Sheet post-processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9713933-B2
Application number	US-201514687782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2015
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an adhesive binding unit that binds a plurality of sheets into a bundle. A controller sets an allowable binding number X of sheets capable of being subject to binding at one time in the adhesive binding apparatus. The controller sets a predetermined remaining number N of sheets. The controller receives a number A of the sheets instructed to be bound in the adhesive binding unit. The controller calculates a remaining number n of sheets, where n=A−X. The controller determines whether n>N or n≦N. The adhesive binding unit binds the A number of the sheets into a single bundle when it is determined that n≦N.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A post-processing apparatus comprising:
an adhesive binding unit configured to bind a plurality of sheets into a bundle by applying an adhesive between each of the plurality of sheets and thereafter pressing the bundle, each of the plurality of sheets being conveyed from an image forming apparatus;
a counter configured to count a number R of sheets currently conveyed to the post-processing apparatus from the image forming apparatus; and
a controller configured to
set an allowable binding number X of sheets capable of being subject to binding at one time in the adhesive binding unit,
set a predetermined remaining number N of sheets,
receive a number A of the sheets instructed to be bound in the adhesive binding unit,
calculate a remaining number n of sheets, where n=A−X,
determine whether n>N or n≦N,
control the adhesive binding unit to bind the A number of the sheets into a single bundle if it is determined that n≦N, and
control the adhesive binding unit to bind only the first X number of sheets into a single bundle if it is determined that n>N and the number R of sheets counted by the counter is R=X.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when it is determined that n>N and R>X, the controller controls the adhesive binding unit to process the remaining number n of sheets according to a processing indicated by a received user instruction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing indicated by the received user instruction is selected from a display that displays a selectable first mode in which the remaining number of sheets counted by the counter when R>X is processed by binding as another single bundle in the adhesive binding unit and a selectable second mode in which the remaining number sheets counted by the counter when R>X is processed according to another processing that is not binding in the adhesive binding unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a second binding unit that performs a second binding process different from the adhesive binding performed in the adhesive binding unit,
wherein, if the second mode is selected when R>X, the controller controls the second binding unit to perform the second binding process on the remaining number n of sheets.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the another processing is one of sorting and stapling.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive binding unit applies an adhesive tape between each of the plurality of sheets.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive binding unit applies a liquid adhesive between each of the plurality of sheets.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a punching unit configured to punch at least one hole in each the plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the adhesive binding unit includes a pressing plate and a bottom plate configured to press the bundle therebetween, and
N is set based on a thickness of each sheet and a distance between the pressing plate and the bottom plate.

10. A post-processing method comprising the steps of:
in a post-processing apparatus, receiving from an image forming apparatus a number A of the sheets instructed to be bound in an adhesive binding unit that is configured to bind a plurality of sheets into a bundle by applying an adhesive between each of the plurality of sheets and thereafter pressing the bundle;
counting a number R of sheets currently conveyed to the post-processing apparatus from the image forming apparatus
setting an allowable binding number X of sheets capable of being subject to binding at one time in the adhesive binding unit;
setting a predetermined remaining number N of sheets;
calculating a remaining number n of sheets, where n=A−X;
determining whether n>N or n≦N;
binding the A number of the sheets into a single bundle in the adhesive binding unit if it is determined that n≦N;
binding only the first X number of sheets into a single bundle if it is determined that n>N and the number R of sheets counted is R=X.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein, if it is determined that n>N and R>X, the remaining number n of sheets are processed according to a processing indicated by a received user instruction.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the processing indicated by the received user instruction is selected from a display that displays a selectable first mode in which the counted remaining number of sheets when R>X is processed by binding as another single bundle in the adhesive binding unit and a selectable second mode in which the remaining number sheets counted by the counter when R>X is processed according to another processing that is not binding in the adhesive binding unit.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
performing, in a second binding unit, a second binding process different from the adhesive binding performed in the adhesive binding unit on the remaining number n of sheets when the second mode is selected and R>X.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the another processing is one of sorting and stapling.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the adhesive binding unit applies an adhesive tape between each of the plurality of sheets.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the adhesive binding unit applies a liquid adhesive between each of the plurality of sheets.

17. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
punching at least one hole in each the plurality of sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus.

18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein
the adhesive binding unit includes a pressing plate and a bottom plate configured to press the bundle therebetween, and
N is set based on a thickness of each sheet and a distance between the pressing plate and the bottom plate.

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk
• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Umeda Keita

Classifications

• B65H43/00

  Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable · CPC title

• B42C1/125 Primary

  Sheet sorters combined with binding devices · CPC title

• B42C9/0081 Primary

  applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together (by fusing, welding B42C9/0093) · CPC title

• B65H37/02

  for applying adhesive (and securing together B65H37/04) · CPC title

• B42C19/02

  starting with single sheets · CPC title