IP Library Granted Patent US 12,264,032
Granted Patent B2
US 12,264,032 · App. 18/636,689 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Medium processing apparatus and image forming system incorporating same

Inventors: Junya Suzuki (Kanagawa, JP); Kei Sasaki (Kanagawa, JP); Kazuki Seto (Kanagawa, JP); Kotomi Kameyama (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
B65H37/04B42C1/12B65H35/0073B65H35/04B65H2301/51616B65H2801/27
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 12,264,032
App. No.
18/636,689
Granted
Apr 1, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A medium processing apparatus includes a conveyor, a liquid applier, and a crimper. The conveyor conveys a medium in a conveyance direction. The liquid applier applies liquid to a liquid application position on the medium conveyed by the conveyor. The crimper presses and deforms the liquid application position on a plurality of media including the medium to bind the plurality of media. The liquid applier includes a liquid application rotator configured to rotate, in contact with the medium conveyed by the conveyor, about a pivot extending in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium and to a thickness direction of the medium, to apply the liquid to the medium.

Claims (20)

1. A medium processing apparatus comprising:

a conveyor configured to convey a medium in a conveyance direction;

a liquid applier configured to apply liquid to a liquid application position on the medium conveyed by the conveyor; and

a crimper configured to press and deform the liquid application position on a plurality of media including the medium to bind the plurality of media,

wherein the liquid applier includes a liquid application rotator configured to rotate, in contact with the medium conveyed by the conveyor, about a pivot extending in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium and to a thickness direction of the medium, to apply the liquid to the medium.

2. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid applier is positioned to face the liquid application position when the conveyor temporarily stops conveying the medium.

3. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to execute a process to correct an inclination of the medium or a process to punch a hole penetrating the medium in the thickness direction of the medium, in parallel with a liquid application process performed by the liquid applier, when the conveyor temporarily stops conveying the medium.

4. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid applier is configured to move in the main scanning direction and stand by at a position where the liquid applier faces the liquid application position before the conveyor starts conveying the medium.

5. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid applier includes a plurality of liquid application units apart from each other in the main scanning direction and movable in the main scanning direction.

6. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the liquid applier is configured to adjust an amount of the liquid to be applied to each of the plurality of media conveyed by the conveyor.

7. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the liquid applier includes a liquid application member configured to contact the medium and separate from the medium, and

wherein the liquid applier is configured to change a pressing force of the liquid application member against the medium to adjust the amount of the liquid to be applied.

8. An image forming system comprising:

an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a medium; and

the medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2024
From: SUZUKI, JUNYA; SASAKI, KEI; SETO, KAZUKI; KAMEYAMA, KOTOMI
To: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067119/0278 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2022-011154 · Jan 27, 2022 · national
JP 2022-178962 · Nov 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 18153023 · Jan 11, 2023
Related Publication 20240262650A1 · Aug 8, 2024
References Cited (17)
US 7758724B2 · Akai et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 9669644B2 · Taguchi et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9914280B2 · Takashima et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10406772B2 · Takahashi et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10654240B2 · Takahashi et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11485155B2 · Yamaguchi et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20140219747A1 · Takahashi et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150123342A1 · Furuhashi et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20200307945A1 · Mori et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220334525A1 · Sasaki et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230108507A1 · Fukasawa et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014148398 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014201432 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015166281 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016016973 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018199552 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019043759 · 2019 [cited by applicant]