Adhesive application apparatus and control method of the same

The present invention relates to an adhesive coating device and a control method thereof, in which an adhesive is discharged from a discharge head and applied in a dot shape to the adhesive surfaces of a medium in which the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other.

Conventionally, as an adhesive coating device of this type, one has been proposed in which an adhesive is applied to the adhesive surface of a medium by ejecting droplets containing the adhesive by an inkjet method (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ). In this device, in order to prevent the adhesive from squeezing out from the contour portion when bonded, the amount of the adhesive applied per unit area in the contour portion is reduced as compared with the central portion of the adhesive surface.

<p><patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-279358</text></patcit></p>

<p> As described above, in the adhesive coating apparatus, it is considered as an important issue to suppress the coating amount of the adhesive while ensuring the adhesive force. Here, considering the case where the adhesives are applied to each other and bonded to each other, the amount of the adhesive applied is larger than that when the adhesive is applied only to the adhesive surface of one medium and attached to the object. Since there is a tendency for such issues to become more important.</p><p> The main purpose of the adhesive coating device and its control method of the present invention is to suppress the amount of adhesive applied while ensuring an appropriate adhesive force when the adhesive surfaces of the medium are bonded to each other.</p><p> The adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention and the control method thereof have adopted the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned main object.</p>

<p> The adhesive coating device of the present invention An adhesive coating device that discharges adhesive from a discharge head and applies it in dots to the adhesive surfaces of a medium in which the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other. A first dot pattern in which a group of dots formed by a plurality of dots is arranged in an island shape, and an island in a position where the group of dots formed by a plurality of dots is symmetrical with each dot group of the first dot pattern. A dot pattern setting means for setting a second dot pattern arranged in a shape, and The discharge head is controlled so that the set first dot pattern is formed on one of the adhesive surfaces, and the set second dot pattern is formed on the other adhesive surface of the adhesive surfaces. With a control means for controlling the discharge head so as to be formed in The gist is to prepare.</p><p> In the adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention, a first dot pattern in which a group of dots formed by a plurality of dots is arranged in an island shape and a group of dots formed by a plurality of dots are each of a first dot pattern. A second dot pattern arranged in an island shape at a position symmetrical to the dot group is set, and the discharge head is set so that the set first dot pattern is formed on one of the adhesive surfaces. Controlled to control the discharge head so that the set second dot pattern is formed on the other adhesive surface of the adhesive surfaces. As a result, the coating area to which the adhesive is applied is formed in an island shape on both adhesive surfaces, so that the adhesive is applied as compared with the case where the adhesive is applied uniformly to the entire surfaces of both adhesive surfaces. The amount can be suppressed. Further, the contrasting position is when the adhesive surface on which the dot group of the first dot pattern is formed and the adhesive surface on which the dot group of the second dot pattern is formed are bonded together, both dot groups are used. The centers of the are the positions that coincide with each other. Therefore, by setting the dot group of the first dot pattern and the dot group of the second dot pattern at symmetrical positions, the coating region formed in an island shape on one adhesive surface and the other adhesive surface are formed. It is possible to overlap the coating area formed in an island shape on the surface, and sufficient adhesive strength can be obtained even if the amount of the adhesive applied is suppressed. As a result, when the adhesive surfaces of the medium are bonded to each other, the amount of the adhesive applied can be suppressed while ensuring an appropriate adhesive force.</p><p> Further, in the adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention, the dot pattern setting means is a means for forming each dot group of the second dot pattern to be one size smaller than each dot group of the first dot pattern. It can also be. In this way, the amount of the adhesive applied can be further suppressed while overlapping the application area formed in an island shape on one adhesive surface and the application area formed in an island shape on the other adhesive surface. In the adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention of this aspect, the dot pattern setting means refers to a dot group in which the formation of dots located on the outermost periphery of the dots forming each dot group of the first dot pattern is omitted. It can also be a means of arranging as a dot group of the second dot pattern.</p><p> Then, in the adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention, in the dot pattern setting means, each dot group of the second dot pattern is the first dot, provided that a predetermined type of medium is used as the medium. It can also be a means of setting the second dot pattern so that it is arranged symmetrically with each dot group of the pattern. In this way, the coating region of one adhesive surface and the coating region of the other adhesive surface can be overlapped with each other only for a predetermined type of medium. In the adhesive coating apparatus of the present invention of this aspect, when a medium different from the predetermined type is used as the medium, the dot pattern setting means is used with each dot group of the first dot pattern. It can also be a means for setting the second dot pattern so that each dot group of the second dot pattern is arranged at an asymmetrical position deviating from the symmetrical position of the above. In this way, it is possible to appropriately deal with a medium different from a predetermined type.</p><p> The control method of the adhesive coating device of the present invention is It is a control method of an adhesive coating device that ejects an adhesive from a discharge head and applies it in a dot shape to the adhesive surface of a medium in which the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other. (a) The first dot pattern in which the dot group formed by a plurality of dots is arranged in an island shape and the dot group formed by the plurality of dots are symmetrical with each dot group in the first dot pattern. A step to set a second dot pattern arranged in an island shape at the position, and (b) The discharge head is controlled so that the set first dot pattern is formed on one of the adhesive surfaces, and the set second dot pattern is formed on the other of the adhesive surfaces. With the step of controlling the discharge head so as to be formed on the adhesive surface of The gist is to include.</p><p> In the control method of the adhesive coating device of the present invention, the first dot pattern in which the dot group formed by a plurality of dots is arranged in an island shape and the dot group formed by the plurality of dots are the first dots. A second dot pattern arranged in an island shape at a position symmetrical with each dot group of the pattern is set, and the set first dot pattern is formed on one of the adhesive surfaces of the adhesive surfaces. The discharge head is controlled, and the discharge head is controlled so that the set second dot pattern is formed on the other adhesive surface of the adhesive surfaces. As a result, the coating area to which the adhesive is applied is formed in an island shape on both adhesive surfaces, so that the adhesive is applied as compared with the case where the adhesive is applied uniformly to the entire surfaces of both adhesive surfaces. The amount can be suppressed. Further, by setting the dot group of the first dot pattern and the dot group of the second dot pattern at symmetrical positions, the coating region formed in an island shape on one adhesive surface and the other adhesive surface can be formed. It is possible to overlap with the coating area formed in an island shape, and sufficient adhesive strength can be obtained even if the amount of the adhesive applied is suppressed. As a result, when the adhesive surfaces of the medium are bonded to each other, the amount of the adhesive applied can be suppressed while ensuring an appropriate adhesive force. In the control method of the adhesive coating device, various aspects of the adhesive coating device described above may be adopted, or steps may be added to realize each function of the adhesive coating device described above. Good.</p>

<figref num="1">The block diagram which shows an outline example of the structure of the bookbinding system 10.</figref><figref num="2">The block diagram which shows the schematic example of the structure of the printing apparatus 30 and the glue coating apparatus 50.</figref><figref num="3">Explanatory drawing which shows an example of each process in a bookbinding system 10.</figref><figref num="4">The flowchart which shows an example of the glue application processing routine.</figref><figref num="5">Explanatory drawing which shows an example of glue formation pattern.</figref><figref num="6">Explanatory drawing which shows an example of glue formation pattern.</figref><figref num="7">Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the presence or absence of deviation and the overlap part of a coating area.</figref><figref num="8">The explanatory view which shows an example of the glue formation pattern of the modification.</figref><figref num="9">Explanatory drawing which shows a part of the process in the bookbinding system 10 of a modification.</figref>

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic example of the configuration of the bookbinding system 10 including the glue coating device 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the printing device 30 and the glue coating device 50 in the bookbinding system 10. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the above, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of each process in the bookbinding system 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bookbinding system 10 of the present embodiment is a printing process for printing an image such as a photograph on the table (image forming surface) of the fed paper S (see FIG. 3 for each process). The printing device 30 for performing the printing, and the glue coating device 50 for performing the glue coating process of inverting the printed paper S and applying glue to the back surface (adhesive surface) to bond the bonded surfaces to each other, and the bonded surfaces are bonded to each other. It is equipped with a bookbinding device 70 that performs a bookbinding process for binding the printed paper S into a photobook PB in combination with a cover sheet, and a computer 80 that controls the entire system. In the present embodiment, the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheets S and the adhesive surface of the even-numbered sheets S are bonded together. Further, in FIG. 2, each configuration of the printing apparatus 30 is surrounded by a dashed-dotted line, and each configuration of the glue coating apparatus 50 is surrounded by a dotted line.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 30 includes a print control unit 32 that has a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown) and controls the entire device, and two paper feed trays 33a that can set two types of paper S. , 33b and the paper feed rollers 34a, 34b (see FIG. 2) provided in each paper feed tray to feed the paper S, and the paper S fed by the paper feed mechanism 34. It is equipped with a printing mechanism 40 that ejects ink by an inkjet method. The two types of paper S differ in the degree of penetration of ink and glue, paper thickness, paper size, and the like.

The print control unit 32 is communicatively connected to the computer 80, receives a print instruction from the computer 80, and sends a print status to the computer 80. The print control unit 32 feeds paper S from the tray in which the specified type of paper S is set among the paper feed trays 33a and 33b based on the specification of the type of paper S included in the received print instruction. The paper feed mechanism 34 is controlled so as to perform the printing process, and the print mechanism 40 is controlled to execute the print process on the paper S based on the print data included in the print instruction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the printing mechanism 40 includes a carriage motor 43a arranged on the right side of the mechanical frame 40a, a driven roller 43b arranged on the left side of the mechanical frame 40a, a carriage motor 43a, and a driven roller. A carriage belt 43 that is looped across the 43b in the left-right direction (main scanning direction), and a carriage 41 that is driven by the carriage belt 43 and reciprocates left and right along the guide 42 as the carriage motor 43a is driven. An ink cartridge 44 that supplies ink of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) to the carriage 41 via a tube (not shown), and each ink supplied from each ink cartridge 44. Drives a print head 45 that applies pressure to the paper S to eject ink from a plurality of nozzles (not shown) toward the paper S, a transport roller 46 that transports the paper S in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and a transport roller 46. A drive motor 46a for driving the paper S and a paper discharge roller 47 for discharging the printed paper S driven by a motor (not shown) to the glue coating device 50 side are provided. The print head 45 is formed with a plurality of nozzles (not shown) so that the dot density formed by the ejected ink is, for example, 720 dpi or 1440 dpi, and the piezoelectric element is deformed by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The method of pressurizing the ink and discharging it from each nozzle is adopted, but even if the method of pressurizing the ink by the bubbles generated by applying a voltage to the heat generating resistor (for example, a heater) to heat the ink is adopted. Good.

As shown in FIG. 1, the glue coating device 50 includes a glue coating control unit 52 having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown) and controlling the entire device, and a plurality of reversing rollers 54a to 54e (see FIG. 2). A reversing mechanism 54 that has a guide roller (not shown) and reverses the front and back of the paper S printed by the printing device 30, and a liquid glue is ejected to the paper S that has been reversed by the reversing mechanism 54 in the same manner as the inkjet method. It is provided with a glue application mechanism 60 for applying the glue, and a bonding mechanism 56 for bonding the adhesive surfaces of the paper S coated with the glue by the glue application mechanism 60.

The glue application control unit 52 is communicably connected to the computer 80, receives a glue application instruction from the computer 80, and transmits the glue application status to the computer 80. It should be noted that the glue application instruction also includes the designation of the type of paper S as in the printing instruction. Upon receiving the glue application instruction, the ejection control unit 52 controls or reverses the reversing mechanism 54 so that the front and back sides of the printed paper S are reversed and the paper S is supplied to the glue coating mechanism 60 one by one. The glue application mechanism 60 is controlled so as to apply glue to the adhesive surface of the paper S, and the adhesive mechanism 56 is controlled so that the adhesive surfaces of the paper S to which the glue is applied are bonded to each other.

The glue application mechanism 60 has the same configuration as the printing mechanism 40 except that the ink cartridge 44 and the printing head 45 of the printing mechanism 40 are replaced with the liquid glue cartridge 64 and the glue ejection head 65. Therefore, each component of the glue coating mechanism 60 is designated by adding a value 20 to the code of each component of the printing mechanism 40, and the description thereof will be omitted. The glue discharge head 65 is formed with a plurality of nozzles (not shown) so that the dot densities formed by the discharged glue are, for example, 20 dpi, 60 dpi, 90 dpi, etc., and a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element in the same manner as the print head 45. As a result, a method of deforming the piezoelectric element to pressurize the ink and eject it from each nozzle is adopted.

In the bonding mechanism 56, the adhesive surfaces of the paper S are bonded to each other in a state where the glue is applied by the glue application mechanism 60 and the paper S discharged by the paper ejection roller 67 is conveyed or pressed by a pressing mechanism (not shown). A pair of laminating rollers 56a and 56b, a transport roller 56c that transports the paper S to a predetermined standby position, and a guide 56d that moves up and down between the laminating rollers 56a and 56b to guide the paper S. Be prepared. In this bonding mechanism 60, first, when the application of the glue on the odd-numbered sheets of paper S is completed, the guide 56d is lowered (shown by the dotted line in the figure), and the bonding rollers 56a and 56b and the transport roller 56c are combined. By rotating the paper S in the forward direction to the left in the drawing, the paper S is conveyed to a predetermined standby position through the upper surface of the guide 56d, and the odd-numbered sheet S is made to stand by at the standby position. Then, when the application of the glue on the next even-numbered sheet S is completed, the transport roller 56c is reversed to the right in the figure with the guide 56d raised (shown by the solid line in the figure), and the number is odd from the standby position. The sheet S is conveyed and the edge of the odd-numbered sheet S (the right end in FIG. 2, the reference side in FIG. 3) is grasped by the gripping claw (not shown) of the bonding roller 56b, and the bonding roller is used. Grasp the edge of the even-numbered sheet S (the left edge in FIG. 2, the reference side in FIG. 3) with the gripping claw (not shown) of 56a. Then, by rotating the bonding rollers 56a in the normal direction and reversing the bonding rollers 56b in a state where the pair of bonding rollers 56a and 56b are pressed against each other by a pressing mechanism (not shown), the odd-numbered sheets S and the even-numbered sheets are formed. While pulling the paper S of the paper S downward in the figure, the adhesive surfaces of the paper S are bonded to each other. Then, when the paper S is pulled in to some extent, the holding of the paper S by the gripping claws of the bonding rollers 56a and 56b is released, and even after the release, the paper S is pulled downward as the bonding rollers 56a and 56b rotate. to paste together. The paper S to which the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other is sent to the bookbinding device 70 side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bookbinding device 70 has a bookbinding control unit 72 that has a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown) to control the entire device, and a cover tray (not shown), and is ejected from the glue coating device 50. A bookbinding mechanism 74 that binds the photobook PB by combining the paper S with the cover supplied from the cover tray, and a photobook PB that has a discharge roller (not shown) and is bound by the bookbinding mechanism 74 are discharged to the discharge tray 76a. It is equipped with a discharge mechanism 76.

The bookbinding control unit 72 is communicatively connected to the computer 80, receives a bookbinding instruction from the computer 80, and transmits the bookbinding status to the computer 80. When the bookbinding control unit 72 receives the bookbinding instruction, the bookbinding control unit 72 controls the bookbinding mechanism 74 and the discharge mechanism 76 so that the paper S sent from the glue coating device 50 is bound to the photobook PB and discharged based on the received bookbinding instruction. To do. In the bookbinding process, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper S discharged from the glue application device 50 and the cover are combined, and for example, the end of the paper S (the left end in the figure) is covered with thread, wire, glue, or the like. Bookbinding by binding to the center of the inner surface. Since the bookbinding mechanism 74 and the discharge mechanism 76 do not form the core of the present invention, detailed description of each mechanism will be omitted.

The computer 80 includes a CPU 82 that performs various processes, a hard disk drive (HDD) 83 that stores various applications and data, a computer 81 that incorporates a RAM 84 that temporarily stores data, and a display that displays various information. It is configured as a general-purpose computer equipped with 86 and an input device 88 such as a keyboard and a mouse for which a user inputs various commands. The computer 80 accepts the selection of an image to be printed and the setting of the type of paper S on the bookbinding setting screen (not shown) displayed on the display 86 via the operation of the user input device 88. Further, based on the received contents, a printing instruction to the printing device 30, a glue applying instruction to the glue applying device 50, and a bookbinding instruction to the bookbinding device 70 are generated. Then, a printing instruction is output to the printing device 30, a printing status from the printing device 30 is input, a glue coating instruction is output to the glue coating device 50 based on the input printing status, and glue coating from the glue coating device 50 is performed. The cloth status is input, the bookbinding instruction is output to the bookbinding device 70 based on the input glue application status, and the bookbinding status from the bookbinding device 70 is input.

Next, the operation of the bookbinding system 10 of the present embodiment configured in this way, particularly the operation when applying glue to the paper S in the glue applying device 50 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a glue coating processing routine executed by the glue coating control unit 52. This routine is executed when it receives a glue application instruction from the computer 80. When this routine is executed, the glue application control unit 52 inputs the paper type of the paper S included in the received glue application instruction (step S100), and whether the input paper type is group A or B. Is determined (step S110). This determination is made by referring to a paper type classification table (not shown) stored in the ROM of the glue application control unit 52. Here, when glue is applied to the odd-numbered sheets S and the even-numbered sheets S to bond the adhesive surfaces to each other, the glue is applied to only one sheet S to be bonded. The amount of glue used for adhesion tends to be larger than when pasting. When the amount of glue applied is large, the paper S may not be able to absorb the penetrating glue and wrinkle-like deformation may be caused depending on the degree of penetration of the glue of the paper S and the thickness of the paper. In this bookbinding system 10, a plurality of paper types can be used, and the degree of penetration of glue and the paper thickness differ depending on the paper type. Therefore, when the adhesive surfaces of the paper S are bonded to each other, the paper is used. The deformation (finished state) will differ depending on the species. Such differences for each type of paper were determined by preparing glossy photo paper, silk-grained photo paper, matte paper, plain paper, etc. and conducting experiments in advance. Then, the paper types that are relatively hard to be deformed even if the amount of glue applied is large are classified into Group A, and the paper types that are relatively easy to be deformed if the amount of glue applied is large are classified into Group B. As a classification table, it is stored in advance in the ROM of the glue application control unit 52.

When the paper type is group A, it is determined whether or not the paper S to be coated is the odd-numbered paper S such as the first or third sheet (step S120). When the paper S to be coated is an odd number of sheets, a glue forming pattern for an odd number is set (step S130), and when the paper S to be coated is an even numbered sheet such as the second or fourth sheet instead of the odd number sheet. The glue forming pattern A for even numbers is set (step S140). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a glue forming pattern. The black circle in the figure indicates one dot formed by the ejection of glue. As shown in the figure, the glue forming pattern for odd numbers is defined as a dot pattern in which a total of 16 dot groups in which four dots are arranged vertically and horizontally are arranged in an island shape. On the other hand, the glue forming pattern A for even numbers is defined as a dot pattern in which a plurality of dots of a total of 4 dots in which two dots are arranged vertically and horizontally are arranged in an island shape. In this even-numbered glue-forming pattern A, each dot group is arranged so as to be one size smaller than each dot group of the odd-numbered glue-forming pattern and to be in a position contrasting with each dot group of the odd-numbered glue-forming pattern. The dots that are omitted from the dot group of the glue forming pattern for odd numbers are shown by white circles. That is, each dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern A is defined as a pattern in which the formation of a total of 12 dots arranged on the outermost circumference of the dots forming each dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern is omitted. There is. The contrasting position is a position where the centers of the dot groups coincide with each other when the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheets S and the adhesive surface of the even-numbered sheets S are bonded together. In addition, considering the case where the right side of the odd-numbered sheet S and the left side of the even-numbered sheet S are set as reference sides (see FIG. 3) and the reference sides are aligned and pasted together, each of the sheets formed on the sheet S is formed. It can also be said that the dots are symmetrical with respect to the reference side at the time of bonding.

On the other hand, when the paper type is group B, it is determined whether or not the paper S to be coated is an odd-numbered sheet (step S150), and when the paper type is an odd-numbered sheet, an odd-numbered glue forming pattern is set (step). S160), for an even number, set the glue formation pattern B for an even number (step S170). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the glue forming pattern, and similarly to FIG. 5, the dots to be formed are indicated by black circles, and the dots to which the formation is omitted are indicated by white circles. As shown in the figure, the glue forming pattern for odd numbers is defined as the same pattern as the glue forming pattern for odd numbers in FIG. On the other hand, the even-numbered glue forming pattern B is defined as a dot pattern in which a plurality of dots of a total of 4 dots are arranged in an island shape, but the even-numbered glue forming pattern A in FIG. 5 is the position of the dot group. Is different. In this even-numbered glue forming pattern B, each dot group is arranged in a region outside the region where the odd-numbered glue forming pattern dot group is formed. In addition, the dots of the glue forming pattern for odd numbers are indicated by white circles in the glue forming pattern B, and the dots of the glue forming pattern for odd numbers and the dots of the glue forming pattern B for even numbers are staggered. It was supposed to be placed in. In this way, the even-numbered glue forming pattern B is arranged so that each dot group is in a non-contrast position as a region outside the region where each dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern B is formed. It was decided.

When the glue formation pattern is set in this way, nozzle discharge data as on / off data for discharge of each nozzle of the glue discharge head 65 is generated from the set glue formation pattern (step S180). Next, the glue coating process is executed on the paper S based on the generated glue ejection data (step S190). In this glue application process, the carriage motor 63a is controlled so that the carriage 61 reciprocates in the main scanning direction, and the piezoelectric element of the glue discharge head 65 is driven so that the glue is discharged to the paper S based on the glue application data. This is performed by repeating the process of controlling the drive motor 66a so that the paper S is conveyed in a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction for each pass. When the glue application process is executed in this way, it is determined whether or not the process for all the sheets S has been completed (step S290), and if the process is not completed, the process returns to step S100 and the process is repeated. To finish.

As a result, glue is applied to the odd-numbered sheets of paper S based on the odd-numbered glue forming pattern, and the even-numbered sheets of paper S are either one of the even-numbered glue forming patterns A or B depending on the paper type. The glue will be applied based on. Therefore, in the paper S of the paper type belonging to the group A, the glue application area formed on the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheet S and the adhesive application area formed on the adhesive surface of the even-numbered sheet S. The positions are symmetrical with each other, and the adhesive application areas can be overlapped when the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other, so that the adhesive surfaces can be bonded to each other more firmly. Further, in the even-numbered glue forming pattern A, each dot group is one size smaller than each dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern, so that the amount of glue can be suppressed while overlapping the coating areas. As described above, since the paper S of the paper type belonging to Group A is relatively hard to be deformed, even if the amount of glue applied is partially increased by overlapping the glue application areas. There is little risk of deformation. On the other hand, in the paper S of the paper type belonging to the group B, the glue application area formed on the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheet S and the glue application area formed on the adhesive surface of the even-numbered sheet S. Since the positions are asymmetrical, it is possible to prevent the glue application regions from overlapping when the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other. As described above, since the paper S of the paper type belonging to the group B is relatively easily deformed, it is possible to prevent the wrinkle-like deformation by assuming that the glue application regions do not overlap. Of course, in the present embodiment, since the glue is applied to the adhesive surface as a group of island-shaped dots, the amount of the glue to be applied can be suppressed as compared with the case where the glue is uniformly applied to the entire surface of the adhesive surface. .. From these facts, when the adhesive surfaces of the paper S are bonded to each other, the amount of glue applied can be suppressed while ensuring an appropriate adhesive force.

Here, the reason why the formation of the outermost dots is omitted so that each dot group is one size smaller than the even-numbered glue forming pattern A shown in FIG. 5 will be further described. Here, in the case where the glue is discharged from the glue discharge head 65 in a dot shape, the landing position (formation position) of the glue dots may be slightly deviated. In addition, when the adhesive surfaces are bonded to each other, they may be slightly displaced from each other. When such a deviation occurs, the position of the dot group formed on the odd-numbered sheet S and the dot group formed on the even-numbered sheet S will be displaced. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the presence or absence of misalignment and the overlapping portion of the coating region. When there is no deviation, as shown in FIG. 7A, the overlapping portion of the coating area is the size of 4 dots. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), when the dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern is displaced by, for example, one dot, the overlapping portion of the coating area is also displaced by one dot. However, its size is the same as when there is no deviation. As a result, even if the deviation occurs, the adhesive strength can be kept the same as that in the case where the deviation does not occur. For this reason, the formation of the outermost dots is omitted so that the dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern A is one size smaller than the dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern.

Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The glue application control unit 52 of the glue application device 50 that executes the processes of steps S110 to S170 of the glue application processing routine of FIG. 4 of the present embodiment corresponds to the dot pattern setting means of the present invention, and the glue application of FIG. 4 The glue coating control unit 52 that executes the processing of steps S180 and 190 of the processing routine corresponds to the control means. In the present embodiment, an example of the control method of the glue coating device of the present invention is also clarified by explaining the operation of the glue coating control unit 52.

According to the glue coating device 50 of the present embodiment described in detail above, the dots are arranged at positions symmetrical with each dot group of the even-numbered glue-forming pattern in which the dot groups are arranged in an island shape and the odd-numbered glue-forming pattern. An even-numbered glue-forming pattern A in which groups are arranged in an island shape is set, and the glue ejection head 65 is controlled so that the set odd-numbered glue-forming pattern is formed on the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheets of paper S. , The glue ejection head 65 is controlled so that the set glue forming pattern A for the even number is formed on the adhesive surface of the even numbered sheet S. As a result, the amount of glue applied can be suppressed as compared with the case where the glue is uniformly applied to the entire surfaces of both adhesive surfaces, and the application areas of both adhesive surfaces can be overlapped, so that an appropriate adhesive force can be obtained. It is possible to reduce the amount of glue applied while ensuring it.

Further, in the even-numbered glue forming pattern A, the formation of the outermost dots is omitted so that each dot group is one size smaller than each dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern. The amount can be suppressed, and even if a deviation occurs, the adhesive strength can be made the same as when the deviation does not occur. Further, since the processing is switched according to the group to which the paper type of the paper S belongs, the glue application area is overlapped for the paper S of the paper type belonging to the group A, and the paper of the paper type belonging to the group B different from the group A is overlapped. It is possible to deal with S so that the glue application areas do not overlap.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various aspects as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern A is set to be one size smaller than the dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern, but the size is not limited to this. It may be determined as follows. FIG. 8 shows a glue forming pattern of a modified example in this case. Further, it is not limited to omitting the formation of the outermost dots so that each dot group of the even-numbered glue forming pattern A is one size smaller than each dot group of the odd-numbered glue forming pattern, and several dots on the outer peripheral side. The formation of minute dots may be omitted. In this case, the amount of deviation that can occur is obtained in advance by an experiment or the like, the number of dots corresponding to the amount of deviation is calculated from the relationship between the obtained amount of deviation and the dot density, and the number of dots on the outer peripheral side is calculated by the calculated number of dots. The formation of dots may be omitted. For example, if the amount of deviation that can occur corresponds to two dots, the formation of dots for two laps on the outer peripheral side may be omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, each dot group of the odd-numbered glue-forming pattern has the same size, and each dot group of the even-numbered glue-forming pattern has the same size. The size of each dot group of the glue forming pattern may be set to two large and small stages, or the size of two or more multiple stages may be set, and the size of each dot group of both glue forming patterns may be set to two large and small stages. It may be a size or a size of two or more steps.

In the above-described embodiment, the glue application area is overlapped only on the paper S of the paper type belonging to the group A, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the paper S of all paper types is not limited. The glue application areas may be overlapped with each other. In this case, the processing of steps S100, 110, S150 to S170 of the glue coating processing routine of FIG. 4 may be omitted. In addition, for example, in the glue coating device 50 for coating only the paper S in which wrinkle-like deformation does not matter, the paper type may not be limited.

In the above-described embodiment, the size of the dots formed by ejecting the glue is fixed, but the size of the dots themselves is not limited to this, and the size of the dots themselves is adjusted in the same manner as the adjustment of the ink ejection amount in the inkjet printer. It may be something to change.

In the above-described embodiment, the adhesive surface of the odd-numbered sheet S and the adhesive surface of the even-numbered sheet S are bonded together, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the odd-numbered sheets of paper S are folded in half and the adhesive surfaces after the mountain folds are pasted together, and the even-numbered sheets of paper S are folded in half and the adhesive surfaces after the mountain-folds are bonded together. May be. Alternatively, fold the odd-numbered sheet S in half and fold the even-numbered sheet S in half, and after the valley fold, the adhesive surface (half side) of the odd-numbered sheet S and the even-numbered sheet S The adhesive surface (half surface) of the above may be sequentially bonded. FIG. 9 shows a part of the process of the modified example in the latter case. FIG. 9 shows the steps after reversal of each step in the bookbinding system 10 shown in FIG. In order to perform this step, the bookbinding system 10 may be provided with a folding mechanism (not shown) for folding the paper S. In this case, as shown in the figure, an odd-numbered glue forming pattern is set on the side of the adhesive surface on the odd-numbered page side (left half in the figure) for both the odd-numbered sheet S and the even-numbered sheet S. At the same time, an even-numbered glue forming pattern may be set on the side that becomes an even-numbered page (right half in the figure), and the glue may be applied. In the former case as well, the glue forming pattern may be set in the same manner.

In the above-described embodiment, the glue coating device 50 includes a reversing mechanism 54 and a bonding mechanism 56 in addition to the glue coating mechanism 60, but the present invention is not limited to this, and either the reversing mechanism 54 or the bonding mechanism 56 is provided. May not be provided, or neither the reversing mechanism 54 nor the bonding mechanism 56 may be provided. Further, the glue application device 50 is incorporated in the bookbinding system 10 to apply glue to the paper S to be bound, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the glue application device 50 alone may apply glue to the medium. ..

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid glue is used, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any adhesive that can be discharged from the discharge head may be used, and a gel-like adhesive may be used. Further, although the paper S is used as the medium, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adhesive may be applied to a medium of any material as long as it is an adhesive medium such as metal, plastic, rubber, or ceramic.

10 bookbinding system, 30 printing equipment, 32 printing control unit, 33a, 33b paper feed tray, 34 paper feed mechanism, 34a, 34b paper feed roller, 40 printing mechanism, 40a mechanical frame, 41 carriage, 42 guide, 43 carriage belt, 43a carriage motor, 43b driven roller, 44 ink cartridge, 45 print head, 46 conveyor roller, 46a drive motor, 47 paper ejection roller, 50 glue coating device, 52 glue coating control unit, 54 reversing mechanism, 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e Reversing roller, 56 bonding mechanism, 56a, 56b bonding roller, 56c transport roller, 56d guide, 60 glue application mechanism, 61 carriage, 62 guide, 63 carriage belt, 63a carriage motor, 63b driven roller, 64 Liquid glue cartridge, 65 glue discharge head, 66 transfer roller, 66a drive motor, 67 paper ejection roller, 70 binding device, 72 binding control unit, 74 binding mechanism, 76 ejection mechanism, 76a ejection tray, 80 Computer, 81 main unit, 82 CPU, 83 HDD, 84 RAM, 86 display, 88 input device, PB photo book, S paper.