JP2016199396A - Sheet bundle binding treatment device and image formation system having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet bundle binding treatment device in which a sheet bundle subjected to a staple-less binding treatment can be peeled easily from crimp teeth.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: Peeling of a sheet bundle Sb from crimp teeth 27b, 27c can be facilitated by applying a rotation operation around a corner part Sc being in close contact with the crimp teeth to the sheet bundle by extruding the rear end of the sheet bundle by a first conveyance member 60A for conveying the sheet bundle in the sheet discharge direction or the side end edge of the sheet bundle by a side alignment member 46R for moving the sheet bundle in the direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction after performing a binding treatment with crimping deformation of the corner part of the sheet bundle accumulated on a treatment tray 24 between the crimp teeth of staple-less binding means 27.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19-2

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet bundle binding processing apparatus for automatically binding a plurality of sheets sent from an image forming apparatus, for example, and performing stapleless binding processing, and further includes an image forming system including the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus. About.

  Conventionally, there is a needleless binding device that stacks a plurality of sheets and sandwiches them between a pair of concave and convex crimping teeth and presses the sheets together to bind a sheet bundle without using a metal needle. It is used. However, such a needleless binding device has a problem that the sheet bundle sticks to one of the crimping teeth when the crimping teeth are separated.

  In Patent Document 1, a side alignment member for aligning and aligning a sheet bundle on the processing tray in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction is used to kick the sheet bundle that has been bound from the side, that is, to feed out the sheet bundle. A sheet bundle binding processing apparatus is disclosed which is peeled off from the pressing surface of the binding means. The side aligning member is driven by an aligning motor and once backswings to a position away from the position where it engages with the sheet side edge, and then moves to the sheet center side to kick the sheet bundle.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-20339

  In Patent Document 1, since the sheet bundle is fed out in a certain linear direction, it may be difficult to peel off the sheet bundle from the uneven pressing surface of the needleless binding means.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily peel the bound sheet bundle from the crimping teeth.

The sheet bundle binding processing device of the present invention is made to achieve the above object, and in order to perform a stapleless binding process on a plurality of sheets,
A processing tray for stacking a plurality of sheets;
A binding processing apparatus having a pair of pressure-bonding teeth for processing a plurality of sheets on a processing tray into a single sheet bundle without needle binding;
In order to peel off the binding portion of the sheet bundle that is in close contact with the crimping tooth after the stapleless binding process, the edge of the sheet bundle is provided so that the sheet bundle is rotated around the binding portion. And an exfoliation mechanism for extruding.

  The rotation operation by the peeling mechanism acts to twist the binding portion of the sheet bundle with respect to the pressure-bonding tooth to which the sheet bundle is in close contact, so even if the pushing force is small, the binding portion is compared with the pressure-bonding tooth. It can be easily removed. Therefore, there is no need to use an additional structure or device as in the prior art described above.

  In one embodiment, the peeling mechanism includes a sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism for conveying the sheet bundle peeled off from the pressure-bonding teeth in the paper discharge direction on the processing tray, and the trailing edge of the sheet bundle is set in the paper discharge direction. It is configured to extrude and impart a rotational motion to the sheet bundle. This is advantageous because the sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism and its function conventionally used in the sheet bundle binding apparatus can be used as they are.

  In another embodiment, the peeling mechanism includes a side alignment mechanism that moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet bundle discharge direction to align a plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray. The side edge is pushed out in a direction perpendicular to the paper discharge direction, and a rotation operation is applied to the sheet bundle. Similarly, since the side alignment mechanism and its function conventionally used in such a sheet bundle binding apparatus can be used as they are, it is advantageous.

  Further, in an embodiment, the sheet bundle unloading mechanism corrects the posture of the sheet bundle straightly with respect to the sheet discharge direction when the sheet bundle peeled off from the pressure-bonding teeth is conveyed in the sheet discharge direction on the processing tray. Composed. It is possible to correct the posture of the sheet bundle tilted by the rotational operation of peeling from the crimping tooth without using an additional structure or device, and to discharge the sheet bundle straightly.

  In yet another embodiment, the sheet bundle unloading mechanism moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet bundle discharge direction, and cooperates with a side alignment mechanism for aligning a plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray. Thus, the posture of the sheet bundle is configured to be straightened with respect to the paper discharge direction. Thus, by cooperating the sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism and the side alignment mechanism, the posture of the sheet bundle can be corrected with higher accuracy.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, a sheet bundle binding processing unit that accumulates a plurality of sheets sent from the image forming unit and performs stapleless binding processing, And an image forming system in which the sheet bundle binding processing unit is any one of the above-described sheet bundle binding processing apparatuses.

  As described above, the binding portion of the sheet bundle can be peeled off from the crimping tooth relatively easily even with a relatively small force without requiring an additional structure or apparatus, thereby avoiding an increase in size, weight, or cost. By providing the sheet bundle binding processing device to be obtained, the sheets stacked from the image forming unit can be stapled and processed to the sheet bundle in a continuous process without increasing the size of the entire image forming system. it can.

1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a post-processing apparatus in the image forming system of FIG. 1. Side surface sectional drawing (device front side) of the apparatus of FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views of a sheet carry-in mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, in which FIG. 3A shows a state where the paddle rotating body is in a standby position, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship between each area and an alignment position in the apparatus of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view of a side alignment mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the moving mechanism of a stapler unit. Explanatory drawing which shows the binding position of a stapler unit. Explanatory drawing of the multi-binding and left corner binding of a stapler unit. The state of the stapler at the binding position is shown, (a) shows the state of the right corner binding position, (b) shows the state of the needle loading position, and (c) shows the state of the manual binding position. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism in the apparatus of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 3A shows a standby state, FIG. 2B shows a takeover conveyance state, FIG. 3C shows a structure of a second conveyance member, and FIG. Indicates the state of being discharged to the stack tray. (A) to (d) are sheet bundle binding processing methods. (A) is a structure explanatory drawing of a stapler unit, (b) is a structure explanatory drawing of a press bind unit. FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a stack tray in the apparatus of FIG. 2. Explanatory drawing of the control structure in the apparatus of FIG. The operation flow of the staple binding processing mode. Operation flow in eco binding mode. (A)-(c) is a schematic explanatory drawing seen from the perpendicular | vertical upper direction with respect to the paper mounting surface of a processing tray which shows the process in which the sheet | seat bundle carried out on the processing tray was integrated | stacked and bound. (D), (e) is a schematic explanatory view seen from vertically above the paper loading surface of the processing tray, showing the process of stacking and binding the sheet bundles carried out on the processing tray. FIGS. 18A and 18B are schematic explanatory views similar to FIGS. 18A and 18B, showing a process of peeling a sheet bundle from a stapleless binding unit and discharging it to a stack tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. (C), (d) is a schematic explanatory view similar to FIG. 18-2, showing a process of peeling a sheet bundle from the stapleless binding means and discharging it to a stack tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(d) is a schematic explanatory drawing similar to FIG. 18-1 which shows the process in which a sheet | seat bundle is peeled off from a stapleless binding means according to 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and it discharges | emits to a stack tray. Operation flow in printout mode. Sort mode operation flow. Common operation flow for loading sheets onto the processing tray. Operation flow of manual stapling processing.

  The present invention will be described in detail below according to the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention relates to a sheet bundle binding processing mechanism for binding a sheet bundle in which an image is formed and the sheets are aligned and accumulated in an image forming system described later.

  In the present specification, “offset conveyance of sheet bundle” means that the sheet conveyed from the sheet discharge port is moved to a position perpendicular to (or intersecting with) the sheet conveyance direction (width-shifting movement). “Offset amount” refers to the amount of movement. Further, “sheet bundle alignment” refers to aligning different size sheets according to a reference (center reference or one-side reference) with respect to a sheet carried from a sheet discharge port. Therefore, “offset after aligning sheets” means that the entire sheet is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction after alignment with different size sheets as a reference.

  The image forming system shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming unit A, an image reading unit C, and a post-processing unit B. The original image is read by the image reading unit C, and an image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit A based on the image data. The sheets on which the image has been formed are aligned and collected by the post-processing unit B (sheet bundle binding processing device; the same applies hereinafter), and the binding process is performed, and the sheets are stored in the stack tray 25 on the downstream side.

  A post-processing unit B, which will be described later, is built as a unit in a paper discharge space (stack tray space) 15 formed in the housing of the image forming unit A, and the image forming sheet sent to the paper discharge port 16 is placed on the processing tray 24. An inner finisher structure including a post-processing mechanism for collecting and aligning the sheets and storing them in a stack tray disposed downstream is shown. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming unit A, the image reading unit C, and the post-processing unit B can be configured as independent stand-alone structures, and each apparatus can be connected by a network cable to form a system.

[Sheet Bundle Processing Device (Post-Processing Unit)]
The post-processing unit B has a perspective configuration shown in FIG. 2 and a cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 3. The downstream side of the apparatus housing 20, the sheet carry-in path 22 disposed in the housing, and the path discharge port 23. The processing tray 24 is disposed on the downstream side, and the stack tray 25 is further disposed on the downstream side.

  The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet carry-in means 35 for carrying sheets, a sheet regulating means 40 for collecting the carry-in sheets in a bundle, and a side alignment mechanism 45. Along with this, a staple binding means 26 (first binding means) for stapling the sheet bundle and a stapleless binding means 27 (second binding means) for stapleless binding of the sheet bundle are arranged on the processing tray 24. . Each configuration will be described in detail below.

[Device housing]
The apparatus housing 20 includes an apparatus frame 20a and an outer casing 20b, and the apparatus frame includes a frame structure that supports each mechanism unit (path mechanism, tray mechanism, transport mechanism, and the like) described later. The illustrated one has a monocoque structure in which a binding mechanism, a transport mechanism, a tray mechanism, and a drive mechanism are arranged on a pair of left and right side frame frames (not shown) facing each other, and are integrated by an exterior casing 20b.

  The outer casing 20b has a monocoque structure in which left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d and a stay frame (bottom frame frame 20e described later) for connecting both side frame frames are integrated by molding such as resin, and a part (device) The front side is exposed to be operable from the outside.

  That is, the outer periphery of the frame frame is covered with the outer casing 20b and is built in the paper discharge space 15 of the image forming unit A described later. In this state, the exterior case on the front side of the apparatus is exposed to be operable from the outside. On the front side of the outer casing 20b, a cartridge mounting opening 28 for staples, which will be described later, a manual feed setting portion 29, and a manual operation button 30 (shown in FIG. 1) are equipped.

  In the outer casing 20b, the length dimension Lx in the sheet discharge direction and the length dimension Ly in the sheet discharge orthogonal direction are set based on the maximum size sheet and are smaller than the sheet discharge space 15 of the image forming unit A described later. Is set to

[Sheet carry-in path (discharge path)]
As shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus housing 20 is provided with a sheet carry-in path 22 (hereinafter referred to as “paper discharge path”) having a carry-in port 21 and a paper discharge port 23. It is configured to receive it, convey it in a substantially horizontal direction, and carry it out from the paper discharge outlet 23. The paper discharge path 22 is formed by an appropriate paper guide (plate) 22a, and has a built-in feeder mechanism for conveying the sheet.

  This feeder mechanism is composed of a pair of conveying rollers at a predetermined interval according to the path length, and in the illustrated one, a pair of carry-in rollers 31 is arranged in the vicinity of the carry-in port 21 and a pair of discharge rollers 32 is arranged in the vicinity of the discharge port 23. Has been. A sheet sensor Se <b> 1 that detects the leading edge and / or trailing edge of the sheet is disposed in the paper discharge path 22.

  The paper discharge path 22 is formed by a substantially horizontal straight path so as to cross the apparatus housing 20. This is to avoid stressing the sheet with a curved path, and the path is formed with the linearity allowed from the apparatus layout. The carry-in roller pair 31 and the paper discharge roller pair 32 are connected to the same drive motor M1 (hereinafter referred to as a conveyance motor), and convey the sheet at the same peripheral speed.

[Processing tray]
Referring to FIG. 3, the processing tray 24 is disposed at the paper discharge outlet 23 of the paper discharge path 22 with a step d formed downstream thereof. The processing tray 24 includes a paper loading surface 24a that supports at least a part of the sheets so that the sheets sent from the paper discharge port 23 are stacked upward and stacked in a bundle. The structure shown in the figure employs a structure (bridge support structure) in which a front end side of a sheet is supported by a stack tray 25 described later and a rear end side of the sheet is supported by a processing tray 24. This reduces the size of the tray.

  The processing tray 24 collects the sheets sent from the paper discharge outlet 23 in a bundle shape, aligns the sheets in a predetermined posture, performs a binding process, and carries out the processed sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. It is configured. Therefore, a “sheet carry-in mechanism 35”, “sheet alignment mechanism 45”, “binding processing mechanisms 26 and 27”, and “sheet bundle carry-out mechanism 60” are incorporated in the processing tray 24.

"Sheet carry-in mechanism (sheet carry-in means)"
A processing tray 24 is disposed at the paper discharge port 23 with a step d. A sheet carry-in means 35 for smoothly conveying the sheet on the processing tray in a correct posture is required. The illustrated sheet carry-in means 35 (friction rotator) is composed of a paddle rotator 36 that moves up and down, and the paddle rotator 36 discharges the sheet in the direction opposite to the sheet discharge when the rear end of the sheet is unloaded from the sheet discharge port 23 onto the tray. (Right direction in FIG. 3) and abutting and aligning (positioning) with a sheet end regulating means 40 described later.

  For this purpose, the paper discharge port 23 is provided with an elevating arm 37 supported on the apparatus frame 20a so as to be swingable by a support shaft 37x, and a paddle rotating body 36 is rotatably supported on the tip of the elevating arm. Yes. The support shaft 37x is provided with a pulley (not shown), and the pulley is connected to the above-described transport motor M1.

  At the same time, a lift motor M3 (hereinafter referred to as a paddle lift motor) is connected to the lift arm 37 via a spring clutch (torque limiter). (Engagement position) It is comprised so that it may raise / lower between Ap.

  That is, the spring clutch raises the lifting arm 37 from the operating position Ap to the standby position Wp by one-way rotation of the paddle lifting motor M3, and waits at the standby position after hitting a locking stopper (not shown). The spring clutch is relaxed by rotation in the opposite direction of the paddle elevating motor M3, and the elevating arm 37 is lowered by its own weight from the standby position Wp to the lower operating position Ap and engaged with the uppermost sheet on the processing tray.

  In the illustrated apparatus, a pair of paddle rotors 36 are arranged symmetrically at a predetermined distance from each other with respect to a sheet center (center reference Sx) as shown in FIG. In addition, a total of three paddle rotating bodies may be arranged on the sheet center and both sides thereof, or one paddle rotating body may be arranged on the sheet center.

  The paddle rotator 36 is composed of a flexible rotator such as a rubber plate member or a plastic blade member. In addition to the paddle rotating body, the sheet carry-in means 35 can be constituted by a friction rotating member such as a roller body or a belt body. Further, the illustrated apparatus shows a mechanism for lowering the paddle rotating body 36 from the upper standby position Wp to the lower operation position Ap after the rear end of the sheet is carried out from the paper discharge port 23, but the following lifting mechanism is adopted. Is also possible.

  A lifting mechanism different from that shown in the figure, for example, lowers the friction rotating body from the standby position to the operating position at the stage when the leading edge of the sheet is carried out from the discharge outlet 23 and simultaneously rotates it in the discharge direction so that the trailing edge of the sheet is at the discharge outlet. At this time, the rotating body rotates backward in the direction opposite to the paper discharge. As a result, the sheet carried out from the paper discharge port 23 can be transferred to a predetermined position on the processing tray 24 at high speed and without skew.

"Scraping rotary body (scraping transport means)"
When the sheet is transported to a predetermined position on the processing tray 24 by the sheet carry-in mechanism 35 (paddle rotator) arranged at the paper discharge port 23, the leading end of the sheet is moved downstream by the influence of a curled sheet, a skewed sheet, or the like. The scraping and conveying means 33 for guiding to the regulation stopper 40 is required.

  The illustrated apparatus is a scraping rotating body (scraping transporting means) that applies a transporting force to the regulating member side of the uppermost sheet stacked on the upstream side of a sheet end regulating stopper 40 described below below the paper discharge roller pair 32. ) 33 is arranged. In the illustrated example, a ring-shaped belt member 34 (hereinafter referred to as “scratching belt”) is disposed above the front end portion of the processing tray 24, and this scraping belt 34 engages with the uppermost sheet on the paper loading surface and is regulated. It rotates in the direction of conveying the sheet to the member side.

  For this reason, the scraping belt 34 is made of a flexible material such as rubber and is made of a belt material (such as a knurled belt) having a high frictional force, and is connected to a drive motor (the one shown in the figure is common to the transport motor M1). A nip is supported between 34x and the idle shaft 34y. And the rotational force of the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3 is given from the rotating shaft 34x. At the same time, the scraping belt 34 abuts against the downstream side regulation stopper 40 while pressing the leading edge of the sheet carried along the uppermost sheet stacked on the processing tray.

  The scraping belt 34 is configured to move up and down above the uppermost sheet on the tray by a belt shift motor M5 (hereinafter referred to as a knurling lifting motor) (the lifting mechanism is omitted). Then, at the timing when the leading end of the sheet enters between the belt surface and the uppermost sheet, the scraping belt 34 is lowered and engaged with the carry-in sheet. The scraping belt 34 controls the knurl elevating motor M5 so as to be separated from the uppermost sheet and wait upward when it is transferred from the processing tray 24 to the downstream stack tray 25 by a sheet bundle carrying means 60 described later.

"Sheet alignment mechanism"
The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet aligning mechanism 45 that positions the loaded sheet at a predetermined position (processing position). The illustrated sheet alignment mechanism 45 includes a “sheet end regulating means 40” that regulates the position of the sheet discharge direction end face (either the front end face or the rear end face) sent from the sheet discharge outlet 23 and the sheet discharge orthogonal direction (sheet It is comprised of a “side alignment mechanism 45” that performs side-by-side alignment. This will be described below in this order.

"Sheet edge regulating means"
The illustrated sheet end regulating means 40 includes a rear end regulating member 41 that regulates the rear end edge in the paper discharge direction. The trailing edge regulating member 41 includes a regulating surface 41 a that abuts and regulates the trailing edge in the sheet discharge direction of the sheet carried in along the paper loading surface 24 a on the processing tray. The trailing edge of the sheet to be touched is stopped.

  When the rear end regulating member 41 is multi-bound by the stapler means 26 described later, the stapler unit moves along the rear end of the sheet (in the direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge). In order not to hinder the movement of the unit, (1) a mechanism for entering and retracting the trailing end regulating member with respect to the movement path (movement trajectory) of the binding unit is adopted, or (2) the position is moved integrally with the binding unit. (3) The rear end regulating member is configured by, for example, a channel-shaped bent piece inside the binding space formed by the head and the anvil of the binding unit.

  The illustrated one is constituted by a plate-shaped bending member having a U-shaped cross section (channel shape) in which the rear end regulating member 41 is disposed in the binding space of the staple binding means 26. The first member 41A is arranged at the sheet center with the minimum size sheet as a reference, and the second and third members 41B and 41C are arranged on the left and right sides with a distance from the first member 41A (see FIG. 5). This enables the staple binding unit 26 to move in the sheet width direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a plurality of rear end regulating members 41 made of channel-shaped bent pieces are fixed to the processing tray 24 (the front ends of the members are fixed to the back wall of the tray with screws). . Each of the rear end regulating members 41 is formed with a regulating surface 41a, and an inclined surface 41b for guiding the sheet end to the regulating surface is connected to the bent leading end portion.

"Side alignment mechanism"
The processing tray 24 is provided with a side alignment mechanism 45 (hereinafter referred to as “side alignment member”) that positions the sheet that has hit the rear end regulating member 41 in the discharge orthogonal direction (sheet width direction).

  The configuration of the side alignment member 45 differs depending on whether sheets of different sizes are aligned on the processing tray on the basis of the center or aligned on the one side. The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 discharges sheets of different sizes based on the center reference from the paper discharge outlet 23, and aligns the sheets on the processing tray with the center reference. Then, according to the binding process, the sheet bundle aligned in a bundle shape with the center reference is bound to the binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 in the alignment posture in the case of multi-stitching, and the sheet bundle is offset by a predetermined amount in the horizontal direction in the case of left-right corner binding. The stapler unit 26 performs binding processing at the positions Cp1 and Cp2.

  For this reason, the side alignment mechanism 45 protrudes upward from the paper loading surface 24a of the processing tray and has a pair of left and right side alignment members 46 (46F, 46R) having a regulating surface 46x engaged with the side edge of the sheet. Arrange so that. The pair of left and right side alignment members 46 are arranged on the processing tray 24 so as to be reciprocally movable at a predetermined stroke. This stroke is set by the size difference between the maximum size sheet and the minimum size sheet and the offset amount by which the sheet bundle after alignment is moved (offset transported) in either the left or right direction. That is, the movement strokes of the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R are set by the movement amount for aligning different size sheets and the offset amount of the sheet bundle after alignment.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the side alignment member 46 includes a right side alignment member 46F (device front side) and a left side alignment member 46R (device rear side). The regulating surfaces 46x that engage with the ends are supported by the tray member so as to move in the approaching direction or the separating direction. The processing tray 24 is provided with a slit groove 24x penetrating the front and back, and a side alignment member 46 having a regulating surface 46x that engages with the sheet side edge is slidably fitted from the slit to the upper surface of the tray.

  Each of the side alignment members 46F and 46R is slidably supported by a plurality of guide rollers 49 (may be rail members) on the back side of the tray, and a rack 47 is integrally formed. Alignment motors M6 and M7 are connected to the left and right racks 47 via pinions 48. The left and right alignment motors M6 and M7 are stepping motors. The position sensors (not shown) detect the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R, and based on the detected values, the restricting members are moved in either direction. The position can be moved by a specified amount of movement.

  Instead of using the illustrated rack-pinion mechanism, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the side alignment members 46F and 46R are fixed to a timing belt and connected to a motor that reciprocates the belt with a pulley.

  The control means 75 comprising the control CPU 75 to be described later with such a configuration places the left and right side alignment members 46 in a predetermined standby position (sheet width size + α position) based on sheet size information provided from the image forming unit A or the like. To wait. In this state, the sheet is carried onto the processing tray 24, and the alignment operation is started at the timing when the sheet end hits the sheet end regulating member 41. In this alignment operation, the left and right alignment motors M6 and M7 are rotated in the opposite direction (approach direction) by the same amount. Then, the sheets carried into the processing tray 24 are positioned with reference to the sheet center and stacked in a bundle. By repeating the sheet carrying-in operation and the aligning operation, the sheets are collected in a bundle on the processing tray. At this time, sheets of different sizes are positioned based on the center reference.

  As described above, the sheets stacked on the processing tray based on the center can be subjected to the repetitive position binding processing (multi-binding processing) at the sheet rear end edge (or front end edge) at a predetermined interval. When binding a sheet corner, one side of the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R is moved to a position where the sheet side end coincides with a designated binding position and is stopped. Then, the opposite side alignment member is moved in the approaching direction. The amount of movement in the approach direction is calculated according to the sheet size. Thus, the sheets carried onto the processing tray 24 are aligned so that the right edge coincides with the binding position when the right corner is bound, and the left edge coincides with the binding position when the left corner is bound. .

When the sheet bundle aligned at a predetermined position on the processing tray as described above is offset for “eco-binding” described later,
(1) The alignment member on the rear side in the movement direction is moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a state where the alignment member on the front side in the movement direction is retracted to a position away from the planned offset position,
(2) Either left and right alignment members are moved by the same amount in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and either drive control is adopted.

  Position sensors (not shown) such as position sensors and encode sensors are arranged on the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R and their alignment motors M6 and M7 to detect the position of the side alignment member 46. Yes. In addition, the alignment motors M6 and M7 are configured by stepping motors, the home position of the side alignment member 46 is detected by a position sensor (not shown), and the motor is PWM-controlled so that the left and right side alignment members have a relatively simple control configuration. 46F and 46R can be controlled.

[Sheet unloading mechanism]
The sheet bundle unloading mechanism (sheet bundle unloading means 60) shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism for carrying out the sheet bundle that has been bound by the first and second binding means 26 and 27 to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. In the processing tray 24 described with reference to FIG. 5, the first sheet trailing edge regulating member 41A is arranged at the sheet center Sx, and the second and third sheet trailing edge regulating members 41B and 41C are arranged at a distance from each other on the left and right. ing. The sheet bundle locked to the restricting member 41 is bound by the binding means 26 (27), and is then carried out to the downstream stack tray 26.

  For this reason, a sheet bundle carrying-out means 60 is disposed on the processing tray 24 along the paper loading surface 24a. The illustrated sheet bundle carrying-out means 60 includes a first conveying member 60A and a second conveying member 60B. The first section Tr1 on the processing tray is the first conveying member 60A, and the second section Tr2 is the second conveying member. Relay transport at 60B. In this way, by transferring the sheet by the first and second conveying members 60A and 60B, the mechanisms of the conveying members can have different structures. Then, the sheet trailing edge regulating means 40 and the member that conveys the sheet bundle from the substantially same starting point are configured by a member (long support member) with less shaking, and the member that drops the sheet bundle onto the stack tray 25 at the conveyance end point is It needs to be small (to travel on a loop trajectory).

  The first conveying member 60A is composed of a first carry-out member 61 formed of a bent piece having a cross-sectional channel shape, and this member has an engaging surface 61a for engaging the rear end surface of the sheet bundle, and the surface. A paper surface pressing member 62 (elastic film member; Mylar piece) that presses the upper surface of the stopped sheet is provided. Since the first conveying member 60A is formed of a channel-shaped bent piece as shown in the drawing, when it is fixed to a carrier member 65a (belt), which will be described later, the first conveying member 60A travels integrally with the belt. The rear end of the sheet bundle is moved (feeded out) in the conveyance direction. And this 1st conveyance member 60A reciprocates stroke Str1 by the substantially linear locus | trajectory, without drive | working the curved loop locus | trajectory so that it may mention later.

  The second conveying member 60B includes a claw-shaped second carry-out member 63, and is provided with a locking surface 63a that locks the rear end surface of the sheet bundle and a paper surface pressing member 64 that presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle. . The paper surface pressing member 64 is pivotally supported by the second carry-out member 63 and is provided with a paper surface pressing surface 64a. The paper surface pressing surface is pressed by an urging spring 64b so as to press the upper surface of the sheet bundle. It is energized.

  Further, the paper surface pressing surface 64a is composed of an inclined surface inclined in the running direction as shown in the figure, and when it moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. At this time, the paper pressing surface 64a is displaced upward in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise in the figure) against the biasing spring 64b. Then, as shown in FIG. 11C, the paper surface pressing surface 64a presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle toward the paper loading surface side by the action of the urging spring 64b.

  The first carry-out member 61 configured as described above is the first carrier member 65a, and the second carry-out member 63 is the second carrier member 65b. The first carry-out member 61 reciprocates from the base end portion of the paper loading surface 24a to the exit end portion. To do. For this reason, driving pulleys 66a and 66b and a driven pulley 66c are arranged on the paper mounting surface 24a at positions separated from the transport stroke. 66d and 66e shown are idle pulleys.

  A first carrier member 65a (a toothed belt in the drawing) is bridged between the driving pulley 66a and the driven pulley 66c, and a second carrier member 65b (toothed belt) is interposed between the driving pulley 66b and the driven pulley 66c. ) Is bridged through idle pulleys 66d and 66e. A drive motor M4 is connected to the drive pulleys 66a and 66b, and the rotation of the motor is the first drive so that the drive is transmitted to the first carrier member 65a at a low speed and to the second carrier member 65b at a high speed. The pulley 65a has a small diameter, and the second drive pulley 65b has a large diameter.

  That is, the first transport member 60A is connected to the common drive motor M4 via a speed reduction mechanism (belt-pulley, gear connection, etc.) so that the second transport member 60B travels at a low speed. At the same time, the second drive pulley 66b incorporates a cam mechanism that delays drive transmission. This is because the movement stroke Str1 of the first conveying member 60A and the movement stroke Str2 of the second conveying member 60B are different from each other and the standby positions of the respective members are adjusted as will be described later.

  With the above configuration, the first transport member 60A reciprocates along a linear trajectory in the first stroke Str1 from the rear end regulation position of the processing tray 24, and the first section Tr1 is set in this stroke. The member 60B reciprocates along a half-loop trajectory in the second stroke Str2 from the first section Tr1 to the outlet end of the processing tray 24, and the second section Tr2 is set in this stroke.

  Then, the first conveying member 60A moves from the sheet trailing edge regulating position to the downstream side (FIG. 11 (a) to (b)) at the speed V1 by the one-way rotation of the drive motor M4. Transfer by pushing the rear end. The second transport member 60B is delayed from the first transport member 60A by a predetermined time, and protrudes from the standby position (FIG. 11A) on the back side of the processing tray onto the paper placement surface, following the first transport member 60A. It travels at the speed V2 in the same direction. Since the speed V1 <V2 is set at this time, the sheet bundle on the processing tray is taken over from the first conveying member 60A to the second conveying member 60B.

  FIG. 11B shows the take-up conveyance state, and the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 is caught up by the second conveyance member 60B traveling at the speed V2. That is, after passing the first section Tr1, the first transport member 60A is caught up by the second transport member 60B, the second transport member 60B engages with the sheet rear end surface, and transports the second section Tr2 downstream.

  Then, when the second conveying member 60B hits the sheet bundle traveling at the speed V1 at a high speed at the takeover point, the sheet surface pressing member 64 presses the upper surface of the sheet bundle and the carrier member (belt) 65a. (65b), the sheet bundle is conveyed toward the stack tray 25 while holding the rear end of the sheet bundle so as to nip.

"Binding method (binding position)"
As described above, the sheets sent to the carry-in entrance 21 of the paper discharge path 22 are partially aligned and stacked on the processing tray, and are positioned (aligned) at a preset position and posture by the sheet end regulating member 40 and the side alignment member 46. Is done. Therefore, the sheet bundle is subjected to a binding process and carried out to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. A binding processing method in this case will be described.

  The illustrated apparatus includes “first binding unit 26 for stapling a sheet bundle” and “second binding unit 27 for stapleless binding a sheet bundle” on the processing tray 24 as a binding processing method. The control means 75 to be described later has a first feature that after the sheet bundle is bound by the first and second selected binding means 26 (27), the sheet bundle is carried out downstream. In this case, when the sheet bundle is bound with a staple, binding that does not easily separate is possible. However, depending on the use of the user, the convenience of easily separating the bound sheet bundle may be required. In addition, when cutting a used sheet bundle with a shredder or the like, or when recycling used paper, metal needles become a problem, so it is possible to select and use “with needle” or “without needle” binding means. Because.

  In addition, the illustrated apparatus separates a sheet created outside the apparatus (outside the system) separately from a series of post-processing operations in which the sheet is fed from the sheet carry-in path (discharge path) 22 and the sheets are aligned and stacked. The second feature is that the binding process (hereinafter referred to as “manual staple process”) is performed.

  Therefore, a manual setting portion 29 for setting a sheet bundle from the outside is disposed on the outer casing 20b, and a manual setting surface 29a for setting the sheet bundle is formed on the casing, and the staple binding means (stapler unit 26) described above is formed. The sheet tray is moved from the sheet carry-in area Ar of the processing tray 24 to the manual feed area Fr.

  Each binding processing method will be described with reference to FIGS. The illustrated apparatus binds “multi-binding positions Ma1, Ma2” for binding the repetitive portions of the sheet with the staple needle, “corner binding positions Cp1, Cp2” for binding the sheet corner, and the manually set sheets. A “manual binding position Mp” to be processed and a “needleless binding position Ep” for binding the sheet corner without a needle are set. The positional relationship between the binding positions will be described.

"Multi-binding"
As shown in FIG. 5, the multi-binding process is performed by using the edge of the sheet bundle (hereinafter referred to as “alignment sheet bundle”) positioned on the processing tray 24 by the sheet end regulating member 41 and the side alignment member 46. The trailing edge is bound. In FIG. 9, binding positions Ma <b> 1 and Ma <b> 2 are set for binding processing at two places with an interval therebetween. The stapler unit 26 described later moves from the home position to the binding position Ma1 and then the binding position Ma2 to perform the binding process. Note that the multi-binding position Ma is not limited to two places, and may be bound to three places or more. FIG. 12A shows a multi-bound state.

"Corner binding"
The corner binding processing is performed at two right and left positions of a right corner binding position Cp1 for binding the right corner of the alignment sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray 24 and a left corner binding position Cp2 for binding the left corner of the alignment sheet bundle. The binding position is set. In this case, the stapling process is performed by inclining the staple needle at a predetermined angle (about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees). (A stapler unit 26 described later is mounted on the apparatus frame so that the entire unit is inclined at a predetermined angle at this position.) FIGS. 12B and 12C show a corner-bound state.

  The apparatus specifications shown in the figure show a case where the left and right of the sheet bundle are selected and bound, and a case where the staple is tilted by a predetermined angle and the binding process is performed. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which corner binding is performed only on either the left or right side, or a configuration in which binding is performed in parallel with the sheet edge without tilting the staple needle.

"Manual binding"
The manual binding position Mp is disposed on a manual setting surface 29a formed on an exterior casing 20b (a part of the apparatus housing) described later. The manual setting surface 29a is disposed at a position (parallel arrangement) adjacent to the paper placement surface 24a via the side frame 20c at a height position that forms substantially the same plane as the paper placement surface 24a of the processing tray. . In the illustrated example, the paper loading surface 24a and the manual setting surface 29a of the processing tray both support the sheet in a substantially horizontal posture and are disposed at substantially the same height. FIG. 12D shows a manually bound state.

  That is, in FIG. 5, the manual setting surface 29a is disposed on the right side of the side frame 20c, and the paper mounting surface 24a is disposed on the left side. The manual binding position Mp is arranged on the same straight line as the above-described multi-binding position Ma arranged on the paper surface. This is because the both staple positions are bound by the common stapler unit 26. Accordingly, the processing tray 24 is provided with a sheet carry-in area Ar, a manual feed area Fr on the front side of the apparatus, and an eco-binding area Rr described later on the rear side of the apparatus.

"Needleless binding position"
The stapleless binding position Ep (hereinafter referred to as “eco-binding position”) is arranged so as to bind the side edge portion (corner portion) of the sheet as shown in FIG. The illustrated eco-binding position Ep is disposed at a position where one edge portion on the sheet discharge direction side of the sheet bundle is bound, and the angle position inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the sheet is bound. The eco-binding position Ep is arranged in an eco-binding area Rr that is separated from the sheet carry-in area Ar of the processing tray 24 toward the apparatus rear side.

"Relationship between binding positions"
The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 are arranged in the inside (inner side) of the carry-out area Ar of the sheet carried into the processing tray 24 from the paper discharge outlet 23. Further, the corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are disposed outside the sheet carry-in area Ar at a reference position (side alignment reference) that is a predetermined distance away from the sheet discharge reference Sx (center reference) to the right or left. ing. As shown in FIG. 6, the left corner binding is located outside the side edge of the maximum size sheet (to be bound), and the right corner binding position Cp1 is shifted to the right by a predetermined amount (δ1) from the sheet side edge. The position Cp2 is disposed at a position deviated to the left by a predetermined amount (δ2) from the sheet side edge. Both the bias amounts are set to the same distance (δ1 = δ2).

  The multi-binding positions Ma1 and Ma2 and the manual binding position Mp are arranged on a substantially straight line. Further, the corner binding positions Cp1 and Cp2 are set to tilt angles (for example, 45 degree angle positions) that are symmetric with respect to the paper discharge reference Sx.

  The manual binding position Mp is disposed outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and in the manual feed area Fr on the apparatus front side Fr, and the eco-binding position Ep is located outside the sheet carry-in area Ar and on the apparatus rear side Re. Arranged at Rr.

  The manual binding position Mp is arranged at a position offset by a predetermined amount (Of 1) from the right corner binding position of the processing tray, and the eco binding position Ep is offset by a predetermined amount (Of 2) from the left corner binding position of the processing tray 24. Placed in position. In this way, the multi-binding position Mp is set based on the unloading standard (center standard) of the processing tray for carrying in the sheet, the corner binding position Cp is set based on the maximum size sheet, and the apparatus is further started from the left and right corner binding positions. By manually setting the manual binding position Mp at a position that is offset by a predetermined amount Off1 on the front side, and similarly by setting the eco binding position Ep at a position that is offset by a predetermined amount of offset on the rear side of the apparatus, sheet movements do not interfere with each other in an orderly manner. Can be arranged.

  The sheet movement in each binding process will be described. In the multi-binding process, the sheet is carried to the processing tray with a center reference (may be a one-side reference), and aligned and processed in that state. After the binding process, it is carried out downstream in that posture. In the corner binding process, the sheet is aligned at the specified side alignment position and is bound. After the binding process, it is carried out downstream in that posture. In the eco-binding process, the sheets carried on the processing tray are collected in a bundle and then offset by a predetermined amount Off2 on the rear side of the apparatus, and the binding process is performed after the offset movement. After the binding process, the sheet center side is offset by a predetermined amount (for example, a shift amount that is the same as or smaller than the offset Of2), and is then transported downstream.

  In manual binding, the operator sets the sheet on the manual setting surface that is a predetermined amount of offset Off1 from the alignment reference located on the front side from the processing tray 24. As a result, a plurality of binding processes are sorted in the sheet orthogonal position in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and the binding process is executed, so that the processing speed is quick and processing with less sheet jam is possible.

  Note that, during the eco-binding process, the control unit 75 described later sets the binding position Ep by offsetting the sheet by a predetermined amount Off3 from the trailing edge reference position in the paper discharge direction. This is to avoid interference between the stapler unit 26 and the eco-binding unit (a press binding unit 27 described later) for the left corner binding of the sheet. Accordingly, when the eco-binding unit 27 is mounted on the apparatus frame 20 so as to be movable between the binding position and the retracted position retracted from the staple binding unit 26, it is not necessary to offset the sheet in the sheet discharge direction.

  Here, the apparatus front side Fr refers to the front side of the outer casing 20b which is set at the time of designing the apparatus and where the operator performs various operations. Normally, a control panel, a sheet cassette mounting cover (door), or an opening / closing cover for replenishing staples of the stapler unit is arranged on the front side of the apparatus. The device rear side Re refers to, for example, a side facing a wall surface of a building when the device is installed (installation condition in which the wall is on the back side in terms of design).

  As described above, the illustrated apparatus has the manual binding position Mp on the apparatus front side Fr and the eco-binding position Ep on the apparatus rear side Re outside the area with reference to the sheet carry-in area Ar. At this time, the distance Ofx between the reference of the sheet carry-in area Ar (sheet carry-in reference Sx) and the manual binding position Mp is longer than the distance Ofy between the carry-in reference Sx and the eco-binding position Ep (position away; Ofx> Ofy). It is set to.

  The manual binding position Mp is set at a position far from the sheet carry-in reference (Sx) of the processing tray 24 and the eco-binding position Ep is set at a close position near the carry-in reference as described above. This is for the convenience of setting the sheet bundle because it is away from the processing tray 24 and easy to operate. At the same time, the eco-binding position Ep is set to a position that is close (close) to the carry-in reference Sx because the movement amount when the sheet (aligned sheet bundle) carried on the processing tray is offset to the binding position is reduced. This is for speedy processing (improving productivity).

"Movement mechanism of stapler unit"
The stapler unit 26 (first binding processing means) is provided with a needle cartridge 39, a staple head 26b, and an anvil member 26c on a unit frame 26a (referred to as a first unit frame), the structure of which will be described later. The unit 26 is supported by the apparatus frame 20 a so as to reciprocate with a predetermined stroke along the sheet end surface of the processing tray 24. The support structure will be described below.

  FIG. 7 shows a front configuration in which the stapler unit 26 is mounted on the apparatus frame 20, and FIG. 8 shows a plan configuration thereof. 9 and 10 are partial explanatory views of the guide rail mechanism for guiding the stapler unit.

  As shown in FIG. 7, chassis frames 20e (hereinafter referred to as “bottom frame frames”) are arranged on the left and right side frame frames 20c and 20d constituting the apparatus frame 20a. A stapler unit 26 is mounted on the bottom frame frame 20e so as to be movable at a predetermined stroke. A travel guide rail 42 (hereinafter simply referred to as “guide rail”) and a slide cam 43 are disposed on the bottom frame 20e. A travel rail surface 42x is formed on the guide rail, and a travel cam surface 43x is formed on the slide cam 43. The travel rail surface 42x and the travel cam surface 43x cooperate with each other to support the stapler unit 26 (hereinafter referred to as "moving unit" in this section). Are supported so as to be able to reciprocate at a predetermined stroke, and at the same time, the angular attitude is controlled.

  The travel guide rail 42 and the slide cam 43 are formed with a rail surface 42x and a cam surface 43x so as to reciprocate in a movement range (sheet carry-in area, manual feed area, and eco-binding area) SL of the moving unit (FIG. 8). reference). The traveling guide rail 42 is constituted by a rail member having a stroke SL along the rear end regulating member 41 of the processing tray 24, and the illustrated one is constituted by an opening groove formed in the bottom frame frame 20e. A traveling rail surface 42x is formed at the opening edge, and the traveling rail surface is arranged in the same straight line as the rear end regulating member 41 of the processing tray and in parallel with each other. A slide cam 43 is disposed at a distance from the traveling rail surface, and the illustrated one is constituted by a groove cam formed on the bottom frame frame 20e. A traveling cam surface 43x is formed in the groove cam.

  The moving unit 26 (stapler unit) is fixed to a traveling belt 44 connected to a drive motor (traveling motor) M11. The running belt 44 is wound around a pair of pulleys that are pivotally supported on the apparatus frame 20e, and a drive motor is connected to one of the pulleys. Therefore, the stapler unit 26 reciprocates with the stroke SL by forward and reverse rotation of the traveling motor M11.

  The traveling rail surface and the traveling cam surface include parallel spacing portions (span G1) 43a and 43b parallel to each other, narrow swing spacing portions (span G2) 43c and 43d, and narrower swing spacing portions (span G3). ) 43e is formed with an interval. The relation of span G1> span G2> span G3 is established. In span G1, the swing angle is changed so that the unit is in a posture parallel to the rear edge of the sheet, in span G2, the unit is inclined to the left or right, and in span G3, the unit is further inclined.

  The travel guide rail 42 is not limited to the opening groove structure, and a guide rod, a protruding rib, and other various structures can be employed. The slide cam 43 is not limited to the groove cam, and various shapes can be adopted as long as it has a cam surface for guiding the moving unit 26 in a predetermined stroke direction, such as a protruding rib member.

  The moving unit 26 is engaged with the traveling guide rail 42 and the slide cam 43 as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, the moving unit 26 includes a first rolling roller 50 (rail fitting member) engaged with the traveling rail surface 42x and a second rolling roller 51 (engaged with the traveling cam surface 43x). Cam follower member). At the same time, the moving unit 26 includes sliding rollers 52 (ball-shaped sliding rollers 52a and 52b are formed at two locations) that engage with the support surface of the bottom frame 20e. Further, the moving unit is formed with a guide roller 53 that engages with the bottom surface of the bottom frame portion frame to prevent the moving unit 26 from floating from the bottom frame frame.

From the above configuration, the moving unit 26 is supported by the bottom frame 20e so as to be movable by the sliding rollers 52a and 52b and the guide roller 53. At the same time, the first rolling roller 50 travels along the traveling rail surface 42x, and the second rolling roller 52 travels along the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x while rotating along the traveling cam surface 43x.

  Therefore, the interval between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at the illustrated position 43a where the parallel distance portion (span G1) faces the aforementioned multi-binding position Ma1Ma2 and the illustrated position 43b which faces the manual binding position Mp. . In this span G1, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10C, the moving unit 26 is held in a posture orthogonal to the sheet edge without swinging. Accordingly, at the multi-binding position and the manual binding position, the sheet bundle is bound by a staple needle parallel to the sheet edge.

  Further, the gap between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at an illustrated position 43e facing the right corner binding position and an illustrated position 43d facing the left corner binding position. . Then, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 10A, the moving unit is held in a right inclination angle posture (for example, right 45 ° inclination) and a left inclination angle posture (for example, left 45 ° inclination). Has been.

  Further, the interval between the rail surface 42x and the cam surface 43x is formed at the illustrated position 43c where the swing interval (span G3) is opposite to the needle loading position. The span G3 is formed at an interval shorter than the span G2, and in this state, the moving unit 26 is held in a right inclination angle posture (for example, 60 degree inclination) as shown in FIG. The reason for changing the angle of the moving unit 26 at the needle loading position is to make the unit posture coincide with the angle direction in which the needle cartridge 39 is attached to the unit, and the angle is set in relation to the opening / closing cover arranged in the exterior casing.

  When the angular orientation of the moving unit is deflected by the traveling rail surface 42x and the traveling cam surface 43x, the traveling cam surface is provided by providing a second traveling cam surface or a stopper cam surface in order to shorten the moving length. It is preferable from the compactness of the layout that the angle is deflected in cooperation with

  The illustrated stopper cam surface will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the side frame frame 20e has a right corner binding position Cp1 on the front side of the apparatus and a part of the moving unit (the sliding roller 52a in the figure is shown) to change the unit posture at the manual binding position Mp. Engaging stopper surfaces 43y and 43z are arranged at the illustrated positions. Accordingly, it is necessary to correct the inclination of the unit inclined at the needle loading position at the manual binding position Mp. However, changing the angle only with the cam surface and the rail surface described above makes the movement stroke redundant.

  Therefore, when the moving unit is locked by the stopper surface 43y and advanced to the manual binding side, the unit returns from the inclined state to the original state. When the unit is returned in the opposite direction from the manual binding position, the stopper surface 43z tilts the unit (forcibly) and directs it to the corner binding position.

[Stapler unit]
The stapler unit 26 is already widely known as a device for performing a binding process with a staple. One example will be described with reference to FIG. The stapler unit 26 is configured separately from the sheet bundle binding processing device B (post-processing device). A box-shaped unit frame 26a, a drive cam 26d that is pivotally supported by the frame, and a drive motor M8 that rotates the drive cam 26d are mounted on the frame.

  In the drive cam 26d, a staple head 26b and an anvil member 26c are arranged opposite to the binding position, and the staple head is moved from an upper standby position to a lower staple position (anvil member) by a biasing spring (not shown) on the drive cam. Move up and down. A needle cartridge 39 is detachably attached to the unit frame.

  A linear blank needle is stored in the needle cartridge 39, and the needle is supplied to the head 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 M8 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.

  Further, a needle feed mechanism is built in between the staple cartridge 39 and the staple head 26b, and a sensor (empty sensor) for detecting the absence of the needle is disposed in the staple feed unit. Alternatively, a cartridge sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the needle cartridge 39 is inserted is disposed in the unit frame 26a.

The illustrated needle cartridge 39 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 M8. When the staple cartridge 39 is not accommodated and 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.

[Press binder unit]
The configuration of the press binder unit 27 will be described with reference to FIG. As the press binder mechanism, a folding and binding mechanism (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256008) for binding by forming a notch opening in a binding portion of several sheets and folding one side thereof has an uneven surface. There is known a press binding mechanism in which the pressure-bonding teeth 27b and 27c are formed so as to be press-contacted and separated from each other, and a sheet bundle is pressed and deformed between them.

  FIG. 13B shows a press binder unit. A movable frame member 27d is pivotally supported on a base frame member 27a so that both frames can be pivotally supported by a support shaft 27x. A follower roller 27f is disposed on the movable frame member 27b, and a drive cam 27e disposed on the base frame 27a is engaged with the follower roller.

  A drive motor M9 disposed on the base frame member 27a is connected to the drive cam 27e via a speed reduction mechanism. The drive cam 27e is rotated by the rotation of the motor, and the movable frame is formed on the cam surface (the eccentric cam is shown). The member 27d is configured to swing.

  The base frame member 27a is provided with a lower crimping tooth 27c, and the movable frame member 27d is arranged with an upper member crimping tooth 27b facing each other. Although not shown, an urging spring is disposed between the base frame member 27a and the movable frame member 27d, and is urged in a direction in which both the crimping teeth are separated.

  As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 13 (b), the upper crimping tooth 27b and the lower crimping tooth 27c are formed with a protrusion on one side and a concave groove that matches this on the other. The protrusions and the recessed grooves are formed in a rib shape having a predetermined length. Accordingly, the sheet bundle sandwiched between the upper crimping tooth 27b and the lower crimping tooth 27c is deformed into a corrugated plate shape and is brought into close contact therewith. A position sensor (not shown) is disposed on the base frame member 27a (unit frame), and is configured to detect whether the upper and lower crimping teeth 27b and 27c are in the pressurizing position or the separated position.

[Stack tray]
The configuration of the stack tray will be described with reference to FIG. The stack tray 25 is disposed on the downstream side of the processing tray 24, and stacks and stores sheet bundles stacked on the processing tray. A tray raising / lowering mechanism is provided so that the stack tray 25 can be sequentially lowered according to the stacking amount. The stacking surface (top sheet height) of the tray is controlled to a height position that is substantially flush with the paper loading surface of the processing tray. Further, the stacked sheets are inclined at an angle at which the trailing edge in the sheet discharge direction hits the tray alignment surface 20f (standing surface) by its own weight.

  When the specific structure is moved, the elevating rail 54 is fixed to the apparatus frame 20a vertically in the stacking direction, and the tray base 25x is slidably fitted to the elevating rail with a slide roller 55 or the like so as to be able to move up and down. At the same time, a rack 25r is formed integrally with the tray base 25x in the up-and-down direction, and a drive pinion 56 that is axially supported by the apparatus frame is engaged with the rack. A lift motor M10 is connected to the drive pinion 56 via a worm gear 57 and a worm wheel 58.

  Accordingly, when the elevating motor M10 is rotated forward and backward, the rack 25r connected to the drive pinion 56 moves up and down above and below the apparatus frame. With this configuration, the tray base 25x moves up and down in a cantilever state. As the tray lifting / lowering mechanism, a pulley suspension belt mechanism and the like can be adopted in addition to the rack and pinion mechanism.

  A stack tray 25 is integrally attached to the tray base 25x, and is configured to stack and store sheets on the stacking surface 25a. Further, the apparatus frame is provided with a tray alignment surface 20f that supports the trailing edge of the sheet vertically in the sheet stacking direction, and the illustrated one forms a tray alignment surface with an outer casing.

  Further, the stack tray 25 integrally attached to the tray base 25x is formed to be inclined in the illustrated angle direction, and an angle is set so that the rear end of the stack abuts against the tray alignment surface 20f by the weight of the sheet (for example, 20 degrees to 60 degrees). )

[Sheet presser mechanism]
The stack tray 25 is provided with a paper pressing mechanism 53 that presses the stacked uppermost sheets. The illustrated paper pressing mechanism includes an elastic pressing member 53a that presses the uppermost sheet, a shaft supporting member 53b that pivotally supports the elastic pressing member on the apparatus frame 20a, and rotates the shaft supporting member in a predetermined angle direction. Drive motor M2 and the transmission mechanism thereof. The illustrated drive motor M2 is driven and connected using the drive motor of the sheet bundle carry-out mechanism as a drive source, and when the sheet bundle is carried into (or carried out of) the stack tray 25, the elastic pressing member 53a is retracted to the outside of the tray, After the rear end of the sheet bundle is stored on the uppermost sheet of the stack tray, the sheet bundle is rotated counterclockwise from the standby position and engaged with the uppermost sheet to press it.

  The elastic pressing member 53a is retracted from the uppermost sheet on the stack tray to the retracted position by the initial rotation operation of the drive motor M2 that carries the sheet bundle on the processing tray toward the stack tray.

[Level sensor]
The stack tray 25 is provided with a level sensor for detecting the paper surface height of the uppermost sheet, and the above-described winding motor is rotated by the detection signal of the level sensor to raise the tray stacking surface 25a. Although various types of level sensor mechanisms are known, the illustrated one irradiates detection light from the tray alignment surface 20f of the apparatus frame to the upper side of the tray, detects the reflected light, and the sheet is positioned at the height position. A detection method for detecting whether or not it exists is adopted.

[Loaded sheet quantity sensor]
Similar to the level sensor, the stack tray 25 is provided with a sensor that detects that a sheet has been removed from the tray. Although the structure is not described in detail, for example, a sensor lever that rotates integrally with the above-described paper pressing elastic pressing member 53 is provided, and whether or not a sheet exists on the stacking surface by submitting this sensor lever as a sensor element. Can be detected. Then, when the height position of the sensor lever is different (changed) before and after carrying out the sheet bundle, for example, the control means 75 to be described later stops the paper discharge operation or raises the tray to a predetermined position. Such an operation is an abnormal operation, and is a problem that occurs when a user inadvertently removes a sheet from the stack tray during operation of the apparatus. In addition, a lower limit position is allocated to the stack tray 25 so that the tray does not abnormally descend, and a limit sensor Se3 for detecting the tray is disposed at the lower limit position.

[Image forming system]
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit A includes a paper feeding unit 1, an image forming unit 2, a paper discharge unit 3, and a signal processing unit (not shown), and is built in the apparatus housing 4. The sheet feeding unit 1 includes a cassette 5 that stores sheets. The illustrated unit includes a plurality of cassettes 5a, 5b, and 5c, and can store sheets of different sizes. Each of the cassettes 5a to 5c has a built-in sheet feeding roller 6 for feeding out the sheet and separation means (separation claw, separation roller, etc .; not shown) for separating the sheets one by one.

  Further, the sheet feeding unit 1 is provided with a sheet feeding path 7 to feed sheets from each cassette 5 to the image forming unit 2. A pair of registration rollers 8 is provided at the end of the sheet feeding path 7 so that the sheets fed from the respective cassettes 5 are aligned at the leading edge, and waits until the sheet is fed according to the image forming timing of the image forming unit 2.

  As described above, the sheet feeding unit 1 is configured by a plurality of cassettes according to the apparatus specifications, and is configured to feed a sheet having a size selected by the control unit to the image forming unit 2 on the downstream side. Each cassette 5 is detachably attached to the apparatus housing 4 so that sheets can be replenished.

  The image forming unit 2 can employ various image forming mechanisms for forming an image on a sheet. The illustrated one shows an electrostatic image forming mechanism. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of drums 9 a to 9 d made of a photoconductor (photoconductor) are arranged in the apparatus housing 4 according to color components. Each drum 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d is provided with a light emitter (laser head or the like) 10 and a developing device 11. Then, a latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on each of the drums 9 a to 9 d by the light emitter 10, and toner ink is attached by the developing device 11. The ink image attached on each drum is transferred to the transfer belt 12 for each color component, and the image is synthesized.

  The transfer image formed on the belt is transferred onto the sheet sent from the paper feeding unit 1 by the charger 13, fixed by the fixing device (heating roller) 14, and then sent to the paper discharge unit 3.

  The paper discharge unit 3 includes a paper discharge port 16 for carrying out a sheet into a paper discharge space 15 formed in the apparatus housing 4 and a paper discharge path 17 for guiding the sheet from the image forming unit 2 to the paper discharge port. Yes. Note that a duplex path 18 (described later) is connected to the paper discharge unit 3 so that a sheet having an image formed on the front surface is reversed and fed to the image forming unit 2 again.

  In the duplex path 18, the sheet on which the image is formed on the front side by the image forming unit 2 is reversed and retransmitted to the image forming unit 2. Then, after the image forming unit 2 forms an image on the back surface side, the image is discharged from the paper discharge port 16. Therefore, the duplex path 18 is composed of a switchback path for returning the sheet sent from the image forming unit 2 to the inside of the apparatus by reversing the conveying direction and a U-turn path 18a for turning the sheet returned to the inside of the apparatus upside down. ing. The apparatus shown in the figure forms this switchback path in the paper discharge path 22 of the post-processing unit C described later.

[Image reading unit]
The image reading unit C includes a platen 19a and a reading carriage 19b that reciprocates along the platen. The platen 19a is formed of transparent glass, and includes a still image reading surface that scans a still image by moving the reading carriage 19b and a traveling image reading surface that reads a document image traveling at a predetermined speed.

  The reading carriage 19b includes a light source lamp, a reflection mirror that changes reflected light from the document, and a photoelectric conversion element (not shown). The photoelectric conversion element is composed of a line sensor arranged in the document width direction (main scanning direction) on the platen, and the reading carriage 19b reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to this to read the document image in line order. It has become. In addition, an automatic document feeding unit D that moves the document at a predetermined speed is mounted above the traveling image reading surface of the platen 19a. The automatic document feeding unit D is configured by a feeder mechanism that feeds document sheets set on a sheet feeding tray one by one to the platen 19a, and stores them in a sheet discharge tray after reading an image.

[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. 15 includes a control unit 70 (hereinafter referred to as “main body control unit”) of the image forming unit A and a control unit 75 (hereinafter referred to as “binding processing”) of the post-processing unit B (sheet bundle binding processing apparatus; the same applies hereinafter). Control section). The main body control unit 70 includes a print control unit 71, a paper feed control unit 72, and an input unit 73 (control panel).

  Then, an “image forming mode” and a “post-processing mode” are set from the input unit 73 (control panel). The image forming mode sets mode settings such as color / monochrome printing, duplex / single-sided printing, and image forming conditions such as sheet size, sheet paper quality, number of printouts, and enlarged / reduced printing. The “post-processing mode” is set to, for example, “print-out mode”, “staple binding processing mode”, “eco-binding processing mode”, “jog sorting mode”, or the like. The illustrated apparatus is provided with a “manual binding mode”, and in this mode, the sheet bundle binding processing operation is executed off-line separately from the main body control unit 70 of the image forming unit A.

  Further, the main body control unit 70 transfers the post-processing mode, the number of sheets, the number of copies information, the paper thickness information of the sheet on which the image is formed, and the like to the binding processing control unit 75. At the same time, the main body control unit 70 transfers a job end signal to the binding processing control unit 75 every time image formation is completed.

  The above-described post-processing mode will be described. In the “print-out mode”, the sheet from the paper discharge port 23 is stored in the stack tray 25 via the processing tray 24 without performing the binding process. In this case, the sheets are stacked and stacked on the processing tray 24, and the stacked sheet bundle is conveyed to the stack tray 25 by a jog end signal from the main body control unit 70.

  In the “staple binding processing mode (second paper discharge mode)”, the sheets from the paper discharge outlet 23 are stacked on the processing tray and aligned, and the sheet bundle is bound and stored in the stack tray 25. In this case, the sheet to be imaged is in principle designated by the operator to a sheet of the same paper thickness and the same size. As the staple binding processing mode, one of “multiple binding”, “right corner binding”, and “left corner binding” is selected and designated. Each binding position is as described above.

  The “jog sorting mode” is divided into a group in which sheets formed by the image forming unit A are offset on the processing tray and stacked, and a group in which sheets are stacked without being offset. The offset sheet bundle and the non-offset sheet bundle are stacked. In particular, the illustrated apparatus is provided with an offset area (see FIG. 5) on the front side of the apparatus, and in the same manner as the group in which sheets conveyed from the discharge outlet 23 with the center reference Sx are stacked in that posture on the processing tray. The sheets carried out in Sx are divided into groups in which the sheets are accumulated by being offset by a predetermined amount on the apparatus front side Fr.

  The reason why the offset area is arranged on the apparatus front side Fr is to secure a work area for manual binding processing and needle cartridge replacement processing on the apparatus front side. The offset area is set to a dimension (about several centimeters) for dividing the sheet bundle.

"Manual binding mode"
The exterior casing 20b is provided with a manual feed setting unit 29 for setting a sheet bundle to be bound by an operator on the front side of the apparatus. A sensor for detecting the set sheet bundle is arranged on the set surface 29a of the manual feed setting unit 29, and the binding processing control unit 75, which will be described later, moves the stapler unit 26 to the manual binding position by a signal from the sensor. To do. When the operator depresses the operation switch 30, the binding process is executed.

  Accordingly, in this manual binding mode, the binding processing control unit 75 and the main body control unit 70 are controlled off-line. However, when the manual binding mode and the staple binding mode are executed simultaneously, the mode is set so that either one has priority.

[Binding control unit]
The binding process control unit 75 operates the post-processing unit C according to the post-processing mode set by the image formation control unit 70. The illustrated binding processing control unit 75 includes a control CPU (hereinafter simply referred to as control means). A ROM 76 and a RAM 77 are connected to the control CPU 75, and a paper discharge operation, which will be described later, is executed using a control program stored in the ROM 76 and control data stored in the RAM 77. For this reason, the control CPU 75 is connected to the drive circuits of all the drive motors described above, and controls the start, stop and forward / reverse control of each motor.

[Description of post-processing operation]
The control unit 75 including the control CPU 75 executes the operations in the flowcharts of FIGS. 16, 17, and 21 to 24. Hereinafter, the operation state of each binding process will be described according to each flowchart. For convenience of explanation, “paddle” means sheet carrying means (paddle rotating body 36, etc.), “knurl” means scraping rotating body 33, “alignment plate” means side alignment member 45, “assist”. "" Means the first and second conveying members 60A and 60B, "button" means an operation switch of the stapling apparatus, and "LED" means an indicator lamp that is executing a stapling operation.

"Staple mode"
In FIG. 16, the final sheet for image formation is image-formed and carried out of the upper image forming unit main body (St01). At this time, a job end signal is issued from the image forming unit, and the binding operation control section 75 positions and waits for the paddle 36 at a predetermined position (standby for paddle blades) (St02). At the same time, the left and right alignment plates 46R and 46F are moved to the standby position (St03). Then, the sheet fed from the paper discharge port 16 of the image forming unit A is carried in from the carry-in port 21 of the sheet carry-in route (paper discharge route) 22, and the sheet trailing edge is carried out from the paper discharge roller 32 by the sheet sensor Se1. It detects (St04).

  The control means 75 lowers the paddle 36 waiting on the processing tray when the trailing edge of the sheet leaves the paper discharge roller 32 (St05). This operation is executed by starting the paddle lifting motor M3. Simultaneously with the paddle lowering operation, the control means 75 raises the knurl 33 and retracts it upward from the uppermost sheet on the processing tray (St08).

  The sheet sent from the image forming unit A by the above operation is sent to the sheet carry-in path 22, and after the rear end of the sheet has passed the paper discharge roller 32, the paddle 36 is discharged with the knurled 33 retracted above the tray. The sheet is conveyed back by rotating in the opposite direction. As a result, the sheet sent to the sheet carry-in path 22 is reversed in the conveying direction at the paper discharge outlet 23 and stored in the processing tray 24 at the lower stage of the paper discharge outlet.

  Next, after the sheet is conveyed back from the sheet discharge outlet 23 in the direction opposite to the sheet discharge, the control means 75 raises the paddle after a predetermined time and retracts it from the sheet (St06). At the same time, the knurl 33 rotating in the direction opposite to the paper discharge is lowered from the standby position and engaged with the sheet carried on the processing tray (St09).

  With the above operation, the sheet is sent out from the paper discharge port 23 by the paper discharge roller 32, and reversely conveyed from the paper discharge port 23 in the direction opposite to the paper discharge by the paddle 36 and carried onto the processing tray. Then, the knurled sheet 33 is sent toward a predetermined position (rear end regulating member 41) of the processing tray. In the paper discharge operation described above, sheets of different sizes are carried out from the paper discharge port 23 according to the center reference Sx. Although it is possible to carry out from the paper discharge port 23 on the one-side reference, a case where it is carried out on the center reference Sx will be described for convenience of explanation.

  Next, the control means 75 uses the paddle 36 for the expected time that the sheet carried on the processing tray on the basis of the detection signal of the paper discharge sensor Se1 hits the predetermined rear end regulating stopper (rear end regulating member) 41 at the rear end. Is moved to the home position (HP) (St07). Similarly, the knurl 33 moves to the home position HP (St10).

  Next, the control means 75 uses the side aligning mechanism 45 to width-align and align the sheets whose rear ends are in contact with the rear end regulating member 41. In this alignment operation, when the “multi-binding mode (two-point binding mode)” is specified and when “corner binding mode (one-point binding mode)” is specified, the alignment positions of the sheets are different. . When the “multi-binding mode” is designated, the control means 75 moves the sheet carried on the processing tray away from the alignment position suitable for the size width on the paper discharge reference (the center reference Sx in the drawing). The left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R are reciprocated between the standby positions (center alignment). That is, the control unit 75 performs the width-alignment alignment by moving the side alignment members 46F and 46R from the standby position wider than the size width to the alignment position suitable for the size width based on the size information sent from the image forming unit A. (St11 to 13).

  When the “corner binding mode” is designated, the control means 75 moves the side alignment member on the binding position side of the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R to the binding position from the size information, The side side alignment member is moved from the standby position retracted to the alignment position with reference to the size width of the sheet carried into the processing tray 24. The alignment position (of the movable side alignment member) is set to a distance relationship that matches the size width (corner binding position alignment) between the alignment position of the stationary (binding position side alignment member). Therefore, in the corner binding process, one side alignment member is moved to a specified binding position on either the left or right side to be stationary, and after the sheet enters the processing tray 24, the opposite side alignment member is adapted to the size width. The position is moved and aligned (one side reference). (St14 to St16)

The control means 75 varies the number of alignment operations by the side alignment members 46F and 46R according to the number of sheets carried on the processing tray (see FIG. 19). This is intended to improve the consistency of sheets exceeding a predetermined number. More specifically, when the number of sheets already loaded on the processing tray detected by the paper discharge sensor Se1 exceeds a predetermined number, after the normal alignment operation, the side alignment members 46F and 46R are moved again to the alignment reference position. Are consistent.

Further, the threshold value for the predetermined number of sheets varies depending on the sheet size, and the above-described alignment operation is controlled even for a small number of sheets exceeding a predetermined size that is relatively difficult to move (difficult to align). For example, the number of sheets of a predetermined size or less is carried on the processing tray from the 21st sheet, and the alignment operation described above is performed again. The sheet exceeding the predetermined size is loaded on the processing tray from the 11th sheet. The matching operation is performed again. The count of the number of discharged sheets may be determined based on the number of sheets information sent from the image forming apparatus main body in addition to using the sheet discharge sensor Se1.

  Next, the control means 75 performs a binding operation (St17). In the case of multi-binding, the stapler unit 26 that is stationary at the binding position in advance is actuated to perform binding processing at that position, and then the unit is moved a predetermined distance along the sheet rear edge to be bound to the second binding position ( St18-St20). When corner binding is performed, the stapler unit 26 stationary in advance at the binding position is operated to perform binding processing.

  Next, when the control means 75 receives an operation end signal from the stapler unit 26, the control means 75 operates the sheet bundle carry-out means 60 to carry out the sheet bundle from the processing tray 24 toward the stack tray 25 on the downstream side (St21). When this sheet bundle carrying-out operation is completed, the control means 75 moves the sheet bundle carrying-out means 60 back to the initial position (St22). At the same time, the side alignment member 46 is moved back to the initial position (standby position for loading the sheet into the processing tray 24) (St23).

  Further, the control means 75 rotates the bundle pressing means (elastic pressing member) 53 arranged on the stack tray by a driving motor (the driving motor M2 shown in the figure is the same as the paddle rotating body 36) (St24). Then, the top sheet of the sheet bundle carried into the stack tray 25 is pressed and held (St25).

"Eco-binding mode"
During the eco-binding operation, the control unit 75 performs the operations from step St01 to step St10 for positioning the sheet carried on the processing tray 24 against the trailing edge regulating member 41 in the same manner as described above. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

  When the needleless binding process is designated, the control means 75 sets the left side alignment member 46R positioned on the binding unit side close to the eco-binding position Ep before the sheet is carried onto the processing tray. The position is moved to the alignment position Ap2) and is kept in a stand-by state (St26). Simultaneously with this operation, the control means 75 moves the sheet bundle guide from the retracted position above the tray to the operating position on the tray (St27). This guide height shift is configured so that the height position of the guide surface moves from a high retracted position to a low operating position in conjunction with the positional movement of the stapler unit 26 in the illustrated one. For this reason, the control means 75 moves the stapler unit 26 from a predetermined position (home position) to a position where it engages with the sheet bundle guide. In the present application, the sheet bundle guide is set to be engaged when it is at a position Gp between Ma2 (the left multi-binding position shown in FIG. 5) and CP2 (the left corner binding position shown in FIG. 5).

  Thereafter, the control means 75 moves the opposite right side alignment member 46F on the opposite side to a standby position away from the sheet side edge carried onto the tray (St28). Then, the alignment motor is driven to move the right side alignment member 46F to the alignment position (St29). This alignment position is set to a position where the distance from the left side alignment member 46R stationary at the eco alignment position matches the sheet width size.

  As described above, the present invention is characterized in that, at the time of eco-binding, the carry-in sheet is aligned on the processing tray at the eco-alignment position Ap2 away from the binding position without being aligned with the binding position. When the eco alignment position Ap2 is set as a reference for carrying out a sheet from the sheet discharge outlet 23 (for example, a center reference), it becomes the same as the alignment position of the multi-binding process. When this is set at a position close to the eco-binding position Ep, the sheet does not interfere with the eco-binding unit 27 when aligning, causing sheet jamming, and after alignment, the distance to move the sheet bundle to the eco-binding position Can be shortened. Therefore, the eco alignment position Ap2 is preferably set as close as possible within a range where the sheet does not interfere with the binding unit.

  Next, the controller 75 offsets the sheet bundle aligned at the eco alignment position Ap2 to the eco binding position Ep by the side alignment member 46 (St30). Then, the side alignment member 46F located on the front side of the apparatus is retracted away from the sheet by a predetermined amount (St31). Therefore, the side alignment mechanism 45 drives the sheet bundle conveying means 60 to move the sheet bundle by a predetermined amount downstream in the sheet discharge direction (St32). At the same time, the stapler 26 is moved to the initial position, and a sheet bundle guide (not shown) is put on standby at the retracted position above the tray (St33).

  Next, the control means 75 moves the right side alignment member 46F to the home position (St34). Therefore, the control means 75 sends a command signal to the stapleless binding means (press binder unit) 27 to execute the binding processing operation (St35). Thereafter, when the control means 75 receives the processing end signal from the binder unit 27, the control means 75 moves the left side alignment member 46R to the home position (St36) and is clamped by the needleless binding means 27 to be concavo-convex shaped crimping teeth 27b. , 27c is peeled off from the pressure-bonded teeth (St37).

  FIGS. 18A to 18C, FIGS. 18-2D, and 18E illustrate a process from stacking a sheet bundle to the processing tray 24 and performing a binding process. As shown in FIG. 18A, each sheet Sh carried out from the paper discharge port 23 of the apparatus housing 20 onto the processing tray 24 is opposite to the paper discharge direction by the paddle rotating body 36 of the sheet carry-in means 35. As shown in FIG. 18-1 (b), the sheet is scraped and conveyed until the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the regulating stopper 41 of the sheet edge regulating means 40, that is, the regulating surface 41a of the trailing edge regulating member 41 and stops. It is conveyed by means 33.

  Next, the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R in the retracted position in FIG. 18-1 (b) move inward so as to sandwich the sheet Sh from both sides, and the inner regulating surfaces 46x are respectively engaged with the both side edges of the sheet. Then, as shown in FIG. 18-1 (c), the sheet Sh is moved so that the center in the left-right direction is aligned with the sheet center Sx of the processing tray 24. Thereafter, the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R return to the retracted position.

  18A to 18C are repeated until a predetermined number of sheets to be bound as one sheet bundle are stacked on the processing tray 24 with the positions aligned as described above. When the predetermined number of sheets Sh are stacked on the processing tray 24, the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R do not return to the retracted position, and as shown in FIG. While being pinched from both sides as the sheet bundle Sb, the sheet bundle Sb is conveyed toward the stapleless binding position Ep side in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction.

  In the position of FIG. 18-2 (d), one side edge of the sheet bundle Sb is sufficiently separated from the pressure-bonding teeth between the upper and lower pressure-bonding teeth 27b and 27c of the separated needleless binding means 27. Has been placed. In this state, the first conveying member 60A of the sheet bundle carrying-out means 60 is driven, and the sheet bundle Sb is pushed out from the rear end in the paper discharge direction and moved by a certain distance. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18-2 (e), the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb to be bound is positioned at the stapleless binding position Ep. Then, the stapleless binding means 27 is driven to perform the binding process, and the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb is crimped and bound between the crimping teeth 27b and 27c to be engaged with each other.

  After the binding process, a peeling process is performed to peel the corner part Sc of the sheet bundle Sb that is in close contact with one of the spaced apart crimping teeth 27b and 27c. FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C, and 19D illustrate a sheet bundle that is peeled off according to the first embodiment of the present invention, conveyed on the processing tray 24, and stacked. The process until discharging to the tray 25 is shown.

  First, as shown in FIG. 19A, the upper and lower pressure-bonding teeth 27b and 27c of the needleless binding means 27 are separated, and at the same time, the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F are moved outward to the respective side ends of the sheet bundle Sb. Move it away from the edge by a small distance. Next, as shown in FIG. 19B, the first conveying member 60A of the sheet bundle carrying-out means 60 is driven again, and the sheet bundle Sb is slightly pushed out from the rear end in the paper discharge direction to form the sheet bundle Sb. A clockwise rotation operation in the figure with the corner portion Sc, that is, the stapleless binding portion as a center is given. That is, the sheet bundle Sb is released in the left-right direction when the left and right side alignment members 46F and 46R on the left and right side edges thereof are separated, and the pushing force is applied only to the rear end edge side of the sheet bundle Sb with which the first conveying member 60A is in contact. Acts to produce the rotational motion. However, the range in which the sheet bundle Sb rotates is limited by the side edge on the corner portion Sc side coming into contact with the side alignment member 46R on the same side.

  This rotation operation acts to twist the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb with respect to the one crimping tooth that is in close contact. As a result, the sheet bundle portion deformed into a corrugated plate shape sandwiched between the upper and lower crimping teeth of the corner portion Sc is not peeled off with a strong force at all, but rotated in the surface direction of the sheet bundle. It becomes possible to peel off gradually little by little. As a result, the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb can be peeled off from the crimping tooth relatively easily. For the rotation operation, a relatively small force of the first conveying member 60A for discharging the sheet bundle Sb from the processing tray 24 to the stack tray 25 is sufficient. Therefore, unlike the prior art described above, it is not necessary to use a large force or additional structure for moving the binding tool, and it is possible to avoid an increase in size, weight, and cost of the entire apparatus.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 19B, the sheet bundle Sb subjected to the peeling process remains inclined obliquely with respect to the paper discharge direction on the processing tray 24 by the rotation operation. In order to store all the sheet bundles Sb on the stack tray 25, it is preferable to discharge each sheet bundle with its posture straightened in the paper discharge direction.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F are stopped at appropriate intermediate positions between the retracted position in FIG. 18-1 (a) and the aligned position in FIG. 18-2 (e), respectively. The sheet bundle Sb is discharged. As described above, the sheet bundle Sb is discharged by the sheet carry-out means 60 including one first conveying member 60A and a pair of second conveying members 60B disposed on the left and right sides thereof.

  First, the first conveying member 60A travels by pushing the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb until it passes the first section Tr1 in FIG. When entering the second section Tr2, the second conveying member 60B catches up and engages with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb, and the sheet bundle Sb is further conveyed in the paper discharge direction instead of the first conveying member 60A.

  As shown in FIG. 19B, the first conveying member 60A is offset from the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb and the center in the left-right direction to the side opposite to the stapleless binding portion, that is, the corner portion Sc. Is engaged. The displacement of the sheet bundle Sb to the left and right sides is limited by the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F at the intermediate position. Therefore, while the sheet bundle Sb is being pushed by the first conveying member 60A, the change in the posture occurs only within a range regulated by the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F. Therefore, the sheet bundle Sb can be adjusted by the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F so that the sheet bundle Sb is rotated as much as necessary when being peeled from the stapleless binding means 27 and is not unnecessarily rotated.

  One of the second conveying members 60B, that is, the side close to the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb is engaged with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb before catching up with the first conveying member 60A before the other. Since this engagement position is offset from the center in the left-right direction of the sheet bundle Sb toward the corner portion Sc, the one second conveying member 60B acts in a direction to return the posture of the sheet bundle Sb straight. .

  When the one second conveying member 60B passes the first conveying member 60A and the posture of the sheet bundle Sb becomes straight, as shown in FIG. 19C, the other second conveying member 60B It catches up with and engages with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb. As shown in FIG. 19-2 (d), the sheet bundle Sb is conveyed in a straight posture as it is, and is discharged from the processing tray 24 to the stack tray 25.

  20A to 20D show a process from the sheet bundle Sb being peeled off from the pressure-bonding teeth according to the second embodiment of the present invention, transported on the processing tray 24, and discharged to the stack tray 25. Show. In the present embodiment, after the binding process, the pressure-bonding teeth 27b and 27c of the needleless binding means 27 are separated, and at the same time, as shown in FIG. 20A, the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F are moved outward to the sheet bundle Sb. The first conveying member 60A is moved backward to the side opposite to the paper discharge direction.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 20B, the side alignment member 46R on the same side as the corner portion Sc is moved inward to engage with the adjacent side edge of the sheet bundle Sb, and further in the paper discharge direction. The sheet is pushed a little in the direction perpendicular to the sheet bundle Sb, and a counterclockwise rotation operation around the corner portion Sc, that is, the stapleless binding portion is given to the sheet bundle Sb. The range in which the sheet bundle Sb rotates is such that the rear end thereof is in contact with the first conveying member 60A or the rear end regulating member 41, or the side edge opposite to the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb is the other side alignment member. It is limited by contacting 46F.

  This rotation operation acts to twist the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb with respect to the one crimping tooth that is in close contact. As a result, the sheet bundle portion deformed into a corrugated plate shape sandwiched between the upper and lower crimping teeth of the corner portion Sc is not peeled off with a strong force at all, but rotated in the surface direction of the sheet bundle. It becomes possible to peel off gradually little by little. As a result, the corner portion Sc of the sheet bundle Sb can be peeled off from the crimping tooth relatively easily. For the rotation operation, a relatively small force of the side alignment member 46R for moving the sheet bundle Sb on the processing tray 24 in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction is sufficient. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to use a large force or an additional structure for moving the binding tool, and it is possible to avoid an increase in size, weight, and cost of the entire apparatus.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 20B, the peeled sheet bundle Sb is inclined obliquely with respect to the paper discharge direction on the processing tray 24 by the rotation operation. Accordingly, similarly, in order to arrange and store all the sheet bundles Sb in the stack tray 25, it is preferable that each sheet bundle is discharged with its posture straightened with respect to the sheet discharge direction.

  The correction of the sheet bundle Sb and the paper discharge process to the stack tray 25 are performed from one first conveying member 60A and a pair of second conveying members 60B arranged on both the left and right sides as in the first embodiment. The sheet unloading means 60 is used. First, in the first section Tr1 of FIG. 11A, the first conveying member 60A travels while pushing the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb. When entering the second section Tr2, the second conveying member 60B catches up and engages with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb, and the sheet bundle Sb is further conveyed in the paper discharge direction instead of the first conveying member 60A.

  As described above, the first conveying member 60A engages with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb at a position offset from the center in the left-right direction to the opposite side to the corner portion Sc, and the sheet bundle Sb is displaced to the left and right sides. Is limited by the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F. In the present embodiment, the sheet bundle Sb is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing by the peeling process, but is somewhat returned by being pushed by the first conveying member 60A, and the tilted posture is expected to be corrected somewhat. Is done.

  Since the pair of second conveying members 60B are arranged on both sides with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the sheet bundle Sb, even if the sheet bundle Sb is inclined in any direction, one of them is ahead of the other. In addition, before catching up with the first conveying member 60A, the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb is engaged. When the posture of the sheet bundle Sb is straightened by the one second conveying member 60B, the other second conveying member 60B catches up with the rear end of the sheet bundle Sb as shown in FIG. Engage. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 20D, the sheet bundle Sb is conveyed in a straight posture as it is, and is discharged from the processing tray 24 to the stack tray 25.

  At this time, the left and right side alignment members 46R and 46F are held as they are at positions separated from the left and right edges of the sheet bundle Sb during the peeling process. In another embodiment, both or one of the side alignment members 46R and 46F is moved substantially simultaneously with or slightly behind the second conveying member 60B engaging the trailing end of the sheet bundle Sb, and the sheet bundle is moved. It can be close to the side edge of Sb. In this way, by correcting the sheet bundle Sb from the left and right directions by the side alignment members 46R and 46F, the sheet bundle Sb can be discharged to the stack tray 25 in a better posture.

  In another embodiment, the moving speed of the first conveying member 60A that performs the peeling process of the sheet bundle Sb can be set to be different depending on the surface state of the sheet bundle Sb, that is, the surface roughness, the slip condition, and the like. For example, the degree of biting and biting on the pressure-bonding teeth of the sheet varies depending on the roughness and hardness of the paper fibers forming the sheet. Therefore, in the case of a sheet that is relatively strong and easy to bite and has a rough surface, the first conveying member 60A is moved at a relatively low speed so as to rotate the sheet bundle relatively slowly. It is preferable that the load of the motor that drives the motor is not excessive. On the contrary, in the case of a sheet having a smooth surface such as so-called coated paper, it is difficult to cause biting on the pressure-bonding teeth, and therefore, it is easy to peel off from the pressure-bonding teeth. Therefore, the first conveying member 60A can be moved at a relatively high speed without imposing an excessive load on the motor, the sheet bundle Sb can be discharged efficiently, and productivity can be increased.

“Printout Eject”
This will be described with reference to FIG. When the sheet is carried out from the image forming unit A (St40), the leading edge of the sheet sensor is detected, and the paddle rotator 36 is moved to the standby position (St41). At the same time, the side alignment member 46 is moved to the standby position (St42). Next, when the trailing edge of the sheet passes the paper discharge roller 32 (St43), the control means 75 lowers the paddle rotating body 36 to the operating position (St44). At the same time, the knurl rotating body 33 is raised and retracted (St45).

  The control means 75 raises the paddle rotor 36 and moves to the retracted position when a predetermined time has elapsed after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed the paper discharge roller 32 (St46). At the same time, the knurl rotating body 33 is lowered to the operating position, and the sheet is transferred toward the rear end regulating member 41 (St47). The control means 75 moves the paddle rotator 36 to the home position at the expected time when the rear end of the seat reaches the regulating member 41 (St48). Alternatively, the knurling rotor 33 is moved to the home position (St49).

  Therefore, the control means 75 moves the side alignment member 45 to the alignment position and executes the alignment operation. In this aligning operation, sheets of different sizes are stacked based on the sheet center, and are sent to the stack tray 25 in a subsequent carry-out operation. In this printout discharge operation, when a large-size sheet is carried onto the tray, a non-specification size discharge operation described later is executed.

  The control unit 75 aligns and stacks the sheets on the processing tray, and discharges the sheet bundle to the stack tray 25 on the downstream side. The operation moves the first conveying member 60A of the sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism 60 in the paper discharge direction (St50). Next, the tray sheet pressing member 53 is moved to the standby position (St51). Then, when the sheet bundle is carried onto the stack tray, the tray sheet pressing member 53 is rotated by a predetermined angle to press the uppermost sheet (St52). Thereafter, the control means 75 moves the side alignment member 45 back to the sheet carry-in position (St53).

"Sort (jog) mode"
Since the jog mode is executed in substantially the same steps as the printout mode described above, the same steps are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and different steps will be described with reference to FIG. When the sheets are loaded on the processing tray, the control unit 75 accumulates the sheets in different positions in the group that aligns the sheets based on the center reference Sx and the group that aligns the sheets based on the right side reference (St54). Move to the stack tray 25. Note that the sheets are aligned on the right side basis because the processing tray 24 is arranged at a position biased toward the front side of the apparatus, and the center reference sheet and the sheet on the paper loading surface are accumulated on the right side reference closer to the operator. Therefore, it becomes easy to take out the sheet bundle from the stack tray 25.

“Common operation in each mode”
A common operation for carrying a sheet onto the processing tray when each of the above-described post-processing modes is executed will be described with reference to FIG. When the sheet is discharged from the image forming unit A (St60), the control means 75 positions the paddle rotator 36 at the standby position by the leading edge detection signal from the sheet sensor Se1 (St61), and waits for a predetermined alignment member 45. Move to the position (St62). In this operation, the alignment member 45 is positioned at a standby position where the width size is slightly wider by the sheet size signal sent from the image forming unit A.

  Next, the control means 75 lowers the paddle rotator 36 from the upper standby position to the operating position at the timing when the trailing end of the sheet has passed the paper discharge roller 32 (St63) (St64). At the same time, the knurl rotating body 34 is lowered from the standby position above the paper placement surface to the operation position on the paper placement surface (St65). At this time, both the paddle rotator 36 and the knurled rotator 34 are rotated in the direction opposite to the paper discharge.

  Therefore, the control means 75 raises the paddle rotor 36 from the operating position to the standby position when a predetermined time (expected time when the rear end of the seat reaches the knurling rotor position) has passed (St65). The control means 75 raises the knurl rotating body 36 by a small amount after a predetermined time (expected time when the leading end of the sheet reaches the trailing end regulating member) has elapsed (St69). The amount by which the paddle rotating body is raised is set in advance, and is set from an experimental value that reduces the pressing force on the sheet.

Next, the control means 75 moves the side alignment member 45 to the alignment position (St70). This alignment position is set to a different position in the binding processing mode, and the sheets are stacked at the reference position described above for each mode.
That is, (1) when the multi-binding is performed in the staple binding processing mode, the sheets carried on the processing tray are aligned based on the center reference. In the case of right corner binding, the sheets loaded on the processing tray are aligned with the right side reference Ap1, and in the case of left corner binding, the sheets loaded on the processing tray are aligned with the left side reference Ap2. In either case, the stapler unit 26 stands by at the binding position and prepares for the subsequent binding processing operation.
(2) In the stapleless binding processing mode, the control means 75 aligns with either the stapleless alignment position Ap3 determined from the sheet center from the stapleless binding position or the center reference.
(3) In the printout processing mode, the control means 75 is aligned with the center reference.
(4) In the jog processing mode, the control means 75 alternately and repeatedly aligns the group aligned on the center reference and the group aligned on the right side reference, and carries out to the stack tray 25 in that posture.

  Next, after completing the above-described aligning operation, the control means 75 moves the side aligning member 45 to the initial position (St71), and then lowers the knurled rotating body 34 in the direction of pressing the sheet (St72). At the same time, the control means 75 raises the paddle rotor 36 to the standby position of the home position and holds it at that position (St73).

"Manual stapling"
The manual binding operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The manual feed setting unit is provided with a sheet presence / absence sensor. When the sheet presence / absence sensor Sm (hereinafter referred to as sensor “Sm”) detects a sheet, the control means 75 executes a staple binding operation.

  The control means 75 determines whether or not the stapler unit is executing the binding processing operation based on the ON signal (St80) of the sensor Sm. When it is determined that the binding processing operation can be interrupted, the stapler 26 is moved to the manual binding position Mp (still when the stapler is positioned at this binding position) (St81). Then, the LED lamp indicating that the manual operation is being executed is turned on (St82).

  Next, after confirming that the sensor Sm is ON (St83), the control means 75 determines whether or not the operation button 30 has been operated (St84). When the sensor is ON and when the LED lamp is turned on for a predetermined time (set to 2 seconds in the illustration) even when the sensor is OFF (St85), the LED lamp is turned on again (St86) and the sensor Sm is turned on. After confirming that there is (St87), it is further determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the LED lamp is turned on. Then, a stapling operation is executed (St88).

  Next, when the sensor Sm is in the ON state after executing the stapling operation, the control means 75 returns to a predetermined step and executes the stapling operation again. This is because the binding process is executed on the repetitive portions of the sheet bundle. Further, when the sensor Sm detects the paper out state and the paper out state continues even after a predetermined time has passed, the stapler unit 26 is returned to the home position on the assumption that the sheet has been removed from the set surface. Further, when the stapler unit 26 sets the manual binding position to the home position, it maintains that position (St93).

  In the present invention, the manual stapling operation is executed by the ON / OFF signal of the sensor Sm during execution or preparation of printout processing, jog sorting processing, and stapleless binding processing on the processing tray. Perform processing operations. Further, during the execution of the multi-binding operation and the corner binding operation on the processing tray, the manual operation is executed when the operation for stacking sheets is being performed and the jog end signal is not transmitted from the image forming unit A. It is possible. Even if a jog end signal is transmitted, a manual stapling operation is executed when an interrupt process is instructed.

  As described above, it is preferable to adopt either a manual stapling operation or a processing tray stapling operation, which is given priority when designing the apparatus, or a priority execution key is arranged and selected by the operator.

  As described above, it is preferable to arrange the press binder means 27 on the apparatus rear side Re of the processing tray 24 and guide the sheet bundle to the binding position (eco-binding position) Ep as follows. That is, sheets of different sizes are discharged from the paper discharge path 22 to the processing tray 24 with the center reference, and the sheet side edge close to the eco-binding position Ep is set as a reference (one-side reference) by the side alignment mechanism (side alignment member 46). ). Then, the sheet bundle accumulated at the alignment position Ap2 is moved and set to the eco-binding position Ep, and after the binding process, the sheet bundle is transferred toward the sheet center (back transfer) and carried out.

  In such a configuration, the sheet alignment position on the processing tray is set to the corner binding position Cp <b> 2 of the stapler unit 26 (the sheet side edges match). As a result, it is possible to select whether the stapled sheet bundle on the processing tray is stapled or the sheet bundle is offset by a predetermined amount for eco-binding. When the sheet bundle is set at the eco-binding position Ep, the sheet bundle accumulated at the alignment position Ap2 is moved by a predetermined amount in the discharge orthogonal direction (offset movement) and simultaneously moved by a predetermined amount in the discharge direction. Set to eco binding position Ep.

  Further, the sheet bundle that has been subjected to the binding process at the eco-binding position Ep is moved (offset back) by a predetermined amount in the sheet center direction and is carried out in the paper discharge direction. As a result, the sheet bundle carried out to the pressure-bonding teeth 27b and 27c of the press binder means 27 does not rub against each other.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in relation to preferred embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the technical scope, it can implement by adding various change or deformation | transformation. Needless to say. For example, in the sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism, instead of the above-described embodiment in which the first and second conveying members take over and convey, the conveying members can have the same structure and cooperate with the side alignment member. Thus, it is possible to similarly correct the posture of the sheet bundle and carry it out.

Ma1 Multi-binding position Ma2 Multi-binding position Cp1 Right corner binding position Cp2 Left corner binding position Mp Manual binding position Ep Needleless binding position (eco-binding position)
Sb Sheet bundle Sc Corner section Sh Sheet Sx Paper discharge standard (center standard)
Se1 Paper discharge sensor 20 Device housing 20a Device frame 20b Exterior casing 20c Right frame 20d Left frame 20e Bottom frame 22 Sheet carry-in route (paper discharge route)
24 processing tray 25 stack tray 26 staple binding means (first binding means)
27 Needleless binding means (second binding means) (press bind unit)
27b Upper crimping tooth 27c Lower crimping tooth 29a Manual feed set surface 35 Scraping conveying means 36 Paddle rotating body 40 Sheet end regulating means (regulating stopper)
41 Rear end regulating member 42 Traveling guide rail 42x Traveling rail surface 43 Slide cam 43x Traveling cam surface 45 Side alignment mechanism (side alignment member)
46 Side alignment member 46F Right side alignment member 46R Left side alignment member 60 Sheet bundle carrying means

Claims (6)

A sheet bundle binding processing device for stapleless binding processing of a plurality of sheets,
A processing tray for collecting the plurality of sheets;
A binding processing device having a pair of crimping teeth for needleless binding processing of the plurality of sheets on the processing tray into one sheet bundle;
In order to peel off the binding portion of the sheet bundle that is in close contact with the crimping tooth from the crimping tooth after the needleless binding process, the sheet bundle is imparted with a rotation operation around the binding portion. A sheet bundle binding apparatus comprising: a peeling mechanism for pushing out an edge of the bundle.   The peeling mechanism includes a sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism for conveying the sheet bundle peeled off from the pressure-bonding teeth in the paper discharge direction on the processing tray, and the edge of the sheet bundle is arranged in the paper discharge direction. The sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus extrudes and applies the rotation operation to the sheet bundle.   The peeling mechanism includes a side alignment mechanism that moves in a direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction to align the plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray, and the edge of the sheet bundle is 2. The sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus applies the rotation operation to the sheet bundle by pushing in a direction orthogonal to the sheet discharge direction.   The sheet bundle carrying-out mechanism straightens the posture of the sheet bundle with respect to the paper discharge direction when the sheet bundle peeled off from the pressure-bonding teeth is conveyed in the paper discharge direction on the processing tray. The sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus is characterized in that:   The sheet bundle unloading mechanism moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet discharge direction, and cooperates with a side alignment mechanism for aligning the plurality of sheets stacked on the processing tray. The sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the posture is straightened with respect to the sheet discharge direction. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A sheet bundle binding processing unit that accumulates a plurality of sheets sent from the image forming unit and performs stapleless binding processing,
6. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet bundle binding processing unit is the sheet bundle binding processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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