JP6841203B2 - Sheet folding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet folding device capable of folding a sheet material in three.

Generally, a sheet folding device capable of performing a sheet folding process for folding a sheet material composed of one sheet or a plurality of overlapping sheets is known.

Further, the sheet folding device may include a mechanism for folding the sheet material in three by making creases at two points of the sheet material (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sheet folding device makes a crease on the sheet material along a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet material.

JP-A-2007-99507

By the way, the sheet folding device adjusts the position of the fold formed on the sheet material according to a preset standard sheet size.

Therefore, the variation in the length of the sheet material in the transport direction leads to the variation in the position of the crease formed in the sheet material. Then, the variation in the position of the fold leads to the variation in the finished size of the folded sheet material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet folding device capable of suppressing variations in the finished dimensions of the folded sheet material by adjusting the folding position according to variations in the length of the sheet material.

The sheet folding device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first guide mechanism, a first roller pair, a middle stopper, a middle displacement mechanism, a second guide mechanism, a second roller pair, and a rear seat sensor. , With an intermediate control device. The first guidance mechanism guides a part of the sheet material located in the first passage to a predetermined first position. The first roller pair forms a first nip at the first position and rotates, and by sandwiching the sheet material, the sheet material is made a first crease and folded in half at the first fold. The sheet material is conveyed to the second passage. The middle stopper comes into contact with the first crease of the sheet material conveyed along the second passage. The middle stage displacement mechanism can adjust the position of the middle stage stopper in the moving direction of the first fold of the sheet material. The second induction mechanism has a predetermined portion between the first fold and the portion sandwiched between the first nips in the sheet material in a state where the first fold is in contact with the middle stopper. Guide to 2 positions. The second roller pair forms a second nip at the second position and rotates, and by sandwiching the sheet material, the sheet material is made into a second crease, and at the first fold and the second fold. The sheet material in a tri-folded state is conveyed to the third passage. The latter-stage sheet sensor detects the sheet material passing through the third passage. The intermediate control device controls the middle displacement mechanism according to the detection time of the sheet material by the rear seat sensor, thereby causing the middle displacement mechanism to adjust the position of the middle stopper.

According to the present invention, by adjusting the folding position according to the variation in the length of the sheet material, it is possible to provide a sheet folding device capable of suppressing the variation in the finished dimensions of the folded sheet material.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an aftertreatment device including a sheet folding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device included in the aftertreatment device. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment guides the sheet material to the first nip. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment guides the sheet material to the second nip. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sheet material folded in three by the sheet folding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the sheet folding device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control device included in the aftertreatment device including the sheet folding device according to the second embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention and does not have a character that limits the technical scope of the present invention.

[First Embodiment: Post-processing device]
The sheet folding device 10 according to the first embodiment constitutes a part of the aftertreatment device 1000. The after-processing device 1000 is connected to an image forming device (not shown). The post-processing device 1000 applies a predetermined sheet processing to the printed matter discharged from the image forming device.

The printed matter is a sheet on which an image is formed. The sheet is a sheet-like image forming medium such as paper or a resin film.

As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 1000 includes a main roller pair 11, a path switching mechanism 12, a first branch roller pair 13, a first discharge tray 14, a second branch roller pair 15, a staple device 16, and a sheet folding. It includes a device 10, a seat holding mechanism 17, a second discharge tray 18, a control device 8, and the like.

One or more sets of main roller pairs 11 convey the printed matter discharged from the image forming apparatus along the main passage 100 in the post-processing apparatus 1000.

The route switching mechanism 12 selectively guides the printed matter conveyed by the main roller pair 11 to one of the first branch passage 101 and the second branch passage 102.

One or more sets of the first branch roller pair 13 convey the printed matter guided to the first branch passage 101 along the first branch passage 101, and further discharge the printed matter to the first discharge tray 14.

One or more sets of the second branch roller pair 15 convey the printed matter guided to the second branch passage 102 along the second branch passage 102, and further convey the printed matter to the staple device 16.

The staple device 16 can primarily retain a plurality of the printed matter and perform the staple treatment on the plurality of printed matter. The staple device 16 can also allow the printed matter to pass through.

The staple device 16 conveys the stapled sheet bundle or a single printed matter to the sheet folding device 10 in an overlapping state.

The sheet folding device 10 performs a sheet folding process on one or a plurality of the printed matter conveyed via the staple device 16, and discharges the processed printed matter to the second discharge tray 18.

In the following description, one or a plurality of the printed matter to be subjected to the sheet folding process is referred to as a sheet material 9. The sheet material 9 is one or a plurality of the above-mentioned sheets.

In the present embodiment, the sheet folding process that can be executed by the sheet folding device 10 includes a bi-folding process and a tri-folding process. The bi-folding process is a process of folding the sheet material 9 in half by making a crease at one place in the center of the sheet material 9.

The tri-folding process is a process of folding the sheet material 9 in three by making creases at two places of the sheet material 9. FIG. 6 shows the sheet material 9 folded by the tri-folding process.

The sheet folding device 10 makes one or two creases in the sheet material 9 along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet material 9. Further, the sheet folding device 10 discharges the sheet material 9 folded by the sheet folding process to the second discharge tray 18.

In the following description, the front end and the rear end of the sheet material 9 in the carrying-in direction to the sheet folding device 10 are referred to as a first end 9a and a second end 9b, respectively. The sheet material 9 is carried into the sheet folding device 10 along the longitudinal direction thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet folding device 10 forms a first crease 9c at a position closer to the first end 9a of the sheet material 9 than the center in the longitudinal direction by the tri-folding process, and further, the sheet. The second fold 9d is formed at a position closer to the second end 9b than the center of the member 9 in the longitudinal direction.

In FIG. 6, the first sheet length L1, the second sheet length L2, and the third sheet length L3 of the sheet material 9 are the lengths from the first end 9a to the first fold 9c, and the first fold 9c to the second fold, respectively. The length is up to 9d, and the length is from the second fold 9d to the second end 9b.

The sheet pressing mechanism 17 presses the sheet material 9 discharged from the sheet folding device 10 from above. The sheet holding mechanism 17 prevents the sheet material 9 discharged to the second discharge tray 18 from interfering with the discharge of the next sheet material 9.

The control device 8 controls a motor for driving various roller pairs, a staple device 16 and a sheet folding device 10. That is, the portion of the control device 8 that controls the sheet folding device 10 is a part of the components of the sheet folding device 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 80, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 81, a secondary storage device 82, and the like.

The CPU 80 executes a program stored in advance in the secondary storage device 82. As a result, the CPU 80 inputs the detection signal of the sensor related to the control of the staple device 16 and the sheet folding device 10, processes the data, and outputs the control signal.

The RAM 81 is a volatile storage device that primarily stores the program executed by the CPU 80 and the data output and referenced in the process of the CPU 80 executing the program.

The secondary storage device 82 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 82 can store the program and various data. For example, one or both of the flash memory and the hard disk drive may be adopted as the secondary storage device 82.

By the way, the sheet folding device 10 adjusts the position of the fold formed on the sheet material 9 according to a preset standard sheet size.

Therefore, the variation in the length of the sheet material 9 in the transport direction leads to the variation in the position of the crease formed in the sheet material 9. Then, the variation in the position of the fold leads to the variation in the finished size of the folded sheet material 9.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the second sheet length L2 is the finished dimension of the folded sheet material 9.

The sheet folding device 10 has a function of suppressing variation in the finished dimensions of the folded sheet material 9 by adjusting the folding position according to the variation in the length of the sheet material 9.

[Sheet folding device 10]
Hereinafter, the details of the sheet folding device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet folding device 10 includes a carry-in roller to 20, a first roller to 21, a second roller to 22, a third roller to 23, a fourth roller to 24, a front displacement mechanism 3, and a front guide. It includes a mechanism 4, a middle stopper 50, a middle displacement mechanism 5, a guide member 6, a front seat sensor 71, a rear seat sensor 72, and the like.

The carry-in roller pair 20 sends the sheet material 9 from the carry-in path 200 to the first passage 201. The carry-in passage 200 is a passage that forms a carry-in route for the sheet material 9 to the first passage 201. The front displacement mechanism 3 is a mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201. The first passage 201 is formed so as to be inclined.

The front displacement mechanism 3 includes a front stopper 31, a matching member 32, a first front displacement mechanism 33, a first front motor 34, a second front displacement mechanism 35, and a second front motor 36.

The front stopper 31 is a member that supports the sheet material 9 from diagonally below by abutting on the first end 9a of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201. The first passage 201 is a passage that is made a dead end by the front stopper 31. That is, the first passage 201 is a space in which the sheet material 9 temporarily resides.

The first front-stage displacement mechanism 33 supports the front-stage stopper 31 so as to be displaceable along the first passage 201. The first front stage motor 34 drives the first front stage displacement mechanism 33.

For example, the first front-stage displacement mechanism 33 includes a non-bearing belt that supports the front-stage stopper 31 and a pair of support rollers that rotatably support the unsupported belt. In this case, the first front-stage motor 34 rotationally drives one of the pair of support rollers in the first front-stage displacement mechanism 33.

The second front-stage displacement mechanism 35 supports the matching member 32 so as to be displaceable along the first passage 201. The second front stage motor 36 drives the second front stage displacement mechanism 35.

For example, the second front displacement mechanism 35 includes a non-bearing belt that supports the matching member 32 and a pair of support rollers that rotatably support the unbearable belt. In this case, the second front-stage motor 36 rotationally drives one of the pair of support rollers in the second front-stage displacement mechanism 35.

The second front displacement mechanism 35 positions the matching member 32 at a position along the second end 9b of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201. As a result, the front stopper 31 and the matching member 32 position the sheet material 9 at a target position in the first passage 201.

The front-stage guidance mechanism 4 guides a part of the sheet material 9 located in the first passage 201 to a predetermined first position P1. In the present embodiment, the front-stage guidance mechanism 4 includes a plate-shaped blade 41 and a blade displacement mechanism 42. The first-stage guidance mechanism 4 is an example of the first guidance mechanism.

The first front-stage displacement mechanism 33 adjusts the position of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201 before being guided by the front-stage guidance mechanism 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the blade 41 is a plate-shaped member that pierces a part of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201 toward the first position P1. The tip of the blade 41 comes into contact with a part of the lower surface of the sheet material 9, and further pushes up a part of the sheet material 9 toward the first position P1.

The blade displacement mechanism 42 displaces the blade 41 toward the first position P1 along the direction across the first passage 201. As a result, the tip of the blade 41 pushes up a part of the sheet material 9 toward the first position P1.

The first roller pair 21 includes a first folding roller 20a and a second folding roller 20b that form and rotate a first nip N1 at the first position P1. That is, the front-stage guidance mechanism 4 guides a part of the sheet material 9 located in the first passage 201 to the first nip N1.

The first roller pair 21 attaches the first crease 9c to the sheet material 9 by sandwiching the portion guided to the first nip N1 by the front stage guiding mechanism 4 of the sheet material 9. Further, the first roller pair 21 conveys the sheet material 9 folded in half at the first fold 9c to the second passage 202 while attaching the first fold 9c to the sheet material 9.

The first roller pair 21 conveys the sheet material 9 to the second passage 202 with the first fold 9c at the head. The second passage 202 is formed so as to be curved from the first nip N1 to the side opposite to the second roller vs. 22 side.

The middle stopper 50 is a member that forms a wall at the end of the second passage 202. The middle stopper 50 comes into contact with the first fold 9c of the sheet material 9 conveyed along the second passage 202 by the first roller pair 21. As a result, the first roller pair 21 is further on the second passage 202 side with respect to the sheet material 9 in a state where the middle stopper 50 dams the first crease 9c which is the tip of the sheet material 9 in the second passage 202. Gives the power to send to.

The middle stage displacement mechanism 5 includes a movable support mechanism 51 and a middle stage motor 52. The movable support mechanism 51 movably supports the middle stopper 50. The movable support mechanism 51 can adjust the position of the middle stopper 50 in the moving direction of the first fold 9c of the sheet material 9 in the second passage 202. The middle stage motor 52 drives the movable support mechanism 51.

For example, the movable support mechanism 51 includes a non-bearing belt that supports the middle stopper 50 and a pair of support rollers that rotatably support the non-bearing belt. In this case, the middle stage motor 52 rotationally drives one of the pair of support rollers in the movable support mechanism 51.

It is conceivable that the first front-stage motor 34, the second front-stage motor 36, and the middle-stage motor 52 are stepping motors, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the guide member 6 is a portion between the first fold 9c and the portion sandwiched between the first nip N1 in the sheet material 9 in a state where the first fold 9c is in contact with the middle stopper 50. Is guided to a predetermined second position P2.

In this embodiment, the guide member 6 is displaceably supported between a predetermined tri-fold position and a bi-fold position. The guide member 6 is positioned at one of the tri-fold position and the bi-fold position by an actuator (not shown) such as a solenoid.

In FIG. 3, the guide member 6 positioned at the tri-fold position is shown by a solid line, and the guide member 6 positioned at the tri-fold position is shown by a virtual line (dashed-dotted line).

The guide member 6 guides the sheet material 9 to the second position P2 in a state of being positioned at the tri-fold position. The guide member 6 at the tri-fold position is an example of a second guidance mechanism that guides a part of the sheet material 9 to the second position.

The guide member 6 comes into contact with one surface of the sheet material 9 that is bent by the feeding force of the first roller pair 21 in the state of being positioned at the tri-fold position. As a result, the guide member 6 guides the portion of the sheet material 9 between the first fold 9c and the portion sandwiched between the first nip N1 to the second position P2.

The second roller pair 22 includes a first folding roller 20a and a third folding roller 20c that rotate by forming a second nip N2 at the second position P2. That is, the first folding roller 20a, which is one of the first roller pairs 21, also serves as one of the second roller pairs 22.

The second roller pair 22 attaches the second crease 9d to the sheet material 9 by sandwiching the sheet material 9. Further, the second roller pair 22 conveys the sheet material 9 in a state of being tri-folded at the first fold 9c and the second fold 9d to the third passage 203 while attaching the second fold 9d to the sheet material 9.

The third roller pair 23 conveys the tri-folded sheet material 9 along the third passage 203. The fourth roller pair 24 discharges the tri-folded sheet material 9 from the third passage 203 to the second discharge tray 18 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

The guide member 6 closes the entrance of the second passage 202 in the state of being positioned at the folded position. Then, the guide member 6 guides the sheet material 9 that has passed through the first nip N1 to the bypass path 204 in the state of being positioned at the double-folded position.

The bypass passage 204 is a passage that joins the third passage 203 from the first nip N1 without passing through the second passage 202 and the second nip N2.

The front-stage sheet sensor 71 detects the sheet material 9 passing through the carry-in path 200 of the sheet material 9 into the first passage 201. For example, the front-stage sheet sensor 71 may be a reflective or transmissive photo sensor.

The transfer speed of the sheet material 9 by the carry-in roller pair 20 is known. Therefore, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the front-stage sheet sensor 71 represents the total length L0 of the sheet material 9 in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 6). The total length L0 of the sheet material 9 is the total length of the first sheet length L1, the second sheet length L2, and the third sheet length L3 shown in FIG.

In the following description, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the front-stage sheet sensor 71 is referred to as the front-stage detection time T1 (see FIG. 2).

The rear-stage sheet sensor 72 detects the sheet material 9 passing through the third passage 203. For example, the post-stage sheet sensor 72 may be a reflective or transmissive photo sensor.

The transport speed of the sheet material 9 by the third roller pair 23 is known. Therefore, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the subsequent sheet sensor 72 represents the length of the sheet material 9 folded in three in the sheet transport direction. That is, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the subsequent sheet sensor 72 represents the second sheet length L2 shown in FIG.

In the following description, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the rear-stage sheet sensor 72 is referred to as the rear-stage detection time T2 (see FIG. 2).

The CPU 80 functions as the front stage control unit 8a and the middle stage control unit 8b by executing the program stored in the secondary storage device 82.

The front stage control unit 8a is an example of a front stage control device that controls the first front stage motor 34 and the second front stage motor 36 of the front stage displacement mechanism 3. Further, the middle stage control unit 8b is an example of a middle stage control device that controls the middle stage motor 52 of the middle stage displacement mechanism 5.

The front stage control unit 8a clocks the front stage detection time T1. Similarly, the middle stage control unit 8b clocks the subsequent stage detection time T2. When the sheet material 9 existing in the first passage 201 is one sheet or the stapled sheet bundle, the pre-stage detection time T1 is the detection time of the one sheet or the sheet bundle. ..

On the other hand, when the sheet material 9 existing in the first passage 201 is a plurality of sheets not subjected to the staple treatment, the pre-stage detection time T1 is a plurality of detection times corresponding to the plurality of sheets. This is a representative value. For example, the representative value may be the maximum value or the average value.

The front stage control unit 8a controls the front stage displacement mechanism 3 according to the front stage detection time T1 to cause the front stage displacement mechanism 3 to adjust the position of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201.

For example, the front stage control unit 8a guides a part of the sheet material 9 to the first position P1 based on the front stage detection time T1 detected for the sheet material 9 existing in the first passage 201. Before, it is conceivable to control the front-stage displacement mechanism 3.

The pre-stage control unit 8a is adjusted by subtracting the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 corresponding to the assumed sheet size from the total length L0 of the sheet material 9 corresponding to the pre-stage detection time T1. Calculate the sheet length.

For example, it is conceivable that the assumed sheet size is a sheet size preset through an operating device (not shown). It is also conceivable that the pre-stage control unit 8a automatically sets one of a plurality of preset standard sizes that most closely resembles the total length L0 of the sheet material 9 based on the pre-stage detection time T1 as the assumed sheet size. Be done.

Then, the front stage control unit 8a controls the front stage displacement mechanism 3 so that the portion of the sheet material 9 separated from the first end 9a to the second end 9b side by the length of the adjustment first sheet faces the first position P1. To do.

The total length L0 of the sheet material 9 based on the first-stage detection time T1 may be slightly different from the total length corresponding to the assumed sheet size. Even in that case, the position of the sheet material 9 in the first aisle 201 is adjusted so that the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 of the sheet material 9 becomes constant by the control of the front stage control unit 8a. Will be done.

The middle stage control unit 8b controls the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 according to the rear stage detection time T2, so that the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 adjusts the position of the middle stage stopper 50.

The middle stage control unit 8b calculates the difference between the second sheet length L2 corresponding to the subsequent stage detection time T2 and the target value of the second sheet length L2 corresponding to the assumed sheet size as the second sheet length error.

Then, the middle stage control unit 8b controls the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 in the direction in which the second sheet length error becomes zero.

For example, the middle stage control unit 8b causes the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 to adjust the position of the middle stage stopper 50 in the current tri-folding process according to the rear stage detection time T2 detected in the tri-folding process one time before.

Even if the pre-stage control unit 8a is controlled, the second fold 9d of the sheet material 9 may be formed at a position deviated from the target position depending on the characteristics such as the flexibility or the thickness of the sheet material 9. is there. Even in that case, the position of the middle stage stopper 50 is adjusted by the control of the middle stage control unit 8b so that the second sheet length L2 of the sheet material 9 becomes the target length in at least the second and subsequent tri-folding processes. To.

Further, the front stage control unit 8a cannot adjust the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 of the sheet material 9 to be constant due to some factor such as a mechanical error in the operation of the front stage displacement mechanism 3. In some cases. Even in such a case, the control of the middle stage control unit 8b is effective.

If the sheet folding device 10 is adopted, the front stage control unit 8a or the middle stage control unit 8b adjusts the folding position according to the variation in the length of the sheet material 9. As a result, it is possible to suppress variations in the finished dimensions of the folded sheet material 9.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the sheet folding device 10A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 have the same reference numerals.

Hereinafter, the points different from the sheet folding device 10 in the sheet folding device 10A will be described. The sheet folding device 10A has a configuration in which a middle-stage sheet sensor 73 is added to the sheet folding device 10 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

The middle-stage sheet sensor 73 detects the sheet material 9 passing through the second passage 202 in the tri-folding process. For example, the middle sheet sensor 73 may be a reflective or transmissive photo sensor.

The transport speed of the sheet material 9 by the first roller pair 21 is known. Therefore, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the middle-stage sheet sensor 73 represents the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 in the sheet material 9 (see FIG. 6). Hereinafter, the detection time of the sheet material 9 by the middle-stage sheet sensor 73 is referred to as the middle-stage detection time T3 (see FIG. 8). The front stage control unit 8a measures the middle stage detection time T3.

In the present embodiment, the front-stage control unit 8a corrects the control value of the front-stage displacement mechanism 3 in the current tri-folding process according to the middle-stage detection time T3 corresponding to the tri-folding process one time before. That is, the front stage control unit 8a corrects the control value of the front stage displacement mechanism 3 based on the front stage detection time T1 according to the middle stage detection time T3.

As described above, the front stage control unit 8a is displaced in the front stage so that the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 in the sheet material 9 becomes the target length based on the front stage detection time T1. The control value of the mechanism 3 is set.

However, due to some factor such as a mechanical error in the operation of the front displacement mechanism 3, the front control unit 8a cannot adjust the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 of the sheet material 9 to be constant. In some cases.

The front stage control unit 8a of the front stage displacement mechanism 3 adjusts the total length of the second sheet length L2 and the third sheet length L3 of the sheet material 9 closer to the target length by the correction according to the middle stage detection time T3. Correct the control value.

Further, when the front stage control unit 8a corrects the control value of the front stage displacement mechanism 3, the control value of the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 set on the premise of the control value of the front stage displacement mechanism 3 before the correction also needs to be corrected.

Therefore, the middle stage control unit 8b corrects the control value of the middle stage displacement mechanism 5 according to the middle stage detection time T3. At that time, the middle stage control unit 8b sets a value that cancels the correction value of the control value of the front stage displacement mechanism 3 as a correction value of the control value of the middle stage displacement mechanism 5. This prevents the correction of the control value of the front displacement mechanism 3 from adversely affecting the second sheet length L2 of the sheet material 9.

When the sheet folding device 10A is adopted, the same effect as when the sheet folding device 10 is adopted can be obtained.

[Application example]
In the seat folding device 10 described above, it is conceivable that the front-stage seat sensor 71 may be omitted. In this application example, the front stage control unit 8a causes the front stage displacement mechanism 3 to adjust the position of the sheet material 9 in the first passage 201 according to the assumed seat size.

Even when this application example is adopted, the second sheet length L2 in the sheet material 9 folded in three is maintained substantially constant.

3: Front-stage displacement mechanism 4: Front-stage guidance mechanism (first guidance mechanism)
5: Middle displacement mechanism 6: Guide member (second guidance mechanism)
8: Control device 8a: Front-stage control unit 8b: Middle-stage control unit 9: Sheet material 9a: First end 9b: Second end 9c: First fold 9d: Second fold 10: Sheet folding device 10A: Sheet folding device 11: Main roller pair 12: Path switching mechanism 13: First branch roller pair 14: First discharge tray 15: Second branch roller pair 16: Staple device 17: Seat holding mechanism 18: Second discharge tray 20: Carry-in roller pair 20a: 1st fold roller 20b: 2nd fold roller 20c: 3rd fold roller 21: 1st roller pair 22: 2nd roller pair 23: 3rd roller pair 24: 4th roller pair 31: Front stopper 32: Matching member 33: 1st front displacement mechanism 34: 1st front motor 35: 2nd front displacement mechanism 36: 2nd front motor 41: Blade 42: Blade displacement mechanism 50: Middle stopper 51: Movable support mechanism 52: Middle motor 71: Front seat sensor 72: Rear seat sensor 73: Middle seat sensor 80: CPU
81: RAM
82: Secondary storage device 100: Main passage 101: First branch passage 102: Second branch passage 200: Carry-in path 201: First passage 202: Second passage 203: Third passage 204: Bypass path 1000: Post-processing device L0: Overall length L1: First sheet length L2: Second sheet length L3: Third sheet length N1: First nip N2: Second nip P1: First position P2: Second position T1: First stage detection time T2: Second stage detection Time T3: Middle detection time

Claims (6)

A first induction mechanism that guides a part of the sheet material located in the first passage to a predetermined first position, and
The sheet material in a state of being folded in half at the first fold is second while forming a first nip at the first position and rotating and sandwiching the sheet material to make a first crease in the sheet material. The first roller pair to be transported to the aisle and
An intermediate stopper that abuts on the first crease of the sheet material that is conveyed along the second passage.
A middle-stage displacement mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the middle-stage stopper in the moving direction of the first fold of the sheet material, and
A second position that guides a portion of the sheet material in a state where the first fold is in contact with the middle stopper between the first fold and the portion sandwiched between the first nips to a predetermined second position. Guidance mechanism and
The second nip is formed and rotated at the second position, and the sheet material is sandwiched so as to form a second crease, and the sheet material is folded in three at the first fold and the second fold. A second roller pair that conveys the sheet material to the third passage, and
A rear-stage sheet sensor that detects the sheet material passing through the third passage, and
The middle stage displacement mechanism is provided with an intermediate control device for adjusting the position of the middle stage stopper by controlling the middle stage displacement mechanism according to the rear stage detection time which is the detection time of the sheet material by the rear stage sheet sensor .
The latter-stage detection time represents the length of the sheet material folded in three in the sheet transport direction.
When the tri-folding process of folding the sheet material in three by making creases in two places of the sheet material is executed,
The intermediate control device is a sheet folding device that causes the middle stage displacement mechanism to adjust the position of the middle stage stopper in the current tri-folding process according to the subsequent stage detection time detected in the tri-folding process one time before. .. A front displacement mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the sheet material in the first passage before being guided by the first induction mechanism, and a front displacement mechanism.
A front-stage sheet sensor that detects the sheet material passing through the carry-in path of the sheet material to the first passage, and a front-stage sheet sensor.
The first aspect of the present invention further comprises a front-stage control device that causes the front-stage displacement mechanism to adjust the position of the sheet material by controlling the front-stage displacement mechanism according to the detection time of the sheet material by the front-stage sheet sensor. The sheet folding device described. A middle-stage sheet sensor for detecting the sheet material passing through the second passage is further provided.
The sheet folding device according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate control device and the front-stage control device correct the control values of the middle-stage displacement mechanism and the front-stage displacement mechanism according to the detection time of the sheet material by the middle-stage sheet sensor. .. The first induction mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first induction mechanism includes a plate-shaped blade that pokes a part of the sheet material in the first passage toward the first position. Sheet folding device. The second induction mechanism is a guide member that comes into contact with one surface of the sheet material that bends due to the feeding force of the first roller pair at a fixed position.
Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide member guides a portion of the sheet material between a portion of the sheet material in contact with the guide member and a portion sandwiched between the first nips to the second position. The sheet folding device according to item 1. The sheet folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the first roller pairs also serves as one of the second roller pairs.

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