Sheet bundle binding device and rotation detection method

Abstract

To appropriately detect the rotational state of a reel and recognize the remaining amount of wire wound around the reel.SOLUTION: A saddle-stitch folding device includes a stitcher unit, a reel support unit 20 that rotatably supports a reel 200 around an axis A by inserting a support shaft 21 into a through-hole 201 formed in the reel 200, and a rotation detection mechanism 30 that detects the rotational state of the reel 200. The rotation detection mechanism 30 includes a suction member 31 that rotates while being adhered to the lower surface 202 of the reel 200, a rotating member 32 having an insertion hole into which the support shaft 21 is inserted, and a rotation detection unit 33 that detects the rotational state of the rotating member 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper-sheet bundle binding device and a rotation detection method for detecting the rotation of a reel used in the paper-sheet bundle binding device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a paper-stack binding device that cuts wire to a predetermined length and bends the cut wire to bind a paper stack (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The paper-stack binding device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to supply wire to a stitcher head from a reel around which the wire is wound. Patent Document 1 discloses that a detector detects a change in the position of a spring plate guide that guides the wire when the stitcher head pulls in the wire, and determines that the reel has run out of wire if no change in the position of the spring plate guide is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5013933 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the method of determining whether or not there is wire on the reel by detecting the change in the position of the spring plate guide may erroneously detect that there is no wire on the reel even when there is wire remaining on the reel. For example, when the amount of wire remaining on the reel becomes small, the change in the position of the spring plate guide becomes small, which may erroneously detect that there is no wire on the reel.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, if a method of directly detecting the presence or absence of a wire is adopted, the manufacturing costs of the device will increase, and the detection part will wear out when detecting the wire, which may lead to false detection.Furthermore, for example, since the reel will stop rotating when the wire is removed, a method of detecting the rotation of the reel using a sensor or the like can be considered, but it is difficult to properly detect the rotation of reels of various shapes.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a paper stack binding device and a rotation detection method that can properly detect the rotation state of a reel and recognize the remaining amount of wire wound around the reel, even when reels of various shapes are used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A paper stack binding device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a stitcher unit that performs a binding operation to bind a paper stack with wire at a predetermined binding position; a reel support unit that supports the reel rotatably around the axis while a support shaft extending along the axis is inserted into a through hole formed in the reel around which the wire is wound; a rotation detection mechanism that detects the rotational state of the reel; and a wire feed unit that performs a supply operation to unwind the wire from the reel and supply it to the stitcher unit, wherein the rotation detection mechanism comprises an adsorption member that rotates around the axis together with the reel while being adsorbed to the underside of the reel, a rotating member that is connected to rotate around the axis together with the adsorption member and has an insertion hole that is inserted into the support shaft, and a rotation detection unit that detects the rotational state of the rotating member.

[0008] In one aspect of the paper-bundle binding device of the present invention, when the wire feed unit executes a supply operation, the wire is unwound from the reel, causing the reel to rotate around the support shaft of the reel support unit. The rotation of the reel is transmitted to the rotating member via an attraction member that rotates while being attracted to the underside of the reel. By detecting the rotation state of the rotating member with a rotation detection unit, the rotation state of the reel can be properly detected and the remaining amount of wire wound on the reel can be recognized, even when reels of various shapes are used.

[0009] In one aspect of the paper stack binding device of the present invention, a control unit is provided that controls the paper stack binding device, and the control unit may be configured to instruct an upstream device that transports the paper stack to the paper stack binding device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device when the rotation detection mechanism detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation.

[0010] With this configuration of paper stack binding device, when the reel is in a non-rotating state and not rotating, an instruction is given to the upstream device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device, thereby appropriately preventing the paper stack from being transported to the paper stack binding device without the wire wound around the reel.

[0011] In the paper stack binding device of the above configuration, the rotating member has a plurality of opening holes arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction centered on the insertion hole, and the rotation detection unit is installed at a predetermined position through which the opening holes pass when the rotating member rotates around the axis, and may be configured to detect the state in which the opening holes pass through the predetermined position.

[0012] According to the paper-bundle binding device of the above aspect, the rotation state of the reel can be recognized by detecting, with the rotation detector, the state in which the plurality of opening holes arranged in the rotating member pass through the predetermined position.

[0013] In the paper stack binding device of the above aspect, the control unit may be configured to instruct the upstream device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device when the rotation detection unit detects a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the specified position for two or more specified number of times of the supply operation.

[0014] According to this embodiment of the paper stack binding device, even if a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the specified position is erroneously detected for one supply operation, the transport of the paper stack from the upstream device to the paper stack binding device can be prevented from being stopped simply by that erroneous detection.

[0015] In the paper stack binding device of the above configuration, the upstream device is a collating machine that has a plurality of paper feed trays and a paper feed unit that feeds paper from each paper feed tray, and that transports the paper stack, which is made by collating the paper fed from the plurality of paper feed trays, to the saddle stitch folding device, and the control unit may be configured to instruct the collating machine to stop feeding the paper by the paper feed unit.

[0016] According to this type of paper stack binding device, when the reel is in a non-rotating state and not rotating, an instruction is given to the collating machine to stop the paper feed unit from feeding paper, thereby appropriately preventing a paper stack from being transported to the paper stack binding device without the wire wound around the reel.

[0017] A paper stack binding device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a control unit that controls the paper stack binding device, and the control unit may be configured to control the stitcher unit to an operating state in which the binding operation is performed if the rotation detection mechanism detects a rotational state in which the reel rotates when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation, and to control the stitcher unit to a stopped state in which the binding operation is not performed if the rotation detection mechanism detects a non-rotational state in which the reel does not rotate.

[0018] According to the paper stack binding device of this configuration, the rotation detection mechanism detects whether the reel is in a rotating state where it rotates or a non-rotating state where it does not rotate, and the stitcher unit can be appropriately controlled to an operating state or a stopped state.

[0019] In the paper stack binding device of the above configuration, the rotating member has a plurality of opening holes arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction centered on the insertion hole, and the rotation detection unit is installed at a predetermined position through which the opening holes pass when the rotating member rotates around the axis, and may be configured to detect the state in which the opening holes pass through the predetermined position.

[0020] According to the paper-bundle binding device of the above aspect, the rotation state of the reel can be recognized by detecting, with the rotation detector, the state in which the plurality of opening holes arranged in the rotating member pass through the predetermined position.

[0021] In the paper stack binding device of the above aspect, the control unit may be configured to control the stitcher unit to the stopped state when the rotation detection unit detects a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the specified position for two or more specified number of times of the supply operation.

[0022] According to this embodiment of the paper stack binding device, even if a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the specified position is erroneously detected for one supply operation, the stitcher unit will not be stopped due to that erroneous detection alone.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the paper stack binding device includes a stitcher unit that performs a binding operation to bind a paper stack with wire at a predetermined binding position, a reel support unit that supports the reel rotatably around the axis while a support shaft extending along the axis is inserted into a through hole formed in the reel around which the wire is wound, a rotation detection mechanism that detects the rotational state of the reel, and a wire feed unit that performs a supply operation to unwind the wire from the reel and supply it to the stitcher unit, wherein the rotation detection mechanism includes an adsorption member that rotates around the axis together with the reel while adsorbed to the underside of the reel, and a rotating member that is connected to rotate around the axis together with the adsorption member and has an insertion hole that is inserted into the support shaft, and includes a rotation detection process that detects the rotational state of the rotating member.

[0024] According to a rotation detection method according to one aspect of the present invention, when the wire feed unit executes a supply operation, the wire is unwound from the reel, causing the reel to rotate around the support shaft of the reel support unit. The rotation of the reel is transmitted to the rotating member via an attraction member that rotates while being attracted to the underside of the reel. By detecting the rotation state of the rotating member in the rotation detection process, it is possible to appropriately detect the rotation state of the reel and recognize the remaining amount of wire wound on the reel, even when reels of various shapes are used.

[0025] In one embodiment of the rotation detection method of the present invention, when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation and the rotation detection process detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate, the method may be configured to include an instruction process that instructs an upstream device that transports the paper stack to the paper stack binding device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device.

[0026] According to the rotation detection method of this configuration, when the reel is in a non-rotating state, an instruction is given to the upstream device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device, thereby appropriately preventing the paper stack from being transported to the paper stack binding device without the wire wound around the reel.

[0027] In one aspect of the rotation detection method of the present invention, when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation, if the rotation detection process detects a rotational state in which the reel rotates, the stitcher unit is in an operating state in which the binding operation is performed, and if the rotation detection process detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate, the stitcher unit may be in a stopped state in which the binding operation is not performed.

[0028] According to the rotation detection method of this configuration, the rotation detection process detects whether the reel is in a rotating state where it rotates or a non-rotating state where it does not rotate, and the stitcher unit can be appropriately controlled to an operating state or a stopped state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper stack binding device and a method for controlling a paper stack binding device that can properly detect the rotation state of the reel and recognize the remaining amount of wire wound on the reel, even when reels of various shapes are used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view showing a bookbinding system in which a collating machine, a saddle stitching and folding device, and a cutting machine are connected. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the stitcher mechanism shown in FIG. 1 as seen along the conveying direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the reel support and the rotation detection mechanism, illustrating a state in which wire is supplied from the reel to the stitcher mechanism. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the reel support and the rotation detection mechanism, illustrating a state in which no wire is being supplied from the reel to the stitcher mechanism. [Figure 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rotation detection mechanism shown in FIG. 3 taken along the arrow CC. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the saddle stitching and folding device. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the saddle-stitching and folding device. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the control method of the saddle stitching and folding device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] A saddle stitching and folding device (paper bundle binding device) 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an external view showing a bookbinding system in which a collating machine 2, a saddle stitching and folding device 100, and a cutting machine 3 are connected.

[0032] 1, the bookbinding system includes a plurality of collating machines 2, a saddle stitching and folding device 100, and a cutting machine 3. The collating machine 2 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 2a arranged in the height direction, and is a device that collates sheets of paper fed from the paper feed trays 2a by paper feed rollers (paper feed units) 2a1 in page order to form a sheet stack B, and transports the sheet stack B to the saddle stitching and folding device 100.

[0033] The collating machine 2 transports sheets fed from each paper feed tray 2a from top to bottom in the height direction using vertical transport belts 2b to horizontal transport belts 2c. When two collating machines 2 are connected as shown in Fig. 1, a stack of sheets B collated by the upstream collating machine 2 is transported to the horizontal transport belt 2c of the downstream collating machine 2, and the downstream collating machine 2 further collates multiple sheets to form stack of sheets B, which is then transported to the downstream saddle stitching and folding device 100.

[0034] The saddle stitching and folding device 100 staples the sheet bundle B with wire, folds it in half to create the sheet bundle B, and conveys it to the cutting machine 3. The cutting machine 3 cuts the end of the sheet bundle B conveyed from the saddle stitching and folding device 100 to create a booklet.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 1, the saddle-stitching folding device 100 includes a stitcher mechanism 10, a reel support unit 20, a rotation detection mechanism 30, a folding mechanism 40, a control unit 50, and an operation panel 70. The stitcher mechanism 10 will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a view of the stitcher mechanism 10 shown in Fig. 1 as seen along the conveying direction TD.

[0036] 2, the stitcher mechanism 10 has a wire feed unit 11 and a stitcher unit 12. The wire feed unit 11 performs a supply operation of unwinding a wire W from a reel 200 supported by a reel support unit 20 and supplying the wire W to the stitcher unit 12.

[0037] The wire feed unit 11 includes a pair of feed rollers 11a and a roller drive unit 11b. The pair of feed rollers 11a rotate by the driving force transmitted from the roller drive unit 11b, and supply the wire W to the stitcher unit 12. Note that the structure of the wire feed unit 11 may be other than that shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] The stitcher unit 12 has a wire holder 12a, a cutter 12b, and a driving unit 12c. The wire holder 12a is a device that holds the wire W supplied from the wire feed unit 11. The cutter 12b is a device that cuts the wire W held by the wire holder 12a. The driving unit 12c is a device that drives the wire W held by the wire holder 12a into the paper stack B to bind it. In this way, the stitcher unit 12 performs a binding operation to bind the paper stack B with the wire W at a predetermined binding position Pb (see FIG. 1).

[0039] Next, with reference to Figures 3 to 5, the reel support unit 20 that supports the reel 200 and the rotation detection mechanism 30 that detects the rotation of the reel 200 will be described. Figure 3 is a side view showing the reel support unit 20 and the rotation detection mechanism 30, illustrating a state in which the wire W is being supplied from the reel 200 to the stitcher mechanism 10. Figure 4 is a side view showing the reel support unit 20 and the rotation detection mechanism 30, illustrating a state in which the wire W is not being supplied from the reel 200 to the stitcher mechanism 10. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rotation detection mechanism 30 shown in Figure 3, taken along the arrow CC.

[0040] The reel support part 20 has a support shaft 21 extending along the axis A and a fixing part 22 that fixes the support shaft 21 to the housing of the saddle stitching and folding device 100. The reel support part 20 is a device that supports the reel 200 rotatably about the axis A in a state where the support shaft 21 is inserted into a through hole 201 formed in the reel 200 around which the wire W is wound.

[0041] The reel 200 is a member around which the wire W is wound, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the axis A. The reel 200 is disposed below in the vertical direction VD and has a bottom surface 202 that comes into contact with the attraction member 31 of the rotation detection mechanism 30, and a recess 203 around which the wire W is wound.

[0042] The rotation detection mechanism 30 is a device that detects the rotation state of the reel 200. As shown in Fig. 3, when the wire W is wound around the reel 200, the wire W wound around the reel 200 is guided by the guide 60 and is supplied to the stitcher mechanism 10. In this case, when the wire feed unit 11 of the stitcher mechanism 10 performs a supply operation to supply the wire W to the stitcher unit 12, a portion of the wire W wound around the reel 200 is unwound. When the wire W is unwound from the reel 200, the reel 200 rotates around the axis A.

[0043] 4, when the wire W is not wound around the reel 200, the reel 200 does not rotate around the axis A even when the wire feed unit 11 of the stitcher mechanism 10 performs a supply operation to supply the wire W to the stitcher unit 12. The rotation detection mechanism 30 can detect the presence or absence of the wire W wound around the reel 200 by detecting the rotation state of the reel 200 when the wire feed unit 11 performs a supply operation to supply the wire W to the stitcher unit 12.

[0044] 3 and 4, the rotation detection mechanism 30 has an attraction member 31, a rotation member 32, and a rotation detection unit 33. The attraction member 31 is a member that rotates around an axis A together with the reel 200 while being attracted to the lower surface 202 of the reel 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the attraction member 31 is formed in an annular shape around the axis A.

[0045] The attraction member 31 is preferably formed entirely from, for example, a rubber material in order to generate sufficient frictional force to prevent slippage between the attraction member 31 and the underside 202 of the reel 200. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rotation member 32 is inserted into the support shaft 21 in a state in which it contacts the underside 202 of the reel 200 above in the vertical direction VD and contacts the rotation member 32 below in the vertical direction VD.

[0046] When the attraction member 31 generates a sufficient frictional force to prevent slippage between the attraction member 31 and the rotating member 32, it may be disposed above the rotating member 32 in the vertical direction VD while in contact with the rotating member 32. The attraction member 31 may also be bonded to the rotating member 32 with an adhesive or the like to prevent slippage between the attraction member 31 and the rotating member 32. When the attraction member 31 is bonded to the rotating member 32, the portion of the attraction member 31 that comes into contact with the lower surface 202 of the reel 200 may be made of a rubber material, and the other portions may be made of a material other than the rubber material (for example, a resin material).

[0047] The rotating member 32 is a plate-like member connected to the suction member 31 so as to rotate about the axis A, and has an insertion hole 32a into which the support shaft 21 is inserted. As shown in Fig. 5, the rotating member 32 has a plurality of opening holes 32b arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction CD centered on the insertion hole 32a.

[0048] The rotation detection unit 33 is a device that detects the rotation state of the rotating member 32 around the axis A. As shown in Fig. 3, the rotation detection unit 33 is installed on the fixed part 22 so as to detect a predetermined position through which the opening hole 32b passes when the rotating member 32 rotates around the axis A. The rotation detection unit 33 detects the state through which the opening hole 32b passes the predetermined position as the rotation state.

[0049] The rotation detection unit 33 is a sensor that, for example, goes into a first output state when a portion where the opening hole 32b is formed passes a predetermined position, and goes into a second output state when a portion where the opening hole 32b is not formed passes the predetermined position. The rotation detection unit 33 transmits the first output state or the second output state to the control unit 50.

[0050] When the wire feed unit 11 performs a supply operation to supply the wire W to the stitcher unit 12, if the wire W is present on the reel 200, the rotation detection unit 33 alternates between the first output state and the second output state because the rotating member 32 rotates together with the reel 200 around the axis A. On the other hand, if the wire W is not present on the reel 200, the rotation detection unit 33 remains in either the first output state or the second output state because the reel 200 and the rotating member 32 do not rotate around the axis A.

[0051] Next, the control unit 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the saddle stitching and folding device and the collating machine 2. The control unit 50 is a device that controls the saddle stitching and folding device 100 including the stitcher unit 12 and the wire feeding unit 11.

[0052] 6, control unit 50 has a stitcher control unit 51 that controls stitcher unit 12 and wire feed unit 11, a folding mechanism control unit 52 that controls folding mechanism 40, and a conveyance control unit 53. An output signal of the first output state or the second output state detected by rotation detection unit 33 is transmitted to stitcher control unit 51.

[0053] The control unit 2A is a device that controls the collator (upstream device) 2 that is arranged upstream of the saddle stitching and folding device 100 in the conveying direction TD, and has a conveyance control unit 2Aa that controls paper feed rollers 2a1 that feed multiple sheets of paper from multiple paper feed trays 2a to form the paper stack B to be conveyed to the saddle stitching and folding device 100. The conveyance control unit 53 of the saddle stitching and folding device 100 transmits a conveyance permission signal to the conveyance control unit 2Aa that permits the conveyance of the paper stack B from the collator 2 to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 when the saddle stitching and folding device 100 is able to receive the paper stack B from the collator 2 and perform the saddle stitching and folding process including the binding process by the stitcher unit 12.

[0054] When the conveying control unit 2Aa receives a conveying permission signal from the conveying control unit 53, it controls the conveying of the stack of paper B from the collating machine 2 to the saddle stitching folding device 100, and when it does not receive a conveying permission signal from the conveying control unit 53, it controls the conveying of the stack of paper B not to be conveyed from the collating machine 2 to the saddle stitching folding device 100.

[0055] Next, a control method for the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the control method for the saddle stitching and folding device 100. Each process shown in Fig. 7 is executed by a control program stored in the control unit 50.

[0056] In step S101, the control section 50 determines whether or not to execute the binding operation for the sheet bundle B. If YES, the process proceeds to step S102, and if NO, the process of step S101 is repeated.

[0057] In step S102, the stitcher control unit 51 controls the wire feeding unit 11 to start a supply operation of unwinding the wire W from the reel 200 and supplying it to the stitcher unit 12.

[0058] In step S103, the control unit 50 determines, based on the output signal transmitted from the rotation detection unit 33, whether the rotation detection unit 33 has detected a rotation state in which the reel 200 rotates around the axis A, or whether the rotation detection unit 33 has detected a non-rotation state in which the reel 200 does not rotate around the axis A. If the rotation detection unit 33 has detected a rotation state, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S104, and if the rotation detection unit 33 has detected a non-rotation state, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S107.

[0059] When the output signal output from the rotation detection unit 33 alternates between the first output state and the second output state, the control unit 50 determines that the rotation detection unit 33 is detecting a rotating state because the rotation detection unit 33 is continuously detecting the opening hole 32b passing through the predetermined position. Furthermore, when the output signal output from the rotation detection unit 33 remains in the first output state or the second output state and does not change, the control unit 50 determines that the rotation detection unit 33 is detecting a non-rotating state because the rotation detection unit 33 is not continuously detecting the opening hole 32b passing through the predetermined position.

[0060] In step S103 above, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S107 if the rotation detection unit 33 detects a non-rotating state, but other aspects are possible. For example, the control unit 50 may control the process to proceed to step S107 if the rotation detection unit 33 detects a state in which the opening hole 32b does not pass through a predetermined position a predetermined number of times despite two or more predetermined number of supply operations of the wire feed unit 11.

[0061] For example, if the predetermined number of times is three, the control unit 50 determines YES in step S103 even if the rotation detection unit 33 detects that the opening hole 32b does not pass through the predetermined position two consecutive times for two supply operations of the wire feed unit 11. On the other hand, the stitcher control unit 51 determines NO in step S103 if the rotation detection unit 33 detects that the opening hole 32b does not pass through the predetermined position three consecutive times for three supply operations of the wire feed unit 11.

[0062] In step S104, the stitcher control unit 51 determines whether the supply operation of unwinding the wire W from the reel 200 and supplying it to the stitcher unit 12 has been completed, and if YES, proceeds to step S105, and if NO, repeats the determination of step S104.

[0063] In step S105, the stitcher control unit 51 controls the stitcher unit 12 so that the stitcher unit 12 performs the binding operation on the paper stack B. If the rotation detection unit 33 detects a rotation state, the stitcher control unit 51 sets the stitcher unit 12 to an operating state in which it performs the binding operation.

[0064] In step S106, the control unit 50 checks whether or not there is a next stack of paper B to be transported from the collating machine 2, and if there is no next stack of paper B to be transported from the collating machine 2, it determines to end the processing of this flowchart and ends the processing of this flowchart. If there is a next stack of paper B to be transported from the collating machine 2, the control unit 50 executes the processing from step S101 onwards again.

[0065] In step S107, when the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects a non-rotating state in which the reel 200 is not rotating when the wire feed unit 11 performs the supply operation, the conveyance control unit 53 instructs the collating unit 2 that conveys the sheet bundle B to the saddle stitching folding device 100 to stop conveying the sheet bundle B to the saddle stitching folding device 100. The conveyance control unit 53 controls the conveyance control unit 2Aa not to transmit a conveyance permission signal that permits conveyance of the sheet bundle B from the collating unit 2 to the saddle stitching folding device 100.

[0066] Because the transport permission signal is not transmitted, the transport control unit 2Aa of the collating unit 2 controls the paper feed roller 2a1 to stop feeding of paper so as not to transport the sheet stack B to the saddle stitching and folding device 100. When the transport permission signal is not transmitted from the saddle stitching and folding device 100, the collating unit 2 stops feeding of paper by the paper feed roller 2a1, transports the already collated sheet stack B to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 by the lateral transport belt 2c, and then stops operation. In this way, the transport control unit 53 controls not to transmit the transport permission signal to the transport control unit 2Aa, thereby stopping the collating and transport of the sheet stack B following the already collated sheet stack B.

[0067] In step S108, the control unit 50 notifies the operator that there is no remaining amount of wire W because the reel 200 is in a non-rotating state where it is not rotating around the axis A. The control unit 50, for example, displays on the operation panel 70 connected to the control unit 50 that there is no remaining amount of wire W, and urges the operator to replace the reel 200.

[0068] In step S109, the control unit 50 determines whether the reel 200 has been replaced, and if YES, proceeds to step S110, and if NO, repeats the determination of step S109. For example, when the operator inputs via an operation panel (not shown) that the reel 200 has been replaced, the control unit 50 determines that the reel 200 has been replaced, and proceeds to step S110.

[0069] In step S110, the conveyance control unit 53 instructs the collating machine 2 to resume the conveyance of the sheet stack B from the collating machine 2, which was stopped in step S107, to the saddle stitching and folding device 100. The conveyance control unit 53 controls the conveyance control unit 2Aa to transmit a conveyance permission signal that permits the conveyance of the sheet stack B from the collating machine 2 to the saddle stitching and folding device 100. Since the conveyance permission signal is transmitted, the conveyance control unit 2Aa of the collating machine 2 controls the sheet feed roller 2a1 to resume paper feeding in order to convey the sheet stack B to the saddle stitching and folding device 100. After executing step S110, the control unit 50 repeats the execution of the processes from step S101 onwards.

[0070] In addition, in step S103, if the rotation detection unit 33 detects a non-rotation state, the paper stack B is not transported from the collating machine 2, and therefore the control unit 50 does not perform the binding operation of the stitcher unit 12 in step S105.

[0071] In the above description, the control unit 50 instructs the collating machine 2 to stop transporting the sheet bundle B to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 when the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects that the reel 200 is not rotating when the wire feed unit 11 is performing the supply operation, but other variations are possible. For example, the control unit 50 may control the stitcher unit 12 to be in an operating state in which it performs the binding operation when the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects that the reel 200 is rotating when the wire feed unit 11 is performing the supply operation, and to be in a stopped state in which it does not perform the binding operation when the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects that the reel 200 is not rotating when the wire feed unit 11 is performing the supply operation.

[0072] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the control method for the saddle-stitching folding device 100. Steps S201 to S206 and steps S208 to S209 shown in Fig. 8 are the same as steps S101 to S106 and steps S108 to S109 shown in Fig. 7, and therefore will not be described below. The modified example shown in Fig. 8 differs in that it does not include processes corresponding to steps S107 and S110 shown in Fig. 7, but instead includes the addition of step S207.

[0073] In step S207, the stitcher control unit 51 controls the wire feeding unit 11 to stop the supply operation of unwinding the wire W from the reel 200 and supplying it to the stitcher unit 12 because the reel 200 is in a non-rotating state.

[0074] In the modified example shown in Figure 8, when the wire feed unit 11 performs the supply operation, if the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects a rotational state in which the reel 200 is rotating, the stitcher control unit 51 controls the stitcher unit 12 to be in an operating state in which the stitching operation is performed, and if the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects a non-rotating state in which the reel 200 is not rotating, the stitcher control unit 51 controls the stitcher unit 12 to be in a stopped state in which the stitching operation is not performed.

[0075] In the above description, the control unit 50 notifies the operator via the operation panel 70 that there is no remaining wire W when the reel 200 is in a non-rotating state, i.e., when the wire feed unit 11 performs a supply operation but the reel 200 is not rotating. However, the control unit 50 may also do the following. For example, the control unit 50 may display the remaining amount of wire W on the operation panel 70 based on the output signal transmitted from the rotation detection unit 33.

[0076] 3 and 4, when the remaining amount of wire W wound around the reel 200 is large, the wire W is unwound from a position far from the axis A, and when the remaining amount of wire W wound around the reel 200 is small, the wire W is unwound from a position close to the axis A. Therefore, when the remaining amount of wire W wound around the reel 200 is large, the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects the opening hole 32b less frequently, and when the remaining amount of wire W wound around the reel 200 is small, the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects the opening hole 32b more frequently.

[0077] Therefore, the control unit 50 stores in advance a table showing the relationship between the frequency at which the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects the opening hole 32b and the remaining amount of wire W, and can refer to the table based on the frequency at which the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects the opening hole 32b to recognize the remaining amount of wire W and display it on the operation panel 70.

[0078] The operation and effects of the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of the present embodiment described above will be described. According to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment, when the wire feeding unit 11 performs a supply operation, the wire W is unwound from the reel 200, and the reel 200 rotates around the support shaft 21 of the reel support unit 20. The rotation of the reel 200 is transmitted to the rotating member 32 via the attracting member 31, which rotates while being attracted to the underside 202 of the reel 200. By detecting the rotation state of the rotating member 32 with the rotation detecting unit 33, it is possible to appropriately detect the rotation state of the reel 200 and recognize the remaining amount of wire W wound around the reel 200, even when various shapes of reels 200 are used.

[0079] According to the saddle stitching folding device 100 of this embodiment, when the reel 200 is in a non-rotating state, an instruction is given to the collating machine 2 to stop transporting the stack of paper B to the saddle stitching folding device 100, thereby appropriately preventing the stack of paper B from being transported to the saddle stitching folding device 100 without the wire W wound around the reel 200.

[0080] According to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment, even if a state in which the opening hole 32b does not pass through the specified position is erroneously detected for one supply operation, the transport of the stack of paper B from the collating machine 2 to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 is not stopped just because of that erroneous detection.

[0081] According to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment, the rotation detection mechanism 30 detects whether the reel 200 is in a rotating state in which it rotates or in a non-rotating state in which the reel 200 is not rotating, and the stitcher unit 12 can be appropriately controlled to be in an operating state or a stopped state.

[0082] According to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment, even if a state in which the opening hole 32b does not pass through the specified position is erroneously detected for one supply operation, the stitcher unit 12 can be prevented from stopping due to the erroneous detection alone.

[0083] According to the saddle stitching and folding device 100 of this embodiment, the rotation state of the reel 200 can be recognized by detecting with the rotation detection unit 33 the state in which the multiple opening holes 32b arranged in the rotating member 32 pass through a predetermined position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 2 Collator 2A control section 2Aa Conveyor control unit 3 Paper cutting machine 10 Stitcher mechanism 11 Wire feed section 11a Feed roller 11b Roller drive unit 12 Stitcher Department 12a Wire holder 12b Cutter 12c striking section 20 Reel support 21 Support shaft 22 Fixed part 30 Rotation detection mechanism 31 Adsorption member 32 Rotating member 32a Insertion hole 32b opening hole 33 Rotation detection unit 40 Folding mechanism 50 control section 51 Stitcher control unit 52 Folding mechanism control unit 53 Transport control unit 60 Guide 70 Operation Panel 100 Saddle stitching and folding device (paper stack binding device) 200 reels 201 through hole 202 Bottom surface 203 Recess A axis B Paper stack CD circumferential direction TD transport direction VD vertical direction W wire

Claims

1. a stitcher unit that performs a binding operation of binding a stack of sheets with wire at a predetermined binding position; a reel support portion that supports the reel rotatably about the axis in a state in which a support shaft extending along the axis is inserted into a through hole formed in the reel around which the wire is wound; a rotation detection mechanism that detects the rotation state of the reel; a wire feeding unit that performs a supply operation of unwinding the wire from the reel and supplying it to the stitcher unit, The rotation detection mechanism includes: an attraction member that rotates around the axis together with the reel while being attracted to the underside of the reel; a rotating member connected to the suction member so as to rotate about the axis, and having an insertion hole into which the support shaft is inserted; a rotation detection unit that detects the rotation state of the rotary member.

2. a control unit for controlling the paper bundle binding device; The paper bundle binding device according to claim 1, wherein when the rotation detection mechanism detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation, the control unit instructs an upstream device that transports the paper bundle to the paper bundle binding device to stop transporting the paper bundle to the paper bundle binding device.

3. the rotating member has a plurality of opening holes arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction around the insertion hole, The paper stack binding device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation detection unit is installed at a predetermined position through which the opening hole passes when the rotating member rotates around the axis, and detects the state in which the opening hole passes through the predetermined position.

4. The paper stack binding device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit instructs the upstream device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device when the rotation detection unit detects a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the specified position for two or more specified number of times of the supply operation.

5. the upstream device is a collating machine that has a plurality of paper feed trays and a paper feed unit that feeds paper from each paper feed tray, and that conveys the paper bundle obtained by collating the paper fed from the plurality of paper feed trays to the saddle stitching and folding device; The paper-sheet bundle binding device according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit instructs the collator to stop feeding of the paper sheets by the paper feed unit.

6. a control unit for controlling the paper bundle binding device; 2. The paper stack binding device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the stitcher unit to an operating state in which the binding operation is performed if the rotation detection mechanism detects a rotational state in which the reel rotates when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation, and to a stopped state in which the stitcher unit does not perform the binding operation if the rotation detection mechanism detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate.

7. the rotating member has a plurality of opening holes arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction around the insertion hole, The paper stack binding device according to claim 6, wherein the rotation detection unit is installed at a predetermined position through which the opening hole passes when the rotating member rotates around the axis, and detects the state in which the opening hole passes through the predetermined position.

8. The paper stack binding device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the stitcher unit to the stopped state when the rotation detection unit detects a state in which the opening hole does not pass through the predetermined position for two or more predetermined number of times of the supply operation.

9. A rotation detection method for detecting rotation of a reel used in a paper stack binding device, comprising: The paper bundle binding device a stitcher unit that performs a binding operation of binding a stack of sheets with wire at a predetermined binding position; a reel support portion that supports the reel rotatably about the axis in a state in which a support shaft extending along the axis is inserted into a through hole formed in the reel around which the wire is wound; a rotation detection mechanism that detects the rotation state of the reel; a wire feeding unit that performs a supply operation of unwinding the wire from the reel and supplying it to the stitcher unit, The rotation detection mechanism includes: an attraction member that rotates around the axis together with the reel while being attracted to the underside of the reel; a rotating member connected to the suction member so as to rotate about the axis, and having an insertion hole into which the support shaft is inserted, A rotation detection method comprising a rotation detection step of detecting a rotation state of the rotating member.

10. The rotation detection method according to claim 9, further comprising an instruction step of instructing an upstream device that transports the paper stack to the paper stack binding device to stop transporting the paper stack to the paper stack binding device when the rotation detection step detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation.

11. 10. The rotation detection method according to claim 9, further comprising a control step of controlling the stitcher unit to an operating state in which the stitching operation is performed if the rotation detection step detects a rotational state in which the reel rotates when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation, and to a stopped state in which the stitcher unit is not performed if the rotation detection step detects a non-rotating state in which the reel does not rotate when the wire feed unit performs the supply operation.

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