A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet; a holding unit configured to hold the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit; a first post-processing unit configured to perform a post-process on the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit; a second post-processing unit configured to perform a post-process on the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit, the second post-processing unit being arranged below the first post-processing unit; a moving unit configured to move the holding unit from the first post-processing unit to the second post-processing unit; a second conveying unit configured to convey the sheet subjected to the post-processed by the first post-processing unit or the second post-processing unit in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the first conveying unit; and a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A sheet post-processing apparatus, comprising: a first conveying unit configured to convey a sheet; a holding unit configured to hold the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit; a first post-processing unit configured to perform a post-process on the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit; a second post-processing unit configured to perform a post-process on the sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit, the second post-processing unit being arranged directly below the first post-processing unit; a moving unit configured to move the holding unit from the first post-processing unit to the second post-processing unit; a second conveying unit configured to convey the sheet subjected to the post-processed by the first post-processing unit or the second post-processing unit in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the sheet is conveyed by the first conveying unit; and a stacking unit configured to stack the sheet conveyed by the second conveying unit, wherein the moving unit moves in a circular manner.
2. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holding unit holds the sheet with the sheet being held by the first conveying unit, and after holding by the first conveying unit is released, the holding unit is moved by the moving unit.
3. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving unit moves the holding unit in a circular manner.
4. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first conveying unit includes an entrance roller for receiving a sheet, an entrance roller driving source for rotating the entrance roller, a driven roller that is in contact with the entrance roller to form a nip for holding and conveying the sheet, and a nip formation release unit for moving the driven roller to release the formation of the nip.
5. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first post-processing unit is a punching unit configured to perform a punching process on the sheet, and the second post-processing unit is a stapling unit configured to perform a stapling process on the sheet.
6. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the nip formation release unit releases the formation of the nip by moving the driven roller linearly obliquely to a upstream side in a direction in which the sheet received by the entrance roller is conveyed.
7. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the nip formation releasing unit includes a guide plate to which the driven roller is attached in a rotatable manner, a nip formation release driving source, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a driving force from the driving source to the guide plate so that the driven roller moves between a first position at which the driven roller forms a nip together with the entrance roller and a second position at which the formation of the nip is released.
8. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the entrance roller driving source and the nip formation release driving source uses a common driving source.
9. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the entrance roller driving source is a motor, and the motor drives the entrance roller by the rotation of the motor in one direction and moves the driven roller by the rotation of the motor in the opposite direction.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image scanning unit configured to read image information; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on the read image, the image forming unit being arranged below the image scanning unit; and the sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 arranged in between the image scanning unit and the image forming unit, wherein the sheet on which the image has been formed is conveyed to the first conveying unit.
11. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holding unit holding the sheet moves along a guide.
12. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the guide has a circular shape.
13. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving unit includes a link.
14. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the link includes a linear arm that is rotatable with a center of rotation, and includes long channels in between the center of rotation and arm ends.
15. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein a guide includes an elliptical guide hole, and the holding unit includes a cylindrical guide member that passes through the guide hole of the guide and is freely fit into the long channels.
16. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the holding unit operates by allowing the guide member to move along the long channels of the link and the guide hole of the guide when the link rotates with the center of rotation as a fulcrum by a rotational drive of a driving source.
17. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holding unit includes a base, an abutting part erected on the base, a holding part that is rotatably attached to the abutting part with a center of rotation as a fulcrum, a torsion spring provided in between the base and the holding part, a cylindrical guide member that is extended from the base in an orthogonal direction, and a solenoid that is attached on the base.
18. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the holding part includes an opening and closing part with the center of rotation as the fulcrum and a pressed part that is extended from one end of the opening and closing part and bent.
19. The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein: when the holding part is closed, the holding unit has a pressure exerted to hold a sheet by the torsion spring; and when opening the holding part, an action of a projection of an actuator of the solenoid presses an end of the opening and closing part, thereby rotating the holding part with the center of rotation as the fulcrum.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 13, 2013
February 23, 2016
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