Pasting and bookbinding method, pasting and bookbinding apparatus, and image forming apparatus for use therewith

A pasting and bookbinding method comprising the steps of:

• (a) correcting a sheet skew by bringing a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a first conveying path having a sheet conveyor into contact with a hitting member;
• (b) forming a linear paste coating portion by a paste jetting device in the vicinity of a side edge portion of the sheet while being conveyed in a second conveying path arranged in a direction perpendicular to a first conveying path;
• (c) stacking each of the plurality of sheets constituting a sheet set after forming thereon the linear paste coating portion on a sheet stacking table provided below the second conveying path;
• (d) aligning the sheets by an aligning device;
• (e) pressing the linear pasted portion between adjacent sheets by a pressing device to adhere the sheets together, thereby producing a booklet;
• (f) delivering the booklet by a delivery device so that the booklet is delivered onto a delivery tray provided in a pasting and bookbinding apparatus;
• (g) feeding a front cover from a front cover feeder;
• (h) forming a paste coating portion at a predetermined area of the front cover by a second paste jetting device;
• (i) stacking the front cover at a predetermined position on the sheet stacking table by a conveyor;
• (j) conveying the booklet delivered from the delivery device to the front cover stacked on the sheet stacking table;
• (k) adhering a paste coating portion of the front cover and a front surface side of the booklet together;
• (l) then, forming a first crease on the front cover;
• (m) adhering a backbone portion of the booklet and the paste coating portion of the front cover in accordance with the backbone portion;
• (n) further, forming a second crease on the front cover along an upper surface of the booklet;
• (o) adhering a side edge portion of the upper surface of the booklet and the paste coating portion of the front cover in accordance with the side edge portion of the upper surface of the booklet;
• (p) thereafter, forming a linear paste coating portion on a back cover which has been fed by a back cover feeder, by the second paste jetting device;
• (q) conveying the back cover to an upper surface of the front cover which has been tuned up along the first crease, then placing thereon;
• (r) adhering the back cover and the front cover together;
• and
• (s) then, pressing the paste coating portions of the front cover, the booklet and the back cover.

A pasting and bookbinding apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first conveying path in which a sheet is positioned through correcting a sheet skew by bringing a leading edge of the sheet conveyed from an outside of the apparatus into contact with a hitting member;
• (b) a second conveying path in which the sheet is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the first conveying path;
• (c) a paste jetting device provided on the second conveying path for forming a paste coating portion in the vicinity of a side edge portion of the sheet;
• (d) a third conveying path in which the sheet is reversed and conveyed after the paste coating portion is formed;
• (e) a fourth conveying path provided below the second conveying path in which the sheet is stacked onto a sheet stacking table;
• (f) an aligner for aligning a plurality of sheets;
• (g) a pressing device for pressing the pasted portion between adjacent sheets to adhere the sheets together, thereby producing a booklet;
• (h) a delivery device for delivering the booklet;
• (i) a delivery tray provided in the apparatus, for accommodating the delivered booklet;
• (j) a cover conveyor for conveying a cover to the sheet stacking table where the cover is aligned by the aligner;
• (k) a first folding device for folding the cover substantially at a right angle, wherein each of a plurality of sheets constituting a sheet set has a paste coating portion formed by the paste jetting device and then is stacked successively onto the sheet stacking table;
• and
• (l) a second folding device for turning up the cover and covering a backbone portion of the plurality of sheets constituting a sheet set, thereby the cover and the sheet set are adhered together and a booklet is produced.

A pasting and bookbinding apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first conveying path in which a sheet is positioned through correcting a sheet skew by bringing a leading edge of the sheet conveyed from an outside of the apparatus into contact with a hitting member;
• (b) a second conveying path in which the sheet is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the first conveying path;
• (c) a paste jetting device provided on the second conveying path for forming a paste coating portion in the vicinity of a side edge portion of the sheet;
• (d) a third conveying path in which the sheet is reversed and conveyed after the paste coating portion is formed;
• (e) a fourth conveying path provided below the second conveying path in which the sheet is stacked onto a sheet stacking table;
• (f) an aligner for aligning a plurality of sheets;
• (g) a pressing device for pressing the pasted portion between adjacent sheets to adhere the sheets together, thereby producing a booklet;
• (h) a delivery device for delivering the booklet;
• (i) a delivery tray provided in the apparatus, for accommodating the delivered booklet;
• (j) a bookbinding device is connected to the delivery device for delivering the booklet, receives the booklet delivered from the delivery device, and covers a side edge portion of a front cover surface side, a side edge portion of a back cover surface side and a backbone portion of the booklet, by a front cover on which a paste coating portion has been formed, thereby adhering the front cover to the booklet.