Sheet punching device and method for controlling sheet punching device

Abstract

To appropriately punch only one place of a paper bundle even when the paper bundles of different sizes are conveyed.SOLUTION: A conveying section 10 for conveying a sheet bundle B, a punching section 20 capable of punching the sheet bundle B at at least one of a plurality of punching positions arranged along a width direction WD, a pair of guide members 30 for regulating a position in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B arranged in the conveying section 10, a guide moving section 40 for moving the pair of guide members 30 in the width direction WD with respect to the conveying section 10 and the punching section 20, and a control section for controlling the sheet punching device 100, the control part controls the guide moving part 40 so that the end part Ba in the width direction WD of the paper bundle B conveyed by the conveying part 10 coincides with the single punching position when the punching part 20 punches the paper bundle B at the single punching position in the width direction WD.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper punching device and a method for controlling the paper punching device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a paper punching device is known in which a punch holding plate is arranged above a paper transport path and a punch die is arranged below, each perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper passing through the paper transport path, and the punch holding plate is pressed down for each sheet of paper passing through the paper transport path to punch a through hole in the paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which each punch on a punch holding plate is set with a punch die having holes formed therein that match the outer diameter of each opposing punch, allowing the user to select the punch from among the punches on the punch holding plate that is required to punch a hole in paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-207267 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] A bookbinding process is known in which a hole is punched in only one corner of a sheet stack. This type of bookbinding process is performed manually by an operator using a separate punching device after a sheet stack is created using a saddle stitching and folding device that wire stitches multiple sheets together and then folds them.

[0006] In order to automate the function of punching a hole in only one corner of a paper stack created by a saddle stitching and folding device, it is conceivable to receive the paper stack created by the saddle stitching and folding device and punch a hole in the paper punching device of Patent Document 1. In the paper punching device disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, by selecting only a single punch that corresponds to one corner of the paper stack, it is possible to punch a hole in only one corner of the paper stack.

[0007] However, in the paper punching device disclosed in Patent Document 1, while the punch required to punch a hole in a paper sheet can be selected from among a plurality of punches, the positions of the punches in the width direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction are fixed. Therefore, if the width size of the paper stack to be punched by the paper punching device changes, the positions at which the holes are punched will change in accordance with the change in size, making it impossible to punch holes in the appropriate positions on the paper stack.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a paper punching device and a method for controlling a paper punching device that can properly punch only one location on a stack of paper even when stacks of paper of different sizes are transported. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A paper punching device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a conveying section that conveys a stack of paper along a conveying direction; a punching section that is capable of punching the stack of paper conveyed by the conveying section at at least one of a plurality of punching positions arranged along a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; a pair of guide members that are arranged at intervals in the width direction on either side of the conveying section and that regulate the position in the width direction of the stack of paper placed in the conveying section; a guide moving section that moves the pair of guide members in the width direction relative to the conveying section and the punching section; and a control section that controls the paper punching device, wherein the control section controls the guide moving section so that when the punching section punches the stack of paper at a single punching position in the width direction, the punching location in the width direction of the stack of paper conveyed by the conveying section coincides with the single punching position.

[0010] In one aspect of the paper punching device of the present invention, the widthwise position of a stack of paper sheets conveyed by a conveying unit toward a punching unit, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction, is regulated by a pair of guide members arranged at a widthwise interval on either side of the conveying unit. The guide movement unit moves the widthwise positions of the pair of guide members relative to the conveying unit and the punching unit. When the punching unit punches the stack of paper sheets at a single widthwise punching position, the guide movement unit is controlled so that the punching locations in the widthwise direction of the stack of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit coincide with the single punching location. Because the punching locations of the stack of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit are moved to coincide with the single punching location, it is possible to properly punch only one location in the widthwise direction of the stack of paper sheets, even when stacks of paper sheets of different sizes are conveyed.

[0011] In one embodiment of the paper punching device of the present invention, the control unit may be configured to control the guide movement unit to move the paper stack transported by the transport unit from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position where the perforation locations of the paper stack coincide with a single perforation location, control the perforation unit to perforate the perforation locations of the paper stack that has moved to the second reference position with the perforation unit, and control the guide movement unit to move the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position after the perforation locations of the paper stack have been perforated by the perforation unit.

[0012] According to the paper punching device of this configuration, the stack of paper sheets is moved from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position before holes are punched by the punching unit, and the stack of paper sheets is moved from the second reference position in the width direction to the first reference position after holes are punched by the punching unit. In other words, the guide movement unit is controlled so that the widthwise position of the stack of paper sheets matches before and after holes are punched by the punching unit. Because the widthwise position of the stack of paper sheets does not change before and after holes are punched by the punching unit, there is no need to change the processing content of a device located downstream of the paper punching device depending on whether or not to punch the stack of paper sheets.

[0013] In the paper punching device of the above configuration, the control unit may control the transport unit to transport the paper stack along the transport direction when the guide movement unit moves the paper stack from the first reference position to the second reference position, control the transport unit to prevent the paper stack from moving along the transport direction when the punching unit punches the perforation locations in the paper stack, and control the transport unit to transport the paper stack along the transport direction when the guide movement unit moves the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position.

[0014] According to this type of paper punching device, the conveying section is controlled so that the paper stack does not move along the conveying direction when the punching section punches the perforation points in the paper stack, thereby allowing the punching section to reliably punch the perforation points in the paper stack.

[0015] In the paper punching device of the above configuration, a setting unit that sets the size of the paper stack to be transported by the transporting unit may be provided, and the first reference position may be the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the transporting unit receives the paper stack of the size set by the setting unit from another device, and the second reference position may be the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the perforation location of the paper stack of the size set by the setting unit coincides with the single perforation position.

[0016] According to the paper punching device of the above aspect, the size of the paper stack conveyed by the conveying unit is set by the setting unit, and the first reference position and the second reference position are positions corresponding to the size of the paper stack set by the setting unit. Therefore, the guide movement unit can be appropriately controlled according to the size of the paper stack set by the setting unit so that the punching locations of the paper stack conveyed by the conveying unit coincide with the single punching position.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the paper punching device includes a conveying section that conveys a stack of paper along a conveying direction, a punching section that can punch the stack of paper conveyed by the conveying section at at least one of a plurality of punching positions arranged along a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, a pair of guide members that are arranged at intervals in the width direction on either side of the conveying section and that regulate the position of the stack of paper placed in the conveying section in the width direction, and a guide moving section that moves the pair of guide members in the width direction relative to the conveying section and the punching section, and the method includes a conveying step of controlling the conveying section to convey the stack of paper along the conveying direction, and a first moving step of controlling the guide moving section so that when the punching section punches the stack of paper at a single punching position in the width direction, the punching location in the width direction of the stack of paper conveyed by the conveying section coincides with the single punching position.

[0018] According to a method for controlling a paper punching device according to one aspect of the present invention, the widthwise position of a stack of paper sheets conveyed by a conveying unit toward a punching unit, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction, is regulated by a pair of guide members arranged at a widthwise interval on either side of the conveying unit. A guide moving unit moves the widthwise positions of the pair of guide members relative to the conveying unit and the punching unit. Then, when the punching unit punches the stack of paper sheets at a single punching position in the widthwise direction, the guide moving unit is controlled so that the punching location of the stack of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit coincides with the single punching position. Because the punching location of the stack of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit is moved to coincide with the single punching position, it is possible to properly punch only one location of the stack of paper sheets, even when stacks of paper sheets of different sizes are conveyed.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for controlling a paper punching device may include a first movement process that controls the guide movement process unit to move the paper stack transported by the transport unit from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position where the perforation locations on the paper stack coincide with a single perforation location, and a perforation process that controls the perforation unit to perforate the perforation locations on the paper stack that has moved to the second reference position; and a second movement process that controls the guide movement unit to move the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position after the perforation locations on the paper stack have been perforated by the perforation unit.

[0020] According to the method for controlling a paper punching device of this configuration, the stack of paper sheets is moved from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position before holes are punched by the punching unit, and the stack of paper sheets is moved from the second reference position in the width direction to the first reference position after holes are punched by the punching unit. In other words, the guide movement unit is controlled so that the widthwise position of the stack of paper sheets matches before and after holes are punched by the punching unit. Because the widthwise position of the stack of paper sheets does not change before and after holes are punched by the punching unit, there is no need to change the processing content of a device located downstream of the paper punching device depending on whether or not to punch the stack of paper sheets.

[0021] In the method for controlling a paper punching device having the above configuration, the transporting process may be configured to control the transport unit so that the paper stack is transported along the transport direction when the first moving process moves the paper stack from the first reference position to the second reference position, control the transport unit so that the paper stack does not move along the transport direction when the punching process punches holes in the paper stack, and control the transport unit so that the paper stack is transported along the transport direction when the second moving process moves the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position.

[0022] According to this control method for a paper punching device, the conveying section is controlled so that the paper stack does not move along the conveying direction when the punching section punches holes in the paper stack, thereby ensuring that the paper stack can be punched by the punching section.

[0023] A control method for a paper punching device having the above configuration may include a setting step for setting the size of the paper stack to be transported by the transport unit, wherein the first reference position is the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the transport unit receives the paper stack of the size set by the setting step from another device, and the second reference position is the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the perforation location of the paper stack of the size set by the setting step coincides with a single perforation position.

[0024] According to the method for controlling a paper punching device of the above aspect, the size of the paper stack transported by the transport unit is set in the setting process, and the first reference position and the second reference position are each set to positions according to the size of the paper stack set in the setting process. Therefore, the guide movement unit can be appropriately controlled in accordance with the size of the paper stack set in the setting process so that the punching locations on the paper stack transported by the transport unit coincide with the single punching position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper punching device and a method for controlling a paper punching device that can properly punch only one location on a stack of paper even when stacks of paper of different sizes are transported. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view showing a bookbinding system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a plan view of the internal mechanism of the paper punching device shown in FIG. 1, seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit and a setting unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view of the punching section as viewed from the upstream side of the conveying section along the conveying direction. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a punched sheet stack created by a sheet punching device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6]4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a paper punching device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 is a diagram showing a punch type setting screen displayed on a display screen of a punch type setting unit. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 shows a display screen that prompts the operator to select a punch when punching is set to be performed at one location on the far side in the width direction. [Figure 9] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the conveying section conveys a stack of sheets, showing a state before the pair of guide members start to move. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the conveying section conveys a stack of sheets, and shows a state after the pair of guide members start to move. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the conveying section conveys a stack of paper sheets, and shows a state in which an end in the width direction of the stack of paper sheets coincides with a punching position of a selected punch. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the conveying section conveys the stack of sheets, and shows a state in which the stack of sheets has reached a first reference position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A bookbinding system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is an external view showing the bookbinding system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the bookbinding system 1 includes a plurality of collating machines 2, a saddle stitching and folding device 3, a paper cutter 4, and a paper punching device 100.

[0028] The collating machine 2 collates sheets of paper fed from multiple paper feed trays (not shown) in page order to form a sheet bundle B, which is then transported to the saddle stitching and folding device 3. The saddle stitching and folding device 3 staples the sheet bundle B with wire, folds it in half to create a sheet bundle B, and transports it to the paper punching device 100. The paper punching device 100 punches holes in the sheet bundle B that has been specified to be punched, and transports it to the paper cutter 4. The paper cutter 4 cuts the edge of the sheet bundle B transported from the paper punching device 100.

[0029] Figure 2 is a plan view seen from above of the internal mechanism of the paper-sheet punching device 100 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the paper-sheet punching device 100 includes a conveying section 10, a punching section 20, a pair of guide members 30, a guide movement section 40, a control section 50 (see Figure 3) that controls the paper-sheet punching device 100, and a setting section 60 (see Figure 3).

[0030] The conveying section 10 is a device that conveys the sheet stack B conveyed from the collator 2 disposed upstream in the conveying direction TD along the conveying direction TD by rotating a conveying belt 11 formed to extend along the conveying direction TD with a driving roller 12. The conveying belt 11 is wound around the driving roller 12 and a driven roller 13. In Fig. 2, an axis X is an axis parallel to the conveying direction TD, and an axis Y is an axis parallel to the width direction WD perpendicular to the conveying direction TD.

[0031] The conveying section 10 has a conveying guide 14 fixed to the conveying belt 11. The conveying guide 14 is a member that abuts against the rear end of the sheet stack B in the conveying direction TD, thereby conveying the sheet stack B along the conveying direction TD toward the punching section 20.

[0032] The punching section 20 is a device capable of punching holes in the stack of sheets B transported by the transporting section 10 at at least one of a plurality of punching positions Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, and Pf arranged along the width direction WD perpendicular to the transporting direction TD.

[0033] The pair of guide members 30 are formed to extend along the conveying direction TD and are members for regulating the position in the width direction WD of the sheet stack B conveyed by the conveying unit 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the pair of guide members 30 are arranged with a gap W1 in the width direction WD so as to sandwich the conveying unit 10 therebetween.

[0034] The guide moving unit 40 can adjust the distance W1 in accordance with the length of the width direction WD of the paper stack B by moving the pair of guide members 30 in a direction toward or away from each other along the width direction WD. Furthermore, the guide moving unit 40 can move the pair of guide members 30 to any position in the width direction WD relative to the conveying unit 10 and the punching unit 20 while maintaining the distance W1 between the pair of guide members 30.

[0035] The control unit 50 is a device that controls the paper-sheet punching device 100. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 50 and the setting unit 60. As shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 50 has a conveyance control unit 51 that controls the conveyance unit 10, a punching control unit 52 that controls the punching unit 20, and a guide control unit 53 that controls the guide movement unit 40.

[0036] The setting unit 60 is a device that sets the size of the paper stack B that is conveyed by the conveying unit 10 and the type of punching process (punching process) that is performed by the punching unit 20. The setting unit 60 has a paper size setting unit 61 and a punch type setting unit 62. The paper size setting unit 61 sets the size of the paper stack B that is conveyed by the conveying unit 10.

[0037] Next, the punching section 20 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a front view of the punching section 20 as viewed from the upstream side of the conveying section 10 along the conveying direction TD. As shown in Fig. 4, the punching section 20 has a punch die 21, a punch holding plate 22, a punch guide plate 23, punch holders 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, and 24f, punches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f, a support member 26, a coil spring 27, an adjustment screw 28, and an adjustment knob 29.

[0038] The punching section 20 punches a sheet stack B conveyed between the punch die 21 and the punch guide plate 23 at at least one of a plurality of punching positions Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd, Pe, and Pf. The punch die 21 has insertion holes formed therein into which the tips of punches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f are inserted.

[0039] The punch holding plate 22 is a member to which punch holders 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, and 24f are fixed. The punch holders 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, and 24f are mechanisms for holding punches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f, respectively. The punch holders 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, and 24f fix the positions of the punches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f in the vertical direction VD relative to the punch holding plate 22 when the punches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f are either pulled up or pulled down.

[0040] In FIG. 4, punch holders 24a, 24b, 24d, and 24f hold punches 25a, 25b, 25d, and 25f in a pulled-up position, and punch holders 24c and 24e hold punches 25c and 25e in a pulled-down position. Punch holder plate 22 moves in the vertical direction VD by a drive mechanism (not shown) controlled by control unit 50. When punch holder plate 22 moves downward, the tips of punches 25c and 25e punch holes in stack of paper B at punching positions Pc and Pe. The tips of punches 25c and 25e are inserted into the insertion holes of punch die 21. However, even when punch holder plate 22 moves downward, the tips of punches 25a, 25b, 25d, and 25f do not reach stack of paper B.

[0041] The punch guide plate 23 is supported by a support member 26. A coil spring 27 is inserted between the punch holding plate 22 and the punch guide plate 23. The punch holding plate 22 is held in a state where it is abutted against the tip of an adjustment screw 28 by the biasing force of the coil spring 27. The distance between the punch die 21 and the punch guide plate 23 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the tip of the adjustment screw 28 with an adjustment knob 29.

[0042] Here, the stack of sheets B created by the sheet punching device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a punched stack of sheets created by the sheet punching device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the stack of sheets B is bound with wire Bs at two points in the height direction HD of the spine by the saddle stitching and folding device 3. In addition, the end of the spine of the stack of sheets in the height direction HD (the width direction WD of the sheet punching device 100) is punched by the punching unit 20 to form through holes Bh.

[0043] Next, a control method for the paper-sheet punching device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a control method for the paper-sheet punching device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each process shown in Fig. 6 is executed by a control program of the control unit 50.

[0044] In step S100, the paper size setting unit 61 receives input from the operator and sets the size of the paper stack B to be conveyed by the conveying unit 10. The guide movement unit 40 controls the distance W1 between the pair of guide members 30 in the width direction WD so that it matches the size of the paper stack B in the width direction WD set by the paper size setting unit 61.

[0045] In step S101, the punch type setting unit 62 accepts input from the operator and sets the type of punching process to be performed by the punching unit 20. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a punch type setting screen displayed on a display screen of the punch type setting unit 62. As shown in Fig. 7, the setting screen displays a first setting area 62a corresponding to a setting where no punching process is performed, a second setting area 62b corresponding to a setting where punching process is performed in two locations, a third setting area 62c corresponding to a setting where punching process is performed in one location on the far side in the width direction WD, and a fourth setting area 62d corresponding to a setting where punching process is performed in one location on the near side in the width direction WD.

[0046] When the operator touches any of the first setting area 62a, the second setting area 62b, the third setting area 62c, and the fourth setting area 62d and then presses the OK button 62e, the type of punching process corresponding to that setting area is set and transmitted to the control unit 50. The punch type setting unit 62 sets the punching process to not be performed when the operator touches the first setting area 62a, sets the punching process to be performed in two locations when the operator touches the second setting area 62b, sets the punching process to be performed in one location on the far side in the width direction WD when the operator touches the third setting area 62c, and sets the punching process to be performed in one location on the near side in the width direction WD when the operator touches the fourth setting area 62d.

[0047] In step S102, the punch type setting unit 62 determines whether selection of the punch type set in step S101 has been completed, and if YES, proceeds to step S103, and if NO, repeats step S102. The punch type setting unit 62 displays the display screen shown in Fig. 8 to prompt the operator to select a punch. Fig. 8 shows the display screen that prompts the operator to select a punch when setting is made to perform punching processing at one location on the far side in the width direction WD.

[0048] When the display screen shown in Fig. 8 is displayed, the operator pulls down punch holder 24a shown in Fig. 4 to enable punch 25a corresponding to punch holder 24a to punch a hole in stack of paper-sheets B. On the other hand, the operator pulls up punch holders 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, and 24f shown in Fig. 4 to disable punch holders 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, and 25f corresponding to punch holders 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, and 24f from punching a hole in stack of paper-sheets B. After performing the above operations, the operator presses OK button 62f in Fig. 8.

[0049] In step S102, the punch type setting unit 62 determines that the selection of the punch type set in step S101 has been completed in response to the operator pressing the OK button 62f, and proceeds to step S103.

[0050] In step S103, the conveyance control unit 51 controls the conveyance unit 10 to start driving the conveyance belt 11, and conveys the sheet stack B supplied from the saddle-stitching and folding device 3 toward the punching unit 20 along the conveyance direction TD.

[0051] In step S104, if the type of punch set in step S101 is set to perform punching at one location on the front or rear side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to start moving the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at one location on the front side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 moves the pair of guide members 30 toward the front along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at one location on the rear side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 moves the pair of guide members 30 toward the rear along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at two locations in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to maintain the position of the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD.

[0052] In step S105, the control unit 50 determines whether the sheet stack B has reached the second reference position, and if the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S106. The control unit 50 determines that the sheet stack B has reached the second reference position when the sheet stack B has reached a position in the conveying direction TD and a position in the width direction WD that correspond to the type of punching process (punch type) set in step S101.

[0053] Position Y2 on the axis Y, which is the second reference position, is the position at which center position P0 of the paper-sheet stack B is located when the rear end (punch position) Ba of the paper-sheet stack B coincides with position Ya (the position corresponding to punch position Pa) on the axis Y of the punch holder 24a that holds the selected punch 25a (see FIG. 11, which will be described later). The second reference position is the center position P0 in the width direction WD of the paper-sheet stack B when the end Ba in the width direction WD of the paper-sheet stack B of the size set by the paper size setting unit 61 coincides with a single punch position (the position of the punch 25a).

[0054] Here, the operation of the conveying unit 10 and the guide moving unit 40 when the type of punching process (punch type) set in step S101 is set to be performed at one location on the rear side of the sheet stack B in the width direction WD will be described. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the state in which the conveying unit 10 conveys the sheet stack B, showing the state before the pair of guide members 30 start to move.

[0055] As shown in Figure 9, the conveying section 10 receives the stack of paper B from the saddle stitching folding device 3, aligns the center position P0 of the stack of paper B in the width direction WD with position Y1 on the axis Y, abuts the conveying guide 14 against the rear end of the stack of paper B in the conveying direction TD, and conveys the stack of paper B along the conveying direction TD.

[0056] 9, the end Ba on the far side in the width direction WD of the sheet bundle B is the position to be punched by the punch 25a selected in step S102. As shown in FIG. 9, when the center position P0 of the sheet bundle B in the width direction WD coincides with position Y1, the position of the end Ba in the width direction WD does not coincide with the position of the punch holder 24a (punch 25a) in the width direction WD.

[0057] 9, position Y1 on axis Y, which is the first reference position, is the position where center position P0 of sheet stack B is located before the pair of guide members 30 start moving in the width direction WD. The first reference position is center position P0 of sheet stack B in the width direction WD when conveying unit 10 receives sheet stack B of the size set by sheet size setting unit 61 from saddle stitching device 3 (another device).

[0058] 10 is a plan view showing the state in which the conveying unit 10 conveys the stack of sheets B, and shows the state after the pair of guide members 30 have started to move. As shown in FIG. 10, after the pair of guide members 30 have started to move, the conveying unit 10 sets the center position P0 of the stack of sheets B in the width direction WD to a position on the axis Y that is further inward in the width direction WD than Y1, abuts the conveying guide 14 against the rear end of the stack of sheets B in the conveying direction TD, and conveys the stack of sheets B along the conveying direction TD. As shown in FIG. 10, the position in the width direction WD of the end Ba of the stack of sheets B and the position in the width direction WD of the punch holder 24a (punch 25a) do not match.

[0059] 11 is a plan view showing the state in which conveyance unit 10 conveys sheet stack B, and shows a state in which end Ba in the width direction WD of sheet stack B coincides with the punching position of selected punch 25a. When the state shown in FIG. 11 is reached, control unit 50 determines that sheet stack B has reached punching position Pa of selected punch 25a, and proceeds to step S106.

[0060] In step S106, the conveyance control unit 51 controls the conveyance unit 10 to stop driving the conveyor belt 11. In step S107, if the punch type set in step S101 is set to perform punching at one location on the front or rear side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to stop the movement of the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD. When the drive of the conveyor belt 11 and the movement of the pair of guide members 30 are stopped, the state shown in FIG. 11 is maintained.

[0061] As described above, in steps S103 to S107, when the punching section 20 punches the stack of paper B at a single punching position Pa (position where punch 25a is placed) located at the end of the width direction WD, the control section 50 controls the guide movement section 40 so that the end Ba of the stack of paper B in the width direction WD transported by the transport section 10 coincides with the single punching position Pa (position where punch 25a is placed).

[0062] Furthermore, the control unit 50 controls the conveying unit 10 to convey the sheet stack B along the conveying direction TD when the guide movement unit 40 moves the sheet stack B from position Y1, which is the first reference position, to position Y2, which is the second reference position. The control unit 50 also controls the conveying unit 10 to prevent the sheet stack B from moving along the conveying direction TD when the punching unit 20 punches an end Ba of the sheet stack B in the width direction WD.

[0063] In step S108, the punching control unit 52 controls the punching unit 20 to execute punching processing to punch the edge Ba of the bundle of paper-sheets B with the selected punch 25a.

[0064] In step S109, the conveyance control unit 51 controls the conveyance unit 10 to start driving the conveyance belt 11, and conveys the sheet stack B supplied from the saddle stitching and folding device 3 toward the cutter 4 along the conveyance direction TD.

[0065] In step S110, if the type of punch set in step S101 is set to perform punching at one location on the front or rear side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to start moving the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at one location on the front side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 moves the pair of guide members 30 toward the rear side along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at one location on the rear side in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 moves the pair of guide members 30 toward the front side along the width direction WD. If the setting is to perform punching at two locations in the width direction WD, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to maintain the position of the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD.

[0066] In step S111, the control unit 50 determines whether the sheet stack B has reached position Y1, which is the first reference position, and if YES, proceeds to step S112, and if NO, repeats the process of step S111. The control unit 50 determines that the sheet stack B has reached the first reference position when the center position P0 of the sheet stack B coincides with position Y1.

[0067] 12 is a plan view showing the state in which the conveying unit 10 conveys the sheet stack B, and shows the state in which the sheet stack B has reached the first reference position. The control unit 50 controls the conveying unit 10 to convey the sheet stack B along the conveying direction TD when the guide movement unit 40 moves the sheet stack B from the first reference position to the second reference position.

[0068] In step S112, the guide control unit 53 controls the guide movement unit 40 to stop the movement of the pair of guide members 30 along the width direction WD.

[0069] As described above, in steps S109 to S112, the control unit 50 controls the guide movement unit 40 to move the paper stack B from the second reference position (position Y2) to the first reference position (position Y1) after the paper stack B has been punched at a single punching position Pa (position where the punch 25a is positioned) where the punching unit 20 is positioned at the end Ba in the width direction WD.

[0070] In step S113, the control unit 50 determines whether the transport of the sheet bundle B to the cutter 4 has been completed, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S114, and if NO, the control unit 50 repeats the determination of step S113. For example, when the leading edge of the sheet bundle B in the transport direction TD reaches a predetermined position on the cutter 4, the control unit 50 determines that the transport of the sheet bundle B to the cutter 4 has been completed.

[0071] In step S114, the conveyance control unit 51 controls the conveyance unit 10 to stop driving the conveyor belt 11, and ends the processing of this flowchart.

[0072] The actions and effects achieved by the paper-sheet punching device 100 of the present embodiment described above will now be described.

[0073] In the paper-sheet punching device 100 of this embodiment, the position of the bundle of paper-sheets B, conveyed by the conveying unit 10 toward the punching unit 20, in the width direction WD perpendicular to the conveying direction TD is regulated by a pair of guide members 30 arranged at a distance in the width direction WD so as to sandwich the conveying unit 10. The guide movement unit 40 moves the positions of the pair of guide members 30 in the width direction WD relative to the conveying unit 10 and the punching unit 20. When the punching unit 20 punches the bundle of paper-sheets B at a single punching position located at an end Ba in the width direction WD, the guide movement unit 40 is controlled so that the end Ba in the width direction WD of the bundle of paper-sheets B conveyed by the conveying unit 10 coincides with the single punching position. Because the end Ba in the width direction WD of the bundle of paper-sheets B conveyed by the conveying unit 10 moves to coincide with the single punching position, it is possible to properly punch only one location at the end Ba of the bundle of paper-sheets B even when bundles of paper-sheets B of different sizes are conveyed.

[0074] According to paper punching device 100 of this embodiment, before punching by punching unit 29, stack of paper-sheets B is moved from position Y1, which is the first reference position in the width direction WD, to position Y2, which is the second reference position, and after punching by punching unit 20, stack of paper-sheets B is moved from position Y2, which is the second reference position in the width direction WD, to position Y1, which is the first reference position. In other words, guide movement unit 40 is controlled so that the position of stack of paper-sheets B in the width direction WD matches before and after punching by punching unit 20. Because the position of stack of paper-sheets B in the width direction WD does not change before and after punching by punching unit 20, there is no need to change the processing content of a device arranged downstream of paper punching device 100 depending on whether or not stack of paper-sheets B is punched.

[0075] According to the paper punching device 100 of this embodiment, the conveying section 10 is controlled so that the paper stack B does not move along the conveying direction TD when the punching section 20 punches the end Ba of the paper stack B in the width direction WD, so that the end Ba of the paper stack B can be reliably punched by the punching section 20.

[0076] According to the paper punching device 100 of this embodiment, the size of the paper stack B conveyed by the conveying unit 10 is set by the paper size setting unit 61, and the first reference position Y1 and the second reference position Y2 are each set to positions according to the size of the paper stack B set by the paper size setting unit 61. Therefore, the guide movement unit 40 can be appropriately controlled according to the size of the paper stack B set by the paper size setting unit 61 so that the end Ba in the width direction WD of the paper stack B conveyed by the conveying unit 10 coincides with a single punching position. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1. Bookbinding system 2 Collator 3 Folding device 4 Paper cutting machine 10 Conveying section 11 Conveyor belt 12 Drive roller 13 Driven roller 14 Transport guide 20 Perforation 21 Punch die 22 Punch holding plate 23 Punch guide plate 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f Punch holder 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f punch 26 Support member 27 Coil spring 28 Adjustment screw 29 Perforation 30 Guide member 40 Guide moving part 50 control section 51 Transport control unit 52 Drilling control section 53 Guide control section 60 Setting section 61 Paper size setting section 62 Punch type setting section 62a First setting area 62b Second setting area 62c 3rd setting area 62d 4th setting area 62e,62f OK button 100 Paper punching device B Paper stack Ba end (perforation point) Bh through hole Bs wire HD Height direction P0 center position Pa,Pb,Pc,Pd,Pe,Pf Drilling position TD conveying direction VD vertical direction WD Width direction X,Y axis

Claims

1. A paper punching device, a conveying section that conveys the sheet stack along a conveying direction; a punching unit capable of punching holes at at least one of a plurality of punching positions arranged along a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in the sheet stack conveyed by the conveying unit; a pair of guide members that are arranged at an interval in the width direction so as to sandwich the conveying section and that regulate a position in the width direction of the sheet stack that is placed in the conveying section; a guide moving unit that moves the pair of guide members in the width direction relative to the conveying unit and the punching unit; a control unit that controls the paper punching device, The control unit controls the guide movement unit so that the widthwise perforation location of the paper stack transported by the transport unit coincides with the single perforation position when the perforation unit perforates the paper stack at a single perforation position in the width direction.

2. The control unit controlling the guide movement unit to move the sheet stack conveyed by the conveyance unit from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position where the perforation locations of the sheet stack coincide with the single perforation position; controlling the punching unit so that the punching portion of the sheet stack that has been moved to the second reference position is punched by the punching unit; The paper punching device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide moving section is controlled to move the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position after the perforations in the paper stack have been punched by the punching section.

3. The control unit controlling the transport unit to transport the sheet bundle along the transport direction when the guide movement unit moves the sheet bundle from the first reference position to the second reference position; controlling the conveying unit so that the sheet bundle does not move along the conveying direction when the punching unit punches the perforation locations of the sheet bundle; The paper punching device according to claim 2 , wherein the guide movement unit controls the transport unit so as to transport the paper stack along the transport direction when the guide movement unit moves the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position.

4. a setting unit that sets the size of the paper stack to be conveyed by the conveying unit, the first reference position is a center position in the width direction of the sheet bundle when the conveying unit receives the sheet bundle of the size set by the setting unit from another device, A paper punching device as described in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second reference position is the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the punching location of the paper stack of the size set by the setting unit coincides with a single punching position.

5. A method for controlling a paper punching device, comprising: The paper punching device a conveying section that conveys the sheet stack along a conveying direction; a punching unit capable of punching holes at at least one of a plurality of punching positions arranged along a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in the sheet stack conveyed by the conveying unit; a pair of guide members that are arranged at an interval in the width direction so as to sandwich the conveying section and that regulate a position in the width direction of the sheet stack that is placed in the conveying section; a guide moving unit that moves the pair of guide members in the width direction relative to the conveying unit and the punching unit, a conveying step of controlling the conveying unit so as to convey the sheet bundle along the conveying direction; A method for controlling a paper punching device, comprising: a first movement process for controlling the guide movement unit so that, when the punching unit punches the paper stack at a single punching position in the width direction, the punching location in the width direction of the paper stack transported by the transport unit coincides with the single punching position.

6. the first movement step controls the guide movement unit to move the sheet bundle conveyed by the conveyance unit from a first reference position in the width direction to a second reference position where the perforation locations of the sheet bundle coincide with the single perforation position; a punching step of controlling the punching unit so that the punching unit punches the punched portion of the sheet stack that has been moved to the second reference position; A method for controlling a paper punching device as described in claim 5, further comprising a second movement process of controlling the guide movement unit to move the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position after the punching location of the paper stack has been punched by the punching unit.

7. The transporting step includes: the first moving step controls the conveying unit to convey the sheet bundle along the conveying direction when moving the sheet bundle from the first reference position to the second reference position; controlling the conveying unit so that the sheet bundle does not move along the conveying direction when the punching step punches the perforation locations of the sheet bundle; The method for controlling a paper punching device according to claim 6, wherein the second movement step controls the transport unit so as to transport the paper stack along the transport direction when moving the paper stack from the second reference position to the first reference position.

8. a setting step for setting the size of the paper stack to be conveyed by the conveying unit, the first reference position is a center position in the width direction of the sheet bundle when the conveying unit receives the sheet bundle of the size set in the setting step from another device, A method for controlling a paper punching device as described in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the second reference position is the center position in the width direction of the paper stack when the punching location of the paper stack of the size set by the setting process coincides with a single punching position.

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