Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6457705?dq=6462713
Timestamp: 2016-02-07 12:06:53
Document Index: 355075808

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 3', 'Application No. 61', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'Application No. 98121368', 'Application No. 98121368']

Patent US6457705 - Sheet post processing device with feed out - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA sheet post-processing device is provided which includes a post-processing tray on which sheets of paper supplied from an image forming device are stacked, and a post-processing section for applying a post-processing operation to edges of one side of the sheets of paper stacked on the post-processing...http://www.google.com/patents/US6457705?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6457705 - Sheet post processing device with feed outAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6457705 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/875,492Publication dateOct 1, 2002Filing dateJun 6, 2001Priority dateNov 14, 1997Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE69824683D1, DE69824683T2, DE69839025D1, DE69839025T2, EP0916516A2, EP0916516A3, EP0916516B1, EP1440814A1, EP1440814B1, US6406013, US20010048191Publication number09875492, 875492, US 6457705 B2, US 6457705B2, US-B2-6457705, US6457705 B2, US6457705B2InventorsToyoaki Nanba, Jinichi Nagata, Tomomi Tanaka, Masahiro Kanezaki, Takehiko Josako, Hironori TakadaOriginal AssigneeSharp Kabushiki KaishaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (21), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (23), Classifications (17), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSheet post processing device with feed out
US 6457705 B2Abstract
A sheet post-processing device is provided which includes a post-processing tray on which sheets of paper supplied from an image forming device are stacked, and a post-processing section for applying a post-processing operation to edges of one side of the sheets of paper stacked on the post-processing tray. The device further includes a first feed-out opening for discharging, to outside, the sheets of paper having been subject to the post-processing operation, a first discharge transport path for transporting the sheets of paper from the post-processing tray to the first feed-out opening, and a feed-out section for discharging the post-processed sheets of paper from the post-processing tray to the first discharge transport path.
a post-processing tray on which sheets of paper supplied from an image forming device are stacked; a post-processing section for applying a post-processing operation to edges of one side of the sheets of paper stacked on said post-processing tray; a first feed-out opening for discharging, to outside, the sheets of paper having been subject to the post-processing operation; a first discharge transport path for transporting the sheets of paper from said post-processing tray to said first feed-out opening; and a feed-out section for discharging the post-processed sheets of paper from said post-processing tray to said first discharge transport path, wherein said post-processing tray has an adjusting-moving section for adjusting said stacked sheet of paper, moving the adjusted sheets of paper to a post-processing position at which a post-processing operation by said post-processing section can be applied, and moving said post-processed sheets of paper to a discharge position at which a discharging operation by said feed-out section is applied, said adjusting-moving section includes a sheet supporting member which adjusts lower edges of the sheets of paper stacked on said post-processing tray, and slides on said post-processing tray while carrying the sheets of paper thereon so that the sheets of paper are moved to the post-processing position and the discharge position, and said feed-out section has a switching gate for guiding the sheets of paper to either the post-processing position or the discharge position when said sheet supporting member is positioned in the post-processing position or the discharge position. 2. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feed-out section discharges the sheets of paper from the discharge position, with edges of the sheets of paper to which the post-processing operation is applied by said post-processing section going in front.
3. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said post-processing tray is substantially perpendicularly provided, and said post-processing section and said first discharge transport path are provided below said post-processing tray; and said sheet supporting member remains at a predetermined stacking position until a predetermined number of sheets of paper are stacked thereon, subsequently brings the sheets of paper down to the post-processing position, and brings the sheets of paper up to a predetermined recessional position after the post-processing operation is applied to the sheets of paper by said post-processing section at the post-processing position, and thereafter brings the sheets of paper down to the discharge position. 4. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feed-out section has discharge rollers for supplying a transport force in a downward direction to the sheets of paper when the sheets of paper are placed at the discharge position, so that the sheets of paper are sent to said first discharge transport path.
5. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjusting-moving section includes a sheet adjusting member for adjusting side edges of the sheets of paper by sliding on said post-processing tray in a direction perpendicular to the side edges of the sheets of paper stacked on said post-processing tray.
6. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said sheet adjusting member has a sheet guide part for preventing the sheets of paper stacked on said post-processing tray from falling down.
7. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said adjusting-moving section has a paddler for supplying a downward force to the sheets of paper stacked on said post-processing tray so as to assist said sheet supporting member in adjusting the lower edges of the sheets of paper.
8. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least either said sheet supporting member or said sheet adjusting member has conductivity and is grounded.
9. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first discharge transport path is substantially horizontally provided from a lower edge of said post-processing tray to said first feed-out opening.
10. The sheet post-processing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said post-processing section applies a stapling operation to the sheets of paper.
This is a division of copending application Ser. No. 09/189,546, filed Nov. 11, 1998.
For example, one conventional sheet post-processing device is disclosed by the U.S. Patent Publication No. 5072920 (the Japanese Publication for Laid-Open Patent Application No. 3-227694/1991 (Tokukaihei 3-227694)). FIG. 22 is an explanatory view illustrating an arrangement of a sheet post-processing device 100 disclosed by the publication.
Such a structure which facilitates taking out of a jamming sheet is hereinafter referred to as a paper jam solving structure. A copying machine with such a paper jam solving structure is disclosed by, for example, the U.S. Patent Publication No.4952989 (the Japanese Publication for Laid-Open Patent Application No. 61-239256/1986 (Tokukaisho 61-239256)).
Here, in the copying machine, the conveyer belt 206 is substantially horizontally disposed. Besides, the conveyer belt 206 is movably provided so as to incline downward by pivoting around a shaft 206a provided on a downstream side of a transport direction. Furthermore, a supporting member 207 of the feed rollers 203 is provided vertically, and rotatably with respect to a shaft 207 a provided in a bottom part of the supporting member 207.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view illustrating a schematic arrangement of a sheet post-processing device in accordance with first through third embodiments of the present invention.
Then, when the stack of paper P composed of the predetermined number of sheets of paper is thus formed on ago the sheet supporter 55, the sheet supporter 55 causes the stack of paper P to lower to the stapling position, as shown in FIG. 6(b). Then, as guided by the switching gate 34, the stack of paper P is moved to the stapler 59, where the stapling operation is applied to the stack of paper P.
More specifically, in the case where the stapling operation is not applied to the sheets of paper in the case of the facsimile mode, the transport path takes the following route in FIG. 2: the direct path 21—the reversing path 23—the connecting path 24—the detour path part 22 a—the upper fixed tray discharge path 25 the upper fixed tray 12. Further, in the case of the print mode, the transport path takes the following route in FIG. 2: the direct path 21—the reversing path 23 the connecting path 24—the detour path part 22 a—the detour path part 22 b—the lower fixed tray discharge path 26—the lower fixed tray 13.
As described above, in this case as well, the printing and feeding-out operations are applied to the sheets of paper from the top sheet there among in the copying machine 2, and therefore, it is preferable that the sheets are stacked on the staple tray 10 in the face-down state.
In this case, the transport path in the case where the stapling operation is performed takes the same route as that in the case of the copy mode. Therefore, if the paper size is not greater than the letter size, the transport path takes the following route: the direct path 21—the staple tray 10 (only the lower staple tray 15) the offset tray discharge path 27—the offset tray 11.
More specifically, the staple tray 10 is composed of the upper staple tray 14 and-the lower staple tray 15, and the upper staple tray 14 is disposed above the feed-in opening 4 while the lower staple tray 15 is disposed below the feed-in opening 4.
Furthermore, the sheet post-processing device 1 is equipped with a reversing path 23 for sending the sheets of paper to the detour path 22 after reversion (switchback). The reversing path 23 is substantially perpendicularly formed between the lower staple tray 15 and the feed-in opening 4. The reversing path 23 is formed so that an upper part thereof and a lower part of the detour path part 22a substantially fall on one straight line.
Incidentally, in the sheet post-processing device 1, to guide the sheets of paper transported through the direct path 21 to the reversing path 23 or the lower staple tray 15, the switching gate 33 shown in FIGS. 5(a)through 5(d). However, in the place of the switching gate 33 and the reversing rollers 42, reversing rollers (second reversing rollers) 48 and a switching gate (second switching gate) 37 may be provided as the fed-in sheet transport destination switching section.
FIGS. 7(a)through 7(d)are explanatory views illustrating an arrangement and operations of the reversing rollers 48 and the switching gate 37. As shown in the figures, the reversing rollers 48 are three rollers associated with each other, namely, a driving roller 48 a and driven rollers 48 b and 48 c (first and second driven rollers). The switching gate 37 is a gate provided on an upstream side to the reversing rollers 48, or more specifically, between the reversing gate 32 and the reversing rollers 48.
Thus, according to the arrangement shown in Figures 7(a)through 7(d), the reversing rollers 48, that are the three associated rollers, serve as both (1) the pair of rollers which are capable of rotating both in nonreversal and reversal directions for feeding sheets of paper into and out of the reversing path 23, and (2) the pair of transport rollers for transporting sheets of paper to the gap G as the sheet passing opening of the staple tray 10.
Furthermore, regarding the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7(a)through 7(d), it is preferable that the reversing rollers 48 are solely driven by the reversing motor 60, like the reversing rollers 42 shown in FIG. 3 and the like. Besides, regarding the foregoing arrangement, it is preferable that all the other rollers are driven by the transport motor 61. By such arrangement, the driving system of the transport rollers can be simplified.
Furthermore, in the sheet post-processing device 1, to guide the sheets of paper transported through the direct path 21 either to the reversing path 23 or to the lower staple tray 15, there is no need to use the switching gate 33, the switching gate 37, or the like. Alternatively, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7(a) through 7(d)may be modified so that an inclining angle of the reversing path 23 and the lower staple tray 15 is changeable (the reversing path 23 and the lower staple tray 15 can be inclined).
Furthermore, according to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8(a) through 8(b), to change the inclining angles of the reversing path 23 and the lower staple tray 15, the whole unit is revolved around the discharge rollers 44 as an axis of revolution. However, inclining angles of only the reversing path 23 and the lower staple tray 15 may be changeable.
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18(c) , the switching gate 34 is turned to such a position that the sheets of paper are sent to the offset tray discharge path 27. Then, in this state, the sheet supporter 55 descends and the stack of paper P stops on the switching gate 34, as shown in FIG. 19(a). The position of the stack of paper P stopping on the switching gate 34 is the discharge position of the stack of paper P. When the sheet supporter 55 descends, the end portion of the switching gate 34 passes through slits 55 c (see FIG. 16) provided on the sheet supporter 55. By so doing, the stack of paper P is surely stopped on the switching gate 34.
On upper corners of the upper plate 71, fitting shafts 74 are provided, projecting therefrom. The fitting shafts 74 are fit into a main body frame F of the fixing device 1, in a manner such that upper plate 71 is pivotable.
The guiding position is a position (a position visa-vis the staple tray 10) at which the paper guide 70 is placed in order to prevent the sheets of paper stacked on the staple tray 10 from falling down. The opening position is a position at which the paper guide 70 is placed when jamming occurs.
In the case where sheets stacked on the staple tray 10 composed of the upper and lower staple trays 14 and 1s are jamming, the operator opens a side wall (not shown) of the sheet post-processing device 1. The operator, by so doing, can look into an opening 79 in a state shown in FIG. 20.
Furthermore, on the lower plate 72 of the paper guide 70, the handle 76, the magnet 75, and the contact plate 77 are provided in this order from the top. Therefore, since the operator grips the handle 76 in manipulating the paper guide 70 , t he paper guide 70 is moved by utilizing the leverage, wherein in this case the handle 76, the contact plate 77, and the magnet 75 are the point of force, the fulcrum, and the point of action, respectively. Consequently, without applying a great force, the operator can shift the paper guide 70 easily.
Furthermore, a first paper jam solving system of a sheet post-processing device of the present invention is a paper jam solving system of the sheet post-processing device in which sheets of paper supplied from an image forming device are stacked on a post-processing tray and a stapling operation is applied as a post-processing operation to the sheets of paper thus stacked, and thereafter the sheets of paper are discharged to the discharge tray, and is characterized in that (1) the post-processing tray is perpendicularly provided and (2) an opening through which the sheets of paper supplied from the image forming device are passed is provided at a substantially middle position of the post-processing tray, wherein (i) the sheets of paper supplied from the image forming device are supplied through the opening to a lower part of the post-processing tray and are stacked thereon, and thereafter are discharged to the discharge tray through a lower edge of the post-processing tray, or (ii) the sheets of paper are transported along an upper part of the post-processing tray and sent to the lower part of the post-processing tray through a detour transport path which goes around an upper edge of the upper part of the post-processing tray, goes through peripheral parts of the sheet post-processing device main body, and reaches the lower edge of the lower part of the post-processing tray, and the sheets of paper thus stacked on the post-processing tray are thereafter discharged onto the discharge tray. The paper jam solving system further includes a paper guide for preventing the sheets of paper stacked on the post-processing tray from falling down, which is provided visa-vis the post-processing tray on an inward side to the detour transport path and is composed of a plurality of plates pivotably joined with each other.
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Classification270/58.12, 270/58.11, 399/407, 270/58.17, 399/410, 270/58.16International ClassificationB42C1/12, B65H29/58Cooperative ClassificationB65H29/58, B65H2404/632, B65H31/3027, B65H2405/20, B65H2301/42262, B42C1/12European ClassificationB65H31/30B, B65H29/58, B42C1/12Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 13, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Mar 18, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Mar 5, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services