Enclosing apparatus and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12129145-B2
Application number	US-202217742878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2022
Priority date	May 27, 2021
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

An enclosing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope at an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position and an envelope conveyance path through which the envelope is conveyed. An enclosing support is disposed in the envelope conveyance path and supports enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope. The enclosing support retracts a flap of the envelope from the envelope conveyance path while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An enclosing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope at an enclosing position, the enclosing apparatus comprising:
a conveyance roller configured to convey the envelope to the enclosing position;
an envelope conveyance path through which the envelope is conveyed; and
an enclosing support disposed in the envelope conveyance path and configured to support enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope,
the enclosing support configured to retract a flap of the envelope from the envelope conveyance path while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position,
wherein the enclosing support includes
a flap conveyance path branching from the envelope conveyance path,
a flap guide defining the flap conveyance path, and
a flap conveyance direction switching pawl configured to orient the flap toward the flap conveyance path and press the flap against the flap guide when the flap reaches a predetermined position before the envelope reaches the enclosing position,

wherein the enclosing support further includes a first biasing member configured to bias the flap conveyance direction switching pawl to press against the flap guide, and
wherein the enclosing support further includes
a switching biasing pawl configured to block the envelope conveyance path at a default position, and
a second biasing member configured to bias the switching biasing pawl at the default position.

2. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the enclosing support further includes an enclosing guide defining a part of the envelope conveyance path, and
wherein the enclosing guide is configured to guide the enclosure to the enclosing position together with the flap conveyance direction switching pawl.

3. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the switching biasing pawl is configured to move from the default position against a biasing force from the second biasing member when the enclosure conveyed to the enclosing position presses the switching biasing pawl.

4. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the enclosing support further includes another second biasing member configured to bias the flap guide to press against the flap conveyance direction switching pawl.

5. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein each of the first biasing member, the second biasing member, and said another second biasing member includes a spring.

6. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the enclosing support further includes an enclosing guide stay configured to mount the flap conveyance direction switching pawl and pivotally hold the switching biasing pawl, and
wherein the first biasing member and the second biasing member are anchored to the enclosing guide stay.

7. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the enclosing support further includes a taper oriented upstream in an envelope conveyance direction in which the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position.

8. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the taper is configured to widen a mouth of the envelope when the flap of the envelope retracts from the envelope conveyance path and a body of the envelope reaches the enclosing position.

9. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein the flap conveyance direction switching pawl and the switching biasing pawl define the taper.

10. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the flap guide is configured to guide the flap, and
wherein the flap conveyance direction switching pawl includes a front end configured to press against the flap guide, the front end being round in a thickness direction of the flap conveyance direction switching pawl.

11. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a medium; and
the enclosing apparatus according to claim 1 .

12. An enclosing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope at an enclosing position, the enclosing apparatus comprising:
a conveyance roller configured to convey the envelope to the enclosing position;
an envelope conveyance path through which the envelope is conveyed; and
an enclosing support disposed in the envelope conveyance path and configured to support enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope,
the enclosing support configured to retract a flap of the envelope from the envelope conveyance path while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position,
wherein the enclosing support includes
a flap conveyance path branching from the envelope conveyance path,
a flap guide defining the flap conveyance path, and
a flap conveyance direction switching pawl configured to orient the flap toward the flap conveyance path and press the flap against the flap guide when the flap reaches a predetermined position before the envelope reaches the enclosing position,

wherein the enclosing support further includes a first biasing member configured to bias the flap conveyance direction switching pawl to press against the flap guide,
wherein the enclosing support further includes an enclosing guide defining a part of the envelope conveyance path,
wherein the enclosing guide is configured to guide the enclosure to the enclosing position together with the flap conveyance direction switching pawl, and
wherein the enclosing support further includes a second biasing member configured to bias the flap guide to press against the flap conveyance direction switching pawl.

13. The enclosing apparatus according to claim 12 ,
wherein the flap guide is configured to guide the flap, and
wherein the flap conveyance direction switching pawl includes a front end configured to press against the flap guide, the front end being round in a thickness direction of the flap conveyance direction switching pawl.

14. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a medium; and
the enclosing apparatus according to claim 12 .

Assignees

• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Suzuki Michitaka
• Asami Shinji
• Suzuki Nobuyoshi
• Matsuda Takahiro
• Hidaka Makoto
• Matsuo Kazuyoshi
• Yoshizawa Shingo
• Kunieda Akira
• Watanabe Takahiro
• Morinaga Takuya
• Shinoda Atsushi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shibasaki Yuusuke
• Suzuki Michitaka
• Asami Shinji
• Suzuki Nobuyoshi
• Matsuda Takahiro
• Hidaka Makoto
• Matsuo Kazuyoshi
• Yoshizawa Shingo
• Kunieda Akira
• Watanabe Takahiro
• Morinaga Takuya
• Shinoda Atsushi

Classifications

• B65H45/167

  having associated sheet guide means · CPC title

• B65H2801/66

  Envelope filling machines · CPC title

• B65H45/26

  Folding in combination with unpiling (unpiling B65H3/00) · CPC title

• B65H2801/06

  Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers · CPC title

• B65H45/163

  Details of folding jaws therefor · CPC title