JP2011184112A - Paper folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper folding device making a crease on each of a plurality of papers constituting a paper bundle and appropriately stacking them neither causing enlargement in device size and complication in configuration of carriage means nor causing interference and the like between papers in a carriage process, so as to bind a booklet with a good finished state, even when the number of papers constituting the paper bundle is large. <P>SOLUTION: A pressing roller 3 pulls in a paper carried by a carriage roller 1 toward a first direction substantially perpendicular to the carriage direction, makes a crease on the paper, and thereafter, backwardly feed it toward a second direction being the direction opposite to the first direction. The plurality of the papers on which the pressing roller 3 has made creases are stacked on a stacking part 5 equipped on the front side in the second direction, with a plurality of papers piled in a manner to be substantially parallel to the direction carried by the carriage roller 1 and in a state where the creases has been opened. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet folding apparatus that performs folding processing on a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which a plurality of sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer are stacked, and the stacked sheet bundle is subjected to stapling processing such as saddle stitching and folding to bookbinding. When saddle-stitching a bundle of sheets, if the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets increases, folding may be sweetened and the folds of the bound booklet may open over time. Therefore, even if there are a large number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle, the sheets constituting the sheet bundle are stacked after folding one or a few creases and then stapling is performed at the fold position of the stacked sheet bundle. Attempts have been made to make it possible to bind a booklet in a finished state (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, first, a small number of sheets are stacked and conveyed to the middle folding position with the short side as the head, and then folded at the middle folding position. Thereafter, a small number of sheets folded in half are transported to the staple position starting from the long side, and stacked in a hooked state so that the fold positions are aligned at the staple position. When the number of stacked sheets reaches a predetermined number, the stapling process is performed at the crease position to perform saddle stitching and discharge as a booklet.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, first, the sheets constituting the sheet bundle are conveyed one by one to the middle folding position and then folded at the middle folding position. Thereafter, the folded sheets are conveyed one by one to the stapling position with the folds open, and stacked so that the fold positions are aligned at the stapling position. When the number of stacked sheets reaches a predetermined number, the stapling process is performed at the crease position to perform saddle stitching and discharge as a booklet.

JP 2005-96913 A Japanese Patent No. 3592138

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 is configured to stack a predetermined number of sheets in a hooked state at the staple position, it is necessary to secure a large space for stacking the sheets at the staple position. There is a problem that leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus. In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the configuration of the transport unit becomes complicated because it is necessary to transport the folded paper to the staple position by switching the transport direction by 90 degrees.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, since the folded sheets are conveyed one by one to the staple position and stacked at the staple position, a process in which the folded sheets are conveyed to the staple position. Therefore, there is a concern that the end of the sheet being conveyed and the fold of the sheet stacked at the stapling position, or the fold of the sheet being conveyed and the end of the sheet stacked at the stapling position may interfere with each other. And this kind of interference between the paper being transported and the paper already stacked will cause problems such as scratches and wrinkles on the paper, and paper jams. However, there is a possibility that a predetermined number of sheets cannot be properly stacked so that the crease positions are aligned and a stapling process or the like is performed in a state where the sheets are out of alignment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and does not cause an increase in the size of the apparatus or the configuration of the conveyance means, and does not cause interference between sheets in the conveyance process. A paper folding device capable of binding a plurality of sheets constituting a sheet properly and stacking them appropriately, and capable of binding a booklet with a good finish even when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large. Yes.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a sheet folding device according to the present invention includes a sheet conveying unit that conveys sheets one by one, and a midway position in the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit. Is pulled in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction to crease the paper, and the creased paper is fed back in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Folding means and a sheet that is provided on the front side in the second direction of the folding means and that has been creased by the folding means and is fed back in the second direction is generally referred to as the transport direction. And a stack unit that stacks a plurality of sheets in a state where the folds are opened so as to be parallel to each other.

  According to the present invention, the stack portion is configured so that the sheet creased by the folding unit is substantially parallel to the conveyance direction by the sheet conveyance unit at a position on the front side in the second direction of the folding unit. The stack of sheets is stacked with the folds open, so that the size of the device and the configuration of the transport means are not complicated, and the sheet bundle does not cause interference between sheets in the transport process. Each of the plurality of sheets constituting the sheet can be appropriately stacked with a crease, and even when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large, it is possible to bind a booklet with a good finished state.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet folding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a series of operations of the sheet folding apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sheet bundle that has been folded by the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment and discharged as a booklet. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the mechanical space required for the paper folding device according to the first embodiment compared with the case where paper is stacked in a stack. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a problem in a case where creased sheets are stacked one by one after being transported further downstream in the sheet transport direction. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet folding device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet folding device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sheet folding device according to the fourth embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of a paper folding device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiment shows an example of application of the present invention by way of example, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the constituent elements of the embodiments described below can be appropriately changed to those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or substantially the same.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a paper folding device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the paper folding device according to the present embodiment. This sheet folding apparatus folds one sheet at a time on recorded sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and stacks a predetermined number of creased sheets with the fold positions aligned. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet folding apparatus includes a conveying roller 1 as a sheet bundle conveying unit, an abutting member 2, a pair of press rollers 3 as a folding unit, a branching claw 4 as a guide member, And a stack unit 5.

  The conveyance roller 1 includes a pair of rollers arranged adjacent to each other, and one of the pair of rollers is connected to a conveyance motor (not shown) via a gear. In the state where the paper discharged from the image forming apparatus is sandwiched in the nip portion between the pair of rollers, the transport roller 1 rotates the one roller by driving the transport motor, thereby moving the paper one sheet at a time to the downstream side. Transport.

  The abutting member 2 is a member that comes into contact with the leading end portion in the conveyance direction (arrow A direction in FIG. 1) of the sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller 1, and is on the front side (downstream side) in the sheet conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1. It is arranged. The abutting member 2 can be moved along the paper transport direction by the transport roller 1 by a moving actuator 13 (see FIG. 2).

  The press roller 3 includes a pair of rollers arranged adjacent to each other, and one of the pair of rollers is connected to a folding motor 14 (see FIG. 2) capable of switching between forward and reverse rotation via a gear. In the state where one roller is driven forward by the folding motor 14, the press roller 3 has a pair of intermediate positions (flexible portions, which will be described later) in the conveyance direction of the paper whose leading end is in contact with the abutting member 2. Enter the nip between the rollers. Then, a first direction (FIG. 1) that is substantially perpendicular to the paper transport direction by the transport roller 1 while pressing the paper while being folded in half so that the midway position that has entered the nip portion becomes the leading position. The paper is creased by pulling in the middle arrow B direction). Thereafter, the rotation of the folding motor 14 is reversed, and one of the rollers is driven to rotate in reverse by the folding motor 14, so that the creased sheet is fed in a second direction opposite to the first direction (in FIG. 1). Reverse feed in the direction of arrow C). Note that a paper detection sensor 12 that detects the paper drawn in the first direction by the press roller 3 is disposed on the front side of the press roller 3 in the first direction.

  The branch claw 4 is urged to a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 by a spring, and is displaced to a position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 when the leading edge of the paper conveyed by the conveyance roller 1 abuts. To do. Thereafter, when the sheet is pulled in the first direction by the press roller 3 and the trailing end of the sheet passes the position of the branching claw 4, the branching claw 4 moves from the position indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 to the position indicated by the solid line. And return. When the branching claw 4 is at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, the path returning from the press roller 3 to the conveying roller 1 is blocked by the branching claw 4, so that a crease is made by the press roller 3 in the second direction. The reversely fed paper is guided to the stack unit 5. That is, the branching claw 4 functions as a guide member that guides the sheet, which has been creased by the press roller 3 and fed back in the second direction, to the stack unit 5.

  The stack unit 5 stacks a plurality of sheets that have been creased by the press roller 3. The stack portion 5 is provided on the front side in a second direction (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 1), which is the direction in which the press roller 3 feeds the paper backward as viewed from the press roller 3. The stack unit 5 feeds the sheet, which has been creased by the press roller 3 and fed backward at a position on the front side in the second direction of the press roller 3, in the sheet transport direction (arrow in FIG. 1). A plurality of sheets are stacked in a state where the folds are opened so as to be substantially parallel to (A direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control system of the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly configured by a control unit 10 including a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output interface, and the like. The control unit 10 includes a size detection unit 11 that detects the size of the paper, a paper detection sensor 12 that detects the paper drawn in the first direction by the press roller 3, and a movement for moving the abutting member 2. An actuator 13 and a folding motor 14 that rotationally drives the press roller 3 are connected.

  For example, the size detection unit 11 acquires information on a paper size set based on a user operation input or a result of size detection processing in an image forming apparatus that supplies paper to the paper folding apparatus. Detect the size of the paper installed inside. The size detection unit 11 may be configured to newly detect the size of the paper introduced into the paper folding device using a sensor or the like. Information on the paper size detected by the size detection unit 11 is input to the control unit 10.

  The paper detection sensor 12 is composed of, for example, a reflection type optical sensor or a transmission type optical sensor. The paper detection sensor 12 is disposed on the front side in the first direction of the press roller 3, and the light drawn when the paper drawn in the first direction by the press roller 3 passes through the position of the paper sensor 12. By detecting the reflection or blocking, the paper drawn in the first direction by the press roller 3 is detected. Information detected by the paper detection sensor 12 is input to the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 controls the position of the abutting member 2 by driving the movement actuator 13 based on the information on the paper size detected by the size detection unit 11. Specifically, when the leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller 1 comes into contact with the abutting member 2, the control unit 10 faces the nip portion of the press roller 3 at the intermediate position in the sheet conveying direction. As described above, the position of the abutting member 2 is controlled by driving the moving actuator 13.

  Further, the control unit 10 determines the end timing of the folding process by the press roller 3 based on the paper size information detected by the size detection unit 11 and the detection information by the paper detection sensor 12, and the folding motor 14 Control to switch the rotation direction and drive the press roller 3 in the reverse direction is performed. Specifically, the control unit 10 determines the first direction by the press roller 3 based on the distance between the paper detection sensor 12 and the press roller 3 and the elapsed time since the paper detection sensor 12 detected the paper. The amount of paper drawn in is calculated. When the amount of paper drawn in the first direction by the press roller 3 is close to half the paper size detected by the size detection unit 11 (the trailing edge of the paper conveyed by the conveyance roller 1) Is passed through the position of the branching claw 4), it is determined that the folding process by the press roller 3 is finished, and the rotation direction of the folding motor 14 is switched from normal rotation to reverse rotation to drive the press roller 3 in reverse rotation.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a series of operations of the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the sheet S is introduced from the image forming apparatus into the sheet folding apparatus, the conveyance roller 1 is driven by the conveyance motor, and conveyance of the sheet S by the conveyance roller 1 is started. When the leading edge of the sheet S hits the branch claw 4, the branch claw 4 is displaced against the biasing force of the spring so as to open the downstream side passage as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the conveyance of the sheet S by the conveyance roller 1 is continued, so that the leading end of the sheet S comes into contact with the abutting member 2 as shown in FIG. At this time, the abutting member 2 is positioned by the operation of the moving actuator 13 so that the intermediate position in the transport direction of the sheet S is opposed to the nip portion of the press roller 3 under the control of the control unit 10. Has been. The press roller 3 is driven to rotate forward by the folding motor 14 under the control of the control unit 10.

  When the sheet S in which the leading end is in contact with the abutting member 2 is further conveyed by the conveying roller 1, the conveying direction of the sheet S facing the nip portion of the press roller 3 as shown in FIG. The intermediate position is bent toward the press roller 3, and the bent portion Sx bent toward the press roller 3 enters the nip portion of the press roller 3.

  When the bent portion Sx of the sheet S enters the nip portion of the press roller 3, as shown in FIG. 3D, the press roller 3 folds the sheet S so that the bent portion Sx is at the head. While being sandwiched and pressurized, the sheet S is drawn in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1, and the sheet S is creased. As shown in FIG. 3E, when the pull-in amount of the paper S by the press roller 3 approaches half the length of the paper size, the rotation direction of the folding motor 14 is changed from normal rotation under the control of the control unit 10. Switch to reverse.

  When the rotation direction of the folding motor 14 is switched from normal rotation to reverse rotation, the press roller 3 is driven reversely by the folding motor 14, and the creased sheet S is fed to the first sheet as shown in FIG. Backward is sent in the second direction, which is opposite to the direction. At this time, the branching claw 4 is returned to the original position by the biasing force of the spring.

  Thereafter, the reverse feeding of the paper S by the press roller 3 is continued, whereby the creased paper S is guided to the stack unit 5, and as shown in FIG. It is accommodated in the stack part 5 in a state where the fold is opened so as to be substantially parallel.

  Next, when the second sheet S is introduced from the image forming apparatus into the sheet folding apparatus, the conveyance of the sheet S by the conveyance roller 1 is resumed as shown in FIG. By repeating this operation, the second sheet S with the creases is guided to the stack unit 5. Then, the second sheet S is overlaid on the first sheet with the fold opened so that the second sheet S is substantially parallel to the conveying direction by the conveying roller 1. Thereafter, each time a new sheet S is introduced from the image forming apparatus to the inside of the sheet folding apparatus, the above operation is repeated, so that a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle as shown in FIG. S is superposed with the crease open so as to be substantially parallel to the conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1 and stacked on the stack unit 5. A bundle of sheets on which a predetermined number of sheets S are superimposed is discharged as a booklet to the outside of the sheet folding apparatus.

  As described above in detail with reference to specific examples, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured so that the stack unit 5 uses the second roller of the press roller 3 as the second sheet of the press roller 3. At a position on the front side in the direction, a plurality of sheets are stacked in a state where the folds are opened so as to be substantially parallel to the paper conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1. Therefore, it is appropriate to crease each of the plurality of sheets constituting the sheet bundle without increasing the size of the apparatus or complicating the structure of the conveying means, and without causing interference between sheets in the conveying process. Thus, even when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large, it is possible to bind a booklet with a good finished state.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sheet bundle that has been folded by the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment and discharged as a booklet. Since the sheet folding device according to the present embodiment is configured such that the sheet is folded one by one by the press roller 3 and then stacked on the stack unit 5, even when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large, It is possible to firmly crease each sheet without excessively increasing the pressing force of the press roller 3. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the folding height of the sheet bundle discharged as a booklet can be reduced, and a booklet with a good finished state can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mechanical space required in the paper folding apparatus according to the present embodiment as compared with a case where paper is stacked and stacked. As shown in FIG. 5A, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured to stack the creased sheets S so as to be substantially parallel to the sheet conveyance direction with the folds opened. Therefore, as compared with the case where the sheets S shown in FIG. 5B are hung and stacked, the size of the entire apparatus including the mechanism for conveying and folding the sheets can be made compact. Downsizing can be realized.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a problem in a case where creased sheets are stacked one by one after being transported further downstream in the sheet transport direction. When trying to convey the creased sheets one by one to the downstream stack position, if a plurality of sheets are stacked with the crease crest at the stack position, FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, there is a concern that the folds of the folds of the sheets stacked at the stacking position may interfere with the leading edge of the sheet newly conveyed to the stacking position. Further, when a plurality of sheets are stacked at the stack position with the crease ridge down, as shown in FIG. 6B, the end of the stacked sheets and a new stack position are displayed. There is a concern that the folds of the folds of the conveyed paper may interfere with each other. In addition, the interference between the sheets in such a conveyance process causes a problem such as scratches or wrinkles on the sheet, a problem that a paper jam occurs, and a predetermined number of sheets so that the crease positions are aligned. There is a possibility that a booklet with a sheet misaligned may be discharged without being properly stacked.

  On the other hand, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment feeds a creased sheet in a second direction that is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, and is provided on the front side in the second direction. Since the stack unit 5 is stacked and stacked with the folds open, a predetermined number of sheets can be appropriately stacked without causing the above-described interference between sheets.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a paper folding apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in the configuration of the folding processing means that creases a sheet. Since the configuration other than the folding means in the sheet folding apparatus is the same as that in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and duplicate descriptions are given below. Only the configuration of the folding means characteristic to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sheet folding device according to the present embodiment. In the paper folding apparatus according to the present embodiment, the folding means for making a crease on the paper is constituted by the drawing roller 21 and the press member 22.

  The pull-in roller 21 is composed of a pair of rollers as in the press roller 3 described in the first embodiment, and one of the pair of rollers is connected to a folding motor 14 capable of switching between forward and reverse rotation via a gear. It is connected. However, the pulling roller 21 does not have a function of pressing the paper sandwiched between the pair of rollers unlike the press roller 3, and the interval between the pair of rollers is larger than that of the press roller 3.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the drawing roller 21 has the leading end of the sheet S conveyed by the conveying roller 1 in a state where one of the rollers is driven to rotate forward by the folding motor 14. When the bent portion Sx is formed at an intermediate position in the conveyance direction of the sheet S, the bent portion Sx is caused to enter the gap between the pair of rollers. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the sheet S is pulled in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1 so that the bending portion Sx becomes the head. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7C, after the sheet S drawn in the first direction is creased by the press member 22, the folding motor 14 rotates as shown in FIG. 7D. Is reversed, and one of the rollers is driven in reverse by the folding motor 14 to reversely feed the creased sheet S in the second direction opposite to the first direction.

  The press member 22 is composed of a pair of press plates arranged opposite to each other. As shown in FIG. 7C, when the paper S is pulled in the first direction by the pull-in roller 21, the pair of press plates are mutually connected. The sheet S is driven so as to approach, and the sheet S is creased by sandwiching and pressing the bending portion Sx of the sheet S between the pair of press plates. After that, as shown in FIG. 7D, the pair of press plates are separated from each other, and the paper S can be fed backward. The sheet S that has been creased by the press member 22 and is fed back in the second direction by the drawing roller 21 is the front side in the second direction as viewed from the drawing roller 21 as in the first embodiment. Is accommodated in a state where the fold is opened. Then, a predetermined number of sheets S constituting the sheet bundle are stacked with the folds opened so as to be substantially parallel to the conveyance direction by the conveyance roller 1 and stacked on the stack unit 5, and then a sheet folding device as a booklet Is discharged outside.

  As described above, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment is pulled in the first direction by the pulling roller 21, creased by the press member 22, and then fed back in the second direction by the pulling roller 21. The stack unit 5 stacks a plurality of sheets in a state where the folds are opened so that the stack unit 5 is substantially parallel to the sheet transport direction by the transport roller 1 at a position in front of the pull-in roller 21 in the second direction. I am doing so. Therefore, as in the paper folding apparatus according to the first embodiment, the paper is not increased in size and complicated in the structure of the conveying means, and the paper is not interfered with in the conveying process. A plurality of sheets constituting the bundle can be appropriately stacked with creases, and a booklet with a good finish can be bound even when the number of sheets constituting the bundle is large.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a paper folding apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 is introduced again into the press roller 3 as a folding means, and the press roller 3 re-inserts a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets. The sheet bundle is drawn in the first direction and is folded over. Since the basic configuration of the sheet folding apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the first embodiment, and redundant description is omitted. Only the characteristic features of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment, an introduction member 31 for introducing a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 to the press roller 3 is added. The introduction member 31 is provided at a position facing the nip portion of the press roller 3 across the sheet bundle stacked on the stack portion 5, and can be moved in the first direction by an actuator (not shown).

  In the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, after a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle are stacked on the stack unit 5, the press roller 3 is driven forward by the folding motor 14. Is resumed. Then, the introduction member 31 is driven in the first direction by the actuator, and a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked on the stack unit 5 is introduced into the nip portion of the press roller 3. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the press roller 3 pressurizes the sheet bundle while pulling the sheet bundle in the first direction, and performs overfolding on the sheet bundle. Thereafter, the sheet bundle that has been folded and folded by the press roller 3 is further fed in the first direction and discharged as a booklet to the outside of the sheet folding apparatus. Further, the introduction member 31 is driven by the actuator and returns to the original position.

  As described above, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment introduces a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 into the nip portion of the press roller 3 by the introduction member 31, and the press roller 3 performs this operation. Since the sheet bundle is folded and folded, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the folding height of the sheet bundle discharged as a booklet (see FIG. 4) can be further reduced, and the booklet is finished. The effect that the state can be further improved is obtained. In addition, since the sheet bundle that is folded and folded by the press roller 3 is already creased, each sheet can be properly folded and folded with a relatively small pressure.

  In the above example, the press roller 3 similar to that of the first embodiment is used as the folding means, but the pulling roller 21 and the press member 22 similar to those of the second embodiment are used as the folding means. It may be. Even when the drawing roller 21 and the press member 22 are used as the folding means, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a paper folding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 is conveyed to the staple position, and after stapling the sheet bundle at the staple position, the booklet is placed outside the sheet folding apparatus as a booklet. It is intended to be discharged. Since the other configuration of the sheet folding apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those of the first embodiment, and the duplicate description is omitted. Only the characteristic features of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sheet folding device according to the present embodiment. In the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment, a staple unit 41 that performs a staple process on a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 is added. Further, the abutting member 2 is provided with a pressing portion 2a for sandwiching an end portion of a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack portion 5, and the abutting member 2 serves as a sheet bundle. By moving the actuator 13 by driving the movable actuator 13 with the end portion sandwiched, the sheet bundle can be conveyed in an aligned state. That is, the abutting member 2 functions as a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5.

  In the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, when a predetermined number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle are stacked on the stack unit 5, as shown in FIG. The pressing portion 2 a of the abutting member 2 moves, and the end portion of the sheet bundle made up of a predetermined number of sheets stacked on the stack portion 5 is clamped by the abutting member 2. Then, the abutting member 2 moves downward in the figure by driving the moving actuator 13. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9C, the movement of the abutting member 2 is stopped when the fold position of the sheet bundle reaches the staple position by the staple unit 41, and the staple unit 41 staples the fold position of the sheet bundle. Processing is performed.

  When the staple processing by the staple unit 41 is finished, the driving of the abutting member 2 by the moving actuator 13 is resumed, and the sheet bundle subjected to the staple processing by the staple unit 41 is abutted as shown in FIG. It is conveyed further downward in the figure by the part 2. Then, when the sheet bundle subjected to the stapling process reaches the discharge port 42 provided below the stapling unit 41, the movement of the abutting member 2 is stopped, and the stapling process is performed as shown in FIG. The applied sheet bundle is discharged as a booklet from the discharge port 42 to the outside of the sheet folding apparatus.

  As described above, the sheet folding apparatus according to the present embodiment transports a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit 5 to the staple position, and staples the sheet bundle to the fold position of the sheet bundle. After the processing is performed, the booklet is discharged from the discharge port 42 to the outside of the sheet folding device, so that the sheet constituting the sheet bundle is transported to the stapling position one by one. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent interference between the sheets, and appropriately perform a stapling process on the sheet bundle to discharge a booklet having a good finished state free from sheet misalignment. In addition, since the stapling process is performed on the sheet bundle in which the creased sheets are stacked, even when the number of sheets constituting the sheet bundle is large, a booklet with a good finished state can be discharged.

  As described above, the present invention is useful as a technique for binding a booklet by folding a sheet bundle of a predetermined number of sheets.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance roller 2 Abutting member 3 Press roller 4 Branching claw 5 Stack part 21 Pull-in roller 22 Press member 31 Introduction member 41 Staple unit

Claims (8)

Paper transport means for transporting paper one by one;
A halfway position in the transport direction of the paper transported by the paper transport means is pulled in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction to crease the paper, and the creased paper is Folding means for back feeding in a second direction opposite to the direction;
A sheet that is provided on the front side in the second direction of the folding means and that has been folded by the folding means and is fed back in the second direction so as to be substantially parallel to the transport direction. A sheet folding device comprising: a stack unit configured to stack a plurality of sheets in a state where a fold is opened.   The folding means sandwiches the sheet in a state where the sheet is folded in half so that the midway position in the transport direction is at the top, pulls the sheet in the first direction while applying pressure, and then reversely feeds the sheet in the second direction. The sheet folding device according to claim 1, further comprising a press roller for performing the above operation. The folding means is
A pull-in roller that pulls the paper in the first direction so that a halfway position in the transport direction is at the head and then reversely feeds the paper in the second direction;
The paper folding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressing member that sandwiches and presses a midway position in the transport direction of the paper drawn in the first direction by the drawing roller. An abutting member with which a leading end portion in the transport direction of the paper transported by the paper transport means comes into contact;
The folding means draws in the first direction a bent portion of the sheet formed by continuing the conveyance by the sheet conveying means in a state in which the leading end is in contact with the abutting member. The sheet folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a guide member that guides the sheet, which has been creased by the folding unit and fed backward in the second direction, to the stack unit. Paper folding device.   6. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein the folding unit draws a sheet bundle of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit again in the first direction, and folds the sheet bundle. The sheet folding device according to any one of the above.   The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an introduction member that introduces the sheet bundle into the folding unit. A sheet bundle conveying means for conveying a sheet bundle composed of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in the stack unit;
The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stapling unit that performs a staple process on the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying unit.

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