Associating And Folding Patents (Class 270/32)
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Patent number: 7628388Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventor: Keisuke Egawa
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Patent number: 7628390Abstract: In an installation and a method for the lifting of folded printed products (1) from a conveyor, wherein the printed products (1) are transported straddled across a saddle (2), the saddle (2) includes a counter tool (4) for processing of printed products (1) straddled across the saddle (2). Therein a means of lifting (5) extends alongside and parallel to the saddle (2) and is staggered at right angles to a support shoulder (3)of the saddle (2) as well as to the counter tool. As the means of lifting, the support shoulder (3) and in particular the counter tools are not situated in line but staggered, an unrestricted positioning of binding points along the support shoulder (3) is possible. There is no need to consider the position of lifting tappets or levers for the lifting of the printed products in the support shoulder (3).Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: December 8, 2009Assignee: Ferag AGInventor: H. Ulrich Stauber
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Patent number: 7618033Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for covering a sheet bundle with a cover sheet includes a creasing unit for making a crease along an end portion of the cover sheet adjacent the edge of the sheet bundle opposite the spine edge of the sheet bundle. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a folding-back unit for folding-back the end portion of the cover sheet along the crease made by the creasing unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiko Fujita, Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata, Youichi Chikugo
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Patent number: 7607650Abstract: A sheet-bundle spine treatment apparatus includes upper and lower press-rollers for adjusting a crease shape by moving while pinching front and rear surfaces of a spine of a folded sheet-bundle therebetween and a flattening roller for flattening a back of the sheet-bundle by moving while pushing the back of the spine of the sheet-bundle. At least one of the upper and lower press-rollers and the flattening roller is selected so as to allow it to operate.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsuteru Oikawa, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki
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Patent number: 7604225Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuo Fukatsu, Yushi Oka
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Patent number: 7597311Abstract: A sheet bundle stored in a sheet storage portion is pushed from a predetermined folded position with a first pushing plate, and the sheet bundle is normally conveyed along with the first pushing plate and plunged into a nip between first folding rollers to make a fold. The first folding rollers are reversely rotated while the first pushing plate is retreated, and the sheet bundle with the fold is reversely conveyed and returned to the sheet storage portion. Then, a second pushing plate pushes the sheet bundle, conveyed through a U-shape conveyance path, from a backside of the fold to reversely fold the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is completely folded. Therefore, the sheet bundle having good appearance can be realized in good bundle folding processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Wataru Kawata, Hitoshi Kato, Keiko Fujita, Youichi Chikugo
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Patent number: 7594645Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a pair of gripping rollers which can grip and convey a sheet bundle in a booklet-like form, a pressing roller which presses and flattens the folded back portion of the sheet bundle gripped by the gripping rollers, and a control unit which performs rotation control on the pair of gripping rollers. The control unit controls the gripping rollers so as to stop when the folded back portion of the sheet bundle protrudes from the rollers by a predetermined amount. The pressing roller flattens down the protruding folded back portion when the gripping rollers are stopped by the control unit and is in the state of gripping the sheet bundle.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshimasa Suzuki, Yusuke Obuchi, Daisaku Kamiya, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Hideki Kushida, Atsuteru Oikawa
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Patent number: 7575227Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshimasa Suzuki, Kenichi Hayashi, Atsuteru Oikawa
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Patent number: 7562866Abstract: Provided is a sheet processing apparatus including: a pressing rotation member rotating while pressing a folded sheet bundle; a hold member movable along a fold line of the folded sheet bundle, for holding the pressing rotation member; a common drive source; and a drive transfer member for transferring a drive from the common drive source to the pressing rotation member and the hold member.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2006Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenichi Hayashi
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Publication number: 20090121407Abstract: A postprocessing unit of a postprocessing device performs a postprocess including a preset folding process at a set folding position, with respect to recording sheets. A setting unit of the postprocessing device sets an adjustment amount of the folding position on the basis of a target value of the folding position, a measured value of the folding position after the folding process, and sheet quality information of the recording sheets. An adjusting unit of the postprocessing device adjusts the folding position of the postprocessing unit on the basis of the adjustment amount set by the setting unit. An adjustment control unit of the postprocessing device controls the adjustment by the adjusting unit on the basis of the adjustment amount set by the setting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Michihiro KAWAMURA, Kenji Kawana, Takashi Aoki, Daisuke Nagasaka, Kazuhisa Makita
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Patent number: 7530559Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a booklet maker are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Abdolreza Movaghar, Miquel Boleda Busquets, Eng Long Goh
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Publication number: 20090085271Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Nisca CorporationInventors: Keiichi Nagasawa, Akihiko Tsukui, Katsumasa Takagi, Hiroshi Nakagomi
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Patent number: 7503556Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet finisher including: a push-in member to push a sheet bundle; a pair of rollers to fold the sheet bundle pushed-in by the push-in member; a movement member to move at least one roller of the pair of rollers; an acquiring member to acquire information of a thickness of the sheet bundle; and a control member to control the movement member so as to adjust a clearance between the pair of rollers, based on the information of the thickness of the sheet bundle acquired by the acquiring member.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Eiji Sugimoto, Teruhiko Toyoizumi
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Patent number: 7497425Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus (1) includes a punching unit (P), an end-binding unit (S) which aligns end portions of a sheet bundle piled on a processing tray (2) and performs a stapling process, and a middle-binding and middle-folding unit (C) which performs a stapling process on the center of the sheet bundle and then folds centering around the stapling portion to be in a brochure form. The middle-binding and middle-folding unit (C) is independently provided on the lower side of the end-binding unit (S) and a middle-binding and middle-folding feeding path (27) feeds sheets to the middle-binding and middle-folding unit (C) without via the processing tray (2) of the end-binding unit (S).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Tetsuya Taguchi, Mitsutoshi Takemoto, Takeshi Matsuo, Masahiko Miyazaki, Keisuke Egawa
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Patent number: 7494116Abstract: Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. Furthermore, a Z-folding mechanism is arranged above the standby tray, and the sheets of paper P folded in a Z shape are dropped, and are mixed and stapled on the standby tray or processing tray, and even when performing a plurality of post processes for sheets, miniaturization of a sheet post-process system is retained.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasunobu Terao, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Mikio Yamamoto, Tomomi Iijima, Hiroyuki Taki
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Patent number: 7458927Abstract: An interfolding apparatus including a knife roll, a first interfolding roll, a second interfolding roll, and a transfer roll. The knife roll cuts sheets from a stream of web material issuing from a source in a downstream direction. The first interfolding roll is positioned downstream of the knife roll and receives the sheets. The first interfolding roll rotates in a first direction and the second interfolding roll rotates in a second direction. The first and second interfolding rolls interfold the sheets with additional sheets received by the second interfolding roll. A transfer roll is positioned between the knife roll and the first interfolding roll. The transfer roll has a non-uniform surface configuration and rotates in the second direction and receives the sheets from the knife roll, forms a bend in each of the sheets, and transfers the formed sheets to the first interfolding roll.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: Greg Kauppila, Chad Ryczek, Dennis Couturier
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Patent number: 7451695Abstract: An apparatus serves for pressing sheet-like printed products, in particular for pressing folded printed products. The apparatus has a first pair of pressing rollers, with a first, lower pressing roller and a second, upper pressing roller. A further pair of pressing rollers arranged downstream has a third, lower pressing roller and a fourth, upper pressing roller. A drive for driving the pressing rollers is also provided. It is proposed that one pressing roller of each pair of pressing rollers can be moved away from, and toward, the other pressing roller via a mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Palamides GmbHInventors: Stefano Palamides, Johannes Oldenkott, Wolfgang Pfeiffer
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Patent number: 7431273Abstract: A sheet bundle spine folded portion flattening apparatus is provided with a conveying portion which conveys the folded sheet bundle with the spine folded portion of the folded sheet bundle at a head, a sheet bundle moving device for moving it in a direction along the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle, and a pressing device for pressing the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle being moved by the sheet bundle moving device, and is adapted to press and flatten the spine folded portion of the sheet bundle being moved by the sheet bundle moving device, by the pressing device and therefore, can flatten the spine folded portion almost without stopping the movement of the sheet bundle, as compared with the conventional art, and the sheet bundle treating efficiency is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Hideki Kushida, Atsuteru Oikawa
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Patent number: 7431274Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Kushida, Yusuke Obuchi, Daisaku Kamiya, Hitoshi Fujimoto, Kiyoshi Watanabe, Tomokazu Nakamura, Kenichi Hayashi, Toshimasa Suzuki, Atsuteru Oikawa
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Patent number: 7429037Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is equipped with a process tray on which sheets conveyed are stacked, a return belt which moves the sheets stacked on the process tray, a trailing edge stopper which receives an end portion of the sheets moved by the return belt, and a conveyance assist roller which comes into contact with the sheets on the upstream side of the return belt with respect to the sheet moving direction and imparts a load to the movement of the sheets. The return belt moves the sheets to which a load has been imparted by the conveyance assist roller and causes them to be abutted on the trailing edge stopper.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Wataru Kawata, Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
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Publication number: 20080211159Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2007Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomomi Iijima, Katsuhiko Tsuchiya
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Patent number: 7416177Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus is configured so as to be capable of preventing the misalignment of the end edge of sheets to be scooped and transported from an intermediate tray, and reliably preventing the so-called displacement of end edges in the post-processing steps of sheets as a recording medium with an image formed thereon, and thereby preventing the inferior appearance during binding. A sheet folding apparatus enables a user to easily adjust the misalignment of the fold line of sheets that occurs during actual use, in the middle folding processing steps of sheets as a recording medium with an image formed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kenji Yamada, Hiromoto Saitoh, Naohiro Kikkawa, Junichi Iida, Junichi Tokita, Shingo Matsushita, Masahiro Tamura, Shuuya Nagasako
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Patent number: 7410158Abstract: A copy machine achieves a reduction in power consumption when performing a saddle-stitching operation. An image forming unit forms visible images on recording sheets in accordance with image data stored in a memory device. A post-processing unit collects the recording media on an individual copy basis to prepare a bundle of the recording sheets, and performs a saddle-stitching process and a center-folding process on the bundle of the recording sheets. The post-processing unit ejects the processed recording sheets onto a predetermined eject tray. A system control part determines whether or not a total number of the recording sheets corresponding to the image data is within a limit number for the saddle-stitching process. When the total number of the recording sheets exceeds the limit number for the saddle-stitching process, the recording sheets are ejected onto the at least one eject tray other than a predetermined eject tray.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Iida, Hiroki Okada, Junichi Tokita, Kenji Yamada, Hiromoto Saitoh, Shuuya Nagasako, Naohiro Kikkawa
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Publication number: 20080185764Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus of the present invention includes a folding mechanism that includes a folding roller pair disposed along a conveyance path of sheets, the folding mechanism pushing the sheets from a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction into a nip portion between the pair of folding rollers and rotating the folding roller pair to fold the sheets; and a discharge roller pair for discharging, into a paper discharge tray, the sheets that have been folded by the rotation of the folding roller pair, wherein each roller of the folding roller pair has a multilayer structure including a first layer roller and a second layer roller disposed on the outer periphery of the first roller, with the hardness of the first layer roller being higher than the hardness of the second layer roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shouichi Dobashi
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Publication number: 20080179810Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kiyoshi Watanabe, Kenichi Hayashi
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Patent number: 7374160Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a stapler for stapling a center of plural stacked sheets; a sheet folding mechanism for folding a set of the stapled sheets in half; a sheet recognizing portion for recognizing the number of sheets forming the set of sheets; a sheet transport mechanism for transporting the set of stapled sheets to a position where the center of the set of sheets is folded by the sheet folding mechanism; a transport distance determination table for associating the number of sheets with a distance by which the set of sheets is to be transported by the sheet transport mechanism; and a sheet transport control portion for transporting the set of sheets by a distance determined by the transport distance determination table according to the number of sheets through use of the sheet transport mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Raita Doi
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Publication number: 20080106024Abstract: A sheet storing device that has a conveyance device that holds a folded sheet to convey and a sheet storing section on which a sheet falling after being released from holding is placed, and allows a position of holding lower end position of the aforesaid conveyance device to be variable, a post-processing apparatus equipped with the sheet storing device and an image forming system equipped with the aforesaid items.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hirofumi Kayahara, Toshio Shida, Masashi Kougami
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Publication number: 20080106032Abstract: An image forming system, including an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet, a post-finishing apparatus to conduct a post-finishing operation on the sheet carrying the formed image, an intermediate conveyance unit, provided between the image forming apparatus and the post-finishing apparatus, to convey the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus to the post-finishing apparatus, wherein the intermediate conveyance unit includes a first conveyance route which receives the sheet one by one from the image forming apparatus and ejects the sheet one by one to the post-finishing apparatus, a second conveyance route which receives the sheet one by one from the image forming apparatus and overlaps the sheets as a set of plural sheets to be ejected to the post processing apparatus, and a control section which selects either the first conveyance route or the second conveyance route based on an image forming condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Takanori Kanda
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Publication number: 20080099973Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventor: Takashi Kotani
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Patent number: 7344130Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet processor apparatus comprising: a sheet stack portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; a sheet conveyor for conveying to the sheet conveyance path the sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; and a sheet folding device for folding a sheet in the sheet-set conveyance path. The sheet folding device is provided in the sheet conveyance path, and at least a portion of the sheet conveyance path at which the sheet folding device is positioned is formed into a curved shape.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Masaharu Nemura, Junichi Moteki, Yuzo Matsumoto, Shunsuke Nishimura
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Publication number: 20080061489Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
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Patent number: 7328892Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2003Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Asami, Hitoshi Hattori, Takeshi Sasaki, Shohichi Satoh
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Patent number: 7318875Abstract: A method of manufacturing a publication including uniting a printed paper web with a printed film web to form a combined web, forming at least one signature sheet from the combined web, and folding the signature sheet to form a signature, wherein the signature comprises a plurality of pages of the publication with film material sandwiched therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Stromberg Allen & CompanyInventor: Steven N. Kruchko
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Patent number: 7264236Abstract: A pressing member is provided on a shutter member provided in a main body of an apparatus and adapted to open and close a folded sheet discharging port upon upward and downward shifting movement of sheet stacking means in such a manner that, after folding processing is performed by folding means as the shutter member is lowered, a sheet discharged onto folded sheet stacking means is pressed down by the pressing member. Further, if there is any sheet on the folded sheet stacking means, by stopping the sheet stacking means at a predetermined position where the shutter member lightly abuts against the sheet discharged on the folded sheet stacking means, the sheet is prevented from being pinched between the shutter member and the sheet stacking means.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2005Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignees: Canon Finetech Inc., Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato, Hiroshi Suzuki, Tetsuya Terada
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Patent number: 7261288Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus stops and positions an image recording sheet delivered from an image forming apparatus at a predetermined position, punches the sheet with a punching unit, and thereafter folds the sheet with a folding unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hisao Hosoya, Kazuhiro Hirota, Kazuyoshi Omi, Kazuaki Fukuda, Yuji Kanazawa, Hideyo Ohashi, Tomoki Nagaoka, Kohji Yoshie, Hiroto Ito, Hitoshi Tamura, Masato Hattori, Teruhiko Toyoizumi, Norishige Kato
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Patent number: 7255337Abstract: A post processing apparatus for processing image-recorded sheets, having: a transporting unit for transporting a booklet comprising a plurality of image-recorded sheets; a trimming section for trimming the booklet; and an oscillating mechanism for oscillating the transporting unit to change a transporting plane angle of the transporting unit; wherein, the oscillating mechanism oscillates the transporting unit to arrange a first transporting plane angle at the time when the transporting unit receives the booklet and a second transporting plane angle at the time when the transporting unit conveys the booklet to the trimming section different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: August 14, 2007Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Toshio Shida, Masaaki Uchiyama, Masato Hattori, Kenji Kawatsu
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Patent number: 7152856Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet processor apparatus comprising: a sheet stack portion on which a sheet is stacked; a sheet conveyance path for conveying a sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; a sheet conveyor for conveying to the sheet conveyance path the sheet stacked on the sheet stack portion; and a sheet folding device for folding a sheet in the sheet-set conveyance path. The sheet folding device is provided in the sheet conveyance path, and at least a portion of the sheet conveyance path at which the sheet folding device is positioned is formed into a curved shape.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Daisaku Kamiya, Masaharu Nemura, Junichi Moteki, Yuzo Matsumoto, Shunsuke Nishimura
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Patent number: 7147217Abstract: A paper binding system of an image forming apparatus, such as a printer and a copier, and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, in which finishing processes such as stapling and folding are performed by exactly gripping papers ejected from the image forming apparatus without any scattering. The paper binding system of the image forming apparatus includes a paper moving means 150 moving papers ejected from the image forming apparatus, a paper positioning unit 88 temporarily receiving the papers moved from the paper moving means and positioning them, a stapler unit 84 stapling the papers received in the paper positioning unit, a folding means 151 folding the stapled papers, and an eject tray 135 receiving the papers finished through the stapler unit and/or the folding means.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignees: KRDC Co., Ltd., Gradco Ltd.Inventors: Yeon-Kwan Jung, Umehara Kenji, Jeong-Ho Kim, Jae-Geol Choi, Seung-Gweon Lee
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Patent number: 7137944Abstract: A folding device of the present invention includes a fold plate and a fold roller pair for folding a sheet or a sheet stack conveyed thereto. A controller causes the fold roller pair to move back and forth while nipping the folded portion of the sheet or that of the sheet stack at its nip for thereby continuously exerting pressure on the folded portion. The fold roller pair is rotated in opposite directions for thereby sharpening the fold of the sheet or that of the sheet stack.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Kenji Yamada, Masahiro Tamura, Hiromoto Saitoh, Hiroki Okada, Junichi Iida, Shuuya Nagasako
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Patent number: 7135084Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a booklet from a rectangular sheet of paper having information regarding a drug product printed thereon. The method comprises applying a first portion of glue to a first face of the sheet of paper along a single linear path, applying a second portion of glue to a second face of the sheet of paper along a single linear path, making a plurality of parallel folds in the sheet of paper in a direction transverse to the single linear paths along which the glue was applied to produce an intermediate item, and trimming the intermediate item in a direction parallel to the plurality of parallel folds to cause the first and second of the plurality of parallel folds to be removed from the intermediate item.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Vijuk Equipment, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A. Furst, James R. Monaco
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Patent number: 7111837Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet postprocessing apparatus which includes a first crease forming unit for forming a first crease on a sheet in its width direction, a second crease forming unit for forming a second crease parallel to the first crease, a first abutting member against which the leading end of a sheet introduced into the first crease forming unit abuts to position the sheet, a second abutting member against which the first crease abuts to position the sheet, a first driving mechanism for driving the first abutting member, a second driving mechanism for driving the second abutting member, and a control device for controlling the first crease forming unit, first driving mechanism, second crease forming unit, and second driving mechanism, and makes one folding process selected from a center folding process, inward three-fold process, and Z-fold process executable in the same sheet convey path.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Hiroto Itou, Kohji Yoshie, Hitoshi Tamura, Hisao Hosoya
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Patent number: 7077393Abstract: A finisher that is capable of accurate sheet processing but is small in size, the finisher controlling a feeder and a sheet folding unit and executing 1) an operation in which the sheet is conveyed in the first direction, and after a downstream edge thereof relative to the first direction is detected by the detector during conveyance, the sheet is conveyed in the second direction, 2) an operation in which after such sheet edge is detected by the detector during conveyance in the second direction, the conveyance of the sheet in the second direction is continued for a prescribed amount based on a sheet length along a direction of conveyance, whereupon the sheet is stopped, and 3) an operation in which after the sheet is stopped, the sheet folding unit is operated to create a fold line at a prescribed position in the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2004Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Takeshi Ishida
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Patent number: 7066368Abstract: At least one paper web is drawn into a web-fed rotary printing press. A draw-in device is provided with permanently fixed pointed bars or spikes. These can be moved or oriented so that they penetrate the paper web only during drawing in of the web into the printing press.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2000Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Koenig & Bauer AktiengesellschaftInventors: Wolfgang Günter Ruckmann, Horst Bernhard Michalik
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Patent number: 7063312Abstract: An apparatus for processing, stacking and thereafter collecting printed forms, includes: a dual registering stacking interface, that stacks and accumulates forms in a stack or in a continuing feeding as separate forms; and, a sequencer merger that receives the forms from the dual registering stacking interface and directs the forms in a selected order to an output end. The output end communicates with an accumulator that feeds the forms to a folder. The folder thereafter feeds the forms to a collector to be held until called for by a subsequent downstream device, such as a mail inserter device. The register, accumulator and collector are belt and/or roller driven devices, wherein the invention provides clutching assemblies for the transport belts and rollers in order to eliminate the streaking of the printed forms when idled forms are held stationary against the transport belts.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Inventors: Kenneth A. Stevens, Douglas A. Keller
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Patent number: 7018507Abstract: This invention provides a pressure sealer apparatus, for folding and sealing papers coated with adhesion at part of margins thereof into a smaller size, comprising: a buffer, controlled by a buffer motor and a buffer switch to move between an inactivated and an activated position; a paper entry provided at a downstream of the buffer; a paper alignment provided at a downstream of the paper entry, including an alignment roller set and a ball set, the ball set having a ball freely rotatable in a frame and suspended above the alignment roller set; a folding device provided at a downstream of the paper alignment; a presser provided at a downstream of the folding device, including a pressure cylinder situated to form an angle with respect to the alignment roller; and an exit provided at a downstream of the presser.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Printmail Solutions Inc.Inventor: Elton Hsieh
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Patent number: 7014730Abstract: Cards may be singly fed along a primary lane so that a batch of cards is fed along the primary lane. One or more cards may be selectively diverted from the primary lane to a secondary lane such that only some of the batch of cards are diverted. The cards from the batch in the primary lane and the secondary lane are then affixed to a carrier so that each card of the batch is affixed to the carrier. The diversion may be achieved by a reciprocating gate between the primary lane and the secondary lane and a conveyor running on a bias between the primary lane and the secondary lane at the downstream location of the gate.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Longford Equipment International LimitedInventor: Edward J. Cook
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Patent number: 7000912Abstract: A sheet finisher includes a conveyance member which conveys a sheet to an ejection direction, a sheet ejection section having paired rollers for ejecting the conveyed sheet by nipping the sheet by the paired rollers, and a control section for controlling the conveyance member and the sheet ejection section to separate the paired rollers from each other when conveying the sheet. After a front end portion of the sheet in the ejection direction passes a nipping position of the paired rollers, the control section makes the paired rollers press-contact with each other, nip and reconvey the sheet, and eject the sheet out of the finisher. The control section further controls the conveyance member and the sheet ejection section to temporarily release the press-contact of the paired rollers during reconveyance of the sheet to remove a sag from the sheet to then make the paired rollers press-contact with each other again, and to eject the sheet out of the finisher by nipping the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Hitoshi Tamura, Hiroto Ito, Nobutaka Kato, Hirohiko Okabe
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Patent number: 6997450Abstract: A sheet folding and accumulation system and method inverts folded sheets onto a saddle where the sheets are accumulated and bound into a booklet. The inverting of the sheets onto the saddle for accumulation and binding eliminates the need for the saddle or other sheet collection member to translate or pivot for location of the sheets onto the saddle. A sheet folding and accumulation system includes a folding mechanism configured to form a fold in a sheet, a saddle for collecting folded sheets into a booklet for binding, and an inverting mechanism for inverting the folded sheet and placing the folded sheet onto the saddle with the peak of the fold in the sheet pointing upward.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Steven W. Trovinger
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Patent number: 6997449Abstract: A pressing member is provided on a shutter member provided in a main body of an apparatus and adapted to open and close a folded sheet discharging port upon upward and downward shifting movement of sheet stacking means in such a manner that, after folding processing is performed by folding means as the shutter member is lowered, a sheet discharged onto folded sheet stacking means is pressed down by the pressing member. Further, if there is any sheet on the folded sheet stacking means, by stopping the sheet stacking means at a predetermined position where the shutter member lightly abuts against the sheet discharged on the folded sheet stacking means, the sheet is prevented from being pinched between the shutter member and the sheet stacking means.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignees: Canon Finetech, Inc., Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Obuchi, Hitoshi Kato, Hiroshi Suzuki, Tetsuya Terada
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Patent number: 6991224Abstract: Method and apparatus for assembling sheets of printing media for booklets. In one aspect the sheets are folded, sheet-by-sheet, and in another aspect the sheets are collected, sheet-by-sheet, and registered on a fold in each sheet. In still another aspect printed sheets are loaded, sheet-by-sheet, into the apparatus. Each sheet is trimmed to a pre-determined width depending on the position of the sheet in the booklet being assembled. The sheets are thereafter folded, sheet-by-sheet, and collected into a stack. The method and apparatus have particular application in finishing duplex printed sheets of paper into saddle-stitched booklets.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Steven W Trovinger, Ross R Allen, Erik G Vaaler