Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a conveying roller conveying a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction; a folding roller pair disposed downstream of the conveying roller in the conveying direction and rotating while nipping a predetermined position of the sheet to form a fold; a conveying path for conveying the sheet in the conveying direction from the conveying roller to the folding roller pair; an abutting member moving downstream in the conveying direction and abutting against the predetermined position of the sheet to bend the sheet downstream; and a loop space where the sheet is bent between the conveying roller and folding roller pair in a direction crossing the conveying direction. The folding roller pair stops while nipping a front end of the sheet fed from to form a loop of the sheet in the loop space, and the abutting member moves to abut against the loop.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes: a conveying roller conveying a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction; a folding roller pair disposed downstream of the conveying roller in the conveying direction and rotating while nipping a predetermined position of the sheet to form a fold; a conveying path for conveying the sheet in the conveying direction from the conveying roller to the folding roller pair; an abutting member moving downstream in the conveying direction and abutting against the predetermined position of the sheet to bend the sheet downstream; and a loop space where the sheet is bent between the conveying roller and folding roller pair in a direction crossing the conveying direction. The folding roller pair stops while nipping a front end of the sheet fed from to form a loop of the sheet in the loop space, and the abutting member moves to abut against the loop.

Abstract: A sheet folding processing device includes a folding processing mechanism that includes a folding roller pair for forming a plurality of folds on the sheet conveyed in a predetermined sheet conveying direction to produce Z-fold, additional folding rollers and a lower folding guide. The additional folding rollers and the lower folding guide are arranged on the downstream side of the folding roller pair in the sheet conveying direction to face each other and cooperate with each other to press the folds. The interval between the folding roller pair and the additional folding rollers is determined such that when the leading fold as viewed in the sheet conveying direction is pressed between the additional folding rollers and the lower folding guide, the sheet part having a plurality of layers of sheet where the sheet is folded between the additional folding rollers can also be held between the folding roller pair.

Abstract: A sheet pressing device includes a carry-in port that receives a Z-folded sheet having two folds; an additional folding roller disposed downstream of the carry-in port to press the fold; a lower folding guide having a pedestal disposed opposite to the additional folding roller; a first moving mechanism that moves the additional folding roller between a pressing position at which the additional folding roller is made to approach the pedestal and a retreat position at which the additional folding roller is moved relative to the pedestal from the pressing position; a second moving mechanism that moves the additional folding roller along the fold; and a control part. The control part controls the second moving mechanism so as to increase the number of times the additional folding roller is moved along the fold when a sheet section is positioned between the additional folding roller and the fold.

Abstract: A sheet pressing apparatus includes an inlet port for receiving a sheet having a folding line; additional folding rollers supported by a supporting member arranged downstream from the inlet port; a lower folding guide opposing the additional folding rollers; a first drive mechanism configured to move the additional folding rollers between a pressing position, at which the additional folding rollers approach the lower folding guide to press the sheet at the folding line, and a retreat position to which the additional folding rollers are moved from the pressing position, separating from the sheet; and a second drive mechanism configured to move the additional folding rollers along the folding line. The additional folding rollers are arranged such that one end of the folding line exists between the two additional folding rollers provided at one position and the additional folding roller at the other end position is arranged on the folding line.

Abstract: The sheet pressing apparatus includes an inlet port configured to receive a sheet having a folding line; additional-folding rollers arranged downstream of the inlet port and configured to press the sheet at the folding line; a lower folding guide opposing the additional-folding rollers; a first drive mechanism configured to move the additional-folding rollers between a pressing position, at which the additional-folding rollers approach the lower folding guide to press the sheet at the folding line, and a retreat position to which the additional-folding rollers are moved with respect to the lower folding guide from the pressing position; a second drive mechanism configured to move the additional-folding rollers along the folding line; and a restriction member configured to restrict, at a preset restriction position, the sheet thickness at the folding line to a value equal to or less than a prescribe value, while the additional-folding rollers are moving.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus folds two portions of a first folding position of a sheet and a second folding position existing between one end of the sheet and the first folding position to perform Z-fold on the sheet. Then, in a state in which a one-end side portion of the sheet and a folded portion folded in the first folding position are overlapped with each other, the apparatus adjusts a distance between one end of the sheet and the first folding position.

Abstract: A sheet pressing device includes a carry-in port that receives a Z-folded sheet having two folds; an additional folding roller disposed downstream of the carry-in port to press the fold; a lower folding guide having a pedestal disposed opposite to the additional folding roller; a first moving mechanism that moves the additional folding roller between a pressing position at which the additional folding roller is made to approach the pedestal and a retreat position at which the additional folding roller is moved relative to the pedestal from the pressing position; a second moving mechanism that moves the additional folding roller along the fold; and a control part. The control part controls the second moving mechanism so as to increase the number of times the additional folding roller is moved along the fold when a sheet section is positioned between the additional folding roller and the fold.

Abstract: A sheet pressing apparatus includes an inlet port for receiving a sheet having a folding line; additional folding rollers supported by a supporting member arranged downstream from the inlet port; a lower folding guide opposing the additional folding rollers; a first drive mechanism configured to move the additional folding rollers between a pressing position, at which the additional folding rollers approach the lower folding guide to press the sheet at the folding line, and a retreat position to which the additional folding rollers are moved from the pressing position, separating from the sheet; and a second drive mechanism configured to move the additional folding rollers along the folding line. The additional folding rollers are arranged such that one end of the folding line exists between the two additional folding rollers provided at one position and the additional folding roller at the other end position is arranged on the folding line.

Abstract: The sheet pressing apparatus includes an inlet port configured to receive a sheet having a folding line; additional-folding rollers arranged downstream of the inlet port and configured to press the sheet at the folding line; a lower folding guide opposing the additional-folding rollers; a first drive mechanism configured to move the additional-folding rollers between a pressing position, at which the additional-folding rollers approach the lower folding guide to press the sheet at the folding line, and a retreat position to which the additional-folding rollers are moved with respect to the lower folding guide from the pressing position; a second drive mechanism configured to move the additional-folding rollers along the folding line; and a restriction member configured to restrict, at a preset restriction position, the sheet thickness at the folding line to a value equal to or less than a prescribe value, while the additional-folding rollers are moving.

Abstract: A sheet folding processing device includes a folding processing mechanism that includes a folding roller pair for forming a plurality of folds on the sheet conveyed in a predetermined sheet conveying direction to produce Z-fold, additional folding rollers and a lower folding guide. The additional folding rollers and the lower folding guide are arranged on the downstream side of the folding roller pair in the sheet conveying direction to face each other and cooperate with each other to press the folds. The interval between the folding roller pair and the additional folding rollers is determined such that when the leading fold as viewed in the sheet conveying direction is pressed between the additional folding rollers and the lower folding guide, the sheet part having a plurality of layers of sheet where the sheet is folded between the additional folding rollers can also be held between the folding roller pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeder including a stack tray on which the sheets are stacked, a feeding mechanism that separates and feeds one by one the sheets on the stack tray, a blowing mechanism that blows a predetermined amount of air against the sheets on the stack tray. An operation of the feeding mechanism and an amount of air to be blown by the blowing mechanism are controlled in association with each other, so that it is possible to prevent double-feeding of the sheets and a feeding failure, thereby achieving reliable sheet feeding.

Abstract: A document reading device is capable of preventing distortion or twisting occurring in a document conveying device from being transmitted to a reading carriage incorporated in the document conveying device. A document reading device includes a second reading carriage provided in a document conveying unit and configured to read a surface of a document different from a surface read by a first reading carriage, a support frame having a support surface supporting the second reading carriage, a retaining member retaining the second reading carriage by sandwiching the same between itself and the support frame, and an elastic member provided between the second reading carriage and retaining member to press the second reading carriage against the support frame. One of the support surface of the support frame and a supported surface of the second reading carriage supported by the support surface is formed into a curved surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeder including a stack tray on which the sheets are stacked, a feeding mechanism that separates and feeds one by one the sheets on the stack tray, a blowing mechanism that blows a predetermined amount of air against the sheets on the stack tray. An operation of the feeding mechanism and an amount of air to be blown by the blowing mechanism are controlled in association with each other, so that it is possible to prevent double-feeding of the sheets and a feeding failure, thereby achieving reliable sheet feeding.

Abstract: Provided are: an illumination device having a configuration in which a temperature rise of a radiation member is suppressed in a limited volume to thereby maintain a temperature of an LED at a predetermined value or less and an image reading device provided with the illumination device.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading device capable of performing shading correction and making it difficult for foreign matters to enter inside the device. A document reading device includes a reading unit, a glass unit, and a closing member. The reading unit has a light source and reads a document. The glass unit has a glass plate that transmits light emitted from the light source and a reference member serving as a reference for shading correction of a reading optical system. The glass unit is disposed with a space provided with respect to the reading unit and slid between a first position where the light emitted from the light source transmits the glass plate and a second position where the light emitted from the light source reaches the reference member with the space being maintained.

Abstract: Provided are: an illumination device having a configuration in which a temperature rise of a radiation member is suppressed in a limited volume to thereby maintain a temperature of an LED at a predetermined value or less and an image reading device provided with the illumination device.

Abstract: Provided is a document reading device capable of performing shading correction and making it difficult for foreign matters to enter inside the device. A document reading device includes a reading unit, a glass unit, and a closing member. The reading unit has a light source and reads a document. The glass unit has a glass plate that transmits light emitted from the light source and a reference member serving as a reference for shading correction of a reading optical system. The glass unit is disposed with a space provided with respect to the reading unit and slid between a first position where the light emitted from the light source transmits the glass plate and a second position where the light emitted from the light source reaches the reference member with the space being maintained.

Abstract: To provide an illumination device in which there is no variation in light intensity distribution of the illumination device, and in which illumination spots, particularly light intensity spots, are not prone to occur in a read image in an image reading device, by maintaining a constant gap between a light source and an end face of a light guide. The illumination device includes: a light guide having an end face for taking in light, a diffuse reflecting surface for diffusely reflecting the light taken in from the end face, and a light exit surface for emitting the light that is diffusely reflected at the diffuse reflecting surface towards an irradiation surface. The illumination device further include a reflector having a diffuse reflecting surface that reflects light from the light source toward the one end face of the light guide.

Abstract: A document reading device is capable of preventing distortion or twisting occurring in a document conveying device from being transmitted to a reading carriage incorporated in the document conveying device. A document reading device includes a second reading carriage provided in a document conveying unit and configured to read a surface of a document different from a surface read by a first reading carriage, a support frame having a support surface supporting the second reading carriage, a retaining member retaining the second reading carriage by sandwiching the same between itself and the support frame, and an elastic member provided between the second reading carriage and retaining member to press the second reading carriage against the support frame. One of the support surface of the support frame and a supported surface of the second reading carriage supported by the support surface is formed into a curved surface.