Sheet bundle folding apparatus with movable push-in member

• US 6,276,677 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hommochi, Hiroki, Adachi, Seiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christoper P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACKEY, PATRICK HEWEY
• Application Number:
  US09/215,158
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 270/32, 493/37, 493/494, 493/445, 493/446
• US Class Current: 270/32
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/13 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 45/18 Oscillating or reciprocating blade folders carried on rotary members B65H45/16
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00877 Folding device

Abstract

In a sheet bundle folding apparatus for folding a bundle of sheets in two, a stick-out plate for sticking the bundle of sheets is adapted to reliably stick the bundle of sheets folded while being held between rollers for folding the bundle of sheets in a folding position therefor. A first folding roller is positionally fixed. A second folding roller is movable toward and away from the first folding roller. The stick-out plate sticks the bundle of sheets and pushes it into between the first and second folding rollers. At this time, the rollers of the stick-out plate roll along a groove. The forward roller is fitted in the groove with a correction allowance above it, and is downwardly biased by a spring. The stick-out plate follows the folding position for the bundle of sheets.

Claims

1. A sheet bundle folding apparatus comprising:

fixed folding member positionally fixed at a predetermined position;

a movable folding member separably contactable with said fixed folding member; and

a sheet bundle push-in member movable toward an area between said fixed folding member and said movable folding member to push a bundle of sheet into the area between said fixed folding member and said movable folding member;

wherein said sheet bundle push-in member is capable of moving in a sheet folding direction along a guide groove via a sliding member,

wherein said sheet bundle push-in member is capable of moving also in a retracting direction of said movable folding member by providing an allowance between said sliding member and said guide groove,

wherein said sheet bundle push-in member follows a folding position of the bundle of sheet pushed into an area between said fixed folding member and said movable folding member by said sheet bundle push-in member, and

wherein said sliding member includes two members provided along the sheet folding direction, and wherein one member of said two members has a width smaller than a width of said guide groove and the other member has a width substantially equal to the width of said guide groove.

2. A sheet bundle folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a biasing member is provided on said member having the width smaller than the width of said guide groove.

3. A sheet bundle folding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said sliding member is a roller.

4. A sheet bundle folding apparatus comprising:

a pair of rollers for folding a bundle of sheets in two by nipping the bundle of sheets therebetween, one of said pair of rollers being rotatably supported at a predetermined position, the other rollers being supported to contact separably with said one roller;

a sheet bundle push-in member movable toward between said pair of rollers to push the bundle of sheets into between said pair of rollers;

wherein said sheet bundle push-in member is constituted movably and rockably by being engaged with a guide groove provided on a guide member, with an allowance,

wherein a tip end portion of said sheet bundle push-in member follows a folding position by pivoting in conformity with a displacement of the folding position of the bundle of sheets,

wherein said sheet bundle push-in member is engaged with said guide groove via a sliding member, and the allowance is provided between said sliding member and said guide groove, and

wherein said sliding member includes two members provided along the sheet folding direction, and wherein one member of said two members has a width smaller than a width of said guide groove and the other member has a width substantially equal to the width of said guide groove.

5. A sheet bundle folding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a biasing member is provided on said member having the width smaller than the width of said guide groove.

6. A sheet bundle folding apparatus according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein said sliding member is a roller.