Associating And Folding Patents (Class 270/32)
  • Patent number: 8894056
    Abstract: Sheets center-folded by a center-folder are placed on a main saddle. A buffer saddle is provided separately from the main saddle, on an opposite side of the center-folder across the main saddle. The pile of sheets saddle-stitched on the main saddle is placed on the buffer saddle. When viewed from above, the buffer saddle is movable in a direction separating from the main saddle that is a reverse direction to the center-folder, and in a direction orthogonal to the direction separating from the main saddle. A sheet processing device is arranged in the orthogonal direction where the buffer saddle is movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keisuke Oshima
  • Patent number: 8851464
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet post-processing device folding a sheet output from an image forming device at a predetermined target fold position, comprising: a first rotating body pair conveying the sheet; a second rotating body pair disposed along a sheet conveyance path and further downstream than the first rotating body pair in a sheet conveyance direction; a push unit moving a push member in a direction transverse to the sheet conveyance path so that, while the sheet is being conveyed, the push member comes into contact with the sheet and pushes the sheet into a nip of the second rotating body pair, the push member being disposed opposite the second rotating body pair across the sheet conveyance path; and a control unit controlling the push unit so that the pushing operation of the push member is performed at a timing preset according to the target fold position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8844919
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a folding section configured to nip a sheet using a plurality of rollers to form a fold line for saddle stitching and a control section to control the nipping amount in the folding section. When carrying out square back processing to flatten the spine folded portion of a sheet bundle where a fold line for saddle stitching is formed, the post-processing apparatus allows the nipping amount in the folding section to be smaller than that in the case where the square back processing is not carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoya Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 8794615
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus capable of stably stopping a clamping member at a predetermined target position (holding position), of performing post-processing regardless of thickness of a sheet bundle. A holding member is used for holding a sheet bundle. A moving unit moves the holding member between a predetermined reference position and a predetermined holding position at which the holding member holds the sheet bundle. A sheet post-processing unit performs post-processing on the sheet bundle held by the holding member. A control unit configured to, when the holding member is moved from the reference position and is stopped at the holding position by the moving unit, decelerate a moving speed of the moving unit, before performing a stopping process of the moving unit, such that a deceleration rate of the moving speed is smaller as a thickness of the sheet bundle is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8752818
    Abstract: A bookbinding device and a print-medium post-treatment apparatus having the same. In the bookbinding device, when a print medium drops and is loaded a stack plate, a drop position of a leading end of the print medium is changed according to a size of the print medium. This prevents sequence upset of print media when the print media are stacked one above another on the stack plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Min, Chang Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 8740212
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet; an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet; a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet; a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member. An exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Isao Yasuda, Ikumi Takashima
  • Patent number: 8740211
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus which is capable of preventing a stapling position and a folding position from being out of alignment when a stapling process is carried out. A sheet bundle, which is stacked in a housing guide, is stapled by a stapler using a staple at the stapling position. The sheet bundle is folded at a position of the staple after the stapling. After the stapling, the sheet bundle is moved from the stapling position to the folding position. During the movement, the staple is detected using a staple sensor disposed at a predetermined location between the stapling position and the folding position. Based on a moving distance of the sheet bundle before the staple is detected after the stapling process, a position of the sheet bundle with respect to the stapler for stapling on a subsequent sheet bundle is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8733751
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a stacking face (84) is inclined such that a downstream side in a sheet discharging direction is lower, and is composed of a first supporting face (84a) supporting a sheet to be stacked at its front end part in a sheet discharging direction and a second supporting face (84b) supporting the sheet to be stacked at its rear end part in the sheet discharging direction. The first supporting face (84a) is structured to be shorter than ½ of a minimum size length of the sheet to be stacked, and this is provided rotatably upward around a rotating shaft (85x) furnished to a registration part (85r) of regulating the front ends of the sheets. The first supporting face (84a) raises the front ends of the sheets to be discharged by rotation of the registration part (85r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kagami, Shinichi Ito, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 8702086
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet having a folding portion, a conveyance portion configured to abut on a lower surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of the discharge portion, a pressing portion arranged at a position opposing the conveyance portion, configured to press an upper surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, and a moving portion configured to move the pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, in which the moving portion moves the pressing portion upstream in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, to move the pressing portion from a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is not pressed to a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuri Urano, Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8706020
    Abstract: Disclosed are a bookbinding unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The bookbinding unit includes a bookbinding unit main body, a pair of stack trays disposed in the bookbinding unit main body so as to support print media on the upper surfaces of the stack trays and a folding knife movable in the space between the pair of the stack trays to fold the print media on the stack trays and to move the folded print media into the space between the pair of the stack trays. The pair of the stack trays is rotatable in conformity with the movement of the print media into the space between the stack trays to provide a surface contact guiding of the folded print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Yeon Park, Byung Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 8695959
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet; an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet; a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet; a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member. An exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Isao Yasuda, Ikumi Takashima
  • Patent number: 8690141
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a sheet folding device includes a pair of folding rollers which nips a sheet between the folding rollers and thus folds the sheet, a folding blade which pushes the sheet in between the pair of folding rollers, and a folding blade control unit which controls the folding blade to fold a first sheet with the pair of folding rollers, then push a second sheet into the fold of the first sheet, and fold the second sheet with the pair of folding rollers over the first sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8678369
    Abstract: A skew correction device for aligning a booklet that is a folded bundle of sheets on a conveying path includes a first member against which a leading end of the booklet abuts in a conveying direction; a second member configured to push a trailing end of the booklet in the conveying direction so that the leading end of the booklet abuts against the first member; and a deflection generating member configured to deflect the booklet downward when the trailing end is pushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Takamasa Matsumoto, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kei Sasaki, Kiyoshi Hata, Shingo Matsushita, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha
  • Patent number: 8668192
    Abstract: An insertion system includes a folding device to perform either single-sheet folding to fold a single sheet at a time or batch folding to fold multiple sheets together at a time, an insertion device to insert into an envelope the sheet folded by the folding device, and a batch setting unit to designate either the single-sheet folding or the batch folding from a folding and insertion menu for multiple sheets at a time when the multiple sheets are processed by the folding device and the insertion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Matsushita, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takeshi Sasaki, Satoshi Saito, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 8662487
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which has a flattening processing unit which presses a folded end of a folded booklet bundle to flatten the folded end, and cutting units which cut and align edges of the booklet bundle, wherein the edges crossing the folded end of the booklet bundle are cut by the cutting unit and the folded end of the booklet is then flattened by the flattening processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Manabu Yamauchi, Takayuki Fujii, Shunsuke Nishimura, Yushi Oka, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Hidenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8632065
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus processes a sheet having an image formed thereon by an image forming apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet folding unit for folding the sheet having an image formed thereon, a sheet tray loaded with the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit to be taken out, and a control unit for controlling the sheet processing apparatus as a whole. The sheet tray includes a mechanism capable of adjusting an angle with a virtual plane and a detection device detecting a change of the angle with the virtual plane. The control unit prohibits ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray, based on the detection result of the detection device and the content of the folding processing by the sheet folding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Nozawa, Ryouta Shibayama, Zen Kayaba
  • Patent number: 8622378
    Abstract: The controller controls the folded bundle conveying portion such that, when a length in the conveying direction of the succeeding folded bundle makes the upstream edge in the conveying direction of the succeeding folded bundle, which is temporarily stopped for the folded end portion processing, remain within a stacking region of the sheet stacking portion, before the preceding folded bundle has been finally moved to the second stacking position, the succeeding folded bundle is conveyed until the upstream edge in the conveying direction of the succeeding folded bundle, to which the folded end portion processing has been applied, passes through outside the stacking region of the sheet stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akito Sekigawa
  • Patent number: 8616542
    Abstract: A print-medium post-treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, to increase the number of print media stacked on a bookbinding stack tray by controlling operation of a conveyor belt. The a print-medium post-treatment apparatus includes a bookbinding stack tray including a tray sensor to sense a print medium and a conveyor belt to move the print medium, and a controller to move the print medium in a given discharge direction by operating the conveyor belt in a first direction if the tray sensor senses the print medium moved onto the bookbinding stack tray and to move the print medium in an opposite direction of the discharge direction by operating the conveyor belt in a second direction so as to reduce a distance between a previously discharged print medium and a subsequently discharged print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Min, Hyun Woo Kang
  • Patent number: 8613435
    Abstract: A folding line is pressed using both a first and second pressing members of press roller pairs. Further, positions of the first and second pressing members are shifted from each other. When the number of the sheets included in a booklet is a predetermined number or less, the folding line is pressed by only the first pressing member. When the number of the sheets is more than the predetermined number, the folding line is pressed by both the first and second pressing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8608150
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided that includes a first delivery path that guides a sheet to a first post-processing portion, a delivery holding path having a first holding path which branches off from a branch point of the first delivery path and a second holding path which is formed to be continuous with the first holding path and joins together with the first delivery path; a second delivery path that branches off from a branch point of the first holding path and guides the sheet to the second post-processing portion; a first path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first delivery path; and a second path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first holding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Keiji Okumura
  • Patent number: 8596630
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of stabilizing a stop position of the sheet bundle, to thereby enable creation of a high finish quality product, and is compact in size and can be manufactured at low costs. Conveyance belts convey the sheet bundle to a flattening position. A pressing roller flattens the folded spine of the sheet bundle by pressing the folded spine. Clampers hold the sheet bundle such that the sheet bundle is not moved when flattening is performed. A CPU starts to stop driving of the conveyance belts when the sheet bundle is conveyed to a predetermined location upstream of the flattening position in the conveying direction of the sheet bundle, and stops the sheet bundle at the flattening position by holding the sheet bundle with the clampers before the conveyance of the sheet bundle is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8596629
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a collation of sheets for folding operations. The system includes a registration device including multiple registration stations and a conveyance device for transporting the collation to one of the registration stations. Each registration station is adapted to register the edges of the collation based upon a desired edge geometry. A processor determines the fold configuration of the collation and determines the edge geometry thereof based upon the fold configuration of the collation. The processor selects one of the registration stations based upon the fold configuration and then controls the conveyance device to transport the collation to the selected registration station. The registration station selected may also be based upon the thickness of the collation and a desired location for binding the collation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S Hancock, Robert F Marcinik
  • Patent number: 8596631
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a binding unit, a folding unit, a conveyance unit, a press unit, a grasping unit, and a control unit. The binding unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle stacked in the sheet stacking unit. The conveyance unit conveys a sheet bundle folded by the folding unit. The press unit presses a fold line portion of the conveyed sheet bundle from a direction perpendicular to a surface of a front page of the sheet bundle while moving along the fold line portion. The grasping unit is switched between a first state in which the grasping unit fixes the sheet bundle in position and a second state in which the grasping unit does not grasp the conveyed sheet bundle. The control unit shifts the grasping unit to the first state and causes the press unit to press the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Hitoshi Kato, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8573581
    Abstract: A skew correction device includes: a conveying path through which a booklet formed by folding a sheet bundle is conveyed in a conveying direction; a positioning unit on which a leading-end portion of the booklet in the conveying direction is to abut, the positioning unit being arranged to be able to protrude into and retreat from the conveying path; an abutting unit that pushes a trailing-end portion of the booklet in the conveying direction, thereby moving the booklet toward the positioning unit and causing the leading-end portion of the booklet to abut on the positioning unit; and a pushing force changing unit that changes a pushing force applied by the abutting unit to the booklet to push the booklet against the positioning unit based on a pushing amount of the abutting unit to the booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kiyoshi Hata, Kei Sasaki, Shingo Matsushita, Makoto Hidaka, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Takamasa Matsumoto
  • 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: 8544833
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James Andrew Walsh
  • Patent number: 8547560
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a gripper unit which is moved to a retreat region along long grooves in advance when moving a stapler unit to any one of first and second binding positions. The stapler unit is moved to the binding position by being guided by a guide rail portion while passing above the long grooves. Therefore, moving operations of both of the gripper unit and the stapler unit can be smoothly performed under a state in which movement of both thereof is not prohibited by the long grooves and the guide rail portion. Further, an image forming apparatus including the sheet processing apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Koki Sato, Satoshi Iwama
  • Patent number: 8534661
    Abstract: A system for preparing a collation of sheets for a subsequent folding operation wherein edges of the collation are aligned to eliminate the need for additional trimming operations. The system comprises: a cutting device operative to cut each sheet of the collation based upon a length dimension of each of the inner and outer sheets, an accumulating device operative to stack the sheets to form the collation, a registration device operative to register at least one edge of the collation, a conveyance device for transporting the sheet material along a feed path to the cutting, accumulating and registration devices, and a processor operatively coupled to, and controlling, the cutting, accumulating, registration and conveyance devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S Hancock, Robert F Marcinik
  • Patent number: 8534660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus that forms folding lines at a predetermined position of a sheet after image formation and outputs the sheet. The apparatus includes a contact unit with which a tip end or a rear end of the conveyed sheet comes into contact and by which a deflection is formed at a middle part of the sheet; folding units that form the folding lines by conveying the middle part of the sheet, at which the deflection is formed by the contact unit, between the folding units; and a deflection controlling unit that controls the deflection at the middle part of the sheet formed by the contact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Honda
  • Patent number: 8529423
    Abstract: In a sheet folding apparatus, to enable a jammed sheet to be removed with ease when a jam occurs, a casing having a carry-in entrance and a carrying-out exit is divided into an upper unit and a lower unit via a first transport path for carrying a sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, a second transport path for performing folding processing on a sheet is disposed in the direction for crossing the first transport path, and in the upper unit are disposed a sheet front end switchback path for reversing and carrying the sheet toward a folding roller pair and sheet deflecting means for guiding the sheet to the folding roller pair. Then, the upper unit is coupled to the lower unit to be openable and closable by a hinge shaft rotating around one side end portion orthogonal to the sheet transport direction of the first transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Imazu, Shinichi Ito, Toshiaki Kagami, Koji Kanda, Mizuho Shirakura
  • Patent number: 8505901
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: an accumulating unit accumulating a sheet having been conveyed; a center-folding unit folding a central portion, in a conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed, of the sheet, which has been accumulated by the accumulating unit, and a pressing force moving unit that applies a pressing force to the sheet, which has been folded by the center-folding unit, and moves a portion, at which the pressing force is applied, on the sheet in the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsuno
  • Patent number: 8505899
    Abstract: Sheet pressing means (59) is provided that assists the formation of a bend in a sheet (S) and that guides the bend in the sheet (S) into the nip portion between a second roller (54) and a third roller (55). The sheet pressing means (59) is formed with a cylindrical sheet member (591) and a bar-shaped member (592) that is inserted into the cylindrical sheet member (591). The top portion of the sheet member (591) is attached to a base member (593), and thus the bar-shaped member (592) is supported by the sheet member (591) such that the longitudinal direction of the bar-shaped member (592) is held substantially in a horizontal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawatsu, Hisao Hosoya
  • Patent number: 8505900
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet post-processing apparatus for performing squaring processing of a spine in a well-looking manner without leaving “wrinkles” on back portion of booklet and an image forming apparatus including such a sheet post-processing apparatus. It is a characteristic feature thereof that when squaring of the spine by reciprocating the pressing unit along the spine of the booklet by the moving unit is performed, the distance from the spine of the booklet prior to squaring by the pressing unit to the pressing position is changed by the changing portion such that the distance of a backward movement of reciprocating the pressing unit becomes larger than the distance of a forward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuri Urano
  • Patent number: 8505903
    Abstract: A sheet folding device that performs a folding process on a bundle of sheet members includes: a folding unit that folds the bundle of the sheet members; a pushing unit that abuts on a surface of the bundle of the sheet members so as to push the bundle of the sheet members into the folding unit; pressing plates that form a pair, that have convexly curved surfaces to face each other, and that form a crease by pressing the bundle of the sheet members therebetween; a driving unit that performs a pressing operation and a press-releasing operation of the pair of the pressing plates; a moving unit that moves a pressing position of the pair of the pressing plates interposing the bundle of the sheet members; and a control unit that controls the driving unit and the moving unit. The control unit controls a moving speed of the pressing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Minoru Hattori
  • Patent number: 8505902
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a reinforce roller to further reinforce the fold of a sheet which has been folded by a fold roller pair, a support portion to move the reinforce roller in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction, a motor to drive the support portion, and a control unit to control the motor so that the support portion moves at a faster moving speed at the time of a homeward route than a moving speed at the time of an outward route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Sugiyama, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 8500111
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding roller unit configured to form a fold in a sheet while the sheet passes through a nip of rollers, and a fold-enhancing roller unit having a first roller, a second roller, and a third roller, the first roller being provided facing a first surface of the sheet, orthogonal to a direction of transport of the sheet, the second and third rollers being provided facing a second surface of the sheet orthogonal to the direction of transport of the sheet and different from the first surface, the second and third rollers forming nips with the first roller, in which the fold-enhancing roller unit is moved along the fold with the sheet nipped in the nip between the first roller and the second roller and in the nip between the first roller and the third roller, to form a fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 8490957
    Abstract: A creasing apparatus that performs a creasing process on a sheet, the creasing apparatus including a first conveying path on which a creasing unit is located, the creasing unit performing a creasing process on a sheet conveyed therein; a second conveying path that conveys a sheet conveyed therein to a downstream side without any process being performed on the sheet; and a control unit that, while the first conveying path conveys a sheet so that the creasing unit performs the creasing process on the sheet, causes a subsequent sheet to be conveyed to the downstream side from the second conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shuuya Nagasako, Hitoshi Hattori, Takashi Saito, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Akihiro Musha, Go Aiba, Naoki Oikawa, Hidetoshi Kojima, Naohiro Kikkawa
  • Patent number: 8490958
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating a stack of folded sheets by inserting a first, second, third and fourth count fingers into four successive openings in the stack, and separating the stack between the second and third count fingers. Where separation is carried out after a desired number of folded sheets have passed the third count finger, a completed pack having the desired number of sheets may be formed downstream from the third count finger. The count fingers may be operatively mounted in count finger cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James Andrew Walsh
  • Patent number: 8490959
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes a roller unit having a reinforce roller which moves along a fold of a sheet perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction and thereby further reinforces the fold by the reinforce roller, and a control unit which counts the number of halts of the roller unit generated during the reinforcing operation of the sheet, and in case that the counted number of the halts of the roller unit is less than a prescribed number of times, makes the roller unit to be moved to a retract position and then makes the roller unit to be driven again to perform the reinforcing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tohsiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8490960
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is provided with a conveying path forming member that forms a sheet conveying path having a curved portion through which a front edge of the sheet passes, a sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveying path, a sheet folding unit that folds the sheet along the folding line in the sheet conveying path, and then conveys the sheet toward a discharge direction with the folding line discharged first as a front edge, and a sheet position defining unit that defines a position of the front edge of the sheet in the curved portion of the sheet conveying path so that a target position of the folding line on the sheet coincides with a folding position of the sheet folding unit. The sheet position defining unit can adjust an inclination of the front edge of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuya Murata, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Toshikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 8459629
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: a conveying portion which contacts a doubled up booklet and conveys the booklet; an end conveying portion which abuts against an open end of the booklet and pushes out the booklet, thereby conveying the booklet; a stopper which abuts against a back of the booklet to position the booklet; a holding portion which holds the booklet which abuts against the stopper; a processing portion which processes the booklet held by the holding portion; wherein the conveying portion can come into contact with and separate from the booklet, the conveying portion separates from the booklet, or a pressure for bringing the conveying portion into contact with the booklet is reduced before the back of the booklet abuts against the stopper, the back of the booklet is abutted against the stopper by the end conveying portion and then, the holding portion holds the booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideto Abe
  • Patent number: 8459630
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided which can stabilize the shape of the spine after a squaring process. To square a spine Sb of a sheet bundle S, a spine processing apparatus 400 which squares the spine Sb performs squaring of the spine by moving the spine Sb which projects from a pair of first nipping rollers 405 and 406 while pressing the spine Sb by means of a pressing roller 411 in a state where the spine Sb is nipped by a pair of second nipping rollers 403 and 404.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Hideto Abe
  • Patent number: 8459631
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit, a binding unit, a folding unit, a conveyance unit, a press unit, a grasping unit, and a control unit. The binding unit performs binding processing on a sheet bundle stacked in the sheet stacking unit. The folding unit folds the sheet bundle that is subjected to binding processing. The conveyance unit conveys the folded sheet bundle. The press unit presses a fold line portion of the conveyed sheet bundle. The grasping unit is separate from the conveyance unit and switches between a first state in which the grasping unit grasps the conveyed sheet bundle to fix the sheet bundle in position and a second state in which the grasping unit does not grasp the conveyed sheet bundle. The control unit shifts the grasping unit to the first state and causes the press unit to press the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu, Hitoshi Kato, Tomoharu Sato
  • Patent number: 8439340
    Abstract: A finisher includes an intermediate tray that collects sheets to form a sheet bundle, a sheet gripping member that grips one end of the sheet bundle in a conveying direction and a positioning member that grips the other end of the sheet bundle in a conveying direction, a moving portion that moves the sheet gripping member and the positioning member to come close to each other, a pair of folding rollers that folds the sheet bundle while conveying the sheet bundle, a projecting member that projects a part between the one end and the other end of the gripped sheet bundle toward the pair of folding rollers, and a controller that controls the moving portion, such that the sheet gripping member and the positioning member come close to each other in synchronization with an operation of projecting the projecting member toward the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromasa Maenishi, Mitsuhiko Sato, Naoto Watanabe, Yushi Oka, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Yutaka Ando
  • Patent number: 8430389
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a staple processing portion and a sheet stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked and abutted. The sheet processing apparatus also includes a fold processing portion, a conveyance guide member, an end part processing portion to perform an end part process to the folded end part, and a controlling portion. After a stapling process is performed, the fold processing portion folds the sheet bundle in two to create a folded sheet bundle having a folded end part between a first surface and a second surface. The conveyance guide member guides the folded sheet bundle with the folded end part as a leading end while the first surface slides against the conveyance guide member. The controlling portion controls the positioning member such that the stapling position is moved, by a predetermined distance, to an area on the sheet bundle that will become the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tokuma, Yusuke Obuchi, Yuri Urano
  • Patent number: 8424859
    Abstract: A creasing apparatus forming a crease on sheets one by one includes: a first member having a linear convex blade formed in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; a second member having a concave blade being paired with the convex blade; and a drive unit that moves the first and second members so as to cause the convex blade and the concave blade to form a crease on a sheet stopped at a predetermined position. The first member forms the convex blade with first comb and second comb and the second member forms the concave blade with third comb and fourth comb that advance and retract relative to each other. The drive unit selects advanced and retracted positions of the first comb and second comb and advanced and retracted positions of the third comb and fourth comb so as to perform a creasing process or a perforating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Ishikawa, Naohiro Kikkawa, Hitoshi Hattori, Shuuya Nagasako, Takashi Saito, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Akihiro Musha, Hidetoshi Kojima, Naoki Oikawa, Go Aiba
  • Patent number: 8413974
    Abstract: A creasing device for creasing sheets on a per-sheet basis, the creasing device includes: a first member extending perpendicularly to a sheet conveying direction and including a male blade, which has a convex cross section; a second member extending perpendicularly to the sheet conveying direction and including a grooved female blade, into which the male blade to be fitted with a sheet between the female blade and the male blade; and a drive unit that brings the first member and the second member relatively into and out of contact with each other to cause a sheet stopped at a predetermined position to be pinched between the first member and the second member and creased. An edge portion of any one of the first member and the second member has an arcuate shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yuusuke Shibasaki, Naohiro Kikkawa, Hitoshi Hattori, Shuuya Nagasako, Takashi Saito, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Kojima, Naoki Oikawa, Go Aiba
  • Patent number: 8413975
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making an album in a full-automatic way, comprising the steps below: feed the album paper into a creasing machine piece by piece; crease the album paper in the middle and then transfer the album paper to a folding mechanism; fold the album paper along the middle seam and transfer the album paper to a pasting mechanism; select automatic pasting process according to the album making command, when an interlayer is not required, apply the adhesive on one external side of the album paper, align with the other external side of the previous piece of the album paper that is without the adhesive coating, and so forth, so that all the album paper is bonded together to form the album core; when an interlayer is required, feed the pasting mechanism between the album paper and the interlayer, apply the adhesive on one side of the interlayer, paste it with the external side of the previous piece of the album paper, apply the adhesive on one external side of the next piece of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Imetto Digital Imaging Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Weijun Yuan, Xiaoqiang Zhang, Yiqiang Deng
  • Patent number: 8413976
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: a folding unit that folds a sheet of paper to form a fold in the sheet; a creasing unit that, before the sheet is folded, produces a crease in the sheet at a fold position where the fold is to be formed; a crease-position adjusting unit that adjusts a crease position where the crease is to be produced; a fold-position adjusting unit that adjusts the fold position; a first input unit that receives an input specifying an amount, by which the crease position is to be adjusted; and a second input unit that receives an input specifying an amount, by which the fold position is to be adjusted, wherein when the fold position is adjusted by the second input unit, the crease position is also adjusted in synchronization with the adjustment of the fold position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hattori, Naohiro Kikkawa, Shuuya Nagasako, Takashi Saito, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Hidetoshi Kojima, Naoki Oikawa, Go Aiba
  • Patent number: 8408530
    Abstract: A printing system which is capable of performing square back processing and preventing occurrence of a new trouble of inadvertently creating a saddle-stitched brochure defective in the appearance of a trimmed edge and/or print appearance, which is unexpected by an operator. A receiving unit receives a job of a first type for creating a saddle-stitched brochure subjected to square back processing and trimming processing or a second type creating a saddle-stitched brochure not subjected to the square back processing but subjected to the trimming processing. A controller controls a trimming position at an end of the sheet bundle for the job and/or an image printing position on a sheet included in the sheet bundle based on whether a job to be processed is of the first type or of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Toda, Kiyoshi Tokashiki, Kazuhiko Ushiyama