JP2015229576A - Sheet binding processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet binding processing device which can perform binding processing at a designated binding position simultaneously with image formation in performing the binding processing of a sheet delivered from an image forming part on an upstream side.SOLUTION: In controlling binding processing by supporting a plurality of sheets delivered from an upstream side device to support means, the binding processing is performed based on information determined by determination means for determining a binding position designated from the upstream side device. A device performs the binding processing by stacking the sheets delivered from the upstream side device (A), and includes the support means (24) for stacking and supporting the plurality of sheets in a bundle; binding means (28) for performing the binding processing of a sheet bundle arranged on the support means; and control means (65) for controlling the binding means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet binding processing apparatus that stacks sheets sent from an upstream apparatus such as an image forming apparatus, and relates to an improvement of a binding processing mechanism that can reliably perform binding processing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus that binds sheets stacked in a bundle is known as a post-processing apparatus of an image forming apparatus or a stationery binding tool (stationery). As the binding mechanism, there are known a staple binding mechanism that stacks sheets in a bundle and binds them with staple needles, and a pressure binding mechanism that presses the sheets together with a pair of pressure members and binds them together.

  As for the former staple binding mechanism, there is known a structure in which a linear metal needle is bent into a U-shape and inserted into a sheet bundle, and the leading end thereof is bent and bound. A later-described pressure binding mechanism has a structure in which a sheet bundle is pressure-bonded by a pair of pressing members having concave and convex tooth-shaped pressure surfaces that mesh with each other, and is bound.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a post-processing apparatus that includes a crimping binding mechanism. This document proposes a binding mechanism that performs binding processing by pinching a sheet bundle with a pair of pressure members. That is, a pair of pressure members having tooth-shaped pressure surfaces meshing with each other are pressed against each other by deforming the sheets into a wave shape by sandwiching the sheet bundle with the drive cam. Patent Document 2 also discloses a mechanism for holding and binding a sheet bundle with a similar tooth-shaped pressing surface. In the same document, it is also proposed to vary the pressing force according to the thickness of the sheet bundle.

JP 2012-47940 A JP 2010-274623 A

  As described above, a mechanism is already known in which a plurality of stacked sheets are clamped and pressed by a pressing member having a shape (tooth shape) that meshes with each other. Strong binding can be achieved if the pressing force is increased with such a binding device and the concave and convex surfaces to be engaged are formed deeply. Conversely, if the pressing force is weak and the concave and convex surfaces are shallow, the binding is easy to peel off. Is also known.

  In such crimp binding, the sheet bundle is pinched and bound by a pair of pressure surfaces, and then the pressure surface is separated from the sheet bundle, and then the sheet bundle is conveyed from the binding position in the carry-out direction. At this time, when the pressure surface and the sheet bundle are in close contact with each other and are not separated from each other, there arises a problem that the pressure-bonding portion is stretched by a conveying force acting on the sheet and the sheet is separated and separated.

  If the separation between the pressure surface and the sheet surface engaged with the pressure surface becomes insufficient after the pressure is applied, a binding processing error is caused. The phenomenon in which the pressing surface and the sheet surface are in close contact with each other is difficult to peel off is caused by the fiber component of the sheet entering (entangled) into the recess (surface roughness) of the pressing surface.

  In addition, the binding position is set (standardized) in advance between the upstream image forming unit and the downstream binding processing unit in any binding processing apparatus, not limited to the conventional crimp binding. Image formation is defined in the inner image area, and binding processing is defined in the outer margin area. For this reason, when an image is formed on the entire surface of the sheet or on one of the upper, lower, left and right sides, the image forming unit and the binding processing position may overlap. This overlapping causes a problem that a part of the image is lost due to the binding process.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet binding processing apparatus capable of performing a binding process at a specified binding position simultaneously with image formation when binding a sheet sent from an upstream image forming unit. Another object of the present invention is to enable reliable binding processing by coating the binding position in the upstream image forming unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a discriminating means for discriminating a binding position designated by an upstream apparatus for performing control for supporting and binding a plurality of sheets sent from an upstream apparatus to a support means. It is characterized in that the binding process is performed based on the determined information.

  Further, the configuration will be described in detail. The apparatus is a device for stacking and binding sheets sent from the upstream device (A), and supporting a plurality of sheets stacked and supported. And a binding means (28) for binding the sheet bundle disposed on the support means, and a control means (65) for controlling the binding means.

  The control means includes a determination means (71a) for determining the binding position (Pb) designated by the upstream apparatus, and a binding for binding the sheet bundle on the support means based on the information determined by the determination means. Processing execution means (71c) is provided.

  The discriminating means is constituted by sensor means for detecting a mark formed on the sheet, or by means for obtaining position information relating to the binding position sent together with the sheet from the upstream apparatus.

  In the present invention, sheets sent from an upstream apparatus are supported by a support unit in a bundle shape, and binding position information sent from an upstream apparatus is discriminated and bound at a designated binding position. From the following effects.

  By specifying the binding position at the same time as image formation with the upstream image forming apparatus, the binding position can be set according to the state of image formation (screen configuration). For this reason, it is possible to prevent the formed image on the sheet and the binding position from overlapping, and a part of the image is not lost by the binding process.

  The binding position can be coated simultaneously with the image formation, and the fiber component of the sheet does not get entangled with the concave portion of the pressing surface in the pressure-bonding processing mechanism. Therefore, when the fiber component of the conventional sheet is entangled with the pressing surface and pulled apart, the shape of the crimped binding portion is not broken and separated (separated).

The control block diagram in the network concerning this invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming apparatus incorporating a post-processing apparatus according to the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the post-processing apparatus concerning this invention. Explanatory drawing of the process tray in the apparatus of FIG. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of a binding unit disposed on the processing tray of FIG. 3, in which FIG. 3A illustrates the configuration of the staple binding unit, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a structure of the pressurization surface in a sheet | seat crimping | compression-bonding means, (a) is the shape of a pressurization surface, (b) is the shape of the sheet bundle after a binding process, (c) is a pressurization surface after a binding process. A state where the sheet is separated from the sheet bundle is shown. It is description of a binding position coating state, (a) shows the sheet | seat which forms a coating layer, (b) is shape description of a coating layer. (A) is explanatory drawing of a mark detection means, (b) is explanatory drawing of an alignment means. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control configuration in the image forming system of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the image control structure concerning this invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an image forming operation in the present invention. The flowchart which shows 1st Embodiment in this invention. The flowchart which shows 2nd Embodiment in this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments. FIG. 2 shows an image forming system according to the present invention. The illustrated image forming system includes an image forming apparatus A and a post-processing apparatus B. This image forming system is connected to a host computer PC via a network N, C in the figure is a scanner device, and D is a terminal device such as a data storage device.

  The present invention includes an image forming unit 2 having an image forming unit 7, a sheet feeding unit 1 that supplies a sheet to the image forming unit, and an image control unit 50 that controls image formation on the sheet. The image control unit 50 is configured to form an image on the sheet by the image forming unit 2 and transmit the sheet binding processing position Pb to the downstream post-processing apparatus B.

  In the transmission of the binding processing position Pb, a mark is formed at the binding processing position simultaneously with image formation, and the position of the mark is detected by the post-processing apparatus B to determine the binding position, and the image forming apparatus A described later. In the second embodiment, the binding position is set simultaneously with the image formation and information is transmitted to the post-processing apparatus B, or information transmission combining these (mark detection and data transfer) is employed.

[Image forming apparatus]
First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus that supplies sheets to the sheet binding processing apparatus B according to the present invention will be described. The apparatus of FIG. 2 shows a configuration (inner finisher configuration) in which the post-processing device B is built in the paper discharge unit of the image forming apparatus A. In addition, the image forming apparatus A and the post-processing apparatus B may be configured in separate housings so as to transfer sheets (stand-alone configuration).

  The image forming apparatus A shown in FIG. 2 includes a paper feed unit 1, an image forming unit 2, a paper discharge unit 3, a post-processing unit 15, and a control unit 60 built in the apparatus housing 4. The sheet feeding unit 1 is composed of a sheet feeding cassette 5 for storing sheets. In the illustrated example, cassettes 5a to 5c for storing a plurality of sheets of different sizes are detachably mounted on a housing. The image forming unit 2 includes a printing machine mechanism that forms an image on a sheet sent from the paper feeding unit 1, and includes various mechanisms such as an electrostatic printing machine mechanism, an offset printing machine mechanism, an ink jet printing machine mechanism, and a ribbon transfer printing mechanism. The mechanism is known.

  The illustrated image forming unit 2 represents an electrostatic printer, and a print head 10, a developing device 11, a cleaner 8, and the like are disposed around the photosensitive drum 9. Then, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by the print head 10 (laser beam emitter or the like) according to the image data stored in the data processing unit (not shown), and toner ink is attached by the developing unit 11. In the illustrated mechanism, photosensitive drums 9a to 9d are arranged for each color of YMCK for color image formation. Then, the composite image is transferred to the transfer belt 12, and the image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer charger 13.

  The sheet on which the image is formed in this manner is carried out from the paper discharge port 16 via the paper discharge path 17. The apparatus housing 4 is provided with a paper discharge area 6 in which the post-processing apparatus B is incorporated as a unit.

  In the illustrated apparatus, a scanner apparatus C for sending image data to the image forming apparatus A is integrally attached to the apparatus housing 4. The scanner device C optically reads an image original set on a platen with a photoelectric conversion element. E in the drawing is a document feeder for feeding a document image to the platen 19 of the scanner apparatus C.

[Post-processing equipment]
The post-processing apparatus B (sheet binding processing apparatus; the same applies hereinafter) is incorporated in the paper discharge area 6 formed in the image forming apparatus A (inner finisher structure) as shown in detail in FIG. In the apparatus housing 4 formed in an appropriate shape, a sheet conveyance path 22 connected to the sheet discharge port 16 of the image forming apparatus A is disposed, and a sheet on which an image is formed from a path inlet 21 (referred to as a carry-in inlet) is a downstream path. Guide to exit 23 (referred to as paper discharge port). A processing tray 24 for stacking and accumulating sheets sent from the sheet discharge outlet 23 is disposed on the downstream side of the sheet conveyance path 22.

  A conveyance roller for conveying the sheet is disposed in the sheet conveyance path 22 and is connected to a drive motor (not shown). In the sheet conveyance path 22, an inlet sensor Se1 is disposed on the inlet side, and a paper discharge sensor Se2 is disposed on the outlet side, and detects the leading and trailing edges of the sheet.

  The processing tray 24 is disposed on the downstream side of the paper discharge port 23 so as to form a step, and includes a tray surface (paper mounting surface) for storing the sheets conveyed to the paper discharge port 23 in a stack. A rear end regulating stopper 27 that regulates the rear end of the sheet by abutting and a side aligning unit 30 that positions the posture in the width direction of the sheet (the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge) are disposed on the sheet placement surface.

  In addition, a conveyance rotation body 36 (paddle member) that reverses the conveyance direction of the discharged sheet is disposed at the paper discharge port 23 and is connected to a drive motor so as to apply a conveyance force in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction to the sheet. ing. The transport rotator 36 is attached to a bracket that can be lifted and lowered, and the bracket is provided with a lifting motor (not shown). Therefore, the control means 65 to be described later waits the bracket in the raised position until the leading edge of the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 23 passes through the conveying rotator 36, and moves the conveying rotator to a position where it engages with the sheet after passing the sheet. 36 is lowered.

  On the paper loading surface of the processing tray 24, a scraping rotator 33 for guiding the rear end portion of the sheet to the restriction stopper 27 is disposed. The illustrated scraping rotator 33 is composed of a ring-shaped belt member, and moves up and down in the stacking direction following its stacking height by its own weight.

  The side aligning means 30 is composed of a pair of plate members that can move in the width direction (paper discharge orthogonal direction) along the paper placement surface, and the sheet is aligned on a reference line (sheet center or one side sheet side) by an alignment motor (not shown). Align.

  In such a configuration, a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus A is guided from the sheet discharge port 16 to the sheet conveyance path 22 and is guided from the path sheet discharge port 23 to the processing tray 24. Then, based on the signal detected by the sheet discharge sensor Se2 at the trailing edge of the sheet, the conveyance rotating body 36 is engaged with the sheet to reverse the sheet conveyance direction. The trailing edge of the sheet moves on the processing tray 24 in the direction opposite to the sheet discharge, and is abutted and locked to the trailing edge regulating stopper 27. The sheet is aligned with the reference position on the tray by the side aligning means 30. By repeating this operation, the sheets are stacked on the tray.

  FIG. 4 shows a planar configuration of the processing tray 24, and the sheet is conveyed from the sheet conveying path 22 in the direction of the arrow in the figure and supported by the processing tray 24 and the stack tray 25. In the processing tray 24, staple binding means 26 and crimp binding means 28 are arranged.

  As shown in the figure, the staple binding means 26 is supported by a guide rail (not shown) so as to be movable along the trailing edge of the sheet, and performs binding processing at a plurality of locations (two locations, three locations, or corners) of the sheet. It is configured to apply. The crimp binding means 28 is arranged at the sheet corner as shown in the figure, and binds the sheet bundle by a binding mechanism described later.

[Stapler unit]
The staple binding means 26 is already widely known as an apparatus for performing a binding process with a staple needle. One example will be described with reference to FIG. The staple binding unit 26 is configured as a unit separate from the sheet binding processing apparatus B (post-processing apparatus). A box-shaped unit frame 26a, a drive cam 26d that is pivotally supported by the frame, and a drive motor M1 that rotates the drive cam 26d are mounted on the frame.

  The drive cam 26d has a staple head (head portion) 26b and an anvil member 26c opposed to the binding position. The staple head 26b is biased to the drive cam 26d by an urging spring (not shown) from the upper standby position to the lower staple. Move up and down to position (anvil member). A needle cartridge 31 is detachably attached to the unit frame 26a.

  The needle cartridge 31 stores linear blank needles and supplies the needles to the head portion 26b by a needle feed mechanism. The head portion 26b incorporates a former member that bends the straight needle into a U shape and a driver that press-fits the bent needle into the sheet bundle.

  With such a configuration, the drive cam 26d is rotated by the drive motor M1 and stored in the urging spring. When the rotation angle reaches a predetermined angle, the head portion 26b moves downward toward the anvil member 26c. With this operation, the staple is folded into a U-shape and inserted into the sheet bundle with a screwdriver. The leading end is bent by the anvil member 26c and stapled.

  A needle feed mechanism is built in between the needle cartridge 31 and the head portion 26b, and a sensor (empty sensor) for detecting the absence of the needle is disposed in the needle feed portion. Alternatively, a cartridge sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the needle cartridge 31 is inserted is disposed in the unit frame 26a. The illustrated needle cartridge 31 employs a structure in which staple needles connected in a strip shape to a box-shaped cartridge are stacked and stored, and a structure in which the staple needles are stored in a roll shape.

  The unit frame 26a is provided with a circuit for controlling the above-described sensors and a circuit board for controlling the drive motor M1, and when the staple cartridge 31 is not stored or the staple is empty, a warning signal is issued. It has become. The staple control circuit controls the drive motor to execute a stapling operation in response to a staple needle signal, and when the staple head moves from the standby position to the anvil position and returns to the standby position, the “operation end signal”. Is configured to transmit.

[Crimping binding mechanism]
The configuration of the crimp binding means 28 will be described with reference to FIG. The press binding means 28 is constituted by pressing members 29a and 29b having a pair of pressing surfaces 28a and 28b that are pressed against and separated from each other.

  In FIG. 5B, the fixed pressure member 29a is fixed to the apparatus frame. A movable pressure member 29b is pivotally coupled to the fixed pressure member 29a so as to be swingable by a support shaft 29x. The fixed pressure member 29a is integrally attached with a fixed pressure surface 28a, and the movable pressure member 29b is integrally attached with a movable pressure surface 28b.

  The fixed pressurizing surface 28a and the movable pressurizing surface 28b are arranged so as to face each other, and are formed by tooth-shaped uneven surfaces that mesh with each other. The movable pressure member 29b is configured to be swingable about the support shaft 29x with respect to the fixed pressure member 29a fixed to the apparatus frame, and an urging spring (not shown) (a winding spring wound around the support shaft 29x). ), The pressurizing surfaces 28a (28b) are urged away from each other.

  A drive cam 32a is rotatably supported on the fixed pressure member 29a, and a follower roller 32b disposed on the movable pressure member 29b is engaged with the cam surface. A drive motor M2 is connected to the drive cam 32a via a speed reduction mechanism, and the drive cam 32a is rotated by the rotation of the motor, and a movable pressurizing member via a follower roller 32b on the cam surface (the illustrated eccentric cam). 28b is configured to swing.

  Accordingly, the movable pressurizing surface 28b is moved from the standby position separated from the fixed pressurizing surface 28a to the operating position in press contact with the rotation of the drive motor M2 to pressurize the sheet bundle. After the sheet bundle is pressed and deformed by the uneven surfaces that mesh with each other, the movable pressing member 29b returns to the standby position by the action of the biasing spring.

  As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5 (b), the movable pressure surface 28b and the fixed pressure surface 28a are formed with protrusions on one side and recessed grooves that match the protrusions on the other side. The protrusions and the recessed grooves are formed in a rib shape having a predetermined length. Therefore, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the movable pressure surface 28b and the fixed pressure surface 28a is deformed into a corrugated plate shape and is brought into close contact therewith. A position sensor (not shown) is disposed on the movable pressure member 29b, and detects whether the pressure surfaces 28a and 28b are at a pressure position or a separated position (standby position).

[Stack tray]
On the downstream side of the processing tray 24, a stack tray 25 for storing the bundle of sheets that have been bound is disposed. The stack tray is supported on a guide rail (not shown) so as to be movable up and down in the stacking direction on the apparatus frame, and is moved in the stacking direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) by the rotation of the lifting motor. The stack tray is provided with a level sensor for detecting the amount of sheets stacked and a sheet presence / absence sensor for detecting whether or not a sheet is present on the tray.

[Control configuration]
A control configuration in the network of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The illustrated network includes a control unit 40 (hereinafter referred to as “central control unit”) of the host computer PC, a control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A, and a control unit 65 of the post-processing apparatus.

  The central control unit 40 includes a central processing unit (CPU), and is configured to be able to execute application software (word application, printer application, scanner application) and the like. In addition, the central control unit 40 is provided with a printer driver execution unit 42, a print data transfer unit 43, a scanner driver execution unit 44, and a scanner data transfer unit 45. The image formation control unit 50 includes an image data control unit 51, a print control unit 52, a paper feed control unit 53, and an input unit 54.

  The image data control unit 51 controls a storage device for image data sent from the scanner device C or image data transferred from the outside (network N). The print control unit 52 expands image data sent from a storage device (such as an HDD) in a print head control memory, and electrically controls the print head 10 (laser emitter, thermal head, inkjet head, etc.). The paper feed control unit 53 feeds a sheet of a specified size from the paper feed cassette 5 to the image forming unit 2 through a paper feed path. The input unit 64 is configured by a control panel or the like, and an operator performs image forming conditions or post-processing conditions (mode setting).

  The control unit 65 of the post-processing apparatus B includes a CPU that executes a control program and storage means (ROM 66 and RAM 67). The control program includes a conveyance control unit 68 that conveys the sheet from the carry-in entrance 21 to the processing tray 24 and a paper discharge control unit 72 that conveys the sheet to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side.

  In the above-described configuration, the image forming apparatus A includes the image forming unit 2 having the image forming unit 7, the sheet feeding unit 1 that supplies a sheet to the image forming unit, and the image forming control unit 50 that controls the image forming unit 7. It has been. The post-processing apparatus B includes a stacking unit (processing tray) 24 that aligns the sheets sent from the image forming apparatus A in a bundle, and a binding processing unit 28 (crimping binding unit) that binds the sheet bundle. A binding processing control unit 71 for controlling the binding processing means is provided.

  In the configuration described above, the control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A transmits information relating to the binding processing position (Pd; referred to as “binding position information”) to the downstream post-processing apparatus B (sheet binding processing apparatus) simultaneously with image formation. The control unit 65 of the post-processing apparatus B includes a determination unit 71a that detects (or receives data) the binding position information Pd, and a binding process execution unit 71 that performs a binding process on the binding position determined thereby. Hereinafter, the binding position information Pd and the discriminating means 71a are referred to as “an embodiment for detecting a mark image formed on a sheet (first embodiment)” and “an embodiment for transferring the binding position information Pd by an electrical signal (second embodiment). Form) ”will be described.

[Coating layer formation]
Before describing the first embodiment, an image forming operation in the image forming apparatus A will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit of the image forming apparatus A includes an image forming condition setting unit 55, an image forming control unit 50, a paper feed control unit 53, and a data transfer control unit 57. . The image forming control unit 50 is provided with a print head control unit 58 and a page data storage unit 59.

  The print head control means 58 controls the head physically, optically, thermally, etc., depending on its configuration. The image forming condition setting unit 55 is configured to set image forming conditions (monochrome, color, reduction ratio, front and back surface printing, etc.) from the input unit 54. The image forming control unit 50 includes, for example, the above-described print head control unit 58 and page data storage unit 59.

  In the first embodiment according to the present invention, an image is formed in an image forming area (image forming area) of a sheet according to predetermined image data during image formation. Simultaneously with this image formation, a mark image Co is formed in the margin area of the sheet. The illustrated mark image is formed of a coating layer that coats the binding processing position Pb (see FIG. 7). The coating layer Co shown in the drawing is formed on one (or both) of the first page (first page; front cover surface) and the last page (last page; back cover surface) of the sheet bundle to be gathered.

  The first embodiment will be described below in the order of mark image (coating image) formation, mark image detection, and binding processing operation.

"Mark image formation"
The image forming control unit 50 includes a post-processing mode setting unit 50a, a mark sheet determination unit 50b (hereinafter referred to as “coating sheet determination unit”), and an image data synthesis unit 56. The coating sheet determining unit 50b is connected to the sheet feeding control unit 53, the image forming condition setting unit 55, and the like so that sheet size information, first page information, end page information, and image forming area information are sent (provided). Has been. An image is formed on the sheet according to the image data by the image formation control unit 50, and the sheet (front cover sheet or back cover sheet) determined by the coating sheet determination unit 50b is combined with the image data at the binding processing position Pb. A mark image is formed.

  On the other hand, the binding processing control unit 71 is provided with sensor means 35 (a photo sensor, a CCD sensor, etc.) for detecting a mark image on the front surface (or the back surface) of the sheet in the sheet conveyance path 22, and detection information from this sensor. The discriminating means 71a for discriminating the binding processing position Pb on the sheet and the binding processing execution means 71c for binding the sheet bundle on the processing tray according to the positional information are arranged.

  The image forming operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the image forming condition setting and the post-processing mode setting (St01) are made, it is determined whether or not the sheet size is designated, sheet page management, and stapleless binding processing (St02). During staple binding processing (St03) other than the stapleless binding processing and other post-processing (St04), although not shown, respective image formation and post-processing operations are executed.

  When the stapleless binding process is performed (before image formation), it is determined whether or not the sheet on which an image is to be formed is a coating symmetrical sheet (St05). In the case of a coating symmetrical sheet, image data reading (St06), coat image data reading (St07), sheet size information and blank area information or image formation area information are acquired (St08 to 10).

Mark image data (= coating image data; the same applies hereinafter) includes binding position data (distance information from the sheet edge (= position information)) for coating the binding processing position Pb, a pattern and a color forming an image, These image data are preset and stored in the storage means (RAM 67).
The image is configured with an appropriate shape, pattern, and color. For example, the image is configured with a design that is easy for the user to understand as a binding position, or a design such as a logo mark.

  Therefore, the control means 50 combines the image data and the mark image data based on the sheet area information (St11). At this time. The mark image data is formed at the binding processing position Pb set by the operator. In this step, a page memory for controlling the print head is formed with both image data. This page memory is page-developed (image synthesized) with image data in the image forming area and with mark image data at the binding processing position Pb in the margin area.

  On the other hand, when the sheet is not a coating target sheet (intermediate page other than the first page end page), the image data (St15), sheet size information (St16), and image formation area information (St17) are read (or data transferred). And an image is formed based on the data (St18).

  The sheet after image formation is carried out to the post-processing apparatus B, and is then accumulated and aligned on the processing tray 24 (St19). In this way, a coating image is formed at the binding position on the first page and / or the end page, and an image is formed only on the other page (intermediate page) by image data, and is conveyed onto the processing tray in the initial page order. Is accumulated. Next, the control means 50 forms an image on the sheet based on the image-synthesized data (printing process; St12). The sheet after the image formation is conveyed to the post-processing apparatus B, accumulated on the processing tray 24, and aligned (St13 to St14).

  In FIG. 8, sensor means 35 for detecting whether an image is formed on the surface (for example, a corner portion) of the sheet conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 22 is arranged. This sensor means 35 detects whether or not an image is formed at a predetermined position on the sheet by a photo sensor, a CCD sensor or the like.

  Based on the detection signal from the sensor means 35, the control means 65 operates to perform the binding process at the detection position along the procedure of FIG. The post-processing apparatus B aligns the sheet with a predetermined binding processing position on the downstream processing tray 24 in accordance with detection information from the sensor means 35 disposed in the sheet conveyance path 22.

  For this reason, the control means 65 detects the mark image of the sheet sent to the sheet conveyance path 22 (St22, St23). Next, the control means 65 collects the sheets on the processing tray (St24). The collection of sheets on the processing tray is performed by any of the following.

  In the first method, the sheets are aligned so that the binding position of the sheets coincides with the mounting position of the binding processing means (crimp binding means) 28 (St25). Then, the sheets are collected in a bundle at the binding position and a job end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St26). Therefore, the control unit 65 causes the binding processing unit 28 to execute a binding processing operation (St27). The processed sheet bundle is stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (St28).

  In the second method, the control unit 65 stacks the sheets in a bundle at a preset position on the processing tray 24. At the same time, the control means 65 moves the binding processing means 28 so as to coincide with the sheet alignment position (St29). Then, the sheets are accumulated at the alignment position and a job end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St30). Therefore, the control unit 65 causes the binding processing unit 28 to execute a binding processing operation (St31). The processed sheet bundle is stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (St32).

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the binding position Pb is set simultaneously with the setting of the post-processing mode in the image forming apparatus A without forming a mark image on the sheet, and the position data is transmitted to the downstream post-processing apparatus B.

  Similar to the above, the image forming apparatus A is provided with post-processing mode setting means 50a and binding position setting means in the control unit 50 thereof. As for the binding position setting means, for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the control panel (input unit) 54 of the image forming apparatus A is provided with means for setting the binding processing position Pb.

  The sheet corner Sc is displayed on the control panel 54, and the binding processing position Pb is set by moving the cursor 37 to display the binding position. Thus, the distance relationship (Dx, Dy coordinates) between the sheet corner edge and the binding processing position Pb is set, and the binding processing position Pb is specified by the plane coordinates (X0, Y0) (X1, Y1) on the sheet. . Each control unit is configured such that numerical data of the binding processing position Pb is transmitted from the control unit 50 of the image forming apparatus A to the control unit 65 of the post-processing apparatus B.

  A sheet stacking operation and a binding processing operation after the sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus A to the post-processing apparatus B in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The sheet is conveyed from the image forming apparatus A to the post-processing apparatus B and the post-processing mode is transmitted (St20). The control means 65 detects the leading edge of the sheet with the entrance sensor Se1, and controls the subsequent operation timing (St21).

  Based on the binding position information Pd sent from the image forming apparatus A, the control unit 65 accumulates the sheets sent to the sheet conveyance path 22 on the processing tray 24 (St33).

  In the first method, the sheets are aligned such that the binding position Pb of the sheets coincides with the mounting position of the binding processing means (crimp binding means) 28 (St25). Then, the sheets are stacked in a bundle at the binding processing position Pb, and a job end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St26). Therefore, the control unit 65 causes the binding processing unit 28 to execute a binding processing operation (St27). The processed sheet bundle is stored in the downstream stack tray (St28).

  In the second method, the control unit stacks the sheets in a bundle at a preset position on the processing tray. At the same time, the control means moves the binding processing means 28 so as to coincide with the sheet alignment position (St29). Then, the sheets are accumulated at the alignment position and a job end signal is received from the image forming apparatus A (St30). Therefore, the control unit 65 causes the binding processing unit 28 to execute a binding processing operation (St31). The processed sheet bundle is stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (St32).

A Image forming apparatus B Post-processing apparatus PC Host computer 7 Image forming means 40 Central control section 50 Image formation control section 51 Image data control section 52 Print control section 53 Paper feed control section 54 Input section 55 Image forming condition setting means 56 Image data Compositing means 57 Data transfer control unit 58 Print head control means 61 Coating sheet discrimination means 62 Image data composition command sending means 65 Control means 66 ROM
67 RAM
68 Conveyance control unit 70 Sheet stacking control unit 71 Binding processing control unit 71a Discriminating means Pb Binding processing position Pd Binding position information

Claims (8)

An apparatus for collecting and binding sheets sent from an upstream apparatus,
A support means for supporting a plurality of sheets by stacking them in a bundle;
A binding means disposed on the support means for binding the sheet bundle;
Control means for controlling the binding means;
With
The control means includes
Discrimination means for discriminating binding position information transmitted from the upstream device;
Binding processing execution means for binding the sheet bundle according to the binding position information determined by the determination means;
A binding process executing means for binding the sheet bundle on the support means based on the information determined by the determination means;
A sheet binding processing apparatus comprising: The control means includes
Positioning the sheet on the support means based on the binding processing position determined by the determination means;
The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binding process is executed by the binding processing execution unit. The binding means is arranged to be movable with respect to the sheet on the support means,
The control means includes
The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binding unit is moved based on the binding processing position determined by the determination unit to bind the sheet bundle on the support unit. The discrimination means includes
The sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising sensor means for detecting a mark for designating a binding processing position applied to a sheet sent from the upstream apparatus. Binding processing device. The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit includes a light receiving element that reads a mark on the sheet. The discrimination means includes
The sheet binding according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance between the sheet edge and the binding position is set based on a data signal relating to the binding position sent from the upstream apparatus. Processing equipment. The binding means includes
The binding position of the sheet bundle on the support means is composed of a pressure mechanism that presses the sheets together to bind them with a pair of pressure surfaces.
2. The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a mark made of a coating layer is formed at a binding position on a sheet supplied from an upstream device to the support means. The coating layer is
It is a material rich in surface curability or a material rich in peelability.
The sheet binding processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet binding processing apparatus is formed in a predetermined shape with a predetermined color.

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