Sheet processing apparatus, sheet aligner, and sheet aligning method

Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus includes: a first folder to fold a sheet in a first folding direction relative to a given orientation of the sheet, a line of the fold defining a second edge of the sheet; a second folder to fold the folded sheet in a second folding direction perpendicular to the first folding direction; and a switcher, disposed between the first folder and the second folder, operable to switch a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet sent from the first folder and to align the sheet sent from the first folder, the switcher including the following, an aligning member arranged to face a first edge of the sheet, the first edge of the sheet being located relatively opposite to the second edge along the conveyance direction, the second edge not having a straight line shape, and a feeder to force the sheet in a given direction toward the aligning member so as to align the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction by contacting the first edge of the sheet against the aligning member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the many attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of example embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an image forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plane view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of a switcher of the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of a feed-back roller of the switcher shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) illustrating operations of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 for aligning and conveying an accordion-folded sheet;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 before a feed-back operation;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 during a feed-back operation;

FIG. 8 is a plane view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 during a feed-back operation;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 after a feed-back operation;

FIG. 10 is a plane view (according to an example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 3 after a feed-back operation;

FIG. 11 is a plane view of a switcher of a sheet processing apparatus according to another example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 before a feed-back operation;

FIG. 13 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 before a feed-back operation;

FIG. 14 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 during a feed-back operation;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 during a feed-back operation;

FIG. 16 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 conveying a large size sheet;

FIG. 17 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 conveying a small size sheet;

FIG. 18 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 punching a corner-folded, large size sheet;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 during a feed-back operation;

FIG. 20 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 during a feeding operation;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a pressing and swinging mechanism of a feeding roller included in the switcher shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 22 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a horizontal punch unit and a vertical punch unit of the switcher shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the vertical punch unit shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 adjusting a punch position;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of an electric control system of the sheet processing apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 26A is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of control procedures performed by a punch controller of the electric control system shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 26B is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of control procedures performed by a punch controller of the electric control system shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for measuring a sheet length included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for calculating a distance for which an upstream jogger fence and a downstream jogger fence of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 move included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26A;

FIG. 29 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 when a driven feeding roller and a driving feeding roller of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 nip a sheet;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 when the driven feeding roller and the driving feeding roller shown in FIG. 29 feed a sheet;

FIG. 31 is a plane view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of the switcher shown in FIG. 11 when the driven feeding roller and the driving feeding roller shown in FIG. 29 feed a sheet;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving the upstream jogger fence and the downstream jogger fence shown in FIG. 28 to standby positions included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving the driven feeding roller shown in FIG. 29 to a standby position included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving a sheet to a vertical punch position for punching holes in the sheet in a vertical direction included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 35A is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving a sheet to a horizontal punch position for punching holes in the sheet in a horizontal direction included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 35B is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving a sheet to a horizontal punch position for punching holes in the sheet in a horizontal direction included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 35C is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for moving a sheet to a horizontal punch position for punching holes in the sheet in a horizontal direction included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B;

FIG. 36 is a perspective view (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of an accordion-folded sheet of which corner is folded; and

FIG. 37 is a flowchart (according to another example embodiment of the present invention) of a procedure for punching holes in a sheet included in the control procedures shown in FIG. 26B.

Claims

1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising: a first folder to fold a sheet in a first folding direction relative to a given orientation of the sheet, a line of the fold defining a second edge of the sheet;a second folder to fold the folded sheet in a second folding direction perpendicular to the first folding direction; anda switcher, disposed between the first folder and the second folder, operable to switch a sheet conveyance direction of the sheet sent from the first folder and to align the sheet sent from the first folder, the switcher including the following,an aligning member arranged to face a first edge of the sheet, the first edge of the sheet being located relatively opposite to the second edge along the conveyance direction, the second edge not having a straight line shape, anda feeder to force the sheet in a given direction toward the aligning member so as to align the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction by contacting the first edge of the sheet against the aligning member.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first edge of the sheet is a tail edge of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction and the second edge of the sheet is a foremost edge of the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction, andwherein the second edge of the sheet is corner-folded.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeder includesa driving feed-back roller to face an under surface of the sheet,a driven feed-back roller to face a top surface of the sheet, anda moving mechanism to move the driven feed-back roller upward and downward.

4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the moving mechanism moves the driven feed-back roller upward to a standby position before the switcher receives the sheet sent from the first folder, andwherein the moving mechanism moves the driven feed-back roller downward to a pressing position at which the driven feed-back roller presses the sheet toward the driving feed-back roller so as to force the sheet toward the aligning member after the switcher receives the sheet sent from the first folder.

5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switcher further includesa guide to move in accordance with the movement of the driven feed-back roller to guide the sheet toward the aligning member by contacting the top surface of the sheet.

6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning member and the feeder are disposed at a position lower than a position at which the sheet sent from the first folder enters the switcher.

7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switcher further includesa conveying member to feed the sheet aligned by the aligning member and the feeder in a transfer direction perpendicular to the given direction.

8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the aligning member is disposed at a reference position representing a position at which a center line of the sheet in the given direction coincides with a center line of the sheet in the direction perpendicular to the transfer direction.

9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the conveying member feeds the sheet toward the second folder after the sheet is aligned by the aligning member.

10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aligning member is provided in an upstream portion of the switcher in the sheet conveyance direction.

11. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the feeder is provided near the aligning member.

12. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sheet sent from the first folder falls onto the aligning member provided in the upstream portion of the switcher in the sheet conveyance direction at a decreased speed.

13. A sheet aligner for aligning a sheet, the sheet aligner comprising: an aligning member arranged to face a first edge of the sheet, the first edge of the sheet being located relatively opposite to a second edge along a conveyance direction of the sheet, the second edge not having a straight line shape; anda feeder to force the sheet in a given direction toward the aligning member so as to align the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction by contacting the first edge of the sheet against the aligning member.

14. The sheet aligner according to claim 13, wherein the feeder includesa driving feed-back roller to face an under surface of the sheet,a driven feed-back roller to face a top surface of the sheet, anda moving mechanism to move the driven feed-back roller upward and downward.

15. The sheet aligner according to claim 14, wherein the moving mechanism moves the driven feed-back roller upward to a standby position before the sheet aligner receives the sheet, andwherein the moving mechanism moves the driven feed-back roller downward to a pressing position at which the driven feed-back roller presses the sheet toward the driving feed-back roller so as to force the sheet toward the aligning member after the sheet aligner receives the sheet.

16. The sheet aligner according to claim 15, further comprising: a guide to move in accordance with the movement of the driven feed-back roller to guide the sheet toward the aligning member by contacting the top surface of the sheet.

17. The sheet aligner according to claim 13, further comprising: a conveying member to feed the sheet aligned by the aligning member and the feeder in a transfer direction perpendicular to the given direction.

18. A sheet aligning method for aligning a sheet having a foremost edge and a tail edge relative to a sheet conveyance direction, the foremost edge being folded and thereby not having a straight line shape, the sheet aligning method comprising: moving an aligning member to face the tail edge of the sheet and yet be located at a reference position that leaves a space that is between the aligning member and the tail edge of the sheet;moving a feeder from a standby position at which the feeder does not contact the sheet to a pressing position at which the feeder pressingly contacts the sheet;causing the feeder to move the sheet in a given direction toward the aligning member so that the tail edge of the sheet contacts the aligning member; andreturning the feeder from the pressing position to the standby position.

19. The sheet aligning method according to claim 18, further comprising: feeding, after having returned the feeder to the standby position, the sheet in a transfer direction perpendicular to the given direction.

20. The sheet aligning method according to claim 19, wherein the reference position represents a position at which a center line of the sheet in the given direction coincides with a center line of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction.