With Edge Aligner Patents (Class 270/58.12)
  • Patent number: 8870175
    Abstract: A pressing portion is lowered to press from above sheets or a sheet bundle discharged onto a discharge tray, and a moving portion configured to lower the pressing portion is controlled so that, in a case where the sheet bundle is discharged onto the discharge tray, the pressing portion exerts a pressing force greater than a pressing force in a case where the sheets are discharged onto the discharge tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Gamo
  • Patent number: 8870177
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, including an ejection section; a sheet stacking section; an abutting unit; a driving section; a control section; and a rotating member which has a rotating shaft in parallel with a width direction of the sheet bundle and is held so as to rotate from above the base end portion of the sheet stacking section through a gap of a predetermined width in the abutting unit. The control section starts rotation of the rotating member after lowering of the sheet stacking section is stopped, and when the rotation is started, the rotating member operates so as to abut a rear portion of a surface of the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet stacking section and pass through the gap in the abutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8870176
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a stacking unit that stacks conveyed sheets; an aligning unit that aligns the sheets stacked on the stacking unit in a sheet conveying direction; a binding unit that moves along an end portion of a bundle of the sheets on a binding portion side and performs a binding process for the bundle of the sheets that have been aligned by the aligning unit; a pressing unit that presses the bundle of the sheets at the end portion thereof on the binding portion side; and an interlocking unit that moves the pressing unit in association with a motion of the binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8833751
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of shortening a time period required to determine whether or not a sheet bundle has been normally stapled, while suppressing an increase of apparatus size and an increase of apparatus manufacturing cost, and capable of stacking sheet bundles on a sheet discharge tray such that sheet bundles not normally stapled can be distinguished from normally stapled sheet bundles. When the absence of staple is detected in a sheet bundle by one or both of staple detecting sensors, sheet bundles starting from a sheet bundle to be discharged next are shifted on a processing tray, whereby a sheet discharge position of the next and subsequent sheet bundles on the sheet discharge tray is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Ishikawa, Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8827257
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a supporting plate, a stapler, a casing, a protrusion structure, and a swinging arm. The casing is disposed over the supporting plate. A sheet conveying channel is formed between the supporting plate and the casing. The protrusion structure is disposed on a lower surface of the casing, located beside the stapler and accommodated within the sheet conveying channel. During the process of introducing a sheet into the supporting plate, the stapled side of the sheet is flattened by the protrusion structure, and thus the possibility of upturning the sheet is minimized. During the process of introducing the plural sheets to the stapler, the stapled sides of the plural sheets are flattened by the protrusion structure, and thus the formation of the folded corners of the sheets is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Wang, Wen-Lung Hung, Chung-Jung Chiu
  • Patent number: 8814157
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking unit where sheets to be processed are stacked, a regulating member, a sheet waiting unit, a first moving unit, a second moving unit, and a control unit. The regulating member abuts on one edge of sheets conveyed to the sheet stacking unit. The sheet waiting unit keeps sheets waiting, stacks the waiting sheets displaced sequentially, and then conveys the sheets to the sheet stacking unit. The first moving unit sequentially moves the conveyed sheets, starting from a lowermost sheet, to be abutted against the regulating member. The second moving unit moves the conveyed sheets to the first moving unit. The control unit controls a moving speed of the second moving unit so that a next sheet does not reach the first moving unit until the sheet moved by the first moving unit is abutted against the regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Gamo
  • Patent number: 8794617
    Abstract: A finisher is provided with a transport paddle and a control portion. The transport paddle freely moves to a first position where the transport paddle is on standby while protruding above a lower stack tray, a second position where the transport paddle sandwiches the sheet in between and, at the same time, is transported to abut the sheet against the abutment portion, and a third position where the transport paddle retracts in a finisher body 400. The control portion makes the transport paddle be on standby at the first position at least at the start of a job, moves the transport paddle between the first position and the second position for each discharge of the sheet by the bundle discharge roller pair, and moves the transport paddle to the third position after termination of the alignment processing for a last sheet of the job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Tokuma
  • Patent number: 8770571
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an alignment unit configured to align a sheet stacked on a stacking tray in a width direction which is orthogonal to a direction in which the sheet is discharged. The alignment unit includes first and second alignment members configured to move in the width direction. The first and second alignment members come into contact with side ends in the width direction of the sheet stacked on the stacking tray to align the sheet. When a second sheet of a different length in the width direction from that of a first sheet is stacked while shifted in the width direction on the first sheet which is already stacked on the stacking tray, the sheet stacking apparatus prohibits an alignment operation of the alignment unit on the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Ando, Shunsuke Nishimura, Takashi Yokoya, Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8770570
    Abstract: A sheet processing device provided with a stacking unit configured to stack thereon one or more conveyed sheets, a staple unit configured to staple a bundle of sheets stacked on the stacking unit, a moving unit configured to move the staple unit to a staple position, and a projecting and retrieving unit configured to project and retrieve the stacking unit in a space overlapped with a motion space for the staple unit to move therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shigefumi Soga
  • Patent number: 8773736
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus to convey a sheet to be scanned to an image reader unit is provided. the image reading apparatus includes a sheet tray, in which the sheet to be scanned is stored, a separator, which frictionally picks up the sheet from the sheet tray and conveys the picked-up sheet toward an entry side of the image reader unit, through which the sheet enters a position above the image reader unit, to have a first side of the sheet scanned by the image reader unit, and a resisting force applier, which applies convey-resisting force to the sheet, of which first side has been scanned, being returned to the entry side of the image reader unit to have a second side of the sheet with the convey resistance scanned by the image reader unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Goto
  • Patent number: 8764366
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compressive album manufacturing apparatus in that independent areas for performing an aligning process, a heat providing process, a compressing process, and a cooling process respectively are formed in the multistage compressive album manufacturing apparatus, so that each process, which is done by hand, is merged into one, thereby rapidly manufacturing the bulk of compressive albums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Yang Seo Mun
  • Patent number: 8752819
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus that is capable of aligning sheets in a sheet longitudinal direction with high accuracy when bundling the sheets. A conveyance unit conveys a sheet. A stacking unit stacks a plurality of sheets that are conveyed by the conveyance unit. A grasping member performs a grasping operation that grasps the rear end of the sheet surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking unit. A driving unit moves the grasping member. A control unit controls the driving unit so as to align the sheets stacked on the stacking unit in a sheet conveyance direction by making the grasping member contact the rear end of the stacked sheets after the sheets are stacked on the stacking unit, and controls the driving unit so that the grasping member performs the grasping operation when a following sheet is stacked on the stacked sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoharu Sato, Hitoshi Kato, Naoki Ishikawa, Yasuo Fukatsu
  • 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
  • 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: 8733753
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing device includes a jogger fence configured to carry out a crosswise direction alignment to a stack of image formed sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus, a rear end fence acting as a lengthwise reference edge, a stapling device configured to staple the aligned sheet stack, a discharge belt configured to move the stapled sheet stack to a sheet ejection tray, and a controller to control movement of the jogger fence during the sheet stack being moved by the discharge belt so as to move the jogger fence more than once between a position where the jogger fence does not contact the edge of the sheet stack and a position where the jogger fence pressing contact the edge of the sheet stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naofumi Soga, Kikuo Mizutani, Tomomi Iijima
  • Patent number: 8720880
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes a transport section transporting a sheet; a load section loading the sheet thereon; a first aligner moving the sheet while being in contact with a surface thereof to align the sheet; a second aligner moving the sheet while being in contact with an edge thereof to align the sheet; an alignment controller controlling the aligners to align the sheet based on a first mode in which they simultaneously align the sheet, and based on a second mode, for every predetermined number of sheets, in which one aligner aligns the sheet after the other aligner completes the alignment process; and a transport controller causing the transport section to transport the sheet at a reduced speed for every predetermined number of sheets so that the sheet reaches the load section after completion of the second-mode alignment process performed after a previous sheet is loaded on the load section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Awano
  • Patent number: 8714547
    Abstract: A paper discharge apparatus including, a paper loading portion for loading a paper which is discharged; a paper rear-end abutting portion which a rear end of paper in a paper conveying direction abuts; a pair of paper holding members for holding the paper at the paper holding position when the paper is discharged; a paper holding member moving device which is connected to at least one of the pair of the paper holding members and moves the pair of the paper holding members from a paper holding position to a paper loading position; when the pair of the paper holding members reach the paper loading position, the paper holding member moving device moves at least one of the pair of the paper holding members in the opposite direction of the paper conveying direction and makes the rear end of the holding paper abut the paper rear-end abutting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Tsutomu Anezaki
  • Patent number: 8708325
    Abstract: Disclosed is a paper clamping apparatus for an office machine adapted to clamp a paper bundle outputted from the office machine while the paper bundle is being moved. A movable body adapted to move along a shaft by means of belt driving is included; a shaft holder connected to an end of the shaft at an end of the movable body and adapted to move along the shaft by means of a movement of the movable body; a base connected to the shaft at the other end of the movable body and adapted to move along the shaft by means of a movement of the movable body; and a clamp member adapted to operate so that, when the movable body moves, the paper bundle is clamped or released by means of link driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sindoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In Su Hwang, Jung Hwan Yoon
  • Patent number: 8702087
    Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus includes a sheet reception unit configured to receive a sheet; an alignment unit configured to align the sheet in a conveying direction of the sheet, a trailing edge of the sheet in the conveying direction coming into contact with the alignment unit; and a moving unit configured to move the alignment unit along the sheet reception unit in the conveying direction. A first position for aligning and binding sheets and a second position located above the first position in the sheet reception unit are set for the alignment unit as receiving positions at which the sheet is received from the sheet reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Masahiro Tamura, Shuuya Nagasako, Keisuke Sugiyama, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Kazuya Yamamoto, Kyosuke Nakada, Yasuo Niikura, Junya Suzuki, Kazunori Konno, Tomomichi Hoshino, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Yoshizaki, Kiichiro Goto
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140077437
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus in which a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets discharged onto an intermediate processing tray is received in a receiving portion of a stapler and bound with use of a staple, and a sheet bundle including a plurality of sheets discharged onto the intermediate processing tray is received in a receiving portion of a staple-less binding unit having a gap in the thickness direction of the sheets smaller than that of the receiving portion of the stapler and bound without using a staple, wherein when the stapler performs the binding process, the staple-less binding unit is arranged in a position shifted in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet discharge direction from a region on the intermediate processing tray, through which the sheets discharged by a sheet discharging portion pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideto Abe, Yusuke Obuchi
  • Patent number: 8668193
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveying unit that conveys a booklet formed by folding a sheet bundle; a processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the booklet; a booklet holding unit that includes first and second holding members to hold the booklet and varies a gap distance between the first and second holding members depending on a state of processing the booklet while the sheet processing unit is performing the process on the booklet; and a pressing unit that presses and fixes the booklet while the processing unit is processing the booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kei Sasaki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kiyoshi Hata, Shingo Matsushita, Makoto Hidaka, Takashi Saito, Takamasa Matsumoto, Akihiro Musha
  • Patent number: 8668198
    Abstract: A controller controls operations of a sheet conveying portion and a sheet feeding portion in such a manner that an operation for feeding a preceding sheet by the sheet feeding portion is started after a downstream portion of a subsequent sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion is overlapped an upstream portion of the preceding sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and the downstream edge of the preceding sheet is caused to abut against the reference member by the sheet feeding portion in a state where the upstream portion of the preceding sheet and the downstream portion of the subsequent sheet are maintained in an overlapped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masatoshi Yoshida, Tomooku Koyama, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 8662489
    Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes a discharge unit, a stacking tray, an acquisition unit, a shift control unit, and an alignment unit. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a sheet in a sheet width direction in response to shift information acquired by the acquisition unit. The alignment unit aligns a sheet staked on the stacking tray and moves to a position that abuts on a side edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction to align the sheet. The shift control unit controls a stacking position of a second sheet to stack the second sheet on a second position or on a first position depending on where a first sheet is stacked and on shift information of the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Arai, Mitsuhiko Sato, Shunsuke Nishimura, Toshiyuki Miyake, Takashi Yokoya, Hiromasa Maenishi, Yutaka Ando, Nozomi Kumakura
  • Patent number: 8657277
    Abstract: An image forming system including a control section provides control in such a way that, the ring binder of the size determined for the first set of copies is adopted so that ring binding is performed for a second set of copies or copies thereafter in a case of executing a job for ring binding of a plurality of copies. When at least one of a status change in the sheet feed section, a main power source being turned off, or a change in a job ticket is occurred from a suspension to a resumption of the job, since the thickness of a bundle of sheets may change, the thickness measuring section is caused to measure the thickness of the bundle in a first set of copies subsequent to resumption. And the control section judges continuation or suspension of a job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takamitsu Satsukawa
  • Publication number: 20140015188
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a projection forming unit configured to form a projection on a sheet. The projection is formed in the vicinity of a binding portion of a sheet bundle. When a succeeding sheet bundle is discharged on the sheet bundle in which the projection has been formed on a top surface thereof, the succeeding sheet bundle is stacked by moving on the already stacked sheet bundle without being caught by the binding portion of the already stacked sheet bundle as an end of the succeeding sheet bundle is guided by the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Naoto Tokuma, Rikiya Takemasa, Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 8616547
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus capable of improving sheet processing performance and productivity is provided. While sheets are conveyed in a piled state toward a rear-end stopper, displacement is produced between the sheets by a pair of discharge rollers. Even if adhesion occurs between the sheets during conveyance thereof, the adhesion between the sheets can be removed before the sheets come into contact with the rear-end stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Toshiyuki Iwata, Rikiya Takemasa
  • Patent number: 8616101
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing a product from strip tape includes a roll that draws off and separates a web of material. The web of material is severed into individual strips in cooperation with a multiple circular knife roll. A vacuum conveyor channel is associated with each strip. The vacuum conveyor channel is designed such that each strip is turned on its way to the channel or through the channel by about 90°. The end of the vacuum conveyor channel brings the strips together at one site to form a unit and at that site there are provided a guide and a transport device for the further transport to conversion equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
    Inventors: Detlev Neuland, Wolfgang Schafer, Hans-Rainer Hoffmann
  • 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: 8585033
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a guide portion, a command input unit, a post-processing unit, and a guide controller. The guide portion guides a sheet bundle including the sheet carried from a carry-in portion to the processing position. The command input unit that accepts input of a manual execution command. The post-processing unit performs a predetermined post-process on the sheet bundle disposed at the processing position based on the manual execution command input through the command input unit. The guide controller is connected to the image forming apparatus in a signal-receivable manner to receive sheet size information in an image formation period of the image forming apparatus and to control driving of the guide portion to change a guide size based on the received sheet size information so as to match the guide size with sheet bundles having different sheet sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Ishizu
  • 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: 8573583
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a booklet conveying device includes: a pair of conveying units; a positioning unit; a pressing unit; and a conveying-force changing unit. The pair of conveying units convey a booklet made of a stack of folded sheets, and change a distance therebetween. The positioning unit positions the booklet by making a leading-end portion of the booklet abut thereto. The pressing unit presses the booklet positioned by the positioning unit onto one of the conveying units in order to fix. The conveying-force changing unit changes the conveying force exerted by the conveying units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Musha, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kiyoshi Hata, Kei Sasaki, Makoto Hidaka, Takashi Saito, Takamasa Matsumoto, Shingo Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8561977
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus with a sheet ejection device includes a first sheet tray, a second sheet tray, and a sheet ejection arm. The sheet ejection arm includes a first pushing element and a second pushing element. The second pushing element is pivotally coupled to the first pushing element. The tail edges of the plural paper sheets are pushed by the sheet ejection arm from the first end of the first sheet tray, so that the plural paper sheets are moved toward the second end of the first sheet tray. When the tail edges of the plural paper sheets reach the second end of the first sheet tray, the second pushing element is swung toward the second sheet tray to press the tail edges of the plural paper sheets, so that the plural paper sheets are aligned with each other and smoothly fallen down to the second sheet tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Lun Chang
  • Patent number: 8556258
    Abstract: To provide a sheet storage apparatus for enabling a sheet to be aligned so that the length-direction position and width-direction position of the sheet coincide with correct reference positions in positioning and storing the sheet in a predetermined position on a tray, it is configured that a paper feed rotating member in a center portion of a sheet that is carried out onto the tray and a paper-pressing guide in the side portion are disposed swingably up and down in the sheet load direction, and that the paper-pressing guide moves upward integrally with the paper feed rotating member floating a predetermined amount or more from the sheet top surface on the tray corresponding to a curl of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Naoya Nakayama, Daiki Komiyama, Hisashi Osada, Kenji Yoshida, Eiji Fukasawa, Kazunori Hatakawa
  • Patent number: 8540229
    Abstract: The alignment unit includes: an upstream-side pressing portion that presses a side edge of the sheet; and a downstream-side pressing portion that presses the side edge of the sheet. The downstream-side pressing portion includes: a first pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet and upstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the large-size sheet. The second pressing portion is formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
  • 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: 8500113
    Abstract: A printed material holding device includes a printed material tray for receiving printed material, an adjustable mechanism located above the printed material tray, a binding mechanism, and a transmission mechanism attached to the binding mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving device, a first gear wheel driven by the driving device, a second gear wheel driven by the first gear wheel, and a belt. The driving device meshes with the first gear wheel, and the belt encircles the first gear wheel and the second gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 8454006
    Abstract: A printed material holding device includes a printed material tray for receiving printed media, an adjustable mechanism and a transmission mechanism. The adjustable mechanism includes a driving device, a first gear assembly, a second gear assembly, a rotatable member, and a moving member engaged with the rotatable member. The moving member includes a roller engaged with the second gear assembly. The transmission mechanism includes a mounting plate and a stopper piece disposed on an edge of the mounting box. The first gear assembly meshes with the driving device and is engaged with the rotatable member, and the second gear assembly is engaged with the first gear assembly and secured to the moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Lu Fan
  • Patent number: 8444133
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a support unit on which sheets are stacked together as a sheet stack, first and second binding units that respectively perform first and second binding processes to bind the sheet stack as first and second sheet stacks, a transporting unit that transports the first and second sheet stacks toward first and second paths, respectively, which are in opposite directions, a reversing-and-transporting unit disposed at the second path to transport the second sheet stack such that upper and lower sides thereof are reversed, a first transported-sheet-stack support unit that is disposed at the first path and on which the first sheet stack transported by the transporting unit is placed, and a second transported-sheet-stack support unit that is disposed at the second path and on which the second sheet stack reversed and transported by the reversing-and-transporting unit is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8439342
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus nicely performs an aligning operation for a sheet conveyed onto a process tray with a simple configuration. A switching member performs an operation of switching an aligning member from a non-contact state to a contact state before the sheet reaches a contact position on the tray or performs an operation of, while the sheet on the tray is being conveyed toward a sheet edge regulating member by the aligning member, switching the aligning member from the contact state to the non-contact state, and further switching the aligning member from the non-contact state to the contact state. Thus, the sheet processing apparatus reduces an occurrence of a conveyance failure caused by collision of a leading edge of thick paper with a return roller and a return guide member, and maintains good conveyance performance by preventing sheet stick caused by a coating material coated on coat paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Finetech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Okamoto, Yoshihiko Kitahara
  • Patent number: 8408531
    Abstract: A recording medium post-processing apparatus includes: a recording medium stacking unit on which recording media are stacked; a binding section that binds the recording media by deforming the recording media in a thickness direction, and retracts to the outside of the stacking area of the recording media after binding the recording media; a reference member that functions as a position reference used for aligning the recording media; and an alignment unit that aligns end portions of the recording media facing the reference member by moving the recording media to a position where the recording media come into contact with the reference member from a position where the recording media are separated from the reference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8398067
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes pairs of rollers being sheet conveying units that convey recording sheets that are sheet media, a binding tray in which a plurality of recording sheets conveyed by the pairs of rollers are stacked and the recording sheets are retained as a paper bundle, and a stapler being a binding unit that performs a binding process on the paper bundle retained in the binding tray. Target positions on the paper bundle are adjusted by moving both of two jogger fences in an R direction to move the paper bundle in the sheet width direction so as to displace the paper bundle with respect to the stapler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Keisuke Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8395828
    Abstract: A stacking device includes a contact section with which top ends of the recording media in a conveying direction, conveyed into the storage space, make contact so stop the recording media at a storage position, a media move section which comprises a plurality of partition members, forms a plurality of spaces capable of storing the recording media between the partition members, stores the recording media stopped at the storage position into arbitrary one of the plurality of spaces, and moves the partition members thereby to move at least a part of the top ends of the recording media to a pushup position different from the storage position, and a lift section which pushes up, to the carry-out section, the recording media moved to the pushup position by the media move section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8382089
    Abstract: A sheet cutting apparatus, including: a conveying member configured to convey a half-folded sheet bunch in a conveyance path in which the conveying member is provided; a registration member which comes into contact with a leading edge portion of the sheet bunch to correct a skew feed of the sheet bunch; a cutting member positioned upstream of the registration member to cut a trailing edge portion of the sheet bunch; and a discharging member provided at an outlet of the conveyance path to discharge the sheet bunch, wherein the leading edge portion of the sheet bunch is positioned outside the discharging member when, after the skew feed is corrected, the sheet bunch is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the conveying member and the trailing edge portion of the sheet bunch is conveyed to a cutting position of the cutting member to cut the trailing edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Yonekawa, Kenji Toppada, Keiichi Mizukami
  • 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: 8342499
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a support unit on which sheets, which each include first and second edge portions that differ from each other, are stacked together such that the first and second edge portions are aligned; a counter member disposed so as to face the first edge portions; a pressing member that presses the first edge portions against the counter member; a first binding unit that binds together the first edge portions by a first binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member; and a second binding unit that binds together the second edge portions by a second binding process, the first edge portion of each sheet being pressed against the counter member by the pressing member, a bond formed by the second binding unit being more easily breakable than a bond formed by the first binding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuuichi Shiraishi, Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8332065
    Abstract: A method includes causing a stacking device having a first stacking unit and a second stacking unit to stack sheets of a small size on the first stacking unit or the second stacking unit and to stack sheets of a large size over the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit, and controlling the stacking of sheets by restricting stacking of the sheets of the large size on the sheet of the small size when the sheets of the small size are stacked on at least one of the first stacking unit and the second stacking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kurakata
  • Patent number: 8320030
    Abstract: A storing and processing apparatus for a record member includes: a record member storing portion that stores therein a record member being transported along the record member transport route; a moving unit that moves up or down the record member storing portion; a positioning and storing portion that temporarily positions and stores the record member; an arranging unit that stocks and arranges record members in the positioning and storing portion; a discharge member that discharges, from a discharge position, the record member existing on the record member transport route or on the positioning and storing portion toward the record member storing portion; a record member type determining unit and, a control unit that drives the moving unit to move up or down the record member storing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8308154
    Abstract: A control method for an image forming system capable of preventing reduction of the ability of the system even if a shift transportation function becomes an abnormal condition. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A first sheet process apparatus has a first moving unit receiving the sheet on which the image is formed and moving the sheet in a width direction. In a determination step, it is determined whether a second sheet process apparatus having a second moving unit moving the sheet in the width direction is connected to an upstream side of the first sheet process apparatus. In a detection step, it is detected an abnormal condition of the first moving unit. In a sheet movement step, the second moving unit moves the sheet in the width direction if an abnormal condition is detected and the second sheet process apparatus is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyake, Manabu Yamauchi, Naoto Watanabe, Takayuki Fujii, Shunsuke Nishimura, Satoru Yamamoto, Yushi Oka, Takashi Yokoya, Hidenori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: RE45207
    Abstract: A sheet treating apparatus including a sheet discharging device for discharging a sheet, a first stacking tray for receiving the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging device, an aligning device for aligning a sheet bundle on the first stacking tray by a pinching movement effected by a first and second aligning members shiftable independently in a direction perpendicular to a sheet discharging direction, and a transferring device for transferring the sheet bundle on the first stacking tray to a second stacking tray, wherein, in the first stacking tray, alignment positions of the respective sheet bundles are offset by shifting the alignment positions by a predetermined amount to first and second aligning positions alternately by the first and second aligning members, and wherein the first and second aligning positions of the first stacking tray are opposite directions transverse to the sheet discharging direction with respect to the position of the sheet discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Takehara, Kenichi Hayashi