown in FIG.

(3) Two-fold mode (not shown) In this mode, first, the paper folding roller 10a,
10b (13a), 13b, and the auxiliary roller pair 14 are rotating in opposite directions (see FIG. 6).

As a result, the paper P first enters the interior of the switchback guide plate 6. Then, when the leading edge of the paper reaches 8 points (this is 1/2 a from the nip between rollers 13a and 13b), the paper folds roller 10a.

10b (, 13a), 13b and the auxiliary roller 14 are rotated in the forward direction (see FIG. 5). At this time, the rear end side of the paper P is still forcibly conveyed upward by the paper folding roller pair 8. As a result, the center portion of the paper P becomes slack near the paper folding rollers 10a, 1ob, and the slackened portion becomes the paper folding reroller 10a, 10b.
It is pulled in and folded in. At this time, it is effective to bias the paper folding turn guide plate 9 to the guide position to assist the movement of the paper.

According to the paper folding device of the embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, according to the paper folding device of the above embodiment, the insertion state of the paper into the exit guide plate 5 and the switchback guide plate 6 is detected, and the paper folding roller pair 10.
13 and the position of the paper folding return guide plate 9 to control the feeding direction of the paper P and fold the paper appropriately.
By eliminating the need for conventional registers, the conveyance path can be simply constructed, and the paper folding device itself can be downsized. Furthermore, since no register is required, paper jams are less likely to occur, jam removal is easier, and noise can be reduced.

Furthermore, according to the paper folding device of the above embodiment, even if the size of the paper P changes and the length a of the paper P changes, the preprogrammed control is executed upon receiving the paper size signal from the paper feed unit. This makes it possible to accommodate multiple sizes.

Furthermore, according to the paper folding apparatus of the above embodiment, even if it is desired to change the folding position to some extent, it can be easily executed by incorporating such a program.

In addition, according to the paper folding device of the above embodiment, even if the paper P jams in the conveyance path, the guide plate can be easily opened because there is no register. Therefore, paper P can be easily removed.

Note that outward folding in two-fold mode is also possible.

In that case, increase the distance between the paper folding rerollers 10b (13b) and 10a and the paper ejection roller pair 11 by more than (1/2)a, or
The pair of paper ejection rollers may be controlled in forward and reverse directions. The paper feeding method in this case is the same as the Z-fold mode.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, a paper folding device capable of folding a sheet in half and Z-folding has been described, but the present invention can be applied to other folding methods by appropriately changing the arrangement and number of paper folding rollers.

Furthermore, even if documents are mixed in A3 and A4 sizes, for example, the A4 copy can be passed through and the A3 copy can be folded in half to perform mixed copy processing.

Further, in this embodiment, a paper folding device applied to a copying machine has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to paper processing devices, printers, facsimile machines, printing machines, etc.

(Effects) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, an entrance guide plate, and an exit guide plate and a switchback guide plate arranged so as to be branched on the exit side of this entrance guide plate. , a first pair of paper folding rerollers disposed at the entrance of the exit guide plate, a second pair of paper folding rerollers disposed at the entrance of the switchback guide plate, and a pair of paper folding rerollers disposed at the entrance of the exit guide plate and the switchback guide plate. a detector for detecting the insertion state of the paper, a drive device that can rotate the first and second paper folding roller pairs in forward and reverse directions, and a paper folding return guide plate that controls the direction of feeding and returning the paper; Since the present invention includes a control device that controls the rotational direction of the first and second paper folding roller pairs and the paper folding return guide plate based on the signal from the detector, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, the insertion state of the paper into the exit guide plate and the switchback guide plate is detected, and according to the detection results, the rotational direction of the paper folding reroller and the feeding direction of the paper by the paper folding return guide plate are controlled. As the paper is switched back and folded as appropriate, there is no need for registers, and the conveyance path is simplified.
Moreover, paper jams are less likely to occur and jam removal is easy.

Further, since no register is required, noise is also reduced.

Furthermore, since the paper folding adjustment can be controlled by software, it can be easily applied to paper of any size.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the main parts of an embodiment of a paper folding device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a copying machine to which the paper folding device of the embodiment is applied, and FIG. A diagram showing the installation state of the paper folding return guide in the paper folding device of the example, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the encoder in the paper folding device of the present example,
5 to 7 are longitudinal sectional views showing the operating state of the paper folding device of the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional paper folding device. P...Paper, 4...Entrance guide plate, 5...
Exit guide plate, 6...Switchback guide plate, 9
... Paper folding return guide plate, 10, 13... Paper folding reroller. 81st Jito + 2/ Song Dynasty No. 11

Claims (1)

[Claims] An entrance guide plate, an exit guide plate and a switchback guide plate arranged so as to be branched on the exit side of the entrance guide plate, and a first switchback guide plate arranged at the entrance of the exit guide plate.
a pair of paper folding rollers, a second pair of paper folding rollers disposed at the entrance of the switchback guide plate, a detection device for detecting the state of insertion of paper into the exit guide plate and the switchback guide plate; a drive device that can rotate the first and second paper folding roller pairs in forward and reverse directions; a paper folding turn guide plate that controls the direction of feeding and returning the paper; A paper folding device comprising: a control device for controlling the rotational direction of the pair of paper folding rollers and the paper folding turn guide plate.