Sheet processing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12269702-B2
Application number	US-202318177150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2023
Priority date	Mar 2, 2023
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a sheet processing device includes a folding unit and a fold-enhancing unit. The folding unit folds a sheet and thus forms a fold line thereon. The fold-enhancing unit includes a fold-enhancing roller, an opposite member, and an auxiliary roller. The fold-enhancing roller moves along a fold-line direction in which the fold line on the sheet formed by the folding unit extends. The opposite member sandwiches the fold line with the fold-enhancing roller. The auxiliary roller rolls over the sheet from the same side as the fold-enhancing roller. The auxiliary roller is displaced in a unified manner with the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction and the direction of the thickness of the folded sheet. A drag torque generated by the movement of the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction is higher in the auxiliary roller than in the fold-enhancing roller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet processing device, comprising:
a folding component configured to fold a sheet and thereby form a fold line thereon;
a fold-enhancing component comprising a fold-enhancing roller configured to move along a fold-line direction in which the fold line on the sheet formed by the folding component extends, an opposite member configured to sandwich the fold line with the fold-enhancing roller, and an auxiliary roller configured to roll over the sheet from the same side as the fold-enhancing roller, the auxiliary roller being displaced in a unified manner with the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction and a direction of thickness of the sheet that is folded, wherein a drag torque generated by movement of the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction is higher in the auxiliary roller than in the fold-enhancing roller; and
a resin film provided between the sheet and the auxiliary roller.

2. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the opposite member is a roller rolling over the sheet.

3. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
a coefficient of static friction on an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary roller is higher than a coefficient of static friction on an outer circumferential surface of the fold-enhancing roller.

4. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
a direction of sheet conveyance to the fold-enhancing component is defined, and
the auxiliary roller is arranged upstream in the direction of sheet conveyance from the fold-enhancing roller.

5. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the auxiliary roller rotates in a unified manner with the fold-enhancing roller.

6. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the auxiliary roller is provided coaxially with the fold-enhancing roller.

7. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the auxiliary roller has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fold-enhancing roller.

8. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
a groove extending in a direction intersecting a circumferential direction is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary roller.

9. The sheet processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the auxiliary roller is softer than the fold-enhancing roller.

10. The sheet processing device according to claim 2 , wherein
a direction of sheet conveyance to the fold-enhancing component is defined, and
an axial line of rotation of the fold-enhancing roller and the opposite member extends in a sheet direction of conveyance.

11. A sheet processing method, comprising:
folding a sheet to form a fold line thereon using a folding component;
moving a fold-enhancing roller, of a fold-enhancing component, along a fold-line direction in which the fold line on the sheet formed by the folding component extends;
sandwiching the fold line with an opposite member and the fold-enhancing roller;
rolling an auxiliary roller over the sheet from the same side as the fold-enhancing roller, the auxiliary roller being displaced in a unified manner with the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction and a direction of thickness of the sheet that is folded; and
generating a drag torque by movement of the fold-enhancing roller in the fold-line direction higher in the auxiliary roller than in the fold-enhancing roller,
wherein the auxiliary roller has a diameter larger than a diameter of the fold-enhancing roller.

12. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
rolling the opposite member over the sheet.

13. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , wherein
a coefficient of static friction on an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary roller is higher than a coefficient of static friction on an outer circumferential surface of the fold-enhancing roller.

14. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , wherein
a direction of sheet conveyance to the fold-enhancing component is defined, and
the auxiliary roller is arranged upstream in the direction of sheet conveyance from the fold-enhancing roller.

15. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
rotating the auxiliary roller in a unified manner with the fold-enhancing roller.

16. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , wherein
the auxiliary roller is provided coaxially with the fold-enhancing roller.

17. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
forming a groove extending in a direction intersecting a circumferential direction on an outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary roller.

18. The sheet processing method according to claim 11 , wherein
the auxiliary roller is softer than the fold-enhancing roller.

19. The sheet processing method according to claim 12 , wherein
a direction of sheet conveyance to the fold-enhancing component is defined, and
an axial line of rotation of the fold-enhancing roller and the opposite member extends in a sheet direction of conveyance.

20. The sheet processing method of claim 11 , wherein a resin film is provided between the sheet and the auxiliary roller.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Yamamoto Mikio

Classifications

• B65H45/16 Primary

  Rotary folders · CPC title

• B65H29/125

  between two sets of rollers · CPC title

• B65H2301/4474

  Pair of cooperating moving elements as rollers, belts forming nip into which material is transported · CPC title

• B65H37/06

  for folding · CPC title

• B65H45/18

  Oscillating or reciprocating blade folders (carried on rotary members B65H45/16) · CPC title