Binding device, post-processing apparatus, and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11066268-B2
Application number	US-202016811100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2020
Priority date	Mar 26, 2019
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A binding device includes a stacking device configured to receive sheets, a sheet alignment member configured to align the sheets on the stacking device, a binder configured to bind the sheets on the stacking device, a binder moving device configured to move the binder, and a retreat device configured to retreat the sheet alignment member from a range of movement of the binder. The retreat device retreats the sheet alignment member in response to a pressing force acting on the sheet alignment member in a direction of movement of the binder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A binding device comprising:
a stacking device configured to receive sheets;
a sheet alignment member configured to align the sheets on the stacking device;
a binder configured to bind the sheets on the stacking device;
a binder moving device configured to move the binder; and
a retreat device configured to retreat the sheet alignment member from a range of movement of the binder in response to a pressing force acting on the sheet alignment member in a direction of movement of the binder, the retreat device including:
a retreat mechanism configured to retreat, from the range of movement of the binder, an interfering portion of the sheet alignment member in response to interference with the binder moved by the binder moving device; and
a restoration mechanism configured to return the interfering portion of the sheet alignment member to a state before the interference, when the interference is resolved by the retreat mechanism, and

wherein the retreat mechanism is configured to rotate the interfering portion of the sheet alignment member along the direction of movement of the binder in accordance with movement of the binder.

2. The binding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the restoration mechanism includes an elastic member configured to bias the interfering portion of the sheet alignment member in a direction against rotation of the interfering portion of the sheet alignment member along the direction of movement of the binder.

3. The binding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the retreat device includes a stopper configured to stop the interfering portion of the sheet alignment member in a state returned by the restoration mechanism, when the interfering portion is returned to the state before interference.

4. The binding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sheet alignment member includes at least one of:
an end alignment member configured to align an end portion of the sheets; and
an end press configured to press the end portion of the sheets in a direction of thickness of the sheets.

5. The binding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the binder is configured to bind the sheets in a state where an end portion of the sheets aligned by the sheet alignment member is pressed in a direction of thickness of the sheets.

6. A post-processing apparatus comprising the binding device according to claim 1 .

7. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet; and the post-processing apparatus according to claim 6 , configured to receive the sheet from the image forming apparatus.

Assignees

• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Sasaki Kei
• Suzuki Junya
• Furuta Koji
• Niikura Yasuo
• Mishina Kazuki
• Hari Kenji
• Mori Yuuta
• Sugawara Hisayoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Sasaki Kei
• Suzuki Junya
• Furuta Koji
• Niikura Yasuo
• Mishina Kazuki
• Hari Kenji
• Mori Yuuta
• Sugawara Hisayoshi

Classifications

• B65H2301/4212

  of articles substantially horizontal · CPC title

• B65H31/34

  Apparatus for squaring-up piled articles · CPC title

• B65H37/04 Primary

  for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) · CPC title

• B65H2301/4223

  Pressing piles · CPC title

• B65H2408/1222

  movable transversely to direction of transport · CPC title