Binding device and image formation device

Abstract

To provide a device that can suppress a bulky state when bundles of bound media are stacked.SOLUTION: A cartridge binding machine that is a binding device includes a first gear 4a and a second gear 4b that are a pair of crimp members having an uneven shape. The first gear 4a and the second gear 4b crimp and bind bundles of cartridges which are bound media at a meshing part thereof. In the cartridge binding machine, the first gear 4a has a tooth width that is narrower than a tooth width of the second gear 4b. The cartridge binding machine aligns a direction of fold line by making a direction of fold lines on both sides of a bound part of a cartridge bundle downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a binding device and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a binding device having a pair of pressure-bonding members with uneven shapes, and pressure-bonding a plurality of binding media by inserting the convex portions of one pressure-bonding member into the concave portions of the other pressure-bonding member.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a device that pressure-bonds a bundle of medicine packages, which are binding media, by a pair of rotatable gears as the above binding device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there has been a problem that the bundle of pressure-bonded binding media bulges when stacked.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a binding device having a pair of pressure-bonding members with uneven shapes, and pressure-bonding a plurality of binding media by inserting the convex portions of one pressure-bonding member into the concave portions of the other pressure-bonding member. The length in the orthogonal direction, which is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the unevenness of the pressure-bonding member, of at least the tip of the convex portion of one pressure-bonding member is shorter than the length in the orthogonal direction of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure-bonding member.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the bulging when the bundles of binding media are stacked.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make changes and modifications to the present invention within the scope of the claims to form other embodiments, and these changes and modifications are included in the scope of the claims. The following description is an example of the best mode in this invention and does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0009] The configuration of the main part of a medicine packet binding machine as a binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the medicine packet binding machine 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the medicine packet binding machine 1 of FIG. 1. In the following, the left - right direction or the horizontal direction (also the width direction) of the medicine packet binding machine 1 is defined as the X - direction, the front - rear direction or the depth direction is defined as the Y - direction, and the up - down direction or the vertical direction (also the vertical direction) is defined as the Z - direction.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medicine packet binding machine 1 as a binding device includes a main body 2, a medicine packet guide 3, a foot switch 6, an operation unit 16, and a binding mechanism 70. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 2 of the medicine packet binding machine 1 includes a base plate 7 (see FIG. 2), side plates 8, a right - side plate cover 9 (see FIG. 1), a left - side plate cover 10 (see FIG. 1), and a front - side plate cover 8a. Further, the main body 2 includes a pressure adjustment unit cover 61a that covers the pressure adjustment unit 61 (see FIG. 2) of the binding mechanism 70. A power switch 91 and a power connector 92 for connecting to external power are provided on the right - side plate cover 9. The medicine packet guide 3 includes side guides 3a and 3c provided at both ends in the front - rear direction (Y - direction), and an upper guide 3b provided at the rear side of the device.

[0011] The base plate 7 shown in Fig. 2 is also a bottom plate in the shape of a frame formed of a sheet metal material, and the lower part of the side plate 8 is fixed thereto. Four legs 11 for supporting the medicine packet binding machine 1 are provided on the base plate 7. In Fig. 2, only the two legs 11 on the front side of the paper surface are visible, and the two legs 11 provided on the back side of the paper surface are hidden by the base plate 7 and cannot be seen. The side plate 8 is provided with a binding mechanism 70 and a drive motor 5. The drive motor 5 and the base plate 7 are covered with a front side plate cover 8a as shown in Fig. 1.

[0012] A pressure release lever 12 is provided at the upper part of the side plate 8 via a bracket 60. As will be described later, the pressure release lever 12 is for adding or releasing the pressing force of the second gear 4b (see Fig. 3) against the first gear 4a (see Fig. 3) by the operation of the operator.

[0013] The bracket 60 is positioned and fixed to the side plate 8, and also serves as a mounting reference for the pressure release lever 12 and a pressure adjustment part 61 provided at the lower part thereof. The pressure adjustment part 61 and the bracket 60 that operate by the operation of the pressure release lever 12 are covered with a pressure adjustment part cover 61a.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the binding mechanism 70, Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the binding mechanism 70 viewed from the left - right direction (X direction), and Fig. 5 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing the periphery of the pressing mechanism 67. The binding mechanism 70 includes a first gear 4a and a second gear 4b which are a pair of pressure - bonding members. Further, the binding mechanism 70 includes a pressing mechanism 67, a pressure adjustment part 61, a pressure release lever 12, and the like.

[0015] The first gear 4a is attached to the first gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first gear support shaft 30. The first gear support shaft 30, as shown in the schematic view of the periphery of the first gear in Fig. 6 viewed from above, penetrates the side plate 8 at the rear side and is rotatably supported by the first gear holder 13a and the side plate 8 via bearing members 32a, 32b. A drive gear 28 of a drive transmission mechanism 80 (see Fig. 10) described later is attached to the rear - side end portion of the first gear support shaft 30. As shown in FIG. 6, the first gear holder 13a is fixed to a pair of holder fixing members 31a and 31b that are fixed to the side plate 8 in a state upright with respect to the side plate 8.

[0016] The second gear 4b is attached to the second gear support shaft 33 so as to rotate integrally with the second gear support shaft 33. As shown in a schematic view of the periphery of the second gear in FIG. 7 when viewed from above, the second gear support shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the second gear holder 13b via bearing members 32c and 32d. The second gear holder 13b is screwed to the holder slider 36. Note that the second gear support shaft 33 may be fixed to the second gear holder 13b, and the second gear 4b may be rotatably supported by the second gear support shaft.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the pressing mechanism 67 includes a pressing plate 15, a pair of pressing springs 14, a holder slider 36 to which the second gear holder 13b is fixed, and the like. The pressing plate 15 has an upper surface portion 15a and a side surface portion 15b, and the side surface portion 15b is supported by a linear guide 35 fixed to the side plate 8 so as to be movable within a predetermined range in the vertical direction (Z direction).

[0018] Further, two stepped pins 37 are fixed to the side surface portion 15b of the pressing plate 15 in the vertical direction (Z direction). These two stepped pins 37 are inserted into elongated hole portions 36a extending in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the holder slider 36, and the holder slider 36 is held by these two stepped pins 37 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Z direction) with respect to the pressing plate 15 at a specified distance.

[0019] The pair of compression springs 14 are provided in the left - right direction (X - direction) with respect to the second gear support shaft 33. The lower ends of these compression springs 14 are locked to the second gear holder 13b, and the upper ends are locked to the upper surface portion 15a of the pressure plate 15, and they are attached in a compressed state between the second gear holder 13b and the upper surface portion 15a of the pressure plate 15. Thereby, the second gear holder 13b is biased downward (toward the first gear 4a) by the pair of compression springs 14, and the second gear 4b held by the second gear holder 13b abuts against the first gear 4a with a predetermined pressure.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure adjustment part 61 is composed of a bolt 64 and two nuts 65, 66. The bolt 64 is screwed into the female screw part formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical shaft 62. The upper surface portion 15a of the pressure plate 15 is clamped and fixed between the head of the bolt 64 and the nut 65. The nut 66 is for screwing the bolt 64 onto the cylindrical shaft 62.

[0021] The pressure adjustment part 61 adjusts the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a by adjusting the vertical position of the bolt 64 screwed onto the cylindrical shaft 62. Specifically, with the second gear 4b positioned at the pressing position for pressing the first gear 4a, the vertical position of the bolt 64 is adjusted. When the bolt 64 is screwed into the cylindrical shaft 62, the pressure plate 15 rises relatively with respect to the holder slider 36 biased downward by the pair of compression springs 14. As a result, the dimension L between the second gear holder 13b and the upper surface portion 15a of the pressure plate 15 shown in FIG. 8 becomes longer, and the compression amount of the pair of compression springs 14 is reduced. Consequently, the biasing force of the pair of compression springs 14 against the second gear holder 13b is reduced, and the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a is reduced.

[0022] On the one hand, when the screwing of the bolt 64 into the cylindrical shaft 62 is loosened, the pressure plate 15 descends relative to the holder slider 36 biased downward by the pair of pressure springs 14. As a result, the dimension L between the second gear holder 13b shown in FIG. 8 and the upper surface portion 15a of the pressure plate 15 becomes shorter, and the compression amount of the pair of pressure springs 14 increases. Consequently, the biasing force of the pair of pressure springs 14 against the second gear holder 13b increases, and the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a increases. When the pressing force of the second gear 4b against the first gear 4a falls within the desired range, the bolt 64 is screwed and fixed with the nut 66 so that it does not loosen.

[0023] The cylindrical shaft 62 is held by the bracket 60 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the upper end portion is attached to the pressure release lever 12 via a link mechanism. The pressure release lever 12 is rotatably supported by a fulcrum pin 63 provided on the bracket 60.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the second gear 4b is in the pressing position, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the second gear 4b is in the pressure release position. The pressure release lever 12 is supported by the fulcrum pin 63 so as to be rotatable by approximately 180°. As shown in FIG. 8, during pressing, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right side in the drawing. On the other hand, during pressure release, as shown in FIG. 9, the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the left side in the drawing.

[0025] When the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the right side in the drawing as shown in FIG. 8, the second gear 4b is in contact with the first gear 4a with a predetermined pressing force. When the pressure release lever 12 is rotated 180° from the state shown in FIG. 8 by the operation of the operator, the rotational motion of the pressure release lever 12 is converted into a linear motion in the vertical direction by the link mechanism, and the cylindrical shaft 62 rises. As the cylindrical shaft 62 rises, the pressure plate 15 sandwiched between the bolt 64 and the nut 65 of the pressure adjustment unit 61 is guided by the linear guide 35 and rises.

[0026] When the upper stepped pin among the two stepped pins 37 of the pressing plate 15 abuts against the upper end of the long hole portion 36a of the holder slider 36, the holder slider 36 rises together with the pressing plate 15. As a result, the second gear holder 13b fixed to the holder slider 36 rises, and the second gear 4b held by the second gear holder 13b separates from the first gear 4a and the pressure is released. As shown in FIG. 9, when the pressure release lever 12 is tilted to the left side, the second gear 4b is positioned at the pressure release position separated by a sufficient distance from the first gear 4a.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a drive transmission mechanism 80 that transmits the driving force of the drive motor 5 to the first gear 4a. The drive transmission mechanism 80 is provided on the back side of the side plate 8, and includes a timing belt 26 stretched between the motor shaft 5a of the drive motor 5 and the pulley 27a, a pulley gear 27 provided coaxially and integrally with the pulley 27a, and a drive gear 28 meshing with the pulley gear 27. The drive gear 28 is attached to the rear end portion of the first gear support shaft 30 so as to rotate integrally with the first gear support shaft 30 to which the first gear 4a is attached (see also FIG. 6).

[0028] When the drive motor 5 is rotationally driven, the pulley gear 27 rotates together with the pulley 27a via the timing belt 26, and the drive gear 28 meshing with the pulley gear 27 rotates. As a result, the first gear 4a is rotationally driven via the first gear support shaft 30. When the drive motor 5 rotates in the CW direction (clockwise direction), the first gear 4a rotates in the CCW direction (counterclockwise direction) at a predetermined reduction ratio by the drive transmission mechanism 80.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of an operation unit 16 provided on the upper surface portion of the main body 2 of the medicine package tying machine 1. The operation unit 16 is provided with a first and second rotation direction display lamps 17c, 17d, a rotation speed adjustment switch 18, a rotation speed display 18a, a mode changeover switch 19, a mode display 19a, and a feed amount display 20. Also provided are feed amount adjustment switches 21a, 21b, a stop time display 22, stop time adjustment switches 23a, 23b, a start / stop switch 24, and a start / stop display 24a.

[0030] The first and second rotation direction changeover switches 17a, 17b are for changing the rotation direction of the first gear 4a to switch the conveyance direction of the medicine packs. When conveying the medicine packs from right to left, pressing the left first rotation direction changeover switch 17a causes the first rotation direction display lamp 17c of the left LED (light emitting diode) to light up. Conversely, when conveying the medicine packs from left to right, pressing the right second rotation direction changeover switch 17b causes the second rotation direction display lamp 17d of the LED to light up.

[0031] The rotation speed adjustment switch 18 is for controlling the rotation speed of the drive motor 5 to switch the rotation speed of the first gear 4a in multiple steps (three steps in the embodiment). The rotation speed adjustment switch 18 has a function as a rotation speed setting means (which is also a rotation speed setting means) for setting the rotation speed (which is also the rotation speed) of the drive motor 5 in one binding operation. The rotation speed display 18a has three LED lamps that light up according to the three-step rotation speed (low speed, medium speed, high speed) switched by the operation of the rotation speed adjustment switch 18.

[0032] The mode changeover switch 19 is for switching the binding mode of the medicine pack binding machine 1. Each time the mode changeover switch 19 is pressed, the binding mode sequentially changes to the single pack mode (also called the one-pack feed mode), the intermittent mode, and the continuous mode, and the current binding mode is displayed by the LED lighting display of the mode display 19a arranged to its right.

[0033] The feed amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b are used to adjust the amount of medicine packages fed at a time during operation in the single-pack mode (one-pack feed mode) and the intermittent mode. The feed amount adjustment switches 21a and 21b have the function of a feed distance setting means for setting the feed amount of the medicine packages by the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b via the rotational drive of the drive motor 5. The currently set feed amount is displayed on the feed amount display 20. When the feed amount adjustment switch 21a for switching the feed amount to increase on the + side is pressed, the feed amount increases, and when the feed amount adjustment switch 21b for switching the feed amount to decrease on the - side is pressed, the feed amount decreases.

[0034] The stop time adjustment switches 23a and 23b are used to adjust the stop time between jobs in the intermittent mode. The stop time adjustment switches 23a and 23b have the function as a stop time setting means for freely setting the stop time of the drive motor 5. The currently set stop time is displayed on the stop time display 22. When the stop time adjustment switch 23a displayed with + is pressed, the stop time increases, and when the stop time adjustment switch 23b displayed with - is pressed, the stop time decreases.

[0035] The start / stop switch 24 is used to start and stop the medicine package tying operation in each mode. By operating the start / stop switch 24, the start and stop states of the medicine package tying operation in each mode can be confirmed from the lighting display of the LED of the start / stop display 24a.

[0036] Note that the foot switch 6 shown in FIG. 1 can also perform the same operation as the above start / stop switch 24, and the operation result can be confirmed on the start / stop display 24a. When stopped, the LED is turned off, when operating, the LED lights green, and when an error occurs, the LED lights red, etc. can be displayed. Also, when an error occurs, error codes and the like can be displayed using the feed amount display 20, the stop time display 22, etc.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a medicine pack detection sensor that detects the entry of a medicine pack into the meshing portion (binding process portion) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. The medicine pack detection sensor 40 is composed of a detection member 40a that partially protrudes from the guide surface of the medicine pack guide 3 and a detection unit that detects the movement of the detection member, and is held by a bracket 41 fixed to a base plate 7, which is also called a bottom plate.

[0038] The detection member 40a moves downward or rotates so that the portion of the detection member 40a protruding from the guide surface of the medicine pack guide 3 is retracted from the guide surface by the medicine pack moving to the meshing portion (binding process portion) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. By the detection unit detecting the movement of the detection member 40a, the entry of the medicine pack into the meshing portion is detected.

[0039] The medicine pack detection sensor 40 is configured to be able to detect the medicine pack before the medicine pack bundle enters the meshing portion (binding process portion) between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b whether the medicine pack bundle moves from left to right or from right to left in the figure. Specifically, in either case where the medicine pack bundle moves from left to right or from right to left in the figure, the detection member 40a moves or rotates well, and the shape of the detection member 40a is appropriately set so that the detection unit can detect the movement of the detection member 40a before the medicine pack bundle enters the meshing portion.

[0040] The drive motor 5 starts driving when the medicine pack detection sensor 40 detects a medicine pack and stops driving when the medicine pack detection sensor 40 does not detect a medicine pack. Thereby, the first gear 4a can be rotationally driven only when a plurality of medicine packs are pressure-bonded and bound, and wear of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b can be prevented.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a side view of the main part around the side guide and the upper guide used when binding a plurality of medicine packs, and FIG. 14 is a front view of FIG. 7. The medicine packet guide 3 is configured to support a plurality of medicine packets on the guide surface 131 on the upper surface, and has a pair of side guides 3a and 3c and an upper guide 3b as shown in FIG. 13. The side guides 3a and 3c are provided at the front and rear end portions of the medicine packet guide 3 in the front-rear direction. Incidentally, the upper guide 3b may be omitted. By the absence of the upper guide 3b, the setability when stacking and setting a plurality of medicine packets and the extractability of the medicine packet bundle after crimp binding can be improved. On the other hand, when there is the upper guide 3b, even when the rear end portion (the back side) of the medicine packet on the rear side of the apparatus is curved upward, a plurality of stacked medicine packets can be guided well, and it is preferable that the binding position of the medicine packet can be suppressed from deviating from the desired position.

[0042] A plurality of medicine packets stacked on the guide surface 131 of the medicine packet guide 3 are guided by the medicine packet guide 3 and led to the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. Further, both sides in the left-right direction (X direction) of the lower surface of the second gear holder 13b are inclined surfaces that descend as they go toward the meshing portion, and the lower surface of this second gear holder 13b also functions as a guide portion for guiding a plurality of stacked medicine packets to the meshing portion.

[0043] The first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are pressurized to a predetermined pressure. When the above-described medicine packet detection sensor 40 detects a medicine packet, the driving of the drive motor 5 is started, the first gear 4a rotates, and the second gear 4b rotates along with the first gear 4a. The stacked medicine packets inserted into the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b by the operation of the operator are conveyed while being crimp-bound by the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b.

[0044] Then, when the medicine packet detection sensor 40 stops detecting a medicine packet, the rotational drive of the drive motor 5 stops, the rotation of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b stops, the binding operation stops, and the conveyance of the medicine packet stops.

[0045] FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the medicine packet binding machine 1 of the present embodiment. The control board 105 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. mounted thereon, and a drive motor 5, a medicine pack detection sensor 40, a power switch 91, a foot switch 6, an operation unit 16, etc. are connected thereto. Operations at the operation unit 16 and the foot switch 6 are sent to the control board 105, and based on this, the control board 105 controls each operation. The drive motor 5 uses a DC servo motor whose feed position can be controlled by pulses and is controlled by a pulse signal from the control board 105. Thereby, it becomes possible to accurately control the feed amount of the medicine pack. Although it is also possible to accurately control the feed amount of the medicine pack with a stepping motor, since there is a large variation in torque depending on the number of medicine packs to be stitched, the material of the medicine packs to be stitched, the position of the medicine in the medicine pack, etc., there is a risk of out-of-step with a stepping motor. Therefore, as the drive motor 5, a DC servo motor is preferable.

[0046] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the problem when binding with the conventional first gear 4a and second gear 4b. The solid line in FIG. 16 indicates a binding portion crimped by the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a and the tooth bottom 142b of the second gear 4b, and the broken line in the figure indicates a binding portion crimped by the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b and the tooth bottom 142b of the first gear 4a.

[0047] Conventionally, the tooth widths (lengths in the Y direction) of the first gear 4a, which is a crimping member, and the second gear 4b, which is a crimping member, were the same. The medicine pack bundle is pushed in with high pressure in the vertical direction (Z direction) by the teeth of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b at the meshing portion, and thus, folds are formed such that the front side and the rear side are curved in the vertical direction (Z direction) with respect to the binding portion of the medicine pack bundle as a reference. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, when the first gear 4a is displaced in the thrust direction with respect to the second gear 4b due to an assembly error or the like, the medicine pack bundle MT forms the following folds. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, when the first gear 4a is displaced to the right side (front side of the device) in the figure with respect to the second gear 4b, it is pushed upward by the protruding portion of the right end of the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a from the second gear 4b. As a result, the medicine pack bundle MT is bent upward with the right end of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b as a fulcrum. As a result, the right side (front side of the device) in the figure of the binding portion has a fold that curves upward.

[0048] Conversely, on the left side in the figure, the medicine packet bundle MT is pushed downward by the protruding portion of the left end of the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b from the first gear 4a, and thus the medicine packet bundle MT is bent downward with the left end of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a as a fulcrum. As a result, the left side (the back side of the apparatus) in the figure at the binding portion has a bend that curves downward.

[0049] Due to the formation of the bend as described above, as shown in FIG. 17, with the binding portion B of the medicine packet bundle MT as a reference, the right side in the figure curves upward, and the left side in the figure curves downward, resulting in an increase in the overall height D of the medicine packet bundle MT. As a result, when the pressure-bonded medicine packet bundles MT are stacked, the medicine packet bundles MT become bulky.

[0050] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a conventional example in which the tooth widths of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are gradually narrowed toward the tooth tips. In the conventional example shown in FIG. 18, the tooth widths of the tooth tips of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are also the same. The solid line in FIG. 18 indicates the binding portion pressed by the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a and the tooth bottom 142b of the second gear 4b, and the broken line in the figure indicates the binding portion pressed by the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b and the tooth bottom 142a of the first gear 4a.

[0051] In the conventional example shown in FIG. 18, when the first gear 4a is shifted to the right side (the front side of the apparatus) with respect to the second gear 4b, unlike the example shown in FIG. 16, the right side (the front side of the apparatus) in the figure curves downward with the binding portion as a reference, and the left side (the back side of the apparatus) curves upward. This is because in the configuration shown in FIG. 18, on the right side in the figure beyond the right end H2 of the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b of the medicine packet bundle MT, the inclined surface K2 of the tooth 141b at the right end of the second gear 4b and the tip of the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a push each other in the X direction in an alternating and opposite manner.

[0052] As a result, as shown by the solid line in the figure, at the location crimped by the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a and the tooth root 142b of the second gear 4b of the medicine packet bundle MT, a kink is formed downward with the right end H1 of the tooth tip of the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a as the fulcrum. On the other hand, as shown by the broken line in the figure, at the location in the X direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface) crimped by the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b and the tooth root 142a of the first gear 4a of the medicine packet bundle, a kink is formed upward with the right end H2 of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b as the fulcrum. At this time, since the right end H1 of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a, which is the fulcrum for folding downward, is on the right side in the figure compared to the right end H2 of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b, which is the fulcrum for folding upward, the downward kink becomes dominant. As a result, the right side (front side of the device) of the binding location of the medicine packet bundle MT is generally a downward kink.

[0053] On the other hand, on the left side in the figure, contrary to the above, since the left end of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b, which is the fulcrum for folding upward, is on the left side in the figure compared to the left end of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a, which is the fulcrum for folding downward, the upward kink becomes dominant. As a result, the left side of the binding location of the medicine packet bundle is generally an upward kink.

[0054] As a result, as shown in Fig. 19, with the binding part B of the medicine packet bundle MT as a reference, the right side in the figure curves downward, and the left side in the figure curves upward. Therefore, even in the configuration shown in Fig. 18, when the first gear 4a is displaced in the thrust direction with respect to the second gear 4b, the overall height of the medicine packet bundle MT increases, and the medicine packet bundle MT bulges when the crimped and bound medicine packet bundles MT are stacked.

[0055] In addition, when the first gear 4a is displaced further to the right in the figure compared to the state shown in Fig. 18 and the right end H1 of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a protrudes from the bottom of the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b, a portion where there is no pushing back downward by the inclined surface K2 occurs. As a result, similar to Fig. 16, with the binding location as a reference, the entire X direction on the right side in the figure curves upward and becomes an upward kink. On the other hand, on the left side in the figure, a portion where there is no pushing back by the inclined surface of the tooth of the first gear occurs, and the entire X direction curves downward and becomes a downward kink.

[0056] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 18, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 18, at the location in the X direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper) where the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b of the medicine packet bundle MT and the bottom of the tooth 142a of the first gear 4a are crimped, a fold is formed upward with the left and right ends of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b as fulcrums. On the other hand, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 18, at the location in the X direction (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper) where the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a of the medicine packet bundle MT and the bottom of the tooth 142b of the second gear 4b are crimped, a fold is formed downward with the left and right ends of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a as fulcrums. As a result, undulations occur along the X direction on the right side and the left side with respect to the binding portion B of the medicine packet bundle MT. Such undulations occur even when the first gear 4a is not displaced in the thrust direction with respect to the second gear 4b and when the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a and the width of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b are the same.

[0057] In this way, in the conventional configuration, the overall height of the medicine packet bundle MT becomes high, and when the crimped and bound medicine packet bundles MT are stacked, the medicine packet bundles MT become bulky. As a result, there is a risk of collapse with the stacking of a small number of medicine packet bundles MT.

[0058] Also, when the displacement in the thrust direction of the first gear 4a with respect to the second gear 4b easily changes due to rattling or the like, there is a risk that the directions of the folds on the front side of the device and the directions of the folds on the back side of the device with respect to the binding portion of the medicine packet bundle MT will not align. When the directions of the folds on both sides do not align across the binding portion of the medicine packet bundle MT, as shown in FIG. 20, when the medicine packet bundles are stacked, they become even bulkier, and there is a risk of collapse with the stacking of an even smaller number of medicine packet bundles. Also, the appearance when the medicine packet bundles are stacked is poor. Similarly, when there are undulations in the X direction in the medicine packet bundle MT, the stacking is as shown in FIG. 20, the appearance when the medicine packet bundles are stacked is poor, and there is a risk of collapse with the stacking of a small number of medicine packet bundles.

[0059] In pharmacies, hospitals, nursing facilities, etc., the working space is small and a large number of medicine packets are handled, so it is often the case that medicine packet bundles are stacked on top of each other, and it would be convenient and efficient if a large number could be stacked.

[0060] Therefore, in the present embodiment, at least the tooth width at the tooth tip of one of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b is made narrower than the tooth width at the tooth tip of the other, and with the binding portion B as a reference, the folding directions on both sides of the medicine packet bundle are made the same direction. Hereinafter, the characteristic portions of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0061] FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, in the present embodiment, the tooth width of the first gear 4a is made narrower than the tooth width of the second gear 4b. As a result, with the binding position of the medicine packet bundle MT as a reference, both sides in the left-right direction (front-back direction of the device) in the figure are pushed downward by the teeth 141b of the second gear 4b, and both the left and right sides in the figure are formed with downward folds with the binding position as a reference.

[0062] FIG. 22 is a view obtained by imaging a cross-section near the binding portion B of the medicine packet bundle MT when four medicine packets are bound. As shown in FIG. 22, it can be seen that both the right side and the left side in the figure are formed with downward folds with the binding portion B as a reference. In this way, by making the folding directions on both sides the same direction with the binding portion B as a reference, as shown in FIG. 23(a), the height Dx of the medicine packet bundle MT can be suppressed as compared with the conventional case. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23(b), the bulkiness when the medicine packet bundles are stacked can be suppressed. Thereby, a large number of medicine packet bundles can be stacked neatly.

[0063] Also, as shown in FIG. 21, the tooth width of the second gear 4b is made sufficiently wider than the tooth width of the first gear 4a. Therefore, even if the first gear 4a moves in the thrust direction due to rattling or the like, the left-right direction end portions of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a in the figure do not locate outside the left-right direction end portions of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b. As a result, even if the first gear 4a moves in the thrust direction due to rattling or the like, the folding on both sides does not change with the binding portion as a reference, and the folding directions can be aligned. Thereby, the folding direction on the right side in the figure and the folding direction on the left side in the figure with the binding portion of the medicine packet bundle MT as a reference are not misaligned, and the stacking of the medicine packet bundles as shown in FIG. 20 does not occur.

[0064] Also, as shown in FIG. 21, by narrowing the tooth width of the first gear 4a on the guide surface side of the medicine pack guide 3, the folding direction can be directed toward the guide surface 131 of the medicine pack guide 3. As a result, the downward curvature can be pressed by the guide surface 131 of the medicine pack guide 3, and the folding of the medicine pack bundle MT can be suppressed. Consequently, the height Dx of the medicine pack bundle MT can be further reduced, and the bulkiness when the medicine pack bundles are stacked can be further suppressed.

[0065] Also, as shown in FIG. 21, it is preferable that the tooth tips of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are located above the guide surface 131 of the medicine pack guide 3. As shown in FIG. 24, when the tooth tip of the first gear 4a is located below the guide surface 131 of the medicine pack guide 3 and at least the tip portion of the tooth 141a does not protrude from the guide surface, the medicine pack bundle MT that has entered the meshing portion between the first gear and the second gear 4b is pushed downward from the guide surface 131. As a result, with the binding portion of the medicine pack bundle as a reference, both sides are greatly bent by the notch end portions 131a of the guide surface 131 of the medicine pack guide 3, and the upward folding becomes large. As a result, the overall height of the medicine pack bundle increases.

[0066] Also, as shown in FIG. 25, when the tooth tip of the first gear is located above the guide surface of the medicine pack guide and the tooth tip of the second gear is located below the guide surface 131, as will be described below, undulations will occur along the X direction on both sides with the binding portion as a reference. That is, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 25, at the location in the X direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) where the tooth 141b of the second gear 4b and the tooth bottom 142a of the first gear 4a of the medicine pack bundle MT are crimped, an upward fold is formed. On the other hand, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 25, at the location in the X direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) where the tooth 141a of the first gear 4a and the tooth bottom 142b of the second gear 4b of the medicine pack bundle MT are crimped, a downward fold is formed. As a result, undulations occur along the X direction on the right side and the left side with the binding portion B of the medicine pack bundle MT as a reference.

[0067] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, it is preferable that the tooth tips of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b are positioned above the guide surface 131 of the medicine packet guide 3, so that the kinks can be suppressed and the generation of undulations can be prevented.

[0068] Also, as shown in FIG. 26, the tooth width of the second gear 4b may be made narrower than the tooth width of the first gear. In this case, with the binding portion of the medicine packet bundle Mt as a reference, the kinks on both sides will be kinks that curve upward. Even with such a configuration, the directions of the kinks on one side and the other side can be aligned across the binding portion, and the height Dx of the medicine packet bundle MT can be suppressed more than before. In addition, in the configuration shown in FIG. 26, even if the tooth tip of the second gear is positioned below the guide surface of the medicine packet guide, no undulation will occur in the X direction. Therefore, the tooth tip of the second gear may be positioned below the guide surface of the medicine packet guide.

[0069] Also, as shown in FIG. 27, the teeth 141a of the first gear 4a are configured such that the tooth width becomes narrower toward the tip, and the teeth 141b of the second gear 4b have the same tooth width at the tip and the bottom, and the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a is made narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the second gear. Even with such a configuration, similar to FIG. 21, both sides will have kinks that curve downward with the binding portion as a reference, and the directions of the kinks on both sides can be made the same. Also, in FIG. 27, both sides in the left - right direction in the drawing of the teeth of the first gear are inclined surfaces, and these inclined surfaces can suppress the downward kinks on both sides with the binding portion as a reference, and the kinks can be suppressed. Thereby, the height of the medicine packet bundle MT can be further suppressed. Also, since the teeth 141b of the second gear 4b have the same tooth width at the bottom and the tip, undulation in the X direction can be prevented.

[0070] In addition, the teeth 141b of the second gear 4b may be configured such that the tooth width becomes narrower toward the tip, and the teeth 141a of the first gear 4a have the same tooth width at the tip and the bottom, and the tooth width of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b is made narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a. In such a configuration, similar to FIG. 26, kinks will be formed on both sides with the binding portion as a reference.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 1, the medicine packet guide 3 of this embodiment has an upper guide 3b on the back side of the apparatus from the meshing portion of the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 28, the tooth width of the second gear 4b is made narrower than the tooth width of the first gear 4a, and the crease on the upper side (left side in the figure) on the back side of the apparatus with respect to the binding portion can be pressed by the upper guide 3b, suppressing the crease. Further, as shown in Fig. 29, a pressing portion extending from the upper end of the side guide 3c on the front side of the apparatus to the back side of the apparatus may be provided to press down the upward floating of the front side end portion of the medicine packet bundle MT by the pressing portion. Further, as shown in Fig. 30, the upper guide 3b may be configured to extend from the side guide 3a on the back side of the apparatus to the side guide 3c on the front side of the apparatus.

[0072] Also, as shown in Fig. 31, the side guide 3c on the front side of the apparatus may be omitted. In this embodiment, the operator grasps the front side of the bundle of medicine packets and moves it in the left - right direction while pressing the back side end portion of the medicine packet bundle against the side guide 3a on the back side to perform the pressure - bonding binding. Therefore, even without the side guide on the front side, the binding portion can be provided at the desired position of the medicine packet bundle.

[0073] When there is a side guide 3c on the front side, when a force is generated to move the medicine packet bundle to the front side of the apparatus while binding the medicine packet bundle, the movement of the front side of the medicine packet bundle can be restricted by this side guide 3c on the front side. Thereby, the binding portion can be formed at the desired position more reliably.

[0074] Also, in an apparatus without the upper guide 3b on the back side of the apparatus from the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 27, it is preferable that the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a is made narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the second gear, and the folds on both sides of the binding portion B become downward folds. This is because, as shown in FIG. 32, when the tooth width of the second gear 4b is made narrower than the tooth width of the first gear 4a and both sides of the binding portion B have upward folds, without the upper guide 3b on the back side of the apparatus, the back side end of the medicine packet bundle cannot be restricted from climbing over the side guide 3a on the back side. As a result, when a force is applied to move the medicine packet bundle toward the back side during the binding process, the back side end of the medicine packet bundle may climb over the side guide 3a on the back side. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 33, an obliquity may occur in the crimping binding portion, and the binding portion may be formed in the medicine enclosing portion MF of the medicine packet. Note that FIG. 33 shows a case where the medicine packet bundle is moved in the direction of arrow C in the figure to perform the binding process, and it is a medicine packet bundle composed of three medicine packets M1, M2, and M3.

[0075] Therefore, in an apparatus without the upper guide 3b on the back side of the apparatus from the meshing portion between the first gear 4a and the second gear 4b, the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a is made narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b, and the folds on both sides of the binding portion B become downward folds. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 34, the back side end of the medicine packet bundle faces the corner between the side guide 3a on the back side of the medicine packet guide 3 and the guide surface 131. Thereby, even when a force is applied to move the medicine packet bundle toward the back side during the binding process (during the operation of the apparatus), the movement of the medicine packet bundle toward the back side can be well restricted by the side guide 3a on the back side. Thereby, the occurrence of obliquity in the binding portion can be suppressed, and the binding portion can be formed at a desired position of the medicine packet bundle.

[0076] In a configuration where the tooth width of the tooth tip of the first gear 4a is made narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the second gear 4b, it becomes possible to eliminate the upper guide, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Also, without the upper guide, in the X direction, the medicine packet bundle can be set near the meshing portion, and the setting property can be improved.

[0077] In the above description, a pair of gears are used to crimp and bind the medicine packet bundle. However, a pair of rotors without teeth may be used, and the medicine packet bundle may be crimped and bound at a nip portion where one rotor is in pressure contact with the other rotor. Even with such a configuration, when the widths of the pair of rotors are the same and one rotor is displaced in the thrust direction with respect to the other rotor, the medicine packet bundle is pushed into the portion of the one rotor that protrudes in the thrust direction from the other rotor by the amount by which the medicine packet bundle is crushed at the nip portion. As a result, even with such a configuration, the fold on one side and the fold on the other side with respect to the binding portion will differ from each other. Therefore, even with such a configuration, by making the width of the pressure contact portion of at least the other rotor that is in pressure contact with the pair of rotors narrower than the width of the pressure contact portion of the other rotor, the directions of the folds on both sides can be aligned with respect to the binding portion, and the height of the medicine packet bundle can be suppressed.

[0078] FIG. 35(a) is a schematic front view showing a modified example of the medicine packet binding machine, and FIG. 35(b) is a view showing the medicine packet bundle bound by the medicine packet binding machine of this modified example. As shown in FIG. 35(a), the modified example of the medicine packet binding machine 1A includes a first pressure bonding member 111a at the upper part and has a fixed part 112 fixed to the apparatus main body. Further, a second pressure bonding member 111b is provided at the lower part, and it has a moving part 113 that reciprocates in the vertical direction by a driving means such as an actuator. Pressure bonding teeth are provided on each pressure bonding member side by side in the conveyance direction (X direction) of the medicine packet bundle.

[0079] When the location where the medicine packet bundle is conveyed by the conveying roller 110a and the binding process of the medicine packet bundle is performed is located at the opposing portion between the first crimping member 111a and the second crimping member 111b, the conveyance of the medicine packet bundle is temporarily stopped. Then, by driving means such as an actuator, the moving part 113 is moved downward, and the crimping teeth of the second crimping member 111b are inserted between the crimping teeth of the first crimping member 111a to perform crimping binding. When the crimping binding is completed, the moving part 113 is raised and the moving part 113 is positioned at the retracted position. When the moving part 113 is positioned at the retracted position, the conveyance of the medicine packet bundle is restarted, and the location where the binding process of the next medicine packet bundle is to be performed is positioned at the above-mentioned opposing portion. By repeating such a process, as shown in FIG. 35(b), the binding portion B at the desired position of the medicine packet bundle is formed.

[0080] Also in the medicine packet binding machine 1A of this modification example, by making the tooth width of the tooth tip of the crimping teeth of one of the crimping members of the first crimping member 111a and the second crimping member 111b narrower than the tooth width of the tooth tip of the crimping teeth of the other crimping member, the directions of the creases on both sides can be aligned with the binding portion B of the medicine packet bundle interposed therebetween. Thereby, similar to the embodiment, the height of the medicine packet bundle can be suppressed, and the bulkiness when the medicine packet bundles are stacked can be suppressed. Thereby, a large number of medicine packet bundles can be stacked neatly.

[0081] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, unless otherwise particularly limited in the above description.

[0082] For example, the binding device of the present invention can be applied to the binding device 201 of the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 36. FIG. 36(a) is an example in which the binding device 201 is disposed in the inner paper discharge portion of the body of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 36(b) is an example in which the binding device 201 is disposed in the side paper discharge portion of the image forming apparatus. The paper on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus is discharged to a binding apparatus 201. When a predetermined number of sheets of paper are stacked in the binding apparatus, pressure binding is performed at a desired position of the paper bundle by a binding machine. The bound paper bundle is stacked on a paper discharge tray 201a of the binding apparatus 201. By applying the present invention to this binding apparatus 201, the folding directions on both sides can be aligned with reference to the binding portion of the bound paper bundle, and the height of the paper bundle can be reduced. As a result, the bulkiness of the paper bundles stacked on the paper discharge tray 201a can be suppressed, and a large number of paper bundles can be stacked.

[0083] What has been described above is an example, and specific effects are achieved for each of the following aspects. (Aspect 1) In a binding apparatus such as a medicine package binding machine 1 that has pressure - bonding members such as a pair of gears 4a, 4b having a concavo - convex shape, and pressure - bonds binding media such as a plurality of medicine packages by inserting convex portions such as teeth of one pressure - bonding member into concave portions such as tooth bottoms of the other pressure - bonding member, the length of at least the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the concavo - convex of the pressure - bonding member is shorter than the length of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction. Due to manufacturing errors, assembly errors, etc., one pressure - bonding member may be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the concavo - convex of the pressure - bonding member with respect to the other pressure - bonding member. Conventionally, the lengths of the tips of the convex portions of a pair of pressure - bonding members in the orthogonal direction are the same. When displaced in the orthogonal direction as described above, on one side in the orthogonal direction, the end of the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction is located outside the end of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction, and on the other side in the orthogonal direction, the end of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction is located outside the end of the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction. On one side in the orthogonal direction, the portion of the bundle of binding media pushed into the other pressure - bonding member side by the portion protruding outside the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member has no pushing - back by the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member, so a kink is formed on the other pressure - bonding member side. On the other side in the orthogonal direction, conversely to the above, since it is pushed into the one pressure - bonding member side by the portion protruding outside the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member, a kink is formed on the one pressure - bonding member side. Thus, by having different kink directions on one side and the other side with respect to the binding portion of the bound bundle of binding media, the height of the bound bundle of binding media increases, it bulges when the bundles of binding media are stacked, the appearance when stacked is poor, and there is a risk that the stacking collapses with a small number of stacks. In contrast, in Embodiment 1, the length of at least the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction is made shorter than the length of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction. As a result, even if one pressure - bonding member is displaced in the orthogonal direction with respect to the other pressure - bonding member, both ends of the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction can be positioned outside both ends of the tip of the convex portion of one pressure - bonding member in the orthogonal direction. Thereby, on both sides in the orthogonal direction with respect to the binding portion of the bundle of binding media, kinks are formed on the one pressure - bonding member side. Thereby, the directions of the kinks on both sides can be made uniform with respect to the binding portion, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the height of the bound bundle of binding media compared to the case where the kink directions are different on one side and the other side with respect to the binding portion. Therefore, the bulging when the bundles of binding media are stacked is suppressed, the poor appearance when stacked can be improved, and the collapse of the stacking with a small number of stacks can be suppressed.

[0084] (Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1, a pressing member such as a medicine - wrapping guide 3 for pressing the binding media is provided on one pressure - bonding member side. According to this, as described in the embodiment, the bundle of binding media is pushed into the one crimping member side by a portion outside the end portion in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) of the convex portion tip of the one crimping member with respect to the convex portion tip of the other crimping member, and the bending of the bundle of binding media toward the one crimping member side can be suppressed by the pressing member. Thereby, the creases on both sides in the orthogonal direction can be suppressed across the binding portion of the bundle of binding media, the height of the bundled binding media can be suppressed, and the bulkiness when the bundles of binding media are stacked can be suppressed.

[0085] (Aspect 3) In Aspect 2, the pressing member is a guide member such as the medicine pack guide 3 that guides the binding media. According to this, compared with the case where a guide member such as the medicine pack guide 3 that guides the binding media and the pressing member are provided separately, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

[0086] (Aspect 4) In Aspect 3, the guide surface 131 of the guide member such as the medicine pack guide 3 is located on the one crimping member side with respect to the tips of the convex portions of the pair of crimping members. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 24, below the guide surface 131 of the guide member, crimping binding does not occur, and the bending of the bundle of binding media such as the medicine pack bundle by the end portion 131a of the notch portion of the guide member can be suppressed during the binding process. Thereby, the creases on both sides in the above orthogonal direction (Y direction) can be suppressed across the binding portion B of the bundle of binding media, and the increase in the height of the bundle of binding media can be suppressed. Also, as described with reference to FIG. 25, the portion crimped and bound by the convex portion of the one crimping member and the concave portion of the other crimping member has a crease on the one crimping member side, and the portion crimped and bound by the convex portion of the other crimping member and the concave portion of the one crimping member has a crease on the other crimping member side, and it is possible to prevent undulations from occurring in the stacking direction (X direction) of the unevenness of the crimping members in the bundled binding media.

[0087] (Aspect 5) In any of Embodiments 2 to 4, at least on the back side of the apparatus main body of a pressing member such as the medicine packet guide 3, there is a regulating member such as a side guide 3a that regulates the movement of the binding medium such as a medicine packet toward the back side. According to this, as described in the embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of skewing in the binding portion of the bundle of bound binding media.

[0088] (Embodiment 6) In Embodiment 1 or 2, there is provided a guide member such as a medicine packet guide 3 that guides the bundle of binding media to a binding processing portion such as an engaging portion that performs pressure binding with a pair of pressure bonding members. Among the pair of pressure bonding members, the tip of the convex portion of the pressure bonding member such as the first gear 4a disposed on the guide member side is provided so as to protrude from the guide surface 131 of the guide member. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 24, below the guide surface 131 of the guide member, pressure binding is not performed, and it is possible to suppress the bundle of binding media such as a medicine packet bundle from being greatly bent by the end portion 131a of the notch portion of the guide member during the binding process. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the creases on both sides in the orthogonal direction (Y direction) across the binding portion B of the bundle of binding media, and it is possible to suppress the increase in the height of the bundle of binding media.

[0089] (Embodiment 7) In any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, the binding media is a medicine packet. According to this, it is possible to suppress the increase in the height of the bound medicine packet bundle, and it is possible to stack many medicine packet bundles neatly.

[0090] (Embodiment 8) In any of Embodiments 1 to 8, the pair of pressure bonding members are rotating gears. According to this, while conveying the bundle of binding media, it is possible to perform pressure binding on the bundle of binding media by the engagement of the pair of gears.

[0091] (Embodiment 9) In a binding device having a pair of rotators and crimp-binding a plurality of binding media at the nip portion of the pair of rotators, the width of the pressure-contact portion of at least one of the rotators that is in pressure contact with the other rotator is narrower than the width of the pressure-contact portion of the other rotator. According to this, as described in the embodiment, even when one rotator is displaced in the thrust direction with respect to the other rotator, the directions of the creases on both sides can be aligned with the binding portion as a reference, and the height of the bundle of binding media can be suppressed.

[0092] (Aspect 10) In an image forming apparatus including an image forming means for forming an image on a medium such as paper and a binding device 201 for performing a binding process on a bundle of media on which an image has been formed by the image forming means, as the binding device 201, any one of the binding devices according to Aspects 1 to 9 is used. According to this, as described with reference to FIG. 36, a large number of bound paper bundles can be stacked on the paper discharge tray.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0093] 1: Medicine package binding machine 2: Main body 3: Medicine package guide 3a: Rear side guide 3b: Upper guide 3c: Front side guide 4a: First gear 4b: Second gear 5: Drive motor 5a: Motor shaft 6: Foot switch 7: Base plate 8: Side plate 12: Pressure release lever 13a: First gear holder 13b: Second gear holder 14: Pressing spring 15: Pressing plate 15a: Upper surface portion 15b: Side surface portion 16: Operation portion 26: Timing belt 27: Pulley gear 27a: Pulley 28: Driving gear 30: First gear support shaft 33: Second gear support shaft 35: Linear guide 36: Holder slider 36a: Long hole part 37: Step pin 40: Medicine pack detection sensor 40a: Detection member 61: Pressure adjustment part 62: Cylindrical shaft 63: Fulcrum pin 64: Bolt 65: Nut 66: Nut 67: Pressing mechanism 70: Binding mechanism 80: Drive transmission mechanism 105: Control board 110a: Conveyor roller 111a: First crimping member 111b: Second crimping member 112: Fixed part 113: Moving part 131: Guide surface 131a: Notched end 141a: Teeth of the first gear 141b: Teeth of the second gear 142a: Root of the teeth of the first gear 142b: Root of the teeth of the second gear 201: Binding device 201a: Paper discharge tray B: Binding part MT: Bundle of medicine packs

Prior art documents

Patent documents

[0094]

Patent Document 1

Claims

1. In a binding device having a pair of pressure-bonding members with concave-convex shapes, wherein a convex portion of one pressure-bonding member is inserted into a concave portion of the other pressure-bonding member to pressure-bond a plurality of binding media, a length in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the concavities and convexities of the pressure-bonding member at least at the tip of the convex portion of one pressure-bonding member is shorter than a length in the orthogonal direction at the tip of the convex portion of the other pressure-bonding member, and the binding device is characterized by this.

2. In the binding device according to Claim 1, a pressing member for pressing the binding media is provided on the side of the one pressure-bonding member, and the binding device is characterized by this.

3. In the binding device according to Claim 2, the pressing member is a guide member for guiding a bundle of the binding media to a binding processing unit that performs pressure-bonding using a pair of pressure-bonding members, and the binding device is characterized by this.

4. In the binding device according to Claim 3, a guide surface of the guide member is located on the side of the one pressure-bonding member rather than at the tip of the convex portion of the pair of pressure-bonding members, and the binding device is characterized by this.

5. In the binding device according to Claim 2, at least on the back side of the device body of the pressing member, a restricting member for restricting the movement of the binding media to the back side is provided, and the binding device is characterized by this.

6. In the binding device according to Claim 1, a guide member for guiding a bundle of the binding media to a binding processing unit that performs pressure-bonding using a pair of pressure-bonding members is provided, and among the pair of pressure-bonding members, the tip of the convex portion of the pressure-bonding member arranged on the side of the guide member is provided so as to protrude from the guide surface of the guide member, and the binding device is characterized by this.

7. In the binding device according to Claim 1, the binding media is a medicine package, and the binding device is characterized by this.

8. In the binding device according to Claim 1, the pair of pressure-bonding members are rotating gears, and the binding device is characterized by this.

9. In a binding device having a pair of rotating bodies, wherein a plurality of binding media are pressure-bonded at a nip portion of the pair of rotating bodies, a width of a pressure-contact portion of at least one of the rotating bodies that pressure-contacts the other rotating body is narrower than a width of the pressure-contact portion of the other rotating body, and the binding device is characterized by this.

10. In an image forming apparatus including an image forming means for forming an image on a medium and a binding device for performing a binding process on a bundle of media on which an image has been formed by the image forming means, the binding device uses the binding device of Claim 1, and the image forming apparatus is characterized by this.

Images