Patent · US Expired

Sheet processing apparatus and method therefor

US6145825A · kind A · utility

98Cited by
16References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 1998
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2515/34
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A sheet processing apparatus includes a staple tray that stacks a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus, a rear end fence that vertically aligns the sheet stacked on the staple tray by hitting a tail end of the sheet in a conveying direction against the rear end fence, and a stapling device that executes a stapling operation at an end of a bundle of the sheets. A limiting member is movable in a direction of a thickness of the bundle of sheets stacked on the staple tray, in which a distance between the limiting member and a sheet stacking face of the staple tray guiding the sheet to the rear end fence is variable. The sheets are processed by a method including the steps of receiving a sheet discharged from the image forming apparatus, guiding the sheet to a rear end fence of a staple tray, stacking the sheet on the staple tray, aligning the sheet by hitting a tail end of the sheet against the rear end fence, pressing the tail end of the sheet in a direction of the thickness of the sheet, and stapling the bundle of sheets at the tail end of the sheet aligned by the rear end fence.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.