Sheet folding apparatus and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11066270-B2
Application number	US-201916707477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2019
Priority date	Dec 10, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets, including: a feeding-roller pair; a loop-forming space provided downstream from the feeding-roller pair, for forming a sheet loop; a pushing member for pushing the looped sheet; a folding-roller pair for nipping a prescribed part of the sheet pushed by the pushing member, thereby to fold the sheet; and a path provided between the feeding-roller pair and the folding-roller pair, for guiding the sheet fed from the feeding-roller pair toward the loop-forming space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets, comprising:
a feeding-roller pair configured to form a sheet loop;
a loop-forming space provided downstream from the feeding-roller pair, for receiving the sheet loop formed by the feeding-roller pair;
a pushing member configured to push the sheet looped in the loop-forming space;
a folding-roller pair configured to nip a predetermined part of the sheet pushed by the pushing member and fold the sheet; and
a path provided between the feeding-roller pair and the folding-roller pair, for guiding the sheet fed from the feeding-roller pair toward the loop-forming space,
wherein the path is arranged above a tangential line passing a nip point of the folding-roller pair that nips the sheet, and the loop-forming space is arranged below the tangential line passing the nip point of the folding-roller pair.

2. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the path forms at least a part of a passage extending from the feeding-roller pair to the folding-roller pair.

3. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pushing member is arranged in a space between the path and the loop-forming space, and is moved toward the tangential line of the nip point of the folding-roller pair.

4. A sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets, comprising:
a feeding-roller pair configured to transport a sheet;
a folding-roller pair configured to nip a predetermined part of the sheet and fold the sheet;
a transport path configured to guide the sheet transported from the feeding-roller pair to the folding-roller pair;
a loop-forming space for forming a sheet loop between the feeding-roller pair and the folding-roller pair; and
a pushing member configured to push the looped sheet, allowing the folding-roller pair to nip a prescribed part of the sheet,
wherein the transport path is composed of a first passage for guiding the sheet to the folding-roller pair, a second passage provided upstream from the first passage, for guiding the sheet transported from the feeding-roller pair toward the loop-forming space arranged below the first passage, and a third passage for guiding the sheet to the second passage, and the first and third passages are arranged horizontally, while the second passage inclines from the third passage toward the first passage.

5. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a drive mechanism configured to move the pushing member to a retreat position below the second passage and to an operative position where a prescribed part of the sheet is nipped by the folding-roller pair.

6. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the drive mechanism causes the pushing member to move from the retreat position below the second passage, via the loop-forming space provided below the first passage, to the operative position.

7. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the second passage is connected to the first passage at an upstream side of the first passage; and the loop-forming space includes an opening at a part connecting the first passage and the second passage in the transport path, for receiving the sheet loop.

8. A sheet folding apparatus for folding sheets, comprising:
a feeding-roller pair configured to transport sheets;
a folding-roller pair arranged downstream from the feeding-roller pair, for nipping a prescribed part of the sheet and fold the sheet;
a transport path having a first passage for guiding the sheet to the folding-roller pair, and a second passage inclined downward, for guiding the sheet from the feeding-roller pair to the first passage;
a loop-forming space provided below the first passage, for receiving a sheet loop between the feeding-roller pair and the folding-roller pair;
a pushing member arranged at a location below the second passage and in the neighborhood of the first passage, for pushing the sheet to move to a position where the folding-roller pair nips a prescribed part of the sheet; and
a control section configured to control the feeding-roller pair, folding-roller pair and pushing member, the control section including controlling the feeding-roller pair and folding-roller pair so as to form a sheet loop, and then moving the pushing member so that a prescribed part of the sheet is nipped by the folding-roller pair.

9. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the pushing member has a drive mechanism that moves to a sheet transporting direction.

10. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the transport path includes a third passage arranged upstream from the second passage and connected to the second passage; and the first and third passages are horizontally arranged, while the second passage inclines downward from the third passage toward the first passage.

11. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the transport path has an opening for sending the sheet transported from the feeding-roller pair into the loop-forming space; and the drive mechanism drives the pushing member to move to a retreat position to open the opening of the transport path, a pushing position to cause the folding-roller pair to nip a prescribed part of the sheet, and a guiding position to guide the sheet being transported through the transport path by closing the opening of the transport path.

12. The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a connection part connecting the first passage and the second passage is provided substantially at a center, in a sheet transporting direction, of the opening opened and closed due to the movement of the pushing member.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet; and
a sheet folding apparatus according to claim 8 , which is configured to fold a sheet transported from the image forming unit.

Assignees

• Shimizu Tomohisa
• Iwai Shogo
• Canon Finetech Nisca Inc

Inventors

• Shimizu Tomohisa
• Iwai Shogo

Classifications

• G03G2215/00877

  Folding device · CPC title

• B65H2404/611

  arranged to form a channel · CPC title

• B65H45/16 Primary

  Rotary folders · CPC title

• B65H2701/1131

  of sheets · CPC title

• G03G15/6529

  Transporting (G03G15/6555 takes precedence) · CPC title