Sheet post-process system and sheet post-processing method

• US 20060066036A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Taki, Hiroyuki, Yamamoto, Mikio, Sugizaki, Yoshiaki, Iijima, Tomomi, Terao, Yasunobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 270/58.110
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/27 Devices located downstream of office-type machines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/24 multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/32 Auxiliary devices for receiving articles during removal of a completed pile
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18

Abstract

Above a processing tray, a standby tray for making sheets of paper P stand by is installed. The sheets of paper P on the standby tray are dropped, fed, and moved to the processing tray, thus the conveying path from the standby tray to the processing tray is shortened. Furthermore, a Z-folding mechanism is arranged above the standby tray, and the sheets of paper P folded in a Z shape are dropped, and are mixed and stapled on the standby tray or processing tray, and even when performing a plurality of post processes for sheets, miniaturization of a sheet post-process system is retained.

Claims

1. A sheet post-process system comprising:

a first processing mechanism for performing a first post process for sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus,

a standby tray for making said sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus and/or sheets ejected from said first processing mechanism stand by,

a gate for branching said sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus to either of said first processing mechanism and said standby tray,

a processing tray arranged under said standby tray for loading said sheets dropped and fed from said standby tray and said sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus or said first processing mechanism not via said standby tray,

a second processing mechanism for performing a second post process for said plurality of sheets loaded on said processing tray, and

a paper ejection tray for at least loading said sheets after ending of said second post process to be ejected from said processing tray.

2. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said first processing mechanism is arranged above said second standby tray.

3. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said first processing mechanism is a Z-folding mechanism.

4. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said second processing mechanism is a stapler for bundling said plurality of sheets loaded on said processing tray.

5. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said standby tray is composed of at least a pair of tray members for respectively supporting both sides of said sheets and slides and moves said tray members to drop and feed said sheets onto said processing tray.

6. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said standby tray is composed of at least a pair of tray members for respectively supporting both sides of said sheets and rotates and moves said tray members to drop and feed said sheets onto said processing tray.

7. A sheet post-process system according to claim 1, wherein said paper ejection tray can load said sheets ejected from said standby tray not via said processing tray.

8. A sheet post-processing method comprising:

a first processing step of performing a first post process for sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus by a first processing mechanism,

a standby step of making said sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus and/or sheets finishing said first processing step stand by on a standby tray,

a loading step of loading said sheets dropped and fed from said standby tray and said sheets ejected from said image forming apparatus or said first processing mechanism not via said standby tray on a processing tray arranged under said standby tray,

a second processing step of performing a second post process for said plurality of sheets loaded on said processing tray by a second processing mechanism, and

a paper ejection step of loading said sheets after ending of said second post process on a paper ejection tray.

9. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said first processing mechanism is arranged above said second standby tray.

10. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said first processing step is Z-folding.

11. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said second processing step is a stapling step of bundling said plurality of sheets.

12. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said loading step slides and moves at least a pair of tray members for respectively supporting both sides of said sheets in said standby tray and drops and feeds said sheets onto said processing tray.

13. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said loading step rotates and moves at least a pair of tray members for respectively supporting both sides of said sheets in said standby tray and drops and feeds said sheets onto said processing tray.

14. A sheet post-processing method according to claim 8, wherein said paper ejection step loads also said sheets ejected form said standby tray not via the processing tray on said paper ejection tray.