Binding apparatus and image forming system including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11130308-B2
Application number	US-202016890090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2020
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	Sep 28, 2021
Grant date	Sep 28, 2021

Abstract

A binding apparatus includes a pair of pressing members to sandwich and press a sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle, a rotator to rotate to periodically separate and contact the pressing members with each other, a detector to detect whether the rotator is between a first position at which the pressing members are separated from each other and a second position downstream from the first position in a forward rotation direction of the rotator, and control circuitry. The second position is upstream in the forward rotation direction from a peak position at which a pressing force between the pressing members is maximum. The control circuitry is configured to rotate the rotator in a reverse direction to the forward rotation direction to move the rotator to the first position when the detector detects that the rotator is between the first position and the second position in the forward rotation direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A binding apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle, the binding apparatus comprising:
a pair of pressing members configured to sandwich and press the sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle;
a rotator configured to rotate to periodically cause the pair of pressing members to separate and contact with each other;
a detector configured to detect whether the rotator is between a first position at which the pair of pressing members is separated from each other and a second position downstream from the first position in a forward rotation direction of the rotator, the second position upstream in the forward rotation direction from a peak position at which a pressing force between the pair of pressing members is maximum; and
control circuitry configured to rotate the rotator in a reverse direction to the forward rotation direction to move the rotator to the first position in response to a detection, by the detector, that the rotator is between the first position and the second position in the forward rotation direction.

2. The binding apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in a state where the rotator is at the first position, a distance between the pair of pressing members is maximum.

3. The binding apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the rotator in the reverse direction, the biasing member configured to start biasing the rotator when the rotator is between the first position and the second position in the forward rotation direction.

4. The binding apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detector includes:
a circular member configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotator, the circular member including a stepped portion on a periphery of the circular member, the stepped portion configured to indicate that the rotator is between the first position and the second position in the forward rotation direction; and
a sensor configured to irradiate, with a detection ray, the circular member and output a signal indicating that the rotator is between the first position and the second position in the forward rotation direction in accordance with the stepped portion of the circular member.

5. The binding apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control circuitry is configured to rotate the rotator in the forward rotation direction in response to a detection, by the detector, that the rotator is between the second position and the first position in the forward rotation direction.

6. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, and
the binding apparatus according to claim 1 , configured to bind a plurality of sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus.

Assignees

• Suzuki Nobuyoshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Nobuyoshi

Classifications

• B65H2301/51616

  involving simultaneous deformation of parts of the material to be bound · CPC title

• B65H2301/43828

  involving simultaneous deformation of at least a part of the articles to be bound · CPC title

• B31F5/02 Primary

  by crimping or slotting {or perforating} · CPC title

• B65H2407/20

  for manual intervention of operator · CPC title

• B31F2201/0754

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