Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets includes: a stack tray on which a sheet is stacked; a discharge roller pair composed of first and second rollers and configured to discharge a sheet onto the stack tray, the second roller being configured to be movable between a pressure contact position to contact with the first roller and a retracting position to separate from the first roller; and a pressure contact/separation mechanism for moving the second roller from the retracting position to the pressure contact position. The pressure contact/separation mechanism changes the timing at which the second roller reaches the pressure contact position according to the type of a sheet to be discharged.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for processing sheets includes: a stack tray on which a sheet is stacked; a discharge roller pair composed of first and second rollers and configured to discharge a sheet onto the stack tray, the second roller being configured to be movable between a pressure contact position to contact with the first roller and a retracting position to separate from the first roller; and a pressure contact/separation mechanism for moving the second roller from the retracting position to the pressure contact position. The pressure contact/separation mechanism changes the timing at which the second roller reaches the pressure contact position according to the type of a sheet to be discharged.

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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which even if the apparatus includes a gripping apparatus gripping one side of a sheet bundle to be stapled, the sheet bundle can be stapled in a portion thereof in which the gripping apparatus is located. A gripper unit is moved in a direction crossing one side of sheets and placed in a discharge position in which the gripper unit discharges the gripped sheets and in a coupling position where the gripper unit is coupled to a staple unit. The gripper unit is thus moved in the same direction as that in which the staple unit coupled to the gripper unit at the coupling position moves. Thus, the staple unit can be moved to a stapling position without the need to ensure a retract space.

Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet guide for holding a sheet bunch, a folding roll device having a first folding roll and a second folding roll, a folding blade inserting the sheet bunch supported on the sheet guide to a nip position between the first and second folding rolls, and a blade driving device for moving the folding blade from a standby position to the nip position on the folding rolls. The sheet guide has a curved guide section supporting the sheet bunch and an outlet guide section connected to the curved guide section to guide the sheet bunch to the folding rolls. The curved guide section has a curved guide plate supporting the sheet bunch so that the sheet bunch rolls back toward the folding roll device. The outlet guide section includes a pair of opposite guide plates in folding the sheet bunch by the folding blade.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which even if the apparatus includes a gripping apparatus gripping one side of a sheet bundle to be stapled, the sheet bundle can be stapled in a portion thereof in which the gripping apparatus is located. A gripper unit is moved in a direction crossing one side of sheets and placed in a discharge position in which the gripper unit discharges the gripped sheets and in a coupling position where the gripper unit is coupled to a staple unit. The gripper unit is thus moved in the same direction as that in which the staple unit coupled to the gripper unit at the coupling position moves. Thus, the staple unit can be moved to a stapling position without the need to ensure a retract space.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stack tray on which a sheet successively delivered from a delivery port is stacked, the stack tray including: a folding route receiving the sheet from the delivery port; a sheet folding device provided in the folding route to fold the sheet; and a sheet stacking surface for stacking the sheet, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is operable in selectively between a first mode in which a sheet from the delivery port is stacked on the sheet stacking surface, and a second mode in which a sheet folded by the sheet folding device is stacked on the same sheet stacking surface as in the first mode.

Abstract: A sheet folding device has a releasable clutch between a roll driving device and a pair of folding rolls for folding a sheet bunch so that when a folding blade inserts the sheet bunch to a nip position on the pair of folding rolls, the first and second folding rolls rotate following the inserted sheets. The sheet folding device includes a guide for holding the sheet bunch at a predetermined fold position. The first and second folding rolls arranged at the fold position are in pressure contact with each other. The folding blade inserts the sheet bunch supported on the guide to the nip position on the first and second folding rolls. The roll driving device rotationally drives the first and second folding rolls. The first and second folding rolls and the roll driving device are coupled together via the releasable clutch.

Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet guide for holding a sheet bunch, a folding roll device having a first folding roll and a second folding roll, a folding blade inserting the sheet bunch supported on the sheet guide to a nip position between the first and second folding rolls, and a blade driving device for moving the folding blade from a standby position to the nip position on the folding rolls. The sheet guide has a curved guide section supporting the sheet bunch and an outlet guide section connected to the curved guide section to guide the sheet bunch to the folding rolls. The curved guide section has a curved guide plate supporting the sheet bunch so that the sheet bunch rolls back toward the folding roll device. The outlet guide section includes a pair of opposite guide plates in folding the sheet bunch by the folding blade.

Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus including 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.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stack tray on which a sheet successively delivered from a delivery port is stacked, the stack tray including: a folding route receiving the sheet from the delivery port; a sheet folding device provided in the folding route to fold the sheet; and a sheet stacking surface for stacking the sheet, wherein the sheet processing apparatus is operable in selectively between a first mode in which a sheet from the delivery port is stacked on the sheet stacking surface, and a second mode in which a sheet folded by the sheet folding device is stacked on the same sheet stacking surface as in the first mode.

Abstract: A sheet folding device has a releasable clutch between a roll driving device and a pair of folding rolls for folding a sheet bunch so that when a folding blade inserts the sheet bunch to a nip position on the pair of folding rolls, the first and second folding rolls rotate following the inserted sheets. The sheet folding device includes a guide for holding the sheet bunch at a predetermined fold position. The first and second folding rolls arranged at the fold position are in pressure contact with each other. The folding blade inserts the sheet bunch supported on the guide to the nip position on the first and second folding rolls. The roll driving device rotationally drives the first and second folding rolls. The first and second folding rolls and the roll driving device are coupled together via the releasable clutch.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is provided with a pushing device for pushing a predetermined position of a sheet stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction that the sheet stack is conveyed, and a pair of rotating bodies for performing a folding operation. In the folding operation, a position of the sheet stack pushed by the pushing device is moved away from a contact point between rotational centers of the rotating bodies.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus; a discharging unit for successively discharging the sheet on the placement unit; and an offset unit for shifting an edge of a stitching sheet from an edge of a non-stitching sheet on the placement unit by a predetermined distance depending on whether the sheet discharged on the placement unit is subjected to a stitching process. A stitching unit stitches only the edge portions of the stitching sheets in a stack in a state that the edges of the stitching sheets are shifted from the edge of the non-stitching sheet by the offset unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for folding a sheet bundle at a predetermined position includes paired rotating bodies for folding the sheet bundle having nip portions, a pressing device for pressing the predetermined position of the sheet bundle into the nip portions of the paired rotating bodies, and a device connected to the paired rotation bodies for providing rotation to the paired rotating bodies. A pulling force of the rotating bodies to pull the sheet bundle pressed into the nip portions of the rotating bodies has an amount which does not separate a sheet of the sheet bundle contacting the rotating bodies from the subsequent sheets in the sheet bundle when pulling the sheet bundle.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, an offset unit for successively offsetting an edge of each sheet on the placement unit, and a saddle stitching unit for saddle stitching a stack of the sheets with the edge of each sheet shifted by the offset unit. The sheet post-processing device may include a folding unit for folding the stack of the sheets along a line where the sheets are stitched.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is provided with a pushing device for pushing a predetermined position of a sheet stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction that the sheet stack is conveyed, and a pair of rotating bodies for performing a folding operation. In the folding operation, a position of the sheet stack pushed by the pushing device is moved away from a contact point between rotational centers of the rotating bodies.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus; a discharging unit for successively discharging the sheet on the placement unit; and an offset unit for shifting an edge of a stitching sheet from an edge of a non-stitching sheet on the placement unit by a predetermined distance depending on whether the sheet discharged on the placement unit is subjected to a stitching process. A stitching unit stitches only the edge portions of the stitching sheets in a stack in a state that the edges of the stitching sheets are shifted from the edge of the non-stitching sheet by the offset unit.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet bundle includes a stitching unit having a head portion for driving staples into the sheet bundle and an anvil portion for receiving and bending the staples driven by the head portion, a feeding device for feeding the sheet bundle to a stitching position between the head portion and the anvil portion, a transport device for transporting the stitching unit to a position perpendicular to a sheet bundle feeding direction, a guide member for guiding the sheet bundle to the stitching position, and a supplement guide member. The supplement guide member retracts to a position that does not hinder the movement of the stitching unit when the stitching unit moves, and guides the sheet bundle to the guide member without a leading edge of the sheet bundle touching the upstream edge of the guide member.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a placement unit for placing sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus, an offset unit for successively offsetting an edge of each sheet on the placement unit, and a saddle stitching unit for saddle stitching a stack of the sheets with the edge of each sheet shifted by the offset unit. The sheet post-processing device may include a folding unit for folding the stack of the sheets along a line where the sheets are stitched.