Sheet folding device, post-processing device, and image forming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302880-B2
Application number	US-201414337831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

Provided is a sheet folding device including a folding roll that has a convex portion spirally provided on an outer periphery surface and is rotatably provided, and performs a folding process while pressing the convex portion on a sheet, and a phase change unit that makes a phase of the folding roll when the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll passes through the folding roll again different from a phase when the sheet passes through the folding roll for the last time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet folding device comprising:
a folding roll that has a convex portion spirally provided on an outer periphery surface and is rotatably provided, and performs a folding process on a sheet while pressing a pressing portion of the convex portion on the sheet;
a phase change unit that changes from a first phase of the folding roll during which the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll passes through the folding roll a first time to a second phase during which the sheet passes through the folding roll for a second time, such that a first pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the first phase is different from a second pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the second phase;
a transport portion that transports the sheet to the folding roll the second time after the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll is pulled back to an upstream side from the folding roll in a transporting direction; and
a drive portion that supplies a driving force of the folding roll and the transport portion,
wherein the transport portion rotates in one direction while receiving drive by the drive portion and rotates in a direction opposite to the one direction while receiving the drive by the drive portion after pulling back the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll on the upstream side in the transporting direction, and transports the sheet to the folding roll, and
wherein the phase change unit does not transmit the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the one direction, and transmits the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the opposite direction.

2. The sheet folding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the folding roll includes:
a first roll that has a first convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface;
a second roll that is provided along the first roll and has a second convex portion spirally provided in a position facing the first convex portion of the first roll on an outer peripheral surface; and
a rotating mechanism that rotates the first roll and the second roll, and performs the folding process on the sheet while interposing the sheet between the first convex portion of the first roll and the second convex portion of the second roll.

3. The sheet folding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the folding roll includes:
a first roll that has a first convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface;
a second roll that is provided along the first roll and has a second convex portion spirally provided in a position facing the first convex portion of the first roll on an outer peripheral surface; and
a rotating mechanism that rotates the first roll and the second roll, and performs the folding process on the sheet while interposing the sheet between the first convex portion of the first roll and the second convex portion of the second roll.

4. The sheet folding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the folding roll includes:
a first roll that has a first convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface;
a second roll that is provided along the first roll and has a second convex portion spirally provided in a position facing the first convex portion of the first roll on an outer peripheral surface; and
a rotating mechanism that rotates the first roll and the second roll, and performs the folding process on the sheet while interposing the sheet between the first convex portion of the first roll and the second convex portion of the second roll.

5. The sheet folding device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion is not overlapped with the second pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion.

6. A post-processing device comprising:
a stack portion that stacks a sheet and forms a sheet bundle;
a folding roll that has a convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface and is rotatably provided, and performs a folding process while pressing the convex portion on the sheet bundle formed in the stack portion; and
a phase change unit that changes from a first phase of the folding roll during which the sheet bundle on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll passes through the folding roll a first time to a second phase during which the sheet bundle passes through the folding roll for a second time, such that a first pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the first phase is different from a second pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the second phase;
a transport portion that transports the sheet to the folding roll the second time after the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll is pulled back to an upstream side from the folding roll in a transporting direction; and
a drive portion that supplies a driving force of the folding roll and the transport portion,
wherein the transport portion rotates in one direction while receiving drive by the drive portion and rotates in a direction opposite to the one direction while receiving the drive by the drive portion after pulling back the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll on the upstream side in the transporting direction, and transports the sheet to the folding roll, and
wherein the phase change unit does not transmit the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the one direction, and transmits the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the opposite direction.

7. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet;
a folding roll that has a convex portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface and is rotatably provided, and performs a folding process while pressing the convex portion on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; and
a phase change unit that changes from a first phase of the folding roll during which the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll passes through the folding roll a first time to a second phase during which the sheet passes through the folding roll for a second time, such that a first pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the first phase is different from a second pressed position on the sheet by the convex portion in the second phase;
a transport portion that transports the sheet to the folding roll the second time after the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll is pulled back to an upstream side from the folding roll in a transporting direction; and
a drive portion that supplies a driving force of the folding roll and the transport portion,
wherein the transport portion rotates in one direction while receiving drive by the drive portion and rotates in a direction opposite to the one direction while receiving the drive by the drive portion after pulling back the sheet on which the folding process is performed by the folding roll on the upstream side in the transporting direction, and transports the sheet to the folding roll, and
wherein the phase change unit does not transmit the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the one direction, and transmits the drive from the drive portion to the folding roll when the drive portion rotates the transport portion in the opposite direction.

Assignees

• Fuji Xerox Co Ltd

Inventors

• Awano Hiroaki

Classifications

• B65H2404/13

  Details of longitudinal profile · CPC title

• B65H2404/1316

  stepped or grooved · CPC title

• B65H45/147

  folding rollers therefor · CPC title

• B65H45/18 Primary

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

• B65H5/062

  between rollers or balls · CPC title