Sheet cutting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364121-B2
Application number	US-201715592742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2017
Priority date	May 31, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A sheet cutting apparatus includes a cutting unit configured to cut a sheet, a blowing unit configured to send air toward the cutting unit, a container unit configured to contain scraps generated when the sheet is cut, a scrap path configured to allow the scraps travelling toward the container unit from the cutting unit to pass through, wherein the scrap path is formed of a member provided with openings for allowing the air sent by the blowing unit to pass through.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet cutting apparatus for cutting sheets on which images are formed, comprising:
a cutting unit configured to cut the sheets supported on a supporting surface;
a blowing unit disposed above the supporting surface and configured to blow air toward the cutting unit;
a path member disposed below the supporting surface and configured to define a scrap path through which scraps generated when the cutting unit cuts the sheets pass; and
a container unit configured to contain scraps which has passed through the scrap path,
wherein the path member comprises a first portion disposed below the cutting unit and a second portion disposed below the first portion, an opening for allowing the air sent by the blowing unit to pass through is provided on the second portion of the path member, and
wherein the container unit is disposed below the second portion of the path member.

2. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a changing unit provided in the scrap path, configured to change travelling directions of the scraps.

3. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the changing unit includes an inclined portion inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, which the scraps travelling to the container unit from the cutting unit contacts.

4. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the path member provided with the opening extends vertically,
wherein the changing unit includes a first member having an inclined portion gradually approaching the path member as inclining downward and a second member projecting toward the first member from the path member, which the scraps orientations of which are changed by the inclined portion of the first member contact.

5. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the blowing unit is provided so as to send air to the cutting unit from above,
wherein the container unit is provided on a lower side of the cutting unit, and
wherein the container unit contains the scraps falling from the cutting unit via the scrap path extending in a vertical direction.

6. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path member provided with the opening is a member extending vertically.

7. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path member provided with the opening functions as a filter that prevents the scraps from travelling to an outside of the scrap path and allows the air to pass through.

8. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an air flow path configured to allow the air having passed through the opening and flowing toward the blowing unit to pass through,
wherein the air sent by the blowing unit passes through the scrap path, the opening, and the air flow path to return to the blowing unit.

9. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the air having passed through the opening is discharged to the outside of the sheet cutting apparatus.

10. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a detection unit configured to detect a state where the container unit becomes full with scraps.

11. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a rib provided on the path member, wherein the rib projects into the scrap path and is arranged at a position corresponding to the opening.

12. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 11 ,
wherein the rib extends in vertical direction and crosses a horizontal plane which passes the opening.

13. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a second rib provided on the path member,
the opening is arranged between the rib and the second rib.

14. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path member extends in vertical direction.

15. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plural of openings for allowing the air sent by the blowing unit to pass through are disposed on the second portion of the path member.

16. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; and
the sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 1 .

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising:
a folding roller pair configured to fold a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit; and
a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet folded by the folding roller pair to the cutting unit,
wherein the container unit is arranged on a lower side of the cutting unit.

18. A sheet cutting apparatus for cutting a sheet on which an image is formed, comprising:
a blade configured to cut a sheet;
a blowing portion arranged on an upper side of a conveyance path which a sheet to be cut by the blade passes through and configured to blow air toward the blade;
a container unit arranged below the blade and configured to contain scraps generated when the sheet is cut by the blade; and
a path member extending a vertical direction and disposed between the cutting unit and the container in the vertical direction, and configured to define a scrap path through which scraps generated when the cutting unit cuts the sheets pass;
an opening provided on the path member and configured to allow the air blown out from the blowing portion to pass through.

19. The sheet cutting apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising a rib provided on the path member, wherein the rib projects into the scrap path and is arranged at a position corresponding to the opening.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Doi Shigeo

Classifications

• B26D7/1854

  by air under pressure · CPC title

• B26D1/045

  for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like · CPC title

• B65H35/06 Primary

  from or with blade, e.g. shear-blade, cutters or perforators (from or with revolving blade B65H35/08) · CPC title

• B65H2301/4229

  cutting piles · CPC title

• G03G15/6582

  Special processing for irreversibly adding or changing the sheet copy material characteristics or its appearance, e.g. stamping, annotation printing, punching · CPC title