U.S. patent application number 12/328143 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-26 for notch forming apparatus, bookbinding apparatus and bookbinding system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kiyoshi HATA.
Application Number | 20090290959 12/328143 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40929632 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090290959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HATA; Kiyoshi |
November 26, 2009 |
NOTCH FORMING APPARATUS, BOOKBINDING APPARATUS AND BOOKBINDING
SYSTEM
Abstract
A control section of a notch forming apparatus shifts a position
of a notch in the first direction for every single sheet or for
every plural sheets. When number of the sheets on which the notch
is formed reaches at a criterion number, the position of the notch
is shifted to a second direction which is an opposite direction in
respect to the first direction.
Inventors: |
HATA; Kiyoshi; (Hino-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF, HOLTZ, GOODMAN & CHICK, P.C.
220 fifth Avenue 16th Floor
New York
NY
10001-7708
US
|
Assignee: |
Konica Minolta Business
Technologies, Inc.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
40929632 |
Appl. No.: |
12/328143 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
412/33 ;
270/58.08; 412/16; 493/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 2215/00426
20130101; B42C 9/0025 20130101; B26D 5/02 20130101; G03G 15/6544
20130101; G03G 2215/00822 20130101; B42C 5/04 20130101; G03G
2215/00936 20130101; B26D 5/14 20130101; B26D 5/00 20130101; B26D
3/14 20130101; B26D 7/2628 20130101; B26F 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
412/33 ;
270/58.08; 493/340; 412/16 |
International
Class: |
B24C 5/04 20060101
B24C005/04; B65H 39/00 20060101 B65H039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 20, 2008 |
JP |
JP2008-131697 |
Claims
1. A notch forming apparatus, comprising: a notch forming section
to form a notch at an edge of a sheet; a move section to move a
position of the notch to be formed through the notch forming
section on the sheet; and a control section to control at least the
move section so that the position of the notch to be formed is
moved in a first direction every time the notch is formed on the
single sheet or a plurality of the sheets, and when number of
sheets on which the notch is formed reaches at a criterion number,
the position of the notch to be formed is moved in a second
direction opposite to the first direction.
2. The notch forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the move section
moves the notch forming section to move the position of the notch
to be formed.
3. The notch forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sheet bundle
is formed by biding a plurality of the sheets on which the notches
are formed by the notch forming section, and the control section
controls at least the move section so that a width of a groove
formed by the notches on the sheet bundle is not less than 0.5 mm
and not more than 1.5 mm.
4. A bookbinding apparatus, comprising; the notch forming apparatus
of claim 1, and a bookbinding section to form a sheet bundle by
accumulating the sheets on which the notch is formed though the
notch forming apparatus and to form a booklet by binding the sheet
bundle thereof with an adhesive.
5. A bookbinding system, comprising; an image forming apparatus to
form an image on a sheet; and the bookbinding apparatus of claim 4
to form the booklet using the sheet on which an image is formed by
the image forming apparatus.
Description
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2008-131697 filed on May 20, 2008, in Japanese Patent Office, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a notch forming apparatus
to form a notch at an edge of the sheet conveyed and a bookbinding
apparatus and bookbinding system to form a booklet by binding a
coversheet and a sheet bundle formed by bundling a plurality of
sheets on which a notch having been formed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There have been suggested various technologies to form a
booklet by binding a coversheet and the sheet bundle which are
formed by bundling a plurality of sheets thereon having formed
images. For example, in respect to a bookbinding system having an
image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, the
sheet bundle is automatically formed by bundling the plurality of
the sheets on which the image is formed through an image forming
apparatus, and the booklet is formed by binding the sheet bundle
and the coversheet with an adhesive.
[0004] A commonly-used procedure by the bookbinding system to form
the booklet will be described as follow. First, the sheet bundle is
formed by accumulating and aligning the plurality of the sheets
having the formed image thereon. Next, the adhesive is applied on a
spine of the sheet bundle having been accumulated and aligned. Then
the sheet is conveyed and stopped at a predetermined position to
bind the coversheet at the spine of the sheet bundle. Whereby, the
booklet is formed by combining the plurality of the sheets and the
coversheet.
[0005] In the FIGS. 16(a) and (b), an example of a booklet
configured with the sheet bundle and the coversheet is shown.
[0006] FIG. 16(a) shows a state where the coversheet K has not yet
been folded, and FIG. 16(b) shows a state where the coversheet K
has been folded As FIG. 16(a) shows, the sheet bundle Sa on whose
spine SB the adhesive has been applied is moved in the direction
shown by an arrow so as to be bound with the coversheet K, then the
sheet bundle Sa is wrapped by the coversheet K in a channel shape.
In a final figure of the booklet, as FIG. 16(b) shows, a side edge
section SE of the sheet bundle Sa and a side edge section KE of the
coversheet K are aligned.
[0007] Incidentally, if the adhesive is applied on the spine of the
sheet bundle Sa as it is to the bind sheet bundle Sa and the
coversheet K, an adhesion force between the sheet bundle Sa and the
coversheet K cannot be ensured sufficiently, and as a result, there
is occurred a problem that a part of sheets S drops from the
booklet formed.
[0008] To solve the aforesaid problem, as FIG. 17 shows, there is a
method that a notch Va is formed at the edge of the sheet S which
represents the spine SB of the sheet bundle Sa so as to retain a
space between the spine of the sheet bundle Sa and the coversheet K
so that a large amount of the adhesive infiltrates between them,
whereby the adhesive force between the sheet bundle Sa and the
coversheet K is ensured. In the technology disclosed in Unexamined
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-62145, a notch
forming device is provided on a conveyance pass of the sheet on
which the image has been formed, and such notch Va shown by FIG. 17
is formed at the edge of the sheet S.
[0009] Patent Document 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2007-62145
[0010] FIG. 18(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a groove shape
of the notch Va formed at the spine SB of the sheet bundle Sa and
indicating a view the spine SB of the sheet Sa seen from a X
direction in FIG. 17.
[0011] A position of the notch Va formed on the sheet bundle Sa can
be varied. For example, as FIG. 18(a) shows, the position of the
notch Va on each sheet S is not changed and the notch Va is formed
at the same position on each sheet whereby the groove of the
notches Va are formed in an vertical line. In case of a
configuration shown by FIG. 8(a), the space between the spine SB of
sheet bundle Sa can be retained and the large amount of the
adhesive can be infiltrated between them. However, the adhesive
force between the sheets cannot be ensured and a part of sheets S
may be fallen off from the booklet formed.
[0012] Thus, there is a configuration that the positions of the
notches Va are displaced for every sheets so that the grooves of
the notches Va form a diagonal line. Whereby by displacing the
positions of the notches Va gradually, as FIG. 18(c) shows, the
adhesive intermediates in a portion representing a displacement
amount t of the notches Va, and the adhesive force between sheets
can be ensured.
[0013] However, as FIG. 18(b) shows, in order to displace the
positions of the notches Va consistently in one direction, a space
to shift the device to form the notch Va on the sheet S or the
sheets S in a direction a or a direction b has to be retained
inside the apparatus, resulting in that increasing of the apparatus
size is incurred. For example, given that the displacement amount t
of the notch Va for each sheet is 0.5 mm, if the number of the
sheets Sa is 300, a total displacement amount will be 150 mm, thus
the space has to be retained in the directions a or b for that
amount.
SUMMARY
[0014] The aforesaid problems are solved by the following
structures. [0015] 1. A notch forming apparatus, having:
[0016] a notch forming section to form a notch at a edge of a
sheet;
[0017] a move section to move a position of the notch formed
through the notch forming section on the sheet; and
[0018] a control section to control at least the move section so
that the position of the notch is moved in a first direction every
time the notch is formed on the single sheet or a plurality of the
sheets, and when number of sheets on which the notch is formed
reaches at a criterion number, the position of the notch is moved
in a second direction opposite to the first direction. [0019] 2. A
bookbinding apparatus, having;
[0020] the notch forming apparatus of claim 1, and a bookbinding
section to form a sheet bundle by accumulating the sheets on which
the notch is formed though the notch forming apparatus and to form
a booklet by biding the sheet bundle with an adhesive. [0021] 3. A
bookbinding system, having;
[0022] an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet; and
the bookbinding apparatus of claim 4 to form the booklet using the
sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a bookbinding
system having an image forming apparatus, a bookbinding apparatus,
a booklet storing apparatus and an automatic document feeding
apparatus.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system in a
bookbinding system.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of a bookbinding
apparatus.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an inclination
state of a sheet accumulating section in a sheet bundle storing
section.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical state of
a sheet accumulating section in a sheet bundle string section.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a sheet bundle
storing section, application section, coversheet feeding section,
cutting section, and booklet forming section.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a vicinity of an application
section.
[0030] FIGS. 8(a), 8(b), 8(c) and 8(d) are cross-sectional views of
a booklet forming section and a sheet bundle indicating a folding
process of a coversheet.
[0031] FIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) are perspective views showing a
forming process of a booklet using a sheet bundle and a
coversheet.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a notch section.
[0033] FIGS. 11(a), 11(b), 11(c) and 11(d) are plane views of
sheets on which notches and punch holes have been formed.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a front view of a notch section and a moving
section.
[0035] FIGS. 13(a), 13(b) and 13(c) are a perspective view, a front
view of and a partial magnified view of a sheet bundle having
notches thereon.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a flow chart indicating operation to change a
position of a notch.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a front view of a spine of a sheet bundle.
[0038] FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b) are perspective views of a booklet
configured with a sheet bundle and a coversheet.
[0039] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a sheet bundle having
formed notches thereon.
[0040] FIGS. 18(a), 18(b) and 18(c) are explanatory diagrams
indicating groove shapes of notches formed on spines of sheet
bundles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[An Outline of a Bookbinding System]
[0041] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a bookbinding
system having an image forming apparatus A, a bookbinding apparatus
B, a booklet storing apparatus C and an automatic document feeding
apparatus DF.
[0042] The image forming apparatus A is provided with an image
forming section wherein a charging section 2, an image exposing
section 3, a developing section 4, a transfer discharging section 5
and a cleaning section 6 are disposed in a periphery of a rotating
image carrier 1. The image forming section charges a surface of the
image carrier 1 through the charging section 2, thereafter forms a
latent image by exposure scanning based on image data which is
obtained by reading a document with a laser beam of the image
exposing section 3. Then the latent image is developed by the
developing section 4 to form a toner image on the surface of the
image carrier 1.
[0043] The sheet S fed from the sheet storing section 7A is
conveyed to a transfer position in the image carrier 1. After
transferring the toner image onto the sheet S at the transfer
position, a transfer discharging section 5 discharges a surface of
the sheet S and the sheet S is separated from the image carrier 1
and then conveyed through conveyance section 7B. Thereafter, the
toner image on the sheet S is fixed on the sheet S through the
fixing section 8 with heat and the sheet S is ejected from the
image forming apparatus A through sheet ejection rollers 7C.
[0044] In case images are formed on both sides of the Sheet S, the
sheet S on which an image has been fixed through fixing section
with heat is diverged from a sheet ejection pass through a
conveyance pass changeover section 7D, and in reversal conveyance
section 7E, the sheet is switched back and turned over. Then the
sheet S is again conveyed to the image forming section and an image
is formed on the reverse side of the sheet S. The sheet S ejected
through the sheet ejection rollers 7C is fed to the bookbinding
apparatus B.
[0045] On an upper part of the image forming apparatus A, an
operation section 9 is disposed. The contents of the job to be
executed in the bookbinding system are inputted by an user through
the operation section 9.
[0046] As FIG. 1 shows the bookbinding apparatus B is a case
binding apparatus having a conveyance pass 10, a sheet ejection
section 20, a reverse section 30, a sheet bundle storing section
40, an application section 50, a coversheet feeding section 60, a
cutting section 70, and a booklet forming section 80. Incidentally,
the bookbinding apparatus of the present invention can be adaptable
to a gluing bookbinding apparatus, which simply binds a sheet
bundle with an adhesive besides the case binding apparatus.
[A Block Diagram of a Book Binding System]
[0047] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system in the
bookbinding system. Here main components are shown. A main control
section 100 of the image forming apparatus A and the
post-processing control section 200 of the bookbinding apparatus B
are connected via serial communication sections 101 and 102 (see
FIG. 1). By an instruction of the main control section 100, the
post-processing control section 200 controls each section of the
bookbinding apparatus B. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the
post-processing control section 200 serves as a control
section.
[0048] The post processing control section 200 controls drive of
each section described later so as to form a booklet. Namely, the
post-processing control section 200 controls drive of a motor M1 to
drive an application roller 51, a motor M2 to drive a punch 302 of
a notch forming section 300, a motor M4 to drive a supporting
member 41 to support the sheet bundle, a move section 400 to drive
a notch forming section 300, a booklet forming section 80 and a
cutting section 70.
[An Outline of a Bookbinding Apparatus]
[0049] FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of the bookbinding
apparatus B. A conveyance pass changeover section Z2 located at an
upstream side of the conveyance roller 11 in the sheet conveyance
direction leads the sheet S ejected from the image forming
apparatus A to either a conveyance pass a or a conveyance pass b.
The sheet S led to the conveyance pass a is grasped and conveyed
through the conveyance rollers 11 and 12 and the lead to either the
ejection sheet 20 or the reversal section 30 through the conveyance
pass changeover section Z1. The sheet S led to the conveyance pass
b is grasped and conveyed through the conveyance rollers 14 to a
booklet forming section 80 serving as a bookbinding section The
conveyance pass a is provided with a sheet sensor SEN to detect the
sheet S conveyed through the conveyance pass a.
[0050] To eject the sheet S to the sheet ejection section 20, the
conveyance pass changeover section Z1 closes a conveyance pass c
connected to the sheet bundle storing section 40 and open a
conveyance pass d connected to the sheet ejection 20. The sheet S
passed through the conveyance pass d connected to the sheet
ejection section 20 is grasped by conveyance rollers 21 and
conveyed upward then ejected to a fixed sheet ejection tray 22 at
an upper most section of the apparatus through ejection rollers
22.
[0051] The sheet S led to the conveyance pass c through the
conveyance pass changeover section Z1 is grasped by the conveyance
rollers 31, 32, 33 and 34 and stored in a predetermined position in
the reversal section 30. The reversal section 30 is provided with
an obliquely disposed sheet loading table 35, a registration member
36 to register a rear edge of the sheet and an aligning member 37
to align the sheet S in a sheet width direction and conveyance
rollers 38.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an inclination
state of a sheet accumulating section in the sheet bundle storing
section 40. The sheet bundle storing section 40 is provided with a
supporting member 41, a receiving board 42, a lateral aligning
member 44 and a pressing member 45.
[0053] The sheet S, placed on the sheet loading table 35 in the
reversal section 30, is grasped by the conveyance rollers 38 and
ejected from an opening opened by tilting of the registration
member 36 then conveyed obliquely downward. The sheet S is
subsequently accumulated in the sheet bundle storing section
40.
[0054] The sheet bundle storing section 40 is provided with a
support member 41 having an oblique accumulation surface and a
receiving board 42 which can tilt. The sheet S fell down from the
reversal section 30 slips off the accumulation surface of the
oblique support member 41 then a front edged of the sheet S comes
to contact with the receiving board 42 an stops, whereby the sheet
S is supported in a oblique state. A longitudinal aligning member
43 presses the rear edge of the sheet S in accordance with the size
of the sheet S placed on the accumulating surface of the support
member 41 so that the front edge of the sheet S comes in contact
with the receiving board 42. Whereby the front edge of each sheet S
is aligned. The sheet S subsequently ejected from the image forming
apparatus A is conveyed through switch back in the reversal section
30 and accumulated in the sheet bundle storing section 40, whereby
the sheet bundle Sa configured with a plurality of the sheets S are
formed.
[0055] The size of the sheet S and the number of sheets forming the
sheet bundle Sa representing the setting conditions of the booklet
formed by the bookbinding apparatus B is set through the operation
section 9 of the image forming apparatus A or through an external
equipment such as personal computer connected to the image forming
apparatus A.
[0056] The lateral aligning member 44 performs lateral alignment in
the width direction of the sheet by pressing a side edge of the
sheet S transferred from the reversal section 30 and stored in the
sheet bundle storing section 40.
[0057] The pressing member 45 presses the sheet bundle Sa
accumulated in the sheet bundle storing section 40 in a thickness
direction of the sheet bundle Sa so as to grasp the sheet bundle
Sa. At a stage where the set numbers of the sheets S are
accumulated in the sheet bundle storing section 40, the pressing
member 45 is operated by an unillustrated motor, so that the sheet
bundle Sa is grasped by the supporting member 41 and the pressing
member 45.
[0058] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing a vertical state of
a sheet accumulation section in the sheet bundle storing section
40.
[0059] The sheet supporting section 41 and the pressing section 45
gasping the sheet bundle Sa rotate centering around an axis 46 of
the sheet bundle storing section 40 through a motor M4 and a drive
section 47 so that the sheet bundle Sa becomes a vertical state
from an oblique state. In the above state, the application roller
51 of the application section 50 is separated from a lower surface
of the sheet bundle Sa. Also, in a state where the sheet bundle Sa
is grasped by the supporting member 41 and the pressing member 45,
the receiving board 42 rotates from a broken lines position to a
solid line position in the figure by the unillustrated drive
section.
[0060] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet bundle storing
section 40, the application section 50, the coversheet feeding
section 60, the cutting section 70 and the booklet forming section
80.
[0061] The application section 50 is provided with the application
roller 51, a drive section 52 to rotate the application roller 51,
an adhesive container 53 to contain an adhesive N such as glue, a
moving substance 54, movable from an initial position at back side
of the bookbinding apparatus B to an application position at front
side while supporting the adhesive container 53, a moving device 55
to reciprocate the moving substance 54 and a heating section 56 to
heat the adhesive N contained in the adhesive container 53.
[0062] The moving substance 54 in the application section 50 moves
in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the lower
surface of the sheet Sa vertically held by the supporting member 41
and the pressing member 45 through the drive section 47.
[0063] The moving substance 54 starts moving from the initial
position at the back side of the bookbinding apparatus B and moves
along the moving device 55 then stops a predetermined position of
the front side of the bookbinding apparatus B, and thereafter being
driven backwards to return to the initial position.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of vicinities of the
application section 50.
[0065] The application roller 51 dipped in the adhesive N contained
in the adhesive container 53 rotates through the motor M1 and the
drive section 52. Through a forward travel or reciprocation of the
moving substance 54, the application roller 51 applies the adhesive
N on the lower surface of the sheet bundle Sa from the back side R
to the front side F in the lower surface longitudinal direction of
the sheet bundle Sa being held vertically.
[0066] The adhesive N applied on a circumferential surface of the
application roller 51 is restricted in its layer thickness by a
restriction member 57.
[0067] As FIG. 6 shows, the coversheet K stored in a coversheet
stacking section 61 of the coversheet feeding section 60 is
separated and fed through the sheet feeding section 62, then
grasped by the conveyance rollers 63, 64 and 65 to be conveyed to
the booklet forming section 80.
[0068] Above the coversheet feeding section 60 in the figure, and
on the right-hand side of the booklet forming section 80, the
cutting section 70 integrated with the booklet forming section 80
cuts the coversheet K in a predetermined length in a conveyance
direction of the coversheet K through a rotary cutter configured
with a rotation blade 71 and a fixed blade 72.
[0069] The predetermined length is a length of two pieces of sheets
S in the conveyance direction plus a length of the spine of the
sheet bundle Sa. For example, in case the case bookbinding is
carried out by bonding the coversheet K on the spine of the sheet
bundle Sa configured with the sheet S in A4 size, given that a
maximum sheet number of the sheet bundle Sa is 300 pieces and the
thickness thereof is about 30 mm, the predetermined length is set
450 mm which is two times the length of the short side of A4 sheet
210 mm plus the thickness of the sheet bundle Sa 30 mm. In that
way, the coversheet K is cut (a overall length of the coversheet K
before cutting is 450 mm or more).
[0070] In case each of sheets having A5 size, B5 size and
8.5.times.11 inch (one inch is 25.4 mm) is processed by the case
bookbinding to form a booklet, the predetermined length is set
based on the length of the short side of the sheet and thickness of
the sheet bundle.
[0071] When the sheet size, the sheet number and the sheet
thickness is set or detected through the operation section 9 of the
image forming apparatus A or the external equipment, the control
section sets the predetermined length of the coversheet K. The
length of the coversheet K before cutting is determined in
accordance with the maximum sheet number, and the coversheet K is
stored in coversheet loading section 61 of the coversheet feeding
section 60.
[0072] The booklet forming section 80 is provided with conveyance
rollers 81 and 82 to receive and convey the coversheet K fed from
the coversheet feeding section 60 and to stop the coversheet K at a
predetermined position, a pressure member 83 to press the
coversheet K onto an adhesive application surface of the sheet
bundle Sa, a movable housing 84 to support the conveyance rollers
81 and 82, and the pressure member 83, and a hoisting section 86
which enables the aligning section 85 and the movable housing 84 to
movement vertically in up and down direction.
[0073] The booklet forming section 80 and a booklet ejection belt
88 moves up and down integrally through the hoisting section 86.
When the booklet forming section 80 stops at a descent position to
input the sheet K, the aligning section 85 moves from an initial
position in accordance with the size of the coversheet K and
presses the coversheet K before the cutting process at the both
sides in the width direction of the coversheet K to conduct
widthwise aligning. The coversheets K of which skew is corrected by
the widthwise aligning is switched back in an opposite direction to
the input direction and conveyed to the cutting section 70 to be
cut at the predetermined position.
[0074] Also, before the booklet forming section 80 bonds the
coversheet K after cutting and the spine of the sheet bundle Sa by
the adhesive at the descent position, the aligning section 85 again
moves from the initial position so as to align the coversheet K by
pressing the both sides of the coversheet K in the width direction,
and stops the coversheet K at the predetermined position.
Thereafter, the aligning section 85 returns to the initial position
in order not to interfere the bonding of the coversheet K and the
sheet bundle Sa then the booklet forming section 80 ascends
subsequently. When ascending the coversheet K is supported at a
predetermined position.
[0075] Therefore, improvement of a cutting accuracy and a
positioning accuracy of the sheet bundle Sa and the coversheet K,
and enhancement of simplification of the configuration can be
attained through the aligning section 85 disposed on the hoisting
booklet forming section 80 to carry out positioning of the
coversheet K before and after cutting by cutting section 70 in a
coversheet width direction.
[0076] The hosting section 86 moves the movable housing 84 upward
by rotating the left and right belts. At the ascent position, a
center area of the coversheet K loaded on the pressure member 83 is
pressed onto the adhesive application surface of the sheet bundle
Sa to be bonded. After completion of the application process of the
adhesive on the sheet bundle Sa, the application section 50 is
moved backward to be retracted.
[0077] On the upper part of the booklet forming section 80, a
coversheet folding section is equipped. The coversheet folding
section has a pair of bilaterally symmetric forming members 87A and
87B. The forming members 87A and 87B are detachable in the
thickness direction of the sheet bundle Sa. The forming members 87A
and 87B fold the coversheet K along side edges of the application
surface of the adhesive of the sheet bundle Sa, and overlaps the
front coversheet and rear coversheet onto the front surface and
rear surface of the sheet bundle Sa respectively.
[0078] After completion of the folding process of the coversheet K,
the booklet forming section 80 descends by a predetermined amount
through descent drive of the hoisting section 86, thereafter when
the grasping of the grasping section is released, the booklet Sb
falls and the lower surface of the spine comes to contact with the
upper surface of the booklet ejection belt 88 then the booklet Sb
is carried and ejected.
[0079] FIGS. 8(a), (b), (c) and (d) are cross-sectional views of
the booklet forming section 80. FIG. 8(a) shows start of folding
the coversheet, FIG. 8(b) show folding of the coversheet is in
mid-course, FIG. 8(c) shows completion of folding the coversheet
and FIG. 8(d) shows releasing of compression for coversheet
folding.
[0080] FIGS. 9(a), (b), and (c) are perspective views showing a
forming process of the booklet Sb with the sheet bundle Sa and
coversheet K. FIG. 9(a) is a perspective view of the coversheet K
and the sheet bundle Sa before a bonding process of the coversheet,
FIG. 9(b) is a perspective view of the sheet bundle Sa to which the
coversheet K is bonded and FIG. 9(c) is a perspective view of the
booklet Sb formed with the sheet bundle Sa by case binding with
coversheet K.
[0081] After the coversheet K is bonded to the sheet bundle Sa on
which the adhesive N is applied, the forming members 87A and 87B
are driven by the unillustrated drive section in an ascent state of
the booklet forming section 80 shown in FIG. 8. The coversheet K is
deformed from the side edge sections of the adhesive application
surface of the sheet bundle Sa while being grasped by the forming
members 87A and 87B (see FIG. 8(b)). Thereafter, the forming
members 87A and 873 moves horizontally towards the adhesive
application surface of the sheet bundle Sa and presses the both
sides of the sheet bundle Sa for shaping, thereby forming the
booklet Sa.
[Outline of Notch Section]
[0082] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a notch device 300. The
notch device 300 is provided with a die 301 firmly mounted at a
sheet s conveyance pass, a punch 302 which ascends and fits the die
301, a drive section to ascend and descend the punch 302, and a
trash box 303 to receive scrapes of the sheet S.
[0083] A circumference surface of the punch 302 facing the die 301
fits an inner surface of a guide member 304 so as to be capable of
ascending and descending. The drive section to ascend and descend
the punch 302 is configured with a motor M2, a small gear 305
connected with the motor M2, a large gear 306 meshing with the
small gear 305, a link 307 engaged with the large gear 306 at an
eccentric position to be able to perform rocking motion and a
connecting member 308 to connect the link 307 with an upper parts
of the punch 302. By driving the motor M2, the punch 302 is driven
up and down via the small gear 305, the large gear 306, a link 307
and a connecting member 308. When the punch 302 is driven to be
descent, the punch fits with the die 301, thereby forming the notch
at an rear edge of the sheet S.
[0084] FIG. 11 is a plane view of the sheet S on which holes and
notches are formed.
[0085] As the shape of the notch Va, V-shape, and U-shape are used
beside the semicircular shape. For example, the notch Va can be
formed by punches and dies used for ordinal sheet files.
[0086] Number of the notches Va and holes H formed on the sheet S
can be determined discretionary by adjusting number of the punches
and dies. Two notches shown by FIG. 11(a) have a diameter of 6 mm
and a center-to-center distance between holes of 80 mm, and three
notches Va shown by FIG. 11(b) have the diameter of 6 mm and a
center-to-center distance between holes of 108 mm. Also two
circular shape holes h have a diameter of 6 mm and a
center-to-center distance between holes of 80 mm, and three
circular shape holes h shown by FIG. 11(d) have a diameter of 6 mm
and a center-to-center distance between holes of 108 mm.
[0087] If the perforation process and notch process is not set in
the operation section 9 of the image forming apparatus A, the sheet
S ejected from the image forming apparatus A passes through the
notch device 300 without being processed and the adhesive
application process is carried out.
[0088] In the control section 9, if the notch process to form the
notch is set, after the rear edge of the sheet s is detected by a
sensor PS (see FIG. 10), number of pulses, which is larger than
number of pulses in case holes h are formed, is counted then the
sheet S is conveyed and stopped. Thereafter notches Va are formed
at a vicinity of the rear edge section of the sheets (see FIGS.
11(a) and (b)).
[0089] In the control section 9, if the perforation process to form
circular holes h is set, after detecting passage of the rear edge
of the sheet S conveyed through the conveyance rollers 31 and 32
through the sensor PS (See FIG. 10 or FIG. 12), the number of
pluses is counted, then drive of a sheet conveyance motor is ceased
to stop advancement of the sheet S. At the stop position, the holes
h are formed at the vicinity of the rear edge of the sheet S (see
FIGS. 11(c) and (d)).
[0090] FIG. 12 is a front view of the notching device 300 and a
moving section 400.
[0091] The move section 400 moves notch forming sections 300A, 300B
and 300C having the punches 302 and the dies 301 in left and right
directions (a horizontal direction perpendicular to the sheet S
conveyance direction) in FIG. 12. By moving the notch forming
sections 300A, 300B and 300C, the position of the notch Va formed
on the sheet S is moved.
[0092] By driving the motor M3, a rack gear 404 moves in left and
right directions in FIG. 12 via a gear train configured with gears
401, 402 and 403. With the rack gear 404, the notch forming
sections 300A, 300B and 300C are engaged so that the notch forming
sections 300A, 300B and 300C moves left and right directions by
movement of the rack gear 404. Incidentally, in FIG. 12, while the
notch forming sections are three, number of the notch forming
sections can be set discretionary according to the number of the
notches and the holes to be formed on the sheet S. Also, in the
present embodiment, the notch forming apparatus is configured with
a post-processing control section 200, the notch forming sections
300A, 300B and 300C, and the move section 400.
[0093] FIGS. 13(a), (b) and (c) are a perspective view, a front
view and a partial magnified view respectively showing the sheet
bundle Sa having the notches Va. FIG. 13(a) is a perspective
showing a sheet bundle Sa formed by accumulating the sheets S on
which four notches Va are formed. FIG. 13(b) is a front view of the
spine of the sheet bundle Sa, and FIG. 13(c) is a partial magnified
view of the spine of the sheet bundle Sa.
[0094] On the spine of the sheet bundle Sa, four (the number is
discretional) notches Va are formed for each sheet S. The four
notches Va are arranged substantially at equal distances to form
soaking surfaces of the adhesive. In this state, the adhesive N is
applied to the spine of the sheet bundle Sa through the application
section 50 shown in FIG. 5. The adhesive N is applied to the spine
and infiltrates into the notched Va so as to form a adhesive
surface.
[0095] As above, by infiltration of the adhesive N into the notches
Va formed on the spine of the sheet bundle Sa, the adhesive force
of the spine of the sheet bundle Sa is enhanced, and missing page,
due to falling off of insufficiently bonded sheet S by opening the
booklet formed by bonding the coversheet K, can be avoided.
[0096] Also, as FIGS. 13(b) and (c) show, the positions of notches
Va are shifted in the horizontal direction for each sheet, thus the
groove configured with the notches Va forms a diagonal line. As
above, by moving the positions of the notches Va gradually, the
adhesive can adhere at a shifted portion (portion c in FIG. 13(c))
and the bonding force between the sheets S is enhanced. Meanwhile,
by shifting the position of the notches Va for each sheet, a strong
adhesive force can be obtained, however the potions of the notches
can be shifted for every plurality of sheets (for example every two
sheets) for simplifying the controls.
[0097] As FIG. 13 shows, to shift the position of the notch Va for
every sheet in the horizontal direction, the post-processing
control section 200 controls operation of the move section 400, so
that the notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C are moved in
the horizontal direction for every sheet.
[0098] Incidentally, as FIG. 13(b) shows, to enhance the adhesive
force between the sheets, it is effective that the positions of the
notches Va are shifted so as to form the grooves configured with
the notches Va diagonally. However, to shift the positions of the
notches Va in the same direction consistently, a space for the
notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C for forming the notch Va
to move in the horizontal direction (in FIG. 12, left and right
directions) has to be retained in the bookbinding apparatus B,
thereby causing increase of size of the bookbinding apparatus B.
Thus, to solve the above problem, the moving direction of the notch
forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C is changed when the number of
sheets reaches at a criterion number by sensing the number of
sheets S on which the notches Va are formed in the bookbinding
apparatus B. This aspect will be specifically described with
reference to the FIGS. 14 and 15.
[Shifting Positions of Notches]
[0099] FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing operation to shift the
positions of the notches. A judging step (Steps S4 and S9) are
executed in the post-processing control section 200 of the
bookbinding apparatus B.
[0100] First, when a job to form the booklet starts in the
bookbinding system, the bookbinding apparatus B receives the sheet
S from the image forming apparatus A and the sheet S is conveyed by
the conveyance rollers 11 (Step S1). Then the sheet S is detected
by a sheet sensor SEN disposed at the conveyance pass a in the
bookbinding apparatus B (Step S2), and the post-processing control
section 200 increments a counter value of a counter in the
bookbinding apparatus B by one (Step S3) when a detection signal
from the sheet detection sensor SEN is received. The count value is
stored in a memory section (RAM) in the bookbinding apparatus
B.
[0101] When the count value is incremented by one in Step S3,
whether or not the count value reaches at the value of the
criterion number of the sheets is judged (Step S4). The criterion
number of the sheets is a value representing a timing at which the
moving direction of the notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C
is changed.
[0102] In case that the count value has not been reached at the
criterion number of the sheets (Step S4; No), it is not necessary
to change the direction of shifting the positions of the notches
Va. Thus the notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C are moved
by a predetermined distance (for example, 0.5 mm) in accordance
with information of a moving direction (for example, right
direction in FIG. 12 (first direction)) memorized in the memory
section (RAM) (Step S5) without changing the moving direction of
the notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C. Then notch forming
process to form the notch Va on the sheet S is carried out by the
punch 302 (Step S8).
[0103] On the other hand, if it is judged that the count value is
reached at the criterion number of the sheets (Step S4; Yes), it is
necessary to change the shifting direction of the positions of the
notches, and first, the counter value of the counter is cleared
(Step S6). Then the information for moving direction stored in the
memory section (RAM) is modified, and in accordance with the
modified information of the moving direction (for example, left
direction (second direction) in FIG. 12) the notch forming sections
300Z, 300B and 300C are moved by a predetermined distance (for
example, 0.5 mm) (Step S7), and the notch forming process is
carried out by the punch 302 so as to from the notch Va on the
sheet S (Step S8). After the notch forming process, whether or not
a last page of the job to form the booklet is judged (Step S9), and
if it is not the last page, the operation returns to Step S1. In
Step S7, the moving direction is changed thereafter operation of
Steps S1, S2, S3, S4 S5 and S8 are repeated. Whereby the groove of
notch Va formed on the spine of the sheet bundle Sa forms an
inverted diagonal line in respect to that before the moving
direction is changed. Incidentally, in Step S4 in FIG. 14 the notch
forming sections are moved for every single sheet, however, it can
be moved for every plurality of the sheets (for example, every two
sheets).
[0104] By forming the notches Va on the spine of the sheet bundle
Sa based on the operation shown in FIG. 14, the shape of the
grooves formed by the notches Va becomes the shape in FIG. 15 for
example. The groove of the notches Va on the spine of the sheet
bundle Sa forms so-called a zig-zag shape as FIG. 15 shows, and a
distance H of the groove in the horizontal direction in FIG. 15 is
short compare to the distance H of the groove in the horizontal
direction in FIG. 13(b). Namely, a moving range of the notch
forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C is within the distance H of
the groove in FIG. 15, thus a large space in the horizontal
direction is not necessary. Also, since the positions of the
notches are shifted, adhesive force between the sheets can be
enhanced. Incidentally, in FIG. 15, while the grooves formed by the
notches Va are four, the number of the grooves can be increased or
decreased where necessary.
[0105] As described in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, when the number of
sheet S on which the notches Va are formed reaches at the criterion
number of the sheets, by changing the shifting direction of the
position of the notches, the adhesive force between the sheets in
the booklet is enhanced and increase of size of the apparatus can
be avoided.
[Width of the Notch Va]
[0106] The shifting distance of the notches defers a condition of
booklet formed (adhesive force and appearance). As FIG. 13(c)
shows, the position of the notch Va is shifted by shifting amount t
for every single sheet and the width of the groove formed by the
notches Va is d in FIG. 13(c).
[0107] As the shifting amount t decreases, the width d of the
groove formed by the notches Va increases, thus more adhesive
infiltrates into the groove section and the adhesive force is
enhanced. However, the groove from by the notched Va becomes
visible faintly on the spine of the booklet formed, which
deteriorates the appearance.
[0108] On the other hand, as the shifting amount t increases, the
width d of the groove formed by the notch Va decreases, thus the
groove from by the notched Va does not become visible, however the
adhesive force is deteriorated since the less adhesive infiltrates
into the groove.
[0109] Therefore, in the groove shown by FIG. 13, an appropriate
value (appropriate value in aspects of appearance and adhesive
force) of the width d of the groove formed by the notch Va was
studied through an experiment. In the experiment, the width d of
the groove formed by the notch Va is changed from 0.3 mm to 1.7 mm
by 0.1 mm thus a total of 15 kids of the widths d of grooves were
studied.
[0110] First, in respect to the appearance of the booklet in the
aspect that the grooves formed by the notches Va are not visible, a
preferable result was obtained with the width d within a range from
0.3 mm to 1.5 mm. Also, in respect to ensuring the adhesive force
by infiltrating the adhesive into the groove section, a preferable
result was obtained with the width d within a range of 0.5 mm to
1.7 mm.
[0111] Therefore, in both aspects to the appearance and to the
adhesive force, an appropriate value of the width d of the groove
formed by the notch Va is a value in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm,
and the post-processing controls section 200 controls the movement
of the notch forming sections 300A, 300B and 300C so that the width
d of the groove is in the range thereof.
[0112] Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiment thereof and it is to be understood that changes and
variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope
of the appended claims.
[0113] In the bookbinding system show by FIG. 1, the image forming
apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B are separate units,
however the apparatuses thereof can be integrated.
[0114] Also, in the structure shown by FIG. 12, the notch forming
sections 300A, 300B and 300c are moved by the move section 400 in
respect to the sheet S, however the sheet S can be moved in respect
to the notch forming sections 300A, and 300C so as to shift the
positions of the notches.
[0115] Also, while the notch forming sections 300a, 300B and 300c
are separate units, they can be integrated into one notch forming
section having a plurality of the punches.
[0116] According to the notch forming device, the bookbinding
apparatus and the bookbinding system, the adhesive force between
the sheets in the booklet is enhanced and increase of size of the
apparatus can be avoided.
* * * * *