Push feed arm for post processing device

• US 7,172,194 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Taki, Hiroyuki, Ise, Tokihiko, Iijima, Tomomi, Sugizaki, Yoshiaki, Terao, Yasunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLSON III, LESLIE AUGUST
• Application Number:
  US11/008,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 270/58.08, 270/58.11, 270/58.12, 270/58.14, 270/58.18, 271/189, 271/190, 271/191, 271/192, 399/410
• US Class Current: 271/190
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/27 Devices located downstream of office-type machines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/3081 by acting on edge of the pile for moving it along a surface, e.g. by pushing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/74 Positioning exposure meters in the apparatus

Abstract

A processing tray comprises a transport belt which transports a sheet, and a push feed arm mounted to be projected onto a surface on a sheet transport side of the belt, the arm retaining a sheet distal end so that the sheet distal end can be pushed and fed, wherein the transport belt forms a through hole through which the push feed arm penetrates, and the push feed arm comprises a push feed face which pushes and feeds the sheet distal end, a penetrating projection portion which reaches a transport belt lower face from the push feed face through the through hole, and a hook shaped engagingly lock portion engagingly locked on the belt lower face after being bent from the penetrating projection portion to the transport belt traveling direction.

Claims

1. A sheet post-process apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a waiting tray which temporarily retains a transported sheet and releases the sheet;

a processing tray which bundles the sheets dropped from the waiting tray to carry out predetermined processing and ejects the bundled sheets; and

a storage tray which holds the bundle of sheets processed and ejected on the processing tray,

wherein the processing tray comprises;

a transport belt which transports the bundle of sheets; and

a push feed arm mounted to be projected onto a surface on a sheet transport side of the transport belt, the push feed arm retaining a sheet distal end of the bundle of sheets so that the sheet distal end can be pushed and fed;

wherein the transport belt forms a through hole through which the push feed arm penetrates, and

the push feed arm comprises;

a push feed face which pushes and feeds the sheet distal end;

a penetrating projection portion which reaches a transport belt lower face from the push feed face through the through hole; and

a hook shaped engagingly lock portion, formed integrally with the penetrating projection portion, engagingly locked on the transport belt lower face and being bent in the transport belt traveling direction, and

wherein a face of the hook shaped engagingly lock portion on a side which comes into contact with the belt lower face is inclined in a downward direction at an angle of 10 degrees to 30 degrees while a longitudinal direction of the transport belt is defined as a reference.

2. The post-process apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport belt is provided around a pulley for transporting the bundle of sheets.

3. The post-process apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pitch diameter of the transport belt and pulley is in a range of about 15 degrees to 20 degrees.

4. The post-process apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock which locks the push feed arm to the transport belt.

5. The post-process apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising inlet rollers for conveying the transported sheet.

6. A processing tray of a post-process apparatus, comprising:

a transport belt which transports a bundle of sheets; and

a push feed arm mounted to be projected onto a surface on a sheet transport side of the transport belt, the push feed arm retaining a sheet distal end of the bundle of sheets so that the sheet distal end can be pushed and fed;

wherein the transport belt forms a through hole through which the push feed arm penetrates, and

the push feed arm comprises;

a push feed face which pushes and feeds the sheet distal end;

a penetrating projection portion which reaches a transport belt lower face from the push feed face through the through hole; and

a hook shaped engagingly lock portion, formed integrally with the penetrating projection portion, engagingly locked on the transport belt lower face and being bent in the transport belt traveling direction; and

wherein a face of the hook shaped engagingly lock portion on a side which comes into contact with the belt lower face is inclined in a downward direction at an angle of 10 degrees to 30 degrees while a longitudinal direction of the transport belt is defined as a reference.

7. The processing tray for a post-process apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transport belt is provided around a pulley for transporting the bundle of sheets.

8. The processing tray for a post-process apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a pitch diameter of the transport belt and pulley is in a range of about 15 degrees to 20 degrees.

9. The processing tray for a post-process apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a lock which locks the push feed arm to the transport belt.