Sheet post-processing device and image forming system including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10994963-B2
Application number	US-202016942409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2020
Priority date	Aug 2, 2019
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A sheet post-processing device includes: an alignment member which aligns a sheet bundle on a stacking tray; and a stapler which performs binding processing on a rear end of the sheet bundle. The stapler includes: a first stapler which moves along the rear end of a first sheet bundle and performs the binding processing on a plurality of positions at the rear end of the first sheet bundle; and a second stapler which performs, at one part of an end portion of the rear end on one side, binding processing different from the first stapler. The alignment member includes: a first alignment member and a second alignment member which align the sheet bundle in a first stacking position; and a third alignment member which is fixed to a position corresponding to the second stapler and which aligns the sheet bundle in a second stacking position with the first alignment member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet post-processing device comprising:
a stacking tray which stacks sheets conveyed;
an alignment member which aligns a sheet bundle formed with the sheets stacked on the stacking tray; and
a stapler which performs binding processing on a rear end of the sheet bundle in a conveying direction,
wherein the stapler includes:
a first stapler which moves along the rear end of the sheet bundle and performs the binding processing on a plurality of positions at the rear end of the sheet bundle aligned with the alignment member in a first stacking position on the stacking tray; and
a second stapler which is fixed outside a range of the movement of the first stapler on one side in a sheet width direction along the rear end of the sheet bundle and which performs, at one part of an end portion of the rear end on the one side, binding processing different from the first stapler on the sheet bundle moved with the alignment member on the stacking tray from the first stacking position to a second stacking position shifted from the first stacking position to the one side, and

the alignment member includes:
a first alignment member and a second alignment member which slide independently of each other in the sheet width direction with respect to the stacking tray and which sandwich the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction so as to align the sheet bundle in the first stacking position; and
a third alignment member which is fixed to a position corresponding to the second stapler such that the second alignment member can be passed through the third alignment member and which sandwiches and aligns the sheet bundle stacked in the second stacking position in the sheet width direction together with the first alignment member in a state where the second alignment member passes through the third alignment member.

2. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the sheet bundle is bound with the first stapler, the second alignment member is located between the first alignment member and the third alignment member in the sheet width direction whereas when the sheet bundle is bound with the second stapler, the second alignment member is located in a same position as the third alignment member in the sheet width direction or is located outside the third alignment member in the sheet width direction.

3. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second alignment member and the third alignment member respectively include a first alignment surface and a second alignment surface which make contact with the sheet bundle, and
one of the first alignment surface and the second alignment surface includes an opening through which the other of the first alignment surface and the second alignment surface can be passed when the second alignment member is moved in the sheet width direction.

4. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the third alignment member is fixed to the second stapler.

5. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a side plate which is part of a frame that holds the stacking tray and which is extended along a conveying direction perpendicular to the sheet width direction,
wherein the side plate includes an opening through which the second alignment member can be passed when the second alignment member is moved in the sheet width direction, and also serves as the third alignment member.

6. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 4 , further comprising:
an adjustment mechanism that adjusts, in the sheet width direction, a position in which the third alignment member is fixed to the second stapler.

7. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
an adjustment mechanism that adjusts, in the sheet width direction, a position in which the third alignment member is fixed to the second stapler.

8. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a maximum thickness of the second sheet bundle on which the binding processing can be performed with the second stapler is smaller than a maximum thickness of the first sheet bundle on which the binding processing can be performed with the first stapler.

9. The sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first stapler is a stapler that binds with a needle, and
the second stapler is a needle-free stapler without using a needle.

10. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet; and
the sheet post-processing device according to claim 1 which performs predetermined post-processing on the sheet supplied from the image forming apparatus.

Assignees

• Kyocera Document Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Okada Rina
• Miyazaki Masahiko

Classifications

• B65H2511/15

  Height, e.g. of stack · CPC title

• B31F2201/0754

  The tools being other than rollers, e.g. belts or plates · CPC title

• B65H9/06

  Movable stops or gauges, e.g. rising and falling front stops {(B65H11/007 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B31F5/02

  by crimping or slotting {or perforating} · CPC title

• B65H2405/11151

  with surface inclined upwardly in transport direction · CPC title