Medium processing apparatus and image forming system

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of obtaining appropriate binding strength with a simple configuration in a medium processing apparatus that performs crimp-binding after applying liquid to media.SOLUTION: A medium processing apparatus includes: liquid application means that applies liquid to at least one sheet of media; crimping means that performs crimp-binding of pressing and deforming multiple media to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application means using binding teeth; an edge-binding processing portion main scanning movement mechanism that moves the liquid application means and the crimp-binding means in a width direction of the medium; and a crimping means rotation mechanism that rotates the crimping means around a rotation shaft extending in a thickness direction of the medium. The crimping means is capable of executing: a parallel binding process of performing crimp-binding by making a longitudinal direction of the binding teeth along the width direction; and an oblique binding process of performing crimp-binding by inclining the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth with respect to the width direction. The liquid application means is capable of applying liquid to a region in contact with the binding teeth in the parallel binding process and a region in contact with the binding teeth in the oblique binding process in the medium in the same posture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a media processing device and an image forming system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, media processing devices have been known that bundle and bind sheet-like media on which images have been formed by an image forming device. Because paper is a widely known example of sheet-like media, this specification uses a "sheet stack" of multiple sheets of paper as an example of a bundle of sheet-like media. Furthermore, in consideration of resource conservation and reducing environmental impact, some media processing devices are equipped with a crimping device that can perform so-called "press binding," in which the bundle of sheets is clamped and pressure-deformed with uneven binding teeth, without using metal staples.

[0003] A problem with pressure binding is that the greater the number of sheets of paper that make up a paper stack, the harder it is for the binding teeth to bite into the paper stack, which can cause bound sheets to peel off and fall off, making it difficult to maintain a proper binding state. To address this, some media processing devices that perform pressure binding are equipped with a liquid application unit that applies liquid in advance to the positions on the sheets where the binding teeth will come into contact, making it easier for the binding teeth to bite into the paper stack, in order to increase binding strength (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] In addition, the crimping means described in Patent Document 1 can perform a parallel binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is aligned with the side of the paper stack to perform crimp binding, and a diagonal binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is tilted to perform crimp binding. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the liquid cannot be applied to the entire area where the binding teeth contact, there is a limit to how much the binding strength can be improved. On the other hand, if the position of the liquid application means is changed in conjunction with the position change of the crimping means, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a technology that achieves appropriate binding strength with a simple configuration in a media processing device that applies liquid to media and then crimps and binds them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention includes a liquid application means that applies liquid to at least one sheet of medium, a crimping means that performs crimping binding by pressurizing and deforming the multiple sheets of medium to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application means with binding teeth, an end binding processing unit main scanning movement mechanism that moves the liquid application means and the crimping means in the width direction of the medium, and a crimping means rotation mechanism that rotates the crimping means around a rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the medium, wherein the crimping means is capable of performing a parallel binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is aligned with the width direction to perform the crimping binding, and a diagonal binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is tilted relative to the width direction to perform the crimping binding, and the liquid application means is capable of applying liquid to the medium in the same orientation in the area where the binding teeth contact in the parallel binding process and the area where the binding teeth contact in the diagonal binding process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, in a media processing device that applies a liquid to media and then crimps and binds the media, an appropriate binding strength can be obtained with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the post-processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the edge binding processing section as viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the edge binding processing section as viewed from the liquid application section side in the main scanning direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a crimping unit of the edge binding processing unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the edge binding processing section. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a liquid application and pressure bonding unit according to a modified example of the edge binding processing unit. [Figure 8] 8A to 8C are diagrams illustrating a liquid applying operation and a pressure binding operation performed by the liquid applying and pressure bonding unit of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the stapling processing section as viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a modified example of the staple binding processing section as viewed from the upstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement and configuration of a second liquid storage tank in the post-treatment device. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detachable configuration of a second liquid storage tank in the post-treatment device. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control block that controls the post-processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart of a binding process by an edge binding processing unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the position of the edge binding processing section during execution of one-point binding. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the position of the edge binding processing section during execution of two-point binding. [Figure 17] 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an area to which liquid is applied by a liquid application unit and an area to be crimp-bound by a crimping unit in a parallel binding posture are made to have the same shape. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the shapes of a contact surface and a crimping surface according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the shapes of the contact surface and the crimping surface according to Modification 2 of the first embodiment. [Figure 20] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the relationship between the pressure-bonding surfaces and the contact surfaces in the parallel binding posture and the oblique binding posture. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a post-processing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a view of the internal tray according to the second embodiment, seen from the thickness direction of the paper. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a pressure-bonding unit according to a second embodiment, viewed from the downstream side in the conveying direction. [Figure 24]FIG. 11 is a view of a liquid deposition section according to a second embodiment, viewed from the thickness direction of a sheet of paper. [Figure 25] 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV of FIG. 24. [Figure 26] 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI of FIG. 24. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control block of a post-processing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 28] 10 is a flowchart of post-processing by a post-processing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a modified example of an image forming system. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the control unit of the post-processing device. [Figure 31] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the control unit of the post-processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment of Image Forming System 1] An image forming system 1 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming system 1. The image forming system 1 has an image forming function for forming an image on paper P, which is a type of sheet-like medium, and a post-processing function for performing predetermined post-processing on the paper P on which the image has been formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 is configured to operate in cooperation with an image forming device 2 having an image forming function and a post-processing device 3, which is a media processing device having a post-processing function according to the present invention.

[0011] In this embodiment, the explanation is based on the premise that the sheet-like medium to be processed in the image forming system 1 is "paper." However, the object of processing according to this embodiment is not limited to paper. For example, any type of medium is acceptable as long as an image can be formed on the medium using a conventionally known image forming process. This also includes media that can be subjected to folding and binding processes, and there are no limitations on the material, specifications, etc.

[0012] The image forming device 2 forms an image on a sheet P and discharges the sheet P with the image formed thereon to the post-processing device 3. The image forming device 2 includes a storage tray 211 for storing sheets P, a transport unit 212 for transporting the sheets P stored in the storage tray 211, and an image forming unit 213 for forming an image on the sheet P transported by the transport unit 212. The image forming unit 213 may be of an inkjet type that forms an image using ink, or of an electrophotographic type that forms an image using toner. The image forming device 2 also includes a control unit 100a that controls various operations of the transport unit 212 and the image forming unit 213. The configuration of the image forming device 2 is already known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0013] Incidentally, paper is a widely known example of a sheet-like medium. Therefore, in this specification, when describing a sheet-like medium to be processed, the term "paper P" will be used. Furthermore, when describing a sheet bundle, the term "paper bundle Pb" will be used as an example, which is a bundle of multiple sheets of paper as a medium.

[0014] [First embodiment of post-processing device 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the post-processing device 3 according to the first embodiment. The post-processing device 3 has a function of performing predetermined post-processing on sheets P on which images have been formed by the image forming device 2. One type of post-processing according to this embodiment is a binding process that serves as a "pressure binding process" in which a stack of multiple sheets P on which images have been formed (a sheet stack) is bound without using staples. Another type of post-processing according to this embodiment is a binding process that serves as a "staple binding process" in which a stack of multiple sheets P on which images have been formed (a sheet stack) is bound using staples. Hereinafter, the stack of sheets P will be referred to as a "sheet stack Pb" as a medium stack.

[0015] In this embodiment, the liquid application process when performing pressure binding processing will be mainly described. However, the liquid application process performed in relation to staple binding processing is also similar. Furthermore, when the term "binding processing" is used in the following description, it means both the "pressure binding processing" and the "staple binding processing" and is not limited to the binding method (whether using staples or pressure deformation).

[0016] In addition, the "pressure binding process" according to this embodiment is, more specifically, a process of applying pressure to a binding position corresponding to a part of the paper stack Pb to deform (pressure-deform) the binding position and bind the sheets, and is a process called "pressure binding." Note that the binding processes that can be performed by the post-processing device 3 include an end binding process that binds the end of the paper stack Pb and a saddle binding process that binds the center of the paper stack Pb.

[0017] The post-processing device 3 includes conveyance roller pairs 10-19 (conveyance section), a switching member 20, and a control unit 100b (control means). The control unit 100b controls the operations of the conveyance roller pairs 10-19 (conveyance section), the switching member 20, and the like. The control unit 100b will be described in detail later. The conveyance roller pairs 10-19 convey the paper P supplied from the image forming device 2 inside the post-processing device 3. More specifically, the conveyance roller pairs 10-13 convey the paper P along a first conveyance path Ph1. The conveyance roller pairs 14-15 convey the paper P along a second conveyance path Ph2. The conveyance roller pairs 16-19 convey the paper P along a third conveyance path Ph3. A punch hole punching unit 132 that punches the paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller pairs 10 and 11 is disposed between the conveyance roller pairs 10 and 11.

[0018] The first transport path Ph1 is a path that leads from the supply port of the paper P from the image forming device 2 to the first discharge tray 21. The second transport path Ph2 is a path that branches off from the first transport path Ph1 between the pair of transport rollers 11 and 14 in the transport direction, and leads to the second discharge tray 26 via the internal tray 22. The third transport path Ph3 is a path that branches off from the first transport path Ph1 between the pair of transport rollers 11 and 14 in the transport direction, and leads to the discharge tray 30.

[0019] The switching member 20 is disposed at a branching position of the first transport path Ph1 and the second transport path Ph2. The switching member 20 is configured to be switchable between a first position where the sheet P is discharged to the first discharge tray 21 via the first transport path Ph1, and a second position where the sheet P transported along the first transport path Ph1 is guided to the second transport path Ph2. Furthermore, when the trailing edge of the sheet P that has entered the second transport path Ph2 passes through the pair of transport rollers 11, the pair of transport rollers 14 is rotated in the reverse direction, thereby guiding the sheet P to the third transport path Ph3. The post-processing device 3 also includes multiple sensors that detect the position of the sheet P on each of the transport paths Ph1, Ph2, and Ph3. The multiple sensors are indicated by solid triangles (▲) in FIG. 2.

[0020] The post-processing device 3 includes a first discharge tray 21. The paper sheets P discharged through the first conveyance path Ph1 are placed on the first discharge tray 21. Of the paper sheets P supplied from the image forming device 2, those that are not to be bound are discharged to the first discharge tray 21.

[0021] The post-processing device 3 also includes an internal tray 22 as a loading tray, an end fence 23 for edge binding, side fences 24L and 24R, an edge binding processing unit 25, a staple binding processing unit 155, and a second discharge tray 26. The internal tray 22, the end fence 23 for edge binding, the side fences 24L and 24R, the edge binding processing unit 25, and the staple binding processing unit 155 perform edge binding processing on a sheet bundle Pb made up of a plurality of sheets P transported from the second transport path Ph2 to the internal tray 22. The sheet bundle Pb that has been subjected to edge binding processing is discharged to the second discharge tray 26 from among the sheets P supplied from the image forming device 2.

[0022] The "edge binding process" here refers to the binding process performed by the edge binding processing unit 25 and the staple binding processing unit 155. Specifically, it includes a "parallel binding process" in which binding process is performed along one side of the paper stack Pb that is parallel to the main scanning direction, a "diagonal binding process" in which binding process is performed at a corner of the paper stack Pb, and a "vertical binding process" in which binding process is performed along one side of the paper stack Pb that is parallel to the transport direction.

[0023] Hereinafter, the direction in which the paper P is transported from the transport roller pair 15 toward the end fence 23 for edge binding is defined as the "transport direction." In other words, in this specification, the "transport direction" corresponds to the direction in which the paper P discharged from the image forming device 2 moves toward the second discharge tray 26 by the transport roller pair 10, etc., and then changes direction by the transport roller pair 15, moving toward the end fence 23 for edge binding, which is a different direction from the previous direction. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction and the transport direction of the paper P is defined as the "main scanning direction (width direction of the paper P)."

[0024] The multiple sheets of paper P transported in order via the second transport path Ph2 are temporarily placed on the internal tray 22, which serves as a loading tray. The end fence 23 for edge binding aligns the position of the sheets of paper P or the sheet bundle Pb placed on the internal tray 22 in the transport direction. The side fences 24L, 24R align the position of the sheets of paper P or the sheet bundle Pb placed on the internal tray 22 in the main scanning direction. The edge binding processing unit 25 and the staple binding processing unit 155 perform edge binding processing on the sheet bundle Pb aligned by the end fence 23 for edge binding and the side fences 24L, 24R. Then, the transport roller pair 15 discharges the sheet bundle Pb that has been edge-stitched onto the second discharge tray 26.

[0025] The post-processing device 3 further includes a saddle-stitching end fence 27, a saddle-stitching processing section 28, a paper folding blade 29, and a discharge tray 30. The saddle-stitching end fence 27, the saddle-stitching processing section 28, and the paper folding blade 29 perform saddle-stitching processing on a paper stack Pb made up of a plurality of paper sheets P transported through the third transport path Ph3. The discharge tray 30 receives the paper stack Pb that has been saddle-stitched from the paper sheets P supplied from the image forming device 2.

[0026] The saddle stitching end fence 27 aligns the positions in the conveying direction of multiple sheets P conveyed in sequence along the third conveying path Ph3. The saddle stitching end fence 27 is configured to be movable between a binding position where the center of the sheet stack Pb faces the saddle stitching processing unit 28, and a folding position where the center faces the paper folding blade 29. The saddle stitching processing unit 28 stitches the center of the sheet stack Pb aligned by the saddle stitching end fence 27 at the binding position. The paper folding blade 29 folds the sheet stack Pb placed on the saddle stitching end fence 27 at the folding position in half and clamps it between the conveying roller pair 18. The conveying roller pairs 18 and 19 discharge the sheet stack Pb that has been saddle stitched onto the discharge tray 30.

[0027] The post-processing device 3 also includes a liquid application member 501 (part of the liquid application unit), a liquid supply member 50 (part of the liquid application unit), and a first liquid storage tank 44 (first liquid storage unit) in the edge stitching processing unit 25. The first liquid storage tank 44 and the liquid supply member 50 are not shown in FIG. 3. The post-processing device 3 also includes a liquid supply path 45 (part of the liquid supply means), a liquid supply pump 46 (part of the liquid supply means), a second liquid storage tank 47 (part of the second liquid storage unit), and a second liquid storage tank fixing portion 61 (part of the second liquid storage unit) as components for replenishing the first liquid storage tank 44 with liquid. The liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank 47 is supplied to the first liquid storage tank 44 via the second liquid storage tank fixing portion 61, the liquid supply pump 46, and the liquid supply path 45.

[0028] [Configuration of the edge binding processing unit 25] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the edge binding processing unit 25, which performs the liquid application process and the pressure binding process shown in Fig. 2, as viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the edge binding processing unit 25 as viewed from the liquid application unit 31 side in the main scanning direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the edge binding processing unit 25 includes a liquid application unit 31 that applies liquid to the paper P or the paper stack Pb, and a pressure bonding unit 32, which is an example of a post-processing unit, that performs pressure binding on the paper stack Pb. The liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 are arranged adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction, downstream of the internal tray 22 in the conveyance direction.

[0029] 4, the liquid deposition unit 31 deposits the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 onto the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. Hereinafter, the deposition of liquid by the liquid deposition unit 31 onto the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb, and the operation of the liquid deposition unit 31 when depositing the liquid, will be referred to as "liquid deposition." Furthermore, the liquid deposition operation of the liquid deposition unit 31 that involves control processing will be referred to as "liquid deposition processing."

[0030] More specifically, the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 as the liquid used for liquid application is primarily composed of a liquid compound of hydrogen and oxygen represented by the chemical formula "H2O." As long as it is in a liquid state, its temperature does not matter, and it may be so-called warm water or hot water. Furthermore, it is not limited to pure water, and it may of course be purified water, or may contain ionized salts. The metal ion content does not matter, and the hardness may range from so-called soft water to ultra-hard water.

[0031] In addition to the main ingredient, additives may be added. It may contain residual chlorine, which is used in tap water, and it is also desirable to add colorants, penetrants, pH adjusters, preservatives such as phenoxyethanol, and drying inhibitors such as glycerin. Furthermore, inks used in inkjet printers and water-based pens also contain water, so these may also be used as "liquid application."

[0032] The liquids are not limited to those specifically mentioned here, and any "water" in the broad sense, such as hypochlorous acid water or an ethanol solution diluted for disinfection, will also work, but if the only purpose is to enhance the binding strength after binding, tap water, which is easy to obtain and manage, can be used. Also, using a liquid whose main component is water, such as the examples above, can improve the binding strength of the paper stack Pb more than using a liquid whose main component is not water.

[0033] [Configuration of liquid application unit 31] 3 and 4, the liquid deposition unit 31 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction together with the pressing unit 32 by transmitting the driving force of the edge binding processing unit movement motor 55. The liquid deposition unit 31 includes a lower pressure plate 33 as a platform for placing the paper sheet P or the paper stack Pb, an upper pressure plate 34, and a liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 35. The components of the liquid deposition unit 31 (the lower pressure plate 33, the upper pressure plate 34, the liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 35, and the liquid deposition unit movement motor 42) are held by a liquid deposition frame 31a and a base member 48.

[0034] Furthermore, a liquid applicator frame 31a that holds the components of the liquid applicator 31 has a liquid applicator rotation shaft 562 equipped with a drive transmission gear 562a fixed to its bottom surface. The liquid applicator rotation shaft 562 and drive transmission gear 562a are rotatably held in forward and reverse directions on a base member 48 on which the liquid applicator frame 31a is provided. The drive transmission gear 562a is in mesh with an output gear 563a of a liquid applicator rotation motor 563. The liquid applicator 31 is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions on the base member 48 about the liquid applicator rotation shaft 562 as the driving force of the liquid applicator rotation motor 563 is transmitted to the liquid applicator rotation shaft 562 via the output gear 563a and the drive transmission gear 562a.

[0035] The lower pressure plate 33 and the upper pressure plate 34 are disposed downstream in the conveying direction from the internal tray 22. The paper P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 is also placed on the lower pressure plate 33. The lower pressure plate 33 is provided on a lower pressure plate holder 331. The upper pressure plate 34 is configured to be movable in the thickness direction of the paper P or paper stack Pb at a position facing the paper P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0036] That is, the lower pressure plate 33 and the upper pressure plate 34 are arranged opposite to each other in the thickness direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the "thickness direction") of the paper P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22, sandwiching the paper P or paper stack Pb therebetween. Furthermore, the upper pressure plate 34 has a through-hole 34a penetrating in the thickness direction at a position facing the liquid application member 501 held via a holding part 37 attached to the base plate 40. The liquid application member 501 is one end of a liquid supply member 50 (liquid-absorbing) described later, and corresponds to the tip portion.

[0037] The liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 35 moves the upper pressure plate 34, the base plate 40, the holding unit 37, the liquid deposition member 501, the liquid supply member 50, and the first liquid storage tank 44 in the thickness direction of the paper sheet P or the paper stack Pb. The liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 35 according to this embodiment moves the upper pressure plate 34, the base plate 40, the holding unit 37, the liquid deposition member 501, the liquid supply member 50, and the first liquid storage tank 44 in a linked manner using a single liquid deposition unit movement motor 42. The liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 35 includes, for example, the liquid deposition unit movement motor 42, a trapezoidal screw 38, a nut 39, the base plate 40, columnar members 41 a, 41 b, and coil springs 42 a, 42 b.

[0038] The liquid applicator movement motor 42 generates a driving force that moves the upper pressure plate 34, the base plate 40, the holding unit 37, the liquid applicator member 501, the liquid supply member 50, and the first liquid storage tank 44. The trapezoidal screw 38 extends in the thickness direction of the paper sheet P or the stack of paper sheets Pb, and is provided on the liquid applicator frame 31a so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions. The trapezoidal screw 38 is connected to the output shaft of the liquid applicator movement motor 42 via a pulley, a belt, or the like. The nut 39 is threadedly engaged with the trapezoidal screw 38. The driving force of the liquid applicator movement motor 42 is transmitted to rotate the trapezoidal screw 38 in forward and reverse directions, causing the nut 39 to move back and forth on the trapezoidal screw 38.

[0039] The base plate 40 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper pressure plate 34. The base plate 40 holds the liquid application member 501 with the tip of the liquid application member 501 protruding from the base plate 40 toward the upper pressure plate 34. The base plate 40 is connected to a trapezoidal screw 38 via a nut 39, and is configured to be able to move back and forth along the trapezoidal screw 38 as the trapezoidal screw 38 rotates forward and backward. The position of the base plate 40 in the thickness direction of the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb is detected by a movement sensor 40a (see FIG. 13).

[0040] The pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b protrude from the base plate 40 toward the upper pressure plate 34 around the tip portion of the liquid dispensing member 501. The pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b are configured to be movable in the thickness direction relative to the base plate 40. The pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b hold the upper pressure plate 34 at their tip portions on the lower pressure plate 33 side. The tip portions of the pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b opposite the lower pressure plate 33 are provided with stoppers to prevent the pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b from coming off the base plate 40.

[0041] The coil springs 42a and 42b are fitted onto the columnar members 41a and 41b between the base plate 40 and the upper pressure plate 34. The coil springs 42a and 42b bias the upper pressure plate 34 and the columnar members 41a and 41b toward the lower pressure plate 33 with respect to the base plate 40.

[0042] The liquid applicator 31 applies liquid to the paper sheet P or the paper sheet bundle Pb placed on the internal tray 22. More specifically, the liquid applicator 31 applies liquid to at least one sheet of paper P that constitutes the paper sheet bundle Pb by bringing the liquid applicator member 501 into contact with the paper sheet P or the paper sheet bundle Pb.

[0043] The liquid deposition unit 31 includes a first liquid level sensor 43 (first liquid detection means), a first liquid storage tank 44, a liquid deposition member 501, a liquid supply member 50, and a holding unit 37. The first liquid storage tank 44 stores liquid for deposition onto the paper sheet P or the paper stack Pb. The liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 is detected by the first liquid level sensor 43. The first liquid storage tank 44 is connected to the base plate 40 via the holding unit 37.

[0044] The liquid applying member 501 applies the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 to the paper sheet P or the paper stack Pb. The liquid applying member 501, the liquid supply member 50 (liquid absorbing) installed so as to be in close contact with the liquid applying member 501, and the first liquid storage tank 44 are all held by the holding unit 37. The holding unit 37 is held by the base plate 40. One end of the liquid supply member 50 is in close contact with the liquid applying member 501, and the other end is immersed in the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44. In other words, the other end of the liquid supply member 50 corresponds to a liquid immersion unit 502 that sucks up the liquid and supplies it to the liquid applying member 501. The liquid applying member 501 and the liquid supply member 50 are made of a material (for example, sponge or fiber) with high liquid absorption, such as an elastic resin formed with open cells. However, the type of material for the liquid application member 501 and / or the liquid supply member 50 is not important as long as it has the ability to absorb and retain liquid and has the ability to collapse in response to the pressure applied when in contact with the paper P. In other words, it is sufficient if the material is capable of absorbing liquid by capillary action.

[0045] Therefore, when the other end (immersion portion 502) of the liquid supply member 50 is immersed in the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44, the liquid supply member 50 enters a state in which it sucks up the liquid by capillary action. That is, the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 is sucked up from the immersion portion 502 of the liquid supply member 50, and the sucked up liquid is supplied to the liquid applying member 501 connected to the tip through the liquid supply member 50. Then, as the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 is sucked up into the liquid applying member 501 that is in close contact with one end of the liquid supply member 50, the level of the liquid stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 (the amount of stored liquid) detected by the first liquid level sensor 43 drops. As a result, the liquid is supplied from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 by the liquid supply pump 46.

[0046] Although the above description has been given of the case where the liquid supply member 50 and the liquid application member 501 are separate bodies, the liquid supply member 50 and the liquid application member 501 may be integrally formed from materials with similar properties (for example, materials with high liquid absorption). In other words, the liquid application member 501 may be configured to be part of the liquid supply member 50. In this case, it becomes possible to more smoothly supply the liquid from the liquid supply member 50 to the liquid application member 501 by capillary action, and costs can be reduced.

[0047] Then, as the liquid applying member 501 sucks up the liquid in the first liquid storage tank 44, the liquid level in the first liquid storage tank 44 temporarily falls below a reference liquid level, which will be described later, and this triggers the execution of a series of liquid supply operations in which liquid is sent from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44. This liquid supply operation is mainly performed when the post-processing device 3 is started up or when the post-processing device 3 starts to perform a binding process that involves liquid application, and corresponds to a liquid supply operation for bringing the post-processing device 3 into a state in which liquid application using the liquid applying member 501 can be performed.

[0048] Further, the edge stitching processing unit 25 or the post-processing device 3 is provided with a second liquid storage tank 47. The second liquid storage tank 47 is configured to be detachable from a second liquid storage tank fixing unit 61 (part of the second liquid storage unit) provided in the edge stitching processing unit 25 or the post-processing device 3 (see FIG. 12). The second liquid storage tank 47 is configured to be able to supply the stored liquid to the first liquid storage tank 44 by being fixed (set) in a predetermined posture to the second liquid storage tank fixing unit 61 (part of the second liquid storage unit).

[0049] The operation of supplying liquid from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 by the liquid supply pump 46 is mainly triggered by the amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44 dropping below a reference liquid level, which will be described later. The amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44 drops as the liquid is consumed by the liquid deposition by the liquid deposition unit 31. In other words, the operation of supplying liquid from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 corresponds to a liquid supply operation that is required in conjunction with the execution of a job that includes liquid deposition by the liquid deposition unit 31.

[0050] This liquid supply operation corresponds to an operation of supplying liquid to the first liquid storage tank 44 so as to replenish it every time the amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44 falls below a reference liquid level, which will be described later.

[0051] When the second storage tank 47 is set in the second storage tank fixing portion 61, a certain amount of liquid from the second storage tank 47 is filled in the second storage tank fixing portion 61. The second storage tank fixing portion 61 is provided with a setting detection sensor 51 (setting detection means) (see FIG. 12(B)). When the setting detection sensor 51 detects that the second storage tank 47 has been set in the second storage tank fixing portion 61 (see FIG. 12(C)), a signal notifying this is sent to a control unit 100b (described later). This allows the control unit 100b (described later) to detect whether the second storage tank 47 has been set in the second storage tank fixing portion 61. The configuration of the second storage tank 47 will be described in detail later.

[0052] The first liquid storage tank 44 and the second liquid storage tank 47 are connected by a liquid supply path 45. A liquid supply pump 46 is provided near the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61. When the liquid supply pump 46 operates, the liquid stored in the second liquid storage tank 47 is supplied (replenished) from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 via the liquid supply path 45. Therefore, the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 is a component of a liquid supply means that performs a liquid supply operation to supply liquid from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44. In addition, the liquid supply path 45 is formed of a flexible material. This allows the liquid to be reliably supplied from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 even if the first liquid storage tank 44 is moved by the liquid application unit moving mechanism 35.

[0053] The amount of liquid supplied from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the first liquid storage tank 44 can be controlled in accordance with the detection result of the first liquid level sensor 43. That is, the control unit 100b, which will be described later, determines the amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44 based on the detection result of the first liquid level sensor 43. Then, the control unit 100b, which will be described later, controls the operating speed and operating time of the liquid supply pump 46 in accordance with the determined amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44, thereby adjusting the amount of liquid replenished to the first liquid storage tank 44 and controlling the amount of liquid stored (liquid level) in the first liquid storage tank 44 to be kept constant.

[0054] [Configuration of crimping portion 32] As shown in FIG. 3, the crimping unit 32 as a post-processing unit applies pressure to at least a portion of the sheet stack Pb to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit 31 (i.e., the liquid application position) using the concave and convex upper and lower crimping teeth 32a and 32b, deforming the sheet stack Pb and binding the sheets P of this portion together. In other words, the crimping unit 32 can bind the sheet stack Pb without using staples. The components of the crimping unit 32 (upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b) are provided on a crimping frame 32c. Hereinafter, the act of deforming and binding a predetermined position of the sheet stack Pb by the crimping unit 32 will be simply referred to as "crimp binding." Furthermore, the crimp binding operation of the crimping unit 32, which involves control processing, will be referred to as "crimp binding process."

[0055] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the crimping unit 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the crimping unit 32 includes upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b. The upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b are arranged opposite each other in the thickness direction of the sheet stack Pb, sandwiching the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. The opposing surfaces of the upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b are formed unevenly with alternating concave and convex portions. The upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b are formed with the concave and convex portions offset from each other so as to mesh with each other. The upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b are brought into contact with and separated from each other by the driving force of a contact / separation motor 32d (see FIG. 13).

[0056] As shown in Fig. 5(A) , when multiple sheets P constituting the sheet stack Pb are being supplied to the internal tray 22, the upper and lower pressure teeth 32a and 32b are spaced apart. Then, when all sheets P constituting the sheet stack Pb are placed on the internal tray 22, the upper and lower pressure teeth 32a and 32b mesh with each other due to the driving force of the contact / separation motor 32d, as shown in Fig. 5(B) , thereby compressing and deforming the sheet stack Pb in the thickness direction. This causes the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 to be pressure-bound. The pressure-bound sheet stack Pb is then discharged to the second discharge tray 26 by the conveyance roller pair 15.

[0057] The configuration of the crimping unit 32 is not limited to the structure of the operating mechanism exemplified in this embodiment, as long as the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b constituting the crimping mechanism are able to mesh with each other. For example, the crimping mechanism may be a link mechanism type crimping mechanism (such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6057167) that performs the crimping and separating operations of the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b using a drive source and link mechanism that rotates forward only or forward and reverse. Alternatively, the crimping mechanism may be a linear motion type crimping mechanism that performs the crimping and separating operations of the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b linearly using a screw mechanism that converts the forward and reverse rotational motion of the drive source into linear reciprocating motion.

[0058] 3, the edge binding processing unit 25 includes an edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57. The edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 moves the edge binding processing unit 25 (i.e., the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32) in the main scanning direction along the downstream edge in the transport direction of the paper P placed on the internal tray 22. The edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 includes, for example, a base member 48, a guide shaft 49, an edge binding processing unit moving motor 55, a drive force transmission mechanism 551 that transmits the drive force of the edge binding processing unit moving motor 55 to the base member 48, and a standby position sensor 540 (see FIG. 13).

[0059] The liquid applicator 31 and the pressure-bonding unit 32 are attached to the base member 48 adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide shaft 49 is provided in the main scanning direction on the upstream side of the binding mechanism base 116 in the conveying direction and is held by a plurality of guide shaft brackets 49a. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide shaft 49 extends in the main scanning direction on the binding mechanism base 116. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail 115 is provided in the main scanning direction on the downstream side of the binding mechanism base 116 in the conveying direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail 115 has a fitted portion 115a that fits with a fitting portion 48a of the base member 48 across the main scanning direction. In other words, the base member 48 is held by the guide shaft 49 and the guide rail 115 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction on the binding mechanism base 116.

[0060] The edge stitching processing unit movement motor 55 generates a driving force for moving the edge stitching processing unit 25. The driving force transmission mechanism 551 transmits the driving force of the edge stitching processing unit movement motor 55 to the base member 48 via pulleys 551a and 551b, a timing belt 551c, and a fastening unit 48b that fastens the base member 48 and the timing belt 551c. As a result, the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure-bonding unit 32, which are integrated by the base member 48, move in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 49.

[0061] The end binding processing unit moving motor 55 in this embodiment is a servo motor that can stop the end binding processing unit 25 at a target position (the first binding position B1 described later) without having to return the end binding processing unit 25 to the origin position (for example, the standby position HP described later) every time it moves.

[0062] The post-processing device 3 also includes a standby position sensor 540 (e.g., a light-blocking optical sensor; see FIG. 13) that detects that the edge binding processing unit 25 has reached a standby position HP (see FIG. 12A), and an encoder sensor 541 (see FIG. 13) attached to the output shaft of the edge binding processing unit movement motor 55. The control unit 100b, which will be described later, detects that the edge binding processing unit 25 has reached the standby position HP based on the detection result of the standby position sensor 540. The control unit 100b, which will be described later, also counts the pulse signals output from the encoder sensor 541 to determine the current position of the edge binding processing unit 25, which has moved from the standby position HP.

[0063] However, the specific method for stopping the edge binding processing unit 25 at the target position without returning it to the standby position HP is not limited to the above example. As another example, the post-processing device 3 may be provided with a sensor that detects that the edge binding processing unit 25 has reached a predetermined target position.

[0064] 3, a crimping frame 32c that holds the components of the crimping unit 32 has a crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​equipped with a drive transmission gear 54a fixed to its bottom surface. The crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​and the drive transmission gear 54a are held rotatably in forward and reverse directions on a base member 48 on which the crimping frame 32c is provided. The drive transmission gear 54a is meshed with an output gear 56a of a crimping unit rotation motor 56. The crimping unit 32 is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions on the base member 48 about the crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​by transmitting the driving force of the crimping unit rotation motor 56 to the crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​via the output gear 56a and the drive transmission gear 54a.

[0065] Although the edge binding processing unit 25 has been described as having a configuration in which the pressure-bonding unit 32 and the liquid application unit 31 are integrally configured and move along the guide shaft 49, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pressure-bonding unit 32 and the liquid application unit 31 may each move separately and independently.

[0066] [Modification of the edge binding processing unit 25] Next, an edge binding processing unit 25' that is a modified example of the edge binding processing unit 25 provided in the post-processing device 3 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. The difference from the edge binding processing unit 25 according to the first embodiment is that the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 are integrally configured. Note that components common to the edge binding processing unit 25 already described will be assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0067] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the end binding processing section 25' as seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction. Fig. 7(A) is a perspective view of the liquid application and pressure bonding section 310. Fig. 7(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Fig. 7(A). Fig. 7(C) is a plan view of the upper pressure bonding teeth 32a as seen from the lower pressure bonding teeth 32b side in Fig. 7(A). Figs. 8(A) to (C) are schematic diagrams as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction, showing the liquid application operation and pressure bonding binding operation by the liquid application and pressure bonding section 310.

[0068] 6, the edge binding processing unit 25' includes a liquid application and pressure-bonding unit 310 that integrates the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure-bonding unit 32 (post-processing unit) of the edge binding processing unit 25 according to the first embodiment. The liquid application and pressure-bonding unit 310 is disposed downstream of the internal tray 22 in the conveying direction.

[0069] The liquid applying and pressing unit 310 applies the liquid LQ stored in the first liquid storage tank 44 to the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. The liquid applying and pressing unit 310 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction by transmitting the driving force of the edge binding processing unit movement motor 55 to the base member 48 by a driving force transmission mechanism 551. The liquid applying and pressing unit 310 includes an upper pressure plate 34, upper pressure teeth 32a, lower pressure teeth 32b, a liquid applying and pressing unit movement mechanism 350, and a liquid supply mechanism 360. The components of the liquid applying and pressing unit 310 are held by the liquid applying frame 31a and the base member 48.

[0070] Furthermore, a liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation shaft 561' equipped with a drive transmission gear 561a' is fixed to the bottom surface of the liquid-applying frame 31a. The liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation shaft 561' and the drive transmission gear 561a' are rotatably held in forward and reverse directions on the base member 48 on which the liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part 31a is provided. The drive transmission gear 561a' is meshed with an output gear 56a' of a liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation motor 56'. The liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part 310 is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions on the base member 48 about the liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation shaft 561' as a result of the driving force of the liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation motor 56' being transmitted to the liquid-applying and pressure-bonding part rotation shaft 561' via the output gear 56a' and the drive transmission gear 561a'.

[0071] The liquid applicator / pressure bonding unit moving mechanism 350 moves the upper pressure plate 34, base plate 40, and upper pressure teeth 32a in conjunction with each other in the thickness direction of the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb using an electric cylinder 370. The base plate 40 holds the upper pressure tooth holding member 32a1 and the upper pressure teeth 32a via a holding portion 46a. The base plate 40 also movably holds the upper pressure plate 34 via pillar-shaped members 41a and 41b. The base plate 40 is attached to the tip of a rod 371 of the electric cylinder 370 via a connecting member 401.

[0072] The columnar members 41a and 41b hold the upper pressure plate 34 at their lower ends. The coil springs 42a and 42b are fitted around the columnar members 41a and 41b between the base plate 40 and the upper pressure plate 34. The coil springs 42a and 42b bias the upper pressure plate 34 and the columnar members 41a and 41b in a direction away from the base plate 40.

[0073] The liquid supply mechanism 360 includes a first liquid storage tank 44, a liquid supply pump 431, and a liquid supply member 45'. The liquid supply pump 431 supplies the liquid LQ to a liquid reservoir 320 provided in the upper crimping teeth holding member 32a1 as shown in Fig. 7(A) via the liquid supply member 45'. The liquid supply member 45' has a base end connected to the liquid supply pump 431 and a tip end connected to the liquid reservoir 320, and is made of a long, flexible member.

[0074] 7(B), the upper crimping teeth 32a are provided integrally with an upper crimping tooth holding member 32a1. The upper crimping tooth holding member 32a1 is provided with a liquid reservoir 320 and a liquid supply path 321 that supplies the liquid LQ stored in the liquid reservoir 320 to the upper crimping teeth 32a. The surfaces of the upper crimping teeth 32a have been subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, so that the liquid LQ supplied from the liquid supply path 321 spreads evenly over the surfaces of the upper crimping teeth 32a. On the other hand, portions of the upper crimping tooth holding member 32a1 other than the upper crimping teeth 32a have been subjected to a hydrophobic treatment, so that the liquid LQ spreads efficiently over the surfaces of the upper crimping teeth 32a.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 6, the lower crimping teeth 32b are integrally provided with a lower crimping teeth holding member 32b1 that is part of the liquid applicator frame 31a, and are attached onto the base member 48 via the lower crimping teeth holding member 32b1.

[0076] Next, the liquid application operation and pressure binding operation by the liquid application and pressure bonding unit 310 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In the process of supplying the paper P to the internal tray 22, the upper pressure tooth 32a and the lower pressure tooth 32b are separated, as shown in FIG. 8(A). Then, when the paper P is placed on the internal tray 22, the electric cylinder 370 is contracted to move the upper pressure tooth 32a and the upper pressure plate 34 toward the paper P. Then, as shown in FIG. 8(B), the upper pressure plate 34 first comes into contact with the paper P, and then the upper pressure tooth 32a passes through the through hole 34a of the upper pressure plate 34 and comes into contact with the paper P. At this time, because the liquid LQ has spread over the surface of the upper pressure tooth 32a, the liquid is applied to the liquid application position of the paper P by bringing the upper pressure tooth 32a into contact with the paper P. Then, when liquid application to the liquid application position is completed, the electric cylinder 370 is extended to separate the upper pressure tooth 32a and the upper pressure plate 34 from the paper P. The above-described contact and separation operation of the upper pressure tooth 32a and the upper pressure plate 34 with respect to the paper P (liquid application operation) is repeatedly performed on the paper P that constitutes the paper stack Pb.

[0077] Thereafter, when a sheet stack Pb consisting of a specified number of sheets P is placed on the internal tray 22, the electric cylinder 370 is further contracted to move the upper crimping teeth 32a toward the lower crimping teeth 32b. Then, as shown in Fig. 8(C), with the sheet stack Pb sandwiched between the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b, the upper crimping teeth 32a move further toward the lower crimping teeth 32b, and the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b pressurize and deform the sheet stack Pb, thereby crimping and binding the sheet stack Pb (crimping binding operation).

[0078] [Configuration of staple binding processing unit 155] Next, the staple binding processing unit 155, which has the function of executing staple binding processing, will be described in detail. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the staple binding processing unit 155 as seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The staple binding processing unit 155 has a staple binding unit 62 that binds the paper stack Pb using staples. The staple binding unit 62 is disposed downstream of the internal tray 22 in the conveying direction and spaced apart from the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction.

[0079] The staple binding unit 62 serving as post-processing means has a configuration for performing so-called "staple binding processing," which is to bind the paper-sheet bundle Pb using staples. More specifically, the staple binding unit 62 has a staple binder drive motor 62d (see FIG. 13) that drives the staple binding unit 62a. The staple binding unit 62a then staples the paper-sheet bundle Pb by causing staples loaded in the staple binding unit 62a to penetrate the paper-sheet bundle Pb using the driving force of the staple binder drive motor 62d. The configuration of the staple binding unit 62 is already well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] 9, the staple binding processing unit 155 includes a staple binding processing unit moving mechanism 77. The staple binding processing unit moving mechanism 77 moves the staple binding processing unit 155 in the main scanning direction along the downstream end in the transport direction of the paper sheets P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. The staple binding processing unit moving mechanism 77 includes, for example, a base member 78, a guide shaft 49, a staple binding processing unit moving motor 80, and a drive force transmission mechanism 81. The drive force transmission mechanism 81 transmits the drive force of the staple binding processing unit moving motor 80 to the base member 78 via pulleys 81a and 81b, a timing belt 81c, and a fastening portion 78a that fastens the base member 78 and the timing belt 81c. Furthermore, a staple binding unit rotation shaft 83 equipped with a drive transmission gear 83a is fixed to the bottom surface of a staple binding frame 62b that holds the components of the staple binding unit 62.

[0081] The staple binding unit rotation shaft 83 and the drive transmission gear 83a are held rotatably in forward and reverse directions on a base member 78 on which the staple binding frame 62b is provided. The drive transmission gear 83a is in mesh with an output gear 82a of the staple binding unit rotation motor 82. The staple binding unit 62 is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions on the base member 78 about the staple binding unit rotation shaft 83 as a result of the drive force of the staple binding unit rotation motor 82 being transmitted to the staple binding unit rotation shaft 83 via the output gear 82a and the drive transmission gear 83a.

[0082] The edge binding processing unit 25 and the staple binding processing unit 155 are supported on a common guide shaft 49. That is, the edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 and the staple binding processing unit moving mechanism 77 move the edge binding processing unit 25 and the staple binding processing unit 155 in the main scanning direction along the common guide shaft 49. Furthermore, the edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 and the staple binding processing unit moving mechanism 77 can move the edge binding processing unit 25 and the staple binding processing unit 155 independently.

[0083] [Configuration of Modified Example of Stapling Processing Unit 155] 10 shows a stapling processing unit 155' as a modified example of the stapling processing unit 155, and is a schematic diagram of the stapling processing unit 155' as seen from the upstream side in the conveying direction. The stapling processing unit 155' differs from the stapling processing unit 155 in that it includes not only a stapling unit 62 but also a second liquid application unit 612. As shown in FIG. 10, the stapling processing unit 155' includes the second liquid application unit 612 and the stapling unit 62. The second liquid application unit 612 and the stapling unit 62 are disposed adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction downstream of the internal tray 22 in the conveying direction.

[0084] The second liquid deposition unit 612 deposits the liquid stored in the third liquid storage tank 73 onto the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. A predetermined area including the position where the second liquid deposition unit 612 deposits the liquid onto the paper sheet P or paper stack Pb corresponds to the binding position where the staple binding unit 62 is to perform staple binding. As shown in FIG. 10 , the second liquid deposition unit 612 includes a second lower pressure plate 63, a second upper pressure plate 64, a second liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 65, and a second liquid deposition mechanism 66. The second liquid deposition unit movement mechanism 65 includes, for example, a second liquid deposition unit movement motor 67, a second trapezoidal screw 68, a second nut 69, a second base plate 70, second pillar-shaped members 711a and 711b, and second coil springs 721a and 721b.

[0085] The second liquid dispensing mechanism 66 includes a third liquid storage tank 73, a second liquid supply member 75, a second liquid dispensing member 74, and a second joint 76. The configuration of the second liquid dispensing mechanism 66 is the same as that of the liquid dispensing mechanism of the liquid dispensing unit 31 described in FIGS. 3 and 4 (first liquid storage tank 44, liquid supply member 50, liquid dispensing member 501, holding unit 37), so a repeated description will be omitted. The configuration of the stapling unit 62 is the same as that of the stapling processing unit 155 shown in FIG. 9, so a detailed description will be omitted. The rotation mechanism of the second liquid dispensing unit 612 (liquid dispensing unit rotation motor 563, output gear 563a, drive transmission gear 562a, liquid dispensing unit rotation shaft 562) is the same as that of the liquid dispensing unit 31 shown in FIG. 3, so a repeated description will be omitted.

[0086] 10, even in the staple binding process, by applying liquid to the sheets P, the binding position can be loosened and softened, making it easier for the staple to penetrate. This makes it possible to increase the number of sheets bound per bundle of sheets Pb compared to when staple binding is performed without applying liquid.

[0087] [Configuration of second storage tank 47] Next, the arrangement and configuration of the second liquid storage tank 47 in the post-processing device 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows an example of the arrangement and configuration of the second liquid storage tank 47 as a main tank. FIG. 11(A) illustrates an example of the arrangement and configuration of the post-processing device 3 with the opening / closing cover 71 open. FIG. 11(B) is a cross-sectional side view of the post-processing device 3, illustrating an example of the state in which the opening / closing cover 71 of the post-processing device 3 is closed. As shown in FIG. 11(A), the second liquid storage tank 47 is installed in a position that can be accessed when the opening / closing cover 71 of the post-processing device 3 is opened. Also, as shown in FIG. 11(B), the second liquid storage tank 47 and the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 are arranged on the front side in the depth direction (X direction) of the post-processing device 3. Also, the first liquid storage tank 44 and the like are arranged on the back side in the depth direction (X direction) of the post-processing device 3. A main body side plate 72 of the post-processing device 3 is provided between the positions where the second liquid storage tank 47 and the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 are arranged and the positions where the first liquid storage tank 44, etc. are arranged. The second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 is attached to the main body side plate 72 of the post-processing device 3.

[0088] 12 illustrates an example in which the second storage tank 47 is detachably attached to the second storage tank fixing part 61, and an example in which liquid is refilled into the second storage tank 47. As shown in FIG. 12(A), the second storage tank 47 is configured to be detachably attached to the second storage tank fixing part 61 so that liquid can be refilled into the first storage tank 44. As shown in FIG. 12(B), the second storage tank fixing part 61 is provided with a set detection sensor 51 (set detection means) that detects that the second storage tank 47 has been set in the second storage tank fixing part 61.

[0089] When the set detection sensor 51 detects that the second storage tank 47 is set in the second storage tank fixing part 61 (see FIG. 12(C)), a signal notifying this is sent to the control part 100b (described later). In this way, the control part 100b (described later) is configured to be able to detect whether the second storage tank 47 is set in the second storage tank fixing part 61 or not.

[0090] The second storage tank fixing part 61 is also provided with a second liquid level sensor 94 (second liquid detection means) for detecting the amount of liquid L stored. The output value (voltage) of the second liquid level sensor 94 is notified to a control part 100b (described later). The control part 100b (described later) determines whether the amount of liquid stored in the second storage tank fixing part 61 is the required amount by determining the output value (voltage) of the second liquid level sensor 94. When the control part 100b (described later) determines that the second storage tank 47 is in the set state based on the output signal of the set detection sensor 51, it turns on the second liquid level sensor 94 to make it possible to detect the presence or absence (liquid level) of liquid in the second storage tank fixing part 61.

[0091] Furthermore, when the second liquid storage tank 47 is not set in the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 (unset state), the liquid outlet 471a is blocked by the liquid supply valve 471, preventing leakage of the liquid L. Then, as shown in FIG. 12(C), when the second liquid storage tank 47 is set in the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61, the liquid supply valve 471 is pushed up and the liquid outlet 471a of the second liquid storage tank 47 is opened, causing the liquid L to flow out from the second liquid storage tank 47 to the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61. As a result, the liquid L stored in the second liquid storage tank 47 flows out into the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61. The liquid L flowing out from the second liquid storage tank 47 is stored in the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61.

[0092] During maintenance of the post-processing device 3 or as a measure to prevent the liquid L from freezing, a "liquid draining process" may be performed to drain the liquid L from the post-processing device 3. In the liquid draining process, the liquid L remaining in the first liquid storage tank 44 and the liquid supply path 45 is pumped in the reverse direction by the liquid supply pump 46 through the liquid supply path 45 to the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61. Therefore, the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 is set to a capacity capable of storing the liquid in the first liquid storage tank 44 and the liquid supply path 45. As shown in FIGS. 12(B) and 12(C), the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 is provided with a liquid drain plug 611. After the liquid supply pump 46 has pumped the liquid L remaining in the first liquid storage tank 44 and the liquid supply path 45 in the reverse direction to the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61, the liquid drain plug 611 can be opened to drain the liquid L stored in the second liquid storage tank fixing part 61 from inside the post-processing device 3.

[0093] [Configuration of control block of post-processing device 3] Next, the control block configuration of post-processing device 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a hardware configuration diagram for executing control processing in post-processing device 3. As shown in Fig. 13, post-processing device 3 has a configuration in which a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, and an I / F 105 are connected via a common bus 109.

[0094] The CPU 101 is a computing means and controls the overall operation of the post-processing device 3. The RAM 102 is a volatile storage medium that can read and write information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 101 processes information. The ROM 103 is a read-only non-volatile storage medium that stores programs such as firmware. The HDD 104 is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information and has a large storage capacity, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, etc.

[0095] The post-processing device 3 processes a control program stored in the ROM 103, an information processing program (application program) loaded into the RAM 102 from a storage medium such as the HDD 104, and the like using the arithmetic functions of the CPU 101. This processing constitutes a software control unit including various functional modules of the post-processing device 3. The combination of the software control unit thus constituted and the hardware resources installed in the post-processing device 3 constitutes a functional block that realizes the functions of the post-processing device 3. In other words, the CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, HDD 104, and I / F 105 constitute a control unit 100b (control means) that controls the operation of the post-processing device 3.

[0096] The I / F 105 is an interface that connects the conveying roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15, the switching member 20, the side fences 24L and 24R, the contact / separation motor 32d, the pressure-bonding unit rotation motor 56, the liquid application unit movement motor 42, the liquid application unit rotation motor 563, the end-stitching processing unit movement motor 55, the staple binding machine drive motor 62d, the staple binding unit rotation motor 82, the staple binding processing unit movement motor 80, the liquid supply pump 46, the movement sensor 40a, the first liquid level sensor 43, the second liquid level sensor 94, the set detection sensor 51, the standby position sensor 540, the encoder sensor 541, and the operation panel 110 to the common bus 109.

[0097] The control unit 100b controls, via the I / F 105, the operations of the conveying roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15, the switching member 20, the side fences 24L and 24R, the contact / separation motor 32d, the pressure bonding unit rotation motor 56, the liquid application unit movement motor 42, the liquid application unit rotation motor 563, the edge stitching processing unit movement motor 55, the stapling device drive motor 62d, the stapling unit rotation motor 82, the stapling processing unit movement motor 80, and the liquid supply pump 46. In addition, the control unit 100b acquires the detection results of the movement sensor 40a, the first liquid level sensor 43, the second liquid level sensor 94, the set detection sensor 51, the standby position sensor 540, and the encoder sensor 541. Note that while Figure 13 illustrates components related to the end binding processing unit 25 and staple binding processing unit 155 that perform the end binding process, components related to the saddle stitching processing unit 28 that performs the saddle stitching process are also similarly controlled by the control unit 100b.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 2 includes an operation panel 110. The operation panel 110 includes an operation unit that accepts input operations from a user and a display (notification unit) that notifies the user of information. The operation unit includes, for example, hard keys, a touch panel superimposed on the display, etc. The operation panel 110 acquires information from the user through the operation unit and provides the information to the user through the display. Note that the notification unit is not limited to a display, and may be an LED lamp, a speaker, etc. The post-processing device 3 may also be provided with an operation panel 110 similar to the above.

[0099] As described above, post-processing device 3 uses the hardware resources of control unit 100b to realize the function of controlling operations related to liquid deposition through software (control program) executed by CPU 101.

[0100] The liquid application performed by the post-processing device 3 may be configured such that the staple binding processing unit 155 is provided with only the staple binding unit 62, and the liquid application is performed by the liquid application unit 31 provided in the end binding processing unit 25. Conversely, the end binding processing unit 25 may be provided with only the crimping unit 32, and the liquid application is performed by the second liquid application unit 612. In other words, regardless of the type of binding process, the configuration may be such that only either the liquid application unit 31 or the second liquid application unit 612 applies the liquid.

[0101] Furthermore, the stapling processing unit 155' has been described as having a configuration in which the stapling unit 62 and the second liquid application unit 612 are configured integrally and move along the guide shaft 49, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the stapling unit 62 and the second liquid application unit 612 may each move separately and independently.

[0102] [Binding process explanation] Next, the flow of the binding process executed in the edge binding processing unit 25 included in the post-processing device 3 will be described. Fig. 14 is a flowchart when one-point binding processing is executed. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the transition of the position of the edge binding processing unit 25 (liquid application unit 31 and pressure bonding unit 32) during execution of one-point binding processing. Note that Fig. 15 does not show changes in the attitude of the liquid application unit 31 and pressure bonding unit 32. Furthermore, the position (liquid application position) where liquid is applied to the sheet P or sheet stack Pb by the liquid application unit 31 corresponds to the binding position where the pressure bonding unit 32 is scheduled to perform pressure binding on the sheet stack Pb. Therefore, in the following description, the liquid application position and the binding position will be assigned the same reference numerals (B1, B2).

[0103] The control unit 100b starts the binding process shown in FIG. 14, for example, at the timing when an instruction to execute the binding process (hereinafter referred to as a "binding process instruction") is acquired from the image forming apparatus 2.

[0104] The binding process instruction includes, for example, the type of paper P (information that affects the spread of the liquid, such as material and thickness), the number of sheets P that make up the paper stack Pb (hereinafter referred to as the "predetermined number of sheets N"), the number of copies of the paper stack Pb to be bound (hereinafter referred to as the "required number of copies M"), the binding position of the paper stack Pb, and the binding posture of the edge binding processing unit 25. Also, as shown in FIG. 15(A), at the start of the binding process, the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 are in a parallel binding posture and are positioned at a standby position HP that is a position offset in the width direction from the paper sheets P placed on the internal tray 22.

[0105] First, when the posture instructed in the binding process instruction is the "diagonal binding posture," the control unit 100b drives the pressure bonding unit rotation motor 56 to rotate the pressure bonding unit 32 constituting the edge binding processing unit 25 to the diagonal binding posture (S1701). The control unit 100b also rotates the liquid application unit 31 constituting the edge binding processing unit 25 to the diagonal binding posture using the liquid application unit rotation mechanism 126. Note that, when the posture is the "diagonal binding posture," only the pressure bonding unit 32 may be rotated to the diagonal binding posture, and the liquid application unit 31 may not be rotated in the forward or reverse direction. This simplifies the drive mechanism compared to when both the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 are rotated in the forward or reverse direction, thereby achieving the effects of reducing costs, downsizing the device, and reducing equipment failures.

[0106] On the other hand, if the posture instructed in the binding process instruction is the "parallel binding posture," the control unit 100b omits the operation of rotating the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 that configure the edge binding processing unit 25 described above to the diagonal binding posture. The control unit 100b also drives the edge binding processing unit movement motor 55 to move the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the liquid application unit 31 faces the first liquid application position B1 instructed in the binding process instruction (S1701). The control unit 100b executes the process of step S1701 before the first sheet P is conveyed to the internal tray 22 by the conveyance roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15.

[0107] Next, the control unit 100b rotates the conveying roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15 to store the paper P on which the image has been formed by the image forming device 2 in the internal tray 22 (S1702). The control unit 100b also moves the side fences 24L and 24R to align the position in the main scanning direction of the paper P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22, a so-called jogging process (S1702).

[0108] Next, the control unit 100b causes the liquid application unit 31 facing the first liquid application position B1 to apply liquid to the first liquid application position B1 of the paper sheet P placed on the internal tray 22 in the immediately preceding step S1702, based on the liquid application control data adjusted in advance (S1703). That is, the control unit 100b drives the liquid application unit movement motor 42 to bring the liquid application member 451 into contact with the first liquid application position B1 of the paper sheet P placed on the internal tray 22 (see FIG. 15(B)). In the liquid application process in step S1703, the control unit 100b adjusts the position at which the liquid application member 451 applies liquid to the paper sheet P, depending on the type of paper sheet P and the binding position included in the binding process instruction. The control unit 100b also adjusts the amount of pressure applied by the liquid application member 451 to the paper sheet P. That is, the control unit 100b controls the driving of the liquid applicator movement motor 42 based on the adjusted control data, and adjusts the movement amount of the liquid applicator 451 relative to the binding position B1 of the paper sheets P placed on the internal tray 22.

[0109] Next, the control unit 100b determines whether the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has reached the predetermined number N specified in the binding process instruction (S1704). If the control unit 100b determines that the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has not reached the predetermined number N (S1704: No), it repeats the processes of steps S1702 to S1704 until the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 reaches the predetermined number N (S1704: Yes).

[0110] That is, the control unit 100b executes the processes of steps S1702 to S1704 every time a sheet P is transported to the internal tray 22 by the transport roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15. Note that the liquid application by the liquid application unit 31 may be applied not only to all of the sheets P constituting the sheet stack Pb, but also to only some of the sheets P.

[0111] Then, when the control unit 100b determines that the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has reached the predetermined number N (S1704: Yes), as shown in Figure 15 (C), it drives the end binding processing unit movement motor 55 to move the end binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the pressure bonding unit 32 faces the first binding position B1 (S1705).

[0112] Next, the control unit 100b causes the pressure bonding unit 32 to perform pressure binding on the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 (S1706). Then, the control unit 100b causes the conveyance roller pair 15 to discharge the sheet stack Pb pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 to the second discharge tray 26 (S1707). That is, the control unit 100b drives the contact / separation motor 32d to clamp the first binding position B1 of the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 between the upper pressure bonding teeth 32a and the lower pressure bonding teeth 32b. This causes the sheet stack Pb to be pressurized and deformed between the upper pressure bonding teeth 32a and the lower pressure bonding teeth 32b, thereby performing pressure binding. Thereafter, the control unit 100b rotates the conveyance roller pair 15 to discharge the sheet stack Pb pressure-bound to the second discharge tray 26.

[0113] Note that, on the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22, the pressure-bonding area (corresponding to the first binding position B1) clamped by the upper pressure-bonding teeth 32a and the lower pressure-bonding teeth 32b in step S1706 overlaps the liquid-application area (corresponding to the first liquid-application position B1) that the tip of the liquid-application member 451 contacted in step S1703. In other words, the pressure-bonding unit 32 pressure-bonds and binds the area on the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 to which liquid has been applied by the liquid-application unit 31. Note that the pressure-bonding area clamped by the upper pressure-bonding teeth 32a and the lower pressure-bonding teeth 32b does not need to completely overlap the liquid-application area that the tip of the liquid-application member 451 contacted; sufficient binding strength can be obtained even if the area partially overlaps.

[0114] Next, the control unit 100b determines whether the number of copies of the sheet bundle Pb discharged onto the second discharge tray 26 has reached the required number of copies M indicated in the binding process instruction (S1708). If the control unit 100b determines that the number of copies of the discharged sheet bundle Pb has not reached the required number of copies M (S1708: No), it executes the processes from step S1702 onwards again. That is, the control unit 100b repeatedly executes the processes of steps S1702 to S1708 until the number of copies of the sheet bundle Pb discharged onto the second discharge tray 26 reaches the required number of copies M (S1708: Yes).

[0115] On the other hand, when the control unit 100b determines that the number of copies of the sheet bundle Pb discharged to the second discharge tray 26 has reached the required number of copies M (S1708: Yes), the control unit 100b drives the edge-stitching processing unit moving motor 55 to move the edge-stitching processing unit 25 (liquid application unit 31 and pressure bonding unit 32) to the standby position HP as shown in FIG. 15(D) (S1709). Furthermore, when the posture instructed in the binding process instruction is the "diagonal binding posture," the control unit 100b drives the pressure bonding unit rotating motor 56 to rotate the pressure bonding unit 32 to the parallel binding posture (S1709). Furthermore, the control unit 100b rotates the liquid application unit 31 to the parallel binding posture by the liquid application unit rotating mechanism 126 (S1709). On the other hand, when the posture instructed in the binding process instruction is the "parallel binding posture," the operation of rotating the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32 to the parallel binding posture is omitted. As a result, the edge binding processing unit 25 (liquid application unit 31 and pressure bonding unit 32) returns to the standby position HP as shown in Fig. 15(D) . Note that in steps S1701 and S1709, the order of performing the operations of moving the liquid application unit 31 and pressure bonding unit 32 in the main scanning direction and rotating them in the forward and reverse directions is not limited to the order described above, and may be the reverse order.

[0116] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the transition of the position of the edge binding processing unit 25 during execution of two-point binding. A detailed description of the commonalities with the process described with reference to FIG. 15 will be omitted, and the differences will be mainly described. As shown in FIG. 16(A), at the start of two-point binding, the edge binding processing unit 25 is located at the standby position HP. The first binding position B1 and the second binding position B2 are positioned apart in the main scanning direction. Furthermore, FIG. 16 describes the case where two sheets P1 and P2 are pressure-bonded and bound (i.e., when the predetermined number N=2), but the number of sheets P that make up the sheet bundle Pb is not limited to this.

[0117] The control unit 100b moves the edge stitching processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the liquid application unit 31 can face the first liquid application position B1 before the first sheet P1 of the sheet stack Pb is placed on the internal tray 22. Next, as shown in FIG. 16(B), with the liquid application unit 31 positioned so that it can face the first liquid application position B1, the control unit 100b places the sheet P1, on which an image has been formed by the image forming device 2, on the internal tray 22, and moves the side fences 24L and 24R in the main scanning direction to perform the jogging process.

[0118] Next, in response to the first sheet of paper P1 being placed on the internal tray 22, the control unit 100b causes the liquid deposition unit 31 to deposit liquid onto the first liquid deposition position B1 of the sheet of paper P1. Next, as shown in FIG. 16(C), the control unit 100b moves the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the liquid deposition unit 31 faces the second liquid deposition position B2 of the first sheet of paper P1. Next, the control unit 100b causes the liquid deposition unit 31 to deposit liquid onto the second liquid deposition position B2 of the first sheet of paper P1.

[0119] Next, upon completion of liquid application by the liquid application unit 31 to the first liquid application position B1 and the second liquid application position B2 of the first sheet of paper P1, the control unit 100b stores the second sheet of paper P2 that constitutes the paper stack Pb in the internal tray 22 while leaving the liquid application unit 31 positioned so that it can face the second liquid application position B2, as shown in Figure 16 (D), and performs a jogging process by moving the side fences 24L and 24R in the main scanning direction.

[0120] Next, in response to the second sheet of paper P2 being placed on the internal tray 22, the control unit 100b causes the liquid deposition unit 31 to deposit liquid onto the second sheet of paper P2 at the second liquid deposition position B2. Next, as shown in FIG. 16(E), the control unit 100b moves the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the liquid deposition unit 31 faces the first liquid deposition position B1 of the second sheet of paper P2. Next, the control unit 100b causes the liquid deposition unit 31 to deposit liquid onto the second sheet of paper P2 at the first liquid deposition position B1.

[0121] That is, until the number of sheets of paper P placed on the internal tray 22 reaches the predetermined number N, the control unit 100b repeatedly executes the conveyance of the paper P by the conveyance roller pairs 10, 11, 14, 15 and the liquid application to the first liquid application position B1 and the second liquid application position B2 by the liquid application unit 31. At this time, the control unit 100b causes the liquid application unit 31 to perform liquid application to the B-th (B < N) sheet of paper P in the order of the first liquid application position B1 and the second liquid application position B2. Further, the control unit 100b causes the liquid application unit 31 to perform liquid application to the (B + 1)-th sheet of paper P in the order of the second liquid application position B2 and the first liquid application position B1. In other words, the control unit 100b changes the order in which the liquid application unit 31 applies liquid to the first liquid application position B1 and the second liquid application position B2 for each sheet of paper P. Furthermore, the control unit 100b moves the binding processing unit 25 from one of the first liquid application position B1 and the second liquid application position B2 to the other by the shortest distance without passing through the standby position HP.

[0122] Next, when the control unit 100b determines that the number of sheets of paper P placed on the internal tray 22 has reached the predetermined number N, as shown in FIG. 16(F), the control unit 100b moves the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the crimping unit 32 faces the first binding position B1. Next, the control unit 100b causes the crimping unit 32 to perform crimping binding on the first binding position B1 of the paper bundle Pb composed of the two sheets of paper P1 and P2 placed on the internal tray 22. Next, as shown in FIG. 16(G), the control unit 100b moves the edge binding processing unit 25 in the main scanning direction so that the crimping unit 32 faces the second binding position B2 of the paper bundle Pb. Next, the control unit 100b causes the crimping unit 32 to perform crimping binding on the second binding position B2 of the paper bundle Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0123] 16, the control unit 100b causes the liquid application unit 31 to apply liquid to the first liquid application position B1 last, and therefore causes the crimping unit 32 to perform crimp binding in the order of the first binding position B1 and the second binding position B2. On the other hand, if the control unit 100b causes the liquid application unit 31 to apply liquid to the second liquid application position B2 last, it may cause the crimping unit 32 to perform crimp binding in the order of the second binding position B2 and the first binding position B1.

[0124] 16 , the edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 can move the edge binding processing unit 25 over the shortest distance between the position where the liquid application unit 31 faces the first liquid application position B1 and the position where the liquid application unit 31 faces the second liquid application position B2 without passing through the standby position HP. Furthermore, the edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 can move the edge binding processing unit 25 over the shortest distance between the position where the pressure bonding unit 32 faces the first binding position B1 and the position where the pressure bonding unit 32 faces the second binding position B2 without passing through the standby position HP. Furthermore, the edge binding processing unit moving mechanism 57 can move the edge binding processing unit 25 over the shortest distance between the position where the liquid application unit 31 faces the first liquid application position B1 (or the second liquid application position B2) and the position where the pressure bonding unit 32 faces the first binding position B1 (or the second binding position B2) without passing through the standby position HP.

[0125] Next, the control unit 100b rotates the conveying roller pair 15 to discharge the sheet stack Pb that has been pressure-bound by the pressure-bonding unit 32 at the first binding position B1 and the second binding position B2 onto the second discharge tray 26. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16(H), the control unit 100b drives the edge-stitching unit movement motor 55 to move the binding unit 25 (the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure-bonding unit 32) to the standby position HP.

[0126] In the above description, the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3 is provided separately from the control unit 100a of the image forming apparatus 2, as shown in Fig. 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Fig. 30(A), the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3 may be provided on the image forming apparatus 2 side. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 30(B), the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3 may be configured integrally with the control unit 100a of the image forming apparatus 2.

[0127] 31(A), the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3 may be divided into a control unit 100b1 (for example, a drive system (motor, etc.)) and a control unit 100b2 (a detection system (sensor, etc.)) based on function, and only the control unit 100b2 of one of the post-processing devices 3 may be provided on the image forming device 2 side. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 31(B), the control unit 100b2 of the post-processing device 3 provided on the image forming device 2 side may be configured integrally with the control unit 100a of the image forming device 2.

[0128] [Description of Modifications 1 to 4 of the First Embodiment] Modifications 1 to 4 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 17 to 20. Note that detailed description of commonalities with the first embodiment will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described. Modifications 1 to 4 can be combined in any combination without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, Modifications 1 to 4 can be combined with the embodiments described in this specification without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0129] The post-processing devices 3 according to the first to fourth modifications at least include a liquid deposition unit 31 (liquid deposition means), a crimping unit 32 (crimping means), an edge binding processing unit movement motor 55, a drive force transmission mechanism 551 (edge ​​binding processing unit main scanning movement mechanism), a crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​(rotation shaft), a drive transmission gear 54a, a crimping unit rotation motor 56, and an output gear 56a (crimping means rotation mechanism). In other words, the post-processing devices 3 according to the modifications omit at least the rotation mechanism of the liquid deposition unit 31 (liquid deposition unit rotation motor 563, output gear 563a, drive transmission gear 562a, and liquid deposition unit rotation shaft 562) from the post-processing device 3 according to the first embodiment.

[0130] That is, in the post-processing devices 3 according to Modifications 1 to 4, the posture of the liquid application unit 31 does not change, but the posture of the pressure bonding unit 32 changes. More specifically, the post-processing devices 3 according to Modifications 1 to 4 can perform parallel binding and skew binding while maintaining the liquid application unit 31 in the same posture. The parallel binding is a process in which the sheet stack Pb to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit 31 is pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the parallel binding posture shown in FIG. 17(A). The skew binding is a process in which the sheet stack Pb to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit 31 is pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the skew binding posture shown in FIG. 17(B).

[0131] In the post-processing device 3 according to modifications 1 to 4, of the liquid deposition unit 31 and the pressure bonding unit 32, only the pressure bonding unit 32 changes its position. Here, the "position of the liquid deposition unit 31 (pressure bonding unit 32)" refers to the position of the liquid deposition unit 31 (pressure bonding unit 32) rotated around an axis extending in the thickness direction of the paper P. This makes it possible to omit components for changing the position of the liquid deposition unit 31, thereby simplifying the configuration of the post-processing device 3 and making it possible to reduce the size of the post-processing device 3.

[0132] 17 is a diagram showing a state in which the area (contact surface C1) to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 and the area (crimping surface D) to be crimped and bound by the crimping unit 32 in the parallel binding posture are made to have the same shape. Note that in FIG. 17(B), the crimping surfaces D of the binding teeth 32a and 32b are illustrated by hatching, superimposed on the contact surface C1 of the liquid application member 501.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 17, the shape of the surface of the liquid application member 501 that comes into contact with the paper P (hereinafter referred to as the "contact surface C1") is a rectangle (typically a rectangle) whose long sides (longitudinal direction) are aligned with the main scanning direction (width direction of the paper P) and whose short sides (short-side direction) are aligned with the sub-scanning direction (transport direction of the paper P). Also, as shown in FIG. 17(A), the shape of the surface of the binding teeth 32a, 32b that presses the paper stack Pb with the binding teeth 32a, 32b (hereinafter referred to as the "pressure surface D") is a rectangle whose long sides are aligned with the main scanning direction and whose short sides are aligned with the sub-scanning direction when the pressure applying section 32 is in the parallel binding position. Also, the contact surface C1 and the pressure applying surface D2 have the same shape, with the long side having a length W and the short side having a length H. Furthermore, the area on the paper P to which the liquid is applied corresponds to the contact surface C1, and the area on the paper stack Pb to be pressure-bound corresponds to the pressure applying surface D.

[0134] 17(A), the area on the paper P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of Fig. 14 completely overlaps with the area on the paper stack Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure-binding unit 32 in the parallel binding posture in step S1706 of Fig. 14. In other words, since the liquid is applied to the entire area to be pressure-bound, appropriate binding strength can be obtained.

[0135] On the other hand, when performing the diagonal binding process in the state shown in Fig. 17(B), the crimping unit 32 is changed to the diagonal binding posture in step S1701 of Fig. 14. As a result, the crimping surface D rotates around the crimping unit rotation axis 54 as shown in Fig. 17(B), and the maximum length W1 of the crimping surface D in the main scanning direction becomes larger than the length W of the short side of the contact surface C1, and the maximum length H1 of the crimping surface D in the sub-scanning direction becomes larger than the length H of the short side of the contact surface C1.

[0136] 17(B), there is a non-overlapping portion between the area on the sheet P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of FIG. 14 and the area on the sheet bundle Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the diagonal binding position in step S1706 of FIG. 14. In other words, since liquid is not applied to part of the pressure-bound area, there is a possibility that appropriate binding strength will not be obtained. Therefore, in the following modified examples 1 to 4, a liquid application unit 31 that can apply liquid to the sheet P in the same position to the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb with which the binding teeth 32a, 32b come into contact in the parallel binding process and the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb with which the binding teeth 32a, 32b come into contact in the diagonal binding process will be described.

[0137] [Modification 1 of the First Embodiment] Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the shapes of the contact surface C2 and the pressure-bonding surface D according to Modification 1 of the first embodiment. Note that in Fig. 17(B), the pressure-bonding surfaces D of the binding teeth 32a and 32b are illustrated by hatching, superimposed on the contact surface C2 of the liquid-applying member 501.

[0138] As shown in Fig. 18, the shape and size of the crimping surface D according to Modification 1 are the same as those in Fig. 17. On the other hand, the contact surface C2 according to Modification 1 is a rectangle whose long side with a length W1 is aligned in the main scanning direction and whose short side with a length H1 is aligned in the sub-scanning direction. That is, the contact surface C2 is a rectangle whose long side is the maximum length W1 in the main scanning direction of the crimping surface D of the crimping portion 32 in the diagonal binding posture and whose short side is the maximum length H1 in the sub-scanning direction of the crimping surface D of the crimping portion 32 in the diagonal binding posture. Note that the contact surface C2 only needs to have a long side with a length W1 or more and a short side with a length H1 or more.

[0139] 18(A), the area on the sheets P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of Fig. 14 includes the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the parallel binding posture in step S1706 of Fig. 14. Similarly, when the diagonal binding process is performed in the state of Fig. 18(B), the area on the sheets P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of Fig. 14 includes the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the diagonal binding posture in step S1706 of Fig. 14.

[0140] That is, the area of ​​the contact surface C2 according to Modification 1 encompasses the entire region where the binding teeth 32a, 32b come into contact in the parallel binding process and the entire region where the binding teeth come into contact in the diagonal binding process. In other words, the contact surface C2 according to Modification 1 has a position, size, and shape that can encompass the crimping surface D when the crimping portion 32 is in the parallel binding position and the crimping surface D when the crimping portion 32 is in the diagonal binding position. As a result, in both the parallel binding process and the diagonal binding process, the liquid is applied to the entire region to be crimped and bound, thereby obtaining appropriate binding strength.

[0141] [Modification 2 of the First Embodiment] 19A and 19B are diagrams showing the shapes of the contact surface C3 and the pressure-bonding surface D according to the second modification of the first embodiment. Note that in Fig. 19A and Fig. 19B, the pressure-bonding surfaces D of the binding teeth 32a and 32b are illustrated by hatching, superimposed on the contact surface C3 of the liquid-applying member 501.

[0142] 19, the shape and size of the pressure-bonding surface D according to Modification 2 are the same as those in FIG. 17. On the other hand, the contact surface C3 according to Modification 2 is not a simple rectangle, but has a shape obtained by overlapping an area on the sheet stack Pb with which the binding teeth 32a and 32b come into contact in the parallel binding process and an area on the sheet stack Pb with which the binding teeth 32a come into contact in the diagonal binding process. In other words, the contact surface C3 according to Modification 2 has a shape obtained by overlapping the shape of the pressure-bonding surface D when the pressure-bonding portion 32 is in the parallel binding position with the shape of the pressure-bonding surface D when the pressure-bonding portion 32 is in the diagonal binding position. In other words, the contact surface C3 according to Modification 2 has a shape obtained by excluding the portion that is not pressure-bonded in both the parallel binding process and the diagonal binding process from the contact surface C2 according to Modification 1.

[0143] 19(A), the area on the sheets P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of Fig. 14 includes the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the parallel binding posture in step S1706 of Fig. 14. Similarly, when the diagonal binding process is performed in the state of Fig. 19(B), the area on the sheets P to which liquid is applied by the liquid application unit 31 in step S1703 of Fig. 14 includes the entire area on the sheet bundle Pb to be pressure-bound by the pressure bonding unit 32 in the diagonal binding posture in step S1706 of Fig. 14.

[0144] By adopting the shape of the contact surface C3 according to Modification 2, it is possible to reduce the amount of liquid applied to the portions that are not crimp-bound, compared to the contact surface C2 according to Modification 1. As a result, it is possible to achieve both the effect of obtaining an appropriate binding strength and the effect of reducing the amount of liquid applied to unnecessary portions.

[0145] [Modification 3 of the First Embodiment] 20 is a diagram showing the relationship between the pressure-bonding surface and the contact surface in the parallel binding posture and the diagonal binding posture. In FIG. 20, the liquid application unit 31 (left figure), the pressure-bonding unit 32 in the parallel binding posture (middle figure), and the pressure-bonding unit 32 in the diagonal binding posture (right figure) are arranged in the left-right direction.

[0146] 20, the contact surface C4 of the liquid application member 501 and the pressure-bonding surface D when the pressure-bonding portion 32 is in the parallel binding posture are the same (i.e., have the same shape and size). Each of the binding teeth 32a, 32b has a plurality of (e.g., 17) convex portions extending in the short direction and arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. The greater the number of convex portions that overlap X% (e.g., 50%) or more of the area on the paper-sheet stack Pb to which the liquid is applied, the greater the binding force of the pressure-bonding portion 32.

[0147] 20(A), the crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​is disposed at a position closer to the liquid application unit 31 than the center (dotted line) in the main scanning direction of the crimping unit 32 in the parallel binding posture. On the other hand, the binding teeth 32a, 32b are disposed at the center (dotted line) in the main scanning direction of the crimping unit 32 in the parallel binding posture. In contrast to this, in the example of FIG. 20(B), the binding teeth 32a, 32b and the crimping unit rotation shaft 54 ​​are disposed at positions closer to the liquid application unit 31 than the center (dotted line) in the main scanning direction of the crimping unit 32 in the parallel binding posture.

[0148] 20(A) and 20(B), when the pressure-bonding unit 32 is in the diagonal binding position, the number of protrusions that overlap X% or more with the area on the sheet stack Pb to which the liquid has been applied (i.e., the contact surface C4) is, for example, 13 in FIG. 20(A) and 15 in FIG. 20(B), which is greater in FIG. 20(B). In other words, by arranging the binding teeth 32a, 32b and the pressure-bonding unit rotation shaft 54 ​​as shown in FIG. 20(B), it is possible to exert an appropriate binding force even if the area of ​​the contact surface C4 is minimized (i.e., the area that overlaps with the pressure-bonding surface D when the pressure-bonding unit 32 is in the parallel binding position). However, the number of protrusions is not limited to the example described above.

[0149] [Fourth Modification of the First Embodiment] In the fourth variant of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, assuming that the contact surface C1 and the pressure-bonding surface D have the same shape, a method is described in which the liquid application unit 31 applies liquid to the paper P in the same posture to the entire area on the paper stack Pb where the binding teeth 32a, 32b contact in the parallel binding process and the entire area on the paper stack Pb where the binding teeth 32a, 32b contact in the diagonal binding process, under the control of the control unit 100b.

[0150] 14, the control unit 100b according to the fourth modification makes at least one of the movement amount of the liquid application member 501 in the direction approaching the sheets P, the contact pressure of the liquid application member 501 with the sheets P, the contact time, and the number of contacts different between the parallel binding process and the diagonal binding process. More specifically, the control unit 100b according to the fourth modification makes at least one of the movement amount of the liquid application member 501, the contact pressure of the liquid application member 501 with the sheets P, the contact time, and the number of contacts larger (or more, longer) in the diagonal binding process than in the parallel binding process.

[0151] As one example, in the case of a flexible liquid application member 501 such as a sponge, the control unit 100b increases the amount of movement during the diagonal binding process compared to the amount of movement during the parallel binding process. This causes the tip of the liquid application member 501 to be pressed strongly against the paper P. The same applies to the contact pressure of the liquid application member 501 with the paper P. As another example, the control unit 100b increases the contact time during the diagonal binding process compared to the contact time during the parallel binding process. This increases the time that liquid is applied from the liquid application member 501 to the paper P. The same applies to the number of times the liquid application member 501 comes into contact with the paper P.

[0152] According to Modification 4, the amount of liquid applied in the diagonal binding process can be increased compared to the parallel binding posture. Then, the liquid applied to the paper P spreads to the surroundings, so that the liquid is applied to an appropriate area on the paper P.

[0153] The control unit 100b may change at least one of the movement amount of the liquid supplying member 501, the contact pressure of the liquid supplying member 501 with respect to the paper P, the contact time, and the number of contacts, depending on the type of paper P (for example, the liquid supplying ability). The control unit 100b may also allow the user to select, via the operation panel 110, whether or not to change each of the movement amount of the liquid supplying member 501, the contact pressure of the liquid supplying member 501 with respect to the paper P, the contact time, and the number of contacts.

[0154] [Second embodiment of post-processing device 3] Next, a post-processing device 3A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 21 to 29. Note that components common to the post-processing device 3 according to the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted.

[0155] Unlike the end binding processing unit 25 of the post-processing device 3 according to the first embodiment, which is provided with both the liquid application unit 31 and the pressure-bonding unit 32, the end binding processing unit 251 of the post-processing device 3A according to the second embodiment is provided with only the pressure-bonding unit 32', and the liquid application unit 131 is provided upstream of the conveyance path. This allows a predetermined number of sheets P to be pre-stacked after the liquid application process and conveyed to the pressure-bonding unit 32' of the end binding processing unit 251 provided downstream, thereby improving the productivity of the binding process in the pressure-bonding unit 32'.

[0156] Furthermore, the direction in which the conveying roller pairs 10, 11, and 14 convey the paper P is opposite to the "conveying direction" defined above, and is therefore defined as the "reverse conveying direction." Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the reverse conveying direction and the thickness direction of the paper P is defined as the "main scanning direction (width direction of the paper P)." Furthermore, the position (liquid application position) where liquid is applied to the paper P or the paper stack Pb by the liquid application unit 131 corresponds to the binding position where the pressure bonding unit 32' is scheduled to perform pressure binding on the paper stack Pb. Therefore, in the following description, the liquid application position and the binding position are denoted by the same reference numeral (B1).

[0157] Fig. 21 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the post-processing device 3A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 22, the end binding processing unit 251 is equipped with only a pressure bonding unit 32'. As shown in Fig. 22, the pressure bonding unit 32' and the staple binding processing unit 156 are disposed downstream in the transport direction from the internal tray 22. Furthermore, the pressure bonding unit 32' and the staple binding processing unit 156 are configured to be movable in the main scanning direction at a position where they can face the downstream end in the transport direction of the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0158] Furthermore, the crimping unit 32' and the staple binding processing unit 156 are configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a crimping unit rotation shaft 340 and a staple binding unit rotation shaft 84 that extend in the thickness direction of the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. In other words, the crimping unit 32' and the staple binding processing unit 156 can bind the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 at any position in the main scanning direction and at any angle, such as diagonal corner binding, one-point parallel binding, or two-point parallel binding.

[0159] The crimping unit 32' binds the paper stack Pb by applying pressure and deforming the paper stack Pb with the concave and convex upper crimping teeth 32a and lower crimping teeth 32b (hereinafter referred to as "crimp binding"). On the other hand, the staple binding processing unit 156 can staple the paper stack Pb by passing staples through the binding positions of the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0160] Fig. 22 is a schematic diagram of the internal tray 22 as viewed from the thickness direction of the paper stack Pb. Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram of the pressing unit 32' as viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction. As shown in Fig. 22, the pressing unit 32' and the stapling processing unit 156 are disposed downstream of the internal tray 22 in the transport direction. The pressing unit 32' is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction along the surface of the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. The pressing unit 32' is also configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a pressing unit rotation shaft 340 that extends in the thickness direction of the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0161] Similarly, the staple binding processing unit 156 is configured to be movable in the main scanning direction of the paper-sheet bundle Pb. The staple binding processing unit 156 is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a staple binding unit rotation shaft 84 that extends in the thickness direction of the paper-sheet bundle Pb. Note that other configurations of the staple binding processing unit 156 are similar to those of the staple binding processing unit 155 of the post-processing device 3 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 9), and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 23, the pressure bonding unit 32' has a guide rail 337 extending in the main scanning direction downstream of the internal tray 22 in the conveying direction. The pressure bonding unit 32' is equipped with a pressure bonding unit movement motor 238 as a drive source. Furthermore, a base member 48 supporting the pressure bonding frame 32c has a fastening portion 48b at its bottom for connecting to a timing belt 240c. As a result, the driving force of the pressure bonding unit movement motor 238 is transmitted to the base member 48 by a drive transmission mechanism 240 including pulleys 240a and 240b, the timing belt 240c, and the fastening portion 48b, whereby the pressure bonding unit 32' moves in the main scanning direction along the surface of the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 (in other words, the guide rail 337). Furthermore, a pressure bonding unit rotation shaft 340 including a drive transmission gear 340a is fixed to the bottom surface of the pressure bonding frame 32c, which holds the components of the pressure bonding unit 32'.

[0163] The pressure-bonding unit rotation shaft 340 and the drive transmission gear 340a are held rotatably in forward and reverse directions on a base member 48 on which the pressure-bonding frame 32c is provided. The drive transmission gear 340a meshes with an output gear 239a of a pressure-bonding unit rotation motor 239. The driving force of the pressure-bonding unit rotation motor 239 is transmitted to the pressure-bonding unit rotation shaft 340 via the output gear 239a and the drive transmission gear 340a, causing the pressure-bonding unit 32' to rotate in forward and reverse directions on the base member 48 around the pressure-bonding unit rotation shaft 340, which extends in the thickness direction of the paper P placed on the internal tray 22. The guide rail 337, the pressure-bonding unit movement motor 238, the pressure-bonding unit rotation motor 239, the pressure-bonding unit rotation shaft 340, and the drive transmission mechanism 240 constitute an example of a drive mechanism for the pressure-bonding unit 32'.

[0164] The pressure-bonding unit 32' is configured to be movable between a standby position HP2 shown in Fig. 22(A) and a position facing the first binding position B1 shown in Fig. 22(B) and Fig. 22(C). The standby position HP2 is a position offset to one side in the main scanning direction from the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. The first binding position B1 is a position on the sheet stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22. However, the specific position of the first binding position B1 is not limited to the example in Fig. 22, and may be any position in the main scanning direction at the end of the sheet P on the downstream side in the transport direction, and there may be multiple positions thereat.

[0165] The crimping portion 32' changes its posture between a parallel binding posture shown in Fig. 22(B) and a diagonal binding posture shown in Fig. 22(C). That is, the crimping portion 32' is configured to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a crimping portion rotation shaft 340. Here, the parallel binding posture is a posture of the crimping portion 32' in which the longitudinal directions of the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b (in other words, the rectangular crimping binding marks) are oriented in the main scanning direction. The diagonal binding posture is a posture of the crimping portion 32' in which the longitudinal directions of the upper crimping teeth 32a and the lower crimping teeth 32b (in other words, the rectangular crimping binding marks) are inclined with respect to the main scanning direction.

[0166] In addition, the rotation angle in the diagonal binding position (the angle of the upper and lower crimping teeth 32a and 32b relative to the main scanning direction) is not limited to the example in Figure 22 (C), and can be any angle as long as the upper and lower crimping teeth 32a and 32b face the paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22.

[0167] The post-processing device 3A includes a liquid deposition unit 131 and a punch hole forming means 132 (processing unit). The liquid deposition unit 131 and the punch hole forming means 132 are arranged upstream in the reverse conveyance direction from the internal tray 22. The liquid deposition unit 131 and the punch hole forming means 132 are arranged offset in the reverse conveyance direction at positions where they can simultaneously face one sheet of paper P conveyed by pairs of conveyance rollers 10 to 19.

[0168] The liquid deposition unit 131 and the hole punching means 132 according to this embodiment are disposed between the pair of conveying rollers 10, 11. However, the location of the liquid deposition unit 131 is not limited to the example in FIG. 21 . For example, if an inserter 6 is disposed between the image forming device 2 and the post-processing device 3A as shown in FIG. 29 , the liquid deposition unit 131 can also be provided in the inserter 6 located upstream of the post-processing device 3A. An example of the inserter 6 is a device that can feed preprinted media, which is transported to the post-processing device 3A together with the paper P transported from the image forming device 2, as a cover, an insert sheet, or an interleaf sheet without passing through the image forming device 2.

[0169] 24(A), the conveyance roller pair 11 is disposed at a position that does not overlap in the main scanning direction with the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application head 146 of the liquid application unit 131. This is to prevent a decrease in the amount of liquid at the first liquid application position B1 due to the multiple roller pairs pressing against the first liquid application position B1 when the conveyance roller pair 11 conveys the sheet P. As a result, when the sheet P reaches the pressure bonding unit 32' provided downstream of the liquid application unit 131 in the reverse conveyance direction, the amount of liquid at the first liquid application position B1 is sufficient to maintain the binding strength, and therefore it is possible to prevent a decrease in the binding strength of the sheet bundle Pb due to a decrease in the amount of liquid at the first liquid application position B1 (corresponding to the first binding position B1) during the conveyance process.

[0170] Furthermore, by arranging the multiple roller pairs that make up the conveying roller pair 11 in positions that do not overlap with the first liquid application position B1 on the paper P in the main scanning direction, it is possible to prevent liquid from adhering to the multiple roller pairs, thereby deteriorating the conveying properties of the paper P, and to prevent conveying jams caused by the deterioration of conveying properties.

[0171] Although only the transport roller pair 11 has been described above, it is preferable that the multiple roller pairs that make up the transport roller pairs 14-15 are also arranged in positions that do not overlap with the first liquid application position B1 on the paper P in the main scanning direction.

[0172] The liquid application unit 131 applies liquid (hereinafter referred to as "liquid application") to the paper sheet P being transported by the transport roller pair 10, 11. The punch hole punching means 132 punches holes through the paper sheet P in the thickness direction, the paper sheet P being transported by the transport roller pair 10, 11. Note that the processing unit provided adjacent to the liquid application unit 131 is not limited to the punch hole punching means 132, and may be a skew correction unit that corrects the skew of the paper sheet P being transported by the transport roller pair 10, 11.

[0173] Figure 24 is a view of liquid deposition section 131 according to the second embodiment as seen from the thickness direction of paper P. Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXV-XXV in Figure 24. Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI in Figure 24. As shown in Figures 24 to 26, liquid deposition section 131 includes a pair of guide shafts 133a, 133b, a pair of pulleys 134a, 134b, endless circular belts 135, 136, a liquid deposition section movement motor 137, a standby position sensor 138, and a liquid deposition unit 140.

[0174] The pair of guide shafts 133a, 133b extend in the main scanning direction at positions spaced apart in the reverse transport direction. The pair of guide shafts 133a, 133b are supported by a pair of side plates 4a, 4b of the post-processing device 3A. The pair of guide shafts 133a, 133b support the liquid deposition unit 140 so that it can move in the main scanning direction.

[0175] The pair of pulleys 134a, 134b are disposed between the pair of guide shafts 133a, 133b in the reverse conveyance direction. The pair of pulleys 134a, 134b are disposed spaced apart in the main scanning direction. The pair of pulleys 134a, 134b are supported by the frame of the post-processing device 3A so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a rotation axis extending in the thickness direction of the paper P.

[0176] The endless circular belt 135 is stretched over a pair of pulleys 134a and 134b. The endless circular belt 135 is connected to the liquid deposition unit 140 by a connection part 135a. The endless circular belt 136 is stretched over the pulley 134a and a drive pulley 137a fixed to the output shaft of a liquid deposition unit movement motor 137. The liquid deposition unit movement motor 137 generates a drive force for moving the liquid deposition unit 140 in the main scanning direction.

[0177] Rotation of the liquid deposition unit movement motor 137 causes the endless circular belt 136 to revolve between the pulley 134a and the drive pulley 137a, rotating the pulley 134a. Rotation of the pulley 134a also causes the endless circular belt 135 to revolve between the pair of pulleys 134a and 134b. This causes the liquid deposition unit 140 to move in the main scanning direction along the pair of guide shafts 133a and 133b. Switching the rotation direction of the liquid deposition unit movement motor 137 also causes the liquid deposition unit 140 to move back and forth in the main scanning direction.

[0178] The standby position sensor 138 detects that the liquid deposition unit 140 has reached a standby position HP1 (see FIG. 24) in the main scanning direction, and outputs a standby position signal indicating the detection result to the control unit 100b (see FIG. 27), which will be described later. The standby position sensor 138 is, for example, an optical sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. At the standby position HP1, the liquid deposition unit 140 blocks the optical path between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. The standby position sensor 138 outputs a standby position signal in response to the light output from the light-emitting element not being received by the light-receiving element. However, the specific configuration of the standby position sensor 138 is not limited to the example described above.

[0179] 25, the transport path in post-processing device 3A is defined by an upper guide plate 5a and a lower guide plate 5b that are spaced apart in the thickness direction of paper P. The liquid deposition unit 140 is disposed at a position facing an opening provided in the upper guide plate 5a. That is, the liquid deposition unit 140 is disposed facing the transport path (i.e., a position where it can face paper P) through the opening in the upper guide plate 5a.

[0180] As shown in Figures 24 to 26, the liquid dispensing unit 140 includes a base member 141, a rotating bracket 142, a liquid storage tank 143, a liquid dispensing head moving means 144, a holding member 145, a liquid dispensing head 146, columnar members 147a and 147b, a pressure plate 148, coil springs 149a and 149b, a dispensing head rotating motor 150, a dispensing head moving motor 151 (see Figure 27), and a standby angle sensor 152 (see Figure 27).

[0181] The base member 141 is supported by a pair of guide shafts 133a and 133b so as to be slidable in the main scanning direction. The base member 141 is connected to the endless circular belt 135 by a connecting portion 135a. The base member 141 also supports components (142 to 152) of the liquid deposition unit 140.

[0182] The rotating bracket 142 is attached to the underside of the base member 141 so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions around a rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the paper sheet P. Furthermore, the rotating bracket 142 rotates in forward and reverse directions relative to the base member 141 by transmitting the driving force of a liquid dispensing head rotating motor 150. Furthermore, the rotating bracket 142 holds a liquid storage tank 143, liquid dispensing head moving means 144, a holding member 145, a liquid dispensing head 146, columnar members 147a, 147b, a pressing plate 148, and coil springs 149a, 149b.

[0183] The standby angle sensor 152 (see FIG. 27) detects that the rotating bracket 142 has reached the standby angle, and outputs a standby angle signal indicating the detection result to the control unit 100b. The standby angle is, for example, the angle at which parallel binding occurs. The standby angle sensor 152 is, for example, an optical sensor equipped with a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. The rotating bracket 142 at the standby angle blocks the optical path between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit. The standby angle sensor 152 outputs the standby angle signal in response to the light output from the light-emitting unit not being received by the light-receiving unit. However, the specific configuration of the standby angle sensor 152 is not limited to the example described above.

[0184] 24(A) shows the state when the pressure-bonding unit 32' downstream of the liquid applicator 131 performs parallel binding. Also, the rotation bracket 142 shown in FIG. 24(B) shows the state when the pressure-bonding unit 32' downstream of the liquid applicator 131 performs diagonal binding (corner binding).

[0185] The liquid storage tank 143 stores liquid to be applied to the paper P. The liquid application head moving means 144 is attached to the liquid storage tank 143 so as to be movable (for example, vertically movable) in the thickness direction of the paper P. Furthermore, the liquid application head moving means 144 moves relative to the liquid storage tank 143 by transmitting the driving force of a liquid application head moving motor 151. The holding member 145 is attached to the lower end of the liquid application head moving means 144. The liquid application head 146 protrudes from the holding member 145 towards the conveyance path (downward in this embodiment). Furthermore, the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 143 is supplied to the liquid application head 146. Furthermore, the liquid application head 146 is made of a material with a high liquid absorption rate (for example, sponge or fiber).

[0186] The pillar-shaped members 147a, 147b protrude downward from the holding member 145 around the liquid dispensing head 146. The pillar-shaped members 147a, 147b are configured to be movable relative to the holding member 145 in the thickness direction. The pillar-shaped members 147a, 147b hold a pressing plate 148 at their lower ends. A through-hole 148a is formed in the pressing plate 148 at a position facing the liquid dispensing head 146. Coil springs 149a, 149b are inserted around the pillar-shaped members 147a, 147b between the holding member 145 and the pressing plate 148. The coil springs 149a, 149b bias the pillar-shaped members 147a, 147b and the pressing plate 148 in a direction away from the holding member 145.

[0187] 25(A) and 26(A), before the sheet P is conveyed to a position facing the opening in the upper guide plate 5a, the pressure plate 148 is positioned at or above the opening. Next, when the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 10, 11 stops at a position facing the opening, the application head moving motor 151 is rotated in a first direction. As a result, the liquid application head moving means 144, the holding member 145, the liquid application head 146, the columnar members 147a, 147b, the pressure plate 148, and the coil springs 149a, 149b move downward as a unit, and the pressure plate 148 comes into contact with the sheet P. The first liquid application position B1 is the position (i.e., the first binding position B1) where the sheet P is to be pressure-bound by the edge binding processing unit 251 (i.e., the pressure bonding unit 32′).

[0188] Then, by continuing to rotate the liquid dispensing head moving motor 151 in the first direction after the pressing plate 148 has come into contact with the paper sheet P, the coil springs 149a and 149b are compressed, and the liquid dispensing head moving means 144, the holding member 145, the liquid dispensing head 146, and the pillar-shaped members 147a and 147b are further lowered. Then, as shown in FIGS. 25(B) and 26(B), the lower surface of the liquid dispensing head 146 comes into contact with the paper sheet P through the through-hole 148a. As a result, the liquid contained in the liquid dispensing head 146 is dispensed onto the paper sheet P.

[0189] 25(C) and 26(C), by further rotating the liquid dispensing head movement motor 151 in the first direction, the liquid dispensing head 146 can be pressed even more firmly against the paper P. This increases the amount of liquid dispensed onto the paper P. In other words, the liquid dispensing unit 131 can adjust the amount of liquid dispensed by changing the pressing force of the liquid dispensing head 146 onto the paper P.

[0190] On the other hand, by rotating the liquid dispensing head moving motor 151 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the liquid dispensing head moving means 144, holding member 145, liquid dispensing head 146, columnar members 147a, 147b, pressure plate 148, and coil springs 149a, 149b rise together. As a result, as shown in Figures 25(A) and 26(A), the liquid dispensing head 146 and pressure plate 148 move away from the paper P. In other words, the liquid dispensing unit 131 includes a liquid dispensing head 146 that can be detached from the paper P.

[0191] Fig. 27 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control block that controls the operation of post-processing device 3A according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 27, post-processing device 3A includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a random access memory (RAM) 102, a read only memory (ROM) 103, a hard disk drive (HDD) 104, and an interface (I / F) 105, all of which are connected via a common bus 109.

[0192] The CPU 101 is a computing means and controls the overall operation of the post-processing device 3A. The RAM 102 is a volatile storage medium capable of high-speed reading and writing of information, and is used as a work area when the CPU 101 processes information. The ROM 103 is a read-only non-volatile storage medium in which programs such as firmware are stored. The HDD 104 is a non-volatile storage medium with a large storage capacity that is capable of reading and writing information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, etc.

[0193] The post-processing device 3A processes a control program stored in the ROM 103, an information processing program (application program) loaded into the RAM 102 from a storage medium such as the HDD 104, and the like using the arithmetic functions of the CPU 101. This processing constitutes a software control unit including various functional modules of the post-processing device 3A. The combination of the software control unit thus constituted and the hardware resources installed in the post-processing device 3A constitutes a functional block that realizes the functions of the post-processing device 3A. In other words, the CPU 101, RAM 102, ROM 103, HDD 104, and I / F 105 constitute a control unit 100b (control means) that controls the operation of the post-processing device 3A.

[0194] I / F 105 is an interface that connects the pairs of conveying rollers 10, 11, 14, and 15, the switching member 20, the side fences 24L and 24R, the pressure-bonding unit movement motor 238, the pressure-bonding unit rotation motor 239, the contact / separation motor 32d, the liquid application unit movement motor 137, the application head rotation motor 150, the application head movement motor 151, the standby position sensor 138, the standby angle sensor 152, the punch hole punching means 132, and the operation panel 110 to the common bus 109.

[0195] Through the I / F 105, the control unit 100b controls the operations of the pairs of conveying rollers 10, 11, 14, and 15, the switching member 20, the side fences 24L and 24R, the pressure bonding unit movement motor 238, the pressure bonding unit rotation motor 239, the contact / separation motor 32d, the liquid application unit movement motor 137, the application head rotation motor 150, the application head movement motor 151, and the punch hole punching means 132. In addition, the control unit 100b acquires the detection results of the standby position sensor 138 and the standby angle sensor 152 through the I / F 105.

[0196] Note that Figure 27 mainly illustrates the components of the end binding processing unit 251 (pressing unit 32') and the liquid application unit 131 that perform the end binding process, but the components of the saddle stitching processing unit 28 that perform the saddle stitching process are also similarly controlled by the control unit 100b.

[0197] As shown in FIG. 29, the image forming apparatus 2 includes an operation panel 110. The operation panel 110 includes an operation unit that accepts input operations from the user and a display (notification unit) that notifies the user of information. The operation unit includes, for example, hard keys, a touch panel superimposed on the display, etc. The operation panel 110 acquires information from the user through the operation unit and provides the information to the user through the display. The post-processing device 3A may also be provided with an operation panel 110 similar to the above.

[0198] 28 is a flowchart of post-processing by the post-processing device 3A according to the second embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 28 is a flowchart when the one-point binding process shown in FIG.

[0199] The control unit 100b executes the post-processing shown in FIG. 28 in response to, for example, receiving an instruction to execute post-processing (hereinafter referred to as a "post-processing instruction") from the image forming apparatus 2. The post-processing instruction includes, for example, the number of sheets P constituting the sheet stack Pb (hereinafter referred to as a "predetermined number of sheets Np"), the number of copies of the sheet stack Pb to be bound (hereinafter referred to as a "required number of copies Mp"), the first binding position B1 (corresponding to the first liquid application position B1), the angle of the first binding position B1 (corresponding to the angle of the first liquid application position B1), the type of binding (parallel binding, diagonal binding), and a process to be executed in parallel with the liquid application process (perforation of punch holes in this embodiment). It is assumed that, at the start of post-processing, the liquid application unit 140 is positioned at the standby position HP1 (see FIG. 24), and the rotating bracket 142 is held at the standby angle (corresponding to the "parallel binding position").

[0200] First, the control unit 100b drives the liquid application unit movement motor 137 to move the liquid application unit 140 (corresponding to the liquid application unit) in the main scanning direction, thereby moving the liquid application head 146 from the standby position HP1 to a position where it can face the first liquid application position B1 (see FIG. 24(B) ; a position corresponding to the first binding position B1 in FIGS. 22(B) and 22(C)). Furthermore, if the type of binding process specified in the post-processing instruction is a "diagonal binding process," the control unit 100b drives the liquid application head rotation motor 150 to rotate the rotating bracket 142, thereby rotating the liquid application head 146 from the standby angle to a liquid application angle corresponding to the "diagonal binding posture" (S801). The fact that the liquid application head 146 has reached a position and liquid application angle where it can face the first liquid application position B1 can be determined by pulse signals output from the rotary encoders of the liquid application unit movement motor 137 and the liquid application head rotation motor 150. It should be noted that when the type of binding process instructed in the post-processing instruction is "parallel binding process," the control unit 100b omits the above-described operation of rotating the rotating bracket 142. In other words, the liquid deposition unit 140 moves in the main scanning direction while maintaining the rotating bracket 142 at the standby angle.

[0201] Furthermore, the control unit 100b drives the crimping unit movement motor 238 to move the crimping unit 32' from the standby position HP2 to a position where it can face the first binding position B1, as shown in FIGS. 22(A) and 22(B) (S801). Furthermore, when the type of binding process instructed in the post-processing instruction is the "diagonal binding process," the control unit 100b drives the crimping unit rotation motor 239 to rotate the crimping unit 32' from the standby angle to a crimping binding angle corresponding to the "diagonal binding posture" (S801). It can be recognized from pulse signals output from the rotary encoders of the crimping unit movement motor 238 and the crimping unit rotation motor 239 that the crimping unit 32' has reached the position where it can face the first binding position B1 and the crimping binding angle. Note that when the type of binding process instructed in the post-processing instruction is the "parallel binding process," the control unit 100b omits the operation of rotating the crimping unit 32' described above. That is, the pressure-bonding portion 32' moves in the main scanning direction while maintaining the standby angle.

[0202] Next, the control unit 100b drives the pair of transport rollers 10 and 11 to start transporting the sheet P on which the image has been formed by the image forming apparatus 2 (S802). Then, the control unit 100b determines whether the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P faces the liquid application unit 140 (more specifically, the liquid application head 146) (S803). If it is determined that the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P does not face the liquid application unit 140 (S803: No), the control unit 100b continues transporting the sheet P by the pair of transport rollers 10 and 11 until the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P faces the liquid application unit 140 (S803: Yes). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first liquid application position B1 of the sheet P faces the liquid application head 146 (S803: Yes), the control unit 100b stops transport of the sheet P by the pair of transport rollers 10 and 11 (S804). The fact that the first liquid application position B1 of the paper P faces the liquid application head 146 can be detected by a pulse signal output from a rotary encoder of the motor that drives the pair of transport rollers 10 and 11.

[0203] The control unit 100b executes a process of applying liquid to the first liquid application position B1 on the paper sheet P by the liquid application unit 140 (S805). More specifically, the control unit 100b rotates the application head movement motor 151 in a first direction, thereby bringing the liquid application head 146 into contact with the first liquid application position B1 on the paper sheet P. The control unit 100b also changes the pressing force of the liquid application head 146 (i.e., the amount of rotation of the application head movement motor 151) depending on the amount of liquid applied to the paper sheet P.

[0204] The amount of liquid applied to the paper P may be the same for all the paper P constituting the paper stack Pb, or may be different for each paper P. For example, the control unit 100b may apply less liquid to the paper P that is transported later. The rotation amount of the application head movement motor 151 can be determined by a pulse signal output from a rotary encoder of the application head movement motor 151.

[0205] Next, the control unit 100b drives the conveying roller pairs 10, 11, 14, and 15 to place the paper P on the internal tray 22 (S806). The control unit 100b also executes a so-called jogging process, which aligns the position of the paper P or paper stack Pb placed on the internal tray 22 in the main scanning direction by moving the side fences 24L and 24R in the main scanning direction (S806).

[0206] Next, the control unit 100b determines whether the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has reached the predetermined number Np specified in the post-processing instruction (S807). If the control unit 100b determines that the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has not reached the predetermined number Np (S807: No), it repeats the processes of steps S802 to S807 until the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 reaches the predetermined number Np (S807: Yes).

[0207] On the other hand, when the control unit 100b determines that the number of sheets P placed on the internal tray 22 has reached the predetermined number Np (S807: Yes), it causes the pressure bonding unit 32' to pressure-bind the sheet bundle Pb including the sheets P to which liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit 140 at the first binding position B1 (corresponding to the first liquid application position B1 of the sheets P) (S808). Furthermore, the control unit 100b rotates the conveyance roller pair 15 to eject the pressure-bound sheet bundle Pb onto the second ejection tray 26 (S808).

[0208] Next, the control unit 100b determines whether the number of copies of the sheet stack Pb discharged onto the second discharge tray 26 has reached the required number of copies Mp indicated in the post-processing instruction (S809). If the control unit 100b determines that the number of copies of the discharged sheet stack Pb has not reached the required number of copies Mp (S809: No), it repeats the processes of steps S802 to S809 until the number of copies of the discharged sheet stack Pb reaches the required number of copies Mp (S809: Yes).

[0209] On the other hand, when the control unit 100b determines that the number of copies of the sheet bundle Pb discharged to the second discharge tray 26 has reached the required number of copies Mp (S809: Yes), it drives the liquid application unit movement motor 137 to move the liquid application unit 140 to a standby position HP1 (see FIG. 24), and drives the pressure bonding unit movement motor 238 to move the pressure bonding unit 32' to a standby position HP2 (see FIG. 22) (S810). Furthermore, when the posture instructed in the post-processing instruction is the "diagonal binding posture," the control unit 100b drives the liquid application head rotation motor 150 and the pressure bonding unit rotation motor 239 to rotate the liquid application unit 140 and the pressure bonding unit 32' to the parallel binding posture (standby angle) (S810). On the other hand, when the posture instructed in the post-processing instruction is the "parallel binding posture," the operation of rotating the liquid application unit 140 and the pressure bonding unit 32' to the parallel binding posture (standby angle) is omitted. In steps S801 and S810, the order in which the liquid application unit 140 and the pressure bonding portion 32' are moved in the main scanning direction and rotated in the forward and reverse directions is not limited to the order described above, and may be the reverse of the order described above.

[0210] Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to the end binding processing unit 25 that executes the end binding process, but also to the saddle stitching processing unit 28 that executes the saddle stitching process.

[0211] 21, the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3A according to the second embodiment is provided separately from the control unit 100a of the image forming apparatus 2, as in FIG. 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3A may be provided on the image forming apparatus 2 side, as in FIG. 30(A). Furthermore, the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3A may be configured integrally with the control unit 100a of the image forming apparatus 2, as in FIG. 30(B).

[0212] 31(A), the control unit 100b of the post-processing device 3A may be divided into a control unit 100b1 (for example, a drive system (motor, etc.)) and a control unit 100b2 (a detection system (sensor, etc.)) based on function, and the control unit 100b2 of one of the post-processing devices 3A may be provided on the image forming device 2 side. Furthermore, as in FIG. 31(B), the control unit 100b2 of the post-processing device 3A provided on the image forming device 2 side may be configured integrally with the control unit 100a of the image forming device 2.

[0213] As already explained, the control method by the control unit 100b described above is realized by cooperation between the hardware resources of a computer and a program as computer software. That is, the control method is a method executed by a computer by causing an arithmetic unit, a storage unit, an input unit, an output unit, and a control unit to operate in cooperation with each other based on the program. The program may also be written to a storage unit or a storage medium, etc., and distributed, or distributed via a telecommunications line, etc.

[0214] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the technical gist thereof. The present invention covers all technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims. The above-described embodiments are preferred examples, but a person skilled in the art can realize various modifications from the disclosed content. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims.

[0215] [Aspects of the present invention] The contents of the present invention are as follows, for example. <1> a liquid applying means for applying a liquid to at least one medium; a pressure binding unit that pressurizes and deforms the plurality of media onto which the liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit using binding teeth; an edge-stitching processing section main-scanning movement mechanism that moves the liquid applying means and the pressure bonding means in the width direction of the medium; a pressure-bonding means rotating mechanism that rotates the pressure-bonding means around a rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the medium, The crimping means is a parallel binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is aligned with the width direction to perform the pressure binding; and a diagonal binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is inclined with respect to the width direction to perform the pressure binding. The liquid application means is a media processing device characterized in that it is capable of applying liquid to the media in the same posture in the area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and in the area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process. <2> the above <1> In the media processing device described in the liquid applying means applies the liquid to the medium by bringing a liquid applying member containing the liquid into contact with the medium; This is a media processing device characterized in that the area of ​​the contact surface of the liquid application member with the medium includes the area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and the area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process. <3> the above <2> In the media processing device described in This media processing device is characterized in that the contact surface of the liquid application member with the medium has a shape that overlaps the area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and the area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process. <4> the above <2> or the above <3> In the media processing device described in a control unit for controlling operations of the liquid applying unit and the pressure bonding unit, The control unit is a media processing device characterized by making at least one of the movement amount of the liquid application member, the contact pressure of the liquid application member against the media, the contact time, and the number of contacts different between the parallel binding process and the diagonal binding process. <5> the above <1> or the above <4> In the media processing device according to any one of the above items, The media processing device is characterized in that the binding teeth are disposed at a position closer to the liquid applying means than the center of the crimping means in the width direction. <6> an image forming device for forming an image on the medium; The method of performing the pressure binding on the plurality of media on which images have been formed by the image forming apparatus. <1> or the above <5> and a media processing device according to any one of the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0216] 1: Image forming system 2: Image forming device 3: Post-processing device 25: Edge binding processing unit 31: Liquid application unit 32: Crimping section 42: Liquid application unit movement motor 43: Liquid level sensor 44: First storage tank 45: Liquid supply path 46: Liquid supply pump 47: Second storage tank 50: Liquid supply member 51: Set detection sensor 71: Opening and closing cover 72: Main body side panel 100b: control unit 110: Operation panel 471:Liquid supply valve 501: Liquid application member 611: Drain plug [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0217] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-174594

Claims

1. a liquid applying means for applying a liquid to at least one medium; a pressure binding unit that pressurizes and deforms the plurality of media onto which the liquid has been applied by the liquid application unit using binding teeth; an edge-stitching processing section main-scanning movement mechanism that moves the liquid applying means and the pressure bonding means in the width direction of the medium; a pressure-bonding means rotating mechanism that rotates the pressure-bonding means around a rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the medium, The crimping means is a parallel binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is aligned with the width direction to perform the pressure binding; and a diagonal binding process in which the longitudinal direction of the binding teeth is inclined with respect to the width direction to perform the pressure binding. The liquid application means is capable of applying liquid to the medium in the same posture in the area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and in the area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process.

2. 2. The media processing device according to claim 1, the liquid applying means applies the liquid to the medium by bringing a liquid applying member containing the liquid into contact with the medium; A media processing device characterized in that the area of ​​the contact surface of the liquid application member with the medium includes an area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and an area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process.

3. 3. The media processing device according to claim 2, A media processing device characterized in that the contact surface of the liquid application member with the medium has a shape that overlaps the area where the binding teeth contact during the parallel binding process and the area where the binding teeth contact during the diagonal binding process.

4. 3. The media processing device according to claim 2, a control unit for controlling operations of the liquid applying unit and the pressure bonding unit, The control unit is characterized in that it differs at least one of the movement amount of the liquid application member, the contact pressure of the liquid application member against the medium, the contact time, and the number of contacts between the parallel binding process and the diagonal binding process.

5. 2. The media processing device according to claim 1, The media processing device, wherein the binding teeth are arranged at a position closer to the liquid applying means than the center of the crimping means in the width direction.

6. an image forming device for forming an image on the medium; 2. An image forming system comprising: the media processing device according to claim 1, which performs the pressure binding on a plurality of media on which images have been formed by the image forming device.

Images