Abstract:
There is described a paper conveying apparatus that deflects a conveying direction of a paper at substantially 90 degree relative to a conveyance direction of the paper. The apparatus includes: a first conveying section to convey the paper in a first conveyance direction; a second conveying section that includes a conveyance belt, including a conveying nail, to deflect the conveying direction of the paper and conveys the paper in a second conveyance direction, which is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a leading edge of the paper; a stopper member for stopping and releasing a side edge portion of the paper in a width direction of the paper; and a driving section to drive both the conveyance belt and the stopper member. The driving section moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from an outside of a paper conveying area, to achieve a width truing operation.

Description:
[0001]     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application NO. 2004-246407 filed on Aug. 26, 2004 in Japanese Patent Office, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a paper conveying apparatus for truing papers to be conveyed and for conveying the papers after deflecting a conveying direction of them, and a paper finishing apparatus and an image forming apparatus, which are provided with the paper conveying apparatus.  
         [0003]     In recent year, there has been available a paper finishing apparatus that receives the papers on which images are formed by an image-forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile and a compound apparatus constituted by those devices, and applies a folding processing, a stitching processing and a collating processing for every printing number to quite a few papers, and then, staples them by means of a stapler so as to achieve a bookbinding operation of the paper. The paper finishing apparatus conducts such processing as folding, stitching, perforating, starching, fore-edge cutting, tight sealing, etc.  
         [0004]     Patent Document 1 sets forth the paper finishing apparatus that receives and conveys the papers delivered from the image-forming apparatus proper, and stacks a plurality of papers onto the paper stacking tray, and then, buts the leading edge of the papers in a conveying direction of the papers against the butting member and also buts the side edge in a width direction of the papers by means of the width truing member so as to position and align the papers at the predetermined position, and then, applies the stapling processing to the papers by means of the stapler, and finally, ejects the stapled papers outside the apparatus.  
         [0005]     In the paper finishing apparatus mentioned in the above, the driving source of the width truing member, the other driving source of the driving means for ejecting the bundle of the papers which are already stapled, a driving section for driving the butting member against which the leading edge of the papers in a conveying direction of the papers are butted, etc., are separately equipped.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there has been a problem that the complicated mechanism employing a motor, a solenoid, etc. is necessary for each of such the driving sources, resulting in an increase of the manufacturing cost due to the increase of a number of parts to be employed in the apparatus.  
         [0007]     In recent years, the system, that conducts the whole bookbinding processes from the printing process to the stapling and cutting processes within a single image-forming apparatus, has been proposed as the on-demand printing system. In such the system, the requested are to improve the accuracy of the finishing process for the papers and to conduct the truing operation of the paper without lowering the productivity of the image-forming apparatus proper.  
         [0008]     [Patent Document]
        Tokkai 2003-26368 (Japanese Non-Examined Patent Publication)        
 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     To overcome the abovementioned drawbacks in conventional paper conveying apparatus, paper finishing apparatus and image forming apparatus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper conveying apparatus, which makes it possible to simplify the mechanism of truing means and to improve a truing performance for papers without increasing a number of driving sources, by adding a truing function to a certain conveying process.  
         [0011]     Specifically, another object of the present invention is to create a high-grade section by making the paper truing operation for the section accurate, wherein the section is acquired by applying the folding processing to a plurality of papers after stacking the plurality of papers and applying the width truing operation to them. Further, still another object of the present invention is to create a high-grade book by making the paper truing operation for the book accurate, wherein the book is created by applying the staple processing to the section acquired by applying the folding processing to a plurality of papers.  
         [0012]     Further, still another object of the present invention is to provide a paper finishing apparatus or an image forming apparatus, which conducts the paper truing operation without lowering the productivity of the image forming apparatus proper so as to attain a stabilization and high velocity of the converting operation of the paper conveying direction even with a relatively simple mechanism.  
         [0013]     Accordingly, to overcome the cited shortcomings, the abovementioned object of the present invention can be attained by paper conveying apparatus, paper finishing apparatus and image forming apparatus described as follow. 
    (1) An apparatus for conveying a paper while deflecting a long side and a short side of the paper at substantially 90 degree relative to a current conveyance direction of the paper, the apparatus comprising: a first conveying section to convey the paper in a first conveyance direction; a second conveying section that includes a conveyance belt to deflect the current conveying direction of the paper so as to convey the paper in a second conveyance direction, which is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a leading edge of the paper conveyed in the first conveying section, wherein the conveyance belt includes a conveying nail formed as a protrusion protruded from the conveyance belt; a stopper member that is movable to stop and release a side edge portion of the paper, conveyed by the first conveying section, in a width direction of the paper; and a driving section to drive both the conveyance belt and the stopper member; wherein the driving section moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from an external area outside a paper conveying area, so that a width truing operation is achieved by batting the conveying nail and the stopper member against both side edge portions of the paper.     (2) The apparatus of item 1, wherein the conveying nail and the stopper member are positioned to a truing position at which the conveying nail and the stopper member are batted against the both side edge portions of the paper, or a standby position at which a gap between the conveying nail and the stopper member is wider than that at the truing position.     (3) The apparatus of item 2, wherein the driving section moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the standby position to the truing position in order to conduct the width truing operation, and after the width truing operation is completed, the driving section again moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the truing position to the standby position.     (4) A paper finishing apparatus for applying finish processing to a paper or a plurality of papers while conveying the paper or the plurality of papers, the paper finishing apparatus comprising: a conveying mechanism to convey and stack the paper or the plurality of papers; a stopper member, being movable, to stop a side edge portion of the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed and stacked by the conveying mechanism so as to achieve a width truing operation; a truing section that includes a conveying nail, being movable and disposed in parallel with the stopper member in such a manner that the stopper member and the conveying nail oppose to each other; a driving section to drive both the stopper member and the conveying nail; and a finish processing section to apply the finish processing to the paper or the plurality of papers trued by the truing section; wherein the driving section moves the stopper member and/or the conveying nail from an external area outside a paper conveying area, so that the width truing operation is achieved by batting the stopper member and/or the conveying nail against both side edge portions of the paper or the plurality of papers.     (5) The paper finishing apparatus of item 4, wherein the conveying mechanism includes: a first conveying section to convey the paper or the plurality of papers in a first conveyance direction; a second conveying section that includes a conveyance belt to deflect the first conveying direction of the paper or the plurality of papers so as to convey the paper or the plurality of papers in a second conveyance direction, which is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a leading edge of the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed in the first conveying section.     (6) The paper finishing apparatus of item 5, wherein the conveyance belt includes the conveying nail formed as a protrusion protruded from the conveyance belt.     (7) The paper finishing apparatus of item 6, wherein the conveying nail and the stopper member are positioned to a truing position at which the conveying nail and the stopper member are batted against the both side edge portions of the paper or the plurality of papers, or a standby position at which a gap between the conveying nail and the stopper member is wider than that at the truing position.     (8) The paper finishing apparatus of item 7, wherein the driving section moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the standby position to the truing position in order to conduct the width truing operation, and after the width truing operation is completed, the driving section again moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the truing position to the standby position.     (9) The paper finishing apparatus of item 4, wherein the finish processing section includes: a folding device to fold the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed by the conveying mechanism and trued by the truing section.     (10) The paper finishing apparatus of item 9, wherein the folding device applies a folding two processing or a folding three processing to the paper or the plurality of papers trued by the truing section.     (11) A system for forming an image on a paper or a plurality of papers, comprising: an image forming apparatus that forms the image on the paper or the plurality of papers and ejects the paper or the plurality of papers; and a paper finishing apparatus that receives the paper or the plurality of papers, ejected by the image forming apparatus, and applies finish processing to the paper or the plurality of papers, while conveying the paper or the plurality of papers; wherein the paper finishing apparatus includes: a conveying mechanism to convey and stack the paper or the plurality of papers; a stopper member, being movable, to stop a side edge portion of the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed and stacked by the conveying mechanism so as to achieve a width truing operation; a truing section that includes a conveying nail, being movable and disposed in parallel with the stopper member in such a manner that the stopper member and the conveying nail oppose to each other; a driving section to drive both the stopper member and the conveying nail; and a finish processing section to apply the finish processing to the paper or the plurality of papers trued by the truing section; wherein the driving section moves the stopper member and/or the conveying nail from an external area outside a paper conveying area, so that the width truing operation is achieved by batting the stopper member and/or the conveying nail against both side edge portions of the paper or the plurality of papers.     (12) The system of item 11, wherein the conveying mechanism includes: a first conveying section to convey the paper or the plurality of papers in a first conveyance direction; a second conveying section that includes a conveyance belt to deflect the first conveying direction of the paper or the plurality of papers so as to convey the paper or the plurality of papers in a second conveyance direction, which is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a leading edge of the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed in the first conveying section.     (13) The system of item 12, wherein the conveyance belt includes the conveying nail formed as a protrusion protruded from the conveyance belt.     (14) The system of item 13, wherein the conveying nail and the stopper member are positioned to a truing position at which the conveying nail and the stopper member are batted against the both side edge portions of the paper or the plurality of papers, or a standby position at which a gap between the conveying nail and the stopper member is wider than that at the truing position.     (15) The system of item 14, wherein the driving section moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the standby position to the truing position in order to conduct the width truing operation, and after the width truing operation is completed, the driving section again moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper member from the truing position to the standby position.     (16) The system of item 11, wherein the finish processing section includes: a folding device to fold the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed by the conveying mechanism and trued by the truing section.     (17) The system of item 16, wherein the folding device applies a folding two processing or a folding three processing to the paper or the plurality of papers trued by the truing section.     (18) An apparatus for conveying a paper while deflecting a long side and a short side of the paper at substantially 90 degree relative to a current conveyance direction of the paper, the apparatus comprising: first conveying means for conveying the paper in a first conveyance direction; second conveying means, including a conveyance belt to deflect the current conveying direction of the paper, for conveying the paper in a second conveyance direction, which is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a leading edge of the paper conveyed in the first conveying means, wherein the conveyance belt includes a conveying nail formed as a protrusion protruded from the conveyance belt; stopper means, being movable, for stopping and releasing a side edge portion of the paper, conveyed by the first conveying means, in a width direction of the paper; and driving means for driving both the conveyance belt and the stopper member; wherein the driving means moves the conveying nail and/or the stopper means from an external area outside a paper conveying area, so that a width truing operation is achieved by batting the conveying nail and the stopper means against both side edge portions of the paper.     (19) An paper finishing apparatus for applying finish processing to a paper or a plurality of papers while conveying the paper or the plurality of papers, the paper finishing apparatus comprising: conveying means for conveying and stacking the paper or the plurality of papers; stopper means, being movable, for stopping a side edge portion of the paper or the plurality of papers conveyed and stacked by the conveying means so as to achieve a width truing operation; truing means that includes a conveying nail, being movable and disposed in parallel with the stopper means in such a manner that the stopper means and the conveying nail oppose to each other; driving means for driving both the stopper means and the conveying nail; and finish processing means for applying the finish processing to the paper or the plurality of papers trued by the truing means; wherein the driving means moves the stopper means and/or the conveying nail from an external area outside a paper conveying area, so that the width truing operation is achieved by batting the stopper means and/or the conveying nail against both side edge portions of the paper or the plurality of papers.     (20) A paper conveying apparatus, characterized in that, in the paper conveying apparatus that conveys a paper, to be conveyed, by deflecting a long side direction and a short side direction of the paper at 90 degree in a conveyance direction of the paper, there is provided with: first conveying means for conveying the paper in a first conveyance direction; second conveying means that includes a conveyance belt for deflecting the conveying direction of the paper so as to convey the paper in a second conveyance direction, which is orthogonal to a leading edge of the paper conveyed in the first conveying section; a conveying nail formed as a protrusion protruded from the conveyance belt; a batting member, being movable, for contacting and releasing a side edge portion of the paper, conveyed by the first conveying means, in a width direction of the paper; and a driving means for driving both the conveyance belt and the batting member; and the driving means moves the conveying nail and/or the batting member from outside of a paper conveying area, and conducts a width truing operation by batting the conveying nail and the batting member against both side edge portions of the paper.    
 
         [0034]     Incidentally, in the present specification, the term of the “width direction of the paper” is defined as a horizontal direction of the paper when the viewer views the image formed on the paper at a normal position.  
         [0035]     According to the present invention, the following effects can be attained. 
    1). In the paper conveying apparatus that deflects a long side direction and a short side direction of the paper, to be conveyed, at 90 degree in a conveyance direction of the paper, by moving the conveying nail fixed on the conveyance belt rotated by the driving means and the stopper means fixed on the truing belt rotated by the same driving means from the standby position located at outside of the paper conveying area to the truing position at which the conveying nail and the stopper means contact both side edge portions of the paper, so as to conduct the width truing operation by batting them against both side edge portions of the paper, it becomes possible to add the truing function to the paper conveying process, resulting in an improvement of the truing-ability for conducting the width adjustment for a plurality of papers, without increasing the driving source.     2). After completing the finish processing for a plurality of papers conveyed and stacked by the paper conveying apparatus, such as the folding processing, etc., by moving the conveying nail fixed on the conveyance belt rotated by the driving means and the stopper means fixed on the truing belt rotated by the same driving means from the standby position located at outside of the paper conveying area to the truing position at which the conveying nail and the stopper means contact both side edge portions of the plurality of papers, so as to conduct the width truing operation by batting them against both side edge portions of the plurality of papers, it becomes possible to provide the paper finishing apparatus, which makes it possible to add the truing function to the paper conveying process, and to improve the truing-ability for conducting the width adjustment for a plurality of papers, without increasing the driving source.     3). The conveying direction of the paper, ejected from the image forming apparatus proper after forming the image on it, is converted in the paper finishing apparatus coupled to the image forming apparatus proper to apply the finishing operation, and the plurality of stacked papers are trued in its width direction. Accordingly, the image forming operation and the finishing operation are conducted on high-productivity and on-demand basis, without decreasing the productivity of the image forming apparatus proper.    
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows an overall structure of an image-forming apparatus and the paper finishing apparatus provided with a paper conveying device embodied in the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic diagram showing a paper conveying operation performed in the middle folding and saddle stitch processing step of a paper finishing apparatus;  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of the paper finishing apparatus;  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  shows a right side view of the paper finishing apparatus;  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a right side view of a folding means and a conveying means;  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of a conveying means;  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the conveying means;  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the conveying means, indicating the paper width truing processes;  
         [0048]      FIG. 9 ( a ),  FIG. 9 ( b ),  FIG. 9 ( c ),  FIG. 9 ( d ),  FIG. 9 ( e ) and  FIG. 9 ( f ) show schematic diagrams of a folding means, indicating folding three processes;  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic diagram of a folding means, indicating a middle fold processing performed prior to the saddle stitch processing; and  
         [0050]      FIG. 11  shows a left side view of the paper finishing apparatus. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0051]     Referring to the drawings, examples of the paper conveying apparatus, the paper finishing apparatus and the image forming apparatus, embodied in the present invention, will be detailed in the following.  
         [0000]     [Paper Finishing Apparatus and Image Forming Apparatus Provided with Paper Finishing Apparatus] 
         [0052]     Hereinafter, the term of “the paper finishing apparatus, provided with the paper conveying device, and the image forming apparatus” is defined as a paper finishing apparatus incorporating a paper conveying device, or an image-forming apparatus integrated with an external paper finishing apparatus incorporating a paper conveying device as shown in the drawings. Incidentally, it is also possible to configure the paper finishing apparatus provided with the paper conveying device, embodied in the present invention, as an independently usable structure. Further, the scope of the paper finishing apparatus and the image-forming apparatus provided with the paper finishing device, embodied in the present invention, is not limited to the embodiments detailed in the following.  
         [0000]     [Image Forming Apparatus] 
         [0053]      FIG. 1  shows an overall structure of an image-forming apparatus and the paper finishing apparatus provided with a paper conveying device embodied in the present invention.  
         [0054]     The image forming apparatus is constituted by the image forming apparatus proper A, the automatic document feeder DF, the paper finishing apparatus B, and the large volume paper feeding device LT.  
         [0055]     The image forming apparatus proper A, shown in  FIG. 1 , is provided with an image reading section  1 , an image processing section  2 , an image writing section  3 , an image forming section  4 , paper feeding cassettes  5 A,  5 B and  5 C, a manual feed tray  5 D, first paper feeding sections  6 A,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D, a second paper feeding section  6 F, a fixing device  7 , a paper discharge section  8  and an automatic double-sided copy paper feeding section  8 B (ADU).  
         [0056]     A paper processing device B is connected to the paper discharge section  8  located at the left side surface of the image forming apparatus proper A, as shown in the  FIG. 1 .  
         [0057]     Images on one surface or both surfaces of the documents stacked on the document tray of the automatic document feeder DF are read by the optical system of the image reading section  1 , and then read in by the CCD image sensor  1 A, and the analog signals which have been subjected to photoelectric conversion are sent to the image writing section  3  after being subjected to processing such as analog processing, A/D conversion, shading correction, image compression and the like in the image processing section  2 .  
         [0058]     In the image writing section  3 , the output light from the semiconductor laser is irradiated onto the photoreceptor drum of the image forming section  4 A, and a latent image is formed. In the image forming section  4 , processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, cleaning and the like are performed. The image on the sheet S which is fed by each of the first paper feeding sections  6 A to  6 C of the paper feeding cassettes  5 A to  5 C, the first feeding section  6 D of the manual feeding tray  5 D and the first paper feeding section  6 E of the large volume paper feeding device LT is transferred by the transfer means  4 B via the second paper feeding section  6 F. The sheet S carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device and then sent from the paper discharge section to the paper finishing apparatus B. Alternatively, the sheet S whose one side has undergone image processing and which was sent to the automatic double-sided copy paper feeding section  8 B by the conveying path switching plate  8 A is sent once again to the image forming section  4  and after image formation on both surfaces, is discharged from the paper discharge section  8 .  
         [0059]     The operation section  9  selects and sets the processing functions of the image forming device which is formed from the image forming apparatus proper A and the paper finishing apparatus B and the like.  
         [0060]     The main controlling means  10  of the image forming apparatus proper A is connected to the paper post processing control means  10 C of the paper finishing apparatus B through the communication section  10 A and the communication circuit  10 B.  
         [0000]     [Paper Finishing Apparatus] 
         [0061]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a paper conveying operation performed in the middle folding and saddle stitch processing step of the paper finishing apparatus B.  FIG. 3  shows a front view of the paper finishing apparatus B, while  FIG. 4  shows a right side view of the same.  
         [0062]     First the paper conveyance steps from the introduction of the paper to the step before the paper folding will be detailed in the following.  
         [0063]     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , when the sheet S which is discharged from the image forming apparatus proper A is introduced into the entrance section  11  of the paper finishing apparatus B, the sheet S is nipped by the entrance roller  12  and is conveyed into one of the upper paper conveying path r 1  and the lower paper conveying path r 2  located above the conveying path switching means G 1 .  
         [0000]     &lt;Straight Paper Discharging Operation&gt; 
         [0064]     The sheet S, which has branched to the paper conveying path r 1 , is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance rollers  13 A- 13 E, and then, conveyed into the upper paper conveying path r 3  located above the conveying path switching means G 2  or the lower paper conveying path r 4  located below the conveying path switching means conveying path switching means G 2  (refer to  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0065]     The sheet S, which is advanced on the upper paper conveying path r 3 , is discharged by the discharge roller  14  and is stacked on the sub-discharge tray  15 , which is disposed on the upper portion of the paper finishing apparatus B.  
         [0066]     The sheet S, which is advanced on the lower paper conveying path r 4 , is nipped and conveyed by conveyance rollers  16 A to  16 D, and then, discharged by the discharge roller  17 .  
         [0000]     &lt;First Right Angle Deflection Conveyance&gt; 
         [0067]     The sheet S, which is conveyed on the lower paper conveying path r 2  located below the conveying path switching means G 1 , descends substantially at a right angle and temporarily stops at a prescribed position and is stored. At this stop position, the plurality of following sheets S are overlapped and stored.  
         [0000]     &lt;Second Right Angle Deflection Conveyance&gt; 
         [0068]     The stored sheet S is deflectively moved in the right-angle front direction with respect to the paper surface shown in  FIG. 3 , by the conveyance roller pairs  18 A and  18 B, the first conveyance roller pairs  18 C and  18 D, and a guide plate (not shown in the drawings). The sheet S then passes the paper conveyance path r 5  which goes around the front surface side Bf of the inside of the paper finishing apparatus B in a state, in which sheet surface is upright, and then, stops at a prescribed position.  
         [0000]     &lt;Third Right Angle Deflection Conveyance&gt; 
         [0069]     Next, after the sheet S is conveyed upwards perpendicularly by the second conveyance roller pair  18 E, it is inclined in the horizontal direction and then moved by the conveyance roller pair  19  and the conveyance alignment belt  20  (refer to the paper conveying path r 6 , shown in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0000]     &lt;Positioning of the Conveyance Direction Before Folding Processing&gt; 
         [0070]     The first conveyance means, disposed at downstream side of the conveying direction in the paper conveying path r 6 , holds and conveys the paper S traveling upward in the paper conveying path r 6  constituted by the third conveyance roller pair  19  and two sets of the conveyance alignment belt  20 .  
         [0071]     The first adjusting means is constituted by an adjusting member  20 A, which is movably fixed onto conveyance alignment belt  20  so as to push the trailing edge portion of paper S, and a stopper member  21  to which the leading edge portion of paper S is butted so as to position paper S. The adjusting member  20 A pushes the trailing edge portion of paper S, which is conveyed by the third conveyance roller pair  19 , disposed at upstream side of the conveying direction in the paper conveying path r 6 , to move paper S to the stopper member  21 , and makes the leading edge portion of paper S batted against the stopper member  21  in order to align the paper S (refer to  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0072]     The position of the stopper member  21  is set in advance at a predetermined position, depending on the states of the paper size and the folding processing to be employed.  
         [0000]     &lt;Adjustment in the Paper Width Direction Before Folding Three Processing&gt; 
         [0073]      FIG. 5  shows a right side view of a folding means  30  and a conveying means  40 ,  FIG. 6  shows a front view of the conveying means  40  and  FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the conveying means  40 .  
         [0074]     The conveying means  40  (the second conveying means) conveys the paper S after deflecting the long side and the short side by substantially 90 degree in the conveying direction. The conveying means  40  is configured in such a manner that two conveyance belts  41 , each of which has a conveying nail  42 , are arranged in parallel (refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 7 ).  
         [0075]     The conveyance belts  41  are threaded on a driving pulley  41 A and a driven pulley  41 B. The driving pulley  41 A is coupled to a motor M. The driving force generated by the motor M is transmitted through a gear train constituted by gears Z 1 -Z 6 , Z 9  and Z 10  (the driving force transmitting means), so as to rotate the conveyance belts  41  fixed on the same axis of gear Z 10 , and as a result, makes the conveyance belts  41 , threaded on a driving pulley  41 A and a driven pulley  41 B, rotate (refer to  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0076]     The second adjusting means has butting members  43  (the adjusting member) fixed onto two adjusting belts  44 . The two adjusting belts  44  are aligned in parallel with the two conveyance belts  41 .  
         [0077]     Numerals  46 A and  46 B indicate guide plates for guiding paper S passed through the paper conveying path r 6  in the horizontal direction.  
         [0078]     The driving force generated by the motor M is transmitted through a gear train constituted by gears Z 1 -Z 7 , so as to rotate a driving pulley  44 A fixed on the same axis of a gear Z 8  through a torque limiter  45 , and as a result, makes the adjusting belts  44 , threaded on a driving pulley  44 A and a driven pulley  44 B, rotate (refer to  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0079]     The driving means, constituted by the motor M, the gear train and the torque limiter  45 , makes the conveyance belts  41  and the adjusting belts  44  rotate in either forward or reverse direction, and conducts a truing operation of paper S in its width direction and a conveying operation of it. In other words, in response to the driving action of motor M in either forward or reverse direction, the conveyance belts  41  rotates clockwise (right rotation) when conducting a truing operation for the folding three processing detailed later, while the conveyance belts  41  rotates anticlockwise (left rotation) when conducting the saddle stitch processing detailed later (refer to  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0080]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of the conveying means  40  indicating the paper width truing processes.  
         [0081]     When the operator sets the folding three processing and inputs the width of paper S form the operation section  9  of the image forming apparatus proper A, the motor M is driven so that the conveying nail  42  passes through an initial position Q 0  in response to the right rotation of conveyance belts  41 , and then, stops at a standby position Q 1 . At the same time, in response to the driving operation of motor M, the butting members  43  passes through an initial position P 0  and then, stops at a standby position P 1 . The initial position Q 0  of the conveying nail  42  is detected by sensor PS.  
         [0082]     When the paper S is introduced into the conveying means  40 , in accordance with the right rotating action of the conveyance belts  41  driven by motor M, the conveying nail  42  starts to move from the standby position Q 1  and stops at a truing position Q 2 . At the same time, in accordance with the right rotating action of the adjusting belts  44  driven by motor M, the butting members  43  starts to move from the standby position P 1  and stops at a truing position P 2 .  
         [0083]     Then, both sides of paper S are held in a state of being clipped between the truing position Q 2  of the conveying nail  42  and the truing position P 2  of the butting members  43  so as to achieve the paper width truing operation.  
         [0084]     The driving means, constituted by the motor M and the driving force transmitting means, makes the conveying nail  42  and the butting members  43  move from the standby positions Q 1 , P 1  to the truing positions Q 2 , P 2  so as to achieve the paper width truing operation, and then, return to the standby positions Q 1 , P 1 .  
         [0000]     &lt;Inside Folding Three Processing&gt; 
         [0085]     The folding means  30  is disposed at downstream side of the conveyance alignment belt  20  in a paper conveying direction. Folding rollers  31 ,  32 ,  33 , a first folding plate  34  and a second folding plate  35  constitute the folding means  30  (refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0086]     When conducting the folding three processing, a first folding crease section la is formed in paper S by employing the folding rollers  31 ,  32  and the first folding plate  34 , and then, a second folding crease section  1   b  is formed in paper S by employing the folding rollers  32 ,  33  and the second folding plate  35 . The folded three section SA is ejected onto an ejecting tray  38  by an ejecting roller  37  after passing through a paper conveying path r 8 , which is constituted by a plurality of conveying rollers  36  and a guide plate (refer to  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0087]     FIGS.  9 ( a ) through  9 ( f ) show schematic diagrams, indicating an inside folding three processing performed by the folding means  30 . 
    (1) A single paper S or a plurality of papers S (hereinafter, also referred to as paper S, namely, the term of the “paper S” means a single paper or a plurality of papers, for simplicity) being trued in its width direction is/are conveyed through the paper conveying path located between guide plates  46 A and  46 B, and then, the leading edge portion of the single paper S or the plurality of papers S is batted against the stopper member  21  to stop thereat. The stopper member  21  is disposed at such a position that is ⅔ of a full length L of the paper S from a pressing position N of a pair of the folding rollers  31 ,  32  (refer to  FIG. 9 ( a )).     (2) The combined operation of the rotating action of the folding rollers  31 ,  32  and the forwarding action of the first folding plate  34  forms the first folding crease section  1   a  in the paper S (the first folding processing, refer to  FIG. 9 ( b )).     (3) The rotating action of the folding rollers  31 ,  32  elevates the paper S processed by the first folding processing in such a manner that the first folding crease section la is the leading portion, and travels through the guide surface of the guide plate  39  (refer to  FIG. 9 ( c )).     (4) After the first folding crease section la reaches the predetermined position, which is ⅔ of the full length L of the paper S from the pressing position N of the pair of the folding rollers  31 ,  32 , the second folding plate  35  moves forward toward the position opposite to the folding rollers  32 ,  33 , in order to form the second folding crease section  1   b  (refer to  FIG. 9 ( d )).     (5) The folded three section SA created by forming the first folding crease section la and the second folding crease section  1   b  in paper S is ejected by the folding rollers  32 ,  33  (refer to  FIG. 9 ( e )). The folded three section SA ejected by the folding rollers  32  is further conveyed by the conveying rollers  36 , which holds the folded three section SA between them, and is ejected by the ejecting roller  37  onto ejecting tray  38  on which the folded three section SA is stored (refer to  FIG. 4 ).    
 
         [0093]      FIG. 9 ( f ) shows a perspective view of the inside folded-three section SA.  
         [0094]     The middle fold processing, the saddle stitch processing and the fore edge cut processing, to be applied to paper S in the paper finishing apparatus B, will be detailed in the following.  
         [0000]     &lt;Middle Fold Processing&gt; 
         [0095]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic diagram of a folding means, indicating a middle fold processing performed prior to the saddle stitch processing.  
         [0096]     The paper S arrived at the folding means  30  is press-clipped between the folding rollers  31 ,  32 , which rotate in directions opposite relative to each other, by using the first folding plate  34 , so as to achieve the folding two processing. Then, the folded section SA, in which a folding crease section  1   c  is formed over the paper width direction at the center of the paper conveying direction, is formed.  
         [0097]     The folded section SA, in which a first folding crease section  1   c  is formed by conducting the folding two processing employing the folding rollers  31 ,  32  and the first folding plate  34 , is released from the nip position between the folding rollers  31 ,  32  by rotating them in reverse directions, and is returned to the horizontal conveying path formed by guide plates  46 A,  46 B.  
         [0098]     Successively, the folded section SA is conveyed to the paper conveying path r 7  in a direction of extended line of the folding crease section  1   c , to introduce it into the saddle stitch means  60  (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 )  
         [0099]     As described in the above, a small number of papers S, including one paper or three papers, is/are tightly folded by the folding means  30  so as to clearly form the folding crease section  1   a , and successively introduced into the saddle stitch means  60 . Accordingly, it becomes possible to produce a high-quality booklet SB (a bookbinding product) having a little swelling at the folding crease section  1   c.    
         [0000]     &lt;Saddle Stitch Processing&gt; 
         [0100]      FIG. 11  shows a left side view of the paper finishing apparatus B.  
         [0101]     At the folding means  30 , the middle folded section SA, which have been subjected to middle folding processing, is conveyed in the direction of the paper conveyance path r 7  by the conveyance means  40  detailed later, and is stacked on the saddle stacking means  61  of the saddle stitch means  60 . Next, the following middle folded section SA, which has undergone middle folding also, passes the paper conveyance path r 7  and is stacked on the saddle stacking means  61 .  
         [0102]     The saddle stacking means  61  includes two guide plates, which intersects each other substantially at a right angle and is fixed on the main body of the paper finishing apparatus B. A pressing member  61 A, which is urged by a spring and is elevatable, is disposed in the vicinity of the vertex portion of the saddle stacking means  61  in a state in which it is supported by the stitch receiving mechanism  64  (See  FIG. 10 ).  
         [0103]     The vertex portion of the pressing member  61 A has substantially a right angular protruded shape. The folding crease section  1   a  of the middle folded section SA is put on the vertex portion along its edge line.  
         [0104]     A plurality of middle folded sections SA, which are stacked on the saddle stacking means  61  and the pressing member  61 A, are trued in its position by the width aligning means  62 .  
         [0105]     A stapling mechanism  63  is fixed above the pressing member  61 A. The pressing member  61 A and the staple receiving mechanism  64  are supported in a state of being moveable in the vertical direction inside the saddle stacking means  61 .  
         [0106]     Two sets of the binding means having the split structure, constituted by the stapling mechanism  63  and the staple receiving mechanism  64 , are disposed in the direction of the folding crease section line. When the binding process is set in the operation section, the staple receiving mechanism  64  moves upwards to perform the binding process. Concretely speaking, the combination of the stapling mechanism  63  and the staple receiving mechanism  64  staples a stapling needle SP at each of two positions equally split from the center along the folding crease section line of the middle folded sections SA putted on the pressing member  61 A. The booklet SB, which has undergone the middle folding processing and the saddle stitch processing, is shown in the schematic diagram shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0000]     &lt;Retrieval of Booklet&gt; 
         [0107]     The booklet SB, which has undergone saddle stitch processing at the saddle stitch means  60 , is held at the support member  72  which is fixed at the front end of the arm member  71  of the bound book retrieving means  70 , and is swung in the direction of the single dot chain arrow by the arm member  71 , and is conveyed by the bound book conveyance means  80 .  
         [0000]     &lt;Conveying Operation of Booklet&gt; 
         [0108]     The booklet SB, which has been conveyed by the bound book conveyance means  80 , is stacked on the conveyance belt  82 . The booklet SB is conveyed in the lower incline direction due to the rotation of the conveyor belt  82 , and is held in an inclined state, and is moved by the rotating conveying belt  83  and stopped at a prescribed position. Subsequently, the conveyor belt  83  swings and is supported in a horizontal state.  
         [0000]     &lt;Booklet Cutting Processing&gt; 
         [0109]     The fore edges (the free end at the opposite side of the folding line portion) a of the booklet SB, which is loaded on the conveyor belt  83  which is in a horizontal state, is not in an aligned state due to the number of sheets in the booklet SB and thus it is cut by the paper cutting device of this invention and the fore edges are aligned.  
         [0110]     The booklet SB, that is created by the cutting processing, is stacked on conveyor belt  83  which rotates in the opposite direction, and the rear end of the booklet SB is conveyed in a pressed state by the variable aligning member  84  which is fixed on the conveyor belt  83 , and falls in the direction of the arrow from the front end of the conveyor belt  83 . The booklet SB, that has dropped, is discharged to the discharge tray  86 , which is disposed at the outer side of the front surface side Bf of the paper finishing apparatus B, by the rotating discharge belt  85 .  
         [0111]     As described in the foregoing, according to the present invention, by adding the paper truing function to the paper conveying means to be employed in the paper post processing without adding another driving source, it becomes possible to simplify the configuration of the apparatus and to improve the stability of the apparatus.  
         [0112]     Further, by applying the width truing adjustment to a plurality of papers before applying the post processing, such as the folding processing, etc., it becomes possible to provide a plurality of high-quality folded sections in which the papers are accurately trued and folded in its width direction.  
         [0113]     Still further, according to the present invention, since the width truing means waits at a standby position in the vicinity of the truing position being apart form the initial position, it is not necessary to return to the initial position every time of the processing, and therefore, it becomes possible to speedily true the papers in its width direction without lowering the productivity of the image-forming apparatus proper.  
         [0114]     Disclosed embodiment can be varied by a skilled person without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.