Sheet separation device, laminator, image forming apparatus, and image forming system
A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
1. A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion of the two-ply sheet, the sheet separation device comprising:
a rotator including a holder configured to hold the two-ply sheet;
the holder configured to hold the two-ply sheet around the rotator to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet as the rotator rotates, to separate the two-ply sheet;
a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet to the holder, with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet; and
control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
2. The sheet separation device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
acquire information on the two-ply sheet; and
adjust the winding amount of the two-ply sheet in accordance with the information on the two-ply sheet.
3. The sheet separation device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the information on the two-ply sheet includes at least one of a size, a thickness, and a material of the two-ply sheet.
4. The sheet separation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheet end sensor being upstream from the conveyor in the conveyance direction in which the conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet toward the rotator, the sheet end sensor configured to detect an end of the two-ply sheet in the conveyance direction,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the winding amount of the two-ply sheet in accordance with a detection result generated by the sheet end sensor.
5. The sheet separation device according to claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor being between the rotator and the conveyor in the conveyance direction, the distance sensor configured to detect a distance to a surface of the two-ply sheet,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust the winding amount of the two-ply sheet in accordance with a detection result generated by the distance sensor.
6. The sheet separation device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the conveyor is configured to convey the two-ply sheet in both a direction toward the rotator and a reverse direction retracting from the rotator.
7. The sheet separation device according to claim 6 ,
wherein, in winding the two-ply sheet around the rotator, the rotator winds the two-ply sheet with the bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being the upstream end in the conveyance direction in which the conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet toward the rotator.
8. The sheet separation device according to claim 7 , further comprising a separation claw disposed between the rotator and the conveyor in the conveyance direction and configured to move in a width direction of the two-ply sheet,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
insert, in the width direction, the separation claw into a space between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet; and
cause the conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in the reverse direction retracting from the rotator with the separation claw inserted in the space, to separate the two sheets of the two-ply sheet.
9. The sheet separation device according to claim 8 , further comprising a sheet guide configured to guide the separated two sheets of the two-ply sheet to different passages,
wherein the conveyor is configured to convey the separated two sheets to the sheet guide, to open the two-ply sheet.
10. The sheet separation device according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a first stacking tray configured to store the two-ply sheet;
a first feeder configured to feed the two-ply sheet from the first stacking tray to the conveyor;
a second stacking tray configured to store a sheet medium to be inserted into the two-ply sheet; and
a second feeder configured to feed, from the second stacking tray, the sheet medium into the two-ply sheet.
11. A laminator comprising:
the sheet separation device according to claim 1 ; and
a heat and pressure member configured to heat and press the two sheets of the two-ply sheet.
12. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a two-ply sheet tray configured to store the two-ply sheet;
a two-ply sheet feeder configured to feed the two-ply sheet from the two-ply sheet tray;
an image forming device configured to form an image on the two-ply sheet; and
the sheet separation device according to claim 1 , to separate the two sheets of the two-ply sheet.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a laminator including:
the sheet separation device; and
a heat and pressure member configured to heat and press the two-ply sheet.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a medium tray configured to store a sheet medium;
a medium feeder configured to feed the sheet medium from the medium tray; and
an image forming device configured to form an image on the sheet medium,
wherein the sheet separation device is configured to insert, into the two-ply sheet, the sheet medium on which the image is formed.
15. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a medium tray configured to store a sheet medium;
a medium feeder configured to feed the sheet medium from the medium tray;
an image forming device configured to form an image on the sheet medium; and
the sheet separation device according to claim 1 , configured to separate the two sheets of the two-ply sheet and insert, into the two-ply sheet, the sheet medium on which the image is formed.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a laminator including:
the sheet separation device; and
a heat and pressure member configured to heat and press the two-ply sheet.
17. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus; and
the sheet separation device according to claim 1 , removably coupled to the image forming apparatus.
18. The image forming system according to claim 17 , further comprising a laminator including:
the sheet separation device; and
a heat and pressure member configured to heat and press the two-ply sheet.
19. A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion of the two-ply sheet, the sheet separation device comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet toward a nip between winding members, with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet;
the winding members, configured to wind the two-ply sheet around one of the winding members, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and to separate the two-ply sheet; and
control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around one of the winding members.
20. The sheet separation device according to claim 19 ,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
acquire information on the two-ply sheet; and
adjust the winding amount of the two-ply sheet in accordance with the information on the two-ply sheet.