US20130049278A1 - Sheet processing apparatus and sheet folding method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents
Sheet processing apparatus and sheet folding method and image forming apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20130049278A1 US20130049278A1 US13/542,116 US201213542116A US2013049278A1 US 20130049278 A1 US20130049278 A1 US 20130049278A1 US 201213542116 A US201213542116 A US 201213542116A US 2013049278 A1 US2013049278 A1 US 2013049278A1
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- folding
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- sheet bundle
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- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000003672 processing method Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 11
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/34—Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles
- B65H31/38—Apparatus for vibrating or knocking the pile during piling
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H45/00—Folding thin material
- B65H45/12—Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
- B65H45/18—Oscillating or reciprocating blade folders
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/65—Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material
- G03G15/6538—Devices for collating sheet copy material, e.g. sorters, control, copies in staples form
- G03G15/6541—Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing
- G03G15/6544—Details about the binding means or procedure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42C—BOOKBINDING
- B42C1/00—Collating or gathering sheets combined with processes for permanently attaching together sheets or signatures or for interposing inserts
- B42C1/12—Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/10—Selective handling processes
- B65H2301/14—Selective handling processes of batches of material of different characteristics
- B65H2301/141—Selective handling processes of batches of material of different characteristics of different format, e.g. A0 - A4
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/421—Forming a pile
- B65H2301/4214—Forming a pile of articles on edge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
- B65H2404/10—Rollers
- B65H2404/13—Details of longitudinal profile
- B65H2404/131—Details of longitudinal profile shape
- B65H2404/1316—Details of longitudinal profile shape stepped or grooved
- B65H2404/13161—Regularly spaced grooves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
- B65H2511/12—Width
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
- B65H2511/16—Irregularities, e.g. protuberances
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
- B65H2511/18—Size; Dimensions relative to handling machine
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
- B65H2513/40—Movement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/24—Post -processing devices
- B65H2801/27—Devices located downstream of office-type machines
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/00362—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes relating to the copy medium handling
- G03G2215/00789—Adding properties or qualities to the copy medium
- G03G2215/00877—Folding device
Definitions
- Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet folding method, and an image forming apparatus for performing folding of printed sheets.
- the sheet finishing apparatus includes a function of folding for folding a part of sheets and a function of saddle stapling and saddle folding for folding sheets in the center after stapling the center of the sheets with staples in addition to functions of punching and stapling.
- the function of saddle stapling and saddle folding can produce (bind) a booklet from printed plural sheets.
- the sheet finishing apparatus forms a fold and folds a stapling portion of sheets with a pair of rollers called a folding roller pair after stapling the center of sheets with staples.
- the sheet finishing apparatus strikes a tabular member called a folding blade against a stapling portion of a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle into a nip portion of the folding roller pair to fold the sheet bundle.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus in the first embodiment
- FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams for explaining a lateral alignment member in the first embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a folding unit in the first embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a folding roller pair in the first embodiment
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining folding by the sheet processing apparatus in the first embodiment.
- FIGS. 7A to 7D are schematic diagrams for explaining folding in a second embodiment.
- a sheet processing apparatus includes: a stacker configured to hold a sheet bundle; a first folding roller; a second folding roller; and a folding plate configured to push the sheet bundle held by the stacker into a nip portion formed by the first folding roller and the second folding roller and forma fold.
- the first folding roller includes: a first folding section configured to come into contact with the second folding roller and form the nip portion; and a first groove configured to form a gap between the first groove and the second folding roller in a state in which the first folding section is in contact with the second folding roller.
- the first groove is formed in a position where an end in the width direction of a sheet bundle of a predetermined size pushed in by the folding plate passes.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus.
- An image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller 102 , a storage device 108 , a communication interface (communication I/F) 110 , an operation panel 112 , a scanner 114 that reads an original document, and a printer (an image forming section) 116 that forms an image.
- the components of the image forming apparatus 100 are connected via a bus 118 .
- the controller 102 includes a processor 104 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a memory 106 .
- the memory 106 is, for example, a semiconductor memory.
- the memory 106 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) having stored therein control programs and the like and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that provides the processor 104 with a temporary work area.
- the controller 102 controls the operation panel 112 , the scanner 114 , and the printer 116 on the basis of various computer programs and the like stored in the ROM or the storage device 108 .
- the controller 102 includes a function of correcting or expanding image data.
- the controller 102 communicates with a controller 202 of a sheet processing apparatus 200 .
- the storage device 108 stores application programs and an OS.
- the application programs include computer programs for executing functions of a multifunction peripheral such as a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a network file function.
- the application programs further include an application for a Web client (a Web browser) and other applications.
- the storage device 108 temporarily stores image data of an original document read by the scanner 114 , image data acquired via the communication I/F 110 , or the like. Further, the storage device 108 appropriately stores software update, a protected electronic document, text data, account information, policy information, and the like.
- the storage device 108 may be, for example, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a semiconductor storage device (a flash memory, etc.), or an arbitrary combination of these storage devices.
- the communication I/F 110 is an interface connected to an external apparatus.
- the communication I/F 110 is connected to an external apparatus via appropriate radio or wire of IEEE802.15, IEEE802.11, IEEE802.3, IEEE1284, or the like for, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared connection, or optical connection.
- the communication I/F 110 may further include a USB connection section to which a connection terminal of the USB standard is connected and a parallel interface.
- the controller 102 communicates with a user terminal, a USB device, and other external apparatuses via the communication I/F 110 .
- the operation panel 112 includes a display section of a touch panel type and various operation keys.
- the operation keys include, for example, a ten key, a reset key, a stop key, and a start key.
- the display section displays instruction items concerning printing conditions such as a sheet size, the number of copies, printing density setting, and finishing (stapling or folding). Instructions of the displayed items are input from the display section.
- the scanner 114 includes an incorporated scanning and reading unit that reads an original document as an image, a document placing table, and an auto document feeder that conveys the original document to a reading position.
- the scanning and reading unit of the scanner 114 reads an original document set on the document placing table or the auto document feeder.
- the printer 116 includes a publicly-known image forming unit including, for example, a photoconductive drum and a publicly-known developing unit by, for example, toner.
- the printer 116 forms, using these units, an image corresponding to image data of an original document read by the scanner 114 or an image corresponding to image data sent from the user terminal on a sheet.
- the sheet processing apparatus 200 includes the controller 202 , a finisher 220 , and a saddle unit section 240 .
- the controller 202 includes a processor 204 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and a memory 206 .
- the memory 206 is, for example, a semiconductor memory.
- the memory 206 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) having stored therein control programs and the like and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that provides the processor 204 with a temporary work area.
- the controller 202 communicates with the controller 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 .
- the controller 202 controls the finisher 220 and the saddle unit section 240 on the basis of information received from the controller 102 and various computer programs and the like stored in the ROM and the like.
- the saddle unit section 240 includes a stapler 252 , a folding unit 258 , and a fold reinforcing unit 263 .
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus.
- the sheet processing apparatus 200 processes, according to an instruction input from the operation panel 112 or an instruction from the user terminal, a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus 100 .
- the sheet processing apparatus 200 includes an inlet roller 210 , a diverting member 212 , the finisher 220 , and the saddle unit section 240 .
- the inlet roller 210 carries a sheet, which is carried out from the image forming apparatus 100 , into the sheet processing apparatus 200 .
- the diverting member 212 switches, according to a processing content input via the display section of the operation panel 112 of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 , a conveying destination of the sheet carried in by the inlet roller 210 to the finisher 220 or the saddle unit section 240 .
- the finisher 220 sorts a sheet bundle or staples an end of the sheet bundle.
- the saddle unit section 240 staples or folds a sheet bundle.
- the saddle unit section 240 includes plural conveying rollers 242 , a carry-out roller 244 , a carry-out roller sensor 245 , a stacking section 246 , the stapler 252 , the folding unit 258 , the fold reinforcing unit 263 , a discharge roller 264 , and a sheet bundle stacking tray 266 .
- the conveying rollers 242 convey a sheet to the stacking section 246 .
- the carry-out roller 244 carries out the sheet to the stacking section 246 .
- the carry-out roller sensor 245 detects the conveyed sheet.
- the stacking section 246 includes a stack tray 248 , stackers 250 , and a sensor 251 .
- a sheet is temporarily stacked on the stacking section 246 in an upright position.
- the stack tray 248 supports the surface of the sheet.
- the stackers 250 receive the lower end of the sheet.
- the stackers 250 support the lower end of the sheet stacked in the upright position and align (longitudinally align) the position of the end of the sheet in a conveying direction.
- the sheet stacked on the stacking section 246 is also aligned in the width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction. The alignment in the width direction (lateral alignment) of the sheet is explained below.
- the sensor 251 detects that sheet is conveyed to the stackers 250 .
- the stackers 250 move up and down along the stack tray 248 .
- the stackers 250 adjust the position of sheets stapled by the stapler 252 and the position of sheets folded by the folding unit 258 .
- the stapling position of the sheets and the folding position of the sheets are assumed to be a center portion in the sheet conveying direction.
- Plural (two) staplers 252 are arranged side by side in the width direction of a sheet.
- the stapler 252 includes a stapler head 254 and an anvil 256 .
- the stapler head 254 and the anvil 256 staple a sheet bundle.
- the stackers 250 move to set a stapled position of sheets to a folding position by the folding unit 258 .
- the folding unit 258 starts folding.
- the folding unit 258 includes a folding plate 260 and a folding roller pair 262 .
- the folding plate 260 stays on standby in a position where the folding plate 260 does not hinder conveyance of a sheet.
- the folding plate 260 moves toward the folding roller pair 262 .
- the distal end of the folding plate 260 thrusts the sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle to a nip portion of the rotating folding roller pair 262 .
- the folding roller pair 262 compresses, conveys, and folds the sheets pushed by the folding plate 260 .
- the sheet bundle having the fold formed thereon by the folding unit 258 is further conveyed to the fold reinforcing unit 263 provided further on a downstream side of the folding unit 258 .
- the fold reinforcing unit 263 moves while pressurizing the fold in the width direction crossing the conveying direction of the sheet bundle (a direction along the line of the fold) and reinforces the fold formed by the folding unit 258 (reinforcing).
- the sheet bundle having the fold reinforced by the fold reinforcing unit 263 is discharged to the sheet bundle stacking tray 266 by the discharge roller 264 .
- FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams for explaining a lateral alignment member.
- the stacking section 246 includes the stackers 250 and a lateral alignment member 300 .
- the lateral alignment member 300 includes a first aligning member 302 a and a second aligning member 302 b, horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b, a pinion gear 306 , and a motor Ml.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are opposed in parallel to each other.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b align ends in the width direction (lateral ends) of a sheet stacked on the stackers 250 .
- the horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b are respectively connected to the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b.
- the horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b are opposed in parallel to each other.
- the horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b respectively include racks on opposed surfaces thereof.
- the pinion gear 306 simultaneously meshes with the racks of the respective horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b.
- the motor M 1 rotates the pinion bear 306 via a gear 107 .
- the pinion gear 306 rotates to slide the horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b in opposite directions to each other in the width direction of the sheet.
- the motor M 1 may be, for example, a stepping motor.
- a detecting member 308 detects the positions in the sheet width direction of the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b.
- the detecting member 308 may be, for example, a micro sensor or a micro actuator.
- the detecting member 308 detects that the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are in home positions (HPs; first positions).
- HPs home positions
- a state in which the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are in the HPs is referred to as a state in which the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are open in the width direction, i.e., an open state.
- the positions of the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are controlled with reference to the HPs according to the number of pulses given to the motor M 1 in order to drive the first and second aligning members 302 a and 302 b.
- the controller 202 receives an instruction for folding or saddle stapling or saddle folding from the operation panel 112 or an external apparatus, the controller 202 laterally aligns a sheet with the lateral alignment member 300 . After the lateral alignment by the lateral alignment member 300 , the controller 202 staples a sheet bundle with the stapler 252 or folds the sheet bundle with the folding unit 258 .
- FIG. 3A a state in which the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are present in the first positions is shown.
- a sheet P 1 is conveyed in a state in which the center of a space between the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b and the center in the width direction of the conveyed sheet P 1 coincide with each other.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are respectively on standby in the first positions away from the lateral ends of the sheet P 1 , which is conveyed in the ideal conveyance posture, by a first distance.
- the first distance may be, for example, 15 mm.
- the first positions may be positions to which the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b are moved from the HPs by applying a predetermined number of pulses to the motor M 1 and rotating the motor M 1 .
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move in directions indicated by arrows B in FIG. 3B to come close to the lateral ends of the conveyed sheet P 1 and laterally align the sheet P 1 .
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move to come close to the lateral ends of the sheet P 1 after the lower end of the sheet P 1 reaches the position between the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move to second positions where the distance between the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b is equal to the length in the width direction of the sheet (a second distance).
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move to third positions away from the lateral ends of the sheet P 1 by a third distance.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b wait for the following sheet P 2 in the third positions.
- the third distance may be shorter than the first distance.
- the third distance may be, for example, 3 mm.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move in directions indicated by arrows D in FIG. 3D to come close to the lateral ends of the conveyed sheet P 2 and laterally align a sheet bundle including the sheet P 1 and the sheet P 2 .
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move to come close to the lateral ends of the sheet P 2 after the lower end of the sheet P 2 reaches the position between the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b.
- the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b move to, for example, the second positions in order to perform the lateral alignment.
- the lateral alignment member 300 repeats the abovementioned actions every time a sheet is conveyed and laterally aligns a sheet bundle including the sheets P 1 and P 2 and the following sheets.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the overall structure of the folding unit 258 .
- an arm 270 and a driving section 282 including a groove cam 286 on one side (the near side in the figure) are omitted.
- the folding unit 258 includes a folding roller pair 262 that folds a sheet bundle into two, a comb teeth-like folding plate 260 that pushes the sheet bundle into a nip portion of the folding roller pair 262 , and a guide member 280 that holds the folding plate 260 to be movable to the folding roller pair 262 .
- the folding roller pair 262 includes a fixed roller 262 a and a movable roller 262 b.
- the fixed roller 262 a is fixedly arranged in a not-shown apparatus frame to be rotatable via a shaft.
- the movable roller 262 b is rotatably supported at one end 270 b of the arm 270 supported in the not-shown apparatus frame to be pivotable about a fulcrum 270 a.
- the movable roller 262 b can come into contact with and separate from the fixed roller 262 a.
- a spring 272 is attached to the other end 270 c of the arm 270 .
- the movable roller 262 b urged by the arm 270 which pivots about the fulcrum 270 a, comes into press contact with the fixed roller 262 a and forms a nip portion.
- the fixed roller 262 a and the movable roller 262 b are rotated by a not-shown driving motor.
- the folding plate 260 includes a protrusion section 274 and a shaft 276 .
- the folding plate 260 is slidably held by the guide member 280 via the protrusion section 274 and the shaft 276 .
- the guide member 280 includes a guide groove 280 a for slidably supporting the protrusion section 274 and the shaft 276 and guiding the folding plate 260 to the nip portion of the folding roller pair 262 .
- the driving sections 282 that slide the folding plate 260 are connected to both the ends of the shaft 276 .
- the driving section 282 includes a cam shaft 284 , the groove cam 286 that rotates about the cam shaft 284 , and a link member 288 .
- the groove cam 286 includes a groove 286 a.
- a roller 287 such as a roller follower, which is a contact piece, is rotatably guided into the groove 286 a of the groove cam 286 .
- the roller 287 is attached to the link member 288 .
- a link pivot shaft 290 is provided at one end of the link member 288 .
- the link pivot shaft 290 is attached to the apparatus frame.
- the groove cam 286 is rotated by a not-shown driving motor connected to one end of the cam shaft 284 .
- the link member 288 repeats a reciprocating action like a pendulum action about the link pivot shaft 290 according to the eccentricity of the groove 286 a.
- the folding plate 260 slides along the guide groove 280 a of the guide member 280 according to the reciprocating action of the link member 288 .
- the distal end of the folding plate 260 thrusts a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle to the nip portion of the rotating folding roller pair 262 .
- the folding roller pair 262 compresses, conveys, and folds sheets pushed by the folding plate 260 .
- FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the folding roller pair 262 .
- the fixed roller 262 a and the movable roller 262 b of the folding roller pair 262 are formed at the length equal to the width of a largest sheet that can be processed by the sheet processing apparatus.
- the fixed roller 262 a of the folding roller pair 262 includes first folding sections 292 , which are areas having a roller diameter of r 1 , and first grooves 293 , which are areas having a roller diameter of r 2 (r 1 >r 2 ).
- the first folding sections 292 come into contact with the movable roller 262 b and form nip portions.
- the first grooves 293 form gaps between the first grooves 293 and the movable roller 262 b in a state in which the first folding sections 292 are in contact with the movable roller 262 b.
- the movable roller 262 b includes second folding sections 294 , which are areas having a roller diameter of r 1 , and second grooves 295 , which are areas having a roller diameter of r 2 (r 1 >r 2 ).
- the second folding sections 294 come into contact with the first folding sections 292 of the fixed roller 262 a and form nip portions.
- the second grooves 295 form gaps in a state in which the first folding sections 292 and the second folding sections 294 form the nip portions.
- the first grooves 293 and the second grooves 295 which form the gaps, are arranged such that the distal end of the comb teeth-like folding plate 260 enters the gaps.
- the first grooves 293 and the second grooves 295 are formed to correspond to the size of sheets pushed in by the folding plate 260 .
- the first grooves 293 and the second grooves 295 are formed in positions where ends in the width direction of a sheet of a predetermined size crossing the sheet conveying direction pass during folding. If the predetermined size is plural sizes, plural first grooves 293 and plural second grooves 295 are formed for each of the predetermined sizes.
- grooves are formed to prevent the ends in the width direction of the sheet bundle from being nipped by the folding roller pair 262 . Portions of the sheet bundle several millimeters from the sheet ends are prevented from being nipped by the rollers, whereby the bend that occurs in the sheet bundle surely escape from the ends of the sheet bundle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the creases.
- the sheet ends are not nipped by the folding roller pair 262 .
- sheet ends of a sheet other than the sheet of the predetermined size for which the corresponding grooves are formed are not nipped either.
- FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining folding in this modification.
- the controller (an acquiring section) 202 acquires a size of a sheet conveyed to the stackers 250 .
- the controller 202 may acquire the sheet size from the controller 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 , may detect the sheet size using a detecting member provided in a conveying path of the sheet processing apparatus 200 , or may detect the sheet size using a detecting member that detects ends of the sheet in a publicly-known punch unit.
- a detecting member that detects the size of the sheet conveyed to the stackers 250 may be arranged.
- the controller 202 drives the lateral alignment member 300 to align the width direction of the sheet conveyed to the stackers 250 .
- the controller 202 determines whether a last sheet of a sheet bundle to be folded is conveyed to the stackers 250 (ACT 603 ). If the sheet is not the last sheet of the sheet bundle (No in ACT 603 ), the controller 202 returns to ACT 602 and performs lateral alignment every time a sheet is conveyed to the stackers 250 .
- the controller 202 determines, on the basis of acquired information concerning the sheet size, whether sheets are sheets of the predetermined size corresponding to the grooves formed in the rollers of the folding roller pair 262 (ACT 604 ). If the sheets are the sheets of the predetermined size (Yes in ACT 604 ), the controller 202 pushes laterally-aligned sheets into the folding roller pair 262 with the folding plate 260 and performs folding (ACT 605 ).
- the controller 202 slides the first aligning member 302 a and the second aligning member 302 b in the sheet width direction and shifts the sheet bundle (ACT 606 ).
- the controller 202 shifts the sheet bundle such that at least one of both ends of a sheet bundle of an irregular size is located in the first groove 293 and the second groove 295 of the folding roller pair 262 .
- the controller 202 pushes the sheet bundle into the folding roller pair 262 with the folding plate 260 and performs the folding (ACT 605 ). At least one of both the ends in the width direction of the sheet bundle passes the gap formed by the first groove 293 and the second groove 295 .
- FIGS. 7A to 7D are schematic diagrams for explaining folding in a second embodiment.
- the folding plate 260 of the sheet processing apparatus 200 pushes a sheet bundle stacked on the stackers 250 into the nip portion of the folding roller pair 262 .
- the folding roller pair 262 presses the sheet bundle, which is pushed in by the folding plate 260 , with the fixed roller 262 a and the movable roller 262 b and forms a fold on the sheet bundle.
- the controller 202 of the sheet processing apparatus 200 once displaces the movable roller 262 b in the direction opposite to the fixed roller 262 a.
- the controller 202 reduces or eliminates a nip (a fold load) of the sheet bundle by the folding roller pair 262 to thereby allow a bend of the sheet bundle to escape and prevent occurrence of creases.
- the movable roller 262 b does not have to be separated from the sheet bundle.
- the movable roller 262 b may be displaced such that a pressing force of the movable roller 262 b on the fixed roller 262 a decreases to be smaller than a pressing force (a load) for forming a fold.
- the controller 202 displaces the movable roller 262 b to the fixed roller 262 a side and presses the sheet bundle, on which the fold is formed, with the fixed roller 262 a and the movable roller 262 b again.
- the fixed roller 262 a and the movable roller 262 b convey the nipped sheet bundle downstream in the sheet conveying direction.
- An entity that executes the operations in the embodiments is an entity related to a computer such as hardware, a complex of the hardware and software, the software, and the software being executed.
- the entity that executes the operations is a process executed on a processor, the processor, an object, an execution file, a thread, a computer program, and the computer but is not limited to these.
- the process or the thread may be caused to play plural entities that execute the operations.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior U.S. patent application No. 61/528,705, filed on Aug. 29, 2011, and the prior U.S. Patent Application No. 61/528,678, filed on Aug. 29, 2011, and the prior U.S. Patent Application No. 61/528,682, filed on Aug. 29, 2011, and Japanese Patent Application No2012-95258, filed on Apr. 19, 2012, and the entire contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet processing apparatus, a sheet folding method, and an image forming apparatus for performing folding of printed sheets.
- There is a sheet finishing apparatus that is set on a downstream side in a sheet conveying direction of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a multi-functional peripheral (MFP) and applies finishing such as punching or stapling to printed sheets. The sheet finishing apparatus includes a function of folding for folding a part of sheets and a function of saddle stapling and saddle folding for folding sheets in the center after stapling the center of the sheets with staples in addition to functions of punching and stapling. The function of saddle stapling and saddle folding can produce (bind) a booklet from printed plural sheets.
- In the saddle stapling and saddle folding, the sheet finishing apparatus forms a fold and folds a stapling portion of sheets with a pair of rollers called a folding roller pair after stapling the center of sheets with staples. For example, the sheet finishing apparatus strikes a tabular member called a folding blade against a stapling portion of a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle into a nip portion of the folding roller pair to fold the sheet bundle.
- However, in the apparatus in the past, when the sheet bundle is folded in the nip portion of the roller pair, the sheets sometimes wave. In other words, it is likely that the sheet bundle is directly folded by a strong pressing force, whereby creases occur in the sheet bundle.
- Therefore, there is a demand for a sheet processing apparatus that more appropriately performs the folding than the sheet processing apparatus including the folding unit in the past.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus in the first embodiment; -
FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams for explaining a lateral alignment member in the first embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining a folding unit in the first embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a folding roller pair in the first embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining folding by the sheet processing apparatus in the first embodiment; and -
FIGS. 7A to 7D are schematic diagrams for explaining folding in a second embodiment. - Exemplary embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- In general, according to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a stacker configured to hold a sheet bundle; a first folding roller; a second folding roller; and a folding plate configured to push the sheet bundle held by the stacker into a nip portion formed by the first folding roller and the second folding roller and forma fold. The first folding roller includes: a first folding section configured to come into contact with the second folding roller and form the nip portion; and a first groove configured to form a gap between the first groove and the second folding roller in a state in which the first folding section is in contact with the second folding roller. The first groove is formed in a position where an end in the width direction of a sheet bundle of a predetermined size pushed in by the folding plate passes.
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus. Animage forming apparatus 100 includes acontroller 102, astorage device 108, a communication interface (communication I/F) 110, anoperation panel 112, ascanner 114 that reads an original document, and a printer (an image forming section) 116 that forms an image. The components of theimage forming apparatus 100 are connected via abus 118. - The
controller 102 includes aprocessor 104 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and amemory 106. Thememory 106 is, for example, a semiconductor memory. Thememory 106 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) having stored therein control programs and the like and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that provides theprocessor 104 with a temporary work area. Thecontroller 102 controls theoperation panel 112, thescanner 114, and theprinter 116 on the basis of various computer programs and the like stored in the ROM or thestorage device 108. Thecontroller 102 includes a function of correcting or expanding image data. Thecontroller 102 communicates with acontroller 202 of asheet processing apparatus 200. - The
storage device 108 stores application programs and an OS. The application programs include computer programs for executing functions of a multifunction peripheral such as a copy function, a print function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a network file function. The application programs further include an application for a Web client (a Web browser) and other applications. - The
storage device 108 temporarily stores image data of an original document read by thescanner 114, image data acquired via the communication I/F 110, or the like. Further, thestorage device 108 appropriately stores software update, a protected electronic document, text data, account information, policy information, and the like. Thestorage device 108 may be, for example, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive, an optical storage device, a semiconductor storage device (a flash memory, etc.), or an arbitrary combination of these storage devices. - The communication I/
F 110 is an interface connected to an external apparatus. The communication I/F 110 is connected to an external apparatus via appropriate radio or wire of IEEE802.15, IEEE802.11, IEEE802.3, IEEE1284, or the like for, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared connection, or optical connection. The communication I/F 110 may further include a USB connection section to which a connection terminal of the USB standard is connected and a parallel interface. Thecontroller 102 communicates with a user terminal, a USB device, and other external apparatuses via the communication I/F 110. - The
operation panel 112 includes a display section of a touch panel type and various operation keys. The operation keys include, for example, a ten key, a reset key, a stop key, and a start key. The display section displays instruction items concerning printing conditions such as a sheet size, the number of copies, printing density setting, and finishing (stapling or folding). Instructions of the displayed items are input from the display section. - The
scanner 114 includes an incorporated scanning and reading unit that reads an original document as an image, a document placing table, and an auto document feeder that conveys the original document to a reading position. The scanning and reading unit of thescanner 114 reads an original document set on the document placing table or the auto document feeder. - The
printer 116 includes a publicly-known image forming unit including, for example, a photoconductive drum and a publicly-known developing unit by, for example, toner. Theprinter 116 forms, using these units, an image corresponding to image data of an original document read by thescanner 114 or an image corresponding to image data sent from the user terminal on a sheet. - The
sheet processing apparatus 200 includes thecontroller 202, afinisher 220, and asaddle unit section 240. Thecontroller 202 includes aprocessor 204 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) and amemory 206. Thememory 206 is, for example, a semiconductor memory. Thememory 206 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) having stored therein control programs and the like and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that provides theprocessor 204 with a temporary work area. Thecontroller 202 communicates with thecontroller 102 of theimage forming apparatus 100. Thecontroller 202 controls thefinisher 220 and thesaddle unit section 240 on the basis of information received from thecontroller 102 and various computer programs and the like stored in the ROM and the like. Thesaddle unit section 240 includes astapler 252, afolding unit 258, and afold reinforcing unit 263. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus. Thesheet processing apparatus 200 processes, according to an instruction input from theoperation panel 112 or an instruction from the user terminal, a sheet discharged from theimage forming apparatus 100. Thesheet processing apparatus 200 includes aninlet roller 210, a divertingmember 212, thefinisher 220, and thesaddle unit section 240. Theinlet roller 210 carries a sheet, which is carried out from theimage forming apparatus 100, into thesheet processing apparatus 200. The divertingmember 212 switches, according to a processing content input via the display section of theoperation panel 112 of theimage forming apparatus 100 shown inFIG. 1 , a conveying destination of the sheet carried in by theinlet roller 210 to thefinisher 220 or thesaddle unit section 240. For example, thefinisher 220 sorts a sheet bundle or staples an end of the sheet bundle. - The
saddle unit section 240 staples or folds a sheet bundle. Thesaddle unit section 240 includes plural conveyingrollers 242, a carry-outroller 244, a carry-outroller sensor 245, a stackingsection 246, thestapler 252, thefolding unit 258, thefold reinforcing unit 263, adischarge roller 264, and a sheetbundle stacking tray 266. The conveyingrollers 242 convey a sheet to the stackingsection 246. The carry-outroller 244 carries out the sheet to the stackingsection 246. The carry-outroller sensor 245 detects the conveyed sheet. - The stacking
section 246 includes astack tray 248,stackers 250, and asensor 251. A sheet is temporarily stacked on the stackingsection 246 in an upright position. Thestack tray 248 supports the surface of the sheet. Thestackers 250 receive the lower end of the sheet. Thestackers 250 support the lower end of the sheet stacked in the upright position and align (longitudinally align) the position of the end of the sheet in a conveying direction. The sheet stacked on the stackingsection 246 is also aligned in the width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction. The alignment in the width direction (lateral alignment) of the sheet is explained below. Thesensor 251 detects that sheet is conveyed to thestackers 250. - The
stackers 250 move up and down along thestack tray 248. Thestackers 250 adjust the position of sheets stapled by thestapler 252 and the position of sheets folded by thefolding unit 258. In the explanation of this embodiment, as an example, the stapling position of the sheets and the folding position of the sheets are assumed to be a center portion in the sheet conveying direction. - Plural (two)
staplers 252 are arranged side by side in the width direction of a sheet. Thestapler 252 includes astapler head 254 and ananvil 256. Thestapler head 254 and theanvil 256 staple a sheet bundle. - When the
stapler 252 staples the sheet bundle, thestackers 250 move to set a stapled position of sheets to a folding position by thefolding unit 258. When thestackers 250 stop, thefolding unit 258 starts folding. - The
folding unit 258 includes afolding plate 260 and afolding roller pair 262. Thefolding plate 260 stays on standby in a position where thefolding plate 260 does not hinder conveyance of a sheet. When a position where a fold should be formed comes to the front of thefolding plate 260, thefolding plate 260 moves toward thefolding roller pair 262. The distal end of thefolding plate 260 thrusts the sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle to a nip portion of the rotatingfolding roller pair 262. Thefolding roller pair 262 compresses, conveys, and folds the sheets pushed by thefolding plate 260. The sheet bundle having the fold formed thereon by thefolding unit 258 is further conveyed to thefold reinforcing unit 263 provided further on a downstream side of thefolding unit 258. - The
fold reinforcing unit 263 moves while pressurizing the fold in the width direction crossing the conveying direction of the sheet bundle (a direction along the line of the fold) and reinforces the fold formed by the folding unit 258 (reinforcing). The sheet bundle having the fold reinforced by thefold reinforcing unit 263 is discharged to the sheetbundle stacking tray 266 by thedischarge roller 264. - Alignment in the width direction crossing the conveying direction of the sheet stacked on the stacking section 246 (hereinafter, lateral alignment) is explained.
FIGS. 3A to 3D are schematic diagrams for explaining a lateral alignment member. The stackingsection 246 includes thestackers 250 and alateral alignment member 300. Thelateral alignment member 300 includes a first aligningmember 302 a and a second aligningmember 302 b, horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b, a pinion gear 306, and a motor Ml. - The first aligning
member 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are opposed in parallel to each other. The first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b align ends in the width direction (lateral ends) of a sheet stacked on thestackers 250. - The horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b are respectively connected to the first aligning
member 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b. The horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b are opposed in parallel to each other. The horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b respectively include racks on opposed surfaces thereof. The pinion gear 306 simultaneously meshes with the racks of the respective horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b. The motor M1 rotates the pinion bear 306 via agear 107. The pinion gear 306 rotates to slide the horizontally suspended members 304 a and 304 b in opposite directions to each other in the width direction of the sheet. The motor M1 may be, for example, a stepping motor. A detectingmember 308 detects the positions in the sheet width direction of the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b. The detectingmember 308 may be, for example, a micro sensor or a micro actuator. In this embodiment, the detectingmember 308 detects that the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are in home positions (HPs; first positions). A state in which the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are in the HPs is referred to as a state in which the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are open in the width direction, i.e., an open state. The positions of the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are controlled with reference to the HPs according to the number of pulses given to the motor M1 in order to drive the first and second aligningmembers controller 202 receives an instruction for folding or saddle stapling or saddle folding from theoperation panel 112 or an external apparatus, thecontroller 202 laterally aligns a sheet with thelateral alignment member 300. After the lateral alignment by thelateral alignment member 300, thecontroller 202 staples a sheet bundle with thestapler 252 or folds the sheet bundle with thefolding unit 258. - In
FIG. 3A , a state in which the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are present in the first positions is shown. In ideal conveyance posture, a sheet P1 is conveyed in a state in which the center of a space between the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b and the center in the width direction of the conveyed sheet P1 coincide with each other. The first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are respectively on standby in the first positions away from the lateral ends of the sheet P1, which is conveyed in the ideal conveyance posture, by a first distance. The first distance may be, for example, 15 mm. The first positions may be positions to which the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b are moved from the HPs by applying a predetermined number of pulses to the motor M1 and rotating the motor M1. - The first aligning
member 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move in directions indicated by arrows B inFIG. 3B to come close to the lateral ends of the conveyed sheet P1 and laterally align the sheet P1. For example, the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move to come close to the lateral ends of the sheet P1 after the lower end of the sheet P1 reaches the position between the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b. For the lateral alignment, for example, the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move to second positions where the distance between the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b is equal to the length in the width direction of the sheet (a second distance). - After the lateral alignment, as indicated by arrows C in
FIG. 3C , the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move to third positions away from the lateral ends of the sheet P1 by a third distance. The first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b wait for the following sheet P2 in the third positions. The third distance may be shorter than the first distance. The third distance may be, for example, 3 mm. - The first aligning
member 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move in directions indicated by arrows D inFIG. 3D to come close to the lateral ends of the conveyed sheet P2 and laterally align a sheet bundle including the sheet P1 and the sheet P2. For example, the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move to come close to the lateral ends of the sheet P2 after the lower end of the sheet P2 reaches the position between the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b. The first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b move to, for example, the second positions in order to perform the lateral alignment. Thelateral alignment member 300 repeats the abovementioned actions every time a sheet is conveyed and laterally aligns a sheet bundle including the sheets P1 and P2 and the following sheets. -
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the overall structure of thefolding unit 258. InFIG. 4 , anarm 270 and adriving section 282 including agroove cam 286 on one side (the near side in the figure) are omitted. - The
folding unit 258 includes afolding roller pair 262 that folds a sheet bundle into two, a comb teeth-like folding plate 260 that pushes the sheet bundle into a nip portion of thefolding roller pair 262, and aguide member 280 that holds thefolding plate 260 to be movable to thefolding roller pair 262. - The
folding roller pair 262 includes a fixedroller 262 a and amovable roller 262 b. The fixedroller 262 a is fixedly arranged in a not-shown apparatus frame to be rotatable via a shaft. Themovable roller 262 b is rotatably supported at oneend 270 b of thearm 270 supported in the not-shown apparatus frame to be pivotable about afulcrum 270 a. Themovable roller 262 b can come into contact with and separate from the fixedroller 262 a. Aspring 272 is attached to theother end 270 c of thearm 270. Themovable roller 262 b urged by thearm 270, which pivots about thefulcrum 270 a, comes into press contact with the fixedroller 262 a and forms a nip portion. The fixedroller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b are rotated by a not-shown driving motor. - The
folding plate 260 includes aprotrusion section 274 and ashaft 276. Thefolding plate 260 is slidably held by theguide member 280 via theprotrusion section 274 and theshaft 276. Theguide member 280 includes aguide groove 280 a for slidably supporting theprotrusion section 274 and theshaft 276 and guiding thefolding plate 260 to the nip portion of thefolding roller pair 262. The drivingsections 282 that slide thefolding plate 260 are connected to both the ends of theshaft 276. - The
driving section 282 includes acam shaft 284, thegroove cam 286 that rotates about thecam shaft 284, and alink member 288. Thegroove cam 286 includes agroove 286 a. Aroller 287 such as a roller follower, which is a contact piece, is rotatably guided into thegroove 286 a of thegroove cam 286. Theroller 287 is attached to thelink member 288. Alink pivot shaft 290 is provided at one end of thelink member 288. Thelink pivot shaft 290 is attached to the apparatus frame. Thegroove cam 286 is rotated by a not-shown driving motor connected to one end of thecam shaft 284. When theroller 287 is guided along thegroove 286 a according to the rotation of thegroove cam 286, thelink member 288 repeats a reciprocating action like a pendulum action about thelink pivot shaft 290 according to the eccentricity of thegroove 286 a. Thefolding plate 260 slides along theguide groove 280 a of theguide member 280 according to the reciprocating action of thelink member 288. The distal end of thefolding plate 260 thrusts a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle to the nip portion of the rotatingfolding roller pair 262. Thefolding roller pair 262 compresses, conveys, and folds sheets pushed by thefolding plate 260. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining thefolding roller pair 262. The fixedroller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b of thefolding roller pair 262 are formed at the length equal to the width of a largest sheet that can be processed by the sheet processing apparatus. - The fixed
roller 262 a of thefolding roller pair 262 includes firstfolding sections 292, which are areas having a roller diameter of r1, andfirst grooves 293, which are areas having a roller diameter of r2 (r1>r2). Thefirst folding sections 292 come into contact with themovable roller 262 b and form nip portions. Thefirst grooves 293 form gaps between thefirst grooves 293 and themovable roller 262 b in a state in which thefirst folding sections 292 are in contact with themovable roller 262 b. - The
movable roller 262 b includes secondfolding sections 294, which are areas having a roller diameter of r1, andsecond grooves 295, which are areas having a roller diameter of r2 (r1>r2). Thesecond folding sections 294 come into contact with thefirst folding sections 292 of the fixedroller 262 a and form nip portions. Thesecond grooves 295 form gaps in a state in which thefirst folding sections 292 and thesecond folding sections 294 form the nip portions. Thefirst grooves 293 and thesecond grooves 295, which form the gaps, are arranged such that the distal end of the comb teeth-likefolding plate 260 enters the gaps. - The
first grooves 293 and thesecond grooves 295 are formed to correspond to the size of sheets pushed in by thefolding plate 260. In other words, thefirst grooves 293 and thesecond grooves 295 are formed in positions where ends in the width direction of a sheet of a predetermined size crossing the sheet conveying direction pass during folding. If the predetermined size is plural sizes, pluralfirst grooves 293 and pluralsecond grooves 295 are formed for each of the predetermined sizes. - When a sheet bundle is pushed into the nip portions of the
folding roller pair 262 by thefolding plate 260, force applied to sheets is different in a pressed portion and a portion nipped by thefolding roller pair 262. After forming a fold on the sheet bundle with thefolding roller pair 262, the sheet bundle is conveyed by thefolding roller pair 262. Consequently, it is likely that a bend occurs during the conveyance and creases are formed on the sheets. In particular, in a state in which the ends in the width direction of the sheets are nipped, the bend may not be able to sufficiently escape. - Therefore, in the fixed
roller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b of thefolding roller pair 262 in this embodiment, grooves are formed to prevent the ends in the width direction of the sheet bundle from being nipped by thefolding roller pair 262. Portions of the sheet bundle several millimeters from the sheet ends are prevented from being nipped by the rollers, whereby the bend that occurs in the sheet bundle surely escape from the ends of the sheet bundle. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the creases. - In the first embodiment, the sheet ends are not nipped by the
folding roller pair 262. However, in a modification of the first embodiment, sheet ends of a sheet other than the sheet of the predetermined size for which the corresponding grooves are formed (hereinafter, irregular-size sheet) are not nipped either. -
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining folding in this modification. In ACT 601, the controller (an acquiring section) 202 acquires a size of a sheet conveyed to thestackers 250. Thecontroller 202 may acquire the sheet size from thecontroller 102 of theimage forming apparatus 100, may detect the sheet size using a detecting member provided in a conveying path of thesheet processing apparatus 200, or may detect the sheet size using a detecting member that detects ends of the sheet in a publicly-known punch unit. Alternatively, a detecting member that detects the size of the sheet conveyed to thestackers 250 may be arranged. - In ACT 602, the
controller 202 drives thelateral alignment member 300 to align the width direction of the sheet conveyed to thestackers 250. Thecontroller 202 determines whether a last sheet of a sheet bundle to be folded is conveyed to the stackers 250 (ACT 603). If the sheet is not the last sheet of the sheet bundle (No in ACT 603), thecontroller 202 returns to ACT 602 and performs lateral alignment every time a sheet is conveyed to thestackers 250. - On the other hand, if the lateral alignment is completed in a state in which the last sheet of the sheet bundle is conveyed to the stackers 250 (Yes in ACT 603), the
controller 202 determines, on the basis of acquired information concerning the sheet size, whether sheets are sheets of the predetermined size corresponding to the grooves formed in the rollers of the folding roller pair 262 (ACT 604). If the sheets are the sheets of the predetermined size (Yes in ACT 604), thecontroller 202 pushes laterally-aligned sheets into thefolding roller pair 262 with thefolding plate 260 and performs folding (ACT 605). - On the other hand, if the sheet size of the sheet bundle stacked on the
stackers 250 is not the predetermined size (No in ACT 604), thecontroller 202 slides the first aligningmember 302 a and the second aligningmember 302 b in the sheet width direction and shifts the sheet bundle (ACT 606). Thecontroller 202 shifts the sheet bundle such that at least one of both ends of a sheet bundle of an irregular size is located in thefirst groove 293 and thesecond groove 295 of thefolding roller pair 262. After shifting the sheet bundle in the width direction via thelateral alignment member 300, thecontroller 202 pushes the sheet bundle into thefolding roller pair 262 with thefolding plate 260 and performs the folding (ACT 605). At least one of both the ends in the width direction of the sheet bundle passes the gap formed by thefirst groove 293 and thesecond groove 295. - In this modification, even if the irregular-size sheets other than the sheets of the predetermined size corresponding to the grooves formed in the rollers of the
folding roller pair 262 are processed, the position of the sheet bundle is adjusted such that at least one of both the ends of the sheet bundle is located in the grooves of thefolding roller pair 262. Consequently, it is possible to realize the same effects as the effects of the first embodiment. -
FIGS. 7A to 7D are schematic diagrams for explaining folding in a second embodiment. As shown inFIG. 7A , thefolding plate 260 of thesheet processing apparatus 200 pushes a sheet bundle stacked on thestackers 250 into the nip portion of thefolding roller pair 262. Subsequently, as shown inFIG. 7B , thefolding roller pair 262 presses the sheet bundle, which is pushed in by thefolding plate 260, with the fixedroller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b and forms a fold on the sheet bundle. - As shown in
FIG. 7C , after forming the fold on the sheet bundle with thefolding roller pair 262, thecontroller 202 of thesheet processing apparatus 200 according to this embodiment once displaces themovable roller 262 b in the direction opposite to the fixedroller 262 a. In other words, thecontroller 202 reduces or eliminates a nip (a fold load) of the sheet bundle by thefolding roller pair 262 to thereby allow a bend of the sheet bundle to escape and prevent occurrence of creases. Themovable roller 262 b does not have to be separated from the sheet bundle. For example, themovable roller 262 b may be displaced such that a pressing force of themovable roller 262 b on the fixedroller 262 a decreases to be smaller than a pressing force (a load) for forming a fold. - As shown in
FIG. 7D , thecontroller 202 displaces themovable roller 262 b to the fixedroller 262 a side and presses the sheet bundle, on which the fold is formed, with the fixedroller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b again. The fixedroller 262 a and themovable roller 262 b convey the nipped sheet bundle downstream in the sheet conveying direction. - With the sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment, it is possible to allow a bend that occurs in a sheet bundle to escape and prevent occurrence of creases.
- According to at least one of the embodiments explained above, it is possible to perform more appropriate folding.
- An entity that executes the operations in the embodiments is an entity related to a computer such as hardware, a complex of the hardware and software, the software, and the software being executed. The entity that executes the operations is a process executed on a processor, the processor, an object, an execution file, a thread, a computer program, and the computer but is not limited to these. The process or the thread may be caused to play plural entities that execute the operations.
- While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatus described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Claims (18)
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/542,116 US20130049278A1 (en) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-07-05 | Sheet processing apparatus and sheet folding method and image forming apparatus |
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US13/542,116 US20130049278A1 (en) | 2011-08-29 | 2012-07-05 | Sheet processing apparatus and sheet folding method and image forming apparatus |
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US20150183613A1 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2015-07-02 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Sheet folding device, post-processing device, and image forming system |
US20170242388A1 (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2017-08-24 | Canon Finetech Inc. | Sheet processing apparatus |
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JP5841105B2 (en) * | 2013-08-30 | 2016-01-13 | 株式会社東芝 | Sheet post-processing device |
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US8146903B2 (en) * | 2008-10-24 | 2012-04-03 | Xerox Corporation | Booklet maker with spaced crease rollers |
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2012
- 2012-07-05 US US13/542,116 patent/US20130049278A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2012-08-22 CN CN201210301973.XA patent/CN102963762B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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US7892161B2 (en) * | 2007-06-19 | 2011-02-22 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet folding apparatus, sheet folding unit and image forming apparatus |
US8025280B2 (en) * | 2007-06-19 | 2011-09-27 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method |
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Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130285314A1 (en) * | 2012-04-27 | 2013-10-31 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet stacking apparatus, sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus |
US9102497B2 (en) * | 2012-04-27 | 2015-08-11 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Sheet stacking apparatus, sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus |
US20150183613A1 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2015-07-02 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Sheet folding device, post-processing device, and image forming system |
US9327936B2 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2016-05-03 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Sheet folding device, post-processing device, and image forming system |
US20170242388A1 (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2017-08-24 | Canon Finetech Inc. | Sheet processing apparatus |
US10599088B2 (en) * | 2016-02-22 | 2020-03-24 | Canon Finetech Nisca Inc. | Sheet processing apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102963762A (en) | 2013-03-13 |
CN102963762B (en) | 2015-08-05 |
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