Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus with movable binder member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124980-B2
Application number	US-201715855301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2017
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a sheet post-processing apparatus capable of reliably protecting an edge-binding stapling unit and a sheet material, and of performing a sheet-binding process without increasing the size of the apparatus. The sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a binding unit movable to a binding position in which the binding unit performs a binding process using a binding member on a sheet, and an access position in which a user is accessable to the binding unit; and a control unit configured to cause, when the binding unit performs a setting operation for the binding member, the binding unit to perform the setting operation after causing the binding unit to move to a position different from the access position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising:
a processing tray onto which a sheet to be processed is stacked;
a binder configured to perform a binding process using a binding member, the binder movable to a first binding position at which the binder performs the binding process on a sheet on the processing tray, and a second binding position at which the binder performs the binding process on a sheet to be inserted from outside of the sheet post-processing apparatus through an opening portion and which is different from the first binding position; and
a controller configured to cause the binder to perform a setting operation for moving the binding member, after replenishing the binding member, from a replenished position, at which the binding member has been replenished, to a usable position in the binder, at which the binder enables to perform the binding process using the binding member, wherein the binder performs the setting operation at a setting position different from the first binding position and the second binding position.

2. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, at the setting position, the binder does not interfere with a sheet to be bound at the first binding position and the second binding position.

3. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet processing apparatus is connectable with an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, and the binder performs the binding process on the sheet on which the image forming apparatus forms the image.

4. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the binder to perform the binding process on a sheet by performing a clinching operation in a state in which a binding member is at the usable position, and the controller causes the binder to perform the setting operation by performing the clinching operation multiple times after a jam recovery operation for the binding member or replenishment of the binding member.

5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet;
a binder configured to perform a binding process using a binding member, the binder movable to a first binding position at which the binder performs the binding process on the sheet having the image formed thereon by the image forming section, and a second binding position at which the binder performs the binding process on a sheet to be inserted from outside of the image forming apparatus through an opening portion and which is different from the first binding position; and
a controller configured to cause the binder to perform a setting operation for moving the binding member, after replenishing the binding member, from a replenished position, at which the binding member has been replenished, to a usable position in the binder, at which the binder enables to perform the binding process using the binding member, wherein the binder performs the setting operation at a setting position different from the first binding position and the second binding position.

Assignees

• Canon Finetech Nisca Inc

Inventors

• Okamoto Koji

Classifications

• H05K999/99

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B42B4/00

  Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures by discontinuous stitching with filamentary material, e.g. wire {(by stapling B25C5/00; staples F16B15/00)} · CPC title

• B65H2301/4212

  of articles substantially horizontal · CPC title

• B65H43/00

  Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable · CPC title

• B65H2408/122

  movable stapler · CPC title