Associating And Folding Patents (Class 270/32)
  • Patent number: 7883079
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventors: Koki Sato, Satoshi Iwama, Eiji Fukasawa, Hisashi Osada, Shin Tsugane
  • Patent number: 7871065
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Fukasawa, Ichitaro Kubota, Kenichi Matsuno, Satoshi Iwama
  • Patent number: 7866644
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus, including: a stacker configured to stack a plurality of sheets; a first folding roller configured to rotate around a first axis; a second folding roller configured to rotate around a second axis which is parallel with the first axis and biased to the first folding roller separably to make a nip together with the first folding roller therebetween; a blade unit configured to push a surface of the plurality of sheets, stacked by the stacker, into the nip; a stationary support configured to support the blade unit linearly movable to avoid deviating from a common tangential direction of the first folding roller and the second folding roller at the nip to a first folding roller side; and a movable support relatively movable against the blade unit, configured to bias the blade unit to the first folding roller side deviatably from the common tangential direction to a second folding roller side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oshiro, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tomomi Iijima
  • Patent number: 7866643
    Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a book binding apparatus, the image forming system includes: a first detection section which detects maximum and minimum book-body sheet length in the bundle of the book-body sheets; a second detection section which detects a thickness of the bundle of the book-body sheets; a third detection section which detects a cover sheet length; a selection section to select whether the cover sheet length is determined based on the maximum book-body sheet length or on the minimum book-body sheet length; a calculation section which calculates a cutting amount of the cover sheet according to the selection; a trimming section which cuts the cover sheet based on the calculated cutting amount; and a book binding section which encases the bundle of sheets of the book-body with the U-shaped cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7862015
    Abstract: In a sheet folding device 1 provided with a folding part 70 for folding a sheet S carried into the device, a discharge part 80 for discharging a sheet S already subjected to folding processing, and a discharge tray 74 for receiving a sheet S discharged from the discharge part 80, a holding member 5 for holding a discharged sheet S from above and an arm 4 disposed above the discharge tray 74 and also adjacently to the discharge part 80 and so provided as to project in a sheet discharge direction are provided. The holding member 5 is supported at the arm 4 in such a manner as to be rotatable upward and downward, and also rotatable to a position above the bottom end of the arm 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kotani
  • Patent number: 7862016
    Abstract: A receiving member for receiving the leading end of sheet on a sheet placing table is disposed movably along the upper surface of the sheet placing table within a specified range including a first position located at the other end of the sheet placing table and distanced from a carry-in opening at least by the length of the sheet, and an operation control unit causes the receiving member to move to a second position where the trailing end of the sheet received by the receiving member slips under the carry-in opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Takemoto, Sachio Izumichi
  • Patent number: 7862028
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, comprising: a sheet introduction port for feeding a sheet to inside from outside of the sheet processing apparatus; a sheet exit port for ejecting the sheet from inside to outside of the sheet processing apparatus; a sheet carrying part having a sheet carrying passage that communicates the sheet introduction port and the sheet exit port; a fold processing part disposed in a middle of the sheet carrying passage, for arbitrarily folding the sheet; a sheet stacking part that stacks the sheet ejected from the sheet exit port; and a detector that detects whether a height of a bundle of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking part reaches a prescribed height and outputs an OFF signal for turning off a drive of the sheet carrying part, wherein the detector performs detection at a first detection level for detecting the prescribed height of the bundle of sheets folded when the fold processing part is set in a drive state, and at a second detection level for detecting the prescribed height o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jinichi Nagata, Yoshitaka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7862027
    Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider, the folded edge support movable back and forth in a direction declined from a side near the sheet bundle provider, and an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 7862024
    Abstract: According to the invention, a sheet finisher has a folding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a stacking mechanism, and a slip amount calculator. The folding mechanism forms a folding line by folding a sheet which an image forming unit discharges. The discharging mechanism discharges the sheet including the folding line which the folding mechanism forms. The stacking mechanism stacks the sheet which the discharging mechanism discharges. The slip amount calculator outputs a fullness state of the stacking mechanism to the image forming unit, if a slip amount of the discharging mechanism exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7850155
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus including: a conveyance device having a first pair of rollers for nipping and conveying a paper sheet; a folding device disposed downstream of the conveyance device in a paper sheet conveyance direction, the folding device having a second pair of rollers for nipping and conveying the paper sheet, wherein the conveyance device conveys the paper sheet to the folding device by making the paper sheet bent toward the folding device, and the folding device conveys the bent paper sheet to fold the paper sheet; and a folding assist member for pushing the paper sheet so that the paper sheet moves toward the folding device, the folding assist member being pivotally arranged to be capable of rotating downstream of the conveyance device in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Mizubata, Tomohiko Kiryu, Mikihiro Yamakawa, Tsutomu Anezaki, Satoru Shimizu, Masato Niizuma, Ryohei Sunayama
  • Patent number: 7850156
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7845625
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet folding apparatus for folding a sheet stack, including a sheet stack support member for supporting a sheet stack by being abutted against a lower edge of the sheet stack, an abutting member for folding the sheet stack by making the sheet stack supported by the sheet stack support member abutted against a leading edge of the abutting member, and paired folding rollers for sandwiching the sheet stack folded by the abutting member to fold the sheet stack at a fold position, in which a position where the sheet stack is abutted against the leading edge of the abutting member with respect to the fold position is varied based on sheet stack information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshimasa Suzuki, Kenichi Hayashi, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7845628
    Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle; a folded edge blocker configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle supported by the undersurface support, a lower end of the folded edge blocker being held by the undersurface support, and a canceller configured to release the lower end of the folded edge blocker from the undersurface support if a predetermined amount of sheet stacks are loaded on the undersurface support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 7832716
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a sheet supporting table that supports a sheet stack made of a plurality of sheets which have been folded; a stopper against which a first edge of the sheet stack which is a side to be cut of the sheet stack is pressed on the sheet supporting table; and a pushing member which pushes a second edge of the sheet stack so that the first edge is pressed against the stopper, wherein the pushing member comprises a first surface that is inclined with respect to a sheet supporting surface of the sheet supporting table so that the first surface restricts a height of the folded part of the sheet stack with respect to the sheet supporting surface when the pushing member presses the sheet stack towards the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Masaaki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 7832715
    Abstract: There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 7828276
    Abstract: There is provided a technique which can greatly improve throughput at the time when, after a folding process is performed to a bundle of sheets, the bundle of sheets subjected to the folding process is transported to a downstream side, and can prevent a wrinkle from occurring in the bundle of sheets at the time of the folding process. A sheet transport speed of a pair of rollers is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed at a specified timing between when a folding blade finishes a pressing operation of the bundle of sheets and starts a return operation to a waiting position and when a rear edge of the bundle of sheets pressed into a nip of a pair of rollers by the folding blade passes through the nip of the pair of rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 7802778
    Abstract: An accordion folding mechanism folds a sheet fed from an image forming apparatus in an accordion shape by repeating a mountain fold and a valley fold in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction. A size setting unit sets a folding size of the mountain fold and the valley fold. A size adjusting unit compares a size of the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus with the folding size, and adjusts the folding size of a predetermined number of folds at a trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Wataru Kurita
  • Patent number: 7802779
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus staples a bundle of sheets, folds the sheets into two to make a book, and presses the folded sheets. A stitch bookbinding unit moves a press unit having press rollers and, a press holder, and the like constituting a creasing unit along the fold of a bundle of sheets subjected to the folding process by the press rollers and so as to reliably nip-press the fold by the nip between the moving press rollers and for pressing it. The press holder performs intermittent movement in which it is stopped during movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisaku Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7784777
    Abstract: A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in a lead, including: an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider; a folded edge blocker configured to take a blocking position to block the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle on the undersurface support and a releasing position to release the folded sheet bundle; and a joint configured to evacuate from an orbit of the folded edge blocker returning from the releasing position to the blocking position, the joint is configured to join the undersurface support with the folded edge blocker at the blocking position after the returning to the blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 7780160
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus having a conveyance device to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle storing device to load and store the sheets conveyed by the conveyance device as a sheet bundle, a moving device to enable the sheet bundle storing device to be movable, a post-processing device to carry out post-process for the sheet bundle accumulated in the sheet bundle storing device, wherein the sheet bundle storing device can be withdrawn to outside the post-processing apparatus main body through the moving device so as to be capable of storing the sheet bundle from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Sato
  • Publication number: 20100201057
    Abstract: A printing system includes a media storage module, a printing station for processing a portion of the receiving media, a receiving station for receiving the processed media, and a base member for supporting the printing system on a support surface. A receiving device is configured to receive a folding module for folding the processed receiving media. The receiving device is positioned substantially in a volume extending from the area defined by the cumulative normal projection of the media storage module and the printing station on the support surface, the volume extending perpendicular to the support surface in the direction of the printing station. A guiding device is configured to guide the processed media to one of the receiving station and the folding module. A method of modifying the printing system includes removing a media storage module to create a vacancy and inserting a folding module into the vacancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: OCE-Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel A.C. TERHAAG, Marco H.L.H. Kusters, Jeroen A.A. Van Assen
  • Patent number: 7770876
    Abstract: A creasing device includes a feeding mechanism, a creasing mechanism, sensors, and an aligning mechanism. The feeding mechanism conveys paper on which an image has been formed in a post-processing apparatus main body direction. The creasing mechanism makes a crease on the paper. The sensors detect a deviation of the paper with respect to the feeding direction. The aligning mechanism, based on an amount of deviation in a result of a detection by the sensors, causes the creasing mechanism to rotate in such a way that the creasing mechanism is aligned parallel to a crease direction of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sasahara
  • Patent number: 7762536
    Abstract: This invention can improve the appearance quality of a pamphlet produced by suppressing a swell of a folded sheet bundle and prevent a drop in productivity without enlarging the size of a sheet processing apparatus. A sheet bundle receiving position is changed depending on a sheet size and the moving direction of the press unit is changed corresponding to the sheet size of a conveyed sheet bundle. As a consequence, the enlargement of the sheet processing apparatus can be avoided without deteriorating productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Fukatsu, Yushi Oka
  • Patent number: 7758032
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7753353
    Abstract: A vertical sheet compiling apparatus and method compile sheets in a slot that accumulates a plurality of sheets. The slot includes a first baffle and a second baffle that each define generally vertical sides of a sheet path of the slot. The first and second baffles are separated from each other by a space therebetween. An actuator is coupled to at least one of the first and second baffles to move one of the baffles toward or away from the other one of the baffles, thereby adjusting a width of the sheet path as the sheets compile in the slot. A binding mechanism fastens the plurality of sheets together. The apparatus and method may also include a sensing device for determining an amount of available space in the slot during compilation of the sheets in the slot. The determined amount of space can be used to control movement of the baffle(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Michael McNamara
  • Patent number: 7744073
    Abstract: A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line, and the placement table is provided with a groove-like edge clearance along an edge of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Katsuya Sasahara, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7740237
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus that is set beside an image forming apparatus and applies staple processing to sheets subjected to image formation and folds the sheets to manufacture a booklet includes a hooking control mechanism that is provided on the opposite side of center folding rollers across a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle in a stapler direction to prevent a bent staple from hooking on an edge of an anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Mano
  • Patent number: 7740238
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention including a saddle-stitcher configured to fold and discharge a sheet supplied from an image forming apparatus, and an assisting mechanism arranged in a sheet carrier path extending from the image forming apparatus to the saddle-stitcher and configured to form a folding line on the sheet in a first direction orthogonal to a direction of the carrying of the sheet in order to assist folding of the sheet. The assisting mechanism has a disc-shaped roller blade rotatably attached to a moving body that is movable in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomomi Iijima, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
  • Publication number: 20100133736
    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: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Yeon PARK, Byung Sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7726638
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus for performing a bookbinding process by folding a sheet stack, including: a folding roller pair including a first roller and a second roller brought into press contact with the first roller to be contacted/separated with/from the first roller, for conveying the sheet stack while folding the sheet stack; a plurality of urging members capable of urging the second roller in a direction of the first roller; and an urging mechanism for changing a number of the urging members for urging the second roller according to a thickness of the sheet stack to be folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Itagaki
  • Patent number: 7722021
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a folding mechanism that includes paired folding rollers, presses a sheet to a nip portion of the paired folding rollers from a direction orthogonal to a transport direction, and folds the sheet by rotating the paired folding rollers. Further, there are provided a drive motor capable of making positive rotation and reverse rotation, a variable speed mechanism to convert a rotation force of the drive motor into a rotation output in a single direction and with a low speed or a high speed by changing a rotation direction of the drive motor, a transmission mechanism to transmit the rotation output in the single direction to the paired folding rollers, and a control unit to control the rotation direction of the drive motor and to change the rotation speed of the paired folding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuya Sasahara
  • Patent number: 7712733
    Abstract: A bookmaking apparatus includes: a first path for horizontally conveying a sheet bundle; a second path for vertically conveying a cover sheet; a joining stage for joining the cover sheet and sheet bundle; a gripping conveyance device at an upstream side of the joining stage for gripping and conveying the sheet bundle along the first path; and a folding conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for folding and conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes opening and closing clamping members for gripping the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates to vary a gripping position of the sheet bundle by the clamping members when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet at the joining stage and when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the folding conveyance device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Nagasawa, Akihiko Tsukui, Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroshi Nakagomi
  • Patent number: 7712732
    Abstract: Sheets after having been sequentially folding-processed are stowed neatly without becoming dog-eared, wrinkled, etc. in the course of being transported to a stacker. A folding process unit folds sequentially fed copy paper or other sheets, and a sheet stacking unit loads/stows sheets from the folding unit. A conveyance device conveying one folding-processed sheet at a time is furnished between the folding unit and the sheet stacking unit. The conveyance device includes a first, upstream conveyance unit conveying sheets from the folding process unit in a direction approximately orthogonal to the sheets' crease(s), and a second, downstream conveyance unit conveying sheets in the orientation of the crease(s). The second conveyance unit is configured with a tray member where sheets are supported one at a time, and is configured so as to sequentially deliver each sheet to the sheet stacking unit along the tray member in the orientation of the crease(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Horii, Hiroki Imazu, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 7703757
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a regulating portion which regulates the opening of the folded sheet bundle, and a conveying portion which pushes the sheet bundle from an upstream side in a conveying direction in a state that the regulating portion regulates the opening of folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7699309
    Abstract: A collector for stacking sheets of paper, plastics, and cardboard has a feeding device and a tray downstream of the feeding device in the feeding direction. The tray is arranged in a lowered position relative to the feeding device. A stop is provided downstream of the tray. At least one transport roll transports sheets individually from the feeding device onto the tray to form a stack. An adjusting element is arranged in an area where the feeding device and the tray adjoin, wherein the adjusting element is adjustable between a lowered rest position and a position of use lifted relative to the rest position. In the position of use, the adjusting element lifts a trail end of a first sheet that has reached the tray such that a following second sheet is moved into a position underneath the trail end of the first sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mathias Bäuerle GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Markgraf
  • Patent number: 7699302
    Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus comprises: a stacking mechanism to stack sheets of one or more printable media as a sheaf; a sheet conveyance mechanism to transport the sheaf to a respective position; a stapling mechanism to perform a stapling operation with respect to the sheaf; and a plurality of sheet regulating mechanisms disposed at positions spaced from each other along a sheet conveyance path, each sheet regulating mechanism being operable to align ends of the sheets in the sheaf according to a sheet conveyance direction. An image forming apparatus comprises such a sheet handling apparatus and an image forming device to form respective images upon the sheets and to provide the sheets to the sheet handling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7699300
    Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus that folds a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor that drives folding rollers is PWM driven such that its speed is varied in each control during the period until a blade contacts the sheet bundle, during the period when the sheet bundle is conveyed to a discharge port, during discharge operation, and during return of the motor to its home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7690632
    Abstract: A sheet bending apparatus and a sheet postprocessing apparatus are provided for improved alignment of recording sheets during center-folding. A center-folding unit mounted in a sheet postprocessing apparatus performs a center-folding processing to a stack of recording sheets aligned on their sides and placed in a sheet holding member. Side aligning is performed near a central portion in a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet holding member. The center-folding unit includes: two upper end aligning members positioned upstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member; and a pair of lower side end aligning members positioned on downstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the sheet holding member and are movable equally in opposite width directions of the sheet holding member and independently from the upper end aligning members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Sachio Izumichi, Mitsutoshi Takemoto, Takashi Kotani, Terumitsu Noso
  • Patent number: 7690633
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus may include a conveyance path and a tray. The conveyance path may convey sheets. The tray may receive the sheets conveyed from the conveyance path. The tray may include a stapler and a folding member. The stapler may staple the sheets. The folding member may fold the stapled sheets and may be provided upstream from the stapler relative to a sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tamura, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shuuya Nagasako, Shohichi Satoh, Akira Kunieda, Tomoichi Nomura, Hiroshi Maeda, Kazuhiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7686288
    Abstract: A method and a device for further processing of sheets to produce multi-page printed products, several initial sheets (19) are each folded into a folded sheet (20) and subsequently collated one on top of the other such that the fold areas lie at the top and the folded sheets (20) open downwardly. A grooved line (30) is formed in each initial sheet (19) before folding, around which grooved line (30) the initial sheet (19) is subsequently folded, the depth and the width of the grooved line (30) being increased, initial sheet (19) by initial sheet (19), by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Maschinenbau Oppenweiler Binder GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hagen Wetzel, Claus-Dieter Redmer, Eberhard Krieger
  • Patent number: 7681872
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is provided with a second folding, conveying roller pair that discharges a folded sheet bundle with its folded portion being the leading edge and a folded bundle tray provided below the second folding, conveying roller pair on which the sheet bundle discharged by the second folding, conveying roller pair is to be stacked and that moves the stacked sheet bundle. Before a succeeding sheet bundle is discharged onto a preceding sheet bundle, the folded bundle tray moves the preceding sheet bundle in the upstream direction with respect to the sheet conveyance direction to place the trailing edge of the preceding sheet bundle at a position upstream of the leading edge of the succeeding sheet bundle. Thus, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus that can stack folded sheet bundles with reliability and to improve the image forming efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7673862
    Abstract: A sheet processor includes a holding unit for holding a folded batch of sheets, a pressing member for pressing against a folded portion of the batch of sheets, a nipping member for nipping portions of the batch adjacent to the folded portion so as to nip the batch of sheets from opposite directions, and a casing for supporting the pressing member and the nipping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Daisaku Kamiya, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Atsuteru Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7673863
    Abstract: In a sheet post-processing apparatus to perform a folding processing to a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor to drive a pair of folding rollers is PWM driven, and its speed is changed according to the sheet type or sheet size and between a period before a blade comes in contact with the sheet bundle, a period when the blade is being inserted between the folding rollers after coming in contact with the sheet bundle, and a period when folding is being performed by the folding rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Iguchi
  • Patent number: 7669842
    Abstract: A sheet turning apparatus includes a vacuum source used to capture and hold a sheet onto a rotatable disc that is connected to a servo motor. Actuation of the servo motor causes rotation of the disc which in turn rotates the sheet 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7658372
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: a stapler; a conveying path, which conveys a sheet to the stapler; a bundle forming device to form a sheet bundle in the conveying path, the bundle forming device having a pinch device, which successively pinches an upstream end portion of the sheet to pinch plural sheets integrally; a control portion, which controls the stapler and the bundle forming device to staple the sheet bundle selectively between at one end of the sheet bundle for the side stitching and on the fold line of the sheet bundle for the saddle stitching; a discharging device, which discharges the sheet bundle stapled at the one end onto a stacking portion, a two-fold device, which folds the sheet bundle stapled on the fold line in two along the fold line, and a joining device, which joins the sheet bundle folded by the two-fold device into the discharging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Finetech Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 7660556
    Abstract: In a sheet post processing apparatus having a folding device that carries out the process of book folding by folding either one sheet or a plurality of sheets at a time on the sheets discharge from the image forming apparatus, a sheet stacking section that successively stacks the booklet-folded sheets, and a control unit that controls the sheet post processing apparatus, said control unit controls said folding device so that said booklet folding process of said sheets is carried out at the portions of two folding lines which are almost parallel thereby obtaining a square-shaped back of booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Saitsu, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Patent number: 7635121
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus, including: a sheet folder configured to fold a sheet bundle; a sheet tray configured to support the sheet bundle folded by the sheet folder; a first frame configured to support the sheet folder; a second frame configured to movably support the first frame and the sheet tray; a first sensor unit supported by the second frame, configured to change its condition depending on presence of the sheet bundle on the sheet tray; a second sensor unit supported by the first frame, configured to detect the condition of the first sensor unit; and a controller supported by the first frame, configured to control the sheet folder according to the detection of the second sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Dobashi, Yasunobu Terao
  • Patent number: 7631860
    Abstract: A paper processing apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes a first and second convey mechanism, a first and second alignment mechanism, and a folding mechanism, where the second alignment mechanism is configured to align a paper bundle conveyed by the first convey mechanism in the vicinity of a folding position to fold the paper bundle, and the second convey mechanism is configured to convey the paper bundle aligned by the second alignment mechanism to the folding position, and the folding mechanism is configured to fold the aligned paper bundler at the folding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Hitoshi Hattori, Takeshi Sasaki, Shohichi Satoh
  • Patent number: 7631858
    Abstract: A folded portion flattening unit includes: a sheet conveyance unit that conveys a booklet including a folded sheet with a folded portion in a lead toward a predetermined conveyance direction; a sheet stopper that stops the booklet conveyed by the sheet conveyance unit at a predetermined position; a pair of booklet grasping members that clamp and grasp the booklet stopped by the sheet stopper at both faces of the booklet; a pressing member that flattens a curve at a front end of the folded portion being grasped by the booklet grasping members, by pressing the front end toward a direction opposite to the conveyance direction; and an opening amount setting unit that sets an opening amount of an opening portion between the pair of booklet grasping members, when the conveyed booklet is sandwiched between the pair of booklet grasping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Harada
  • Patent number: 7628388
    Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus includes: a housing to which a recording sheet is fed from a predetermined upstream device; a first postprocessing mechanism mounted in the housing and adapted for performing a predetermined first postprocessing to the recording sheet; a second postprocessing mechanism selectively mountable in the housing, and is provided with a predetermined driver, the second postprocessing mechanism being adapted for performing a predetermined second postprocessing to the recording sheet; a conveyance passage provided in the first postprocessing mechanism and adapted for conveying the recording sheet to the second postprocessing mechanism when the second postprocessing mechanism is mounted in the housing; and a conveying member provided in the conveyance passage and adapted for conveying the recording sheet. The conveying member is driven by a transmission of a driving force from the driver of the second postprocessing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Keisuke Egawa