SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM

Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus includes a binder, a mover, and a posture changer. The binder binds a sheet bundle of multiple sheet media including a sheet medium conveyed to the binder in a conveyance direction. The mover moves the binder in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The posture changer changes a posture of the binder that faces the sheet bundle, according to a change in a relative position between the posture changer and the binder in the orthogonal direction by a movement of the binder in the orthogonal direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-193961, filed on Nov. 14, 2023, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sheet processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

Background Art

Image forming apparatuses are known that form an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium. Sheet processing apparatuses are known that perform a given processing on the recording medium used for image forming in an image forming apparatus. Further, image forming systems are known that couple a sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus with each other.

Various types of sheet processing operations are known to be performed by a sheet processing apparatus. Such a sheet processing operation is also referred to as a “post-processing operation” since this corresponds to a post-processing of an image forming operation. For example, various types of sheet processing operations are known that include an alignment operation in which multiple media (sheets) are stacked to align one end of the sheet bundle (the stacked multiple media), a binding operation in which the one end of the aligned multiple media (sheets) is bound, and a folding operation in which the media or medium is folded to a given shape, e.g., a Z-fold, a letter fold-out, or a half-fold.

A “stapling” is known as one of the post-processing operations to bind a sheet bundle with a staple or staples mainly made of metal. Further, a “crimp binding” is known as one of the post-processing operations to press to deform one end of a sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle without a staple or staples. Sheet processing apparatuses known in the art are known that include a staple binding unit and a crimp binding unit together.

Of such sheet processing apparatuses including multiple binders, some sheet processing apparatuses are known to be selectable between a “parallel binding” in which the binding position of a sheet bundle is parallel to the sheet width direction and an “angled binding” in which the binding position of a sheet bundle is in an oblique direction to the sheet width direction, according to the size of a sheet medium.

Such a sheet processing apparatus known in the art needs to include a rotary unit including a driver different from a driver of a moving device to move the binder in the width direction of the sheet medium in order to enable the respective binders to perform the angled binding and the parallel binding to a given medium size. In other words, the techniques known in the art has an inconvenience in which a sheet processing apparatus needs to include the rotary unit including a driver to change the posture of a binder needs to be disposed in addition to the moving device, and such a sheet processing apparatus including the rotary unit and the moving device increases in size and cost.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide a novel sheet processing apparatus including a binder, a mover, and a posture changer. The binder binds a sheet bundle of multiple sheet media including a sheet medium conveyed to the binder in a conveyance direction. The mover moves the binder in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The posture changer changes a posture of the binder that faces the sheet bundle, according to a change in a relative position between the posture changer and the binder in the orthogonal direction by a movement of the binder in the orthogonal direction.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide an image forming apparatus including a housing, an image forming device, and the above-described sheet processing apparatus. The image forming device is included in the housing to form an image on a sheet medium. The sheet processing apparatus is detachably attached to the housing to bind a sheet bundle including sheet media, on each sheet medium of which the image is formed by the image forming device.

Further, embodiments of the present disclosure described herein provide an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and the above-described sheet processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus form an image on a sheet medium. The sheet processing apparatus is coupled to the image forming apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sheet binder according to the present embodiment, in an operation;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a sheet binder according to the present embodiment, in another operation;

FIG. 8A is a plan view of a sheet binder according to the present embodiment, viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet;

FIG. 8B is a front view of the sheet binder of FIG. 8A performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 8B;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sheet binder according to the present embodiment, in yet another operation;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder of FIG. 12 performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14A is a plan view of the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet;

FIG. 14B is a front view of the sheet binder of FIG. 14A performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 14B;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17A is a plan view of the sheet binder according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet;

FIG. 17B is a side view of the sheet binder of FIG. 17A, in yet another operation;

FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating a sheet binder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18B is a plan view of the sheet binder of FIG. 18A;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are plan views of the sheet binder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, in yet another operation;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are plan views of the sheet binder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, in yet another operation;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are plan views of the sheet binder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, in yet another operation;

FIGS. 22A, 22B and 22C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of a crimp binder included in a sheet binder according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of a unit pivot cam according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 24A, 24B and 24C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of a unit pivot cam according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a diagrams illustrating a configuration of a sheet binder according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26 is a diagrams illustrating another configuration of a sheet binder according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are plan views of the sheet binder according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 26;

FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C are diagrams each illustrating the configuration of the sheet binder according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C are diagrams each illustrating the configuration of the sheet binder according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that if an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “against,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, then it can be directly on, against, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, then there are no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term “connected/coupled” includes both direct connections and connections in which there are one or more intermediate connecting elements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements describes as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments and examples and is not intended to be limiting of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof are simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to identical or corresponding constituent elements such as parts and members having the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted unless otherwise required.

Embodiment of Image Forming Apparatus

A description is given of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the image forming apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image forming apparatus 1 has an image forming function of forming an image on a sheet medium that is an object on which a post-processing operation is performed and a post-processing function of performing a given post-processing operation (sheet processing) on the sheet medium on which an image is formed.

A sheet medium includes various types of media, and the following description employs a sheet of paper (sheet) as a sheet medium. A sheet of paper as an object on which the sheet processing is performed is referred to as a “sheet S” below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 31 and an image forming device 32 disposed in the housing 31. The housing 31 has a box-shaped member having an inner space to accommodate components of the image forming apparatus 1. The housing 31 has an in-body space 33 that is accessible from the outside of the image forming apparatus 1. The in-body space 33 is located, for example, slightly above the center of the housing 31 in the vertical direction. The in-body space 33 is exposed to the outside through the cutting that is made by cutting out the outer wall of the housing 31.

Further, a hole puncher 200 and a sheet binder 100 are attachable to the in-body space 33. The sheet binder 100 functions as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image forming device 32 receives a sheet S that is picked up and conveyed from a sheet tray and ejects the sheet S to the hole puncher 200 and the sheet binder 100. The image forming device 32 may be an inkjet image forming device that forms an image with ink or an electrophotographic image forming device that forms an image with toner. Since the image forming device 32 has a typical configuration, a detailed description of the image forming device 32 will be omitted unless otherwise required.

The hole puncher 200 is disposed in the in-body space 33 of the image forming apparatus 1 and is located downstream from the image forming device 32 and upstream from the sheet binder 100 in a conveyance passage of the sheet S from the image forming device 32 to the sheet binder 100. The conveyance passage is indicated by a dashed line and an arrow in FIG. 1. In other words, after the image forming device 32 has formed an image on the sheet S, the sheet S is conveyed to the hole puncher 200 in which a given hole punching process is performed on the sheet S. Then, the sheet S is conveyed to the sheet binder 100 in which the binding process is performed on the sheet S.

The hole puncher 200 is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1. When the hole puncher 200 is removed, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet S having an image formed by the image forming device 32 is directly conveyed to the sheet binder 100 so that the binding process is performed on the sheet S. Another processing unit that performs a given process on the sheet S may be disposed in the in-body space 33 at the position from which the hole puncher 200 is removed.

Configuration of Control Unit of Image Forming Apparatus with Sheet Processing Apparatus

A description is now given of a configuration of a control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 including the sheet binder 100, with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with the hole puncher 200 being removed.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

In FIGS. 3A and 3B, a conveyance passage of the sheet S (flow of the sheet S) is indicated by an arrow in a broken line, and a passage (flow of signals) of a communication signal (control signal) is indicated by an arrow in a solid line.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a display 301, a control panel 302, and a sheet feeding device 303. The display 301 notifies the user of the state of various devices and the operation contents of the image forming apparatus 1. The control panel 302 allows the user to set, for example, an operation mode and the number of copies. The sheet feeding device 303 stocks sheets S and feeds the sheets S one by one. The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an image forming device 304 and a fixing device 305. The image forming device 304 forms a latent image on a photoconductor and transfers the image to the sheet S. The fixing device 305 fixes the image transferred onto the sheet S. The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an image forming controller 306 that controls various operations of the devices and units described above.

In the sheet binder 100 as a sheet processing apparatus causes the image forming controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 1 to instruct, through a communication line 307, a binding processing controller 102 to cause a binding processing unit 101 (the post-processing device) to perform the designated processing on the designated sheet S.

The image forming controller 306 and the binding processing controller 102 are connected to each other via the communication line 307 to exchange information between the image forming controller 306 and the binding processing controller 102. By so doing, information on, for example, the operation mode, the size of the sheet S, and the timing are exchanged to make the system operable.

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, with the hole puncher 200 being attached (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 4A.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, a conveyance passage of the sheet S (flow of the sheet S) is indicated by an arrow in a broken line, and a passage (flow of signals) of a communication signal (control signal) is indicated by an arrow in a solid line.

The image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and includes the display 301, the control panel 302, and the sheet feeding device 303. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes the image forming device 304 and the image forming controller 306.

In the sheet binder 100 as a sheet processing apparatus, an instruction is given from the image forming controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 1 to the binding processing controller 102 through a communication line 309 to cause the binding processing unit 101 to perform a designated process on the designated processing on the designated sheet S. The binding processing unit 101 is notified of designated information of process contents for the sheet S via the hole punch processing unit 201.

The image forming controller 306 and the binding processing controller 102 are connected to each other via the communication line 309 to exchange information between the image forming controller 306 and the binding processing controller 102. By so doing, information on, for example, the operation mode, the size of the sheet S, and the timing are exchanged to make the system operable.

In the hole puncher 200, an instruction is given from the image forming controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 1 to the binding processing controller 102 through a communication line 309 and from the binding processing controller 102 to a hole punch processing controller 202 through a communication line 103 to perform a designated process on the designated processing on the designated sheet S. The hole punch processing controller 202 controls the hole punch processing unit 201 to perform a designated hole punching process.

Hardware Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 1

A description is given of a hardware configuration of the sheet binder 100 included in the image forming apparatus 1 with reference to FIG. 5. The description of the hardware configuration including a hole puncher 400 will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sheet binder 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 110 as a controller. The CPU 110 is connected to multiple motors as drive sources for the operations of the respective mechanisms via an interface (I/F) 112. The CPU 110 is a calculation unit and controls the entire operation of the sheet binder 100.

The CPU 110 in the sheet binder 100 is connected to the image forming controller 306 of the image forming apparatus 1 via an interface (I/F) 111 to control the sheet binder 100 in accordance with a processing signal from the image forming apparatus 1. Since the sheet binder 100 is also an optional device, the hardware of the sheet binder 100 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 1.

The interface portion in which the image forming device 300 and the sheet binder 100 are coupled to each other is mechanically detachable by, for example, a relay connector or a drawer connector. The interface portion in which the hole puncher 400 and the image forming device 300 are coupled to each other has the same configuration as the interface portion of the image forming device 300 and the sheet binder 100.

The drive motors for driving multiple conveyance roller pairs to perform the sheet binding process in the sheet binder 100 has encoders that can detect the amount of driving force of each motor based on the number of pulses. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 1 can cause the conveyance roller pairs to be driven and stopped at respective positions of each specific driving amount from a specific timing as a starting point, and can achieve the control for conveying the sheet S in a given direction by a given amount.

Further, the encoder pulse is measured with the timing at which the sensor on the conveyance passage is on or off as a base point, and the driving amount of each motor can be calculated based on the encoder pulse. Then, the position of the end of the sheet S being conveyed can be detected based on the calculated driving amount.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the binding processing controller 102 as a controller of the sheet binder 100, a sheet conveyance motor 151, a sheet ejection motor 152, a stapler drive motor 153, a sheet conveyance sensor 154, a sheet ejection sensor 155, a sheet ejection sensor 155, and a home position (HP) sensor 156 are connected to the CPU 110 via the I/F 111.

In the hole punch processing controller 202 as a controller of the hole puncher 200, a folding motor 162, an entrance sensor 163, and a folding sensor 164 are connected to the CPU 110 via an interface (I/F) 113.

When a hole puncher 400 that performs hole punching on a sheet S as an optional device is coupled to the binding processing controller 102, a hole punch motor 157, a punch movement motor 158, a pre-punch motor 159, a cover open-close sensor 160, and a hole puncher HP sensor 161 are connected to the CPU 110 via the interface (I/F) 112.

Configuration of Conveyance Passage of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of a configuration of the conveyance passage of a sheet S included in the sheet binder 100 as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conveyance passage in the sheet binder 100.

The sheet binder 100 is settable with multiple operating modes and is appropriately performed based on a set operating mode. The operating modes of the sheet binder 100 includes, for example, a “shift ejection mode” in which no binding is performed on a sheet S before the sheet S is conveyed and ejected from the upstream side (image forming device 32) to the ejection tray 20 in the conveyance direction and a “binding mode” in which a stapling or a crimp binding is performed on a sheet S by a stapler 19 or a crimp binder 26.

In the shift ejection mode, the sheet S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 is received by an entrance roller pair 11, and is conveyed to an ejection roller pair 16 before the sheet S is ejected to the ejection tray 20. The entrance roller pair 11, a conveyance roller pair 12, a shift roller pair 13, and the ejection roller pair 16 function as a first conveyor. In other words, when the sheet S is conveyed from the entrance roller pair 11 toward the ejection roller pair 16, the conveyance direction corresponds to a first direction.

In the binding mode, the sheet S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1 is received by the entrance roller pair 11, and is conveyed to the shift roller pair 13 in the first direction. When the sheet S passes through the shift roller pair 13, a hitting roller 15 is driven to stack the sheet S onto a sheet tray 17 as an inner tray. Then, the hitting roller 15 and a returning roller 14 conveys the sheet S in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The hitting roller 15 and the returning roller 14 function as a second conveyor. The second direction corresponds to a direction opposite to the first direction. The conveyance in the second direction at this time corresponds to a “switchback conveyance” that is a conveyance toward a reference fence 18 to align the end of the sheet S.

In the binding mode, the above-described conveyance of the sheet S in the second direction (the operation from the sheet tray 17 to the reference fence 18) is repeated until the number of sheets S becomes equal to the number of sheets to be bound. When the last sheet S is conveyed to the reference fence 18, for example, the stapler 19 as a stapling unit performs the stapling process in which a staple (or staples) penetrate the end of a bundle of sheets S (sheet bundle Sb). The bound sheet bundle Sb is conveyed in the first direction by the ejection roller pair 16 as a first conveyor and is ejected to the ejection tray 20.

The sheet S or the sheet bundle Sb ejected to the ejection tray 20 is aligned by abutting an end of the sheet S or the sheet bundle Sb against an end fence 21.

Process of Operations of Shift Ejection Mode

A description is now given of a process of operations of a shift ejection mode among the conveyance and binding of sheets S in the sheet binder 100, with reference to multiple drawings.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, in another operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the shift ejection mode starts when the sheet binder 100 receives the sheet S and conveys the sheet S in the first direction. This state is the same regardless of the operation mode.

Then, a subsequent operation is illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8A is a plan view of the sheet binder 100 and the conveyance passage, viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet S.

FIG. 8B is a front view of the sheet binder 100 viewed in the main scanning direction and a side view of the conveyance passage.

The main scanning direction is a direction intersecting with the first direction (for example, a direction orthogonal to the first direction) and corresponds to a width direction of the sheet S when the sheet S is conveyed in the first direction. In other words, the main scanning direction in FIG. 8A is the vertical direction in the drawing, and the main scanning direction in FIG. 8B is the direction from the rear side to the front side in the drawing.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, by the time that the sheet S is conveyed in the first direction and the leading end of the sheet S in the conveyance direction (first direction) reaches the position of the ejection roller pair 16, an ejection driven roller 16b of the ejection roller pair 16 is changed from the nipping state where the ejection driven roller 16b is disposed close to an ejection drive roller 16a to the nip pressure releasing state where the ejection driven roller 16b is separated from the ejection drive roller 16a. Then, the shift roller pair 13 is moved in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the sheet S with the trailing end of the sheet S being passed through the conveyance roller pair 12. By so doing, the sheet S is conveyed while the conveyance position of the sheet S is shifted in the main scanning direction.

In FIG. 8A, the sheet S is shifted and conveyed from the vicinity of the center of the conveyance passage to the far side of the sheet binder 100 (the upper side in FIG. 8A). The shift roller pair 13 functioning as a medium shifter can also perform shift conveyance to the front side of the sheet binder 100 (the lower side in FIG. 8A). By changing the direction of shift by each sheet or a set of given number of sheets, the shift roller pair 13 can perform an ejection process, which is called a “sort process”, in which the ejection position of the sheet or sheets is shifted by each copy of a sheet bundle Sb.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 8B.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 9.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when the shift of the sheet S is completed, the ejection driven roller 16b is moved to the nip position to convey the sheet S toward the ejection tray 20.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the sheet S is ejected to the ejection tray 20 by the ejection roller pair 16.

As described above, when the sheet binder 100 is operated in the shift ejection mode, the sheet S is conveyed in the first direction alone.

Operation Process of Binding Mode

A description is now given of a process of operations of a binding mode among the conveyance and binding of sheets S in the sheet binder 100, with reference to multiple drawings.

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 7 described above and illustrates a state where the sheet S is received in the sheet binder 100.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 of FIG. 12 performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14A is a plan view of the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet.

FIG. 14B is a front view of the sheet binder 100 of FIG. 14A performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 13.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the sheet S is conveyed without shifting the position from the vicinity of the center in the conveyance direction. Accordingly, the ejection driven roller 16b remains at the nip pressure releasing position and the sheet S is conveyed in the first direction.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the sheet S whose trailing end has passed through the shift roller pair 13 falls onto the sheet tray 17 as an internal tray along with the aid of gravity. Then, the hitting roller 15 comes into contact with the sheet S placed on the sheet tray 17 and conveys the sheet S in the second direction. As a result, the sheet S is conveyed in a manner of switchback conveyance toward the reference fence 18 while being placed on the sheet tray 17.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the sheet S is conveyed due to the switchback conveyance by the hitting roller 15 and the returning roller 14 until the end portion of the sheet S contacts the reference fence 18. The end portion of the sheet S corresponds to the leading end of the sheet S in conveyance in the second direction. After the end of the sheet S contacts the reference fence 18, the jogger fences 22 sandwich the sheet S so that the end of the sheet S in the lateral direction (width direction) contacts the jogger fences 22. Due to this operation, an alignment is performed on the end portions of the sheets S stacked on the sheet tray 17 in the width direction.

By repeatedly executing the processes from FIG. 11 to FIGS. 14A and 14B, multiple sheets S are stacked on the sheet tray 17. The number of repetitions corresponds to the number of sheets S included in the sheet bundle Sb.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 14B.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, after the sheets S are placed on one another (stacked) on the sheet tray 17, the stapler 19 is used to perform crimp binding on a part (a part of the end portion) of the sheet bundle Sb. When the crimp binding is performed, the ejection driven roller 16b moves to the nip position.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the sheet bundle Sb is ejected to the ejection tray 20 by the ejection roller pair 16.

First Embodiment of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of the sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17A is a plan view of the sheet binder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating an inner configuration viewed in a direction of the thickness of a sheet.

FIG. 17B is a front view of the sheet binder 100 of FIG. 17A, including an exterior cover 25 that covers the sheet binder 100.

As described below, the sheet binder 100 includes multiple binding units, for example, the stapler 19, and FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate the stapler 19 alone. The stapler 19 corresponds to “one binding unit” or a “first binder”.

As illustrated in FIG. 17A, the exterior cover 25 includes a slit 23 for manual binding. When manually binding the sheet bundle Sb, the user inserts the sheet bundle Sb including a selected number of sheets S into the slit 23, aligns the end of the sheet bundle Sb with a stopper disposed at the back of the slit 23, and aligns the position where the binding process is performed by the stapler 19 to a given position. Then, pressing a manual binding button 24 allows the user to automatically staple the sheet bundle Sb at the binding position to perform the staple binding.

As illustrated in FIG. 17B, the sheet binder 100 as a sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance direction stopper 25a and a width direction stopper 25b to position the end portions of the sheet bundle Sb inserted in the slit 23. The conveyance direction stopper 25a is a contact portion at the end of the sheet bundle Sb in the conveyance direction. The width direction stopper 25b is a contact portion at the end of the sheet bundle Sb in the width direction.

In the stapler 19, the position at which the sheet bundle Sb is inserted into the slit 23 to position the end portions by the conveyance direction stopper 25a and the width direction stopper 25b may be an initial position (home position, HP) of the manual binding as a position facing the binding position. (no translation) In this case, when the operating power supply of the sheet binder 100 may have a configuration that is executable of the manual binding by the stapler 19 at the initial position.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of the sheet binder 100 where two binding units are mounted inside the sheet binder 100. Specifically, FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating an inner configuration of the sheet binder 100 including the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19, viewed in the front direction of the sheet binder 100. FIG. 18B is a plan view of the sheet binder 100 including the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19. In other words, the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment includes the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 as multiple binding units.

In FIGS. 18A and 18B, the crimp binder 26 is located farther from the stapler 19 with respect to the exterior cover 25 in the sheet binder 100 when viewed from the front side of the sheet binder 100. In the binding process described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16, the stapling process by the stapler 19 may be replaced with the crimp-binding process by the crimp binder 26.

The relative positions of the stapler 19 and the crimp binder 26 is not limited to the example illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, and the stapler 19 may be disposed farther from the crimp binder 26 in the sheet binder 100 when viewed from the front side of the sheet binder 100.

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 on the assumption of the relative positions illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B.

In the sheet binder 100, both the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 are movable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle Sb along the end portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle Sb stacked on an inner sheet tray 27.

Description of Posture Changer

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment of the present disclosure, regarding a posture changer to change the posture of a binding unit facing the binding position of the sheet bundle Sb (the position at which the binding process is performed at the end portion in the conveyance direction of the sheet bundle Sb).

In the following description, the stapler 19 is employed as an example of a binding unit that moves a posture changer. However, the binding unit is not limited to the above-described stapler 19. For example, the position of the posture changer may be moved by the movement of the crimp binder 26.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are plan views of the sheet binder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, in yet another operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the sheet binder 100 includes a moving unit (mover) that moves the stapler 19 in the width direction of the sheet S that is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet S.

The stapler 19 includes a binding unit movement mechanism 50 as a posture changer to change the posture of the crimp binder 26.

The binding unit movement mechanism 50 includes a cam mechanism. For example, the cam mechanism is operated using some method, for example, a method of moving a first unit pivot cam 51 by a belt drive, as illustrated in FIG. 19A, there is a method of moving the first unit pivot cam 51 by belt driving, and a method of moving the first unit pivot cam 51 along with a movement of the stapler 19 as one binding unit or a first binder.

The first unit pivot cam 51 moves in the width direction of the sheet S to contact the crimp binder 26 as “another binding unit” or a “second binder”. Then, the first unit pivot cam 51 contacting the crimp binder 26 moves relative to a movement of the crimp binder 26. As the first unit pivot cam 51 moves relative to the crimp binder 26, the relative positions of the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26 is relatively changed while a part of the crimp binder 26 is pressed. By receiving the force of biasing by this pressing, the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed. In other words, instead of the driving source, the biasing force that is generated by relatively moving the first unit pivot cam 51 and a binding unit as an object whose posture is to be changed while the first unit pivot cam 51 and the binding unit are in contact with each other is used to rotate the crimp binder 26 in the given direction. By so doing, the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed.

Accordingly, the driving system for “moving from the contact state” corresponds to a drive source for changing the posture of the crimp binder 26 and may be a driving system for moving the stapler 19. Due to such a configuration, a rotation driving system for rotating the crimp binder 26 is not needed. Consequently, when compared with typical sheet binders, the sheet binder 100 having the above-described configuration can reduce the size of the rotation mechanism included in the sheet binder 100 and can reduce the cost. Further, since the biasing force generated in accordance with the change in the relative positions of the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26 functions as a drive source, the binding posture of the crimp binder 26 can be changed at any position in the width direction of the sheet bundle Sb.

The binding unit movement mechanism 50 as the mover illustrated in FIG. 19A includes a first unit pivot cam 51 as a posture changer, a first motor 52, a first drive transmission belt 53, a first drive transmission pulley 54, a first unit moving belt 55, a first unit-belt fixing portion 56, and a cam-belt fixing portion 57.

The first motor 52 corresponds to a drive source for moving the stapler 19 and the first unit pivot cam 51 to desired positions. In other words, the first unit pivot cam 51 that is a rotator to change the posture of the crimp binder 26 moves the first motor 52 as a drive source. The operation of the first motor 52 is controlled by the binding processing controller 102.

The first drive transmission belt 53 is wound around a rotary shaft of the first motor 52 and the first drive transmission pulley 54, and transmits the rotations of the first motor 52 to the first drive transmission pulley 54.

The first drive transmission pulley 54 is a two-stage pulley. The first drive transmission belt 53 is wound around one stage of the first drive transmission pulley 54, and the first unit moving belt 55 is wound around the other stage of the first drive transmission pulley 54.

The first unit moving belt 55 is would between the first drive transmission pulley 54 and the shaft disposed at a position facing the first drive transmission pulley 54 to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the first motor 52. The stapler 19 is fastened to a part of the first unit moving belt 55 via the first unit-belt fixing portion 56.

In the binding unit movement mechanism 50 illustrated in FIG. 19B, the first unit pivot cam 51 is not fastened to the first unit moving belt 55 but is coupled to the stapler 19 by a first coupling member 58. In the binding unit movement mechanism 50 illustrated in FIG. 19B, as the stapler 19 moves due to the driving of the first motor 52, the first unit pivot cam 51 moves in the same direction as the stapler 19.

As illustrated in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the stapler 19 includes a home position (HP) sensor 156 to detect that the stapler 19 is at the initial position. The HP sensor 156 is a part of the moving device of the stapler 19. When the HP sensor 156 detects the stapler 19, the stapler 19 is at the initial position. The sheet binder 100 causes the stapler 19 and the first unit pivot cam 51 to move to given positions with the initial position as a starting point.

In other words, with the initial position as a starting point, the binding processing controller 102 of the sheet binder 100 determines the relative position with respect to the crimp binder 26 for reaching the contact state with the first unit pivot cam 51 that is needed for the posture change of the crimp binder 26. Then, the amount of movement of the stapler 19 that is needed to achieve the relative positions to change the crimp binder 26 to a given posture at a given position is determined. Then, the binding processing controller 102 determines and controls the rotation amount and the rotational direction of the first motor 52 based on the movement amount determined by the binding processing controller 102. The switching of rotation of the first motor 52 between ON and OFF is also controlled by the binding processing controller 102.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are plan views of the sheet binder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating the state where the posture of the crimp binder 26 as another binding unit or a second binder, along with a movement of the binding unit movement mechanism 50.

As illustrated in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the crimp binder 26 includes moving devices to move the crimp binder 26, which are a second motor 261, a second drive transmission belt 262, a second drive transmission pulley 263, a second unit moving belt 264, and a second unit-belt fastening portion 265.

The second motor 261 corresponds to a drive source for moving the crimp binder 26 to a desired position.

The second drive transmission belt 262 is wound around a rotary shaft of the second motor 261 and the second drive transmission pulley 263, and transmits the rotations of the second motor 261 to the second drive transmission pulley 263.

The second drive transmission pulley 263 is a two-stage pulley. The second drive transmission belt 262 is wound around one stage of the second drive transmission pulley 263, and the second unit moving belt 264 is wound around the other stage of the second drive transmission pulley 263.

The second unit moving belt 264 is would between the second drive transmission pulley 263 and the shaft disposed at a position facing the second drive transmission pulley 263 to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the second motor 261. The crimp binder 26 is fastened to a part of the second unit moving belt 264. The fastening portion of the second unit moving belt 264 and the crimp binder 26 is referred to as the second unit-belt fastening portion 265.

As illustrated in FIG. 20A, the first motor 52 is driven to move the stapler 19, and thus the first unit pivot cam 51 also moves in the same direction as the stapler 19 to a given position (posture changing position).

Then, the second motor 261 is driven to move the crimp binder 26 relative to the first unit pivot cam 51. By this movement, the crimp binder 26 is brought into contact with the first unit pivot cam 51. However, the posture of the crimp binder 26 remains in the posture of parallel binding as illustrated in FIG. 20A, for certain relative positions.

Then, the sheet binder 100 brings the crimp binder 26 and the first unit pivot cam 51 to contact each other, and causes the crimp binder 26 to move further in the width direction to change the position of the crimp binder 26 relative to the first unit pivot cam 51 and generate the biasing force. By receiving the biasing force, the crimp binder 26 rotates and changes the posture for the angled binding, as illustrated in FIG. 11B. The posture for the parallel binding is referred to as a “first posture”, and the posture for the angled binding is referred to as a “second posture”.

Since the crimp binder 26 also includes a home position (HP) sensor 156, the crimp binder 26 can be moved to a given position with the initial position as a starting point by the detection of the HP sensor 156.

In the movement control for changing the relative positions of the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26, the stapler 19 may be moved to a given position before the stapler 19 is moved to a given position, and then the crimp binder 26 may be moved toward the first unit pivot cam 51 that remains still. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. In other words, the sheet binder 100 may cause the crimp binder 26 to move in advance to the given position (posture changing position), and the stapler 19 to move so that the first unit pivot cam 51 moves toward the given position (posture changing position) of the crimp binder 26. Alternatively, the sheet binder 100 may cause both the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 to move at the same time.

Further, when the relative movement direction of the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26 is set to a direction opposite to the above movement direction, the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed from the second posture to the first posture.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are plan views of the sheet binder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating the state where the stapler 19 is moved so that the posture changing position of the crimp binder 26 can be freely adjusted.

For example, FIG. 21A illustrates a case where the angled binding is performed on the sheet S on which the binding process is performed, when the size in the width direction of the sheet S is relatively short. In this case, the posture changing position is close to the center in the width direction of the sheet S according to the size in the width direction of the sheet S. First, the crimp binder 26 is moved from the initial position to the position on the center side in the width direction of the sheet S so that the crimp binder 26 stands by in the vicinity of the end portion of the sheet bundle Sb. Then, the stapler 19 is moved to change the posture of the crimp binder 26 to the inclined posture (second posture), and the angled crimp binding is performed. At this time, the posture changing position that is a position at which the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed may be set in the vicinity of the end portion of the sheet S in the width direction.

On the other hand, FIG. 21B illustrates a case where the angled binding is performed on the sheet S on which the binding process is performed, when the size in the width direction of the sheet S is relatively long. In such a case as illustrated in FIG. 21B, the crimp binder 26 remains at the initial position and the stapler 19 is moved to the very end of the depth of the sheet binder 100.

As described above, by adjusting the position of the first unit pivot cam 51 as a posture changer to any desired position in accordance with the length of the sheet S in the width direction, the position at which the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed can be adjusted as desired.

The posture changing control of the crimp binder 26 described with reference to FIGS. 21A and 21B has the configuration in which the first unit pivot cam 51 is coupled to the stapler 19 via the first coupling member 58, as illustrated in FIG. 19B. However, the posture changing control of the crimp binder 26 that has a configuration employing a belt driving method as illustrated in FIG. 19A is also executable.

FIGS. 22A, 22B and 22C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of the crimp binder 26 in the sheet binder 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, where the crimp binder 26 changes the posture according to a relative change in the contact position with the first unit pivot cam 51.

FIG. 22A illustrates a movement bracket 266 installed on the bottom face of the crimp binder 26.

The movement bracket 266 has a rotation fulcrum hole 2661, a contact stud escape hole 2662, and the second unit-belt fastening portion 265.

As illustrated in FIG. 22B, the crimp binder 26 includes a rotation fulcrum 267 and a contact stud 268 on the bottom face.

As illustrated in FIG. 22C, the movement bracket 266 and the crimp binder 26 are disposed as a single unit, with the rotation fulcrum 267 being fitted to a rotation fulcrum hole 2661 and the contact stud 268 being in contact with the wall surface of a contact stud escape hole 2662. The movement bracket 266 is attached to the second unit moving belt 264 via the second unit-belt fastening portion 265.

Then, a description is given of the movement control of the first unit pivot cam 51 when the first unit pivot cam 51 performs the posture change of the crimp binder 26, with reference to FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C.

FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of a unit pivot cam according to the first of the present disclosure.

As described above, the stapler 19 is moved to the given position, and the crimp binder 26 is moved with respect to the first unit pivot cam 51. At this time, the crimp binder 26 is rotated in accordance with the state where the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26 are in contact with each other and the subsequent relative positions of the first unit pivot cam 51 and the crimp binder 26, and the crimp binder 26 is rotated to change the posture to face the sheet bundle Sb.

As illustrated in FIG. 23A, the first unit pivot cam 51 has a cam groove 511 that is a groove into which the contact stud 268 of the crimp binder 26 enters. The cam groove 511 extends in the movement direction of the stapler 19 (the width direction of the sheet S).

The cam groove 511 also has a step in the vicinity of the center in the groove extending direction, and has a portion as a wall with which the contact stud 268 that has moved comes into contact. The cam groove 511 further extends in the width direction of the sheet S beyond the step.

In other words, the contact stud 268 of the crimp binder 26 first enters the cam groove 511 from the cutout portion of the first unit pivot cam 51 and reaches the parallel portion extending in the movement direction of the crimp binder 26.

Further, when the relative positions of the crimp binder 26 and the first unit pivot cam 51 is changed and the crimp binder 26 reaches the position of the step of the first unit pivot cam 51, the contact stud 268 contacts the wall of the cam groove 511. As a result, the pressing force is applied to the crimp binder 26 in accordance with the movement direction of the crimp binder 26. The pressing causes the crimp binder 26 to rotate. Then, when the contact stud 268 passes through the step and reaches the parallel portion, the posture of the crimp binder 26 is maintained in the state after the rotation (the state where the crimp binder 26 is in the second posture).

As described above, the crimp binder 26 maintains the first posture (the parallel binding posture) in the above-described parallel portion (see FIG. 23A).

Then, the contact state changes at the step and, in response to this change, the contact stud 268 receives the pressing force in accordance with the movement direction, so that the crimp binder 26 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 267 (see FIG. 23B) as the center of rotation.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 23C, after the state where the contact stud 268 is pressed by the cam groove 511, the crimp binder 26 reaches the state where the crimp binder 26 remains at the second posture. With the above-described mechanism, the contact stud 268 moves along the shape of the cam groove 511, and thus the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed in accordance with the change of the contact state.

Second Embodiment of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the sheet binder 100 according to the present embodiment, the shape of a first unit pivot cam 51a is different from the shape of the first unit pivot cam 51 according to the first embodiment. However, the configurations other than the shape are the same. A description is now given of a modification of the first unit pivot cam 51, with reference to FIGS. 24A, 24B and 24C.

FIGS. 24A, 24B and 24C are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of a unit rotation cam according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 24A, a cam groove 511a included in the first unit pivot cam 51a has a cutout portion into which the contact stud 268 of the crimp binder 26 can enter, and is divided into a parallel portion and an inclined portion. The parallel portion is parallel to the direction in which the crimp binder 26 relatively moves from the cutout portion. The inclined portion extends in a direction inclined with respect to the movement direction relative to the crimp binder 26. In other words, a portion that corresponds to the step portion of the first unit pivot cam 51a is an inclined portion.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 24A, when the contact stud 268 is positioned at the parallel portion continued from the cutout portion of the cam groove 511a, the posture of the crimp binder 26 is the first posture.

As illustrated in FIG. 24B, when the relative positions of the crimp binder 26 and the first unit pivot cam 51a are changed and the contact stud 268 contacts the inclined portion, the contact stud 268 is pressed by the wall surface (inclined portion) of the cam groove 511a. In other words, the contact stud 268 receives the pressing force toward the movement direction of the crimp binder 26. By this pressing force, the crimp binder 26 is rotated about the rotation fulcrum 267 as the axis of rotation to change to the second posture.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 24C, since the contact stud 268 continues to receive the pressing force as the contact position of the contact stud 268 and the cam groove 511a changes in accordance with the movement of the crimp binder 26, the crimp binder 26 continues to rotate during this period. As described above, the cam groove 511a is formed as a structure in which the first unit pivot cam 51a and the crimp binder 26 (contact stud 268) are continuously in contact with each other for a long time. By so doing, the crimp binder 26 has a relatively long section in which the crimp binder 26 rotates about the rotation fulcrum 267 as an axis of rotation. Due to such a configuration, the crimp binder 26 can have a different inclination angle even in the second posture.

The second postures of FIGS. 24B and 24C have the inclination angles different from each other. In other words, with the first unit pivot cam 51a according to the present embodiment can adjust the degree of the change of the posture of the crimp binder 26 (the posture with respect to the sheet bundle Sb) by a desired angle in accordance with the change in condition of the contact position determined based on the relative positions of the crimp binder 26 and the first unit pivot cam 51a.

In both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the first unit pivot cam 51 is moved along with the movement of the stapler 19 to move the first unit pivot cam 51 relative to the crimp binder 26, so that the posture of the crimp binder 26 is changed.

However, the first embodiment and the second embodiment are not limited to the above-described configuration, and the first unit pivot cam 51 may be moved along with a movement of the crimp binder 26 to be moved relative to the stapler 19, so that the posture of the stapler 19 can be changed.

Third Embodiment of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a diagrams illustrating a configuration of the sheet binder 100 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, the image forming apparatus may further include a posture changing position adjustment mechanism 590 functioning as a posture changing position adjuster to change and adjust the position of a first unit pivot cam 51b as a posture changer in the housing of the sheet binder 100.

The posture changing position adjustment mechanism 590 includes an adjustment dial 591 and a variable member 592 that changes the position of the first unit pivot cam 51b in the housing of the sheet binder 100 by rotating the adjustment dial 591. The adjustment dial 591 of the posture changing position adjustment mechanism 590 is rotatably disposed outside the housing of the sheet binder 100. By rotating the adjustment dial 591, the variable member 592 moves in the width direction of the sheet S in the housing of the sheet binder 100. A unit pivot cam 591b is fixed to the variable member 592. As the adjustment dial 591 is rotated, the position of the unit pivot cam 591b in the housing of the sheet binder 100 is defined in accordance with the rotation direction and the rotation amount. This position corresponds to the posture changing position.

By operating the adjustment dial 591, the user can change the posture changing position of the first unit pivot cam 51b to any desired position in the housing of the sheet binder 100.

Fourth Embodiment of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a diagrams illustrating another configuration of a sheet binder 100 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, the binding unit movement mechanism 50a included in the sheet binder 100 includes a configuration in which a second unit pivot cam 59 is coupled to the crimp binder 26t 26 by a second coupling member 269.

The second unit pivot cam 59 moves in the width direction by a movement of the crimp binder 26. The second unit pivot cam 59 contacts the stapler 19 while moving, so as to change the posture of the stapler 19. How the second unit pivot cam 59 changes the posture of the stapler 19 is basically the same as how the first unit pivot cam 51 changes the posture of the stapler 19.

As in the binding unit movement mechanism 50a according to the present embodiment, when the second unit pivot cam 59 is coupled to the crimp binder 26 to change the posture of the stapler 19, the usability can be enhanced in the replenishment of the staples of the stapler 19.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are plan views of the sheet binder 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, performing an operation subsequent to the operation in FIG. 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 27A, the stapler 19 is changed to the second posture, and then the stapler 19 is moved to a position accessible from the outside while keeping the second posture (see FIG. 27B). With this operation, the stapler 19 can be moved toward the user in the inclined state, and a staple cartridge 191 that holds the staples can be directed outward. Due to such a configuration, the operability of the user when replacing or replenishing the staples is enhanced.

A description is now given of the operation of the binding unit movement mechanism 50a including the second unit pivot cam 59.

FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C are diagrams each illustrating the configuration of the sheet binder 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Specifically, FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C illustrate a series of the operations in which the stapler 19 is changed to the second posture (rotated to the inclined posture), the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 further approach to each other, and the first unit pivot cam 51 rotates the crimp binder 26.

The above-described movement is achieved when both binding units, which are the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19, have cams having the similar shapes, as illustrated in FIG. 28C.

In other words, when the sheet binder 100 includes both the first unit pivot cam 51 and the second unit pivot cam 59, the stapler 19 and the crimp binder 26 can perform parallel binding and angled binding.

Fifth Embodiment of Sheet Binder 100

A description is given below of the sheet binder 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C are diagrams each illustrating the configuration of the sheet binder 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C, a binding unit movement mechanism 50b included in the sheet binder 100 includes a second unit pivot cam 59a whose shape is different from the second unit pivot cam 59 included in the sheet binder 100 according to an embodiment of the fourth embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 29A, when the stapler 19 is rotated to the inclined posture and then the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 further approach each other, the crimp binder 26 is rotated by the first unit pivot cam 51 to change the crimp binder 26 to the second posture.

Then, as the relative positions of the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19 are changed to further approach to each other, the second unit pivot cam 59a causes the stapler 19 to change to the parallel binding posture that is the initial posture (the first posture) again.

By this operation, both the stapler 19 and the crimp binder 26 can perform the parallel binding and the angled binding, and can avoid collision with the sheets S or the sheet binder 100 when either of the binding units (the crimp binder 26 and the stapler 19) is in the inclined posture. In other words, this operation can enhance the degree of freedom of movement of the binding units.

The operations described above with reference to FIGS. 28A to 29C are examples of the operation of initially changing the posture of the stapler 19. However, the present disclosure is not limited to be applicable to the above-described operations. For example, the posture of the crimp binder 26 may be changed before the stapler 19 by changing the distance between the stapler 19 and the second unit pivot cam 59, the distance between the crimp binder 26 and the first unit pivot cam 51, or the shape of the cam.

According to the sheet binder 100 described above, the movement mechanism in the width direction of multiple binding units alone can perform parallel binding and angled binding without adding a new driving mechanism, and thus, the sheet binder 100 can enhance space saving and a cost reduction.

First Embodiment of Image Forming System

A description is given of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 is an external views of an image forming system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present embodiment.

The image forming system 10 includes an image forming apparatus 30, a relay device 101a, and an external finisher 100a coupled to each other.

The external finisher 100a is another form of a finisher having the same function as the sheet binder 100 that functions as an inner finisher. After the image forming apparatus 30 forms an image on a sheet S, the external finisher 100a receives the sheet S via the relay device 101a to perform a post-processing operation such as a sheet binding process on the sheet S.

Second Embodiment of Image Forming System

A description is given below of another image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 31 is an external view of an image forming system 10a according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image forming system 10a includes the image forming apparatus 30, the sheet binder 100 that functioning as a relay device, and an external finisher 120 coupled to each other.

After the image forming apparatus 30 forms an image on a sheet S, the sheet binder 100 functioning as a relay device receives to perform a post-processing operation such as a binding process on the sheet S, and the external finisher 120 disposed downstream from the sheet binder 100 in the sheet conveyance direction selectively performs sorting or another selected post-processing operation on the sheet S.

Third Embodiment of Image Forming System

A description is given below of yet another image forming system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 32 is an external view of an image forming system 10b according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

The image forming system 10b includes the image forming apparatus 30, the sheet binder 100 that functioning as a relay device, a hole puncher 200, and the external finisher 120 coupled to each other.

In the image forming system 10b, after the image forming apparatus 30 forms an image on the sheet S, the hole puncher 200 performs a punching process on the sheet S. The image forming system 10b causes the sheet binder 100 functioning as a relay device to receive the sheet S to perform, for example, a binding process on the sheet S. Further, the image forming system 10b causes the external finisher 120 disposed downstream from the sheet binder 100 in the sheet conveyance direction selectively performs sorting or another selected post-processing operation on the sheet S.

The present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments described above, and numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings within the technical scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise by those skilled in the art than as specifically described herein, and such, modifications, alternatives are within the technical scope of the appended claims. Such modifications are included in the technical scope described in the scope of claims.

A description is given below of some aspects of the present disclosure.

Aspect 1

In Aspect 1, a sheet processing apparatus includes a binder, a mover, and a posture changer. The binder performs a binding on a sheet bundle of multiple sheet media including a sheet medium. The mover moves the binder in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction in which the sheet medium is conveyed to the binder. The posture changer changes a posture of the binder that faces the sheet bundle, and changes the posture of the binder in accordance with a change in a relation of a relative position of the posture changer to the binder due to a movement of the binder in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction.

Aspect 2

In Aspect 2, the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 1 further includes multiple binders including the binder. The mover moves each of the multiple binders including a first binder and a second binder. The second binder of the multiple binders moves along with a movement of the first binder. The posture changer changes a posture of each of the multiple binders in accordance with the relation of the relative position of the second binder relative to the first binder.

Aspect 3

In Aspect 3, the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 1 further includes multiple binders including the binder, and a posture changing position adjuster. The posture changing position adjuster adjusts a position of the posture changer in the sheet processing apparatus. The mover moves each of the multiple binders. The posture changer changes the posture in accordance with a relation of a relative position of the posture changer relative to the binder due to a movement of the binder.

Aspect 4

In Aspect 4, in the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 2, the posture changer moves in a same direction as a movement of the first binder, changes the relation of the relative position due to the movement of the posture changer, and changes the posture.

Aspect 5

In Aspect 5, in the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 4, the posture changer adjusts a degree of change of the posture in accordance with a contact position to the second binder.

Aspect 6

In Aspect 6, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, the posture changer changes the posture from a first posture to a second posture when a direction of a movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a first direction, and changes the posture from the second posture to the first posture when the direction of the movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Aspect 7

In Aspect 7, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, the posture changer changes a position at which the binder starts changing the posture.

Aspect 8

In Aspect 8, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, the posture changer changes the relation of position in an area out of to change the posture.

Aspect 9

In Aspect 9, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 8, the posture changer includes a cam mechanism to rotate the binder.

Aspect 10

In Aspect 10, an image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming device, and the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9. The image forming device forms an image on a sheet medium accommodated in the housing. The sheet processing apparatus is detachably attached to the housing to perform a binding on the sheet medium on which the image is formed by the image forming device.

Aspect 11

In Aspect 11, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet medium, and the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9 coupled to the image forming apparatus.

Aspect 12

In Aspect 12, a sheet processing apparatus includes a binder, a mover, and a posture changer. The binder binds a sheet bundle of multiple sheet media including a sheet medium conveyed to the binder in a conveyance direction. The mover moves the binder in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The posture changer changes a posture of the binder that faces the sheet bundle, according to a change in a relative position between the posture changer and the binder in the orthogonal direction by a movement of the binder in the orthogonal direction.

Aspect 13

In Aspect 13, the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 12 further includes multiple binders including the binder. The mover moves each of the multiple binders including a first binder and a second binder. The posture changer is disposed between the first binder and the second binder in the orthogonal direction by the movement of the first binder and the second binder.

Aspect 14

In Aspect 14, the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 12 further includes multiple binders including the binder, and a posture changing position adjuster. The posture changer moves with the first binder in the orthogonal direction to change the relative position between the first binder and the second binder to change the posture of each of the multiple binders.

Aspect 15

In Aspect 15, in the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 13, the posture changer is configured to adjust a degree of change of the posture according to a contact position of the posture changer contacting with the second binder.

Aspect 16

In Aspect 16, the sheet processing apparatus according to Aspect 12 further includes multiple binders including the binder, and a posture adjuster to adjust a position of the posture changer in the sheet processing apparatus in the orthogonal direction. The mover moves each of the multiple binders. The posture changer changes a posture of one of the multiple binders according to a relative position between the posture changer, the position of which is adjusted by the posture changer, and one of the multiple binders.

Aspect 17

In Aspect 17, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 16, the posture changer is to change the posture from a first posture to a second posture when a direction of a movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a first direction, and change the posture from the second posture to the first posture when the direction of the movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Aspect 18

In Aspect 18, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 17, the posture changer is to change a position at which the binder starts changing the posture.

Aspect 19

In Aspect 19, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 18, the posture changer changes the relative position between the posture changer and the binder in an area outside a binding area of the binder to bind the sheet bundle to change the posture of the binder.

Aspect 20

In Aspect 20, in the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 19, the posture changer includes a cam mechanism to rotate the binder.

Aspect 21

In Aspect 21, an image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming device, and the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 20. The image forming device is included in the housing to form an image on a sheet medium. The sheet processing apparatus is detachably attached to the housing to bind a sheet bundle including sheet media, on each sheet medium of which the image is formed by the image forming device.

Aspect 22

In Aspect 11, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of Aspects 12 to 20. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet medium. The sheet processing apparatus is coupled to the image forming apparatus.

The present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments described above, and numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings within the technical scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be understood that, the disclosure of this patent specification may be practiced otherwise by those skilled in the art than as specifically described herein, and such, modifications, alternatives are within the technical scope of the appended claims. Such embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope and gist of the embodiments of the present disclosure and are included in the embodiments described in claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The effects described in the embodiments of this disclosure are listed as the examples of preferable effects derived from this disclosure, and therefore are not intended to limit to the embodiments of this disclosure.

The embodiments described above are presented as an example to implement this disclosure. The embodiments described above are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, or changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and gist of this disclosure and are included in the scope of the invention recited in the claims and its equivalent.

Any one of the above-described operations may be performed in various other ways, for example, in an order different from the one described above.

Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented by one or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitry includes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. A processing circuit also includes devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit components arranged to perform the recited functions.

Claims

1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a binder to bind a sheet bundle of multiple sheet media including a sheet medium conveyed to the binder in a conveyance direction;a mover to move the binder in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction; anda posture changer to change a posture of the binder that faces the sheet bundle, according to a change in a relative position between the posture changer and the binder in the orthogonal direction by a movement of the binder in the orthogonal direction.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising multiple binders including the binder, wherein the mover moves each of the multiple binders including a first binder and a second binder, andthe posture changer is disposed between the first binder and the second binder in the orthogonal direction by the movement of the first binder and the second binder.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the posture changer moves with the first binder in the orthogonal direction to change the relative position between the first binder and the second binder to change the posture of each of the multiple binders.

4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the posture changer is configured to adjust a degree of change of the posture according to a contact position of the posture changer contacting with the second binder.

5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: multiple binders including the binder; anda posture adjuster to adjust a position of the posture changer in the sheet processing apparatus in the orthogonal direction,wherein the mover moves each of the multiple binders, andthe posture changer changes a posture of one of the multiple binders according to a relative position between the posture changer, the position of which is adjusted by the posture changer, and one of the multiple binders.

6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture changer is configured to:change the posture from a first posture to a second posture when a direction of a movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a first direction; andchange the posture from the second posture to the first posture when the direction of the movement of the posture changer relative to the binder is a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture changer is configured to change a position at which the binder starts changing the posture.

8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture changer changes the relative position between the posture changer and the binder in an area outside a binding area of the binder to bind the sheet bundle to change the posture of the binder.

9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the posture changer includes a cam mechanism to rotate the binder.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing;an image forming device included in the housing to form an image on a sheet medium; andthe sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, detachably attached to the housing to bind a sheet bundle including sheet media, on each sheet medium of which the image is formed by the image forming device.

11. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus to form an image on a sheet medium; andthe sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 coupled to the image forming apparatus.