This application is entitled to and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-274618, filed on Dec. 15, 2011, the disclosure of which including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing device performing a process such as a sheet saddle-stitching process and an image forming system including the sheet processing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, devices have been used that perform a sheet processing including sheet center-folding process and sheet saddle-stitching process.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-96913 discloses technology that changes the posture of a sheet, and then performs a center-folding process and a saddle-stitching process. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-96913, a manner of changing the sheet posture so as to achieve rapid and reliable changes in sheet posture with respect to various sheet sizes has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Application. Laid-Open No. 2006-36402 discloses a device that achieves feeding of a pile of sheets placed on a saddle while preventing feeding troubles or crinkles even when the pile includes a large number of sheets.
On the other hand, the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-96913 changes the posture of a sheet three times. Accordingly, because a mechanism for changing the posture of the sheet is complicated and extra space is required to change the posture of the sheet, it is thought that the device is more susceptible to increase in size.
The device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-36402 lifts up the pile of sheets (booklet) that have been saddle-stitched on the saddle and feeds the pile of sheets to a subsequent processor. Such a configuration requires a complicated mechanism for feeding the pile of sheets, resulting in complication and an increase in the size of the entire device.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing device having a simple configuration and a small size, and an image forming system.
To achieve the abovementioned object, a sheet processing device reflecting one aspect of the present invention includes: a first saddle on which sheets center-folded by a center-folder are to be placed; a second saddle that is provided separately from the first saddle on an opposite side of the center-folder across the first saddle, allows a pile of sheets saddle-stitched on the first saddle to be placed thereon, and is movable in a direction separating from the first saddle that is a reverse direction to the center-folder and in a direction orthogonal to the direction separating from the first saddle, viewed from above; and; a post processor that is arranged in the orthogonal direction where the second saddle is movable, and performs a post-processing on the pile of sheets.
An image forming system reflecting another aspect of the present invention includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and the sheet processing device that receives the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention, and wherein:
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described based on the accompanying drawings.
(1) Overall Configuration of System
As shown in
Image forming unit 20 forms an image which is a toner image on a sheet, and is the part referred to as a copy machine or a printer. Image forming unit 20 includes a scanner, an exposure device, a photoconductive drum, a developing device, and a fixing device, and/or the like, and is for forming a toner image on a sheet and ejecting the sheet on which the toner image has been formed.
Sheet processor 30 includes stacker 40, first sheet processor 50, and second sheet processor 100.
Sheet processor 30 is able to feed a sheet which has been fed thereinto (i.e., a printed sheet ejected from image forming unit 20) while switching to any one of first direction D1 which is the same direction as the feed-in direction of the sheet and second direction D2 which is orthogonal to first direction D1.
First sheet processor 50 is arranged in first direction D1. Second sheet processor 100 is arranged in second direction D2. In addition, second sheet processor 100 includes a common path forming feeding branch point K0 of first sheet processor 50 and second sheet processor 100. In other words, a printed sheet is fed into first sheet processor 50 via a part of second sheet processor 100.
First sheet processor 50 executes a process other than center-folding on the sheet. First sheet processor 50 is a sheet ejection tray, a side stitching stapler, a hole puncher, a case bookbinding (a glue binding) machine, and/or the like, which executes a bulk-loading process a side-stitching process, a hole-punching process, a case bookbinding process, and/or the like, on printed sheets. Moreover, the configuration of first sheet processor 50 is not limited to one which executes a process mentioned above, and thus may execute another process other than center-folding.
Second sheet processor 100 executes a process including a center-folding process on the sheet.
Stacker 40 stacks thereon a predetermined number of sheets, and ejects the sheets in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawings, namely, toward feeding branch point K0 (may also be referred to as “toward second sheet processor 100”). For example, five sheets stacked by stacker 40 are thereby simultaneously center-folded by second sheet processor 100. Moreover, providing stacker 40 allows for printed sheets to be stocked in stacker 40 (i.e., stacker 40 functions as a buffer) even when time is needed in first sheet processor 50 and second sheet processor 100 after stacking, so that the processing of image forming unit 20 in the previous stage does not have to be stopped and a reduction in productivity can be prevented.
(2) Configuration of Second Sheet Processor
(2-1) Feeder Mechanism of Common Path and Center-Folding Mechanism
Second sheet processor 100, a feeder mechanism of a common path including branch point K0 in
The feeder mechanism in
Sheet in-feeder 110 includes a pair of top and bottom feeder rollers 111. A sheet is sandwiched between feeder rollers 111, and is fed in first direction by the torque of feeder rollers 111. Additionally, feeder rollers 111 are driven by drive gear 112.
Sheet in-feeder 110 includes biasing member 113. Biasing member 113 is fixed on the surface of timing belt 115 extended between drive pulleys 114, and is movable along with timing belt 115 in a clockwise direction and an anticlockwise direction in the drawing.
Sheet out-feeder 120 includes a pair of top and bottom feeder belts 121. A sheet is sandwiched between top and bottom feeder belts 121, and is fed in first direction D1 by the torque of feeder belts 121. A plurality of feeder belts 121 are arranged next to each other at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the of this drawing plane (refer to
Sheet out-feeder 120 includes front-end regulation member 122. Front-end regulation member 122 abuts against the front end of the sheet, and regulates the sheet front-end position. Furthermore, front-end regulation member 122 can enter and withdraw from a feeding path.
Center-folder 130 includes two nip rollers 131, and thin-plate folding knife 132 for pushing the sheet between nip rollers 131. The rotational axis of nip rollers 131 is parallel to the rotational axes of feeder rollers 111 and drive gear 112. Both feeder rollers 111 and nip rollers 131 can be driven by drive gear 112. Accordingly, the driving source for sheet feeding and center-folding is easily shared by configuring second sheet processor 100 to include a common feeding path which forms a branch point of the feeding path in first direction 131 and the feeding path in second direction D2, and executing the center-folding process at the common feeding path. Moreover, a nip line of nip rollers 131 is orthogonal to first direction D1. Specifically, the nip line is formed in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the drawing.
The main operations performed by the feeder/center-folding mechanisms are as follows:
(i) Sheet Feed-in Operation
(ii) Sheet Positioning Operation
(iii) Center-folding Operation
(iv) Sheet Ejection Operation in First Direction D1
(v) Sheet Ejection Operation in Second Direction D2
Hereinafter, each operation will be specifically described.
(i) Sheet Feed-In Operation
As shown in
(ii) Sheet Positioning Operation
A sheet positioning operation is performed as preprocessing when the center-folding process is executed. As shown in
(iii) Center-Folding Operation
(iv) Sheet Ejection Operation in First Direction D1
When the sheet ejection operation is executed in first direction D1, the abovementioned sheet positioning operation and the center-folding operation are not executed, similarly to the sheet feeding operation, sheet 1 is sandwiched between top and bottom feeder rollers 111 and top and bottom feeder belts 121, fed in first direction D1, and ejected. At this time, it is impossible to eject the sheet with the front-end regulation member 122 staying in a protruded state such as shown in
(v) Sheet Ejection Operation in Second Direction D2
Sheet 1 in which a fold has been formed and which has been returned from nip rollers 131 to the feeding path is pushed in second direction D2 by pushing claw 134, as shown in
(2-2) Saddle and Saddle-stitching Mechanisms
Main saddle 140 has a triangular cross section so that the center-folded sheet can be stably placed on main saddle 140. Center-folded sheet 1 ejected from the abovementioned center-folding mechanism is fed to main saddle 140. Center-folded sheets 1 are placed on main saddle 140.
Stapler 150 is provided above main saddle 140, and descends toward main saddle 140 so as to saddle-stitch sheets placed on main saddle 140. Furthermore, the positions of main saddle 140 and stapler 150 are fixed with respect to second direction D2.
Buffer saddle 160 is provided separately from main saddle 140 and is movable with saddle-stitched sheets placed thereon. Main saddle 140 and buffer saddle 160 are serially arranged in the folding direction of center-folded sheets. Buffer saddle 160 is disposed on the opposite side of center-folder 130 across main saddle 140, and is movable in the direction separating from main saddle 140 (direction D2) and also in the direction approaching main saddle 140 (reverse direction to the direction D2).
Specifically, buffer saddle 160 is pivotally supported at slide shaft 161, and moved in second direction D2 and the opposite direction thereto by drive belt 162. Moreover, base 163 of buffer saddle 160 is pivotally supported at slide shaft 164, and moved in direction D3 orthogonal to second direction 132 and the opposite direction thereto by drive belt 165.
Saddle and saddle-stitching mechanisms include a feeder for feeding a pile of sheets placed on main saddle 140 toward buffer saddle 160 while keeping the pile of sheets on main saddle 140; and a positioner for abutting against the front end in the feeding direction of the pile of sheets fed by the feeder, so as to position the pile of sheets at the saddle-stitching position where a saddle-stitching is executed by stapler 150. In the present embodiment, the feeder is provided as first feeding member 171 and second feeding member 172, and the positioner is provided as positioning member 173.
As described in detail later, first feeding member 171 functions for feeding the sheets to be saddle-stitched to the saddle-stitching position where the saddle-stitching is executed by stapler 150, and also fitting the pile of sheets in place at this position, and second feeding member 172 functions for feeding the saddle-stitched pile of sheets onto buffer saddle 160. Second feeding member 172 also functions for positioning the pile of sheets at the saddle-stitching position where the saddle-stitching is executed by stapler 150, in other words, second feeding member 172 functions as both the feeder and the positioner.
First feeding member 171, second feeding member 172, and positioning member 173 are respectively movable in second direction D2 and the opposite direction thereof.
Next, an operation of the saddling mechanism and an operation of the saddle-stitching mechanism of the present embodiment will be described with reference to
First, as shown in
Next, as shown in
As shown in the drawing, after completing the positioning at the first staple position, second feeding member 172 avoids main saddle 140, and then moves behind the rear end side of sheets 1.
Next, as shown in
Then, as shown in
Next, as shown in
When feeding the pile of sheets 1 to cutter 180 (cutting section) with the pile of sheets 1 placed on buffer saddle 160, buffer saddle 160 moves in direction D2 separating from main saddle 140, and then moves in direction D3 orthogonal to the direction separating from main saddle 140. In other words, buffer saddle 160 moves along a right-angled path. On the other hand, when delivering the pile of sheets 1 to cutter 160 and thereafter returning to a receiving position for receiving the pile of sheets 1 from main saddle 140, buffer saddle 160 moves linearly from a delivering position to cutter 180, to the receiving position from main saddle 140. Specifically, a motor (not shown) activates drive belt 162 and drive belt 165 at the same time. Accordingly, buffer saddle 160 can rapidly return to the position where the pile of sheets 1 is received from main saddle 140.
(2-3) Configurations of Cutter, Sheet Tray and Lifter
As shown in
Accordingly, arranging ejected sheet tray 190 above buffer saddle 160 and cutter 180 allows a user to easily take the booklet (pile of sheets). Moreover, the installation area of the device can be miniaturized.
As shown in
As shown in
In the present embodiment, retaining plate 220 is provided in order to change the holding position.
An operation will be described. First, lifter 200 performs a square folding process via square folding member 230, as shown in
Then, after lifter 200 is raised to a certain position, retaining plate 220 is rotated so as to be in a horizontal state, as shown in
Holding the upper end proximity (the fold) of the pile of sheets 1 and accurately closing the pile of sheets 1 allows an accurate square folding process and a cutting process to be performed. Moreover, changing the holding position to the second holding position lower than the first holding position allows direction changer 210 positioned above cutter 180 to appropriately receive the pile of sheets 1.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, there are provided: main saddle 140 receiving the sheets center-folded by center-folder 130, and having these center-folded sheets placed thereon; buffer saddle 160 provided separately from main saddle 140, disposed on the opposite side of center-folder 130 across main saddle 140, allowing the pile of sheets 1 saddle-stitched on main saddle 140 to be placed thereon, and movable in the direction D2 separating from main saddle 140 that is the reverse direction to center-folder 130 and also in the direction D3 orthogonal to the direction separating from main saddle 140, viewed from above; and cutter 180 arranged in the orthogonal direction D3 where buffer saddle 160 is movable.
While the folding direction of the center-folded pile of sheets 1 is fixed, the pile of sheets 1 is fed all the way from center-folder 130 through main saddle 140 and buffer saddle 160 to cutter 180.
Accordingly, the process from the saddle-stitching to the cutting is carried out without changing the position of the pile of sheets 1, thereby eliminating space for changing the sheet position as well as a complicated configuration required for changing the sheet position. As a result, it is possible to provide the sheet processing device (second sheet processor 100) having a simple configuration and a small size.
Cutter 180 is arranged not in series with center-folder 130, main saddle 140, and buffer saddle 160, but in parallel to buffer saddle 160, thereby preventing the device from being elongated in the direction D2 in series with center-folder 130, main saddle 140, and buffer saddle 160. Buffer saddle 160 is shorter than main saddle 140 in the direction D3. Therefore, even if buffer saddle 160 is arranged in parallel to cutter 180, their combined length is substantially covered by the length of main saddle 140. As described above, the sheet processing device (second sheet processor 100) is excellent in balance of arrangement in the device, which reduces overall installation area of the device.
Main saddle 140 carries out the saddle-stitching process, and buffer saddle 160 carries out the feeding process of the pile of sheets 1. Consequently, the configuration of the saddle mechanism required to perform both the saddle-stitching and the feeding of the sheets can be simplified, and the processing can be achieved at a high speed.
Arranging ejected sheet loader 190 above buffer saddle 160 and cutter 180 allows a user to easily remove the booklet (pile of sheets). Moreover, the installation area of the device can be miniaturized.
In the abovementioned embodiment, such a case has been described that cutter 180 is provided as a post processor for performing the post-processing on the pile of sheets 1 in the orthogonal direction D3 where buffer saddle 160 is movable; but the present invention is not limited to this case, and a square fold processor or the like may be provided instead of cutter 180.
An invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described above based on an exemplary embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiment disclosed herein is exemplary in every aspect, and therefore not understood to be restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated not by the description above, but by the appended claims, and all modifications equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-274618 | Dec 2011 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6095740 | Hollenstein et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6805340 | Silberbauer | Oct 2004 | B2 |
7261507 | Horii et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2005-096913 | Apr 2005 | JP |
2006-036402 | Feb 2006 | JP |
Entry |
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Japanese Office Action, Notice of Reasons for Rejection for JP2011-274618 with English translation. Dispatch date: Feb. 12, 2014. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130154176 A1 | Jun 2013 | US |