Laminate film coating apparatus, image forming system, and method

Abstract

To provide a laminate film coating device that prevents the glue of a laminating film from migrating to a conveying member, resulting in the contamination of the conveying member.SOLUTION: A laminate film coating device 30 has a conveying member 341 for nippingly conveying by a nipping part N1 a recording medium 90 and a film 80 overlapped on the recording medium and supplied from a film holding part 41. When a tip of the recording medium 90 reaches the nipping part N1, the tip of the supplied film 80 is controlled to be positioned at the nipping part N1 or a prescribed region a1 near side from the nipping part N1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laminate film coating apparatus, an image forming system, and a method. [Background technology]

[0002] Lamination is a process in which a transparent synthetic resin film is coated on a printed material, which has an image printed on a recording medium, to give it a glossy finish and make it more resistant to dirt and scratches. Lamination involves placing the laminate film on top of the printed material and applying pressure and heat, melting the adhesive layer of the film and adhering the film to the printed material. Laminating films are available in rolls or pre-cut to a specified size. When using rolls, the laminate film is placed on top of the printed material and adhered, and then cut to the specified size (sheets).

[0003] When using a roll of laminate film, it is necessary to pull out the film from the original roll and set the leading end on a conveying member such as a conveying roller. Manually replacing and setting the laminate film cartridge is inefficient, and if loading is not done correctly, problems such as wrinkles in the film or misalignment of the application position to the printing section can occur.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a laminate coating device equipped with an automatic loading device. In this device, a flexible guide edge (2) is attached to the leading edge of the laminate film (1) of a film cartridge (8) loaded in a holder (22). The film leading edge is then guided between rollers (heat rollers 3a, 3b, tension rollers 5a, 5b) via this guide edge (2), and is then guided and loaded to a recovery roller (4). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-80580 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the automatic loading device of Patent Document 1 is affected by the temperature of the heating rollers (heat rollers 3a and 3b) during loading. For example, if the temperature of the heating rollers is high during loading, the adhesive layer of the film in contact with the heating roller may melt and adhere to the heating roller before lamination begins. To prevent this, Patent Document 1 uses a cam (11) to raise one of the heating rollers (heat roller 3a) and create a gap between the two rollers. Furthermore, Patent Document 1 uses a laminate film composed of a base film and an adhesive gloss layer, but this method is not applicable to laminate films without a base film. Specifically, when using a laminate film without a base film, the leading edge of the film cannot be fixed because there is no winding process after the heating rollers. Therefore, when the two heating rollers are separated by the cam (11), the film cannot be transported or held.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a laminate film coating device that can prevent the adhesive of the laminating film from transferring to the conveying member and staining the conveying member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following means.

[0009] (1) A laminate film coating device, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; A laminate film coating device in which, when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned at the nip portion or a predetermined area in front of the nip portion.

[0010] (2) A laminate film coating device as described in (1) above, wherein the specified area is located before the nip portion and downstream of the conveying path from the junction where the film supply path and the recording medium conveying path join.

[0011] (3) By the time the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, The laminate film coating device according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the leading edge of the film is fed to the nip portion or the predetermined region.

[0012] (4) A laminate film coating device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the leading edge of the film wraps around to the opposite side of the recording medium at the leading edge of the recording medium, so that the film covers the leading edge of the recording medium, and the recording medium and the film are conveyed through the nip portion.

[0013] (5) the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect; The laminate film coating device described in (4) above, wherein before the recording medium reaches the junction where the supply path and the conveying path meet, the leading edge of the film sent along the supply path passes through the junction with the conveying path, thereby positioning the film so that it straddles the conveying path, and then the recording medium conveyed along the conveying path collides with the film, and the conveyed recording medium reaches the nip portion with the film wrapped around it, so that the recording medium and the film are sandwiched and conveyed through the nip portion with the film covering the leading edge of the recording medium.

[0014] (6) the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect; a blade member and a movement mechanism for moving the blade member; Before the recording medium reaches the junction where the supply path and the transport path join, the leading edge of the film fed through the supply path passes through the junction with the transport path, so that the film is positioned so as to straddle the transport path, and then The laminate film coating device according to (4) above, wherein the film arranged to straddle the conveying path is guided toward the nip portion by the blade member moved by the movement mechanism.

[0015] (7) A laminate film coating device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the recording medium and the film are sandwiched and transported through the nip portion while the leading edge of the recording medium and the leading edge of the film are aligned.

[0016] (8) A laminate film coating device described in any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the recording medium and the film are sandwiched and transported through the nip portion with the leading edge of the film shifted forward or backward relative to the leading edge of the recording medium.

[0017] (9) the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect; A laminate film coating device as described in any one of (1) to (5), (7), and (8), which is provided with a blade member that changes the direction of the leading edge of the film fed through the supply path toward the nip portion.

[0018] (10) Further comprising a movement mechanism for moving the blade member, The laminate film coating device described in (9) above, wherein the film is guided to the nip portion by moving the blade member toward the nip portion using the moving mechanism before the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion.

[0019] (11) After guiding the film to the nip portion, the movement mechanism moves the blade member away from the nip portion to a retracted position along the transport path, The laminate film coating device according to (10) above, wherein in the retracted position, a side surface of the blade member functions as a transport surface that guides the transport of the recording medium on the transport path.

[0020] (12) A lower conveying plate constituting the conveying path has an opening through which the film passes at a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium conveying path join, The laminate film coating apparatus according to (11) above, wherein the blade member disposed at the retracted position blocks a portion of the opening.

[0021] (13) A grip member is provided, A laminate film coating device described in any one of (1) to (12) above, wherein the gripping member grips the film supplied from the film holding section and sends the gripped film to a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium transport path join.

[0022] (14) A laminate film coating device described in any one of (1) to (13) above, comprising a cutter arranged between the film holding portion and the nip portion, for cutting the film supplied from the film holding portion.

[0023] (15) a cutter disposed between the film holding portion and the nip portion, the cutter cutting the film supplied from the film holding portion; a grip member; the film on the film holding section side after the cutter has cut is gripped by the gripping member, and the gripped film is sent to a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium transport path join together; A laminate film coating apparatus according to any one of (1) to (13) above.

[0024] (16) A laminate film coating device according to any one of (1) to (15) above, comprising an adhesive member arranged downstream of the conveying member, which adheres the stacked recording medium and the film together by heat treatment in a nip portion.

[0025] (17) A laminate film coating device according to any one of (1) to (15) above, wherein the conveying member functions as an adhesive member that heats and adheres the stacked recording medium and film together.

[0026] (18) An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium; A laminate film coating device according to any one of (1) to (17) above; An image forming system comprising:

[0027] (19) A film holding unit that holds a film for lamination wound in a roll shape; A method performed in a laminate film coating device including a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion, A method performed so that when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is positioned at the nip portion or in a predetermined area before the nip portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] The laminate film coating device according to the present invention includes a conveying member that sandwiches and conveys a recording medium and a film supplied from a film holding unit superimposed on the recording medium in a nip portion, and controls the leading edge of the supplied film to be positioned at the nip portion or in a predetermined area in front of the nip portion when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, thereby preventing the adhesive of the laminating film from transferring to the conveying member and contaminating the conveying member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system including a laminate film coating device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a laminate film coating device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing a lamination process in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates the movement of each component of the coating device during the lamination process. FIG. [Figure 6] This is a continuation of Figure 5. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing the movement of each component of the coating apparatus corresponding to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. [Figure 8]10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating overlapping states at a nip portion in each of the modified examples. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a laminate film coating device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a laminate film coating device according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In the description of the drawings, identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios. In the drawings, the up-down (vertical) direction is referred to as the Z direction, the front and rear directions of the image forming system are referred to as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the X and Z directions is referred to as the X direction. The Y direction is also referred to as the width direction or rotation axis direction, and the X direction is also referred to as the conveyance direction. In the first embodiment, the storage medium includes paper. Paper includes printing paper (hereinafter simply referred to as paper) and various films (other than laminate film). In particular, paper includes paper made from plant-derived mechanical pulp and / or chemical pulp. Furthermore, types of paper include coated glossy paper and matte paper, as well as uncoated plain paper and fine paper. The paper may also be a long sheet of paper (longer than standard size paper), roll paper, or a pasted long sheet of paper created by overlapping the leading and trailing ends of multiple sheets of standard size paper and pasting them together with adhesive.

[0031] In the first embodiment, the laminate film does not have a base film, and the entire film is attached to the paper. Laminating the laminate film on the front side of the paper is called the "laminating process (or laminating and conveying process)," and the subsequent application of heat and pressure to melt the adhesive layer of the film and bond the film to the paper is called the "bonding process." Performing the two processes of the laminating process and bonding is called laminating. These two processes may also be performed simultaneously (for example, in the second embodiment described below). When these two processes are performed separately, the assembly of the paper and film before bonding that are superimposed in the superimposing process is called "laminated paper," and the paper and film after the bonding process (after lamination) are called "processed output."

[0032] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an image forming system including a laminate film coating device according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram of the image forming system. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image forming system 1000 includes a sheet feeding device 10, an image forming device 20, a laminate film coating device 30, and a post-processing device 50, which are mechanically and electrically connected to one another. First, the image forming device 20 will be described, followed by the sheet feeding device 10 and the post-processing device 50, and finally the laminate film coating device 30 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the coating device 30).

[0033] (Image forming device 20) The image forming apparatus 20 includes a control unit 21 , a storage unit 22 , an operation display unit 23 , a paper feed unit 24 , a conveyance unit 25 , an image forming unit 26 , and a communication unit 29 .

[0034] (Control unit 21) The control unit 21 has a CPU and a memory. The CPU is a control circuit composed of a multi-core processor or the like that controls the above-mentioned units and executes various arithmetic processing in accordance with a program, and each function of the image forming apparatus 20 is realized by the CPU executing the corresponding program. The memory is a high-speed accessible main storage device that temporarily stores programs and data as a working area. For example, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, etc. are used as the memory. Furthermore, the control unit 21 of the image forming apparatus 20 controls the entire image forming system 1000 by cooperating with the control units of other devices.

[0035] The storage unit 22 is a large-capacity auxiliary storage device that stores various programs including an operating system and various data. For example, a hard disk, a solid-state drive, a flash memory, a ROM, or the like is used as the storage.

[0036] The operation display unit 23 is equipped with a touch panel, numeric keypad, start button, stop button, etc., and is used to display various information and input various instructions. Through the operation display unit 23, the user can set paper information such as the size and type of paper stored in each paper feed tray. Furthermore, the user can instruct the execution of a print job by operating this operation display unit 23.

[0037] The paper feed unit 24 includes one or more paper feed trays, and feeds the paper sheets 90 stored in the paper feed trays one by one and sends them out to the conveyance path of the conveyance unit 25.

[0038] The transport unit 25 includes a main transport path 250 and a double-sided transport path 251. The transport unit 25 further includes paper detection sensors arranged on the transport paths 250 and 251, a plurality of transport rollers, and drive motors (none of which are shown) that drive the transport rollers.

[0039] The main transport path 250 guides the paper 90 fed from the paper feed unit 24 or the paper feed device 10 to the discharge unit (a downstream device or a paper discharge tray) via the image forming unit 26. The double-sided transport path 251 is a path used when forming an image on both sides, and receives the paper 90 with an image formed on its front side (first side), turns it over, and then guides it again to the image forming unit 26 on the main transport path 250.

[0040] (Image forming unit 26) The image forming unit 26 forms a toner image (unfixed image) on the paper 90, for example, using electrophotography. The image forming unit 26 includes an image creating unit 261 that forms a toner image on the paper 90 and a fixing unit 262 that fixes the toner image on the surface of the paper 90 by applying heat and pressure. The image creating unit 261 includes a writing unit, a photosensitive drum (all not shown), a developing unit that contains a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier, a primary transfer unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer unit, and other components. There are multiple writing units, photosensitive drums, and developing units, each corresponding to one of the basic colors: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). These components form a full-color toner image. The fixing unit 262 includes a heater as a heat source, a heating roller, a pressure roller, a thermometer that measures the surface temperature of the heating roller, and other components. The power supplied to the heater is controlled based on the thermometer reading, and the surface temperature of the heating roller is maintained at a predetermined control temperature. The toner image formed on one side (front side) of paper 90 by image forming unit 261 is fixed onto paper 90 by applying heat and pressure in fixing unit 262. The side of paper 90 on which this image is formed is the upper side in FIG.

[0041] (Communications Department 29) The communication unit 29 is an interface for communicating with other devices such as the coating device 30. The communication unit 29 also serves as an interface for network connection with an external device such as a PC.

[0042] (Paper feeder 10) The paper feeding device 10 includes a control unit, a memory unit, a paper feeding unit 14, a conveying unit 15, and a communication unit (some components are not shown). These components have the same functions as the components of the image forming device 20 with the corresponding names, so detailed explanations are omitted. The conveying unit 15 includes a conveying path 150. The conveying unit 15 sends out the paper 90 fed from the paper feeding unit 14 via the conveying path 150 to the downstream image forming device 20.

[0043] (Post-processing device 50) Like the other devices, post-processing device 50 also includes a control unit, a memory unit, and a conveying unit 55. Post-processing device 50 also includes post-processing unit 51. Conveying unit 55 includes discharge conveying paths 550, 551, and discharges paper 90 via either of these paths to paper discharge tray 552 or paper discharge tray 553. Post-processing unit 51 can also perform at least one of various post-processing steps, such as stapling, punching, and booklet formation, on paper 90 (or laminated processed output) conveyed from upstream image forming device 20 and coating device 30. Post-processed paper 90 is discharged to paper discharge tray 552.

[0044] (Laminate film coating device 30) The configuration of a coating apparatus 30 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the coating apparatus 30.

[0045] 1 to 3, coating device 30 includes control unit 31, memory unit 32, paper transport unit 33, overlapping transport unit 34, cutting unit 35, film holding unit 41, film transport unit 42, film cutting unit 43, and communication unit 39. Coating device 30 performs a lamination process by overlapping and adhering a laminate film 80 (hereinafter also simply referred to as film 80) onto paper 90 on which an image has been formed by image forming device 20 located upstream, to generate a processed output.

[0046] (Control unit 31, memory unit 32, paper transport unit 33, communication unit 39) The control unit 31, the memory unit 32, the paper transport unit 33, and the communication unit 39 have functions equivalent to those of the corresponding control unit 21, the memory unit 22, the transport unit 25, and the communication unit 29 of the image forming apparatus 20. The paper transport unit 33 includes a transport path 330 (corresponding to the "recording medium transport path"), one or more transport rollers 331 arranged thereon, and a drive mechanism M01 that drives the transport rollers 331. The drive mechanism M01 is composed of a motor as a drive source and a gear mechanism that transmits the motor's driving force. The paper transport unit 33 receives and transports paper 90 that is fed from the upstream paper feed device 10 or the paper feed unit 24 and has an image formed in the image forming unit 26. The transport path 330 is formed between a pair of upper and lower transport plates or on the lower transport plate. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the transport path 330 is formed on the lower transport plate 330a. Apertures (notches) are provided in portions of the lower transport plate 330a according to the positions of the transport rollers. The conveying path 330 is shared with the overlapping conveying section 34 on the downstream side.

[0047] (Overlapping conveying section 34) The overlapping conveying section 34 includes a conveying member 341, an adhesive member 342, and a drive mechanism M02 that drives these. The conveying member 341 is formed, for example, by a pair of rollers. The rollers that make up the conveying member 341 correspond to the paper 90 in the width direction (Y direction) and have a length slightly longer than the overall width of the paper 90. For example, the conveying member 341 is a rubber roller. At the nip portion N1 of the conveying member 341, the overlapping paper sheets that have been conveyed and overlapped by the paper conveying section 33 and the film conveying section 42 described below are sandwiched and conveyed. As described above, the overlapping paper sheets are a collection of the paper 90 and the film 80 that is overlapped on one side of the paper 90 (the front side on which an image is formed).

[0048] The adhesive member 342 has the same configuration as the fixing unit 262 described above. The adhesive member 342 has a heater H1 and a thermometer (not shown) and is heated to a predetermined controlled temperature. The overlapping paper is passed through the nip portion N2 of the adhesive member 342. The heat and pressure applied at this time causes the film to adhere to the paper 90 (adhesion process).

[0049] (Cutting section 35) The cutting unit 35 includes a cutter 351, a moving mechanism M03, and the like. The cutting unit 35 has a cutter 351 that can move in the width direction and cuts the laminated film. The cutting unit 35 cuts the leading and trailing edges of the processed output. For example, when a roll of film 80 is used and a single processed output is made up of multiple sheets of paper 90 (on which images have been formed) that have been continuously conveyed, the cutter 351 cuts the film 80 into individual processed outputs corresponding to the individual sheets of paper 90. At this time, the cutter 351 cuts only the film 80 in accordance with the leading and trailing edges of the sheets of paper 90 in the processed output, dividing the processed output into multiple processed outputs corresponding to each sheet of paper 90.

[0050] (film holding part 41) Film holding unit 41 rotatably holds roll-shaped master roll 800 on rotation axis s1. Film 80 is pulled out from master roll 800. After film 80 is consumed, it is replaced with a new master roll 800.

[0051] (film transport section 42) The film transport unit 42 includes a winding roller 421, gripping members 422, rollers 423, a blade member 425, a grip moving mechanism M11, and a blade moving mechanism M12. Each of the moving mechanisms M11 and M12 is composed of one or more motors as a drive source, and gears, cams, arms, etc. that transmit the driving force of the motors. The rotation axes of the winding roller 421 and rollers 423 are rotatably fixed to the housing of the coating device 30. In the Z direction (vertical direction), the initial position of the gripping member 422 and a cutter 431 (cutter cutting position), which will be described later, are set between the winding roller 421 and rollers 423.

[0052] The film 80 is moved downward along the supply path 420. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the supply path 420 is substantially aligned with the direction of gravity. The supply path 420 intersects with the conveying path 330 at a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is within a range of 10 to 90 degrees. In the example shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, the predetermined angle is 90 degrees, and the two paths intersect at right angles. The supply path 420 and the conveying path 330 merge at a junction p1. In this embodiment, the region on the conveying path 330, from the nip N1 to the junction p1, is specifically referred to as the "predetermined region a1." The X-direction end of the predetermined region a1 does not include the nip N1, but does include the junction p1. The predetermined region a1 also has a predetermined width in the vertical direction. The common tangent of the winding roller 421 and the roller 423 is along the supply path 420. The winding roller 421 is, for example, a driven roller, and the roller 423 is a small diameter round bar or a small diameter roller.

[0053] (a) Grip member 422 The grip members 422 are arranged on the left and right (widthwise) and grip both side edges of the film 80. Each grip member 422 is composed of a pair of opposing plate members, and in its initial state at its initial position, the pair of plate members are spaced apart with a gap between them. The grip movement mechanism M11 switches the grip members 422 between a gripping state and a spaced state, and also moves them left and right and up and down. Specifically, the grip movement mechanism M11 moves one or both of the two plate members of the grip member 422 toward the other, causing the two plate members to abut against each other. The grip members press down and grip the film 80 that is positioned in the gap between the two plate members. With the film gripped, the grip member 422 moves downward along the supply path 420. When the grip member 422 reaches its terminal position, the leading edge of the gripped film 80 passes through the junction p1 with the conveyance path 330 on the supply path 420. As a result, the leading edge of film 80 is positioned in predetermined area a1. When returning to the initial position, film 80 moves upward after retreating to the outside on both sides so as not to interfere with the running of film 80 during movement.

[0054] (b) Blade member 425 The blade member 425 is a thin plate-like member whose width is slightly longer than the overall width of the film 80. The blade member 425 redirects the leading edge of the film 80 fed through the supply path 420 toward the nip N1. The blade movement mechanism M12 moves the blade member 425 sequentially between the "initial position," "push-in position," and "retracted position." The "initial position" is the position shown in FIG. 3, which does not block the supply path 420 and does not impede the movement of the film 80; that is, it does not block the opening in the lower conveying plate 330a through which the film 80 passes. In the "retracted position," the blade member 425 partially blocks this opening and functions as a conveying surface that guides the paper 90. In the retracted position, the upper side of the blade member 425 is positioned approximately at the same height as and parallel to the conveying path 330. At the "pushing position," the tip of blade member 425 approaches the vicinity of nip portion N1 while remaining in contact with the vicinity of the tip of film 80, and pushes film 80 into nip portion N1. The specific operation of blade member 425 will be described later.

[0055] (Film cutting section 43) The film cutting unit 43 includes a cutter 431 and a movement mechanism M13. A back plate (not shown) that holds the film 80 from behind when the cutter 431 cuts the film may be provided at a position corresponding to the cutter 431. The cutter 431 is a plate-shaped blade that is sufficiently long in the width direction. However, the cutter is not limited to this and may be a disk-shaped roll cutter that rotates while moving in the width direction. The movement mechanism M13 is composed of a drive motor, a cam, etc. The cutter 431 cuts the film at the cutting position by moving back and forth in the X direction by the movement mechanism M13. The grip member 422 grips the film 80 on the film holding unit 41 side after the cutter 431 has cut the film.

[0056] (Film transport processing) Next, the laminating process, including the overlapping and conveying process in the first embodiment, will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the laminating process, and Figures 5 to 7 are diagrams showing the movement of each component of the coating device 30 in this laminating process. Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged views of a portion of the front cross-sectional view of Figure 3, and Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view viewed from the X direction.

[0057] (Step S11) The user sets the master roll 800 in the holder 41 and manually pulls out the film 80. Then, the leading edge of the film 80 is gripped by the grip members 422 via the winding roller 421. Specifically, the leading edge of the film 80 is passed through the gap between the grip members 422, which are in the separated state. After that, by operating the operation display unit 23 or an operation switch (not shown) provided on the coating device 30, the grip movement mechanism M11 is activated and the film 80 is gripped. This state is shown in Figures 5(a) and 7(a).

[0058] (Step S12) When the control unit 21 receives a command to start the execution of the lamination print job, the process proceeds to step S13. For example, when a print command is received from a user via the operation display unit 23 of the image forming apparatus 20, the control unit 31 receives a command to start execution from the control unit 21.

[0059] (Step S13) An image is formed on paper 90 by image forming section 26 of image forming apparatus 20 in accordance with the settings of the print job.

[0060] (Step S14) Here, the coating device 30 performs lamination processing on the paper 90 on which an image has been formed by the image forming device 20. The processing in step S14 includes the processing in steps S141 to S150 described below.

[0061] (Step S141) Control unit 31 controls grip movement mechanism M11 to move film 80 held by grip members 422 along supply path 420 to junction p1. It also controls film 80 to move further past junction p1. This state is shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 7(b). Blade member 425 is in its initial position, retracted to the right (upstream) of junction p1, and does not impede the movement of film 80. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 7(b), the leading edge of film 80 is positioned so that, as it passes junction p1, film 80 straddles conveyance path 330 (conveyance route).

[0062] (Step S142) Control unit 31 controls blade movement mechanism M12 to move blade member 425 from the initial position to the push-in position. At the push-in position, the tip of blade member 425 approaches nip portion N1. As blade member 425 moves, film 80, which has been positioned so as to straddle conveyance path 330, is guided toward nip portion N1. When blade member 425 reaches the push-in position, the vicinity of the tip of film 80 is pushed into nip portion N1. This state is shown in FIG. 5(c).

[0063] (Step S143) Thereafter, the control unit 31 causes the blade movement mechanism M12 to move the blade member 425 from the push-in position to the retracted position. The state at the retracted position is shown in FIG. 6(a). At the retracted position, the blade member 425 is located in a predetermined area a1, blocking part of the opening of the conveyance path 330, and its upper side surface is positioned at approximately the same height as and approximately parallel to the conveyance path 330. In the state shown in FIG. 6(a), the blade member 425 functions as a conveyance surface that guides the paper 90 that is subsequently conveyed.

[0064] (Step S144) Thereafter, the control unit 31 controls the paper transport unit 33 to transport the paper 90 sent from the image forming device 20.

[0065] (Step S145) Here, the control unit 31 executes the overlapping process. Specifically, the control unit 31 controls the drive mechanism M02 to start rotating the conveying member 341 in response to the timing at which the paper sheet 90 reaches the nip portion N1, thereby nipping and conveying the overlapped paper sheets, with the film 80 overlapping the front surface of the paper sheet 90. FIG. 6(b) illustrates this overlapping process. As shown in the enlarged view (area surrounded by a dashed circle) in FIG. 6(b), in the first embodiment, at the leading edge of the paper sheet 90, the leading edge of the film 80 wraps around to the opposite side (back side) of the paper sheet 90, thereby covering the leading edge of the paper sheet 90, and the paper sheet is conveyed through the nip portion N1 with the film 80 covering the leading edge. In the state shown in FIG. 6(b), the film 80 is pulled out from the master roll 800 mainly by the driving force of the conveying member 341. Note that a drive may be connected to the winding roller 421 or the film holding unit 41 (axis s1) to provide auxiliary driving force.

[0066] (Step S146) Here, the control unit 31 executes the bonding process. Specifically, the control unit 31 controls the power supply to the drive mechanism M02 and the heater H1 to heat and pressurize the overlapping sheets by passing them through the nip portion N2 of the bonding member 342, which has been heated to a predetermined temperature. This melts the adhesive layer (glue) of the film 80, and the film 80 bonds to the sheet 90.

[0067] (Step S147) Here, post-processing step 1 is executed. Specifically, control unit 31 controls grip movement mechanism M11 to return grip members 422 to their initial positions. As shown in Fig. 7(c), when returning, grip members 422 retreat to both outside sides to avoid contact with film 80, and then move upward.

[0068] (Step S148) If the control unit 31 receives a stop signal from the image forming apparatus 20, the process proceeds to step S149 to end (YES). If not (NO), the control unit 31 continues to transport the paper 90 and the film 80, and continues the overlapping process and the bonding process.

[0069] (Step S149) Here, post-processing step 2 is executed. Specifically, control unit 31 controls film cutting unit 43 to move cutter 431 and cut film 80. The timing of cutting is controlled so that the rear end of film 80 is positioned approximately at the same position as the rear end of paper 90 when the films are overlapped. Note that gripping member 422 is configured to grip the film 80 on the film holding unit 41 side after cutter 431 has cut it, and if film 80 remains on master roll 800, gripped film 80 is sent to junction p1 by gripping member 422. In this way, the user's processing of step S11 can be omitted when performing the subsequent lamination process.

[0070] (Step S150) Here, post-processing step 3 is executed. Specifically, the control unit 31 controls the blade movement mechanism M12 to return the blade member 425 from the retracted position to the initial position (end). This state is shown in FIG. 5(a). This completes the lamination process. Thereafter, the downstream cutting unit 35 cuts the processed output in accordance with the print settings of the print job, and the output is discharged.

[0071] As described above, the laminate film coating device according to the first embodiment includes a conveying member that sandwiches and conveys the recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding unit superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion, and when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is sandwiched between the nip portion and the conveying member. To the departmentThe laminating film is controlled to be positioned so that the adhesive is positioned at a predetermined temperature. This prevents the adhesive from transferring to the conveying member and contaminating the conveying member. Unlike Patent Document 1, the present invention does not wait with the film wrapped around the adhesive member. Therefore, unlike Patent Document 1, the adhesive member can be heated to a predetermined heating temperature and kept in a standby state without a separation mechanism like Patent Document 1. Furthermore, if the separation mechanism were omitted and the adhesive transfer were prevented by temperature control (e.g., by lowering the heating member to room temperature during standby), a waiting time would be required to heat the adhesive portion immediately before the lamination process, resulting in downtime. In this embodiment, the adhesive member 342 is not in contact with the film during standby, so the adhesive member 342 can be heated without considering such limitations, thereby reducing downtime.

[0072] (Variation) In the example shown in Figures 4 to 6, the leading edge of the film 80 wraps around to the other side of the paper 90, forming overlapping sheets in a state where the film 80 covers the leading edge of the paper 90. However, this is not limited to this, and overlapping sheets in a state like the modified examples shown below may also be formed. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the overlapping state at the nip portion N1 in each modified example. Figure 8(a) shows the overlapping sheets in a state where the film 80 covers the leading edge of the paper 90 shown in Figures 4 to 6 above.

[0073] Alternatively, the nip portion N1 may be sandwiched and conveyed in the states shown in FIGS. 8(b) to 8(d). FIG. 8(b) shows a state in which the leading edge of the paper 90 and the leading edge of the film 80 are aligned. FIG. 8(c) shows a state in which the leading edge of the film 80 is shifted rearward relative to the leading edge of the paper 90. FIG. 8(d) shows a state in which the leading edge of the film 80 is shifted forward relative to the leading edge of the paper 90. The overlapping states shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) can be controlled by the control unit 31 controlling the movement of the gripping member 422 and blade member 425 of the film conveying unit 42. For example, this can be controlled by controlling the lower end position of the gripping member 422 in the state shown in FIG. 5(b), thereby adjusting the leading edge position of the film in the predetermined area a1. By covering the leading edge as shown in FIG. 8(a), the leading edge of the paper 90 can be reliably covered and the inside of the machine can be prevented from being soiled by the film 80 spilling over and transferring glue to other components. By aligning the film 80 as shown in FIG. 8(b), it is possible to cover the entire front surface of the paper 90, and no waste occurs in the film 80 or paper 90. Furthermore, when the leading edge of the film 80 is shifted backward as shown in FIG. 8(c), it is possible to prevent the film 80 from spilling out and contaminating the inside of the machine, and no damage occurs to the film 80. When the leading edge of the film 80 is shifted forward as shown in FIG. 8(d), the film 80 spilling out may cause the glue or film in the spilled portion to melt. Of FIGS. 8(a) to (d), FIG. 8(d) is acceptable, but it is more preferable to generate overlapping paper sheets in the states shown in FIGS. 8(a) to (c).

[0074] (Second embodiment) FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a laminate film coating apparatus 30B according to a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, an adhesive member 342 equipped with a heater H1 is disposed downstream of a conveying member 341. That is, the conveying member 341 and the adhesive member 342 are configured as separate bodies. In the second embodiment, they are configured as an integrated unit. Note that the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for the conveying member 341b, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 9, the conveying member 341b incorporates a heater H1 and also functions as an adhesive member. The conveying member 341b shown in FIG. 9 is heated to a predetermined temperature, forms a superimposed sheet of paper 90 and film 80 at the nip portion N1, and heats and presses the sheet. That is, the conveying member 341 simultaneously performs two processes: the superimposing process and the adhesive process. The second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0075] (Third embodiment) 10 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a laminate film coating apparatus 30C according to a third embodiment. In the first and second embodiments, a blade member 425 changes the direction of the leading edge of the film 80 toward the nip portion N1 and guides the film 80 into the nip portion N1. In the third embodiment described below, the configuration of a film transport section 42C differs from that of the first and second embodiments.

[0076] The film transport unit 42C has three changes. First, the blade member 425 is omitted. Second, a transport roller 426 is used instead of the grip member 422, and a lower transport plate 330b without an opening is used. Third, the angle θx between the supply path 420 and the transport path 330 is made smaller than 90 degrees. In the example shown in FIG. 10, θx is set to 70 degrees. θx can be any angle between 10 degrees and less than 90 degrees. Note that one or two of these three changes may be applied, rather than all of them. Note that the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for the configuration shown in FIG. 10, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. For example, the film cutting unit 43 is disposed between the winding roller 421 and the transport roller 426.

[0077] In the state shown in FIG. 10(a), transport rollers 426 are driven by a drive mechanism (not shown). Film 80 transported by transport rollers 426 is guided by transport plate 420a and transported to junction p1. At this time, the leading edge of film 80 passes junction p1 along lower transport plate 330b, which has a recess instead of an opening, and is positioned so that film 80 straddles transport path 330 (transport route). This state corresponds to FIG. 5(b) in the first embodiment and step S141 in FIG. 4.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 10(b), the paper sheet 90 transported by the paper transport unit 33 then enters and collides with the leading edge of the film 80, and the two merge. The paper sheet 90 is then transported to the nip N1 with the film 80 wrapped around it. In this case, friction between the paper sheet 90 transported by the paper transport unit 33 and the film 80 causes the film 80 to be transported to the nip N1. Also in the third embodiment, the control unit 31 controls the timing of transport of the film 80, so that the overlapping state of the overlapping paper sheets can be set to any of the states shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d). In this way, the third embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the first and second embodiments.

[0079] The laminate film coating device 30 and the image forming system 1000 including the same described above are merely the main components described in order to explain the features of the above embodiment, but are not limited to the above configuration and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the configurations of general image forming devices are not excluded.

[0080] Furthermore, the embodiments may be applied in combination with one another. For example, the second and third embodiments may be combined. The processing in the first embodiment described above may include steps other than those in the flowchart above, or may not include some of the steps described above. The order of the steps is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, each step may be combined with other steps and executed as a single step, may be included in other steps and executed, or may be divided into multiple steps and executed. For example, the order of post-processing steps 1 to 3 may be changed, such as performing post-processing step 1 (S147) in parallel with step S142.

[0081] The means and methods for performing various processes in the laminate film coating apparatus 30 and image forming system 1000 according to the above-described embodiments can be realized by either dedicated hardware circuits or a programmed computer. The programs can be provided, for example, by a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or can be provided online via a network such as the Internet. In this case, the programs recorded on the computer-readable recording medium are typically transferred and stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk. The programs can also be provided as standalone application software or can be incorporated into the software of the device as a function of the device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1000 Image forming system 10 Paper feeder 20 Image forming device 30, 30B, 30C Laminate Film Coating Equipment 31 Control Unit 32 Storage section 33 Paper transport section 34 Overlapping conveying section 35 Cutting section 41 Film holding part 42 Film transport section 422 Grip material 425 Blade material 42C Film transport section 426 Transport Roller 43 Film cutting section 39 Communications Department 50 Aftertreatment device

Claims

1. A laminate film coating device, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned in a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, A laminate film coating device, wherein the specified area is an area located before the nip portion and downstream of the conveying path from a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium conveying path join.

2. Before the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, 2. The laminate film coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the film is fed to the predetermined area.

3. A laminate film coating device, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned in the nip portion, A laminate film coating device in which the leading edge of the film wraps around to the opposite side of the recording medium at the leading edge of the recording medium, so that the film covers the leading edge of the recording medium, and the recording medium and the film are conveyed through the nip portion.

4. the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect, 4. The laminate film coating device of claim 3, wherein before the recording medium reaches the junction where the supply path and the conveying path meet, the leading edge of the film fed along the supply path passes through the junction with the conveying path, thereby positioning the film so that it straddles the conveying path, and then the recording medium conveyed along the conveying path collides with the film, and the conveyed recording medium reaches the nip portion with the film wrapped around it, so that the recording medium and the film are sandwiched and conveyed through the nip portion with the film covering the leading edge of the recording medium.

5. the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect, a blade member and a movement mechanism for moving the blade member; Before the recording medium reaches the junction where the supply path and the transport path join, the leading edge of the film fed through the supply path passes through the junction with the transport path, so that the film is positioned so as to straddle the transport path, and then The laminate film coating apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the film arranged to straddle the transport path is guided toward the nip portion by the blade member moved by the movement mechanism.

6. A laminate film coating apparatus, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned at the nip portion or a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, A laminate film coating device in which the recording medium and the film are nipped and transported through the nip portion in a state in which the leading edge of the film is shifted forward or backward from the leading edge of the recording medium.

7. A laminate film coating apparatus, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned in the nip portion, Further comprising a blade member and a movement mechanism for moving the blade member, the film supply path and the recording medium transport path intersect, The blade member changes the direction of the leading end of the film fed through the supply path toward the nip portion, A laminate film coating device in which the film is guided to the nip portion by moving the blade member toward the nip portion using the movement mechanism before the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion.

8. the moving mechanism moves the blade member away from the nip portion to a retracted position along the transport path after guiding the film to the nip portion; The laminate film coating apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein, in the retracted position, a side surface of the blade member functions as a transport surface that guides the transport of the recording medium on the transport path.

9. a lower conveying plate constituting the conveying path has an opening at a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium conveying path join, through which the film passes; The laminate film coating apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the blade member disposed at the retracted position closes a portion of the opening.

10. It has a gripping member, A laminate film coating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gripping member grips the film supplied from the film holding section and sends the gripped film to a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium transport path join.

11. A laminate film coating apparatus, a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned at the nip portion or a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, A laminate film coating device comprising a cutter disposed between the film holding portion and the nip portion, the cutter cutting the film supplied from the film holding portion.

12. A laminate film coating apparatus, comprising: a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion; when the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is controlled to be positioned at the nip portion or a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, a cutter disposed between the film holding portion and the nip portion, the cutter cutting the film supplied from the film holding portion; a grip member; A laminate film coating device in which the film on the film holding section side after being cut by the cutter is gripped by the grip member, and the gripped film is sent to a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium transport path join.

13. 13. A laminate film coating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising an adhesive member arranged downstream of the conveying member, which adhesively bonds the stacked recording medium and the film by heat treatment in a nip portion.

14. The laminate film coating device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport member functions as an adhesive member that heats and adheres the stacked recording medium and film together.

15. an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium; A laminate film coating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14; An image forming system comprising:

16. a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; A method performed in a laminate film coating device including a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion, When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is positioned in a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, The predetermined area is an area located before the nip portion and downstream of a junction where the film supply path and the recording medium transport path join.

17. a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; A method performed in a laminate film coating device including a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion, When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is positioned at the nip portion, A method in which the leading edge of the film wraps around to the opposite side of the recording medium at the leading edge of the recording medium, covering the leading edge of the recording medium, and the recording medium and the film are conveyed through the nip portion.

18. a film holding section that holds a film to be laminated that is wound in a roll; A method performed in a laminate film coating device including a conveying member in which a nip portion is formed, the conveying member sandwiching and conveying a recording medium and the film supplied from the film holding portion superimposed on the recording medium at the nip portion, When the leading edge of the recording medium reaches the nip portion, the leading edge of the supplied film is positioned at the nip portion or a predetermined area on the front side of the nip portion, A method in which the recording medium and the film are nipped and transported through the nip portion in a state in which the leading edge of the film is shifted forward or backward relative to the leading edge of the recording medium.

Images