Patent
Sheet processing apparatus
| العنوان: | Sheet processing apparatus |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 8,632,065 |
| تاريخ النشر: | January 21, 2014 |
| Appl. No: | 13/423402 |
| Application Filed: | March 19, 2012 |
| مستخلص: | The sheet processing apparatus processes a sheet having an image formed thereon by an image forming apparatus. The sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet folding unit for folding the sheet having an image formed thereon, a sheet tray loaded with the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit to be taken out, and a control unit for controlling the sheet processing apparatus as a whole. The sheet tray includes a mechanism capable of adjusting an angle with a virtual plane and a detection device detecting a change of the angle with the virtual plane. The control unit prohibits ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray, based on the detection result of the detection device and the content of the folding processing by the sheet folding unit. |
| Inventors: | Nozawa, Shigeki (Toyokawa, JP); Shibayama, Ryouta (Okazaki, JP); Kayaba, Zen (Tama, JP) |
| Assignees: | Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. (Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP) |
| Claim: | 1. A sheet processing apparatus for processing a sheet having an image formed thereon by an image forming apparatus, comprising: a sheet folding unit for folding the sheet having an image formed thereon; a sheet tray to be loaded with the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit; and a control unit for controlling the sheet processing apparatus, the sheet tray including a mechanism capable of adjusting an angle with respect to a virtual plane, and a detection device for detecting a change of the angle with respect to the virtual plane, wherein the control unit determines whether ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray is possible based on: (i) a detection result of the detection device, and (ii) a content of folding processing to be performed in the sheet folding unit, and wherein the control unit prohibits ejection from the sheet folding unit to the sheet tray based on the determination of whether ejection is possible. |
| Claim: | 2. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the content of folding processing comprises a number of times of folding processing in the sheet folding unit. |
| Claim: | 3. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the content of folding processing comprises a kind of the sheet to be folded by the sheet folding unit. |
| Claim: | 4. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the content of folding processing comprises a number of the sheets to be folded by the sheet folding unit. |
| Claim: | 5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet tray includes a conveyance belt for conveying the sheet, and in a first conveyance mode, the control unit ejects the sheet loaded so as to be stacked by moving the conveyance belt stepwise, and in a second conveyance mode, the control unit ejects the sheet loaded so as to be positioned at an end portion of the sheet tray by moving the conveyance belt. |
| Claim: | 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the sheet tray further includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit and ejected onto the sheet tray, and a second sensor for detecting a position of the sheet conveyed to an end portion of the sheet tray by the conveyance belt. |
| Claim: | 7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein in the first conveyance mode, the control unit uses the first sensor to sense the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit and ejected onto the sheet tray, moves the conveyance belt in response to sensing by the first sensor, and moves the conveyance belt until the first sensor no longer senses the sheet, and in the second conveyance mode, the control unit uses the second sensor to sense the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit and ejected onto the sheet tray, and moves the conveyance belt until a prescribed period has elapsed. |
| Claim: | 8. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the sheet folding unit is capable of performing a plurality of processing on the sheet according to an instruction, and the control unit adjusts the prescribed period depending on the processing performed by the sheet folding unit. |
| Claim: | 9. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit switches the first and second conveyance modes from one to another based on a detection result of the detection device. |
| Claim: | 10. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit ejects the sheet folded by the sheet folding unit so as to be stacked, according to the first conveyance mode, in response to input of a job to the sheet folding unit until the job is completed, the control unit determines whether a new job is input after completion of the job, and if it is determined that no new job is input, the control unit switches the first conveyance mode to the second conveyance mode and moves the conveyance belt to eject the sheet such that the sheet is positioned at an end portion of the sheet tray, and in the second conveyance mode, when a new job is input, the control unit switches the second conveyance mode to the first conveyance mode. |
| Claim: | 11. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit switches the first and second conveyance modes from one to another according to an instruction from an operation panel provided in the image forming apparatus. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 270/5/828 |
| Patent References Cited: | 5605322 February 1997 Suzuki et al. 7677544 March 2010 Awano 2008/0214377 September 2008 Kamiya 2008/0315490 December 2008 Uchiyama et al. 2009/0221411 September 2009 Endo 2010/0019446 January 2010 Matsumoto et al. 2011/0084436 April 2011 Shirakuma et al. 62-011856 January 1987 63-41350 February 1988 2002060113 February 2002 2002316768 October 2002 2003-089462 March 2003 2004-284762 October 2004 2004331332 November 2004 2007-039234 February 2007 2007-161414 June 2007 2010-058907 March 2010 |
| Other References: | Office Action issued on Apr. 16, 2013 by Japan Patent Office in corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-063910, and English translation thereof. cited by applicant |
| Primary Examiner: | Nicholson, III, Leslie A |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC |
| رقم الانضمام: | edspgr.08632065 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | USPTO Patent Grants |
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