Folding device, folding bundle formation method, and folding bundle formation program

Abstract

This allows the folded stacks of recording media to be neatly stored in the stacker without interfering with each other. [Solution] The folding device 1 skips the folding operation before the width of the folded bundle formation section P, which is the sum of the width L of the folded bundles formed by the folding operation of the folding roller pair 6, 7 of the recording medium 2 along the transport direction and the width L' of the unfolded section located between adjacent pairs of folded bundles of the recording medium 2 along the transport direction, reaches the width of the storage space of the stacker 12 along the transport direction, thereby placing an unfolded bundle formation section Q, which is a section in the recording medium 2 where no folded bundles have been formed, into the recording medium 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding device, a method for forming a folded bundle, and a program for forming a folded bundle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a paper folding device that folds a recording medium to form a plurality of consecutive folded bundles. In order to prevent the folded bundles from getting stuck at the discharge port and causing paper jams, a configuration for constructing two parts, namely, the folded bundle formed by the folding operation and the non-folded section where the folding operation is skipped, is disclosed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In the method described in Patent Document 1 and the like, when continuously folding a long sheet of paper, folded bundles that are horizontally long in the conveyance direction are successively folded. As a result, the total width of a plurality of folded bundles becomes larger than the storage width of the stacker, and when being stored in the stacker, the plurality of folded bundles may interfere with each other and may not be properly stored.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to enable the recording medium to be properly stored in the stacker without interference between the folded bundles of the recording medium.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, a folding device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a pair of folding rollers for folding a recording medium; a pair of transport rollers for transporting the recording medium to the pair of folding rollers; a guiding means for switching the direction in which the recording medium is folded by the pair of folding rollers and for folding the recording medium; an outlet for discharging a bundle of folded recording mediums that have been folded by the pair of folding rollers; a detection means capable of measuring the folded width of the recording medium; and a stacker for storing the recording mediums discharged from the outlet, wherein the folding operation is skipped before the width of the bundle-forming section, which is the sum of the width of a plurality of bundles of the recording medium formed by the folding operation of the pair of folding rollers along the transport direction of the recording medium and the width of a non-folded section of the recording medium arranged between adjacent pairs of the bundles along the transport direction, reaches the width of the storage space of the stacker along the transport direction, thereby placing a non-folded bundle-forming section, which is a section in which no bundles have been formed, on the recording medium by skipping the folding operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The stacks of recording media can be neatly stored in the stacker without the folded stacks interfering with each other. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the schematic configuration of a folding device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Diagram showing the point at which a set of folded bundle sections fits into the stacker. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the first stage, where the non-folding bundle sections begin to be stored in the stacker after the folded bundle sections have been stored in the stacker. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the second stage, where the non-folding bundle sections begin to be stored in the stacker after the folded bundle sections have been stored in the stacker. [Figure 5] This diagram shows how the non-folding bundle formation sections are placed in the stacker, overlapping the folded bundle formation sections that were initially placed in the stacker. [Figure 6]Figure 1 shows the state after the recording medium formed by the folding device has been finally stored in the stacker. [Figure 7] Diagram showing a modified example of the non-folded bundle formation section. [Figure 8] A diagram showing a first modified example of how recording media are stored in a stacker. [Figure 9] Figure 8 shows an example of the stacking state of recording media on the stacker. [Figure 10] A diagram showing a second modified configuration of the storage of recording media in a stacker. [Figure 11] Flowchart related to the control of folded bundle formation performed by a folding device [Figure 12] Flowchart showing the subroutine processing in step S5 of Figure 11 [Figure 13] Flowchart showing the subroutine processing in step S14 of Figure 12 [Figure 14] Flowchart of the subroutine processing in step S7 of Figure 11 [Figure 15] Hardware configuration diagram of the control unit [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. To facilitate understanding of the explanation, the same reference numerals are used for identical components in each drawing whenever possible, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0009] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a folding device 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, a recording medium 2 such as paper is supplied to the folding device 1 by a pair of paper feed rollers 3 from another device such as an image forming apparatus (or the main body of the device on which the folding device 1 is mounted). The folding device 1 forms alternating left and right fold positions on the recording medium 2 that has been transported by the pair of paper feed rollers 3, using a pair of folding rollers 6, a pair of folding rollers 7, a folding knife 4, a folding knife 5, a folding width detection sensor 8, and a folding width detection sensor 9.

[0010] The folding roller pair 6 is an element that forms a folding position on the left side of the recording medium 2 in the drawing by nip. The folding roller pair 7 is an element that forms a folding position on the right side of the recording medium 2 in the drawing by nip. In the example of Figure 1, the direction of transport of the recording medium from the paper feed roller pair 3 is downward in the drawing, and the folding roller pair 6 and folding roller pair 7 are arranged on both sides of the pair of main surfaces of the recording medium 2 transported from the paper feed roller pair 3, and are arranged opposite each other in the horizontal direction in the drawing, which is perpendicular to this transport direction. In the example of Figure 1, the folding roller pair 6 is arranged on the left side of the main surface of the recording medium 2 in the drawing, and the folding roller pair 7 is arranged on the right side of the main surface of the recording medium 2 in the drawing.

[0011] The folding knife 4 is an element that guides the recording medium 2 to the folding roller pair 6. The folding knife 4 is positioned on the folding roller pair 7 side, which is one of the main surfaces of the recording medium 2 being transported from the paper feed roller pair 3, and upstream of the folding roller pair 7 in the transport direction. The folding knife 4 is installed to be movable toward the lower left in the figure, as shown by arrow B in Figure 1, that is, between the two nip rollers of the folding roller pair 6.

[0012] The folding knife 5 is an element that guides the recording medium 2 to the folding roller pair 7. The folding knife 5 is positioned on the folding roller pair 6 side, which is the other main surface side of the recording medium 2 conveyed from the paper feed roller pair 3, and upstream of the folding roller pair 6 in the conveying direction. The folding knife 5 is installed to be movable toward the lower right in the figure, as shown by arrow A in Figure 1, that is, between the two nip rollers of the folding roller pair 7.

[0013] The folding knives 4 and 5 are examples of means for switching the direction in which the recording medium 2 is folded by the folding roller pairs 6 and 7, and for guiding the recording medium 2 into the folding mechanism.

[0014] The folding width detection sensor 8 is an element that measures the folding width from the right side on the drawing. In the example of FIG. 1, the folding width detection sensor 8 is arranged on the right side in the figure with respect to the pair of folding rollers 7. The folding width detection sensor 9 is an element that measures the folding width from the left side on the drawing. In the example of FIG. 1, the folding width detection sensor 9 is arranged on the left side in the figure with respect to the pair of folding rollers 6.

[0015] The folding width detection sensors 8 and 9 are an example of detection means that can measure the folding width of the recording medium 2.

[0016] In the example of FIG. 1, the paper feed roller pair 3 rotates in the downward conveyance direction, the folding roller pair 6 and the folding roller pair 7 rotate in the rightward conveyance direction. Also, the folding knife 5 is operating, that is, it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure and pushes out the recording medium 2 diagonally downward to the right. At this time, the folding knife 4 is in a non-operating state and its tip is arranged at a position on the right side of the recording medium 2 in the figure and is not in contact with the recording medium 2. That is, in FIG. 1, the state where the folding position is about to be formed on the right side of the recording medium 2 by the folding roller pair 7 is illustrated.

[0017] The folding device 1 forms a concertina fold by repeating such operations alternately from left to right. That is, the operation illustrated in FIG. 1 (the first operation) and, conversely to FIG. 1, the folding roller pair 6 and the folding roller pair 7 rotate in the leftward direction, the folding knife 4 operates and moves in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the figure and pushes out the recording medium 2 diagonally downward to the left to form a folding position on the left side of the recording medium 2 by the folding roller pair 6 (the second operation) are repeated. Finally, one or a plurality of folded bundles pass through the paper discharge roller 11 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction (the right side with respect to the folding roller pair 7 in the example of FIG. 1) and are discharged to the stacker 12 and stored in the storage space of the stacker.

[0018] The paper discharge roller 11 is an example of a discharge port that discharges the folded bundle of the recording medium 2 that has been subjected to the folding process by the folding roller pairs 6 and 7.

[0019] Furthermore, the folding device 1 includes a control device 13. The control device 13 controls the operation of each element of the folding device 1, such as the paper feed roller pair 3, the folding roller pair 6, the folding roller pair 7, the folding knife 4, the folding knife 5, and the paper discharge roller 11. The control device 13 can perform control to form a desired folded bundle by, for example, switching between the first operation and the second operation described above when the recording medium 2 is detected by the folding width detection sensor 8 or the folding width detection sensor 9.

[0020] Figure 2 shows the point in time when a set of folded bundle formation sections P is placed in the stacker 12. In Figure 2, the recording medium 2 includes multiple folded bundles (three in the example in Figure 2) and unfolded sections (two in the example in Figure 2) placed between adjacent pairs of folded bundles (the range from the rightmost edge of the recording medium 2 to reference numeral 10e is exemplified as the "folded bundle formation section P". Also in Figure 2, the point in time when this folded bundle formation section P has passed through the folding width detection sensor 8 shown in Figure 1, passed through the paper discharge roller 11, and is placed in the stacker 12. In Figure 2, creases 10a to 10f are provided at the downstream end in the transport direction and the upstream end in the transport direction of each folded bundle, respectively, to facilitate manual folding.

[0021] Here, if we let L be the width of one fold in each folded bundle, then in this embodiment, the total storage width R of the stacker 12 (width along the transport direction of the storage space) is 5.5L, so it is necessary to keep the folded bundle formation section P to be discharged within 5.5L. Therefore, in this embodiment, the folding device 1 in Figure 1 creates a folded bundle formation section P of a total of 5L, consisting of fold width L × 3 + non-folded section L' (the section between crease 10a and crease 10b, and the section between crease 10c and crease 10d) × 2, which is then transported in the discharge direction and stored in the stacker 12. In the example in Figure 2, the width L of the folded bundle along the transport direction and the width L' of the non-folded section along the transport direction are assumed to be approximately the same. In the following explanation, the folded bundle or the folded width itself may be represented by the symbol L, and the non-folded section itself may be represented by the symbol L'.

[0022] Accordingly, in the folding device 1 shown in Figure 1, a non-folding bundle formation section Q, in which the folding operation is skipped by a total of L x 5 (5L), is transported in the paper discharge direction from the position of crease 10e, which is the end of the first folding bundle formation section P, to the position of crease 10f, which is downstream in the transport direction of the next folding bundle. In other words, on the recording medium 2, the non-folding bundle formation section Q is placed between one adjacent folding bundle formation section P and another folding bundle formation section P.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the first stage, after the folded bundle formation section P has been stored in the stacker 12, and the non-folded bundle formation section Q has begun to be stored in the stacker 12. Figure 4 shows the second stage, after the folded bundle formation section P has been stored in the stacker 12, and the non-folded bundle formation section Q has begun to be stored in the stacker 12.

[0024] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, as the non-folded bundle formation section Q is stored, the subsequent folded bundle formation section P is transported in the paper discharge direction. When the non-folded bundle formation section Q is stored in the stacker 12, it is gradually stored from the position of the crease 10e on the upstream side (left side in the figure) of the storage space of the stacker 12 in the transport direction, toward the downstream side (right side in the figure).

[0025] Figure 5 shows how the non-folding bundle formation section Q is stored in the stacker 12, overlapping the folded bundle formation section P that was initially stored in the stacker 12. As shown in Figure 5, while the non-folding bundle formation section Q is being stored in the stacker 12, the subsequent folding bundle formation section P is transported with the non-folding bundle formation section Q overlapping it and then stored in the stacker 12. At this time, the non-folding bundle formation section Q is always interposed between the first folding bundle formation section P stored in the stacker 12 and the subsequent folding bundle formation section P.

[0026] Figure 6 shows the state in which the recording medium 2 formed by the folding device 1 of Figure 1 has finally been stored in the stacker 12. As shown in Figure 6, the storage space of the stacker 12 has the first folded bundle formation section P, the non-folded bundle formation section Q, and the second folded bundle formation section P stacked on top of each other.

[0027] In this way, when storing multiple folded bundle formation sections P in the stacker 12, a non-folded bundle formation section Q of the same width as the folded bundle formation section P and aligned with the transport direction is placed between adjacent pairs of folded bundle formation sections P. As a result, while the later of the adjacent pairs of folded bundle formation sections P is being stored in the stacker 12, a non-folded bundle formation section Q can always be interposed between it and the earlier folded bundle formation section P. This makes it possible to store the recording medium 2 in the stacker smoothly without the folded bundles of adjacent pairs of folded bundle formation sections P interfering with each other (colliding or getting caught and pulled).

[0028] Figure 7 shows a modified example of the non-folding bundle formation section Q. As shown by the black triangles in Figure 7, a crease may be added to the non-folding bundle formation section Q. Adding a crease to the non-folding bundle formation section Q makes it easier for the user to manually fold the recording medium 2. In the example in Figure 7, creases are provided on the non-folding bundle formation section Q at intervals equal to the width L' of the non-folding section.

[0029] Figure 8 shows a first modified example of the storage configuration of the recording medium 2 in the stacker 12. Figure 9 shows an example of the stacked state of the recording medium 2 in the stacker 12 in the example of Figure 8.

[0030] As shown in Figure 8, the positions of the folded and unfolded sections of the first stored folded bundle formation section P and the next stored folded bundle formation section P can be shifted and distributed.

[0031] By adopting this storage configuration, as shown in Figure 9, when the load increases and weight is applied, the folded and unfolded sections of the multiple overlapping folded bundle formation sections P stored in the stacker 12 are distributed vertically, reducing the height difference and enabling more stable storage.

[0032] Figure 10 shows a second modified example of the storage configuration of the recording medium 2 in the stacker 12. As shown in Figure 10, by gradually reducing the number of folds in the lowest stage of the folding bundle formation section P and creating an incline, it is possible to improve the abutting performance of the next folding bundle formation section P. In other words, the downstream side of the storage space of the stacker 12 in the transport direction becomes lower than the upstream side, so as shown by arrow C in Figure 10, it becomes easier to move towards the front end of the storage space of the stacker 12 on the downstream side in the transport direction.

[0033] The second modified example shown in Figure 10 can also be described as a configuration in which the number of folds per fold bundle within the fold bundle formation section P is variable. This configuration makes it possible to improve the abutting performance of the next fold bundle formation section P by gradually reducing the number of folds towards the lowest stage of the fold bundle formation section P and creating a slope.

[0034] Next, a folding bundle formation method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. Figure 11 is a flowchart relating to the folding bundle formation control performed by the folding device 1. Figure 12 is a flowchart of the subroutine processing in step S5 of Figure 11. Figure 13 is a flowchart of the subroutine processing in step S14 of Figure 12. Figure 14 is a flowchart of the subroutine processing in step S7 of Figure 11.

[0035] Each process in the flowcharts shown in Figures 11 to 14 is performed, for example, by the control device 13 shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the flowcharts in Figures 11 to 14 use paper as an example of the recording medium 2. Hereafter, the paper recording medium 2 may also be referred to as "paper 2".

[0036] As shown in Figure 11, the control device 13 of the folding device 1 accepts the setting of necessary information such as the paper size and paper type of the paper 2 (step S1).

[0037] Furthermore, the control device 13 accepts the setting of the folding type (step S2). The folding type is, for example, the type of paper folding to be used with the pair of folding rollers on the right side 7, the type of paper folding to be used with the pair of folding rollers on the left side 6, or whether or not to create creases 10a to 10f (fold lines) during accordion folding.

[0038] Next, the control device 13 calculates the maximum number of folds Nmax that can be transported (step S3). More specifically, the control device 13 sets the maximum number of folds Nmax just before the paper 2 reaches a height that makes transport difficult.

[0039] Furthermore, the control device 13 can switch between automatically setting the maximum number of folds Nmax that can be transported as the number of folds that can be transported, or allowing the user to set it arbitrarily in advance. If only the number of folds that can be transported is set, the last folded bundle may become extremely low, resulting in an unbalanced appearance. In this embodiment, the control device 13 allows the user to set the number of folds for the folded bundle in advance, thereby making the height of the discharged folded bundles flat.

[0040] Next, the control device 13 initializes the parameters related to the folding bundle formation control (step S4). Specifically, the control device 13 sets the number of folds N=0, the folding bundle formation interval P=0, and the non-folding bundle formation interval Q=0.

[0041] Next, the control device 13 creates a folded bundle formation section P by folding (step S5). In this step, it first moves to "A" in Figure 12, and the subroutine processing in Figure 12 is executed.

[0042] As shown in Figure 12, first the folding width L is added to the parameter of the folding bundle formation section P (initial value is P=0) (P=P+L) (step S9).

[0043] Next, it is determined whether the parameter P is greater than the storage width R of the stacker 12 (step S10). If P > R (Yes in step S10), it is determined that the desired folding bundle formation section P has been created, and the process returns to the main flow in Figure 11. Otherwise (No in step S10), the process proceeds to step S11.

[0044] Next, the control device 13 performs one folding operation of the recording medium 2 (step S11). In this step, a conventional folding operation similar to that disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 is performed.

[0045] Conventional folding operations are performed using the following procedure, for example. (1) Adjust the standby positions of the folding knives 4 and 5. The standby positions are determined by the control device 13 using the necessary information such as the folding type, paper size, and paper type acquired in step S1, based on various sensors and information. (2) The paper feed roller pair 3 is driven to transport the recording medium 2 in the transport direction (downward in Figure 1). (3) Move the folding knife 5 from its standby position in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, and push the recording medium 2 towards the folding roller pair 7 on the right side in Figure 1 with the tip of the folding knife 5, so that the tip of the recording medium 2 enters the nip of the folding roller pair 7 on the right side. (4) The folding roller pair 7 is rotated in the transport direction (to the right in Figure 1) to bring the leading edge of the recording medium 2 to the position of the folding width detection sensor 8, and the folding width detection sensor 8 is turned ON. (5) Return the folding knife 5 to its standby position. (6) The folding knife 4 is moved from its standby position in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1, and the tip of the folding knife 4 is used to push the recording medium 2 towards the left folding roller pair 6 in Figure 1, causing the middle portion of the recording medium 2 in the transport direction to enter the nip of the left folding roller pair 6 and the middle portion to be folded. (7) The folding roller pair 6 is rotated in the opposite direction to the transport direction (to the left in Figure 1) to bring the leading edge of the folded recording medium 2 to the position of the folding width detection sensor 9, and the folding width detection sensor 9 is turned ON. (8) Return the folding knife 4 to its standby position. (9) Move the folding knife 5 from the standby position in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and push the recording medium 2 with the tip of the folding knife 4 toward the folding roller pair 7 on the right side in FIG. 1, and make the middle part in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2 enter the nip of the right folding roller pair 7 so that the middle part is folded. (10) Rotate the folding roller pair 7 in the conveyance direction (right direction in FIG. 1) so that the tip of the folded recording medium 2 reaches the position of the folding width detection sensor 8. (11) Return the folding knife 5 to the standby position.

[0046] Note that the above procedures (1) to (8) are the contents of the first folding operation (when N = 0). For the folding operations after the second time (when N>0), the above procedures (9) to (11) and procedures (6) to (8) are alternately repeated.

[0047] Next, 1 is added to the parameter N of the number of folds (initial value is N = 0) (N = N + 1) (step S12).

[0048] Next, it is determined whether or not the parameter N of the number of folds has reached the maximum number of folds Nmax calculated in step S3 (step S13). If the parameter N of the number of folds has reached the maximum number of folds Nmax (N = Nmax) (Yes in step S13), it is determined that a stack of folds with the desired number of folds has been created, and the process proceeds to step S14. Otherwise (N <Nmax) (No in step S13), the process returns to step S11 and the folding operation is repeated.

[0049] Next, the operation of forming the non - folding section L´ is performed (step S14). In this step, first, move to "B" in FIG. 13, and the sub - routine processing in FIG. 13 is executed.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 13, first, the width L´ of the non - folding section is added to the parameter P of the fold stack formation section (P = P + L´) (step S16).

[0051] Next, it is determined whether the parameter P is greater than the storage width R of the stacker 12 (step S17). If P > R (Yes in step S17), it is determined that the desired folding bundle formation section P has been created, and the process moves to "C" in Figure 12, returning to the main flow in Figure 11. Otherwise (No in step S17), the process proceeds to step S18.

[0052] Next, it is determined whether or not to add creases 10a to 10e (see Figure 2, etc.) to the folded bundle formation section P (step S18). Whether or not to add creases 10a to 10e is determined, for example, by user settings, and is included in the necessary information obtained in step S1.

[0053] If creases 10a to 10e are to be added (Yes in step S18), the recording medium 2 is transported in the transport direction for the length of the unfolded section L', and the crease addition operation is also performed, adding a crease to the boundary between the folded bundle L and the unfolded section L' (step S19), and the process returns to step S14 in Figure 12.

[0054] On the other hand, if creases 10a to 10e are not added (No. in step S18), the recording medium 2 is transported in the transport direction only for the non-folding section L' (step S20), and the process returns to step S14 in Figure 12 without the addition of creases.

[0055] Returning to Figure 12, the parameter N for the number of folds is reset to N=0 (step S15). After this step is completed, the process returns to step S9, and the creation of the folded bundle formation section P continues until the condition P>R in step S10 is met. If the condition in step S10 is met, it is determined that the desired folded bundle formation section P has been created, and the process returns to the main flow in Figure 11.

[0056] Returning to Figure 11, the control device 13 determines whether the rear end of the recording medium 2 has passed the paper feed roller pair 3 (step S6). If the rear end of the recording medium 2 has passed the paper feed roller pair 3 (Yes in step S6), it is determined that the folding and bundling of the recording medium 2 is complete, and this control flow is terminated. Otherwise (No in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7.

[0057] Next, the control device 13 creates a non-folded bundle formation section Q by skipping the folding operation (step S7). In this step, the device first moves to "D" in Figure 14, and the subroutine processing shown in Figure 14 is executed.

[0058] As shown in Figure 14, first the width L' of the non-folding section is added to the parameter of the non-folding section Q (initial value is Q=0) (Q=Q+L') (step S21).

[0059] Next, it is determined whether the parameter Q is greater than the storage width R of the stacker 12 (step S22). If Q > R (Yes in step S22), it is determined that the desired non-folded bundle formation section Q has been created, and the process returns to the main flow in Figure 11. Otherwise (No in step S22), the process proceeds to step S23.

[0060] Next, it is determined whether or not to add a crease (see Figure 7) to the non-folded bundle formation section Q (step S23). Whether or not to add a crease to the non-folded bundle formation section Q is determined, for example, by user settings, and is included in the necessary information obtained in step S1.

[0061] If a crease is to be added (Yes in step S23), the recording medium 2 is transported in the transport direction for the duration of the non-folding section L', and the crease addition operation is also performed, adding a crease to the position after transport (step S24), and then the process returns to step S21.

[0062] On the other hand, if no crease is added (No. in step S23), the recording medium 2 is transported in the transport direction only for the non-folding section L' (step S25), and the process returns to step S21 without adding a crease.

[0063] In Figure 14, the creation of the non-folding bundle formation section Q continues until the condition Q > R in step S22 is met. If the condition in step S22 is met, it is determined that the desired non-folding bundle formation section Q has been created, and the process returns to the main flow in Figure 11.

[0064] Returning to Figure 11, the control device 13 determines whether the rear end of the recording medium 2 has passed the paper feed roller pair 3 (step S8). If the rear end of the recording medium 2 has passed the paper feed roller pair 3 (Yes in step S8), it is determined that the folding and bundling process has been completed over the entire recording medium 2, and this control flow is terminated. Otherwise (No in step S8), the process returns to step S4, and the processing from step S4 onward is repeated.

[0065] Figure 15 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control device 13. As shown in Figure 15, the control device 13 according to this embodiment can be physically configured as a computer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, main memory RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 and ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, input devices such as a keyboard and mouse 104, output devices such as a display 105, a communication module 106 which is a data transmission and reception device such as a network card, and an auxiliary storage device 107 such as a hard disk. The functions of the control device 13 described above are realized by loading predetermined computer software (folding and bundling program) onto the hardware such as the CPU 101 and RAM 102, thereby operating the communication module 106, input devices 104 and output devices 105 under the control of the CPU 101, and reading and writing data to the RAM 102 and auxiliary storage device 107.

[0066] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be explained.

[0067] In this embodiment, the folding device 1 places a non-folded bundle formation section Q, which is a section in the recording medium 2 in which no folded bundles have been formed, by skipping the folding operation before the width of the folded bundle formation section P, which is the sum of the width L of the recording medium 2 in the transport direction of the folded bundles formed by the folding operation of the folding roller pair 6, 7 of the recording medium 2 and the width L' of the non-folded section of the recording medium 2 located between an adjacent pair of folded bundles, reaches the width of the storage space of the stacker 12 in the transport direction.

[0068] This configuration allows for the storage of recording media 2 in the stacker without interference (collisions, snagging, or pulling) between the folded bundle formation sections P, by placing non-folded bundle formation sections Q between them.

[0069] Furthermore, in the folding device 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable to perform crease processing once or multiple times at equal intervals or at arbitrary intervals specified by the user on the non-folded bundle formation section Q. With this configuration, if creases are made in advance on the non-folded bundle formation section Q, the folding work by the user becomes more efficient.

[0070] Furthermore, in the folding device 1 of this embodiment, it is preferable that the width of the folding bundle formation section P along the transport direction, the width of the non-folding bundle formation section Q, and the width of the storage space of the stacker 12 can be arbitrarily set. With this configuration, the transport object can be applied not only to the recording medium 2 but also to items that are stored in an accordion shape, expanding the application field to include the logistics and supply chain sector. For example, in the logistics industry, when storing accordion-shaped items, it is possible to store them effectively by changing the stacker storage width to match the shape of the cardboard box.

[0071] The embodiments have been described above with reference to specific examples. However, this disclosure is not limited to these specific examples. Modifications made to these specific examples by those skilled in the art are also included within the scope of this disclosure, as long as they retain the features of this disclosure. The elements, their arrangement, conditions, shapes, etc., of each of the aforementioned specific examples are not limited to those illustrated and can be modified as appropriate. The elements of each of the aforementioned specific examples can be combined in different ways as appropriate, as long as no technical inconsistencies arise. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 1. Folding device 2 Recording media 3. Paper feed roller pair (conveyor roller pair) 4, 5 Folding knife (guiding means) 6, 7 Folding roller pair 8, 9 Fold width detection sensor (detection means) 11 Paper output roller (outlet) 12 stackers L-shaped bundle, width along the direction of transport of the bundle L' Non-folding section, width along the transport direction of the non-folding section P Folding bundle formation section Q Non-folding bundle formation section [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0073] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-137351

Claims

1. A pair of folding rollers for folding the recording medium, A pair of transport rollers that transports the recording medium to the pair of folding rollers, The folding roller pair switches the direction in which the recording medium is folded, and the guiding means for folding the recording medium, An outlet for discharging the folded bundle of recording media that has been folded by the pair of folding rollers, A detection means capable of measuring the folding width of the recording medium, A stacker for storing the recording medium discharged from the discharge port, A folding device having, The width of the folded bundle formation section, which is the sum of the width of the folded bundles formed by the folding operation of the pair of folding rollers along the transport direction of the recording medium and the width of the unfolded section located between adjacent pairs of the folded bundles along the transport direction of the recording medium, is placed in the recording medium in a section where no folded bundles have been formed, by skipping the folding operation, before the width of the storage space of the stacker along the transport direction reaches the width of the unfolded section. Folding device.

2. On the non-folded bundle forming section, Perform crease processing once or multiple times at equal intervals or at user-specified intervals. The folding device according to claim 1.

3. When the recording medium is placed in the stacker, The folding operation is performed such that the position of the folded bundle within one of the aforementioned folded bundle forming sections overlaps with the position of the unfolded section within another of the aforementioned folded bundle forming sections, which is downstream in the conveying direction and already stored in the stacker. The folding device according to claim 1.

4. When the recording medium is placed in the stacker, The folding operation is performed such that the position of the unfolded section within one of the folding section formation sections overlaps with the position of the folded bundle in another folding section formation section that is downstream in the conveying direction and already stored in the stacker. The folding device according to claim 1.

5. The number of folds per bundle within the bundle-forming section is variable. The folding device according to claim 1.

6. The width of the folded bundle forming section, the width of the non-folded bundle forming section, and the width of the storage space of the stacker can be set arbitrarily. The folding device according to claim 1.

7. A pair of folding rollers for folding the recording medium, A pair of transport rollers that transports the recording medium to the pair of folding rollers, The folding roller pair switches the direction in which the recording medium is folded, and the guiding means for folding the recording medium, An outlet for discharging the folded bundle of recording media that has been folded by the pair of folding rollers, A detection means capable of measuring the folding width of the recording medium, A stacker for storing the recording medium discharged from the discharge port, A method for forming a folded bundle of the recording medium using a folding device having, A forming step of forming a plurality of folded bundles and an unfolded section of the recording medium disposed between an adjacent pair of folded bundles by the folding operation of the pair of folding rollers, A placement step in which, before the width of the folded bundle formation section along the transport direction of the recording medium, which is the sum of the width of the folded bundle formation section along the transport direction of the plurality of folded bundles formed in the forming step and the width of the unfolded section along the transport direction of the recording medium, reaches the width of the storage space of the stacker along the transport direction, the folding operation is skipped, thereby placing the unfolded bundle formation section, which is a section in which no folded bundles have been formed, into the recording medium; A method for forming a folded bundle, including the method described above.

8. A pair of folding rollers for folding the recording medium, A pair of transport rollers that transports the recording medium to the pair of folding rollers, The folding roller pair switches the direction in which the recording medium is folded, and the guiding means for folding the recording medium, An outlet for discharging the folded bundle of recording media that has been folded by the pair of folding rollers, A detection means capable of measuring the folding width of the recording medium, A stacker for storing the recording medium discharged from the discharge port, A folding bundle formation program for the recording medium using a folding device having, A forming function which forms a plurality of folded bundles and an unfolded section in the recording medium, which is positioned between adjacent pairs of folded bundles, by the folding operation of the pair of folding rollers, A placement function that places a non-folded bundle formation section, which is a section where no folded bundles have been formed, on the recording medium by skipping the folding operation before the width of the folded bundle formation section, which is the sum of the width of the folded bundles formed by the forming function along the transport direction of the recording medium and the width of the non-folded section along the transport direction, reaches the width of the storage space of the stacker along the transport direction, A folding bundle formation program to enable a computer to perform this task.

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