JP2010120714A - Sheet folding device, post-processing device using the same, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet folding device capable of storing folded sheets and non-folded sheets in a tray while enabling easy selection as to whether the sheet is subjected to folding processing or not. <P>SOLUTION: This sheet folding device is configured to have a first control mode moving the folding blade means to an operating position from a retracted position, and carrying out the sheet folded by the folding roll means to the stacking means after carrying the sheet in the folding processing passage, and a second control mode moving the front end guide means to the operating position before carrying the sheet in the folding processing passage, and carrying it out to the stacking means without guiding the front end of the carry-in sheet to the folding roll means to be folded. Thus, the positions of the blade means and the front end guide means, or a member (for example, a blade member) constituting the two, are moved between the operating position and the retracted position, thereby allowing the sheets to be folded and not to be folded to be stored in the same stack means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding apparatus that folds sequentially supplied sheets in a single state or a bundle state, and relates to an improvement in a sheet storage mechanism that efficiently stores a sheet to be folded and a sheet not to be folded.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet folding apparatus is widely known as an apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet carried out from an image forming apparatus or the like and finishes the sheet. As the post-processing, there are known a stapling process for aligning and stacking image-formed sheets and binding them, or a punching process for punching an image-formed sheet for filing, and a stamping process for stamping. An apparatus incorporating a sheet folding mechanism that folds an image-formed sheet in two or three simultaneously with these processes is also known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-184325), a sheet that is connected to a sheet discharge port of an image forming apparatus and that has an image formed thereon is unloaded onto a processing tray and aligned, and the sheet bundle is stapled. An apparatus for carrying out a booklet finished sheet bundle to a storage tray (first storage tray) is disclosed. In this publication, a sheet folding path for folding a sheet to be finished into two or three is provided. This path is configured by a switchback path that switches back the sheet that reaches the processing tray and positions it at a predetermined folding position. The switchback path is provided with a staple unit for aligning and accumulating sheets and performing saddle stitching at the center, and a folding roll for folding the center of the sheet bundle.

In the post-processing apparatus that folds the sheets formed in this way into a booklet, a stack tray that stores a bundle of sheets folded into a booklet, a stack tray that stores sheets that are not booklet processed, and an apparatus configuration Depending on the situation, a stack tray is provided for storing sheets for overflow or interrupt processing. These trays are arranged up and down on one side wall of the apparatus (the left side wall is the same document).
JP 2008-184325 A (FIG. 2)

  As described above, in the conventional folding apparatus, the tray for storing the folded sheet and the tray for storing the sheet not to be folded are arranged vertically on the side of the apparatus. The plurality of trays arranged above and below are arranged at a position where a commonly used tray can be easily taken out by an operator in a standing posture, and a tray with low usage frequency is arranged at a lower floor position. As described above, the conventional sheet folding apparatus is provided with a dedicated tray for storing folded sheets, a dedicated tray for storing sheets not to be folded, and a dedicated tray for storing sheets at the time of interruption or overflow.

  On the other hand, the configuration of a common tray for storing sheets subjected to a plurality of different processes in one tray is naturally known. However, the structure of the apparatus that folds the sheet has a complicated structure such as a roll mechanism that folds the sheet and a mechanism that inserts a fold position of the sheet into the roll, and the sheet to be folded is stored in a tray dedicated to the folding process. .

  Therefore, the present inventor can provide a special overflow tray by storing a sheet that is not folded in the tray that stores the folded sheet, and can store a large capacity sheet in the tray. I came up with an idea.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet folding apparatus that can easily select whether or not to perform folding processing on a sheet in a folding processing path and can store a folded sheet and a sheet that is not folded on a tray. It is said. Furthermore, the present invention provides a sheet folding apparatus that has a simple structure and can be easily controlled by performing a folding process on the sheet sent to the path or carrying it out downstream without performing the folding process. Is the issue.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration. A pair of folding roll means (45) press-contacted with each other, a folding blade means (46) for inserting a fold portion of the sheet into the nip position (NP), and a leading end of the sheet carried into the path from the upstream side is folded and rolled. A tip guide means (65) for guiding the means is arranged. Each of the guide means and the blade means is configured to be movable between an operating position in the folding processing path and a retracted position outside the path. Therefore, the control means for controlling the two means is: “stack the sheet after the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, the folding blade means is moved from the retracted position to the operating position, and the folding roll means is folded. The first control mode, and “the front end guide means is moved to the operating position and the front end of the carry-in sheet is guided to the folding roll means before the sheet is carried into the folding processing path to be folded. It is configured to have a second control mode of “unloading to the stack means”. As a result, by moving the blade means and the tip guide means, or a member (for example, a blade member) constituting both, between the operating position and the retracted position, the folded sheet and the unfolded sheet are placed on the same stack means. Can be accommodated.

  A folding processing path (folding processing path 35) for positioning and temporarily holding the sequentially fed sheets at a predetermined folding position (Y), and a pressure contact between the folding positions (Y) arranged at the folding position (Y). A pair of folding roll means (45), a folding blade means (46) for inserting a fold portion of the sheet into a nip position (NP) of the folding roll means (45), and a downstream side of the folding roll means (45) And a stack unit (second discharge tray 22) for storing the folded sheet, and the leading end of the sheet carried from the upstream side is guided to the folding roll unit in the folding processing path. A tip guide means is arranged, and the tip guide means and the folding blade means are configured to be movable between an operating position in the folding processing path and a retracted position outside the path, respectively. . The control means for controlling the folding blade means and the sheet leading edge guide means is a sheet that is conveyed to the folding processing path and then the folding blade means is moved from the retracted position to the operating position and folded by the folding roll means. A first control mode for unloading the sheet to the stacking means, and the leading edge guide means is moved to the operating position before the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, and the leading edge of the loaded sheet is guided to the folding roll means to be folded. A second control mode for carrying out the stacking means without performing the operation.

  The folding blade means (46) and the tip guide means are arranged at the folding position (Y) of the folding processing path (35) so as to be movable between an operating position in the path and a retracted position outside the path. The folding blade means (46) is formed of the same flat blade member (46), and the folding blade means (46) nips the sheet at the leading edge (46e) of the flat blade member (NP) (NP) ), And the leading edge guiding means (46, 70) guides the leading edge of the sheet to the nip position (NP) of the folding roll means (45) by the lateral belly part (70b) of the flat blade member. Configure by doing.

  The folding path (35) includes a sheet carry-in port, a sheet leading edge regulating means (38), a sheet binding means (saddle stitching stapler 40), the folding roll means (45), and the folding blade means (46). And the leading edge guide means, the sheet binding means (40) is arranged between the sheet carry-in port and the folding roll means, and the folding blade means and the leading edge guide means are the sheet leading edge regulating means ( 38) upstream.

  A sheet carry-in path (P1) that includes a carry-in port (23) and a paper discharge port (25a), and transfers a sheet from the carry-in port (23) toward the paper discharge port (25a), and the paper discharge port (25a). ), A first stack means (21) for stacking and storing sheets from the sheet carry-in path (P1), and a branch from the sheet carry-in path (P1). 23) a folding processing path (folding processing path 35) for switching back the sheet from position 23 and positioning it at a predetermined folding position (Y), and a pair of press-contacted sheets arranged at the folding position (Y) and folding the sheets Folding roll means (45), a folding blade means (46) for inserting a fold portion of the sheet into a nip position (NP) of the folding roll means (45), and a downstream side of the folding roll means (45). , Second stack means (second discharge tray 22) for storing processed sheets, and the first stack means (21) and the second stack means (22) are trays for stacking sheets. In the folding processing path (35), a leading edge guide means (70) for guiding the leading edge of the sheet carried from the upstream side to the folding roll means (45) is disposed in the folding processing path (35). The folding blade means (46) is configured to be movable between an operating position in the folding processing path and a retracted position outside the path.

  The control means for controlling the folding blade means and the sheet leading edge guide means is a sheet that is conveyed to the folding processing path and then the folding blade means is moved from the retracted position to the operating position and folded by the folding roll means. A first control mode for unloading the sheet to the stacking means, and the leading edge guide means is moved to the operating position before the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, and the leading edge of the loaded sheet is guided to the folding roll means to be folded. A second control mode for carrying out the stacking means without performing the operation.

  A processing tray (primarily aligning and stacking sheets from the discharge port (25a) between the discharge port (25a) of the sheet carry-in path (P1) and the first stack means (21). 29) and post-processing means (33) for binding the stacked sheets on the processing tray.

  A path switching means (27) for selectively guiding a sheet is disposed at a branch point between the sheet carry-in path (P1) and the folding processing path (35), and the control means further includes the path switching means (27 ) To control the first switching mode (29) to carry out the sheet from the carry-in entrance (23) to the first stacking means (29), and to control the route switching means (27) from the carry-in entrance (23). A second processing mode in which the sheet is guided to the folding processing path (35) and then folded into the second stack means (22), and the first processing mode includes the carry-in port ( The operation of guiding the sheet from 23) to the folding processing path (35) and carrying it out to the second stack means without folding is configured to be selectable.

  In the first processing mode, the path switching means (27) is controlled to carry out the sheet from the carry-in entrance (23) to the first stack means (21), and the carry-in entrance (23) From the first stack means (21) exceeds the allowable number of sheets stored, or when an instruction signal for interrupt processing is sent to the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance (23), or the first stack When an operation failure such as a paper jam occurs in the means (21), the sheet from the carry-in entrance (23) is guided to the folding processing path (35) and is not folded, so that the second stacking means (22 ) To carry out the operation.

  An image forming system according to the present invention is configured to temporarily stack sheets from an image forming apparatus (A) that sequentially forms images on sheets and a sheet discharge port (3) of the image forming apparatus (A), And / or a post-processing apparatus (B) that performs folding processing, and the post-processing apparatus has the above-described configuration.

  The present invention is provided with folding blade means for inserting a sheet into a nip position between a pair of folding roll means that are in pressure contact with each other, and leading edge guide means for guiding the leading edge of the sheet at this nip position. Since the first control mode for guiding the crease position of the sheet loaded into the nip position and the second control mode for guiding the leading edge of the sheet loaded into the path to the nip position are configured as follows. There is an effect.

  After a predetermined position of the sheet from the folding processing path is folded in the stacking means arranged on the downstream side of the folding roll means, the operation mode stored in the stacking means and the sheet sent to the processing path are stacked without being folded. The operation mode stored in the means can be selectively executed. For this reason, the apparatus can be made compact and compact, whereas the storage tray for folding sheets and the storage tray for sheets not to be folded are conventionally arranged separately.

  In particular, in an apparatus configuration in which a storage tray for sheets that are not folded (normal sheets) and a storage tray for sheets that have been folded are arranged up and down, the apparatus is stopped after the trays for normal sheets are full. Alternatively, the overflow sheet can be stored in the folding processing sheet storage tray, or the interrupting sheet can be stored in the folding processing sheet storage tray when the interrupt processing is performed in an upstream apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, a sheet that has been carried into a folding processing path is selected to be guided by a folding blade means or a leading edge guide means to folding roll means disposed in the path, and the folding processing sheet and the folding processing are selected. Sheets that are not to be stored can be stored in a common storage tray, the structure for that is extremely simple, and the control thereof is also easy.

  Further, according to the present invention, the blade means and the tip guide means are constituted by the same flat blade member, so that the structure becomes simple and the apparatus cost can be remarkably reduced.

  The present invention will be described in detail below based on the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the image forming system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of the post-processing apparatus, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams showing the detailed configuration of the sheet folding apparatus. Therefore, the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus B. The post-processing apparatus B incorporates a sheet folding apparatus C as a unit. This will be sequentially described below.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus]
In A shown in FIG. 1, the sheet is sent from 1 to the image forming unit 2, printed on the sheet by the image forming unit 2, and then discharged from the main body discharge port 3. The sheet feeding unit 1 stores sheets of a plurality of sizes in sheet feeding cassettes 1 a and 1 b, and separates specified sheets one by one and feeds them to the image forming unit 2. The image forming unit 2 includes, for example, an electrostatic drum 4, a print head (laser light emitting device) 5 and a developing device 6 arranged around the electrostatic drum 4, a transfer charger 7, and a fixing device 8. An electrostatic latent image is formed by the light emitting device 5, toner is adhered to the developing device 6, an image is transferred onto the sheet by the transfer charger 7, and heat fixing is performed by the fixing device 8. The sheets on which images are formed in this way are sequentially carried out from the main body discharge port 3. 9 is a circulation path, and the sheet printed on the front side from the fixing device 8 is turned upside down through the main body switchback path 10 and then fed again to the image forming unit 2 to print on the back side of the sheet. This is the path for duplex printing. The sheet printed on both sides in this way is turned upside down by the main body switchback path 10 and then carried out from the main body discharge port 3.

  In FIG. 11, an original sheet set on the platen 12 is scanned by the scan unit 13 and electrically read by a photoelectric conversion element (not shown). The image data is digitally processed by an image processing unit, for example, and then transferred to the data storage unit 14 to send an image signal to the laser emitter 5. 15 is a document feeder, which is a feeder device that feeds document sheets stored in the stacker 16 to the platen 12.

  The image forming apparatus A configured as described above is provided with the control unit 50 shown in FIG. 10, and image forming conditions such as sheet size designation, color / monochrome printing designation, print number designation, single-sided / double-sided printing designation, and enlargement from the control panel 18. -Printout conditions such as reduced print designation are set. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus A, image data read by the scan unit 13 or image data transferred from an external network is accumulated in the data storage unit 17, and the image data is transferred from the data storage unit 17 to the buffer memory 19. The data signal is sequentially transferred from the buffer memory 19 to the laser emitter 5.

  From the control panel 18, post-processing conditions are also input and specified simultaneously with the image forming conditions. As the post-processing conditions, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding mode”, “sheet bundle folding mode”, or the like is designated. The image forming apparatus A forms an image on the sheet according to the image forming condition and the post-processing condition. When “single-sided printing” is set as the image forming condition and “print-out mode” or “staple binding mode” is set as the post-processing condition, a predetermined image is formed on the sheet designated by the image forming unit 2, and this sheet Is reversed on the main body switchback path 10 and then carried out to the main body discharge port 3.

  In the image forming apparatus A, a series of sheets are sequentially formed from the first page to the nth page. A post-processing apparatus B, which will be described later, receives sheets carried out face down from the first page. When in the “print-out mode”, the sheets are sequentially stacked and stored in the first paper discharge tray 21 arranged in the post-processing apparatus B. In the “staple binding mode”, the sheets are stacked and stored in the stacking tray 29 disposed in the post-processing apparatus B. Then, the sheets stacked on the stacking tray are bound by a stapling device 33 (to be described later) in response to a job end signal and stored in the first paper discharge tray 21.

[Configuration of post-processing equipment]
The post-processing apparatus B connected to the image forming apparatus A receives a sheet on which an image is formed from the main body discharge port 3 of the image forming apparatus A, and (1) stores the sheet in the first discharge tray 21. (“Printout mode”) (2) Whether the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are aligned in a bundle and stapled, and then stored in the first discharge tray 21 (“staple binding mode”) ( 3) After the sheets from the main body discharge port 3 are arranged in a bundle, the sheets are folded into a booklet and stored in the second discharge tray 22 (“sheet bundle folding mode”).

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the post-processing apparatus B includes the first paper discharge tray 21 and the second paper discharge tray 22 in the casing 20, and a sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 having a carry-in port 23 connected to the main body discharge port 3. Is provided. The sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is configured by a substantially horizontal straight path in the casing 20. A first switchback conveyance path SP1 and a second switchback conveyance path SP2 that branch from the sheet carry-in path P1 and transfer the sheet in the reverse direction are arranged. The first switchback transport path SP1 is branched from the sheet carry-in path P1 on the downstream side and the second switchback transport path SP2 is branched on the upstream side of the path, and the switchback transport paths SP1 and SP2 are spaced apart from each other. Has been placed.

  In such a path configuration, the carry-in roller 24 and the paper discharge roller 25 are arranged in the sheet carry-in path P1, and these rollers are connected to a drive motor (not shown) that can be rotated forward and backward. Further, a path switching piece 27 for guiding the sheet to the second switchback conveying path SP2 is disposed in the sheet carry-in path P1, and is connected to an operating means such as a solenoid. Further, a buffer guide 26 is provided in the sheet carry-in path P1 for temporarily staying and holding the sheet reaching the second switchback transport path SP2. A post-processing unit 28 is provided between the carry-in entrance 23 and the carry-in roller 24 to perform post-processing such as stamping (stamping means) and punching (punching means) on the sheet from the image forming apparatus A.

[Configuration of the first switchback transport path SP1]
As described above, the first switchback conveyance path SP1 disposed on the downstream side (rear end portion of the apparatus) of the sheet carry-in path P1 is configured as follows. A discharge roller 25 and a discharge port 25a are provided at the exit end of the sheet carry-in path P1, and a stacking tray 29 is provided below the discharge port 25a with a step difference. Above the stacking tray 29, a forward / reverse roller 30 is disposed so as to be movable up and down between a position in contact with the sheet on the stacking tray and a retracted position (a chain line position in FIG. 3). A forward / reverse motor M2 is connected to the forward / reverse roller 30 and rotates clockwise when a sheet enters the stacking tray 29, and rotates counterclockwise after the trailing edge of the sheet enters the stacking tray. To be controlled. Accordingly, a first switchback transport path SP1 is formed on the stacking tray 29. 31 is a caterpillar belt, and the paper discharge roller 25 and one end pulley side are pressed against each other, and the tip pulley side is pivotally supported so as to hang from the collecting tray 29 around the pulley shaft 31a. A driven roller 30 b shown in the figure is engaged with the forward / reverse roller 30 and is provided on the stacking tray 29.

  With the above configuration, the sheet from the discharge port 25a enters the stacking tray 29 and is transferred toward the first discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30, and the rear end of the sheet is transferred from the discharge port 25a to the stacking tray 29. After entering, when the forward / reverse roller 30 is rotated backward (counterclockwise in the figure), the sheets on the stacking tray 29 are transferred in the direction opposite to the paper discharge direction. At this time, the caterpillar belt 31 switches back and conveys the sheet trailing edge along the stacking tray 29 in cooperation with the forward / reverse roller 30.

  A trailing edge regulating member 32 and a stapling device 33 for regulating the position of the trailing edge of the sheet are disposed at the trailing edge of the stacking tray 29 in the paper discharge direction. The illustrated stapling device 33 is composed of an end-face stitching stapler, and staples the staple at one place or a plurality of places on the trailing edge of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray. Further, the trailing edge regulating member 32 reciprocates in the paper discharge direction along the stacking tray 29 in order to share the function of carrying out the staple-bound sheet bundle to the first paper discharge tray 21 disposed on the downstream side of the stacking tray 29. It is configured to move freely. Reference numeral 34a in the figure denotes a drive arm that reciprocates the rear end regulating member 32, and is connected to the paper discharge motor M3.

  Further, the stacking tray 29 is provided with a side aligning plate 34b for aligning the width direction of the sheets stacked on the tray, and the side aligning plate 34b is a pair of left and right aligning plates so as to align the sheets with the center reference. It is comprised, it is comprised so that it may approach and separate in the sheet | seat center, and it is connected with the alignment motor which is not shown in figure.

  The first switchback conveying path SP1 configured as described above aligns the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet 25a on the stacking tray 29 in the “staple binding mode”, and the sheet bundle is rear-end by the stapling device 33. Staple one or more edges. In the “print-out mode”, the sheet fed along the stacking tray 29 is conveyed between the forward / reverse roller 30 and the driven roller 30b without the switchback conveyance of the sheet from the sheet discharge port 25a. It is carried out to the paper tray 21. In this way, the illustrated apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus is compactly configured by supporting the sheets to be stapled by the stacking tray 29 and the first discharge tray 21 in a bridge manner.

[Configuration of second switchback transport path]
The configuration of the second switchback conveyance path SP2 branched from the sheet carry-in path P1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second switchback transport path SP2 is disposed in a substantially vertical direction in the apparatus casing 20, and a transport roller 36 is disposed at the path entrance and a transport roller 37 is disposed at the path exit. Further, a folding processing path 35 is provided on the downstream side of the second switchback conveying path SP2 for aligning and folding the sheets sent from the conveying path. The illustrated folding processing path 35 is constituted by a conveyance guide (stacking guide) for transferring sheets. In the folding processing path 35, a saddle stitching staple device 40 and a folding roll means 45 are arranged. Hereinafter, these configurations will be sequentially described.

  First, the folding processing path 35 is formed by a guide member that guides conveyance of the sheet, and is configured to stack and store the sheet on this guide. The illustrated folding processing path 35 is continuous with the second switchback transport path SP2 and is disposed substantially vertically in the center of the apparatus casing 20. As a result, the apparatus is made compact and compact. This folding processing path 35 is formed in a length shape that accommodates the maximum size sheet therein, and in particular, the illustrated one is curved or bent so as to protrude to the side where the saddle stitching staple device 40 and the folding roll means 45 described later are disposed. It is configured in the shape.

  A leading edge regulating member 38 that regulates the leading edge of the sheet is disposed on the downstream side of the guide in the folding processing path 35. The leading edge regulating member 38 is supported by a guide rail or the like so as to be movable along the folding processing path 35. The position is moved by non-shifting means.

  A sheet side edge aligning member 39 is disposed in the folding processing path 35 on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. The sheet side edge aligning member 39 aligns so that the position in the width direction of the sheet carried into the folding processing path 35 and supported by the leading end regulating member 38 is matched with the reference. In the illustrated apparatus, the sheet side edge aligning member 39 is composed of a pair of left and right aligning plates so that the sheets are aligned with respect to each other with respect to the center, and the pair of aligning plates are supported by the guide by being equidistant from the sheet center. The aligned sheet bundle is aligned and aligned. For this reason, the sheet side edge alignment member 39 is connected to an alignment motor (not shown).

[Configuration of Saddle Stitcher]
A binding position X is set on the upstream side and a folding position Y is set on the downstream side along the folding processing path 35 described above, and the saddle stitching staple device 40 is disposed at the binding position X. The stapling apparatus 40 is configured by a driver unit 40A and an anvil unit 40B, and each unit is configured to be separated at positions facing each other with the folding processing path 35 interposed therebetween. A needle cartridge is mounted on the driver unit 40A, and a needle connected in a belt shape is built in the cartridge. The needle member at the tip is bent into a U shape by the former member by a driver member that moves up and down between the upper dead center and the lower bottom dead center, and then this needle is inserted into the sheet bundle. Has been. Accordingly, the driver unit 40A includes a drive motor M, a drive arm that moves the driver unit up and down, a drive cam that drives the arm, and the like.

  On the other hand, the anvil unit 40B is provided with a bending groove for bending the tip of the staple needle inserted into the sheet bundle. The saddle stitching and stapling apparatus 40 configured as described above is configured such that the driver unit 40A and the anvil unit 40B are separated from each other so that the sheet bundle can pass between them. Accordingly, it is possible to staple the central portion of the sheet bundle and other arbitrary positions.

[Configuration of folding roll means]
A folding roll means 45 that folds the sheet bundle at the folding position Y arranged on the downstream side of the saddle stitching staple device 40, and a sheet bundle at the nip position NP (see FIG. 5A) of the folding roll means 45. A folding blade 46 is provided for inserting the. As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the folding roll means 45 is composed of rolls 45a and 45b that are in pressure contact with each other, and each roll is formed to have a substantially maximum sheet width. The pair of rolls 45a and 45b are fitted in the long grooves of the apparatus frame so that the rotary shafts 45ax and 45bx are pressed against each other, and are urged in the press-contact direction by the compression springs 45aS and 45bS. The rolls 45a and 45b may be structured such that at least one of them is supported by a shaft so as to be movable in the press-contact direction, and an urging spring is stretched over one of the rolls.

  The pair of rolls 45a and 45b are formed of a material having a relatively large friction coefficient such as a rubber roller. This is because the sheet is bent and transferred by a soft material such as rubber, and may be formed by lining the rubber material. The folding roll means 45 is formed in an uneven shape as shown in FIG. 5B, and a gap 45g is formed in the sheet value width direction. The gap 45g is arranged so as to coincide with the unevenness of the folding blade 46, which will be described later, and consideration is given so that the tip of the folding blade can easily enter between the roll nips. At the same time, the gap 45g is arranged at a width position that coincides with a staple binding portion for binding the sheet bundle. That is, the pair of rolls 45a and 45b that are in pressure contact with each other is formed with an uneven shape having a gap (gap 45g) in the sheet width direction, and the staple binding portion of the sheet and the folding blade 46 similarly formed with the uneven shape in this gap. The cutting edge enters.

  Each of the rolls 45a and 45b is connected to a roll driving means RM. The illustrated roll drive means RM is composed of a roll drive motor M6 and a transmission mechanism (transmission means) 47V as shown in FIG. The illustrated transmission means 47V is composed of a transmission belt that decelerates the rotation of the roll drive motor M6 and transmits it to the transmission shaft 47X. Clutch means 45c is disposed between the transmission shaft 47X and the rotation shaft 45ax of the first roll 45a. Similarly, a clutch means 45c is also arranged between the second roll 45b and the rotation shaft 45bx. The clutch means 45c is an electromagnetic clutch, one-way clutch (one-way clutch), a sliding friction clutch (spring clutch), etc., so that the drive rotation of the roll drive motor M6 can be turned on and off to the first roll 45a and the second roll 45b. Configure.

  The illustrated clutch means 45c is constituted by a one-way clutch, and is configured to transmit the rotation of the transmission shaft 47X to the transmission collar 47Z only in one direction between the transmission shaft 47X and the transmission collar 47Z. The first roll 45a is gear-connected to the transmission collar 47Z, and the second roll 45b is belt-connected. Thus, only one direction of rotation of the roll drive motor M6 is transmitted to the first and second rolls 45a and 45b coupled to the roll drive motor M6 via the clutch means 45c, and at the same time, the rolls 45a and 45b It is configured to be freely rotatable in the feeding direction.

  The pair of rolls 45a and 45b described above is located on the curved or bent protruding side of the folding processing path 35 and is separated from the sheet bundle supported by the folding processing path 35 by a distance h shown in FIG. Placed in position. In other words, the sheet (bundle) supported by the folding processing path 35 is disposed at a position where the roll surface does not come in contact with the distance h. A folding blade 46 having a knife edge is provided at a position opposed to the sheet bundle. The folding blade 46 is supported by the apparatus frame so as to be able to reciprocate between the retracted position in FIG. 7A and the nip position in FIG. Blade driving means BM is connected to the folding blade 46. The folding blade 46 is configured to reciprocate between the retracted position retracted from the sheet bundle supported by the folding processing path 35 and the nip position between the pressure contacts of the folding roll means 45 by the blade drive motor M7. The folding blade 46 is formed in a plate shape with a material having a relatively small coefficient of friction such as metal, and the tip thereof is formed in an uneven surface as shown in FIG. The blade tip is formed in a shape that enters the cap 45g of the folding roll means 45 as described above.

  Therefore, in the illustrated example, the relationship between the friction coefficient v1 between the pair of rolls 45a and 45b and the sheet, the friction coefficient v2 between the sheets, and the friction coefficient v3 between the sheet and the folding blade 46 is “v1> v2>. v3 ". Therefore, when the sheet bundle shown in FIG. 7C is inserted between the first roll 45a and the second roll 45b by the folding blade 46, the pressure contact force acting on both rolls 45a and 45b is the roll pair and the sheet bundle. And it reaches each as a force equal to the folding blade. At this time, since the friction coefficient is set to the above relationship, the sheet bundle is smoothly fed in the feeding direction (left side in the figure).

  Next, the configuration of the blade driving means BM of the folding blade 46 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6B, the folding blade 46 is supported on the apparatus frame by a guide rail 46g so as to be movable in the sheet folding direction. The folding blade 46 is supported so as to be capable of reciprocating between a retracted position retracted from the sheet supported by the folding processing path 35 and a nip position NP of the folding roll means 45. The blade driving means BM for reciprocating the folding blade 46 is transmitted to the transmission rotating shaft 46X by a blade driving motor M7 and a transmission means 46V for transmitting the rotation thereof, and the illustrated one is a transmission belt. This 46X is provided with a transmission pinion 46P and meshes with a rack gear 46L attached to the folding blade 46 integrally.

  Accordingly, when the blade drive motor M7 rotates forward and backward, the folding blade 46 reciprocates between the retracted position and the nip position along the guide rail 46g. The folding blade 46 is constituted by a plate-like member having a knife edge in the sheet width direction, and the tip thereof is formed in an uneven shape as shown in the figure.

[Configuration of folding blade means]
Next, the configuration of the folding blade means 46 will be described. The folding blade means (folding blade; hereinafter the same) 46 is disposed at the folding position Y so as to insert the fold position of the sheet bundle into the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45 described above. The folding blade means is constituted by a flat blade member 46, and the flat blade member 46 is disposed opposite to the folding roll means 45 with the folding processing path 35 interposed therebetween as shown in FIG. And it is configured to be movable between a retracted position retracted out of the path (solid line state in FIG. 5A) and an operating position entering the path (chain line state in FIG. 5). Although not shown, the structure is slidably supported by, for example, a guide rail provided in the apparatus frame. Therefore, the plate-like blade member 46 is connected to an operating means (the aforementioned blade drive motor M7) such as a motor and a solenoid. The illustrated operating means is composed of a stepping motor (drive motor) and a rack and pinion mechanism. The blade member 46 is moved between the retracted position and the operating position by forward / reverse driving of the operating means (blade driving motor M7). 46e shows the leading edge portion of the blade member, and the fold position (fold line position) of the sheet bundle accumulated in the folding processing path 35 at the leading edge portion 46e is inserted into the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45.

[Configuration of tip guide means]
In the above-described folding processing path 35, the above-described folding blade means 46 and the tip guide means 70 selectively positioned at the folding position Y are arranged. The leading edge guide means 70 is arranged to guide the leading edge of the sheet entering from the upstream of the folding processing path 35 to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45. For this reason, the tip guide means 70 is disposed so as to be movable between a retracted position retracted outside the path and an operating position entering the path. The configuration of the tip guide means 70 will be described. FIG. 5A shows a case where the tip guide means 70 is constituted by the above-described flat blade member 46 (first embodiment described below). FIG. 5C shows a case where a guide plate different from the above-described flat blade member 46 is arranged at the folding position (second embodiment described below).

“First Embodiment”
FIG. 5A shows a case where the tip guide means 70 is constituted by the above-described flat blade member 46. The flat blade member 46 is formed with a lateral abdomen 46b, and the lateral abdomen 46b of this blade member biases the leading edge of the sheet fed from the upstream side of the path in this position at the operation position indicated by the chain line in FIG. It is bent and guided to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45. Therefore, when the plate-like blade member 46 having the above-described configuration is moved from the retracted position to the operating position with respect to the sheets (bundles) stored in the folding processing path by the control of the operating means (blade drive motor M7). The fold position of the sheet bundle is guided to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45. Further, when the sheet enters the folding processing path 35 from the upstream side, if the flat blade member 46 is located at the operating position from the retracted position, the sheet tip is bent (bent) without being guided to the downstream side of the path. ) To guide to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45. As described above, the flat blade member 46 shown in FIG. 5A has a structure constituting the folding blade means 46 and the tip guide means 70.

“Second Embodiment”
As shown in FIG. 5C, the tip guide means 70 can be arranged in the folding processing path 35 with a structure different from the flat blade member 46 constituting the folding blade means 46. The folding blade means 46 and the tip guide means 70 are arranged adjacent to each other at the folding position Y in FIG. The tip guide means 70 is constituted by a flat guide member, and the guide member is retracted to the outside of the path (solid line state in FIG. 5C) and the operating position intruded into the path (chain line state in the figure). It is arranged to be movable between. The flat guide member 70 is connected to an operating means 70m such as a motor or a solenoid. The illustrated operating means 70m is composed of a stepping motor and a rack and pinion mechanism. The guide member 70 is moved between the retracted position and the operating position by forward / reverse driving of the operating means 70m. 70b shows a horizontal part of a flat guide member, and the front edge of the sheet entering the folding processing path 35 is guided to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45 by the horizontal part 70b.

  Note that the tip of the folding blade means 46 is formed in a concavo-convex shape, and this tip concavo-convex part coincides with a gap 45g (see FIG. 5B) formed in the fold roll means 45. In this way, consideration is given so that the tip of the folding blade can easily enter between the roll nips.

[Explanation of folding operation]
Next, a sheet folding state by the folding roll means 45 and the folding blade means 46 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the sheet bundle supported by the folding processing path 35 in the form of a bundle is locked to the leading end regulating member 38 in the state shown in FIG. 5A, and the fold position is positioned at the folding position Y in the stapled state. . Upon obtaining this sheet bundle setting end signal, the drive control means (sheet folding operation control section) 64d turns off the clutch means 45c. In the illustrated one-way clutch configuration, the roll drive motor M6 is stopped or the drive motor M6 is rotated at a lower speed than the moving speed of the folding blade means 46. This is to create a condition for the first and second rolls 45a and 45b to be driven and rotated by the sheet bundle inserted at the nip position NP by the folding blade means 46, as will be described later.

  Accordingly, the drive control means 64d moves the folding blade means 46 from the retracted position toward the nip position at a predetermined speed. The rotational peripheral speed VR of the folding roll means 45 is set to zero or VB> VR with respect to the moving speed VB. 7B, the sheet bundle is bent at the fold position by the folding blade means 46 and inserted between the rolls. At this time, the first and second rolls 45 a and 45 b are driven to rotate following the sheet moved by the folding blade means 46. The drive control means 64d stops the blade drive motor M7 after the expected time for the sheet bundle to reach the predetermined nip position, and stops the folding blade means 46 at the position shown in FIG. Around this time, the drive control means 64d switches the clutch means 45c to the ON state and drives and rotates the first and second rolls 45a and 45b. Then, the sheet bundle is sent out in the feeding direction (left side in the figure). Thereafter, the drive control means 64d moves and returns the folding blade means 46 located at the nip position to the retracted position in parallel with the feeding of the sheet bundle by the folding roll means 45 in the state shown in FIG.

  When the sheet bundle thus folded is first engulfed between the pair of rolls 45a and 45b, the sheet contacting the roll surface is not drawn between the rolls by the rotating roll. That is, the folding roll means 45 follows (follows) the sheet to be inserted (pushed in) and rotates, so that only the sheet in contact with the roll is not first wound. Further, since the folding roll means 45 follows and rotates following the inserted sheet, the roll surface and the sheet in contact therewith are not rubbed, and image rubbing is not caused.

[Description of control configuration]
The control configuration of the above-described image forming system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) 50 of the image forming apparatus A and a control unit (hereinafter referred to as “post-processing control unit”) 60 of the post-processing apparatus B. The main body control unit 50 includes an image formation control unit 51, a paper feed control unit 52, and an input unit 53. Then, the “image forming mode” and “post-processing mode” are set from the control panel 18 provided in the input unit 53. As described above, the image forming mode sets the number of printouts, sheet size, color / monochrome printing, enlargement / reduction printing, duplex / single-sided printing, and other image formation conditions. Then, the main body control unit 50 controls the image forming control unit 51 and the paper feed control unit 52 according to the set image forming conditions to form an image on a predetermined sheet, and then sequentially carry out the sheets from the main body discharge port 3. To do.

  At the same time, the post-processing mode is set by input from the control panel 18. The post-processing mode is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding finishing mode”, “folding finishing mode”, or the like. Therefore, the main body control unit 50 transfers the finishing mode of the post-processing, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, and the binding mode (one-position binding or two or more bindings) information to the post-processing control unit 60. At the same time, the main body control unit 50 transfers a job end signal to the post-processing control unit 60 every time image formation is completed.

  The post-processing control unit 60 includes a control CPU 61 that operates the post-processing apparatus B in accordance with a designated finishing mode, a ROM 62 that stores an operation program, and a RAM 63 that stores control data. The control CPU 61 includes a sheet conveyance control unit 64a that performs conveyance of the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance 23, a sheet accumulation operation control unit 64b that performs sheet accumulation operation, and a sheet binding operation that performs sheet binding processing. A control unit 64c and a sheet folding operation control unit (drive control unit) 64d that executes a sheet folding operation are provided.

  The sheet conveyance control unit 64a is connected to a control circuit of the driving motor (not shown) of the conveyance roller 24 and the discharge roller 25 in the sheet conveyance path P1, and the sheet sensor S1 disposed in the sheet conveyance path P1. It is comprised so that the detection signal from may be received. The sheet stacking operation control unit 64b is connected to a drive circuit of a forward / reverse rotation motor M2 of the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and a discharge motor M3 of the rear end regulating member 32 in order to stack sheets on the stacking tray 29. . Further, the sheet binding operation control unit 64 c is connected to a drive circuit of a drive motor M built in the end-face binding staple device 33 of the stacking tray 29 and the saddle stitching device 40 of the folding processing path 35.

  The sheet folding operation control unit (drive control means) 64d is connected to a drive circuit of a roll drive motor M6 that drives and rotates the first and second rolls 45a and 45b and a drive circuit of the clutch means 45c. . Further, the sheet folding operation control unit 64d is connected to a control circuit of a shift unit that controls movement of the conveyance rollers 36 and 37 of the second switchback conveyance path SP2 and the leading end regulating unit 38 of the folding processing path 35 to a predetermined position. Wires are connected so as to receive detection signals from the sheet sensors arranged in these paths.

The post-processing control unit 60 configured as described above causes the post-processing apparatus B to execute the next processing operation.
"Printout mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents, for example, from the first page, and sequentially carries out face-down from the main body discharge port 3. Therefore, the post-processing apparatus B retracts the buffer guide 26 in the sheet carry-in path P1 upward in FIG. 3, and moves the path switching piece 27 to the state of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the forward / reverse roller 30 of the stacking tray 29 based on the signal that the leading edge of the sheet is detected at the paper discharge port 25a, the sheet stacking operation control unit 64b moves the forward / reverse roller 30 from the upper retracted position to the stacking tray. Then, the forward / reverse roller 30 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Then, the sheet that has entered the stacking tray 29 is transported toward the first paper discharge tray 21 by the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 and stored on the paper discharge tray. The successive sheets are sequentially carried out to the first paper discharge tray 21 and accumulated and stored on the tray.

  Accordingly, in this printout mode, the sheets on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A are accommodated in the first paper discharge tray 21 via the sheet carry-in path P1 of the post-processing apparatus B. The pages are stacked and stored in the order of the pages. In this mode, no sheet is guided to the first switchback conveyance path SP1 and the second switchback conveyance path SP2.

"Staple binding finish mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image of a series of documents from the first page to the nth page in the same manner as in the above-described mode, and carries it out from the main body discharge port 3 in a face-down state. Accordingly, the post-processing apparatus B retracts the buffer guide 26 of the sheet carry-in path P1 upward in FIG. 3 and moves the path switching piece 27 to the state of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, after the expected time that the leading edge of the sheet reaches the forward / reverse roller 30 of the stacking tray 29 based on the signal that the leading edge of the sheet is detected at the paper discharge port 25a, the sheet stacking operation control unit 64b moves the forward / reverse roller 30 from the upper retracted position to the stacking tray. Then, the forward / reverse roller 30 is rotated clockwise in FIG. Next, the sheet stacking operation control unit 64b drives the forward / reverse rotation roller 30 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 after an estimated time when the trailing end of the sheet is carried onto the stacking tray 29. Then, the sheet that has entered from the paper discharge outlet 25a is switched back and conveyed onto the stacking tray 29 along the first switchback conveyance path SP1. By repeating this sheet conveyance, a series of sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 29 in a face-down state.

  Each time the sheets are stacked on the stacking tray 29, the control CPU 61 operates the side aligning plate 34b to align the width direction positions of the sheets to be stacked. Next, the control CPU 61 operates the end-face stitching and stapling device 33 in response to the job end signal from the image forming apparatus A to bind the trailing edge of the sheet bundle stacked on the stacking tray 29. After this stapling operation, the control CPU 61 moves the rear end regulating member 32 that also serves as a bundle carrying-out means from the solid line position in FIG. 3 to the chain line position. Then, the staple-bound sheet bundle is carried out and stored in the first discharge tray 21. As a result, a series of sheets formed by the image forming apparatus A are stapled and stored in the first paper discharge tray 21.

"Fold finish mode"
In this mode, the image forming apparatus A forms an image on the sheet, and the post-processing apparatus B finishes the booklet. Therefore, the post-processing apparatus B retracts the buffer guide 26 of the sheet carry-in path P1 upward in FIG. 3, and moves the path switching piece 27 to the state of the solid line in FIG. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path P <b> 1 is guided to the paper discharge roller 25. Therefore, the control CPU 61 stops the paper discharge roller 25 at the timing when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the path switching piece 27 with reference to the signal detected by the sheet sensor S1, and at the same time, sets the path switching piece 27 to the position of the broken line in FIG. Moving. Then, the paper discharge roller 25 is reversely rotated (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). Then, the sheet that has entered the sheet carry-in path P1 is reversed in the conveyance direction, and is guided from the path switching piece 27 to the second switchback conveyance path SP2. And it guides to the folding process path 35 with the conveyance rollers 36 and 37 arrange | positioned in this 2nd switchback conveyance path SP2.

  At the timing when the sheet is carried into the folding processing path 35 from the second switchback conveyance path SP2, the control CPU 61 moves the leading end regulating member 38 to the lowermost Sh1 position (see FIG. 4). Then, the entire sheet is supported by the folding processing path 35. In this state, the control CPU 61 operates the above-mentioned sheet side edge aligning member 39 to align the sheets by width alignment. (Note that this width-alignment alignment does not have to be operated on the first sheet, and it is not necessary to operate this every time a sheet enters). Next, the control CPU 61 moves the front end regulating member 38 to a position Sh3 where the rear end of the sheet enters the switchback entry path 35a. Then, the rear end of the sheet supported by the folding processing path 35 moves backward to the switchback entry path 35a. In this state, subsequent sheets are sent from the second switchback conveyance path SP2 onto the folding processing path 35, and the subsequent sheets are stacked on the preceding sheet. Then, the leading edge regulating member 38 is moved from the Sh3 position to the Sh1 position in accordance with the carry-in of the subsequent sheet.

  Next, the sheet side edge aligning member 39 is operated in the same manner as described above, and the loaded sheet and the sheet supported on the folding processing path 35 are aligned and aligned. By repeating such an operation, the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus A is aligned on the folding processing path 35 via the second switchback conveyance path SP2. Therefore, when receiving the job end signal, the control CPU 61 moves the leading edge regulating member 38 to the position Sh2, and sets the center of the sheet to the binding position X.

  Therefore, the control CPU 61 operates the saddle stitching stapling device 40 to staple one or more places in the center of the sheet. In response to this operation completion signal, the control CPU 61 moves the leading edge regulating member 38 to the position Sh1, and positions and sets the center of the sheet at the folding position Y. Therefore, the sheet bundle is folded in the sequence shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D and the sheet bundle is carried out to the second paper discharge tray 22.

[Configuration of paper discharge control unit]
The control CPU 61 is provided with a paper discharge control unit 66. When the paper discharge control unit 66 is in the “print out mode” or the “staple stitching finish mode”, the main body control unit 50 performs an interrupt instruction operation, and when the image formation of the image forming apparatus A is set to the interrupt operation, each mode is set. (Print out, Staple binding finish) The operation is interrupted. At this time, processing sheets are stacked on the first paper discharge tray 21.

  Therefore, when the post-processing control unit 60 receives an interrupt operation instruction signal from the main body control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A, the post-processing control unit 60 stops the operation in the mode being executed. Then, the paper discharge control unit 66 is operated. The sheet discharge control unit 66 sets the sheet path by controlling the path switching unit (path switching piece) 27 of the sheet carry-in path P1. Further, the paper discharge control unit 66 includes operating means (driving motor M7, stepping motor 70m) of the tip guide means (blade member 46 in the configuration of FIG. 5A, tip guide means in the configuration of FIG. 5C) 70. Configured to control. The operation will be described later.

[Description of control mode]
The post-processing control unit 60 described above is configured to execute the next second operation mode when receiving an interrupt operation instruction signal from the main body control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A. That is, the post-processing control unit 60 executes the first operation mode in the above-described “folding finishing mode”, and when the interrupt operation instruction signal is issued in the “print-out mode” or “staple binding finishing mode”, The second operation mode is executed.

"First operation mode"
First, the first operation mode will be described with reference to the operation state explanatory diagram of FIG. 8 and the flowchart of FIG. This first operation mode is executed as paper discharge control in the “folding finishing mode”. Therefore, in the first operation mode, the paper discharge control unit 66 conveys the sheet carried into the sheet carry-in path P1 to the paper discharge port 25a, reverses the paper discharge roller 25, and reversely feeds through the sheet carry-in path. At this time, the path switching piece (path switching means) 27 is deflected, and the rear end of the sheet is switched back to the folding processing path 35 side. Then, the sheet enters the folding processing path 35. At this time, the folding blade means 46 and the tip guide means (46 or 70) are located at the standby position (state shown in FIG. 8A) outside the path. In this state, in the folding processing path 35, the sheets are sequentially stacked upward from the sheet carry-in path P1, and the parts are aligned (the state shown in FIG. 8A). At this time, the leading end regulating member 38 is stationary at a position where the sheet is stored in the folding processing path according to the sheet size (St01).

  Next, when a job end signal image formation is issued from the main body control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A (St02), the paper discharge control unit 66 moves the position of the leading end regulating member 38 and is stored in the folding processing path. Is aligned with the staple position of the saddle stitching stapler 40 (St03). Therefore, the saddle stitching device 40 is operated to execute staple binding (St04). This state is shown in FIG. Next, in response to the staple operation completion signal from the saddle stitching stapling device 40, the paper discharge control unit 66 moves the position of the leading edge regulating member 38 so that the fold position of the sheet coincides with the fold position Y (St05). This state is shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, the paper discharge control unit 66 rotates the folding roll means 45 (St06). At the same time, the paper discharge control unit 66 moves the folding blade means 46 from the retracted position to the operating position (St07). This state is shown in FIG. The folding process by the folding roll means 45 is executed by this series of operations (St08). Next, the paper discharge control unit 66 rotates the paper discharge roller 48 (St09). As a result, the folded sheets (bundle) carried out from the folding roll means 45 are stored in the second stacker 22.

"Second operation mode"
Next, the second operation mode will be described with reference to the operation state explanatory diagram of FIG. 9 and the flowchart of FIG. When an interrupt processing operation is performed in the main body control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A during execution of the above-described “print-out mode” or “staple binding finishing mode”, the paper discharge control unit 66 causes each mode (print-out, staple binding). After the finishing operation is interrupted, the next second operation mode is executed.

  First, when an interrupt processing sheet is fed to the sheet carry-in path P1 (St20), the paper discharge control unit 66 shifts the path switching piece (path switching means) 27 and switches back the sheet toward the folding processing path 35. Transport (St21). This state is shown in FIG. Next, when the leading end (rear end) of the sheet enters the folding processing path 35, a path entrance sensor (not shown) detects (St22). This state is shown in FIG. Then, the paper discharge control unit 66 moves the tip guide means 46 (70) from the standby position to the operating position by the detection signal from the sensor (St23). At the same time, the paper discharge controller 66 starts to rotate the folding roll means 45 (St24). With this operation, the sheet conveyed to the folding processing path 35 is guided to the nip position NP of the folding roll means 45 by the leading edge guide means 46 (70) positioned at the folding position Y without the leading edge passing through the folding position Y. Is done. This state is shown in FIG.

  Next, the paper discharge control unit 66 rotates the paper discharge roller 48 (St25). Thereby, the sheet carried out from the folding roll means 45 is stored in the second paper discharge tray 22 (St26). After this series of operations is repeated, upon receiving an interrupt processing end signal from the image forming apparatus A, the paper discharge control unit 66 returns the leading edge guide means 46 (70) to the retracted position, and then interrupt processing is instructed. Return to the previous state. This state is shown in FIG.

  In the present invention, the second operation mode has been described with respect to the case where the image forming apparatus A performs a split prediction operation in the “print-out mode” or the “staple binding finishing mode”. Alternatively, the second operation mode is executed in the same procedure for an overflow sheet when the first sheet discharge tray 21 is full in the execution process of the “staple binding finishing mode”.

  Further, in the present invention, the saddle stitching stapling device 40 is disposed at the binding position X on the folding processing path 35 described above, but the sheet processing path is disposed in the order of the stacking guide, the binding position, and the folding position. The stacking guide unit, then the stapling device, and the sheet folding unit may be arranged downstream thereof. Further, it is possible to fold the sheet bundle and carry it out to the second paper discharge tray 22 without performing the binding process by the saddle stitching stapling device 40.

1 is an overall explanatory diagram of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is an overall explanatory view of a post-processing apparatus provided with a sheet folding apparatus according to the present invention. Detailed explanatory drawing which shows a part of post-processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram of a sheet folding apparatus incorporated in the post-processing apparatus of FIG. 2. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows one Embodiment (1st Embodiment) of the folding blade means and front-end | tip guide means shown in FIG. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the planar shape of a folding roll means. (C) is explanatory drawing of embodiment (2nd Embodiment) different from the figure (a) of a folding blade means and a front-end | tip guide means. (A) is explanatory drawing of the drive mechanism of folding roll means, (b) is explanatory drawing of the drive mechanism of folding blade, (c) is structure explanatory drawing of a one-way clutch. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a sheet bundle folding operation in the apparatus of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A is a state diagram in which the sheet bundle is positioned and set at a folding position, FIG. 2B is an initial state diagram of the sheet bundle folding operation; Is a state diagram in which the sheet bundle is inserted into the nip position of the folding roll means, and (d) is a carrying out state diagram in which the sheet bundle is folded by the folding roll means. (A) thru | or (d) Explanatory drawing of the operation state (1st operation mode) at the time of sheet folding processing in the apparatus of FIG. (A) thru | or (d) Explanatory drawing of the operation state (2nd operation mode) at the time of overflow and interruption processing in the apparatus of FIG. The block diagram which shows the control structure in the system of FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a paper discharge operation, where (a) shows a first operation mode and (b) shows a second operation mode.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus P1 Sheet carry-in path SP1 First switchback conveyance path SP2 Second switchback conveyance path M7 Blade drive motor (actuating means)
21 First discharge tray 22 Second discharge tray 23 Carry-in entrance 24 Carry-in roller 25 Paper discharge roller 25a Paper discharge port 27 Path switching piece (path switching means)
29 Stacking tray 30 Forward / reverse roller 32 Rear end regulating member 33 End surface binding stapling device 35 Folding processing path 38 Front end regulating member 40 Saddle stitching stapling device 45 Folding roll means 45c Clutch means 45g Gap 46 Folding blade means (flat blade member) Tip guide means)
46b Horizontal abdomen 46e Tip edge 48 Discharge roller 50 Main body controller 64d Drive control means (sheet folding operation controller)
70 Tip guide means 70b Horizontal abdomen 70m Actuating means NP Nip position

Claims (8)

A folding processing path for positioning and temporarily holding sequentially fed sheets at a predetermined folding position;
A pair of folding roll means arranged in the folding position and pressed against each other for folding the sheet;
A folding blade means for inserting a fold portion of the sheet into the nip position of the folding roll means;
A stacking unit disposed downstream of the folding roll unit and containing the folded sheet;
With
In the folding processing path, leading edge guide means for guiding the leading edge of the sheet carried from the upstream side to the folding roll means is arranged,
The tip guide means and the folding blade means are configured to be movable between an operating position in the folding processing path and a retracted position outside the path,
Control means for controlling the folding blade means and the sheet leading edge guide means are:
A first control mode in which after the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, the folding blade means is moved from the retracted position to the operating position, and the sheet folded by the folding roll means is carried out to the stack means;
A second control mode in which the leading edge guide means is moved to the operating position before the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, and the leading edge of the loaded sheet is guided to the folding roll means and carried out to the stack means without being folded. A sheet folding apparatus comprising: The folding blade means and the tip guide means are configured by the same flat blade member that is disposed at the folding position of the folding processing path so as to be movable between an operating position in the path and a retracted position outside the path. And
The folding blade means is configured by guiding the sheet to the nip position of the folding roll means at the leading edge portion of the flat blade member,
2. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge guide means is configured by guiding a leading edge of the sheet to a nip position of the folding roll means at a lateral part of the flat blade member. In the folding processing path, a sheet carry-in port, a sheet leading edge regulating means, a sheet binding means, the folding roll means, the folding blade means, and the leading edge guide means are arranged,
The sheet binding means is disposed between the sheet carry-in port and the folding roll means,
2. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folding blade means and the leading edge guide means are arranged upstream of the sheet leading edge regulating means. A sheet carry-in path that includes a carry-in port and a paper discharge port, and transfers a sheet from the carry-in port toward the paper discharge port;
A first stack unit disposed on the downstream side of the sheet discharge port and configured to stack and store sheets from the sheet carry-in path;
A folding processing path that is arranged to branch from the sheet carry-in path, and positions the sheet from the carry-in entrance at a predetermined folding position;
A pair of folding roll means arranged in the folding position and pressed against each other for folding the sheet;
A folding blade means for inserting a fold portion of the sheet into the nip position of the folding roll means;
A second stacking unit disposed downstream of the folding roll unit and containing the folded sheet;
With
The first stack means and the second stack means are each constituted by a tray member for stacking sheets,
In the folding processing path, leading edge guide means for guiding the leading edge of the sheet carried from the upstream side to the folding roll means is arranged,
The tip guide means and the folding blade means are configured to be movable between an operating position in the folding processing path and a retracted position outside the path,
Control means for controlling the folding blade means and the sheet leading edge guide means are:
A first control mode in which after the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, the folding blade means is moved from the retracted position to the operating position, and the sheet folded by the folding roll means is carried out to the stack means;
A second control mode in which the leading edge guide means is moved to the operating position before the sheet is carried into the folding processing path, and the leading edge of the loaded sheet is guided to the folding roll means and carried out to the stack means without being folded. And a post-processing apparatus. A processing tray for temporarily aligning and stacking sheets from the paper discharge outlet between the paper discharge outlet of the sheet carry-in path and the first stacking unit, and a stacking process for the stacked sheets on the processing tray. 5. A post-processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein post-processing means is arranged. Route switching means for selectively guiding the sheet is disposed at a branch point between the sheet carry-in route and the folding processing route,
The control means further controls the path switching means to carry out a first processing mode for carrying out a sheet from a carry-in entrance to the first stack means;
A second processing mode for controlling the path switching means to guide the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the folding processing path and then folding the sheet to the second stack means;
The first processing mode is configured such that an operation for guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the folding processing path and carrying it out to the second stacking unit without performing the folding processing can be selected. The post-processing apparatus according to claim 4. The first processing mode is a process of controlling the path switching means to carry out the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the first stack means.
When the sheet from the carry-in entrance exceeds the allowable number of sheets stored in the first stack means,
Or when an instruction signal for interrupt processing is sent to the sheet sent to the carry-in entrance,
Or when a malfunction such as a paper jam occurs in the first stack means,
The post-processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: performing an operation of guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the second stack unit without guiding the sheet to the folding processing path and performing the folding process. An image forming apparatus that sequentially forms an image on a sheet, and a post-processing apparatus that temporarily accumulates sheets from a paper discharge port of the image forming apparatus to perform binding processing and / or folding processing;
Consisting of
An image forming system, wherein the post-processing apparatus has the configuration according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

Images