US 12,487,549 B2
Sheet processing apparatus, sheet processing method, and image forming system
Keisuke Sugiyama, Kanagawa (JP); Masahiro Tamura, Kanagawa (JP); Masanobu Kimata, Kanagawa (JP); Yuusuke Shibasaki, Tokyo (JP); Shinji Asami, Tokyo (JP); Michitaka Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP); Tomomichi Hoshino, Kanagawa (JP); Wataru Takahashi, Tokyo (JP); and Kei Sasaki, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Keisuke Sugiyama, Kanagawa (JP); Masahiro Tamura, Kanagawa (JP); Masanobu Kimata, Kanagawa (JP); Yuusuke Shibasaki, Tokyo (JP); Shinji Asami, Tokyo (JP); Michitaka Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP); Tomomichi Hoshino, Kanagawa (JP); Wataru Takahashi, Tokyo (JP); and Kei Sasaki, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/755,172.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-117051 (JP), filed on Jul. 18, 2023; and application No. 2024-060788 (JP), filed on Apr. 4, 2024.
Prior Publication US 2025/0028273 A1, Jan. 23, 2025
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01); B31F 5/02 (2006.01); B42C 9/00 (2006.01); B65H 37/04 (2006.01); B65H 45/18 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/6544 (2013.01) [B31F 5/022 (2013.01); B42C 9/0093 (2013.01); B65H 37/04 (2013.01); B65H 45/18 (2013.01); G03G 15/6585 (2013.01); B65H 2301/45 (2013.01); B65H 2301/51614 (2013.01); B65H 2301/51616 (2013.01); B65H 2404/144 (2013.01); B65H 2511/224 (2013.01); B65H 2701/13212 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00835 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising:
a center-folder to perform a center-folding process on a sheet bundle including multiple sheet materials, wherein the center-folder includes:
a folding plate to guide a part of the sheet bundle in a first direction;
a folding-roller pair to:
nip the sheet bundle guided by the folding plate at a nip position; and
advance the sheet bundle in the first direction; and
a pressure mechanism to pressurize the folding-roller pair toward the nip position in a second direction intersecting the first direction;
a back-crimp binder to:
form a back portion on the sheet bundle subjected to the center-folding process; and
perform a crimp-binding process on the back portion; and
a controller configured to:
cause the center-folder to perform the center-folding process; and
responsive to completion of the center-folding process, cause the back-crimp binder to perform the crimp-binding process on the back portion while forming the back portion on the sheet bundle in the crimp-binding process,
wherein the back-crimp binder includes a folding-plate engagement member to engage with the folding plate via the sheet bundle, and
the controller moves the folding-plate engagement member between: a retracted position at which the folding-plate engagement member is separated from the folding plate and an engagement position at which the sheet bundle is nipped between the folding plate and the folding-plate engagement member.