Folding, With Rotary Printer Patents (Class 270/20.1)
  • Patent number: 11324362
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a dispensing device and methods of using a dispensing device having an improved out indicator. The dispensing device includes a housing having a cavity. A tissue stack is disposed within the cavity, the tissue stack including a plurality of tissue sheets folded along a crease. An aperture is formed in a top surface of the housing such that a tissue sheet is removable from the cavity through the aperture. A portion of the tissue sheets includes an out indicator formed along a centerline of each tissue sheet and across the crease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jared S. Felix, William G. Burr
  • Patent number: 11014772
    Abstract: A fold-enforcing assembly includes a fold-enforcing device, a moving device to move the fold-enforcing device in a direction of a fold of a sheet bundle, and control circuitry. The fold-enforcing device includes a pressing member pair to nip and press the fold of the sheet bundle in a direction of thickness, a pressing mechanism to pressurize and depressurize the pressing member pair, and a driver to drive the pressing mechanism. Controlled by the control circuitry, the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device in accordance with a size of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; pressing mechanism pressurizes the pressing member pair to press a first end portion of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device to a second end portion of the sheet bundle; and pressing mechanism depressurizes the pressing member pair in the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuta Mori, Kei Sasaki, Junya Suzuki, Koji Furuta, Yasuo Niikura, Kazuki Mishina, Kenji Hari, Hisayoshi Sugawara, Yuusuke Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 10899572
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding device to fold a sheet and a fold-enhancing device to press a folded portion of the sheet folded by the folding device to perform enhanced folding processing on the sheet whose trailing edge has exited the folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Sakano, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10351381
    Abstract: The present application discloses a post-processing apparatus which performs a predetermined process after an image formation process performed by an image formation apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes an ejection tray, which supports a sheet stack, in which sheets are stacked, and a curl prevention portion including a first tray cursor, which abuts an upper surface of the sheet stack on the ejection tray to prevent the sheet stack from curling. The curl prevention portion includes an angle changer, which changes an inclination angle of the first tray cursor with respect to the ejection tray. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a first value when a number of sheets is a first number. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a second value different from the first value when the number of the sheets is a second number different from the first number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10301138
    Abstract: An improved imbricating method, folding method, and device for producing imbricated streams (3) which are produced from singulated and preferably folded blanks (2) is provided. The method includes taking imbricated bundles of blanks including of a number of overlapping blanks corresponding to the number of the individual streams formed by the blanks of a first individual stream being transported at a distance from one another along a transport surface through a compiling station. In the process, the blanks of the at least one remaining individual stream are first of all deflected vertically with respect to the transport surface by a deflecting device of the compiling station and are then guided in the direction of the first individual stream and are subsequently deposited with an offset onto the blanks of the first individual stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Bernhard Ehret
  • Patent number: 10229172
    Abstract: A terminal Tn retrieves a last viewing end date and time and a last viewing end position that are associated with the content ID of content selected by a user. From among a plurality of texts contained in the content, the terminal Tn determines a range that is based on the last viewing end position and that depends on the elapsed time from the last viewing end date and time to the current time, to be coverage for generating a summary of the content. Then, the terminal Tn generates a summary of the determined coverage and presents the generated summary to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10221031
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus, including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet; a stacking unit on which a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, the stacking unit inclined downward in a conveyance direction in which the conveyance unit conveys a sheet and including a first region and a second region located downstream of the first region in the conveyance direction; a guide portion configured to guide a sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit over a sheet placed on the second region; and a pressing portion configured to press a sheet placed on the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc.
    Inventors: Kazunori Endo, Kenichi Matsuno, Ikuhiro Obata, Yuji Kunugi, Akira Takei
  • Patent number: 10105968
    Abstract: A sheet processing device for pressing a fold line formed in a sheet, the sheet processing device comprises a pressing portion configured to press a sheet while rotating about a rotation axis. The pressing portion includes a pressing unit having a projecting shape, disposed over a predetermined range in a direction of the rotation axis to have a position in a rotation direction about the rotation axis changed according to the direction of the rotation axis, and an impact absorbing member provided at a part of the pressing unit of the pressing portion, abutting on the sheet at first in the rotation direction of the pressing portion, the impact absorbing member configured to reduce impact upon abutting on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akikazu Iwata, Hiroshi Nishino, Yu Yamaya, Ryohei Morisaki, Norihiko Murakami, Maki Nishide
  • Patent number: 9840391
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus comprises a processing tray configured to load sheets to which a post processing is executed; a pair of alignment plates arranged on the processing tray at a predetermined interval and configured to move in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveyance direction and align the sheets on the processing tray in the sheet width direction; and a controller configured to control the pair of the alignment plates to move towards each other to first alignment positions at which the sheets are aligned in the direction and stop, and control the pair of the alignment plates to move towards each other to second alignment positions without moving the pair of the alignment plates in a reverse direction to align the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 9387643
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises a pressing member configured to press a fold line portion of a folded sheet bundle; and moving unit configured to move a position of pressing by the pressing member in a direction of a fold line of the folded sheet bundle, wherein the moving unit is configured to stand by at a pressing start position in which the pressing member is in a non-pressing state, before the folded sheet bundle is conveyed to the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohichi Satoh, Makoto Hidaka, Satoshi Saito, Mamoru Kambayashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Atsushi Kikuchi, Kiyoshi Hata, Keisuke Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140291912
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing existing rotary printing press units to produce smaller pages at a faster rate of speed without having to replace the press unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Phillip DeGenova
  • Patent number: 8833750
    Abstract: A device and a method for folding a print substrate web is disclosed. The device has devices for quarter folding and for cross-cutting the print substrate web for severing individual products as well as devices for cross folding. As viewed in the transport direction of the products, an arrangement for dividing the product stream is provided after a second quarter folding device, the arrangement conveying the successive products to a first and a second conveyor belt in an alternating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: manroland web systems GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Knauer, Hubert Schalk
  • Patent number: 8771159
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet, includes a first transport path for guiding the sheet from a carry-in portion to a carrying-out portion without folding; a second transport path branching off from the first transport path for folding the sheet; folding rollers to fold the sheet; a driving motor; and a control device for controlling the driving motor. The folding rollers are disposed in between the carry-in roller and the carrying-out roller. The first transport path has a pinch roller and a guide cover for covering the folding. The guide cover shifts between an actuation position in which the sheet does not contact the folding rollers and a non-actuation position in which the sheet engages with the folding rollers. The control device controls the guide cover to shift to the actuation position with the pinch roller separated from a periphery of the one of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 8746670
    Abstract: A bundle of identical book blocks composed of a plurality of folded print sheets or signatures standing upright on lower edges of the printed sheets or book blocks. The book blocks are formed with first and last book block sections having different dimensions. A quadrangular bundle is formed from the book blocks by aligning first limit surfaces of the book block sections flush with each other along one of the two side surfaces or along the upper or lower surfaces of the bundle so that a second limit surface of the first book block section opposite the first limit surface of the first book block section projects with an offset with respect to a limit surface of the last book block section opposite the first limit surface of the last book block section. The bundle is compressed and then secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Konrad Boos
  • Publication number: 20140097569
    Abstract: A cutting cylinder pair for cutting a substrate in a folder of a printing press is provided which includes a cutting cylinder, the cutting cylinder including a knife and a binding pin adjacent the knife in a circumferential direction of the cutting cylinder; and an anvil cylinder, the anvil cylinder including a cutting rubber, the cutting rubber engaging the knife and the binding pin as the cutting cylinder and anvil cylinder rotate, the binding pin positioned on the cutting cylinder to impart a dimple to a substrate passing between the cutting cylinder and anvil cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Goss International Americas Inc.
    Inventors: John James Sposato, JR., Jeffery S. Upchurch, Jared David Kinson
  • Patent number: 8590880
    Abstract: To provide a folding mechanism for folding a sheet with a simplified structure having no fear of causing a deviation from the fold position, wrinkle and the like, provided are a transport path 33 for transporting a sheet, and folding processing means 48 disposed in the transport path to fold the sheet. Then, the folding processing means is comprised of folding roll pairs (41b, 49, 50) coming into press-contact with one another to rotate in the opposite directions, and folding deflecting members (53, 54) for guiding the fold of the sheet to the nip portions (Np1, Np2) of the folding roll pairs. Then, the folding deflecting members are provided with driven rollers (53a, 54a) in contact press-contact with the roll periphery of one of the folding roll pair, and curved guides (53a, 54a) along the roll periphery of the other one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 8585032
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing, has a first transport path for guiding a sheet from a carry-in entrance to a carrying-out exit without performing the folding processing; a second transport path for performing the folding processing on the sheet from the carry-in entrance; and a folding processing device disposed in a folding position in the second transport path to fold the sheet from the carry-in entrance. The second transport path is disposed to cross the first transport path, and includes a path end portion for guiding the sheet to the folding position, and another path end portion for guiding the folded sheet from the folding position to a downstream side. The path end portion and the another path end portion are disposed opposite to each other relative to the first transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Sano, Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura, Toshiaki Kagami
  • Patent number: 8573580
    Abstract: A first folding portion includes: a first folding roller pair consisting of a common roller and a first roller; and a blade member that feeds a sheet to a first nip, thereby forming a first fold on the sheet in the first nip. A second folding portion includes a second folding roller pair consisting of the common roller and a second roller, thereby forming a second fold on the sheet in a second nip. The common roller and the first roller are parallel in a conveying direction in a case where the sheet is guided toward the first folding portion. A feeding portion evacuates the sheet to the evacuation guiding portion for evacuating the sheet that on which the first fold is formed, switches back the sheet, and then feeds the sheet into the second nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sachio Izumichi, Masahiko Miyazaki, Yasunori Ueno
  • Patent number: 8480068
    Abstract: Provided is a newspaper production apparatus which can make the processing mechanisms after digital printing small-scaled and which can quite easily obtain a favorably stacked state of sheets. The newspaper production apparatus includes: a paper feeding unit which feeds a continuous paper; ink jet printing units; and a folding unit which cuts and folds the continuous paper after being printed. The folding unit is configured as a rotary folding unit provided with a folding cylinder including: a retaining mechanism which retains a sheet on an outer circumferential surface of the folding cylinder; and a folding blade mechanism which projects the retained sheet radially outward. The rotary folding unit is capable of collect run by which sheets retained by the retaining mechanism are folded at each plural number of turns of the folding cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Noboru Fujio, Hiroki Sezaki, Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 8366092
    Abstract: A booklet is produced. Selectively-printed sheets are cut to length, inner sheets being shorter, and stacked on a ramp set at an adjustable angle to a sheet support. This aligns the fold axes of all the sheets so they can be fastened and folded. Gravity is used to hold the sheets in place on the ramp and sheet support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Kwarta, Arun Chowdry
  • Patent number: 8322701
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium on which the image is formed; a crease forming unit that performs a crease forming process on the conveyed recording medium; a determining unit that determines whether or not the recording medium is a predetermined recording medium; and a control unit that prohibits the crease forming process from being performed by the crease forming unit when the determining unit determines that the recording medium is the predetermined recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hattori, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa, Takashi Saito, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Hidetoshi Kojima, Naoki Oikawa, Go Aiba
  • Patent number: 8302950
    Abstract: A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel A. C. Terhaag, Marco H. L. H. Kusters, Jeroen A. A. Van Assen
  • Patent number: 8246030
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a first folding unit that folds a sheet of recording medium along first folds that extend orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, a second folding unit that folds the sheet along a second fold that extends orthogonal to the first fold, a folded-sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet folded by the first folding unit to the second folding unit, and a stacker unit. The stacker unit is arranged above the folded-sheet conveying unit. The sheet folding apparatus has a first exit through which a non-folded sheet is output, a second exit through which a fan-folded sheet is output, and a third exit through which a cross-folded sheet is output. Sheets output from the first exit and the second exit are stacked in the stacker unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Noriaki Sekine
  • Publication number: 20120193859
    Abstract: A printing press is provided. The printing press includes at least one printing unit printing on a web, a folder for forming the web into a plurality of signatures, the plurality of signatures traveling in a stream at an initial pitch and a pitch changing device for changing the initial pitch of the plurality of signatures in the stream. The pitch changing device includes a first orbiting member orbiting about a first axis and rotating about a second axis and a second orbiting member orbiting about a third axis and rotating about a fourth axis. The first orbiting member and second orbiting member form a nip and the nip receives a stream of signatures. The first and second orbiting members vary a velocity of the signatures so as to alter the initial pitch. A folder and a method for changing a pitch between consecutive signatures is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Adrian St. Ours, John James Sposato, Keith James Calderone
  • Patent number: 8215626
    Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 8210103
    Abstract: A folder superstructure is provided including a lead roll, a nip roll biasing the lead roll, and a frame supporting the lead roll and the nip roll. The frame is selectively movable between a first position where the lead roll and the nip roll act on a first web ribbon and a second position where the lead roll and the nip roll act on a second web ribbon. A method for folding printed webs is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: David John Gagnon, David Elliot Whitten, Thomas Thibault
  • Publication number: 20120139178
    Abstract: With a method for operating a transport system, used in the production of printed products composed of signatures or printed sheets, at least one first conveying belt is provided downstream of a printing press designed for producing the signatures or printed sheets. Further downstream, this conveying belt is divided into at least two individually operating conveying paths, wherein at the end of each of the conveying paths the transported signatures or printed sheets are supplied while positioned straddling and via a continuously operating folding device to at least one intermediate gathering device. For the further transport, the signatures or printed sheets are transferred from the gathering device in a serial, monotonous, intermittent, synchronous or non-synchronous sequence to a main conveying section. The signatures or printed sheets which are combined to form partial book blocks or complete book blocks are then wire-stapled, thread-stitched or bound with adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Guenther Silberbauer
  • Patent number: 8162304
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, a fold reinforcing unit that includes a reinforce roller, moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and reinforces the fold line, and a control unit configured to transport the sheet bundle from the fold unit to the fold reinforcing unit and to control to stop the fold line of the sheet bundle at a position of the reinforce roller, and the control unit changes, according to a thickness of the sheet bundle, a transport distance from a specified position in the fold reinforcing unit to the position where the sheet bundle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8141485
    Abstract: A printing system is provided with a first printing machine that includes at least one printing unit and a first folding funnel which is located at an exit of the printing unit. A second printing machine, with a second printing unit and a drier, together with a folding funnel at its exit, is also part of the printing system. The first and second folding funnels differ from each other in the number of formers that are placed next to each other in a machine plane, or vary in an effective width of one or more folders. A web, or a partial web, which is printed by the second printing unit, and which is guided through the drier, can be guided either to the second folding funnel structure, or can be guided to the first folding funnel structure, which differs from the second funnel structure in at least one of numbers and width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günther Oskar Eckert, Burkard Otto Herbert
  • Publication number: 20120049432
    Abstract: A digital printing signature production system S comprises: a plurality of digital printing devices D1, D2, D3, and D4, each of the plurality of digital printing devices D1, D2, D3, and D4 including a paper feeding unit 1 configured to supply a continuous paper and digital printing units 3 and 4 configured to perform printing on the continuous paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 1; a continuous paper guide unit L configured to cause printing-completed continuous papers W1, W2, W3, and W4 fed from the plurality of digital printing devices D1, D2, D3, and D4 and each having different content printed thereon to be overlapped such that width direction edges of the printing-completed continuous papers W1, W2, W3, and W4 are aligned, thereby forming a single continuous paper group Wg; and a single folding unit F configured such that the single continuous paper group Wg is guided into the single folding unit F to produce a signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKYO KIKAI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Noboru Fujio, Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 8109497
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a cutting device for cutting a fore-edge portion of a center-folded bunch of sheets disposed in a position spaced from a sheet discharge outlet to eliminate the risk for inflicting a wound on the body of an operator, an end binding device for gathering sheets received from a carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the end portion of a bunch of sheets, a saddle-stitching device for gathering sheets received from the carry-in entrance and performing binding processing in the center portion of a bunch of sheets, and a center-folding device for performing center-folding processing on the bunch of sheets subjected to the saddle-stitching processing. A cutting device is subjected to the center-folding processing. A second discharge outlet is disposed in the other side face of the apparatus frame to discharge the bunch of sheets subjected to the center-folding processing in the center-folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Okamoto, Ken Obikane, Jun Kondo
  • Patent number: 8096541
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus including a sheet supporting member which has an inclined surface to support a stack of sheets, a sheet position adjuster which adjusts a position of the stack of sheets along the inclined surface, a sheet pressing unit which presses the stack of sheets against the inclined surface, a folding unit which folds the stack of sheets pressed by the sheet pressing unit, and a controller which controls the sheet pressing unit to press the stack of sheets on the sheet position adjuster against the inclined surface, and to create a gap between the stack of sheets on the sheet position adjuster and the sheet pressing unit to receive a sheet onto the sheet position adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Yasunobu Terao, Shinichiro Mano, Takahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8091881
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: an image processor; an image forming portion for forming images on recording paper based on the image data output from the image processor; a folding mechanism for folding the recording paper with images formed by the image forming portion when the input image information is confidential image information; and a stapling mechanism for binding the recording paper folded by the folding mechanism, at the end part when the input image information is confidential image information. When the input image information is confidential image information, the image processor outputs the pouch-binding image data for a pouch-bound image to be formed on the facing pages of the recording paper that is folded by the folding mechanism, by editing the layout of the confidential image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiaki Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20110316214
    Abstract: A device for folding sheets of a medium into a booklet is provided. The device includes a frame; a cam mechanism attached to the frame; a lever attached to the frame, the lever being actuated by the cam mechanism; a first scissor arm attached to the frame, the first scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of first rolls, one of the first rolls being movable by the first scissor arm; a second scissor arm attached to the frame, the second scissor arm being actuated by the lever; a pair of second rolls, one of the second rolls being movable by the second scissor arm; a crease blade for contacting the sheets to create a crease in the sheets; and a controller that controls a position of the crease blade, a gap between the pair of first rolls, and a gap between the pair of second rolls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian PARKS, Richard HUBBARD, Jeff RYAN, Stephen MAY, Martin LLOYD
  • Publication number: 20110268485
    Abstract: Methods are provided for folding a receiver having a dry toner thermally fused thereon. In one aspect, water is applied along a fold line. The receiver is folded along the fold line. The folding is performed after a predetermined absorption period during which at least a portion of the applied water is absorbed by the receiver to reduce the extent to which the receiver cracks proximate to the fold line during folding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas N. Tombs, Donald S. Rimai, Brian J. Kwarta
  • Patent number: 8047521
    Abstract: A method of making magazine formats in the form of signatures that include a flat 3-D piece that is die-cut from a web on a web press, which produces a plurality of such identical signatures as part of a high speed operation. The flat 3-D piece is located at the upper edge of one sheet and is freed from the remainder of the page on which it is die-cut when the lateral edges of the folded signature are trimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: John K. Volkert
  • Patent number: 8025280
    Abstract: There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 8020846
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line, and the placement table is provided with a groove-like edge clearance along an edge of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20110218092
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a sheet folding mechanism including: a folding unit; a shaft; a pair of discharge rollers provided on the shaft; a pair of pinch rollers; a pair of clutches configured to transmit a rotational force only in the reverse direction; a pair of corrugation rollers, each of the corrugation rollers having a cam surface including a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and an eccentric bearing to be fixed to each of the pair of clutches; a lock member configured to prevent the pair of corrugation rollers from idling; a drive unit configured to rotate the shaft; and a controller configured to cause the corrugation rollers to apply corrugation on the sheet bundle using any one of the first diameter portions and the second diameter portions according to the number of sheets in the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Ishii, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 8001892
    Abstract: A printing machine system includes a first printing machine which has at least one first printing unit and a first fold forming funnel and that is arranged in the machine alignment of the at least first printing unit. A second printing machine, which has at least one second printing unit, and a second fold forming funnel, is also provided in the printing machine system. The second fold forming funnel is in machine alignment with the at least one second printing unit. The printing group cylinders of the first and second printing units are positioned substantially orthogonally in relationship to each other in their axial directions. The two fold forming funnel structures are positioned substantially orthogonally in respect to each other in a line running in a direction of material web transport as projected onto a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesllschaft
    Inventors: Günther Oskar Eckert, Burkard Otto Herbert
  • Patent number: 8002256
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first roller, a second roller configured to press the first roller to form a nip portion, a moving member opposite to the nip portion to move from a start position to an operation position approaching the nip portion, a pushing member supported on the moving member to press a sheet by an end thereof by movement of the moving member and push the sheet into the nip portion, and a third and fourth rollers positioned on both sides of the pushing member and supported on the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sasahara
  • Patent number: 7997571
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, a fold reinforcing unit that includes a reinforce roller, moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and reinforces the fold line, and a control unit configured to transport the sheet bundle from the fold unit to the fold reinforcing unit and to control to stop the fold line of the sheet bundle at a position of the reinforce roller, and the control unit changes, according to a thickness of the sheet bundle, a transport distance from a specified position in the fold reinforcing unit to the position where the sheet bundle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7980542
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7981018
    Abstract: A folding superstructure and to a method for operating a folding superstructure of a web-fed rotary printing press with at least one former by which one or more paper webs fed through this former are provided with a longitudinal fold. The longitudinally folded paper web is guided to folding cylinders. The folding cylinders further process the uncut paper web to form cut sheets. The still uncut paper web is actively transported by at least one transporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: manroland AG
    Inventor: Peter Himmelstoss
  • Patent number: 7954795
    Abstract: A post-processing unit of an image forming apparatus includes a vertical conveying path and a horizontal conveying path. A stapling mechanism and a folding mechanism are arranged in the horizontal conveying path. When saddle processing is carried out, paper sheets sent into the horizontal conveying path are struck against a trailing end stopper and, after the number of sheets to be bound is accumulated, the center of the paper sheets is stapled and folded double. A movable tray projected to the outside of a housing is provided at a terminal end of the horizontal conveying path. The movable tray functions as a tray for discharging paper sheets that pass through a saddle stitcher and also functions as a supporting member that supports a leading end side of the paper sheets at the time of the saddle processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiaki Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7950644
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7938388
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding apparatus which folds a sheet bundle, a switching portion which switches a nipping pressure of the folding apparatus against the sheet bundle, and a flattening apparatus which presses and flattens a folded-back portion of the folded sheet bundle. The switching portion operates such that the nipping pressure of the folding apparatus against the sheet bundle when the flattening processing is executed becomes weaker than that of the folding apparatus when the flattening processing is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Fujii, Manabu Yamauchi, Shunsuke Nishimura, Toshiyuki Miyake, Hidenori Matsumoto, Yushi Oka
  • Publication number: 20110101591
    Abstract: A sheet transport path extending from a carry-in entrance to a carrying-out exit is made small and compact in an apparatus configuration provided with a path without performing the folding processing and another path to perform the folding processing in between the carry-in entrance and the carrying-out exit. The configuration is provided with a first transport path 32 for guiding a sheet from the carry-in entrance 30 to the carrying-out exit 31 without performing the folding processing, a second transport path 33 for performing the folding processing on a sheet from the carry-in entrance, and folding processing means 48 disposed in the path 33 to fold the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NISCA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Sano, Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura, Toshiaki Kagami
  • Patent number: 7905474
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a fold reinforcing unit that reinforces the fold line. The fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit, a drive unit that has a single motor and moves the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position; and a nip unit. The nip unit includes a first nip plate and a second nip plate. The first nip plate and the second nip plate are opened in a thickness direction of the sheet bundle when the roller unit is located at the standby position, and are closed to nip the sheet bundle when the roller unit reinforces the fold line after the sheet bundle is transported to between the first and the second nip plate. The second nip plate is driven to be opened and closed in the thickness direction of the sheet bundle by the single motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: RE42388
    Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Summers