IP Library Granted Patent US 9,415,560
Granted Patent B2
US 9,415,560 · App. 14/302,971 · Granted Aug 16, 2016

Sheet processing apparatus, image forming system, and image forming apparatus

Inventors: Takuya Morinaga (Tokyo, JP); Nobuyoshi Suzuki (Tokyo, JP); Katsuhiro Kosuge (Kanagawa, JP); Yuusuke Shibasaki (Kanagawa, JP); Ryuji Yoshida (Kanagawa, JP); Wataru Takahashi (Toyko, JP); Takashi Saito (Kanagawa, JP); Akihiro Musha (Kanagawa, JP); Ikuhisa Okamoto (Kanagawa, JP); Shingo Matsushita (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
B31F5/02B31F1/07B42B4/00B42C13/00B42F3/003B65H37/04B65H39/06G03G15/6538G03G15/6544B31F2201/0712B65H2301/51616B65H2601/255B65H2601/2532B65H2801/27G03G2215/00843
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,415,560
App. No.
14/302,971
Granted
Aug 16, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet fastening unit of a pressing fastener method in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members; a conveying unit that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastening unit; a separating unit that, after the sheet fastening unit performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both one and the other pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member; and a control unit that, after the separating unit finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying unit so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastening unit.

Claims (81)

1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

wherein the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member, one end of the arm member is secured to the eccentric cam, and the other end of the arm member is secured to the sheet fastener, and

wherein when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

after the pair of pressing fastener members is moved to a retracted position, the controller controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the separator includes a pressing member that presses the bundle of sheets,

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members parallel to a surface of the sheet, and

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members while the pressing member presses the bundle of sheets.

4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the moving mechanism configured such that the sheet fastener is capable of fastening the bundle of sheets at multiple locations of the bundle of sheets.

5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing mechanism includes a pressing member, a pressing lever, a pressing spring, and a pressing solenoid.

6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein a pressing section that presses the bundle of sheets is provided on an end of the pressing member on the side of the sheet fastener such that the pressing section protrudes toward the bundle of sheets.

7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein one end of the pressing lever is secured to an end of the pressing member on the side of a sheet discharge roller.

8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the pressing lever near its middle section is biased toward the sheet fastener by the pressing spring, and

the other end of the pressing lever is secured to the pressing solenoid.

9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when the pressing solenoid is ON, the pressing member is located in a pressure released position that is away from the bundle of sheets.

10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when the pressing solenoid is OFF, the pressing member is brought into contact with the bundle of sheets on a staple tray so as to press the bundle of sheets against the staple tray.

11. An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; and

a sheet processor that processes a sheet that has an image formed by the image forming apparatus, wherein

the sheet processor including:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

wherein the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member, one end of the arm member is secured to the eccentric cam, and the other end of the arm member is secured to the sheet fastener, and

wherein when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position.

12. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising a sheet processing apparatus, wherein

the sheet processor including:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

wherein the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member, one end of the arm member is secured to the eccentric cam, and the other end of the arm member is secured to the sheet fastener, and

wherein when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position.

13. A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener, wherein:

the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member,

when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position,

after the pair of pressing fastener members is moved to the retracted position, the controller controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

the separator includes a pressing member that presses the bundle of sheets,

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members parallel to a surface of the sheet, and

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members while the pressing member presses the bundle of sheets.

14. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the moving mechanism is configured such that the sheet fastener is capable of fastening the bundle of sheets at multiple locations of the bundle of sheets.

15. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the pressing mechanism includes a pressing member, a pressing lever, a pressing spring, and a pressing solenoid.

16. An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet; and

a sheet processor that processes a sheet that has an image formed by the image forming apparatus, wherein

the sheet processor including:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener, wherein:

the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member,

when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position,

after the pair of pressing fastener members is moved to the retracted position, the controller controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

the separator includes a pressing member that presses the bundle of sheets,

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members parallel to a surface of the sheet, and

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members while the pressing member presses the bundle of sheets.

17. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the moving mechanism is configured such that the sheet fastener is capable of fastening the bundle of sheets at multiple locations of the bundle of sheets.

18. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, the image forming apparatus comprising a sheet processing apparatus, wherein

the sheet processor including:

a sheet fastener in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members;

a conveying member that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener;

a separator that, after the sheet fastener performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both of the pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member via a pressing mechanism positioned near an area of the fastened bundle of sheets; and

a controller that, after the separator finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener, wherein:

the separator includes a moving mechanism, the moving mechanism includes an eccentric cam and an arm member, and

when the eccentric cam is rotated in one direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a fastening position, and when the eccentric cam is rotated in other direction, the sheet fastener is moved to a home position,

after the pair of pressing fastener members is moved to the retracted position, the controller controls the conveying member so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastener,

the separator includes a pressing member that presses the bundle of sheets,

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members parallel to a surface of the sheet, and

the moving mechanism moves the pair of pressing fastener members while the pressing member presses the bundle of sheets.

19. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the moving mechanism is configured such that the sheet fastener is capable of fastening the bundle of sheets at multiple locations of the bundle of sheets.

20. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the pressing mechanism includes a pressing member, a pressing lever, a pressing spring, and a pressing solenoid.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF 9TH INVENTOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033091 FRAME 0064. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NAME OF 9TH INVENTOR IS "OKAMOTO, IKUHISA". Recorded Jul 23, 2014
From: MORINAGA, TAKUYA; SUZUKI, NOBUYOSHI; KOSUGE, KATSUHIRO; YUUSUKE, SHIBASAKI; YOSHIDA, RYUJI; TAKAHASHI, WATARU; SAITO, TAKASHI; MUSHA, AKIHIRO; OKAMOTO, IKUHISA; MATSUSHITA, SHINGO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 033390/0281 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2014
From: MORINAGA, TAKUYA; SUZUKI, NOBUYOSHI; KOSUGE, KATSUHIRO; SHIBASAKI, YUUSUKE; YOSHIDA, RYUJI; TAKAHASHI, WATARU; SAITO, TAKASHI; MUSHA, AKIHIRO; OKAMOTO, IKUHLSA; MATSUSHITA, SHINGO
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 033091/0064 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-138173 · Jul 1, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150003938A1 · Jan 1, 2015