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DE-112013005252-B4 - Sheet processing device and imaging device

DE112013005252B4DE 112013005252 B4DE112013005252 B4DE 112013005252B4DE-112013005252-B4

Abstract

Sheet processing device with: a sheet stack section (540) on which sheets are stacked; a stapling section (10) having first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) arranged so that they face each other and having a plurality of concave and convex teeth that engage with each other, wherein the stapling section (10) tacks a leaf bundle (540) to the leaf stack section by cutting the leaf bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014); and a control section (600) configured to control the stapling section (10) to perform a stapling operation in which the sheet bundle is stapled by cutting the sheet bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014), and to perform a cleaning operation in which the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are engaged in a non-stapling operation in which no stapling operation is performed, and thus in a state in which there is no sheet between the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014).

Inventors

  • Hideto Abe

Assignees

  • CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20131031
Priority Date
20121102

Claims (16)

  1. Sheet processing device comprising: a sheet stacking section (540) on which sheets are stacked; a stapling section (10) having first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) arranged facing each other and having a plurality of concave and convex teeth that engage with each other, wherein the stapling section (10) tacks a sheet bundle (540) to the sheet stacking section by cutting the sheet bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014); and a control section (600) configured to control the stapling section (10) to perform a stapling operation in which the sheet bundle is stapled by cutting the sheet bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014), and to perform a cleaning operation in which the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are engaged in a non-stapling operation in which no stapling operation is performed, and thus in a state in which there is no sheet between the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014).
  2. Sheet processing device according to Claim 1 , wherein the control section (600) controls the binding section (10) such that the engagement between the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) is performed several times in the cleaning process.
  3. Sheet processing device according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are designed such that gaps are created between the tips of the teeth of the first forming section (1010) and the bottoms of the teeth of the second forming section (1014) and between the bottoms of the teeth of the first forming section (1010) and the tips of the teeth of the second forming section (1014) in the state in which the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are engaged.
  4. Sheet processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the control section (600) specifies that the number of times the intervention between the first and second forming section (1010, 1014) is performed in a cleaning operation is greater than the number performed in a stapling operation.
  5. Sheet processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the control section (600) performs the cleaning operation before the next stapling operation is performed if it has been judged that the stapling section (10) stopped during a previous stapling operation.
  6. Sheet processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the control section (600) performs the cleaning process after the stapling process has been carried out for a predetermined number of times.
  7. Sheet processing device according to Claim 6 , wherein the control section (600) controls the stapling section (10) to perform the cleaning operation after the predetermined number of times the stapling operation has been performed based on the number of times entered by an input section (601) from which the predetermined number of times was entered.
  8. Sheet processing device according to Claim 6 or 7 , wherein the control section (600) changes the predetermined number of times according to the environmental conditions.
  9. Image generation device (1) comprising: an image generation section (201) configured to produce an image on a sheet; and the sheet processing device according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , which is configured to perform a stapling operation on the sheet on which the image was created by the image generation section (201).
  10. Image generation device (1) comprising: an image generation section (201) configured to produce an image on a sheet; a sheet processing device comprising a sheet stacking section (540) on which sheets are stacked, and a stapling section (10) comprising first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) arranged to face each other and having a plurality of concave and convex teeth that engage with each other, wherein the stapling section (10) tacks a bundle of sheets to the sheet stacking section (540), by cutting the sheet bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014), and a control section (600) configured to control the image processing device; wherein the control section (600) controls the stapling section (10) to perform a stapling operation in which the sheet bundle is stapled by cutting the sheet bundle through the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014), and to perform a cleaning operation in which the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are engaged in a state in which there is no sheet between the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014).
  11. Image generating device (1) according to Claim 10 , wherein the control section (600) controls the binding section (10) such that the intervention between the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) is carried out several times in the cleaning process.
  12. Image generating device (1) according to one of the Claims 10 or 11 , wherein the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are designed such that gaps are created between the tips of the teeth of the first forming section (1010) and the bottoms of the teeth of the second forming section (1014) and between the bottoms of the teeth of the first forming section (1010) and the tips of the teeth of the second forming section (1014) in the state in which the first and second forming sections (1010, 1014) are engaged.
  13. Image generating device (1) according to one of the Claims 10 until 12 , wherein the control section (600) specifies a number of times the engagement between the first and second forming section (1010, 1014) is performed in a cleaning operation such that it is greater than the one performed in a stapling operation.
  14. Image generating device (1) according to one of the Claims 10 until 13 , wherein the control section (600) performs the cleaning operation before performing the next stapling operation if it is determined that the stapling section (10) has stopped during a previous stapling operation.
  15. Image generating device (1) according to one of the Claims 10 until 14 , wherein the control section (600) performs the cleaning process after the stapling process has been performed a predetermined number of times.
  16. Image generating device (1) according to Claim 15 , furthermore with an input section configured to enter the predetermined number of times.

Description

Technical field The present invention relates to a sheet processing device comprising a stapling section configured to staple a bundle of sheets, and to an image generating device. Background technology Previously, some image-generating devices, such as copiers, laser printers, fax machines, and multifunction printers, were equipped with a sheet-handling unit configured to perform processing such as stapling sheets on which images had been produced. Such a sheet-handling unit is configured to staple a bundle of sheets using a metal staple. This type of stapling operation is used in many sheet-handling devices because it reliably allows for the stapling of a large number of output sheets at a user-specified location. However, removing the staples when feeding the stapled sheets into a shredder is necessary and therefore problematic. Furthermore, removing the staples themselves when recycling the stapled bundle is also necessary and problematic from an environmental perspective. Consequently, Japanese patent disclosure no. 2010-189101 A sheet stapler is presented, equipped with a pair of shaped elements featuring concave and convex teeth. This sheet stapler fastens a bundle of sheets by interlocking the fibers of the overlapping sheets. This is achieved by forming concave and convex sections on the bundle in the direction of its thickness, and by engaging the pair of shaped elements after the sheets have been stacked and aligned. In other words, this sheet stapler fastens the fibrous sheets without the use of staples. Furthermore, a sheet processing device and an image generating device according to the preamble of claims 1 and 9 are made from US 2012 / 0 045 295 A1 known. Another sheet processing device and an image generating device is made of JP 2010-274 623 A known. However, such a sheet stapler tends to cause a problem where the sheet tears and its paper powder adheres to the teeth of the forming elements if the bundle of sheets is forcibly pulled out and removed during the stapling process due to a reason such as a paper jam. Furthermore, if the number of stapling operations increases, the paper powder generated during a stapling operation can accumulate between the teeth of the pair of forming elements. If the paper powder adheres to or accumulates between the teeth, as described above, it may interfere with the engagement of the upper and lower forming elements during the next stapling operation, thus reducing the holding force of the stapled bundle of sheets. The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a sheet processing device and an image generation device that enables reliable and efficient processing of sheets. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This problem is solved by a sheet processing device and an image generation device having the features of claims 1 and 9. Further sheet processing devices and image generation devices are described in the dependent claims. A sheet processing device of the present invention has a sheet stacking section configured to stack a plurality of sheets, a stapling section having a first and a second forming section arranged facing each other, and having a plurality of concave and convex teeth engaging with each other, wherein the stapling section staples a bundle of sheets formed on the sheet stacking section by cutting the bundle of sheets through the first and the second forming section, and a control section controlling the stapling section to perform a stapling operation of the bundle of sheets by cutting the bundle of sheets through the first and the second forming section, and by performing a cleaning operation in which the first and second forming sections are engaged in a non-stapling operation in which no stapling operation is performed. It is possible to remove leaf dust adhering to the teeth of the mold sections and to prevent a drop in the fastening force during a stapling operation by causing the stapling section to perform the cleaning process of engaging the first and second mold sections in the non-stapling operation. Further features of the present invention will be described below. Playful embodiments can be seen with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 is a diagram that represents a configuration of an image generation device provided with a sheet processing device of an embodiment of the invention.2 represents a configuration of a finishing device, i.e., the sheet processing device.3 represents an alignment section that is provided in the final processing facility.4A is a perspective view that represents a configuration of a stapleless stapling unit provided in the finishing facility.4B is a perspective view that shows a relationship between an upper arm and a cam of the stapleless stapling unit.5A represents a stapleless stapling unit in a state in which the teeth of the upper and lower forms are free of interference.5B represents a stapleless stapling unit in a state where the teeth of the upper and lower