FR2773548A1 - Paper handling feed for office machinery with automatic double-sided printing or scanning - Google Patents

Abstract

The paper handling feed has a rotor (13) housing a printing or scanning head. The rotor has at its edge a stop (30) to position a sheet or a stack of sheets to guide them to a predetermined position relative to the paper entry (21) to ensure accurate transport of the paper.

Description

 The invention relates to a device for processing sheets, more particularly sheets of paper, the processing consisting, for example, of reading graphic information on a sheet engaged in the device or, on the contrary, of printing the information on such a sheet. .

 The invention relates to a device for processing sheets of the kind indicated above, comprising an input means allowing automatic processing of a sheet introduced into the device. More particularly, it relates to a system for positioning a sheet or stack of sheets capable of improving the operation of said input means and thus avoiding operating anomalies. The invention applies more particularly to such a processing device capable of performing automatic and duplex processing of one or more sheets.

 In the following description, the term “path” designates the predetermined trajectory of a sheet (or part of this trajectory) independently of the material guide means and of the other mechanisms which determine this trajectory.

 Several types of sheet processing devices are known which allow double-sided processing. The invention applies more particularly to a device comprising a rotary mobile assembly for example, as described in document JP N "59-99867. This document describes such a processing device comprising several sheet access arrangements arranged in on either side of a movable assembly, mounted always, this latter comprising a guide arrangement defining part of a path for the passage of a sheet and a processing unit installed on the side of this guide arrangement. After a treatment in recto mode, during which a sheet progresses along the guide arrangement opposite the treatment unit, the mobile assembly performs a rotation of 1800, which allows the reversal of the treatment unit with respect to the path and, consequently, a treatment in reverse mode by reversing the direction of movement of the sheet which engages again in the movable assembly after the rotation of the latter.

 By sheet access arrangement means any equipment constituting a means of entry of the sheet making it possible to introduce it into the movable assembly or an outlet means making it possible to extract it or else a means of input-output allowing, in particular, depending on the selected operating mode, to extract a sheet from the processing space and then reinsert it. Such an input-output means can for example be used to temporarily store a sheet (after a treatment in recto mode) outside of the moving part while the latter goes into the verso processing position and to reintroduce the same sheet in the moving assembly to allow its processing in reverse mode.

 In any event, such a sheet processing device is at least equipped with two input-output means generally located on either side of the moving moving body. It can also include an input means, optionally forming an automatic sheet feeding unit, an input-output means located opposite this input means for temporarily retrieving and storing a sheet after its processing in recto mode and an output means for evacuating the sheet reintroduced into the movable assembly by the input-output means, after its processing in reverse mode. In this case, the guide arrangement of the mobile assembly can take two possible positions defining two aforementioned paths, a recto path extending between the input means and the input-output means and a reverse path s' extending between the input-output means and the output means. In the case of a treatment in simple recto mode, the sheet is evacuated by the input-output means.

 The invention however applies to any device comprising any combination of access arrangements defined above.

The moving element advantageously has a generally cylindrical shape; it is pivotally mounted around a longitudinal axis. When the input means comprises an automatic sheet feeding unit for the automatic processing of a plurality of such sheets, the user deposits the stack on a feeding tray in contact with sheet separation means forming part of the automatic feeding unit.

 The introduction of a sheet or a stack of sheets into such a device, whether or not provided with an automatic feeding unit requires a certain skill of the user. A poorly inserted leaf can be the source of a malfunction.

 In particular, it is important that the sheet or stack of sheets is properly positioned in the input means so that the or each sheet is taken care of in good conditions by the processing device.

 For example, when the sheet input means comprises an automatic sheet feeding unit, the user must then deposit a sheet or a stack of sheets on the tray, in contact with the sheet picking means of the unit. automatic feed. If he introduces the sheets too deeply, several sheets can be separated from the stack and simultaneously introduced into the mobile assembly. The entire stack of sheets can even reach the guide arrangement of the moving element, which hinders its rotation and leads to an operating incident or "jamming".

On the contrary, if the leaves are not introduced sufficiently, the removal means cannot come into action.

 The invention makes it possible in particular to solve this problem.

 More particularly, the invention relates to a sheet processing device comprising a movable assembly rotatably mounted on a support and housing a processing unit and a sheet guide arrangement defining for the latter a processing path passing opposite said unit. treatment and an input means disposed at a predetermined location on the periphery of said movable equipment and integral with said support, characterized in that said mobile equipment carries, at its periphery, a stop for positioning a sheet or stack of sheets, able to assume a predetermined position with respect to said sheet input means, for a predetermined position of the moving element.

 More specifically, this positioning stop, integral with the movable assembly, comes to frame the removal means in said predetermined position of the movable assembly so that the leading edge of a sheet capable of being removed from the tray , come to position itself in the optimal location for proper functioning of the sampling means.

 If the input means is equipped with a means for removing the sheet, with friction, this advantageously comprises a friction roller of short length compared to the width of said path and said positioning stop consists of two elements making protrusion from the surface of the moving element and the rotary paths of which pass on either side of this roller.

 For example, the two elements form tabs each having a stop surface located in a plane which is positioned approximately radially with respect to said roller and in the vicinity thereof when the moving element is in said predetermined position.

 According to a possible embodiment, said removal means comprises a friction element urged against the surface of said friction roller and the width of this friction element is substantially equal to that of said roller, the paths of the two elements constituting said positioning stop passing on either side of said friction element.

 In addition, it is important that the sheet is oriented correctly with respect to the direction of the path as defined above. In other words, its leading edge must be well perpendicular to the direction of movement. If the sheet is at an angle to the processing unit, the quality of the processing is poor if the angle is small; one can observe a deterioration of the sheet (incident commonly called "jamming") when the angle is greater.

 In addition, in the case of a double-sided treatment, if the sheet was introduced slightly at an angle during the double-sided treatment, when it is again injected into the moving element by the input-output means, for perform a reverse treatment, it risks presenting an even greater angle caused by the possible frictions and shocks that it may have suffered in the meantime, outside the moving assembly. These angle problems are all the more important as the sheet treated is large.

 The invention also makes it possible to solve this problem by taking advantage of the structure of the mobile assembly so that it can, in cooperation with the access means, reorient the sheet just before it is introduced into the guiding arrangement of said moving element.

 The invention therefore also relates to a sheet processing device as described above, comprising at least two sheet access arrangements, one of which constitutes the aforementioned entry means, characterized in that said movable element carries, at its periphery, a reorientation means capable of coming to be placed opposite aforesaid access means and downstream thereof relative to the direction of progression of a sheet along said path, for another corresponding predetermined position of said mobile equipment.

 In a simple manner, this reorientation means can be constituted by a stop extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the movable assembly over at least most of its length. The stop is positioned across the path downstream of said access arrangement and in the vicinity thereof, when said moving element is at said other corresponding predetermined position or when it passes through it.

 According to a variant, said reorientation means can be constituted by an intermediate drive unit, commonly known as a "clamp", comprising two substantially tangent parallel rollers, carried by the mobile assembly. The intermediate drive unit extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the moving element and is located near one end of the guide arrangement so that it can be located in the vicinity and downstream of the arrangement for accessing said other predetermined position.

 Of course, the optimal positioning of the sheet, for its removal, advantageously combines with a systematic reorientation of the sheet, at the start of its journey, the positioning stop and the reorientation means intervening successively, just before the transfer of the sheet from one means of access to the other.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of two possible embodiments of a sheet processing device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and fate with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a currently preferred embodiment of the invention;
- Figure 2 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1 showing the engine;
- Figure 3 is a partial view illustrating a position of the movable assembly of the sheet processing device, for which the user can come to place a stack of sheets to be treated;
- Figure 4 is a partial view illustrating another position of the movable assembly for which a reorientation of the sheet to be treated can take place;
- Figure 5 is a schematic view along arrow V of Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a position of the movable assembly of the sheet processing device for treatment in recto mode;
- Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another position of the movable assembly of the sheet processing device for which a reorientation of the sheet to be treated can take place;
- Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a position of the movable assembly of the sheet processing device, for processing in reverse mode;
- Figure 9 is a partial perspective view showing the moving assembly;
- Figure 10 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a variant; and
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an electronic control card for the sheet processing device in accordance with FIG. 1.

 In the drawings, there is shown an office automation machine It comprising a support 12 forming a housing on which are installed a movable assembly 13 rotatably mounted and sheet access means distributed on either side of the movable assembly, namely a sheet input means 21, a sheet output means 23 and a sheet input-output means 25.

 The moving element 13 has the approximate general shape of a cylinder (see FIG. 9) mounted in rotation about its longitudinal axis 0. It houses a processing unit 19, namely here a read head in the form of a bar extending essentially parallel to the axis of rotation 0 and a guide arrangement 39 defining, for a sheet passing through the moving element, part of a transfer path passing opposite the processing unit. There are in fact two possible transfer paths 15, 17 corresponding respectively to recto processing and to verso processing. These two paths form between them a kind of dihedral whose edge is located approximately inside a fixed guide 61 of the output means. The first path 15, for recto processing, is therefore defined between the input means 21 and the input-output means 25 while the second path 17, for verso processing, is defined between the input means -outlet 25 and the outlet means 23. The inlet means 21 and the outlet means 23 are located on the same side of the moving assembly 13 while the inlet means 25 is located on the other side .

 Of course, the materialization of an aforementioned path, front or back, depends on the angular position of the moving assembly. In the front processing position, the guide arrangement 39 of the movable assembly is located between the input means 21 and the guide 61 of the input-output means 25. This is the situation illustrated in FIG. 6 This same guide arrangement 39 is located, in the reverse processing position, between the guide 61 of the input-output means and another fixed guide 56 of the output means 23. This is the situation illustrated in FIG. 7 A pressing means, in the form of a flexible blade 65, is arranged opposite the processing unit 19 to apply a sheet in movement against it. The housing 12 carries a motor 103 for driving the moving assembly. This motor, with reversible control, is for example linked to the movable assembly by a set of toothed wheels 104, 105 to drive the latter in one direction or the other. The input means 21 comprises an inclined plate 51 on which one or more sheets to be treated are placed and a sheet picking means 47, frictionally, here comprising a friction roller 48 or picking roller, of horizontal axis , driven in rotation and a friction element 49 in the form of a flexible blade forming a pressing means applied against the surface of the roller 48. The roller 48 is coupled to a motor 101, of stepping type, carried by the housing 12. The flexible blade is carried by the housing 12 and its free end bears against the upper surface of the roller.

The friction roller 48 is controlled sequentially and the input means thus constitutes an automatic sheet feeding unit. The outlet means 23 comprises two rollers 58 with horizontal parallel axes, bearing against one another so that their mutual contact zone is located in the extension of the guide 56. Such an arrangement is commonly called "clamp" . One of the rollers 58 is motor; it is coupled to a motor 106 of the stepping type.

 The input-output means 25 also includes two parallel rollers 63 forming a clamp, arranged in the extension of the fixed guide 61.

One of the rollers is motor and coupled to a stepping motor 102, with reversible control carried by the housing 12.

 In the following description, reference will be made to certain remarkable positions of the moving element 13. These positions are identified in the drawings by angles a 1, a 2, a 3 as regards the treatment in front mode and by angles pl, ss2 for the back side processing. Each of these angles is considered between a horizontal line perpendicular to the axis of rotation 0 of the moving assembly and cutting the latter and a line perpendicular to a processing line of the processing unit 19, at the location of treatment and also passing through the axis of rotation 0 of the moving assembly.

 According to a remarkable characteristic of the invention, the movable assembly carries a positioning stop 30 for a sheet or stack of sheets, capable of assuming a predetermined position relative to the sheet entry means 21 for a predetermined position a2 of the moving element, in order to place the sheet or stack of sheets 52 at an optimum location with respect to the removal means 47 of said input means 21. The latter comprises a friction roller 48 driven in rotation by the motor 101 .

 As can be seen in FIG. 9, the positioning stop 30 consists of two tabs projecting from the surface of the stop 35.

Their paths pass on either side of the roller 48. This roller is of short length compared to the width of the path 15 or 17. This width corresponds to the width of the entry of the guide arrangement 39 visible on the Figure 9. Likewise, the friction element constituted by the flexible blade 49 has a small width compared to the width of the path.

 In the example, the friction element and the friction roller have substantially the same width. For an angle a2 of the movable assembly, the two ends of the legs, constituting the stopper 30 are placed on each side of the roller 48, at the upper part thereof, in the extension of the plate 51 and in an approximately position radial with respect to the roller 48. The paths of the two elements constituting the stopper 30 also pass on either side of the friction element 49. On the other side of the moving assembly, the guide 61 has two cutouts 62 allowing the passage of two legs. The position of the stopper 30 relative to the roller 48 is such that, if the user comes to introduce a sheet or a stack of sheets 52, by engaging the latter in the input means, said sheet or stack of sheets comes position as shown in FIG. 3, in the best possible position for reliable operation of the sampling means 47.

According to another remarkable characteristic of the invention,
The moving element 13 carries, at its periphery or in the vicinity thereof, a reorientation means 34 capable of coming to be placed opposite a said access means (in this case here the entry means 21 or the output means 25) and downstream of it relative to the direction of progression of a sheet along the path 15 or 17 for another predetermined position a1 or ss1 corresponding to the moving assembly.

 The reorientation means 34 as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, consists of a simple stop 35 extending parallel to the axis of rotation 0 of the moving element 13 over at least most of its length. . This stop is visible in Figure 9; it is formed by a flat defined on the outer surface of the moving assembly. When the moving element is in a position marked by the angle a 1 (FIG. 4), the stop 35 is positioned across the transfer path 15, in the vicinity and downstream of the input means 21. It therefore temporarily prevents the passage of a sheet through the guide arrangement of the movable assembly, for recto treatment.

 Similarly, when the mobile assembly is in a position represented by the angle ss1 (FIG. 7), the stop 35 is located across the path 17 and in the vicinity of the input-output means 25. It therefore temporarily prevents passing a sheet through the guide arrangement for back processing. In other words, for each of the angles a1 and ss1, the reorientation means 34 carried by the mobile assembly is located opposite an access means which can be the input means 21 or the input-output means 25, respectively.

 As shown in FIG. 10, the reorientation means 34â need not necessarily consist of a stop materialized by a flat defined on the outer surface of the moving assembly. It can be constituted by an intermediate drive unit 79 with two parallel rollers 80, constituting a clamp as defined above. One of the rollers is driven by a motor 100. This intermediate drive unit is carried by the moving element 13, it extends parallel to the axis of rotation 0 of the latter and it is located near one end of the guide arrangement 39. In this case, the reorientation stop is constituted by the clamp itself provided that the rollers thereof are not rotated by the motor 100 or possibly that- it rotates at a relatively low speed compared to its nominal speed.

 In this embodiment, it is not necessary for the implementation of the reorientation process of the sheet, that the moving element 13 occupies an angular position different from the treatment position in recto mode since the reorientation stop is constituted by the intermediate drive unit 79, stationary or driven at low speed. In this case, the leading edge of the sheet is housed between the two rollers 80 when the withdrawal means 47 is controlled or when the input-output means 63 is controlled in the direction corresponding to the back processing.

 Preferably, the zone of action of the withdrawal means 47 is small compared to the width of the path (that is to say perpendicular to the direction of progression of the sheet) so that the friction force which drives the sheet is relatively weak and punctual and does not hamper the pivoting of the sheet in its own plane for a possible reorientation of the latter when the leading edge reaches the stop 34 or the intermediate drive unit 79.

 Preferably, said action zone is located in the middle of the width of the path, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 represents a simplified diagram of an electronic circuit intended to be associated and to control the operation of the device described above. This electronic card mainly comprises, linked together by an address and data bus 116:
a central processing unit 111,
- a random access memory 112,
- a read only memory 113,
an input-output port 114 used to receive the information entered on a user interface 119 or supplied by the processing unit 19.

 It makes it possible to transmit control signals to the various motors, 101, 102, 103, 106 via a power interface 117, to the processing unit 19 installed in the mobile assembly and to the user interface 119, in particular for the display of functions.

 The random access memory 112 receives and stores the information resulting from the processing of the sheets if the processing unit 19 is a scanner or that which is necessary for the implementation of this processing if the said processing unit is a printer. It communicates, via a parallel port 114 'with an operating system (PC) such as a computer where said information can be transferred or processed. It includes a special register II 2a in which the operating parameters of the processing unit are kept. A portion 118 of the read-only memory 113 is adapted to keep the operating program of the central processing unit 111. The latter is adapted to implement the processing procedures.

 We will now describe the operation of the office machine and more particularly the steps which implement the improvements described above.

When the office machine is in the standby position,
The mobile assembly is in the angular position marked by the angle a2 visible in FIGS. 1 and 3. The positioning stop 30 is placed in the vicinity of the upper part of the roller 48. Said positioning stop 30 is therefore placed in across transfer path 15.

When the user introduces a stack of sheets 52 into the input means (or possibly a single sheet), he engages it between the roller 48 and the friction element 49 until the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the stopper 30. This is the situation illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheets resting on the plate 51 after the intervention of the user. The sheet or stack of sheets is then best placed relative to the removal means 47 so that each sheet can be properly taken care of, starting with the one which is in contact with the plate 51.

 When the treatment procedure is launched by the central unit 111, the motor 103 is set in motion, which causes the mobile assembly 13 to rotate in the direction of the arrow FI (FIG. 2), in order to place it in the angular position identified by the angle a 1, FIG. 4. At this moment, the stop 30 no longer hinders the path 15. On the other hand, the stop 35 is still across the path 15. The motor 101 is then set in motion to drive the roller 48 in the direction of arrow F2 in FIG. 4. The bottom sheet of the stack is separated from the rest of the stack and begins to be introduced into the mobile assembly until its leading edge meets the stop 35. This is where the reorientation of the sheet is possibly carried out.

Indeed, the short distance between the roller 48 and the stop 35 gives the portion of sheet located between them a relatively high rigidity while the short length of the roller 48 allows the sheet 52 to rotate in its plane, as indicated on the Figure 5, for example in the direction of arrow F3 until its leading edge comes into contact with the stop 35, over the entire length thereof. From this moment, the sheet is perfectly oriented with respect to its coming path through the moving element 13. The motor 103 continues its rotation until the moving element reaches an angular position indicated by the 'angle a3, Figure 6. In this position, the path 15 is completely released, the sheet 52a continues its movement being driven by the roller 48 and engages in the guide arrangement 39 passing opposite the unit processing 19 where said processing is carried out.

 If a single-sided processing mode has been programmed by the operator on the control panel of the device, the rollers 63 of the input-output means 25, driven by the motor 102 according to arrow F4, take over the sheet and drag it until its final ejection. If there is still at least one sheet present on the plate 51, the motor 103 is controlled to rotate in the opposite direction to the arrow F1 in FIG. 2 in order to bring the mobile assembly 13 back to the angular position represented by l angle α as illustrated in FIG. 4. The next sheet can therefore be reoriented when the roller 48 is actuated again.

 It should be noted that after placing a stack of sheets 52 as illustrated in FIG. 3 and from the first maneuver of picking up a sheet, said sheets are offset relative to each other due to the friction put in play with one another and engage in varying degrees between the roller 48 and the flexible blade 49, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This slight sliding of the sheets between them is favorable to the proper functioning of the withdrawal means 47.

 After each reorientation of the sheet, the moving element passes from a position a1 to a position a3 in until said moving element 13 (rotating in the direction of the arrow F1) occupies the position represented by the angle ss1 in considering FIG. 7. The motor 102 is then controlled to drive the input-output means 25 in the other direction and the movement of the sheet is reversed, the trailing edge becoming the leading edge. The latter again meets the stop 35, which allows the leading edge of the sheet to be reoriented once again. This phase of the treatment is not essential but is all the more useful as the dimensions of the treated sheet are large. Then, the motor 103 is again controlled in rotation to rotate the moving element in the opposite direction of the arrow FI until the moving element occupies the position indicated by the angle ss2 in FIG. 8. C 'is the normal processing position in reverse mode. From this moment, the input-output means 25 engages the sheet again in the guide arrangement 39 so that it passes opposite the processing means and is subject to processing in reverse mode. The sheet is finally definitively ejected by the outlet means 23, driven by the motor 106.

 After such a double-sided treatment and if there is still at least one sheet on the plate 51, the motor 103 is controlled to drive the moving element 13 in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. 2 in order to bring the mobile assembly 13 back into the position represented by the angle a 1 (illustrated in FIG. 4). A new double-sided processing cycle is then implemented.

 When there is no longer a sheet present on the plate 51, the motor 103 is controlled to bring the mobile assembly 13 back to the waiting position marked by the angle a2, as indicated in FIG. 1.

 It should be noted that, if we consider FIGS. 4 and 7, the stopping of the mobile assembly 13 at the position marked by the angle a1, respectively ss1, is not necessary to align the leading edge of the sheet with the stop 35. Synchronization between the advancement of the sheet and the rotation of the movable assembly may be sufficient to obtain the possibly necessary reorientation of said sheet.

 In other words, the reorientation of the sheet can be done even with the moving moving element, when the latter is in the vicinity of an angular position marked by the angle a2 or ss2.

 As indicated above, in the case where the mobile assembly comprises an intermediate drive unit 79 located in the vicinity of one end of the guide arrangement 39, the role of the stop 35 can be performed by the unit 79, at rest. The latter then necessarily cuts the path 15 and the leading edge of the sheet picked up by the roller 48 meets one of the rollers 80 and slides against the surface of the latter until it comes to reorient itself, in abutment against the line contacting the rollers 80. The motor 100 is then started, after possible reorientation of the sheet and the latter is introduced into the guide arrangement 39; it passes next to the processing unit where its processing is carried out.

 Depending on the nature of the processing unit (reading means or printing means), the office automation machine may be or include a document scanner or a printer. It is also possible to design a fax machine comprising a reading unit and / or a printing unit operating according to the principle which has just been described.

 Finally, the invention also relates to any microcomputer equipped with a sheet processing device as described above.

Claims (15)

 1- Sheet processing device comprising a movable assembly (13) rotatably mounted on a support and housing a processing unit (19) and a sheet guide arrangement (39) defining for the latter a processing path passing opposite of said processing unit and an input means (21) disposed at a predetermined location on the periphery of said movable element and integral with said support, characterized in that said movable element carries, at its periphery, a positioning stop (30) of a sheet or stack of sheets, capable of assuming a predetermined position with respect to said sheet input means, for a predetermined position of the moving element.  2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the input means comprises a sampling means comprising a friction roller (48), of short length compared to the width of said path and in that said positioning stop ( 30) is constituted by two elements projecting from the surface of said movable assembly and the paths of which pass on either side of said roller (48).  3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the two elements form lugs each having a stop surface located in a plane coming to be positioned approximately radially with respect to said roller (48) and in the vicinity thereof when the moving element is in said predetermined position (FIG. 3).  4- Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said removal means comprises a friction element (49) urged against the surface of said friction roller and in that the width of this friction element is substantially equal to that of said roller, the paths of the two elements constituting said positioning stop (30) passing on either side of said friction element.  5- Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two sheet access arrangements (21, 25), one of which constitutes the aforementioned input means, characterized in that said movable assembly carries, at its periphery , a reorientation means (35, 80) capable of coming to be placed opposite and aforesaid access means downstream from the direction of progression of a sheet along said path, for another corresponding predetermined position of said moving element.  6- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said reorientation means is constituted by a stop (35) extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the movable assembly over at least most of its length, said stop coming to be positioned across said path in the vicinity of said access means (21, 25) when said movable assembly is at or passes through said other predetermined position.  7- Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said reorientation means is constituted by an intermediate drive unit (80) with two substantially tangent parallel rollers, carried by said movable assembly parallel to the axis of rotation of the latter and located near one end of said guide arrangement (39).  8- Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that one of the access means is a sheet input means (21), in that another access means is a means sheet input-output (25) and in that the movable assembly can take two said other predetermined positions for which said reorientation means is located opposite one of these two access means, respectively.  9- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said processing unit comprises a printing means.  10- Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said processing unit comprises a reading means.  It - Office machine characterized in that it comprises or is equipped with a sheet processing device according to one of the preceding claims.  12- Office machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it essentially constitutes a document scanner.  13- Office machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it essentially constitutes a fax machine.  14- Office machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it essentially constitutes a printer.  15- Office machine according to one of claims II to 14, characterized in that said sheet processing device is equipped with means for connection to a computer.  16. A microcomputer characterized in that it comprises at least one sheet processing device according to one of claims 1 to 10.