Stapling Apparatus, Image Forming Apparatus, Method of Stapling Sheet Bundle, and Non-Transitory Computer Readable Data Recording Medium Having Program Stored Thereon
A stapling apparatus includes a sheet insertion portion that receives insertion of a sheet bundle, a stapler that staples the sheet bundle, a drive apparatus that drives the stapler, and a controller that controls the drive apparatus. The controller has the drive apparatus driven with first electric power when the drive apparatus operates in an on-line stapling mode in which the sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled and has the drive apparatus driven with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as first electric power when the drive apparatus operates in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion is stapled.
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This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-213861, which was filed on Nov. 14, 2018. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-213861 is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND Technological FieldThe present disclosure relates to a stapling apparatus and more particularly to control of a stapling apparatus.
Description of the Related ArtA stapling apparatus (which is also called a finisher) built in or annexed to an image forming apparatus capable of printing a number of sheets may recently be used. For such a stapling apparatus, for the purpose of improving operability of a user, for example, a stapling apparatus capable of automatically stapling, by insertion into a slit in the apparatus by a user, a sheet bundle in making copies of stapled documents with staples being removed or a sheet bundle output without being stapled has been proposed.
A function of the stapling apparatus includes an on-line stapling process for stapling a sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus and a manual stapling process in which a user inserts sheets through a sheet bundle insertion port for stapling of the sheets. The stapling apparatus generally includes a stapler in common, without including an individual stapler for each application.
In connection with a stapling apparatus, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-16596 discloses a binding device that “includes a sheet-bundle forming unit configured to form a sheet bundle by receiving and stacking a plurality of sheets, a stapler that includes a DC motor and that is configured to execute a series of operations including inserting a wire into the sheet bundle by utilizing a driving force from the DC motor, and bending the wire, a power supply unit configured to adjust electric power and supply the adjusted electric power to the motor, a sensor configured to detect, based on a rotational amount of the motor, a timing to change supplied electric power to the DC motor after start of the operations, and a supply power controller configured to cause the power supply unit to change the electric power supplied to the motor at the timing of change detected by the sensor” (see [Abstract]).
SUMMARYThe technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2016-16596 does not take into account noise in a manual stapling process. Therefore, a technique allowing a quiet and stable manual stapling process is required.
To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, a stapling apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises a sheet insertion portion that receives insertion of a sheet bundle, a stapler that staples the sheet bundle, a drive apparatus that drives the stapler, and a controller that controls the drive apparatus. The controller has the drive apparatus driven with first electric power when the drive apparatus operates in an on-line stapling mode in which the sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled and has the drive apparatus driven with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power, when the drive apparatus operates in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion is stapled.
To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present invention comprises a mechanism of the stapling apparatus described above.
To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method of performing a stapling process reflecting another aspect of the present invention comprises performing a stapling process with first electric power in an on-line stapling mode in which a sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled and performing the stapling process with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted by a user is stapled.
To achieve at least one of the abovementioned objects, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable data recording medium reflecting yet another aspect of the present invention has a program to be executed by the computer stored thereon, and the program causes the computer to perform a stapling process with first electric power in an on-line stapling mode in which a sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled and perform the stapling process with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted by a user is stapled.
The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
An embodiment of a technical concept according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description below, the same elements have the same reference characters allotted and their labels and functions are also identical. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
First EmbodimentStapler 102 staples a sheet bundle. The sheet bundle sent from image forming apparatus 101 to stapling apparatus 100 is stapled by stapler 102 and ejected to ejection tray 103. Sheet bundle insertion port 105 is used for a user to insert a sheet bundle when the user performs manual stapling. Insertion sensing unit 104 senses the sheet bundle inserted through sheet bundle insertion port 105.
CPU 201 controls stapling apparatus 100 as a whole. CPU 201 may communicate data with CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101. In one aspect, CPU 206 may execute a program for performing a process for stapling a sheet bundle which will be described in an embodiment hereafter. Insertion sensing circuit 202 converts a thickness of a sheet bundle inserted through sheet bundle insertion port 105 into a voltage, a current, or a signal and sends the voltage, the current, or the signal to CPU 201. In one aspect, a potentiometer or a photosensor is employed as insertion sensing unit 104 and an output from insertion sensing circuit 202 is varied by an operation of insertion sensing unit 104.
Motor driver 203 drives stapler 102 based on a signal from CPU 201. In one aspect, a dedicated integrated circuit (IC) or an H bridge circuit is employed as motor driver 203.
Current measurement circuit 204 measures an amount of current used for driving stapler 102. In one aspect, a circuit including a dedicated IC or an operational amplifier is employed as current measurement circuit 204. In another aspect, motor driver 203 may contain current measurement circuit 204.
Medium detector 205 detects a type of a sheet bundle to be stapled by stapler 102. In one aspect, a reflective sensor is employed as medium detector 205. Image forming apparatus 101 may individually include medium detector 207.
In
Stapling electric power lower limit 401A is defined as minimum electric power necessary for stapling by stapler 102 and determined by the number of sheets in a sheet bundle and a type of the sheet bundle as well as a minimum necessary amount of electric power for operating a mechanism of stapler 102 for punching, cutting, and bending of a staple.
It can be seen in
Any stapling time period is set to be shorter than a stapling time period upper limit 401B. Stapling time period upper limit 401B indicates a productivity limit and an assumed value of a stapling time period below which the stapling time period should be set for maintaining productivity of a system. In other words, stapling time period upper limit 401B is set in advance, and stapling electric power is determined such that stapling is completed by the time of lapse of set stapling time period upper limit 401B.
As is clear from the description above, in a normal on-line stapling process, stapling should be completed within a prescribed time period in order to maintain productivity of the entire system, and normally, maximum electric power defined by the maximum number of stapled sheets or electric power sufficient for a stapling operation is supplied. Therefore, though stapling is completed in a short period of time, operating noise or vibration caused by reaction tends to be high.
In a manual stapling process, when a user inserts a sheet bundle through the sheet bundle insertion port, stapling apparatus 100 senses the sheet bundle and thereafter automatically starts a stapling operation. Therefore, the user feels that the stapling operation has suddenly started and may be surprised at or feel uneasy by loud noise or kickback to hands by clamping of the bundle. Holding of the sheet bundle by the user may become unstable due to the kickback and the stapling process may not normally be performed. For reasons above, stapling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment performs a stable stapling process with lower noise and without giving the user a feeling of uneasiness in the manual stapling process.
Referring to
It can be seen in
In the manual stapling process, unlike the on-line stapling process, stapling apparatus 100 does not necessarily have to complete stapling by the time of lapse of the stapling time period upper limit, because a user does not insert a sheet bundle into stapling apparatus 100 as fast as image forming apparatus 101, and stapling at a high speed may cause noise and vibrations and make the user feel uneasy to the contrary. Electric power supplied to stapler 102 should only be higher than a stapling electric power lower limit for an assumed largest-thickness sheet bundle. When a slit width of sheet bundle insertion port 105 is restricted not to accept insertion of a sheet bundle having a thickness equal to or greater than a thickness corresponding to fifty sheets, the “largest-thickness sheet bundle” is set to contain “fifty sheets.” In one aspect, stapling apparatus 100 may fix stapling electric power in performing the manual stapling process in accordance with the process for stapling the “largest-thickness sheet bundle” assumed in the manual stapling process and set stapling electric power to be lower than stapling electric power in stapling a bundle of the same number of sheets in the on-line stapling process.
As shown in
In performing the manual stapling process, on the other hand, stapling apparatus 100 is unable to obtain the number of sheets in a sheet bundle and a type of the sheet, because a user inserts a sheet bundle which the user is directly holding in his/her hand into sheet bundle insertion port 105 in the manual stapling process and hence stapling apparatus 100 is unable to count the number of sheets or detect a type of a medium.
Therefore, stapling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with insertion sensing unit 104 along a sheet bundle insertion path of sheet bundle insertion port 105. Insertion sensing unit 104 senses insertion of a sheet bundle through sheet bundle insertion port 105 and measures a thickness of the inserted sheet bundle. Stapling apparatus 100 determines electric power to be supplied in the manual stapling process based on a result of sensing by insertion sensing unit 104. At this time, stapling apparatus 100 may set stapling electric power in the manual stapling process to be lower than stapling electric power in stapling a bundle of the same number of sheets in the on-line stapling process. In one aspect, insertion sensing unit 104 may detect whether or not a thickness of a sheet bundle exceeds a prescribed thickness by using a variable resistor, a load cell, an encoder, a photosensor, and a switch. In another aspect, insertion sensing unit 104 may measure a thickness of a sheet bundle by using such an optical sensor as a transmissive photosensor or a range sensor.
Manual stapling electric power 802A should only be higher than stapling electric power lower limit 803A as described previously, without stapling time period upper limit 803B being taken into account. Therefore, CPU 201 can suppress noise and kickback in the manual stapling process by expressly lowering manual stapling electric power 802A to a value around stapling electric power lower limit 803A.
When CPU 201 identifies the composition of the inserted sheet bundle (a thickness and a type of the sheet) as sheet composition A by means of insertion sensing unit 104 and medium detector 205, it sets electric power to supply stapler 102 with manual stapling electric power 901 with a prescribed safety margin as compared with stapling electric power lower limit 902 for sheet composition A.
When CPU 201 identifies the composition of the inserted sheet bundle as sheet composition B by means of insertion sensing unit 104 and medium detector 205, it sets electric power to supply stapler 102 with manual stapling electric power 903 with a prescribed safety margin as compared with stapling electric power lower limit 904 for sheet composition B. Thus, CPU 201 can set electric power for supplying electric power appropriate for the manual stapling process to stapler 102 based on the thickness of the sheet bundle and the type of the sheet. Alternatively, CPU 201 may receive the number of sheets or a type of a medium input by a user through an operation panel of image forming apparatus 101 from CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101 and may use the number of sheets or the type of the medium for setting manual stapling electric power. Alternatively, CPU 201 may receive information on a type of a sheet detected by medium detector 207 from CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101 and may use the information for setting manual stapling electric power. Alternatively, CPU 201 may set an operation margin of stapling electric power in the manual stapling process based on combination of the stapling electric power lower limit for the maximum number of sheets insertable in manual stapling and information on the type of the sheet.
CPU 201 may selectively use the number of sheets obtained from CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101 and a result of measurement by insertion sensing unit 104. In one aspect, when CPU 201 receives the number of sheets from CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101, it may set manual stapling electric power based on the received number of sheets, and when CPU 201 does not receive the number of sheets from CPU 206 of image forming apparatus 101, it may set manual stapling electric power based on a result of measurement by insertion sensing unit 104.
As described above in detail, stapling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can perform a stable stapling process with low noise and without giving a user a feeling of uneasiness in the manual stapling process. By detecting a thickness and a type of a sheet bundle, electric power to be supplied to stapler 102 can appropriately be set.
Second EmbodimentA second embodiment will be described below. A hardware configuration the same as in stapling apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment has the same reference character allotted and description thereof will not be repeated.
Anvil 1001 is a mechanism for clamping to a main body of stapler 102, a sheet bundle inserted through sheet bundle insertion port 105. Clincher 1002 is provided in anvil 1001 and bends a staple of a stapler punched into the sheet bundle. By rotating, one-turn cam 1003 can operate various mechanisms of stapler 102 in coordination. Cam home position sensor 1004 detects whether or not the one-turn cam is located at a home position. In one aspect, a photointerrupter may be employed as cam home position sensor 1004.
Staple sheet cartridge 1005 contains a staple sheet and the staple sheet is pushed out in a direction where driver 1006 is located by rotation of one-turn cam 1003. Driver 1006 bends a staple at the top position in the pushed-out staple sheet into a bracket shape and pushes out the bent staple toward the sheet bundle.
When anvil 1001 presses a sheet with force stronger than a certain level, wedge mechanism 1007 is unlocked and slides. Wedge home position sensor 1008 senses slide of wedge mechanism 1007. In one aspect, a photoreflector may be employed as wedge home position sensor 1008.
Initially, in an operation procedure 12A, one-turn cam 1003 starts rotation so that anvil 1001 starts to lower. At the time point of movement of one-turn cam 1003 from the home position, cam home position sensor 1004 senses start of movement of one-turn cam 1003.
Then, in an operation procedure 12B, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that anvil 1001 comes in contact with a sheet bundle. Then, in an operation procedure 12C, while anvil 1001 is in contact with the sheet bundle, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that wedge mechanism 1007 is unlocked and starts to slide. Wedge home position sensor 1008 senses a slide operation of wedge mechanism 1007 at this time point.
Then, in an operation procedure 12D, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that driver 1006 bends a staple at the top position in a fed staple sheet into a bracket shape and lifts the staple toward the sheet bundle. Then, in an operation procedure 12E, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that driver 1006 punches the staple bent in the bracket shape into the sheet bundle and presses the punched staple toward the sheet bundle.
Then, in an operation procedure 12F, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that clincher 1002 bends a tip end of the staple pressed by driver 1006 from an opposite side by pressing. Then, in an operation procedure 12G, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that clincher 1002 and driver 1006 move away from the sheet bundle.
Then, in an operation procedure 12H, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates and returns to the home position so that anvil 1001 moves away from the sheet bundle and simultaneously wedge mechanism 1007 also returns to the home position. Driver 1006 also returns to the original position and the staple sheet in staple sheet cartridge 1005 is pushed out for a next stapling process. Cam home position sensor 1004 senses return of one-turn cam 1003 to the home position. Wedge home position sensor 1008 also senses return of wedge mechanism 1007 to the home position.
Link drive cam 1401 rotates with rotation of one-turn cam 1003. Anvil lift link 1402 is connected to link drive cam 1401 and operates around a fulcrum X with rotation of one-turn cam 1003. Anvil lift link 1402 vertically moves anvil 1001 by coming in contact with anvil lift pin 1403.
Wedge stopper locking mechanism 1404 locks wedge stopper 1405 provided coaxially with a rotation shaft of the anvil. When anvil lift link 1402 and anvil lift pin 1403 move away from each other by at least a certain distance, wedge stopper locking mechanism 1404 unlocks wedge stopper 1405. Wedge stopper 1405 presses and locks wedge mechanism 1007. When locking of wedge stopper 1405 by wedge stopper locking mechanism 1404 is released, wedge stopper 1405 unlocks wedge mechanism 1007.
In an operation procedure 15B, one-turn cam 1003 starts rotation so that link drive cam 1401 also starts rotation. Anvil lift link 1402 is driven with rotation of link drive cam 1401 and a position of contact with anvil lift pin 1403 is varied. Anvil 1001 is thus lowered.
In an operation procedure 15C, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates so that a position of contact between anvil lift link 1402 and anvil lift pin 1403 is varied and anvil 1001 comes in contact with the thin sheet bundle.
In an operation procedure 15D, one-turn cam 1003 further rotates while anvil 1001 is in contact with the thin sheet bundle and immobile so that a gap is produced between anvil lift link 1402 and anvil lift pin 1403. Wedge stopper locking mechanism 1404 thus unlocks wedge stopper 1405. With this unlocking acting as a trigger, wedge stopper 1405 unlocks wedge mechanism 1007. As wedge mechanism 1007 is unlocked, it slides.
In an operation procedure 16B, one-turn cam 1003 starts rotation so that link drive cam 1401 also starts rotation. Anvil lift link 1402 is driven with rotation of link drive cam 1401 and a position of contact with anvil lift pin 1403 is varied. Anvil 1001 is thus lowered. Anvil 1001 comes in contact with the thick sheet bundle at this time point.
In an operation procedure 16C, anvil 1001 has already been in contact with the thick sheet bundle and immobile. Therefore, when one-turn cam 1003 further rotates, a gap is produced between anvil lift link 1402 and anvil lift pin 1403. Wedge stopper locking mechanism 1404 thus unlocks wedge stopper 1405. With this unlocking acting as a trigger, wedge stopper 1405 unlocks wedge mechanism 1007. As wedge mechanism 1007 is unlocked, it slides. In an operation procedure 16D, wedge mechanism 1007 is in a slid state until one-turn cam 1003 further rotates and returns to the home position.
It can be seen based on comparison between
A state 17A represents a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 is located at the home position. In contrast, a state 17B represents a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 has rotated, anvil 1001 has clamped a sheet bundle, and wedge mechanism 1007 also has slid. State 17B can be concluded to represent a state that stapler 102 is ready to staple the sheet bundle. Signal information obtained by CPU 201 in each state will now be described.
A home position signal indicates whether or not one-turn cam 1003 is located at the home position. The example in
A thickness sensing output signal indicates a thickness of a sheet bundle inserted through sheet bundle insertion port 105. It can be seen in the example in
Stapling electric power refers to electric power supplied to a drive apparatus (not shown) of stapler 102. CPU 201 transmits to motor driver 203, a signal or a pulse indicating a level to be supplied to the drive apparatus of stapler 102. Motor driver 203 supplies electric power to the drive apparatus of stapler 102 in accordance with an instruction from CPU 201.
A position 17A points to various signals in state 17A in
A position 17B points to various signals in state 17B in
When CPU 201 recognizes the wedge home position signal being “Low”, the home position signal being maintained at “Low”, and lowering in level of the thickness sensing output signal, it determines that stapling is ready. Then, CPU 201 increases electric power supplied to a drive unit of stapler 102. CPU 201 estimates a thickness of the sheet bundle by counting a time period 1801 for transition from position 17A to position 17B. CPU 201 then adjusts electric power to be supplied to the drive apparatus of stapler 102 based on the estimated thickness. CPU 201 adjusts electric power as in
A state 19A represents a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 is located at the home position. In contrast, a state 19B represents a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 has rotated, anvil 1001 has clamped a sheet bundle, and wedge mechanism 1007 also has slid. State 19B can be concluded to represent a state that stapler 102 is ready to staple the sheet bundle. Signal information obtained by CPU 201 in each state will now be described.
In the example in
As described above in detail, stapling apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can more appropriately set electric power to be supplied to the stapler by firmly fixing a sheet bundle inserted through sheet bundle insertion port 105 and accurately measuring a thickness of the sheet bundle.
Third EmbodimentA third embodiment will be described below. Since a hardware configuration is in common to the embodiment described previously, description of hardware will not be repeated.
Each of positions 2101A and 2101B points to signals when one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 is located at the home position. Each of positions 2102A and 2102B points to a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 has rotated, anvil 1001 has clamped a sheet bundle, and wedge mechanism 1007 has also slid.
A time period 2103A represents a time period for transition from position 2101A to position 2102A and a time period 2103B represents a time period for transition from position 2101B to position 2102B. Time period 2103A in an example of insertion of a thin sheet bundle is longer than time period 2103B in an example of insertion of a thick sheet bundle, and CPU 201 can appropriately set electric power to be supplied to the drive apparatus of stapler 102 by checking the time period.
Fourth EmbodimentA fourth embodiment will be described below. Since a hardware configuration is in common to the embodiment described previously, description of hardware will not be repeated.
When wedge mechanism 1007 slides, anvil 1001 has clamped a sheet bundle at a certain pressure. Therefore, load applied to the drive apparatus is high and electric power supplied to the drive apparatus increases. Therefore, CPU 201 performs processing as in
Each of positions 2201A and 2201B points to signals when one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 is located at the home position. Each of positions 2202A and 2202B represents a state that one-turn cam 1003 of stapler 102 has rotated, anvil 1001 has clamped a sheet bundle, and wedge mechanism 1007 has also slid.
A time period 2203A represents a time period for transition from position 2201A to position 2202A and a time period 2203B represents a time period for transition from position 2201B to position 2202B. Time period 2203A in an example of insertion of a thin sheet bundle is longer than time period 2203B in an example of insertion of a thick sheet bundle and CPU 201 can appropriately set electric power to be supplied to the drive apparatus of stapler 102 by checking the time period.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for the purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A stapling apparatus comprising:
- a sheet insertion portion that receives insertion of a sheet bundle;
- a stapler that staples the sheet bundle;
- a drive apparatus that drives the stapler; and
- a controller that controls the drive apparatus,
- the controller having the drive apparatus driven with first electric power when the drive apparatus operates in an on-line stapling mode in which the sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled,
- the controller having the drive apparatus driven with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power, when the drive apparatus operates in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion is stapled.
2. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- minimum electric power that should be supplied to the stapler for stapling the sheet bundle having a thickness A is defined as electric power X, and
- the first electric power and the second electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A are each higher than the electric power X by predetermined electric power.
3. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- the controller sets the second electric power to lower noise in the stapler in stapling of the sheet bundle to a volume not higher than a predetermined volume.
4. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- the second electric power is constant in the manual stapling mode regardless of the number of sheets in the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion.
5. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- a maximum number of sheets in the sheet bundle that can be inserted through the sheet insertion portion is smaller than a maximum number of stapled sheets in the on-line stapling mode.
6. The stapling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
- minimum electric power that should be supplied to the stapler for stapling the maximum number of sheets in the sheet bundle that can be inserted through the sheet insertion portion is defined as electric power Y, and
- the second electric power is higher than the electric power Y by predetermined electric power.
7. The stapling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
- the electric power Y is different for each type of the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion.
8. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- a largest thickness of a sheet bundle that can be stapled in the manual stapling mode is defined as a thickness A, and
- the controller sets the second electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A to be lower than the first electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A.
9. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a thickness sensing unit that senses a thickness of the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion, wherein
- the controller sets the second electric power based on the thickness of the sheet bundle sensed by the thickness sensing unit, and
- the second electric power is lower than the first electric power supplied to the drive apparatus in stapling of the sheet bundle having the sensed thickness in the on-line stapling mode.
10. The stapling apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a medium type information identification unit that identifies a type of the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion, wherein
- the controller sets the second electric power based on the sensed thickness of the sheet bundle and a result of identification by the medium type information identification unit.
11. The stapling apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a sheet count information obtaining unit that obtains sheet count input information from the image forming apparatus, wherein
- the controller sets the second electric power based on the sheet count input information when the controller obtains the sheet count input information from the sheet count information obtaining unit, and
- the controller sets the second electric power based on the sensed thickness of the sheet bundle when the controller does not obtain the sheet count input information from the sheet count information obtaining unit.
12. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion, the clamping mechanism being provided in the stapler;
- a reference position sensor that detects whether the clamping mechanism is located at a reference position; and
- a clamp sensing unit that reacts when the clamping mechanism clamps the sheet bundle at a certain pressure, wherein
- the controller obtains, by the reference position sensor, first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from the reference position,
- the controller obtains, by the clamp sensing unit, second time when the clamping mechanism clamps the sheet bundle at the certain pressure, and
- the controller estimates a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
13. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion, the clamping mechanism being provided in the stapler;
- a reference position sensor that detects whether the clamping mechanism is located at a reference position; and
- a pressure sensing unit provided in a surface of the clamping mechanism where the sheet bundle is clamped, the pressure sensing unit reacting when a pressure not lower than a certain pressure is applied to the surface of the clamping mechanism where the sheet bundle is clamped, wherein
- the controller obtains, by the reference position sensor, first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from the reference position,
- the controller obtains, by the pressure sensing unit, second time when the pressure not lower than the certain pressure is applied to the surface of the clamping mechanism where the sheet bundle is clamped, and
- the controller estimates a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
14. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a clamping mechanism that clamps the sheet bundle inserted through the sheet insertion portion, the clamping mechanism being provided in the stapler;
- a reference position sensor that detects whether the clamping mechanism is located at a reference position; and
- an electric power measurement unit that measures an amount of electric power supplied to the drive apparatus, wherein
- the controller obtains, by the reference position sensor, first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from the reference position,
- the controller obtains, by the electric power measurement unit, second time of sensing of supply of electric power not smaller than a predetermined amount of electric power to the drive apparatus, and
- the controller estimates a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
15. The stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
- a time period for stapling the sheet bundle having a thickness A in the manual stapling mode is defined as a time period X,
- a time period for stapling the sheet bundle having the thickness A in the on-line stapling mode is defined as a time period Y, and
- the controller sets the second electric power to set the time period X to be longer than the time period Y.
16. An image forming apparatus comprising the stapling apparatus according to claim 1.
17. A method of stapling a sheet bundle comprising:
- performing a stapling process with first electric power in an on-line stapling mode in which a sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled; and
- performing the stapling process with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted by a user is stapled.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein
- minimum electric power necessary for stapling the sheet bundle having a thickness A is defined as electric power X, and
- the first electric power and the second electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A are each higher than the electric power X by predetermined electric power.
19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising setting the second electric power to lower noise in stapling of the sheet bundle to a volume not higher than a predetermined volume.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein
- the second electric power is constant in the manual stapling mode.
21. The method according to claim 17, wherein
- a maximum number of sheets in the sheet bundle that can be inserted in the manual stapling mode is smaller than a maximum number of stapled sheets in the on-line stapling mode.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein
- minimum electric power necessary for stapling the maximum number of sheets in the sheet bundle that can be inserted in the manual stapling mode is defined as electric power Y, and
- the second electric power is higher than the electric power Y by predetermined electric power.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein
- the electric power Y is different for each type of the sheet bundle.
24. The method according to claim 17, wherein
- a largest thickness of a sheet bundle that can be stapled in the manual stapling mode is defined as a thickness A, and
- the method further comprises setting the second electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A to be lower than the first electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the thickness A.
25. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
- sensing a thickness of an inserted sheet bundle; and
- setting the second electric power based on the sensed thickness of the sheet bundle, wherein
- the second electric power is lower than the first electric power in stapling of the sheet bundle having the sensed thickness in the on-line stapling mode.
26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:
- identifying a type of the inserted sheet bundle; and
- setting the second electric power based on the sensed thickness of the sheet bundle and the identified type of the sheet bundle.
27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:
- setting, when sheet count input information is obtained from the image forming apparatus, the second electric power based on the sheet count input information; and
- setting, when the sheet count input information is not obtained from the image forming apparatus, the second electric power based on the sensed thickness of the sheet bundle.
28. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
- clamping the inserted sheet bundle by a clamping mechanism;
- obtaining first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from a reference position where the clamping mechanism does not clamp the sheet bundle;
- obtaining second time when the clamping mechanism clamps the sheet bundle at a certain pressure; and
- estimating a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
29. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
- clamping the inserted sheet bundle by a clamping mechanism;
- obtaining first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from a reference position where the clamping mechanism does not clamp the sheet bundle;
- obtaining second time when a pressure not lower than a certain pressure is applied to a surface of the clamping mechanism where the sheet bundle is clamped; and
- estimating a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
30. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
- clamping the inserted sheet bundle by a clamping mechanism;
- obtaining first time when the clamping mechanism starts to move from a reference position where the clamping mechanism does not clamp the sheet bundle;
- obtaining second time when electric power not smaller than a predetermined amount of electric power is supplied for driving the clamping mechanism; and
- estimating a thickness of the sheet bundle based on a difference between the first time and the second time.
31. The method according to claim 17, wherein
- a time period for stapling the sheet bundle having a thickness A in the manual stapling mode is defined as a time period X,
- a time period for stapling the sheet bundle having the thickness A in the on-line stapling mode is defined as a time period Y, and
- the method further comprises setting the second electric power to set the time period X to be longer than the time period Y.
32. A computer readable data storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program causing the computer to perform:
- performing a stapling process with first electric power in an on-line stapling mode in which a sheet bundle ejected from an image forming apparatus is stapled; and
- performing the stapling process with second electric power lower than maximum electric power that can be set as the first electric power in a manual stapling mode in which the sheet bundle inserted by a user is stapled.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2019
Publication Date: May 14, 2020
Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc. (Tokyo)
Inventors: Takeshi ISHIDA (Toyohashi-shi), Tatsuya EGUCHI (Toyohashi-shi), Takashi WATANABE (Toyokawa-shi), Masayuki WATANABE (Tokyo), Akinori KIMATA (Toyokawa-shi)
Application Number: 16/681,902