Patent Description:
Patent Document <NUM> discloses a cutter apparatus including a pressing unit that holds under pressure the recording medium between the pressing unit and the cutter blade over a width direction by raising the recording medium from a conveyance position where the recording medium is not cut to press the recording medium against a lower surface of a shear plate near an upstream side of a cutter blade when a recording medium is cut. <CIT> presents the subject matter of the preamble of claim <NUM> and discloses a card cutting device for English teaching. The card cutting device comprises a rectangular base, a cutting angle adjusting device is arranged above the rectangular base, the side surface of the rectangular base is provided with a controller, and the upper surface of the rectangular base is provided with a card movement and neatening device; one side of the cutting angle adjusting device is provided with a pressing fixing device, and the card movement and neatening device can sequentially move cards into a collecting trough through conveying of a belt and a roller, so that the purpose of automatic collection is achieved; and the pressing fixing device applies pressure to the cards through a plurality of baffles, so that the cards can be temporarily fixed. <CIT> discloses a trimming apparatus that trims by cutter blades running from one end of a sheet bundle to the other end thereof, that includes a bed surface for the sheet bundle, cutter blades for cutting the sheet bundle supported on the bed surface, a drive device for running the cutting blades from one end of the sheet bundle to the other end thereof, a support member having a support face, and a shift device for moving the support member between a working position for the support member supporting cut sheet dust pieces and a retreating position not to hinder the cut sheet dust pieces from dropping. The shift device displaces the support face from the working position to a retreating position after the cutter blades move at a predetermined distance toward the other end of the sheet bundle from one end thereof.

In the cutter apparatus, the cutter blade is not configured to be movable in a direction other than the width direction of the recording medium. Thus, when the recording medium is tilted with respect to a conveyance direction, the recording medium may not be precisely cut.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of precisely cutting even a sheet tilted with respect to a conveyance direction.

A sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is as specified in claim <NUM>.

According to the sheet processing apparatus of the aspect, the processing unit includes the angle adjuster capable of adjusting the angle of the cutting unit and the holding unit with respect to the first direction. With such a configuration, a sheet processing apparatus capable of precisely cutting even a sheet tilted with respect to a conveyance direction can be realized.

Hereinafter, an example of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the following description, terms indicating particular directions or positions (terms including, for example, "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front", and "rear") are used as necessary, but the use of these terms is to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, and the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the meanings of these terms. In addition, the following description is merely exemplary in nature, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or its use. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic, and ratios of dimensions and the like do not necessarily match actual ones.

As shown in <FIG>, a sheet processing apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a conveyance unit <NUM>, a processing unit <NUM>, and a controller <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The conveyance unit <NUM> conveys a sheet <NUM> along a first direction (e.g., an X direction). As shown in <FIG>, the conveyance unit <NUM> includes, for example, a sheet feed table <NUM> on which the sheet <NUM> is placed, a conveyance device <NUM> (see <FIG>) that conveys the sheet <NUM> placed on the sheet feed table <NUM>, and a discharge tray <NUM> to which the sheet <NUM> is discharged. The conveyance device <NUM> includes an arbitrary configuration capable of conveying the sheet <NUM> from the sheet feed table <NUM> to the discharge tray <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the processing unit <NUM> includes a cutting unit <NUM>, a holding unit <NUM>, and an angle adjuster <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> performs processing including cutting on the sheet <NUM> conveyed by the conveyance unit <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the processing unit <NUM> includes a support frame <NUM> that supports the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> and is connected to the angle adjuster <NUM>. The support frame <NUM> includes a pair of support wall portions. <NUM> disposed at an interval in a second direction (e.g., a Y direction) intersecting with the first direction X, and a pair of rail members <NUM> each extending in the second direction Y to have both ends connected to the pair of support wall portions <NUM>. The rail members <NUM> are disposed at an interval in a third direction (e.g., a Z direction) intersecting with the first direction X and the second direction Y.

The cutting unit <NUM> is disposed, for example, near the holding unit <NUM> and on a downstream side of the sheet <NUM> in a conveyance direction (an arrow A direction of <FIG>). The cutting unit <NUM> is configured to be capable of cutting the sheet <NUM> along a cutting line L2 (see <FIG>) extending in the second direction Y. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the cutting unit <NUM> includes a pair of cutting blades <NUM> movable in the second direction Y, and a pair of moving devices <NUM> each of which moves the cutting blade <NUM> in the second direction Y. For Example, each cutting blade <NUM> can be configured by a round blade, a fixed blade, and a movable blade. The pair of cutting blades <NUM> may be a combination of round blades, a combination of a round blade and a fixed blade, or a combination of a fixed blade and a movable blade. In addition, the movable blade may be a guillotine type. In this case, a moving device that moves the cutting blade in the second direction Y becomes unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, the moving devices <NUM> are disposed at an interval in the third direction Z. Each of the moving devices <NUM> includes a pair of pulleys <NUM>, a belt member <NUM> wound around the pair of pulleys <NUM>, and a first motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) that rotates one of the pair of pulleys <NUM>. Each of the pulleys <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape and is rotatably attached to each of the support wall portions. A pulley (not shown) is attached to a drive shaft of the first motor <NUM>. A belt member (not shown) is wound around one of the pulleys <NUM> in the moving device <NUM> on the upper side, one of the pulleys <NUM> in the moving device <NUM> on the lower side, and the pulley attached to the drive shaft of the first motor <NUM>. When driving the first motor <NUM>, one of the pulleys <NUM> in each moving device <NUM> rotates via the belt member, and the belt member <NUM> rotates around the pair of pulleys <NUM>. The cutting blades <NUM> have a substantially cylindrical shape and are disposed between the pair of moving devices <NUM> in a state of being slightly shifted from each other in the first direction X. Each cutting blade <NUM> is movably supported by the rail member <NUM> of the support frame <NUM> in the second direction Y, and is connected to the belt member <NUM> of the moving device <NUM>. That is, each cutting blade <NUM> is configured to move in the second direction Y between the pair of support wall portions <NUM> by the rotation of the belt member <NUM>.

The holding unit <NUM> is configured to be movable between a holding position P1 (see <FIG>) at which the sheet <NUM> is held by being sandwiched in a thickness direction of the sheet (in other words, the third direction Z) and a release position P2 (see <FIG>) at which holding of the sheet <NUM> is released. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the holding unit <NUM> includes a pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> extending in the second direction Y, and a second motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) as an example of a drive device that rotates one or both of the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. The rollers <NUM>, <NUM> are disposed side by side in the third direction Z, and are supported by the pair of support wall portions <NUM> so as to be each rotatable forward and backward about a central axis CL1 (see <FIG>) extending in the second direction Y.

As shown in <FIG>, the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> are provided at portions excluding both ends of shaft members <NUM>, <NUM> each constituting the central axis CL1 in the second direction Y. The rollers <NUM>, <NUM> rotate together with the shaft members <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> is disposed such that a holding line L1, which is formed on the sheet <NUM> when the sheet <NUM> is held, is substantially parallel to the cutting line L2. The holding line L1 constitutes a boundary line between each of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> and the sheet <NUM> in a state where the sheet <NUM> is nipped and held by the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the roller <NUM> on the upper side in the third direction Z of the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> is configured to be movable in the third direction Z. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, bearing members <NUM>, <NUM> are provided at both ends of the shaft members <NUM>, <NUM> in the second direction Y, respectively. The bearing member <NUM> of the shaft member <NUM> on the upper side has a substantially disk shape, and the bearing member <NUM> of the shaft member <NUM> on the lower side has a substantially elliptical shape. Outer peripheral surfaces of the bearing members <NUM>, <NUM> are in contact with each other. When the bearing member <NUM> is rotated, the roller <NUM> on the upper side moves between the holding position P1 and the release position P2 via the bearing member <NUM>. As a result, a distance between the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> in the third direction Z can be adjusted. That is, the roller <NUM> on the upper side is an example of a movable holding member configured to be capable of moving in the thickness direction of the sheet <NUM> to adjust the distance between the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. The roller <NUM> on the lower side and the bearing member <NUM> on the lower side may be configured to rotate together, or may be configured to individually and independently rotate. When the roller <NUM> on the lower side and the bearing member <NUM> on the lower side are configured to rotate together, the bearing member <NUM> can be rotated by, for example, configuring the roller <NUM> on the lower side to be rotatable with the second motor <NUM>. When the roller <NUM> on the lower side and the bearing member <NUM> on the lower side are configured to individually and independently rotate, the bearing member <NUM> can be rotated by, for example, providing a motor (not shown) that rotates only the bearing member <NUM> on the lower side.

The angle adjuster <NUM> is configured to be capable of adjusting the angle of the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> with respect to the first direction X. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the angle adjuster <NUM> includes a drive mechanism capable of integrally rotating the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> about a rotation axis CL2 extending along the thickness direction of the sheet <NUM> (i.e., the third direction Z). The drive mechanism includes a rotation shaft portion <NUM> and a drive unit <NUM> connected to one of the pair of support wall portions <NUM>. The rotation shaft portion <NUM> is provided substantially at the center of the support frame <NUM> to constitute the rotation axis CL2 in the second direction Y.

The drive unit <NUM> includes a plurality of pulleys <NUM>, a belt member <NUM> wound around the plurality of pulleys <NUM>, and a third motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) that rotates any one of the plurality of pulleys <NUM>. When driving the third motor <NUM> to rotate any one of the pulleys <NUM>, the belt member <NUM> rotates around the plurality of pulleys <NUM>, so that the support wall portion <NUM> to which the drive unit <NUM> is connected is moved in the first direction X. As a result, the support frame <NUM> rotates about the rotation axis CL2, so that the angle of the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> with respect to the first direction X are adjusted.

The controller <NUM> includes, as an example, a CPU that performs calculations, a ROM and a RAM that store programs, data, or the like necessary for the operation of the sheet processing apparatus <NUM>, and the like. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> controls the conveyance device <NUM> of the conveyance unit <NUM> and the first motor <NUM>, the second motor <NUM>, and the third motor <NUM> of the processing unit <NUM>, based on information input by a user via an operation unit <NUM> and information detected by a detection unit <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM> detects an angle θ of the sheet <NUM> with respect to the first direction X. Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the detection unit <NUM> includes a plurality of sensors <NUM> disposed side by side in the second direction Y. Each sensor <NUM> detects a line <NUM> for tilt detection provided downstream in the conveyance direction of the sheet <NUM> or a leading end of the sheet <NUM>. The detection unit <NUM> detects the angle θ of the sheet <NUM> with respect to the first direction X from differences among timings when the line <NUM> or the leading end of the sheet <NUM> is detected by the respective sensors <NUM>. The line <NUM> for tilt detection is disposed, for example, in parallel to one side of an image having a quadrangular outline, and is printed on the sheet <NUM> together with the image. As a result, not only when the sheet <NUM> itself is tilted with respect to the first direction X, but also when the sheet <NUM> itself is not tilted with respect to the first direction X but the image printed on the sheet <NUM> is tilted, the sheet <NUM> can be precisely cut at a cutting position set in accordance with the image.

For example, the controller <NUM> controls the second motor <NUM> to rotate one or both of the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> while the sheet <NUM> is being conveyed by the conveyance unit <NUM>. This prevents occurrence of a jam due to contact of the sheet <NUM> with the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>.

According to the sheet processing apparatus <NUM>, the following effects can be exhibited.

In the sheet processing apparatus <NUM>, the processing unit <NUM> includes the angle adjuster <NUM> capable of adjusting the angle of the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> with respect to the first direction. With such a configuration, the sheet processing apparatus <NUM> capable of precisely cutting even the sheet <NUM> tilted with respect to the conveyance direction can be realized.

The angle adjuster <NUM> includes a drive mechanism capable of integrally rotating the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> about a rotation axis extending along the thickness direction of the sheet <NUM>. With such a configuration, the sheet processing apparatus <NUM> capable of precisely cutting even the sheet <NUM> tilted with respect to the conveyance direction can be easily realized.

The rotation axis CL2 is disposed in a middle of the holding unit <NUM> in the second direction. With such a configuration, the sheet processing apparatus <NUM> capable of more precisely cutting the sheet <NUM> tilted with respect to the conveyance direction can be realized.

The sheet processing apparatus <NUM> further includes the detection unit <NUM> that detects the angle θ of the sheet <NUM> with respect to the first direction. The controller <NUM> controls the angle adjuster <NUM> in accordance with a detection result of the detection unit <NUM> to adjust an angle θ of the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> with respect to the first direction. With such a configuration, the sheet <NUM> can be precisely cut in accordance with a conveyed state.

The cutting unit <NUM> is disposed near the holding unit <NUM>. With such a configuration, the sheet <NUM> is held near a cutting position, so that the cutting position can be prevented from being shifted due to sagging of the sheet <NUM> or the like. As a result, the sheet <NUM> can be more precisely cut.

The holding unit <NUM> includes the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> as a pair of holding members extending in the second direction and disposed in the thickness direction of the sheet <NUM>. The pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> include the roller <NUM> as the movable holding member configured to be capable of moving in the thickness direction of the sheet <NUM> to adjust the distance between the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. With such a configuration, the holding unit <NUM> serves as a guide when the sheet <NUM> is conveyed by adjusting the distance between the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> in accordance with the thickness of the sheet <NUM>, so that the sheet <NUM> can be more precisely conveyed. In addition, the sheet <NUM> can be more precisely conveyed to the cutting position thereof.

The processing unit <NUM> further includes the second motor <NUM> that rotates the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls the second motor <NUM> to rotate the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> while the conveyance unit <NUM> is conveying the sheet <NUM>. Such a configuration can prevent occurrence of a jam due to contact of the sheet <NUM> with the holding unit <NUM>. In addition, the conveyance of the sheet <NUM> can be assisted by rotating the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> during the conveyance of the sheet <NUM>. As a result, the conveyance precision of the sheet <NUM> can be kept high, so that the sheet <NUM> can be more precisely cut.

The rollers <NUM>, <NUM> are configured to be capable of rotating forward and backward. With such a configuration, for example, a margin of the sheet <NUM> after being cut can be dropped to an arbitrary side of the upstream and downstream of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. As a result, freedom in a layout of the sheet processing apparatus <NUM> can be increased.

The cutting unit <NUM> is disposed downstream of the holding unit <NUM> in the first direction. With such a configuration, the margin of the sheet <NUM> on the downstream side of the cutting position in the first direction X can be reduced, so that the sheet <NUM> can be used without waste.

The sheet processing apparatus <NUM> can also be configured as follows.

The cutting unit <NUM> may be disposed upstream of the holding unit <NUM> in the first direction X without being limited to the downstream of the holding unit <NUM> in the first direction X. With such a configuration, the margin of the sheet <NUM> on the upstream side of the cutting position in the first direction X can be reduced, so that the sheet <NUM> can be used without waste.

The holding unit <NUM> is not limited to the case of being configured by the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the holding unit <NUM> may be configured by one roller <NUM> and one non-rotating member <NUM>. In the holding unit <NUM> of <FIG>, the non-rotating member <NUM> has a substantially rectangular plate shape, but any other shape may be adopted. In addition, although not shown, the holding unit <NUM> may be configured by a pair of non-rotating members.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured capable of independently adjusting the distance at one end in the second direction Y of the pair of holding members <NUM>, <NUM> and the distance at the other end in the second direction Y of the pair of holding members <NUM>, <NUM>. In the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the roller <NUM> on the lower side includes the bearing member <NUM> having different positions of major and minor diameters when viewed along the second direction Y. With such a configuration, for example, one end of the roller <NUM> on the upper side (e.g., end on the right side of <FIG>) can be positioned at the holding position P1 while the other end of the roller <NUM> on the upper side (e.g., end on the left side of <FIG>) is being positioned at the release position P2. As a result, the sheet <NUM> can be rotated around a portion of the sheet <NUM> that the roller <NUM> on the upper side is brought into contact with to correct the sheet <NUM> tilted with respect to the conveyance direction.

For example, each of the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> can be configured as shown in <FIG> shows only the roller <NUM>. The roller <NUM> of <FIG> has a drum shape and includes a first end portion <NUM>, a second end portion <NUM>, and a middle portion <NUM>. The first end portion <NUM> constitutes one end of the roller <NUM> in the second direction Y. The second end portion <NUM> is located on an opposite side to the first end portion <NUM> in the second direction Y, and constitutes the other end of the roller <NUM> in the second direction Y. The middle portion <NUM> is located in the middle between the first end portion <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM> in the second direction Y. The middle portion <NUM> has a dimension D3 in a radial direction with respect to a central axis CL1 (hereinafter, referred to as a radial direction) that is more than a dimension D1 in the radial direction of the first end portion <NUM> and a dimension D2 in the radial direction of the second end portion <NUM>. The roller of <FIG> is configured such that the dimension in the radial direction increases as going from the first end portion <NUM> toward the middle portion <NUM> along the second direction Y, and the dimension in the radial direction decreases as going from the middle portion <NUM> toward the second end portion <NUM> along the second direction Y. With such a configuration, pressure is uniformly applied to the sheet <NUM> from the rollers <NUM>, <NUM> over the second direction Y, so that the sheet <NUM> can be uniformly held in the second direction Y. As a result, the sheet <NUM> can be stably cut, and the sheet <NUM> can be stably conveyed. Both of the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured as shown in <FIG>, or only one of the pair of rollers <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured as shown in <FIG>.

A first one-way clutch (not shown) can be provided between the shaft member <NUM> and the bearing member <NUM> and a second one-way clutch (not shown) can be provided between the shaft member <NUM> and the roller <NUM>. A drive transmission direction of the first clutch and a drive transmission direction of the second clutch are reversed each other. In this case, when the shaft member <NUM> is rotated in a predetermined direction, only the roller <NUM> rotates, and when the shaft member <NUM> is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, only the bearing member <NUM> rotates and the roller <NUM> on the upper side moves between the holding position P1 and the release position P2. With such a configuration, when the holding unit <NUM> is at the holding position P1, the roller <NUM> can be rotated while positioning the holding unit <NUM> at the holding position P1 when the second motor <NUM> is rotated in the predetermined direction, and the holding unit <NUM> can be moved to the release position P2 when the second motor <NUM> is rotated in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. That is, the processing unit <NUM> includes a moving mechanism that, when the holding unit <NUM> is at the holding position P1, rotates the roller <NUM> by rotating the second motor <NUM> in the predetermined direction while positioning the holding unit <NUM> at the holding position P1, and moves the holding unit <NUM> to the release position P2 by rotating the second motor <NUM> in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. In the present embodiment, the shaft member <NUM>, the bearing member <NUM>, the roller <NUM>, and the one-way clutches constitute the moving mechanism.

The angle adjuster <NUM> is not limited to the above embodiment, and may adopt any configuration capable of adjusting the angle θ of the cutting unit <NUM> and the holding unit <NUM> with respect to the first direction. For example, the rotation shaft portion <NUM> is not limited to being provided at substantially the center of the support frame <NUM> in the second direction Y, but may be provided at one end of the support frame <NUM> in the second direction Y.

By appropriately combining arbitrary embodiments or modifications among the various embodiments or modifications, it is possible to exhibit the respective effects. In addition, combinations of embodiments, combinations of examples, or combinations of embodiments and examples are possible, and combinations of features in different embodiments or examples are also possible.

Claim 1:
A sheet processing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a conveyance unit (<NUM>) that conveys a sheet (<NUM>) along a first direction;
a processing unit (<NUM>) that performs processing on the sheet (<NUM>) conveyed by the conveyance unit (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) that controls the conveyance unit (<NUM>) and the processing unit (<NUM>), wherein
the processing unit (<NUM>) includes:
a cutting unit (<NUM>) capable of cutting the sheet (<NUM>) along a cutting line extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction;
a holding unit (<NUM>) that is configured to be movable between a holding position at which the sheet (<NUM>) is held by being sandwiched in a thickness direction of the sheet (<NUM>) and a release position at which holding of the sheet (<NUM>) is released, and that is disposed such that a holding line, which is formed on the sheet (<NUM>) when the sheet (<NUM>) is held, is substantially parallel to the cutting line; and
an angle adjuster (<NUM>) capable of adjusting an angle of the cutting unit (<NUM>) and the holding unit (<NUM>) with respect to the first direction, wherein
the holding unit (<NUM>) includes a pair of holding members each extending in the second direction and disposed in the thickness direction of the sheet,
the pair of holding members include a movable holding member (<NUM>) configured to be capable of moving in the thickness direction of the sheet (<NUM>) to adjust a distance between the pair of holding members, characterized in that
at least one of the pair of holding members is configured by a roller (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a central axis extending along the second direction, the roller (<NUM>, <NUM>) being rotatable about the central axis,
the processing unit (<NUM>) further includes a drive device that rotates the roller (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
the controller (<NUM>) controls the drive device to rotate the roller (<NUM>, <NUM>) while the sheet (<NUM>) is being conveyed by the conveyance unit (<NUM>).