Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11548752-B2
Application number	US-202017128832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2020
Priority date	May 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:
a shaft; and
a press member, the sheet processing apparatus being configured to press a fold line formed on a sheet, with the press member, wherein
the press member includes a contact part arranged such that a pressing position in which the contact part presses the fold line, sequentially changes in an axial direction of the shaft with rotation of the shaft, and
the contact part is configured to, with rotation of the press member about the shaft, approach the fold line from a sheet surface closer to the shaft among two sheet surfaces forming the fold line, wherein the press member is configured to be rotatable in only one direction when pressing the fold line.

2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the contact part is configured to sequentially press the fold line in a direction of the fold line.

3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the contact part is configured to press a whole range of the fold line with no break.

4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheet abutting plate configured to abut on the sheet in a position opposite to the press member across the sheet.

5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the contact part and the sheet abutting plate are arranged such that the contact part is below and the sheet abutting plate is above in a gravity direction.

6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the contact part includes a plurality of contact parts arranged in the axial direction of the shaft.

7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the contact part is arranged on the shaft via an elastic member.

8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet is stopped when pressing the fold line of the sheet.

9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a rotational direction of the shaft is one direction.

10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotation driving and braking unit configured to generate a driving force to rotate the contact part, and a braking force to stop rotation of the contact part; and
a driving force intercepting unit configured to transmit, to the contact part, only a driving force rotating the contact part in a specific direction among the driving force generated by the rotation driving and braking unit, and intercept, from the contact part, a driving force rotating the contact part in an opposite direction to the specific direction, wherein
the contact part is configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a direction in which the sheet is conveyed, and parallel to the sheet surface, to press the fold line.

11. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a different drive transmitting unit configured to transmit, to a different driving unit, the driving force intercepted from the contact part.

12. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the driving force intercepting unit is configured to transmit, to the contact part, only the driving force rotating the contact part in a rotational direction when the contact part presses the fold line of the sheet, and intercept, from the contact part, a driving force rotating the contact part in an opposite direction to the rotational direction.

13. An image forming system, comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on the sheet; and
the sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , the sheet processing apparatus being configured to form the fold line on the sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus, and press the fold line.

14. A sheet processing method in a sheet processing apparatus including a shaft, a press member, and a sheet abutting plate, configured to press a fold line formed on a sheet, with the press member, wherein
the press member includes a contact part arranged such that a pressing position in which the contact part presses the fold line against the sheet abutting plate, sequentially changes in an axial direction of the shaft with rotation of the shaft, and
the contact part is made to, with rotation of the press member about the shaft, approach the fold line from a sheet surface closer to the shaft among two sheet surfaces forming the fold line.

15. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:
a shaft; and
a press member, the sheet processing apparatus being configured to press a fold line formed on a sheet, with the press member, wherein
the press member includes a contact part arranged such that a pressing position in which the contact part presses the fold line, sequentially changes in an axial direction of the shaft with rotation of the shaft, and
the contact part is configured to, with rotation of the press member about the shaft, approach the fold line from a sheet surface closer to the shaft among two sheet surfaces forming the fold line, wherein the contact part presses the fold line of a stopped sheet sequentially in a direction along the fold line.

Assignees

• Hari Kenji
• Yamanaka Manabu
• Yoshida Nagayasu
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hari Kenji
• Yamanaka Manabu
• Yoshida Nagayasu

Classifications

• B65H2404/61

  Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires · CPC title

• B65H2404/1118

  with at least a relief portion on the periphery · CPC title

• B65H2557/242

  involving a particular data profile or curve · CPC title

• B65H2513/10

  Speed · CPC title

• B65H2701/11232

  Z-folded · CPC title