Post-processing device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024302781-A1
Application number	US-202418430687-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 2, 2024
Priority date	Mar 9, 2023
Publication date	Sep 12, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A post-processing device includes: a loading section that has a loading surface directed obliquely upward and in which a recording medium is loaded on the loading surface in a state where one end of the recording medium is directed downward; a supporting section that supports the one end of the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; a restricting section that restricts bending of the recording medium by coming into contact with the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; and an abutting section that abuts the one end of the recording medium against the supporting section by pushing an upper end of the recording medium opposite to the one end downward, in a state where the restricting section restricts the bending of the recording medium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A post-processing device comprising:
a loading section that has a loading surface directed obliquely upward and in which a recording medium is loaded on the loading surface in a state where one end of the recording medium is directed downward; a supporting section that supports the one end of the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; a restricting section that restricts bending of the recording medium by coming into contact with the recording medium loaded on the loading surface; and an abutting section that abuts the one end of the recording medium against the supporting section by pushing an upper end of the recording medium opposite to the one end downward, in a state where the restricting section restricts the bending of the recording medium.

2 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the restricting section
has a flat surface which comes into contact with the recording medium loaded on the loading surface, and
restricts bending of the recording medium by the flat surface coming into contact with the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is movable along a direction of pushing performed by the abutting section.

3 . The post-processing device according to claim 2 ,
wherein a gap between the loading surface and a facing surface of the restricting section, which is in contact with the recording medium and faces toward the loading surface, is greater than a thickness of all of recording media loaded on the loading surface.

4 . The post-processing device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the restricting section increases the gap as the number of loaded recording media which is loaded on the loading surface increases.

5 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the restricting section moves from a non-contact position that is not in contact with the recording medium transported toward the loading surface, and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

6 . The post-processing device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the restricting section moves in a direction in which the restricting section approaches the loading surface while being displaced upward from the non-contact position, and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

7 . The post-processing device according to claim 6 ,
wherein the restricting section moves in a state where a facing surface facing toward the loading surface is along the loading surface, in the direction in which the restricting section approaches the loading surface while being displaced upward from the non-contact position, and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

8 . The post-processing device according to claim 6 ,
wherein the restricting section moves in a direction in which the restricting section approaches the loading surface while being displaced upward after being displaced downward from the non-contact position, and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

9 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein in a state of protruding upward from the upper end of the recording medium, the restricting section comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

10 . The post-processing device according to claim 9 ,
wherein a notch through which the abutting section is able to enter is formed at an upper end of the restricting section.

11 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising
an aligning section that comes into contact with both side ends of the recording medium and aligns the side ends of the recording medium in a state where the restricting section restricts bending of the recording medium.

12 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a transporting section that is provided at a position facing an upper portion of the loading surface and that transports the recording medium downward toward the loading surface, wherein the restricting section moves in an approaching direction in which the restricting section approaches the loading surface while being displaced downward with respect to the transporting section from a retraction position on a side of the transporting section opposite to the loading surface, then moves in the approaching direction while being displaced upward, and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium.

13 . The post-processing device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the restricting section
moves to the recording medium from a retraction position on a side of the recording medium, which is loaded on the loading surface, opposite to the loading surface and comes into contact with the recording medium to restrict bending of the recording medium, and
guides the recording medium, which is transported toward the loading surface, to the loading surface, at the retraction position.

14 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 1 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

15 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 2 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

16 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 3 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

17 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 4 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

18 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 5 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

19 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 6 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

20 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming section that forms an image on a recording medium; and the post-processing device according to claim 7 that executes post-processing on the recording medium on which the image forming section forms the image.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp

Inventors

• Fukamachi Takayuki
• Fukui Eri
• Kawano Koji
• Mizuno Yuki
• Izumi Ryota

Classifications

• G03G2215/0487

  Adapted to post-processing step, e.g. binding · CPC title

• G03G2215/00354

  Specific document handling machines · CPC title

• B65H31/38

  Apparatus for vibrating or knocking the pile during piling · CPC title

• B65H2405/11152

  with surface inclined downwardly in transport direction · CPC title

• B65H2301/42146

  by introducing articles from above · CPC title