Medium processing apparatus and image forming system incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023234804-A1
Application number	US-202318153023-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2023
Priority date	Jan 27, 2022
Publication date	Jul 27, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A medium processing apparatus includes a conveyor, a receptacle, a liquid applier, and a crimper. The conveyor conveys a medium. The receptacle holds the medium conveyed by the conveyor. The liquid applier is disposed upstream from the receptacle in a conveyance direction of the medium to apply liquid to a liquid application position on the medium conveyed by the conveyor. The crimper presses and deforms the liquid application position on a plurality of media including the medium held on the receptacle to bind the plurality of media.

First claim

1 . A medium processing apparatus comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey a medium; a receptacle configured to hold the medium conveyed by the conveyor; a liquid applier disposed upstream from the receptacle in a conveyance direction of the medium to apply liquid to a liquid application position on the medium conveyed by the conveyor; and a crimper configured to press and deform the liquid application position on a plurality of media including the medium held on the receptacle to bind the plurality of media.

2 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid applier is positioned to face the liquid application position when the conveyor temporarily stops conveying the medium.

3 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to execute a process to correct an inclination of the medium or a process to punch a hole penetrating the medium in a thickness direction of the medium, in parallel with a liquid application process performed by the liquid applier, when the conveyor temporarily stops conveying the medium.

4 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid applier is configured to move in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium and to a thickness direction of the medium and stand by at a position where the liquid applier faces the liquid application position before the conveyor starts conveying the medium.

5 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid applier includes a plurality of liquid application units apart from each other in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium and to a thickness direction of the medium and movable in the main scanning direction.

6 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid applier is configured to adjust an amount of the liquid to be applied to each of the plurality of media conveyed by the conveyor.

7 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 6 ,
wherein the liquid applier includes a liquid application member configured to contact the medium and separate from the medium, and wherein the liquid applier is configured to change a pressing force of the liquid application member against the medium to adjust the amount of the liquid to be applied.

8 . The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid applier includes a liquid application rotator configured to rotate, in contact with the medium conveyed by the conveyor, about a pivot extending in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium and to a thickness direction of the medium, to apply the liquid to the medium.

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

10 . An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a medium; a medium processing apparatus configured to process the medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus, the medium processing apparatus including:
a conveyor configured to convey the medium;
a receptacle configured to hold the medium conveyed by the conveyor; and
a crimper configured to press and deform a liquid application position on a plurality of media including the medium held on the receptacle to bind the plurality of media; and
an intermediate apparatus interposed between a medium output portion of the image forming apparatus and the medium processing apparatus in a conveyance course of the medium, the intermediate apparatus including a liquid applier disposed upstream from the receptacle in a conveyance direction of the medium to apply liquid to the liquid application position on the medium conveyed from the image forming apparatus.

Assignees

• Suzuki Junya
• Sasaki Kei
• Seto Kazuki
• Kameyama Kotomi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suzuki Junya
• Sasaki Kei
• Seto Kazuki
• Kameyama Kotomi

Classifications

• B65H37/04 Primary

  for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) · CPC title

• B65H2301/51616

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

• B65H2801/27

  Devices located downstream of office-type machines · CPC title

• B65H2301/5142

  Moistening · CPC title

• B31F5/02

  by crimping or slotting {or perforating} · CPC title