US 12,240,727 B2
Sheet folding device, sheet post-processing apparatus including sheet folding device, and image forming system
Yusuke Takano, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/336,620.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-100634 (JP), filed on Jun. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0416041 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B65H 31/26 (2006.01); B65H 45/16 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 45/167 (2013.01) [B65H 2301/44318 (2013.01); B65H 2801/27 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet folding device comprising:
a sheet loading unit on which a sheet having passed through a sheet transport path is loaded;
a folding processing unit that includes a folding roller pair and performs a predetermined folding process on the sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit by nipping the sheet using the folding roller pair; and
an ejection roller arranged downstream from the folding processing unit with respect to a sheet transport direction, the ejection roller ejecting the sheet having been subjected to the folding process downstream of the sheet transport direction, wherein
the sheet loading unit includes:
a sheet loading tray on which the sheet is loaded;
a sheet alignment part supported on the sheet loading tray in such a manner as to be movable back and forth with respect to a sheet width direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, the sheet alignment part abutting on the sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit to locate the sheet into position in the sheet width direction; and
a sheet moving part supported on the sheet loading tray in such a manner as to be movable back and forth with respect to the sheet transport direction, the sheet moving part moving the sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit to a predetermined position in the sheet transport direction,
the sheet loading tray includes:
an upstream-side loading part arranged upstream of the sheet transport direction across a space formed at a position facing a nipping part at the folding roller pair, the upstream-side loading part including an upstream-side loading surface; and
a downstream-side loading part arranged downstream of the sheet transport direction across the space, the downstream-side loading part including a downstream-side loading surface,
the sheet alignment part includes:
an upstream-side alignment part that abuts on a portion of the sheet loaded on the upstream-side loading part to locate the sheet into position in the sheet width direction; and
a downstream-side alignment part that abuts on a portion of the sheet loaded on the downstream-side loading part to locate the sheet into position in the sheet width direction, and
the downstream-side alignment part includes:
a side plate arranged upright to the downstream-side loading surface and abutting on a side surface of the sheet;
a fixed guide plate provided upstream of the sheet transport direction from the side plate in such a manner as to face the downstream-side loading surface at a predetermined height from the downstream-side loading surface, the fixed guide plate regulating an upper surface of the sheet; and
a movable guide plate provided downstream from the fixed guide plate with respect to the sheet transport direction, the movable guide plate being supported on the side plate in such a manner that a part upstream from a central part of the movable guide plate in the sheet transport direction is swingable between a retreat position and a regulation position about a fulcrum located above the fixed guide plate, the retreat position being a position where a downstream-side end portion of the movable guide plate in the sheet transport direction is located above the fixed guide plate, the regulation position being a position where the downstream-side end portion regulates an upper surface of the sheet at a position below the fixed guide plate.