U.S. patent application number 16/059155 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-06 for sheet processing apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Taki.
Application Number | 20180346279 16/059155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59019030 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180346279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taki; Hiroyuki |
December 6, 2018 |
SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus
comprises an axis of rotation; a standby section configured to
buffer a sheet; a processing section configured to execute a post
processing on sheets moved from the standby section; a first paddle
configured to be mounted in the axis of rotation and be rotated
around the axis of rotation to contact with the sheet supplied from
the standby section to draw the sheet into a stopper; and a second
paddle configured to be mounted in the axis of rotation at a
predetermined angle with respect to the first paddle and draw the
sheet into the stopper after the first paddle is separated from the
sheet after a drawing-in operation of the sheet by the first
paddle.
Inventors: |
Taki; Hiroyuki; (Mishima
Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
59019030 |
Appl. No.: |
16/059155 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15218700 |
Jul 25, 2016 |
10071875 |
|
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16059155 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 31/3018 20130101;
B65H 2801/27 20130101; B65H 31/02 20130101; B65H 29/34 20130101;
B65H 2801/24 20130101; B65H 2404/63 20130101; B65H 39/10 20130101;
B65H 2301/4212 20130101; B65H 31/34 20130101; B65H 2404/1114
20130101; B65H 37/04 20130101; B65H 2301/4213 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 37/04 20060101
B65H037/04; B65H 39/10 20060101 B65H039/10; B65H 31/02 20060101
B65H031/02; B65H 29/34 20060101 B65H029/34; B65H 31/34 20060101
B65H031/34; B65H 31/30 20060101 B65H031/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2015 |
JP |
2015-240831 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet feed section
configured to supply sheets one by one; an image printer section
configured to form an image on the sheets fed from the sheet feed
section; a sheet conveyance section configured to convey the sheets
from the printer section; a standby section configured to buffer
the sheet; a processing section configured to receive sheets
supplied from the standby section and execute a post processing on
the sheets; a rotational shaft configured to rotate around an axis
of rotation; a first paddle mounted on the rotational shaft and
configured to contact with a top of the supplied sheets on the
processing section and move the sheets to a stopper and separate
from the sheets by rotating with the rotational shaft for aligning
the sheets; and a second paddle mounted on the rotational shaft at
a predetermined angle with respect to the first paddle and
configured to contact with the top of the sheets and move the
sheets to the stopper by rotating with the rotational shaft for
aligning the sheets after the first paddle is separated from the
sheet, the second paddle configured to contact with and separate
from the sheets while the first paddle makes one rotation around
the axis of rotation.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
hardness of the first paddle is higher than a hardness of the
second paddle and a thickness of the first paddle is thicker than a
thickness of the second paddle.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a controller configured to control rotation of the shaft
rotating the first paddle and the second paddle to suspend the
first paddle and the second paddle after the first paddle separates
from the sheets and before the second paddle contacts with the
sheets.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a controller configured to control rotation of the shaft
rotating the first paddle and the second paddle, and to stop the
first paddle and the second paddle at a position where the first
paddle does not disturb sheet conveyance to the standby position
and the second paddle is separated from the sheets on the
processing section after the second paddle aligns the sheets on the
processing section.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
first paddle has a Young's modulus greater than a Young's modulus
of the second paddle.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
hardness of the first paddle is higher than a hardness of the
second paddle.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
thickness of the first paddle is thicker than a thickness of the
second paddle.
8. A sheet processing method, comprising: supplying sheets one by
one; forming an image on the sheets fed from the sheet feed
section; conveying the sheets from the printer section; receiving a
plurality of sheets on a processing section; rotating a first
paddle around an axis of rotation to contact with a top of the
sheets on the processing section to draw the sheets into a stopper;
and further drawing the sheet into the stopper after the first
paddle is separated from the sheet using a second paddle mounted in
the axis of rotation at a predetermined angle with respect to the
first paddle, wherein drawing the sheet to the stopper by the first
paddle and the second paddle is executed while the first paddle
makes one rotation around the axis of rotation.
9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising controlling the rotation of the first paddle and the
second paddle to stop at the positions respectively separated from
buffered sheets remaining after drawing the sheet by the first
paddle.
10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising controlling the rotation to position the first paddle
where the first paddle does not disturb buffering and to position
the second paddle where the second paddle is separated from the
sheet after drawing the sheet by the second paddle.
11. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a
drawing-in quantity of the sheets by the second paddle is smaller
than that of the sheets by the first paddle.
12. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet feed section
configured to supply sheets one by one; an image printer section
configured to form an image on the sheets fed from the sheet feed
section; a sheet conveyance section configured to convey the sheets
from the image printer section; a standby section configured to
buffer the sheets; a processing section configured to execute a
post processing on sheets supplied from the standby section; a
rotational shaft configured to rotate around an axis of rotation; a
first paddle mounted on the rotational shaft and configured to be
rotated around the axis of rotation to contact with the top of the
sheets supplied from the standby section to draw the sheets into a
stopper; and a second paddle mounted on the rotational shaft at an
angle from 90 degrees to 180 degrees with respect to the first
paddle and configured to draw the sheet into the stopper after the
first paddle is separated from the sheet after a drawing-in
operation of the sheets by the first paddle, wherein the drawing-in
operation of the sheet to the stopper by the first paddle and the
second paddle is executed while the first paddle makes one rotation
around the axis of rotation.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising a controller configured to control rotation of the shaft
rotating the first paddle and the second paddle, and to suspend the
first paddle and the second paddle at the positions respectively
separated from sheets remaining in the processing section after the
drawing-in operation of the sheet by the first paddle.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a
hardness of the first paddle is higher than a hardness of the
second paddle and a thickness of the first paddle is thicker than a
thickness of the second paddle.
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising a controller configured to control rotation of the shaft
rotating the first paddle and the second paddle to suspend the
first paddle and the second paddle after the first paddle separates
from the sheets and before the second paddle contacts with the
sheets.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising a controller configured to control rotation of the shaft
rotating the first paddle and the second paddle, and to stop the
first paddle and the second paddle at a position where the first
paddle does not disturb sheet conveyance to the standby position
and the second paddle is separated from the sheets on the
processing section after the second paddle aligns the sheets on the
processing section.
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
first paddle has a Young's modulus greater than a Young's modulus
of the second paddle.
18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a
hardness of the first paddle is higher than a hardness of the
second paddle.
19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a
thickness of the first paddle is thicker than a thickness of the
second paddle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.
15/218,700 filed on Jul. 25, 2016, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-240831, filed
Dec. 10, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD
[0003] Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet
processing apparatus for carrying out a post processing on a sheet
on which an image is formed.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Conventionally, a sheet processing apparatus is known which
executes a post processing such as a stapling processing on sheets
loaded on a processing tray. In order to adjust deviation between
the sheets loaded on the processing tray which are subjected to the
post processing, the sheet processing apparatus includes a member
for adjusting (horizontally aligning) the deviation in the width
direction of the sheet and a member for adjusting (vertically
aligning) the deviation in a direction orthogonal to the width
direction of the sheet. Particularly, with respect to the deviation
in the direction orthogonal to the width direction of the sheet,
the deviation of the sheets loaded on the processing tray is
aligned by using a vertical alignment member that rotates around an
axis of rotation extending in the width direction of the sheet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming system
according to an embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an image
forming apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus according to the
present embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating details of
the configuration of each section of the sheet processing apparatus
according to the present embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a relation
between a standby tray and a paddle section according to the
present embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the paddle section
according to the present embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating standby positions of a
first paddle and a second paddle according to the present
embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a sheet moving processing
by the first paddle according to the present embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a vertical alignment
processing by the first paddle according to the present
embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating stop positions of the first
paddle and the second paddle according to the present
embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a vertical alignment
processing by the second paddle according to the present
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state after the vertical
alignment processing is completed by the first paddle and the
second paddle according to the present embodiment; and
[0016] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the standby positions of
the first paddle and the second paddle after the vertical alignment
processing according to the present embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet processing
apparatus comprises a standby section configured to buffer a sheet;
a processing section configured to receive sheets supplied from the
standby section and execute a post processing on the sheets; a
rotational shaft configured to rotate around an axis of rotation; a
first paddle mounted on the rotational shaft and configured to
contact with a top of the supplied sheets on the processing section
and move the sheets to a stopper and separate from the sheets by
rotating with the rotational shaft for aligning the sheets; and a
second paddle mounted on the rotational shaft at a predetermined
angle with respect to the first paddle and configured to contact
with the top of the sheets and move the sheets to the stopper by
rotating with the rotational shaft for aligning the sheets after
the first paddle is separated from the sheet.
[0018] In accordance with another embodiment, a sheet processing
method involves receiving a plurality of sheets on a processing
section; rotating a first paddle around an axis of rotation to
contact with a top of the sheets on the processing section to draw
the sheets into a stopper; and further drawing the sheet into the
stopper after the first paddle is separated from the sheet using a
second paddle mounted in the axis of rotation at a predetermined
angle with respect to the first paddle.
[0019] Hereinafter, the sheet processing apparatus of the
embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Furthermore, in the following description, the same
numerals are applied to configurations having identical or similar
functions. Further, there is a case in which the repeated
description of these configurations is omitted.
[0020] The sheet processing apparatus of one embodiment is
described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12. FIG. 1 is a diagram
illustrating the entire configuration of an image forming system.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram illustrating an image forming
apparatus and a sheet processing apparatus. The image forming
system contains an image forming apparatus 1 and a sheet processing
apparatus 2. The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a
sheet-like medium (hereinafter, referred to as a "sheet") such as a
paper. The sheet processing apparatus 2 carries out a post
processing on a sheet conveyed from the image forming apparatus
1.
[0021] The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a
control panel 11, a scanner section 12, a printer section 13, a
sheet feed section 14, a sheet discharge section 15 and a
controller 16.
[0022] The control panel 11 has interface including various keys
for receiving operations of a user. For example, the control panel
11 receives an input relating to a type of the post processing of
the sheet. The control panel 11 sends information relating to the
input type of the post processing to the sheet processing apparatus
2.
[0023] The scanner section 12 includes a reading section for
reading image information of a copy object. The scanner section 12
sends the read image information to the printer section 13.
[0024] The printer section 13 forms an image (hereinafter, referred
to as a "toner image") with a developing agent such as toner on the
basis of the image information sent from the scanner section 12 or
an external device. The printer section 13 transfers the toner
image onto a surface of the sheet. The printer section 13 fixes the
toner image by applying heat and pressure to the toner image
transferred onto the sheet.
[0025] The sheet feed section 14 supplies the sheets one by one to
the printer section 13. The sheet discharge section 15 conveys the
sheet from the printer section 13 to the sheet processing apparatus
2.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 16 controls all
operations of the image forming apparatus 1. In other words, the
controller 16 controls the control panel 11, the scanner section
12, the printer section 13, the sheet feed section 14 and the sheet
discharge section 15. The controller 16 is formed by a control
circuit containing a CPU, a ROM and a RAM that are not shown.
[0027] Next, the configuration of the sheet processing apparatus 2
is described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.
1, the sheet processing apparatus 2 is arranged adjacent to the
image forming apparatus 1. The sheet processing apparatus 2
executes a post processing designated through the control panel 11
or the external device such as a client PC on the sheet conveyed
from the image forming apparatus 1. For example, the post
processing includes a stapling processing or a sorting
processing.
[0028] The sheet processing apparatus 2 includes a standby section
21, a processing section 22, a discharge section 23 and a
controller 24. The standby section 21 temporarily buffers a sheet S
(refer to FIG. 3) conveyed from the image forming apparatus 1. For
example, the standby section 21 enables a plurality of succeeding
sheets S to stand by while the post processing on the preceding
sheet S is carried out by the processing section 22. The standby
section 21 is arranged above the processing section 22. The standby
section 21 enables the buffered sheet S to drop towards the
processing section 22 if the sheet in the processing section 22 is
discharged to the discharge section 23.
[0029] The processing section 22 carries out the post processing on
the sheet S. For example, the processing section 22 carries out the
stapling processing on a plurality of the aligned sheets S. In this
way, a plurality of the sheets S is bound together by staples. The
processing section 22 discharges the sheet S to which the post
processing is carried out to the discharge section 23.
[0030] The discharge section 23 includes a fixed tray 23a and a
movable tray 23b. The fixed tray 23a is arranged on the upper part
of the sheet processing apparatus 2. The movable tray 23b is
arranged on the side of the sheet processing apparatus 2. The sheet
S to which the stapling processing or the sorting processing is
carried out is discharged to the movable tray 23b.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 24 controls all
operations of the sheet processing apparatus 2. In other words, the
controller 24 controls the standby section 21, the processing
section 22 and the discharge section 23. Further, as shown in FIG.
2, the controller 24 controls an inlet roller 32a, an exit roller
33a, a paddle section 25 and a paddle motor 28. The controller 24
includes a control circuit containing a CPU, a ROM and a RAM that
are not shown.
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of the sheet processing
apparatus 2. Furthermore, a "sheet conveyance direction" described
in the present embodiment refers to a conveyance direction D of the
sheet S to the standby tray 211 of the standby section 21 (an
approach direction of the sheet S to a standby tray 211) or a
direction in which the sheet S is conveyed from a processing tray
221 to the movable tray 23b.
[0033] Further, an "upstream side" and a "downstream side"
described in the present embodiment respectively refer to the
upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet conveyance
direction D. Further, a "front end part" and a "back end part"
described in the present embodiment respectively refer to "the end
part of the downstream side" and "the end part of the upstream
side" in the sheet conveyance direction D. In the present
embodiment, a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance
direction D is referred to as a sheet width direction W.
[0034] Hereinafter, the details of the configuration of each
section of the sheet processing apparatus 2 are described based on
FIG. 3. A conveyance path 31 is a conveyance path from a sheet
supply port 31p to a sheet discharge port 31d. The sheet supply
port 31p is arranged at a position facing the image forming
apparatus 1. The sheet S is supplied from the image forming
apparatus 1 to the sheet supply port 31p. On the other hand, the
sheet discharge port 31d is located in the vicinity of the standby
section 21. The sheet S discharged from the image forming apparatus
1 is discharged to the standby section 21 via the conveyance path
31.
[0035] The inlet rollers 32a and 32b are arranged in the vicinity
of the sheet supply port 31p. The inlet rollers 32a and 32b convey
the sheet S supplied to the sheet supply port 31p towards the
downstream side of the conveyance path 31. For example, the inlet
rollers 32a and 32b convey the sheet S supplied to the sheet supply
port 31p to the exit rollers 33a and 33b.
[0036] The exit rollers 33a and 33b are arranged in the vicinity of
the sheet discharge port 31d. The exit rollers 33a and 33b receive
the sheet S conveyed by the inlet rollers 32a and 32b. The exit
rollers 33a and 33b convey the sheet S from the sheet discharge
port 31d to the standby section 21.
[0037] The standby section 21 includes the standby tray (buffer
tray) 211, a conveyance guide 212, discharge rollers 213a and 213b
and an opening and closing driving section (not shown).
[0038] The back end part of the standby tray 211 is located in the
vicinity of the exit rollers 33a and 33b. The back end part of the
standby tray 211 is located slightly below the sheet discharge port
31d of the conveyance path 31. The standby tray 211 is inclined
with respect to the horizontal direction in such a way as to
gradually rise towards the downstream side of the sheet conveyance
direction D. The standby tray 211 stacks a plurality of the sheets
S to enable them to stand by while the post processing is carried
out by the processing section 22.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a relation between the standby tray 211
and the paddle section 25 described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the
standby tray 211 includes a first tray member 211a and a second
tray member 211b. The first tray member 211a and the second tray
member 211b are separated from each other in a sheet width
direction W. The first tray member 211a and the second tray member
211b is driven by the opening and closing driving section and move
in a mutually approaching direction and in a mutually separating
direction.
[0040] The first tray member 211a and the second tray member 211b
support the sheet S conveyed from the exit rollers 33a and 33b in a
state in which the first tray member 211a and the second tray
member 211b approach each other. On the other hand, the first tray
member 211a and the second tray member 211b are separated in the
mutually separating direction in the sheet width direction W to
enable the sheet S to move from the standby tray 211 towards the
processing tray 221. In this way, the sheet S supported by the
standby tray 211 drops from a space between the first tray member
211a and the second tray member 211b towards the processing tray
221. In other words, the sheet S moves from the standby tray 211 to
the processing tray 221.
[0041] An assist arm 41 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged above the
standby tray 211. For example, the length of the assist arm 41 is
approximately half or more of that of the standby tray 211 in the
sheet conveyance direction D. In the present embodiment, the assist
arm 41 has the approximately same length as the standby tray 211 in
the sheet conveyance direction D. The assist arm 41 is a plate-like
member extending upwards the standby tray 211. The sheet S
discharged from the exit rollers 33a and 33b enters into the space
between the assist arm 41 and the standby tray 211.
[0042] The processing section 22 shown in FIG. 3 includes the
processing tray 221, a stapler 222, conveyance rollers 223a and
223b, and a conveyance belt 224, a stopper 225 and a horizontal
alignment plate 51.
[0043] The processing tray 221 is arranged below the standby tray
211. The processing tray 221 is inclined with respect to the
horizontal direction in such away as to gradually rise towards the
downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction D. The processing
tray 221 is inclined approximately parallel to the standby tray
211. As for a plurality of sheets S moved to the processing tray
221, deviation between the sheets S in the sheet width direction W
is aligned by the horizontal alignment plate 51.
[0044] The stapler 222 is arranged at an end part of the processing
tray 221. The stapler 222 carries out a stapling (binding)
processing on a bundle of the predetermined number of sheets S
located on the processing tray 221.
[0045] The conveyance rollers 223a and 223b are arranged at a
predetermined interval in the sheet conveyance direction D. The
conveyance belt 224 is stretched over the conveyance rollers 223a
and 223b. The conveyance belt 224 is rotated in synchronization
with the conveyance rollers 223a and 223b. The conveyance belt 224
conveys the sheet S between the stapler 222 and the discharge
section 23.
[0046] The stopper 225 is arranged at the upstream side of the
sheet conveyance direction when viewed from the conveyance roller
223b. The stopper 225 is a member for receiving an end of the
sheets S moved from the standby tray 211 to the processing tray 221
to align them in the sheet conveyance direction. In other words,
the stopper 225 is a member serving as a sheet reference position
when an alignment processing in the sheet conveyance direction is
executed. In other words, the sheets S moved towards the upstream
side of the sheet conveyance direction through a first paddle 25a
and a second paddle 25b described later are struck against the
stopper 225 to be aligned in the sheet conveyance direction.
Hereinafter, aligning the sheets in the sheet conveyance direction
is referred to as a vertical alignment processing.
[0047] The paddle section 25 shown in FIG. 3 includes the first
paddle 25a, the second paddle 25b, a rotational shaft 26 and a
rotating body 27.
[0048] The rotational shaft 26 rotates around an axis of rotation.
The axis of rotation is a rotation center of the first paddle 25a
and the second paddle 25b described later. The rotational shaft 26
is located below the standby tray 211. The rotational shaft 26
extends in the sheet width direction W. The rotational shaft 26
receives driving force from the paddle motor 28 to rotate in an
arrow A direction (in a counter-clockwise direction) in FIG. 3.
[0049] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the detailed configuration
of the paddle section 25. The paddle section 25 includes the first
paddle 25a, the second paddle 25b and the rotating body 27.
[0050] The rotating body 27 is a cylindrical shape with a part of
region missed. The rotating body 27 includes a protrusion 271. The
protrusion 271 is fitted into a groove preset in the rotational
shaft 26 to be detachably mounted in the rotational shaft 26. If
the rotational shaft 26 rotates in the rotation direction A (in the
counter-clockwise direction) in FIG. 3, the rotating body 27 is
also rotated integrally in the same direction. Further, as the
first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b are mounted in the
rotating body 27, if the rotational shaft 26 is rotated in the
arrow A direction in FIG. 3, the first paddle 25a and the second
paddle 25b are rotated in the counter-clockwise direction together
with the rotating body 27.
[0051] The first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b are formed
with an elastic material such as rubber or resin. The first paddle
25a protrudes to the diameter direction of the rotating body 27 to
be mounted in the rotating body 27. The first paddle 25a has a
length L1 in the diameter direction of the rotating body 27. The
first paddle 25a has a shape in which a thickness d1 at the
mounting position to the rotating body 27 is different from a
thickness d2 of the front end of the paddle. In detail, the first
paddle 25a has the thickness d1 in a region from the mounting
position x0 to the rotating body 27 to a position x1 protruding in
the diameter direction of the rotating body 27. The first paddle
25a has a shape in which the thickness d1 is gradually decreased
towards the position x2 in the region from the position x1 to the
position x2. The first paddle 25a has the thickness d2 (<d1) in
the region from the position x2 to the position x3. The first
paddle 25a ensures the strength thereof due to the thickness d1
between the position X0 and the position X1. By contrast, a noise
generated by contact of the first paddle 25a against the sheet
supported by the stand-by tray 211 (as shown in FIG. 7) is reduced
due to the thickness d2 thinner than d1 between the position X2 and
the position X3. Furthermore, a noise generated by contact of the
first paddle 25a against the sheet supported by the processing tray
221 (as shown in FIG. 8) is reduced due to the thickness d2 thinner
than d1 between the position X2 and the position X3.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, the second paddle 25b is arranged to
have a predetermined angle with respect to the first paddle 25a. In
other words, the second paddle 25b is arranged to have a
predetermined distance away from the rear of the first paddle 25a
in the rotation direction A in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the
predetermined angle is from 5 degrees to 355 degrees. In another
embodiment, the predetermined angle is from 10 degrees to 180
degrees. In yet another embodiment, the predetermined angle is from
90 degrees to 170 degrees.
[0053] The second paddle 25b protrudes to the diameter direction of
the rotating body 27 to be amounted in the rotating body 27. The
second paddle 25b has a length L2 shorter than the length L1 of the
first paddle 25a in the diameter direction of the rotating body 27.
Further, the second paddle 25b has a shape in which the thickness
d1 at the mounting position to the rotating body 27 is thicker than
the thickness d2 of the front end of the paddle, which is identical
to the first paddle 25a. The shape of the second paddle 25b is
identical to that of the first paddle 25a, and thus the description
thereof is omitted.
[0054] A series of operations of the first paddle 25a and the
second paddle 25b is described with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG.
12.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating standby positions before
the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b are driven to
rotate. The "standby positions" refer to positions at which the
first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b stand by when the sheet
S is conveyed from the exit rollers 33a and 33b towards the standby
tray 211 to be stacked or the sheet S is directly conveyed from the
exit rollers 33a and 33b to the processing tray 221. In other
words, the "standby positions" refer to the positions where the
first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b wait when the first
paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b do not carry out the vertical
alignment processing on the sheets.
[0056] In FIG. 6, the first paddle 25a is arranged at a position at
which the first paddle 25a does not protrude towards the downstream
side of the sheet conveyance direction D with respect to the outer
peripheral surface of the exit roller 33b when viewed from an axis
33c of the exit roller 33b. From a different point of view, when
viewed from the standby tray 211, the first paddle 25a is located
at the upstream side of the conveyance direction with respect to
the outer peripheral surface of the exit roller 33b located in the
vicinity of the standby tray 211 and is arranged at a position at
which the conveyance of the sheet S conveyed from the exit roller
33b to the standby tray 211 is not disturbed. The second paddle 25b
is arranged at a position at which the front end part thereof is
apart from the sheets S on the processing tray 221 at only a
predetermined distance.
[0057] FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the first paddle 25a
contacts with the sheet S to be moved from the standby tray 211 to
the processing tray 221. If the predetermined number of sheets S is
stacked on the standby tray 211, the controller 24 drives a pair of
the standby tray members 211a and 211b in the mutually separating
direction in the sheet width direction W to move the buffered
sheets S to the processing tray 221.
[0058] The controller 24 drives the paddle motor 28 to rotate the
rotational shaft 26. The first paddle 25a is rotated with the
rotation of the rotational shaft 26 and contact with the sheet S
dropped from the standby tray 211. Then the first paddle 25a forces
the sheets S towards the processing tray 221.
[0059] FIG. 8 illustrates an operation of the vertical alignment
processing to the sheets S on the processing tray 221 by the first
paddle 25a through the further rotation of the first paddle 25a in
the arrow A direction (in the counter-clockwise direction).
[0060] The first paddle 25a is further rotated in the arrow A
direction to guide the sheet S onto the processing tray 221 and
contacts with the processing tray 221 across the sheet S to become
a bent state (refer to FIG. 8) from the state shown in FIG. 7. The
first paddle 25a is rotated in the arrow A direction to be kept in
the bent state and moves the sheet S towards the stopper 225
located at the upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction from
the processing tray 221. In other words, the first paddle 25a
sandwiches a plurality of the sheets S together with the processing
tray 221 and draws the sheets S into the stopper 225 to carry out
the vertical alignment processing.
[0061] FIG. 9 illustrates states of the first paddle 25a and the
second paddle 25b after the vertical alignment processing on the
sheets S by the first paddle 25a shown in FIG. 8.
[0062] The controller 24 controls rotation of the rotational shaft
26 to suspend the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b after
the first paddle 25a separates from the sheets and before the
second paddle 25b contacts with the sheets. The controller 24
controls the paddle motor 28 to stop the rotation of the rotational
shaft 26 if the first paddle 25a arrives at a position away from
the sheets S on the processing tray 221 after the first paddle 25a
executes the vertical alignment processing on the sheets S. In this
way, the rotation of the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b
is stopped. The second paddle 25b is stopped in such a way as to be
positioned at the position away from the sheets S on the processing
tray 221 at only the predetermined distance. In other words, after
the vertical alignment processing on the sheets S is carried out by
the first paddle 25a, the first paddle 25a and the second paddle
25b are controlled to stop the rotation operation thereof in such
away as to be respectively positioned at the positions away from
the sheets S on the processing tray 221 at only the predetermined
distance.
[0063] The reason why the first paddle 25a and the second paddle
25b are stopped at the positions away from the sheets S on the
processing tray 221 at only the predetermined distance is described
as follows. After the vertical alignment processing is carried out
on the sheets S by the first paddle 25a, a processing (horizontal
alignment processing) of aligning the end parts of the width
direction of the sheets in the sheet width direction W is executed
by the horizontal alignment plate 51. At the time of the horizontal
alignment processing, if the first paddle 25a or the second paddle
25b contacts with the sheet S, the processing (horizontal alignment
processing) of aligning the end parts of the width direction of the
sheets is disturbed, and thus the first paddle 25a and the second
paddle 25b are separated from the sheet S.
[0064] FIG. 10 illustrates the operation of the vertical alignment
processing of the sheets S by the second paddle 25b. The controller
24 controls the drive of the paddle motor 28 to rotate the first
paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b again in the arrow A
direction. The first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b receive
the drive force of the paddle motor 28 to rotate in the
counter-clockwise direction.
[0065] Hereinafter, the second paddle 25b is concentratedly
described. The second paddle 25b contacts with the sheet S and
sandwiches the sheet S with the processing tray 221 in the bent
state to carry out a drawing-in operation towards the stopper
225.
[0066] The reason why the vertical alignment processing is further
carried out through the second paddle 25b is described as follows.
When the first paddle 25a draws the sheet S into the stopper 225,
there is a case in which a drawing-in quantity of the sheets S
becomes excessive. The drawing-in quantity of the sheets amounts to
a force to slide a sheet on the processing tray 211 towards to the
stopper 225 by the first paddle 25a or the second paddle 25b. In
this case, the sheets S strike against the stopper 225 and move
towards the sheet conveyance direction D through repulsive force,
and there is a possibility that the alignment of the sheets S in
the sheet conveyance direction cannot be executed with high
accuracy. Thus, after the first paddle 25a carries out the
drawing-in operation of the sheet S, the second paddle 25b carries
out the drawing-in operation again to execute the vertical
alignment processing again on the sheets S to which the vertical
alignment processing cannot be sufficiently carried out by the
first paddle 25a, and it is possible to improve aligning property
in the sheet conveyance direction. While the first paddle 25a makes
one rotation, it is possible to execute the vertical alignment
processing twice by the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b,
which contributes to the high speed of the sheet processing without
the need of rotating the paddle section for many times.
[0067] Furthermore, the drawing-in quantity of the sheets S by the
second paddle 25b may be smaller than that by the first paddle 25a
because the first paddle 25a has already executed the vertical
alignment processing before the second paddle 25b contact with the
sheet on the processing tray 221.
[0068] For example, the length L2 of the second paddle 25b may be
shorter than the length L1 of the first paddle 25a as stated above.
Hereby, the area where the sheets S and the second paddle 25b
contact with each other is smaller than the area where the sheets S
and the first paddle 25a contact with each other. Therefore, it is
possible that the drawing-in quantity of the sheets S by the second
paddle 25b is smaller than that of the sheets S by the first paddle
25a.
[0069] Furthermore, in one embodiment the Young's modulus of
materials of the second paddle 25b may be smaller than that of the
first paddle 25a so that the stress generated due to the bend of
the second paddle 25b is smaller than that generated due to the
bend of the first paddle 25a. Also, as for the hardness of the
first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b, in one embodiment the
second paddle 25b may be softer than the first paddle 25a. Further,
as for the relation between the thicknesses of the first paddle 25a
and the second paddle 25b, in one embodiment the second paddle 25b
may be thinner than the first paddle 25a. Particularly, it is
preferable that apart of second paddle 25b where the second paddle
25b contact with the sheet on the processing tray 221 is thinner
than a part of the first paddle 25a where the first paddle 25a
contact with the sheet on the processing tray 221.
[0070] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state after the vertical
alignment processing is completed by the first paddle 25a and the
second paddle 25b.
[0071] After the vertical alignment processing is executed by the
second paddle 25b, the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b
stop after rotating to the positions indicated by solid lines in
FIG. 11. Dotted lines shown in FIG. 11 indicate the standby
positions of the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b shown
in FIG. 6. The controller 24 rotates the first paddle 25a and the
second paddle 25b to the positions (positions indicated by the
solid lines) exceeding the standby positions after the vertical
alignment processing by the second paddle 25b to certainly separate
the second paddle 25b after the vertical alignment processing from
the sheets S on the processing tray 221. In this way, the second
paddle 25b stops in a state where it contacts with the sheets Son
the processing tray 221, and it is suppressed that a negative
influence is applied to the sheet aligning properties at the time
succeeding sheets are conveyed to the processing tray.
[0072] Then, the controller 24 controls the paddle motor 28 to
rotate in a direction (in a clockwise direction) opposite to the
arrow A direction and positions the first paddle 25a and the second
paddle 25b at the standby positions.
[0073] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state where the first
paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b return to the standby
positions. The first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b wait for
that the succeeding sheets are received by the standby tray 211 in
a state where they are located at the standby positions.
[0074] Through the above, according to the present embodiment, the
following effects are obtained. As the first paddle 25a and the
second paddle 25b draw the sheets on the processing tray into the
stopper to carry out the vertical alignment processing, it is
possible to realize the high speed of the processing and improve
the sheet aligning properties in the sheet conveyance
direction.
[0075] The drawing-in operation of the sheet S to the stopper 225
by the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b is executed while
the first paddle 25a makes one rotation around the rotational shaft
26. Thus, it contributes to the high speed of the sheet processing
without the need of rotating the first paddle 25a for many times in
order to improve the sheet aligning properties.
[0076] As the second paddle 25b carries out the drawing-in
operation of the sheet again after the first paddle 25a is
separated from the sheet after the first paddle 25a completes the
drawing-in operation of the sheets on the processing tray, even if
the vertical alignment processing carried out by the first paddle
25a is not sufficient, it is possible to align the sheets in the
sheet conveyance direction with high accuracy.
[0077] After the drawing-in operation of the sheet S carried out by
the first paddle 25a, the controller 24 controls the rotation of
the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b to enable the first
paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b to stop at the positions
respectively separated from the sheets S on the processing tray,
and thus the disturbance of the processing (horizontal alignment
processing) of aligning the end parts of the sheets in the sheet
width direction W by the horizontal alignment plate 51 later can be
suppressed.
[0078] As the first paddle 25a is located at the position where the
first paddle 25a does not disturb the sheet conveyance in the
standby position after the vertical alignment processing by the
second paddle 25b and the second paddle 25b is located at the
position where the second paddle 25b does not contact with the
sheets S on the processing tray 221, the following effects are
realized: the sheet conveyance to the processing tray of the
succeeding sheets is not disturbed and the alignment of the sheets
is not disarranged.
[0079] Further, as the first paddle 25a and the second paddle 25b
are constituted in such a manner that the drawing-in quantity of
the sheets by the second paddle 25b is smaller than that of the
sheets by the first paddle 25a, it is possible to improve the
accuracy of the sheet aligning properties. Specifically, as the
second paddle 25b is constituted by the member with a shorter
length than the first paddle 25a, the drawing-in quantity of the
sheets by the second paddle 25b can be smaller than that of the
sheets by the first paddle 25a, and it is possible to improve the
accuracy of the sheet aligning properties.
[0080] With respect to any figure or numerical range for a given
characteristic, a figure or a parameter from one range may be
combined with another figure or a parameter from a different range
for the same characteristic to generate a numerical range.
[0081] Other than in the operating examples, or where otherwise
indicated, all numbers, values and/or expressions referring to
quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, etc., used in the
specification and claims are to be understood as modified in all
instances by the term "about."
[0082] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims
and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *