Sheet processing apparatus

• US 20030168796A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawata, Wataru, Suzuki, Toshimasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 270/58.07
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/08 Conveying between operating stations in machines conveyors in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/10 Modular constructions, e.g. using preformed elements or profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2601/422 Versatility

Abstract

The invention provides a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet processing portion for processing a sheet, and a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the sheet processing portion, wherein the sheet conveying portion includes a sheet conveying unit having a sheet intake port, a sheet discharge port, and a linear sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet from the sheet intake port to the sheet discharge port, and a plurality of sheet conveying units are disposed in parallel such that respective sheet conveying paths thereof are positioned on the substantially same plane and in a rearrangeable fashion.

Claims

1. A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

a sheet processing portion for processing a sheet; and

a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the sheet processing portion, wherein;

the sheet conveying portion comprises a sheet conveying unit having a sheet intake port, a sheet discharge port, and a linear sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet from the sheet intake port to the sheet discharge port; and

a plurality of sheet conveying units are disposed in parallel such that respective sheet conveying paths thereof are positioned on the substantially same plane and in a rearrangeable fashion.

2. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a sheet feeding unit for sending out a sheet, which is to be supplied to the sheet processing portion, to the sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying unit is detachably attached to the sheet conveying unit; and

the sheet feeding unit is provided with a sheet receiving portion that receives sheets and a sheet feeding portion that sends out the sheets from the sheet receiving portion.

3. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet is disposed between the sheet conveying unit to which the sheet feeding unit is attached, and the sheet processing portion; and

a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit is subjected to image formation in the image forming portion, and then is conveyed to the sheet processing portion.

4. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the image forming portion comprises image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and a linear sheet conveying path for guiding the sheet so as to pass through the image forming means; and

the image forming portion is arranged such that the sheet conveying path thereof is positioned on the same plane as the sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying unit.

5. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the sheet conveying unit is provided between the image forming portion and the sheet processing portion; and

an inserter for feeding an insertion sheet to the sheet processing portion is detachably attached to the sheet conveying unit.

6. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sheet feeding unit and the inserter have the same structure.

7. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein different sheet processing portions are interchangeably attached to the sheet conveying units positioned downstream of the sheet conveying unit to which the sheet feeding unit is attached in accordance with a type of sheet processing.

8. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet processing portion is a bookbinding portion comprising a bookbinding mechanism for performing bookbinding by bundling and binding together sheets on which images are formed by the image forming portion.

9. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an inserter for inserting a sheet in between sheets that are conveyed from the image forming portion is attached to the sheet conveying unit attached between the image forming portion and the sheet conveying unit to which the bookbinding portion is attached.

10. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing portion is a staple stacker that binds a sheet bundle by stapes.

11. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet processing portion is an offset stacker in which sheets are offset and stacked for each bundle.

12. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an image reading apparatus is provided in the sheet conveying unit.

13. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying unit is openable and closable around the sheet conveying path in order to open the sheet conveying path.

14. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying unit structures a unit; and

the sheet conveying path unit is structured so as to be capable of being pulled out and be openable and closable around the sheet conveying path in order to open the sheet conveying path.

15. A sheet processing apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of sheet conveying units having the same structure, each having a sheet intake port, a sheet discharge port, and a linear sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet from the sheet intake port to the sheet discharge port, the sheet conveying units being arranged in parallel such that the respective sheet conveying paths are positioned on the substantially same horizontal plane and in a rearrangeable fashion, wherein

a sheet feeding unit for supplying a sheet is detachably mounted in each of the sheet conveying units disposed on the upstream side, and a sheet processing unit is detachably mounted to each of the sheet conveying units disposed on the downstream side, among the respective sheet conveying units.

16. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

image forming means for forming an image on a sheet is disposed between the sheet conveying unit to which the sheet feeding unit is attached, and the sheet conveying unit to which the sheet processing unit is attached; and

a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit is subjected to image formation in the image forming portion, and then is subjected to processing in the sheet processing portion.

17. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

a linear sheet conveying path for guiding a sheet so as to pass through the image forming means that forms an image on the sheet is provided in the image forming portion; and

the sheet conveying path of the image forming portion is positioned on the same horizontal plane as the sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying unit.

18. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein connecting means for establishing electrical connection is provided between the sheet conveying unit and the unit attached to the sheet conveying unit.

19. A sheet processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein connecting means for establishing electrical connection is provided between adjacent units among the units attached to the plurality of sheet conveying units disposed in parallel.