US 12,410,032 B2
Sheet binding apparatus, sheet processing apparatus, and image forming system
Toshiyuki Katsumata, Yamanashi (JP); Junya Nakajima, Yamanashi (JP); Masaya Takahashi, Yamanashi (JP); and Mamoru Kubo, Yamanashi (JP)
Assigned to Canon Finetech Nisca Inc., Saitama (JP)
Filed by CANON FINETECH NISCA INC., Saitama (JP)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/354,036.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-117885 (JP), filed on Jul. 25, 2022; and application No. 2023-113320 (JP), filed on Jul. 10, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0025692 A1, Jan. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. B65H 37/04 (2006.01); B65H 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 37/04 (2013.01) [B65H 31/02 (2013.01); B65H 2301/4213 (2013.01); B65H 2301/51611 (2013.01); B65H 2404/743 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet binding apparatus comprising:
a stapler configured to be capable of performing a binding process on a sheet bundle in a first posture and in a second posture which is different from the first posture;
a moving mechanism configured to move the stapler in a moving direction; and
a turn mechanism configured to turn the stapler from the first posture to the second posture in accordance with moving the stapler in the moving direction by the moving mechanism,
wherein the turn mechanism includes: (1) a first protrusion and a second protrusion configured to move together with the stapler; (2) a first rail configured to guide the first protrusion and the second protrusion in the moving direction; (3) a second rail extending along an inclined direction inclined with respect to the moving direction from a downstream end of the first rail in the moving direction and configured to guide the first protrusion; (4) a third rail extending along the moving direction from the downstream end of the first rail and configured to guide the second protrusion; and (5) an introducing member having a length to introduce the first protrusion from the first rail to the second rail by coming into contact with the first protrusion, and to allow the second protrusion to enter from the first rail to the third rail,
wherein when the first protrusion and the second protrusion are guided by the first rail, the stapler is held in the first posture,
wherein when (1) the first protrusion is guided by the second rail and (2) the second protrusion is guided by the third rail, the stapler is held in the second posture, and
wherein the stapler turns from the first posture to the second posture by (1) the first protrusion being introduced from the first rail to the second rail and (2) the second protrusion being guided from the first rail to the third rail, when the stapler moves in the moving direction.