Patent ID: 8286958
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A spine formation device comprising: a contact member including a flat contact surface against which a folded portion of a bundle of folded sheets is pressed, the contact surface disposed perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction in which the bundle of folded sheets is conveyed; a sheet conveyer that conveys the bundle of folded sheets in the sheet conveyance direction with the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets forming a front end portion of the bundle of folded sheets; a first sandwiching unit disposed downstream from the sheet conveyer in the sheet conveyance direction; a second sandwiching unit disposed downstream from the first sandwiching unit in the sheet conveyance direction; and a controller operatively connected to the sheet conveyer and to the first and second sandwiching units to stop the sheet conveyer after the bundle of folded sheets is transported a predetermined distance downstream in the sheet conveyance direction from a contact position between the contact member and the folded portion of the bundle of folded sheets and to cause the first and second sandwiching units to squeeze the bundle of folded sheets in a direction of thickness of the bundle of folded sheets with the folded portion pressed against the contact member, the first sandwiching unit localizing a bulging of the bundle of folded sheets created between the sheet conveyer and the contact member to a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, the second sandwiching unit forming a spine of the bundle of folded sheets by squeezing a bulging of the bundle of folded sheets created between the first sandwiching unit and the contact member, wherein the predetermined distance the bundle of folded sheets is transported forms the spine by expanding the folded portion in the thickness direction.