Sheet folding device

Abstract

The present invention provides a sheet folding device capable of folding a sheet along a vertical fold that is aligned with the direction of transport. [Solution] The sheet folding device is equipped with a raised roller R3 and a vertical folding roller R4. The raised roller R3 brings both ends of the horizontal CD of the sheet S being conveyed in the vertical direction LD towards the center, causing the horizontal central part of the sheet S to be raised. The vertical folding roller R4 grips the central part of the horizontal CD of the sheet S that has been raised by the raised roller R3, and folds the sheet S along the fold line FL1 in the vertical direction LD.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sheet folding device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a folding device including a conveying unit that conveys a sheet member discharged from an image forming apparatus main body through an inlet, and a folding unit that performs a folding process (folds the sheet member) on the sheet member conveyed by the conveying unit.

[0003] The folding device described in Patent Document 1 can fold a sheet member with a transverse fold perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet member by a plurality of folding roll pairs arranged with the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the sheet member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The folding device described in Patent Document 1 cannot fold a sheet member with a longitudinal fold along the conveying direction.

[0006] The present disclosure provides a sheet folding device capable of folding a sheet with a longitudinal fold along the conveying direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a sheet folding device comprising: a lifting roller that brings both lateral ends of a sheet being conveyed in the longitudinal direction toward the center and raises the lateral central portion of the sheet; and a vertical folding roller that grips the lateral central portion of the sheet raised by the lifting roller and folds the sheet along the longitudinal crease. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the above-described embodiment, a sheet folding device is provided that can fold a sheet along a vertical fold that is aligned with the transport direction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a sheet folding device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a front view of the sheet folding device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a left side view of the sheet folding device. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a right side view of the sheet folding device. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a top view of the sheet folding device. [Figure 6] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device along the line VI-VI in Figure 2. [Figure 7] This is a vertical cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the folding roller shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device along line VIII-VIII in Figure 2. [Figure 9] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device along the line IX-IX in Figure 5. [Figure 10] Figure 1 shows the transitions in the folded state of the sheet using the sheet folding device. [Figure 11] Figure 1 shows the transition diagram of the horizontal folding of a sheet using the sheet folding device. [Figure 12] Figure 1 shows the transition diagram of the vertical folding of a sheet using the sheet folding device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For the sake of easy understanding of the description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components in each drawing, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. Also, in each drawing, the scales of each part may be different from the actual ones.

[0011] FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are, respectively, a perspective view, a front view, a left side view, a right side view, and a top view of a sheet folding device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device 100 along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the axial direction of the crease roller R2 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device 100 along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 2, and FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the sheet folding device 100 along the line IX-IX in FIG. 5.

[0012] Also, FIG. 10 is a transition diagram of the folding state of the sheet S by the sheet folding device 100. FIG. 11 is a transition diagram of the horizontal folding of the sheet S by the sheet folding device 100. FIG. 12 is a transition diagram of the vertical folding of the sheet S by the sheet folding device 100.

[0013] The sheet folding device 100 of the present embodiment is a device that folds a sheet S while conveying it by a plurality of rollers R. The sheet S is, for example, a single-sheet paper such as copy paper or printing paper. The sheet folding device 100 is connected to, for example, a printing device 200, takes in the printed single-sheet paper discharged from the printing device 200, and folds it while conveying it by a plurality of rollers R.

[0014] The material of the sheet S is not limited to paper as long as it can be folded by a plurality of rollers R. Specifically, the material of the sheet S may be, for example, a material other than paper having the same degree of flexibility as paper, such as woven fabric, non-woven fabric, resin, leather, artificial leather, metal foil, etc.

[0015] The sheet S has a rectangular shape in the state before being folded, as shown in the upper left of FIG. 10. In the present embodiment, the direction along the long side of the sheet S is defined as the longitudinal direction LD of the sheet S, and the direction along the short side of the sheet S is defined as the lateral direction CD of the sheet S. The sheet folding device 100 folds the sheet S while conveying it in the longitudinal direction LD by a plurality of rollers R. That is, the conveyance direction of the sheet S by the sheet folding device 100 is the longitudinal direction LD of the sheet S.

[0016] Note that the direction along the short side of the sheet S may be defined as the longitudinal direction of the sheet S, and the direction along the long side of the sheet S may be defined as the lateral direction of the sheet S. Also, the shape of the sheet S may be a square or other shape. In any case, the direction along the conveyance direction of the sheet S when the sheet S is taken into the sheet folding device 100 can be defined as the longitudinal direction LD of the sheet S, and the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction LD of the sheet S can be defined as the lateral direction CD of the sheet S.

[0017] The sheet folding device 100 includes, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a horizontal folding mechanism 110, a vertical folding mechanism 120, a power transmission mechanism 130, a power source 140, a detection device 150, and a control unit 160. Further, the sheet folding device 100 may include, for example, an exterior cover 170 that covers these components.

[0018] The horizontal folding mechanism 110 folds the sheet S at the fold lines FC1, FC2 in the lateral direction CD shown in FIG. 10 while conveying the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD by a plurality of rollers R. The horizontal folding mechanism 110 has, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to a plurality of rollers R, a first conveyance path 111, a second conveyance path 112, and a third conveyance path 113.

[0019] The plurality of rollers R constituting the horizontal folding mechanism 110 include, for example, a first roller R11, a second roller R12, and a third roller R13. These rollers R have a configuration in which the outer peripheral surface of a hollow tube made of a rigid resin such as rigid polyvinyl chloride is covered with a tube made of an elastic resin such as urethane rubber.

[0020] Furthermore, the rollers R of the horizontal folding mechanism 110 may include the concave roller R21 of the fold roller R2 which constitutes part of the vertical folding mechanism 120. The axis of rotation of each roller R constituting the horizontal folding mechanism 110 is, for example, perpendicular to the vertical direction LD of the sheet S and parallel to the horizontal direction CD of the sheet S. Each roller R is configured so that the distance between its axes can be finely adjusted by, for example, an adjustment mechanism (not shown).

[0021] The first transport path 111 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 includes, for example, guide walls facing the front and back surfaces of the sheet S being transported, and guide walls that restrict the lateral movement CD of the sheet S. The first transport path 111 also has a sheet intake opening 111e for taking in the sheet S. Outside the sheet intake opening 111e, for example, a guide member 111g is provided to guide the sheet S discharged from the printing device 200 to the sheet intake opening 111e.

[0022] The first conveying path 111 extends from the sheet intake opening 111e to the space between the first roller R11 and the second roller R12, which are arranged adjacent to each other, and guides the sheet S taken in from the sheet intake opening 111e to the space between the first roller R11 and the second roller R12. The first conveying path 111 also extends from the space between the first roller R11 and the second roller R12, passing to the side of the third roller R13, in the direction opposite to the sheet intake opening 111e, and has a stopper 111s at the end opposite to the sheet intake opening 111e that restricts the movement of the sheet S. The first conveying path 111 guides the sheet S, which is being conveyed while sandwiched between the first roller R11 and the second roller R12, to the end where the stopper 111s is provided.

[0023] The second transport path 112 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 extends from between the second roller R12 and the third roller R13, which are arranged adjacent to each other, passing over the fold roller R2 and moving away from the first transport path 111. The second transport path 112 has a stopper 112s at the end opposite to the second roller R12 and the third roller R13 that restricts the movement of the sheet S. The second transport path 112 guides the sheet S, which is transported while sandwiched between the second roller R12 and the third roller R13, to the end where the stopper 112s is provided.

[0024] The third transport path 113 of the sheet folding device 100 includes a guide portion having a partially cylindrical concave curved surface that runs along a part of the outer surface of the concave roller R21 that constitutes the fold roller R2. The third transport path 113 extends from between the second roller R12 and the concave roller R21, which are arranged adjacent to each other, to between the concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 that constitute the fold roller R2. The third transport path 113 guides the sheet S, which is transported sandwiched between the second roller R12 and the concave roller R21, to the space between the concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 of the fold roller R2, which constitutes part of the vertical folding mechanism 120.

[0025] The first roller R11 and the second roller R12 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 are positioned adjacent to each other in the middle of the first transport path 111 and rotate in opposite directions to each other, as shown in Figure 11. The third roller R13 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 is positioned adjacent to the second roller R12 with a gap between it and the first roller R11 and rotates in the opposite direction to the second roller R12. The concave roller R21, which constitutes part of the lateral folding mechanism 110, is positioned adjacent to the second roller R12 with a gap between it and the first roller R11 and the third roller R13 and rotates in the opposite direction to the second roller R12.

[0026] The vertical folding mechanism 120 is a mechanism that folds a sheet S along the fold line FL1 in the vertical LD ​​shown in the lower left of Figure 10, while transporting the sheet S in the vertical LD ​​using a plurality of rollers R. The plurality of rollers R of the vertical folding mechanism 120 include, for example, a raised roller R3 and a vertical folding roller R4, as shown in Figures 6 to 9. The plurality of rollers R of the vertical folding mechanism 120 may also include a fold roller R2.

[0027] The fold roller R2 is a roller R that conveys the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD and creates a fold FL1 in the longitudinal direction LD in the center of the transverse direction CD of the sheet S. The fold roller includes, for example, a concave roller R21 having a recess R21c on its outer surface and a convex roller R22 having a convex portion R22p on its outer surface.

[0028] The concave roller R21 and convex roller R22 have cylindrical resin shafts R21a and R22a, as shown in Figure 7, for example. In the concave roller R21 and convex roller R22, hexagonal prism-shaped fitting members R21f and R22f, which have cylindrical rotating shafts R21r and R22r, are fitted into recesses provided at both ends of the shafts R21a and R22a, for example, and the rotating shafts R21r and R22r are supported by bearings B. Gears G5, G6L and G6R are fixed to the rotating shafts R21r and R22r of the concave roller R21 and convex roller R22 by fastening members such as bolts, for example.

[0029] The concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 each have a recess R21c and a convex R22p arranged annularly in the circumferential direction of their respective shaft portions R21a and R22a, with the recess R21c and convex R22p located at the center of the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the shaft portions R21a and R22a. The outer circumferential surfaces of the shaft portions R21a and R22a of the concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 are covered with resin pipes R21n and R22n, for example, made of polyvinyl chloride. Furthermore, the resin pipes R21n and R22n are covered with elastic resin tubes R21t and R22t, for example, made of urethane rubber, except for the portions where the recess R21c and convex R22p are located.

[0030] The concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 transport the sheet S in the vertical direction LD by sandwiching it between their outer surfaces. The concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 also sandwich the central part of the sheet S in the horizontal direction CD between the concave part R21c and the convex part R22p, thereby creating a fold FL1 in the vertical direction LD on the sheet S. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the concave roller R21 is positioned, for example, to face the first surface S1 of the sheet S facing the vertical folding roller R4, and the convex roller R22 is positioned, for example, to face the second surface S2 of the sheet S on the opposite side of the first surface S1.

[0031] The bulging roller R3 is a roller R that, for example as shown in Figure 12, brings both ends of the transverse CD of the sheet S being conveyed in the longitudinal direction LD towards the center, thereby bulging the central part of the transverse CD of the sheet S. In the example shown in Figure 6, the sheet folding device 100 is equipped with a fold roller R2 upstream of the bulging roller R3 in the conveying direction FD of the sheet S, which conveys the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD and creates a fold FL1 in the transverse CD of the sheet S in the central part of the transverse LD. In this case, as shown in Figure 6, the bulging roller R3 is positioned downstream of the fold roller R2 in the conveying direction FD of the sheet S.

[0032] Furthermore, the raised roller R3 includes angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R, which are positioned on both sides of the lateral CD of the sheet S, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. As shown in Figure 12, the angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R transport the sheet S in the longitudinal LD ​​direction and are inclined with respect to the lateral CD direction so as to bring both ends of the lateral CD direction of the sheet S towards the center.

[0033] Specifically, the raised roller R3 has, for example, a pair of left and right angle rollers R31L, R31R positioned on the underside of the sheet S, and a pair of left and right angle rollers R32L, R32R positioned on the upper side of the sheet S, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. That is, the raised roller R3 has a pair of upper and lower angle rollers R31L, R32L on the left side of the sheet S, and a pair of upper and lower angle rollers R31R, R32R on the right side of the sheet S.

[0034] The pair of upper and lower angle rollers R31L and R32L located on the left side of sheet S are inclined with respect to the lateral CD of sheet S such that the outer edge of sheet S in the lateral CD is positioned in front of sheet S in the conveying direction FD. Similarly, the pair of upper and lower angle rollers R31R and R32R located on the right side of sheet S are also inclined with respect to the lateral CD of sheet S such that the outer edge of sheet S in the lateral CD is positioned in front of sheet S in the conveying direction FD.

[0035] In other words, the lower left and right angle rollers R31L and R31R shown in Figure 8 have a peripheral velocity V at the upper end of the outer surface that contacts the sheet S, which has a velocity component VC that points towards the center of the sheet S in the lateral direction CD and a velocity component VL that points forward in the conveying direction FD of the sheet S. Similarly, the upper left and right angle rollers R32L and R32R shown in Figure 9 also have a peripheral velocity V at the lower end of the outer surface that contacts the sheet S, which has a velocity component VC in the lateral direction CD of the sheet S and a velocity component VL in the conveying direction FD of the sheet S.

[0036] The peripheral speeds V of these angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R are set such that the velocity component VL parallel to the conveying direction FD of the sheet S is equal to the peripheral speed of the roller R that conveys the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD upstream of the conveying direction FD. With this configuration, the bulging roller R3 conveys the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD while bringing both ends of the lateral direction CD of the sheet S towards the center, causing the central part of the lateral direction CD of the sheet S to bulge.

[0037] The configuration of the raised roller R3, which brings both ends of the lateral CD of the sheet S being conveyed in the vertical direction LD towards the center and raises the central part of the lateral CD of the sheet S, is not limited to the angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R. For example, the raised roller R3 may be composed of a conveying roller having a rotation axis parallel to the lateral CD of the sheet S and conveying the sheet S in the vertical direction LD, and a pair of aligning rollers having a rotation axis parallel to the vertical direction LD of the sheet S and bringing both ends of the lateral CD of the sheet S towards the center. In this case, for example, the sheet S is conveyed in the vertical direction LD by the conveying roller, and then both ends of the lateral CD are brought towards the center by the aligning rollers.

[0038] The vertical folding roller R4 is a roller R that grips the central part of the sheet S in the lateral direction CD, which has been raised by the raised roller R3, and folds the sheet S at the fold line FL1 in the vertical direction LD. The vertical folding roller R4 includes, for example, a left roller R4L and a right roller R4R that rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the conveying direction FD of the sheet S by the raised roller R3, as shown in Figures 6 and 9. The left roller R4L and the right roller R4R have a configuration similar to, for example, the first roller R11, second roller R12, and third roller R13 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 described above.

[0039] The vertical folding roller R4 is positioned to face the first surface S1 of the sheet S, which is folded at creases FC1 and FC2 in the horizontal direction CD by the horizontal folding mechanism 110 and then conveyed in the vertical direction LD by the crease roller R2, with a gap between them. In other words, the vertical folding roller R4 is positioned to face the central part of the horizontal direction CD of the sheet S, which is raised and elevated by the bulging roller R3, for example, as shown in Figure 12.

[0040] The power transmission mechanism 130 includes a plurality of gears G1-G14R provided on a plurality of rollers R that transport and fold the sheet S. The power source 140 is a single power source for the sheet folding device 100 that rotates the plurality of rollers R via the power transmission mechanism 130. The power source 140 includes, for example, a motor driver, an electric motor, and a reduction gear. The output shaft of the power source 140 is connected, for example, to gear G1 of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figure 3, and rotates gear G1.

[0041] The gears G2, G3, and G4 of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figure 3 are connected to the rotation axes of the third roller R13, the second roller R12, and the first roller R11 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 shown in Figure 6, respectively. As shown in Figure 3, gear G1 meshes with gear G2, gear G2 meshes with gear G3, and gear G3 meshes with gear G4.

[0042] As a result, in the left side view of the sheet folding device 100 shown in Figure 3, when the power source 140 rotates gear G1 clockwise, gear G2 rotates counterclockwise, gear G3 rotates clockwise, and gear G4 rotates counterclockwise. Consequently, as shown in Figure 11, the first roller R11, the second roller R12, and the third roller R13 of the lateral folding mechanism 110 rotate in the same direction as gears G4, G3, and G2, which are connected to their respective rotation axes.

[0043] Furthermore, gears G5, G6L, and G6R of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7 are connected to the left end rotation axis R21r of the concave roller R21 that constitutes the fold roller R2, and to the left and right end rotation axes R22r of the convex roller R22, respectively. As shown in Figure 3, gear G5 meshes with gear G3, and gear G6L meshes with gear G5.

[0044] As a result, in the left side view of the sheet folding device 100 shown in Figure 3, when the power source 140 rotates gear G1 clockwise, gears G1-G3 rotate sequentially, causing gear G5 to rotate counterclockwise and gear G6L to rotate clockwise. Consequently, as shown in Figure 11, the concave roller R21 of the fold roller R2 rotates counterclockwise, and the convex roller R22 of the fold roller R2 rotates clockwise.

[0045] Furthermore, gears G7L and G7R of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figures 3 to 5 are connected, for example, to a rotating shaft rotatably supported on the left and right side walls of the vertical folding mechanism 120, and mesh with gears G6L and G6R, respectively, which are connected to both ends of the convex roller R22. Also, as shown in Figure 8, gears G8L and G8R are connected to the outer ends of angle rollers R31L and R31R, respectively, which are located on both sides of the lateral direction CD on the underside of the sheet S.

[0046] Furthermore, gears G8L and G8R each have helical teeth, and the helical teeth of gears G8L and G8R mesh with gears G7L and G7R. Also, gears G9L and G9R of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figures 3 and 4 are connected to the outer ends of angle rollers R32L and R32R, which are located on both sides of the lateral direction CD on the upper side of the sheet S, as shown in Figure 9. These gears G9L and G9R mesh with gears G8L and G8R, respectively.

[0047] As a result, in the left side view of the sheet folding device 100 shown in Figure 3, when the power source 140 rotates gear G1 clockwise, gears G1-G6L rotate sequentially, causing gear G7L to rotate counterclockwise, gear G8L to rotate clockwise, and gear G9L to rotate counterclockwise. Also, in the right side view of the sheet folding device 100 shown in Figure 4, gear G6R rotates counterclockwise, gear G7R rotates clockwise, gear G8R rotates counterclockwise, and gear G9R rotates clockwise.

[0048] As a result, each angle roller R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R rotates at a peripheral speed V at the upper or lower end of the outer circumferential surface in contact with the sheet S, with a velocity component VL in the vertical direction LD and a velocity component VC in the horizontal direction CD as shown in Figure 8. In this way, each angle roller R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R is inclined with respect to the transport direction FD such that the direction of rotation at the upper or lower end of the outer circumferential surface in contact with the sheet S faces forward in the transport direction FD of the sheet S and inward in the horizontal direction CD.

[0049] As shown in Figure 8, gears G10L and G10R are helical gears provided on angle rollers R31L and R31R, respectively, located on both sides of the lateral direction CD on the underside of the sheet S. Drive gears G11L and G11R are helical gears that mesh with gears G10L and G10R, respectively, and are provided at one end of a pair of shafts SH, which are located on both sides of the lateral direction CD of the sheet S.

[0050] Each shaft SH of the power transmission mechanism 130 extends in the front-rear direction of the vertical folding mechanism 120 and is rotatably supported by bearings B fixed to the structure of the vertical folding mechanism 120. Gears G12L and G12R are connected to the ends of the pair of shafts SH opposite to the ends where gears G11L and G11R are provided. As shown in Figure 2, gears G12L and G12R mesh with gears G13L and G13R, respectively.

[0051] Gears G13L and G13R are connected to a rotating shaft rotatably supported on the front wall of the vertical folding mechanism 120, for example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Gears G14L and G14R are connected to the rotating shafts of the left roller R4L and right roller R4R of the vertical folding roller R4 shown in Figures 3 and 4, respectively, and mesh with gears G13L and G13R, respectively, as shown in Figure 2.

[0052] As a result, the power source 140 rotates gear G1 clockwise, and when the angle rollers R31L and R31R, which are positioned on both sides of the lateral direction CD on the underside of the sheet S, rotate, gears G11L and G11R shown in Figure 8 rotate. Consequently, in a front view of the sheet folding device 100 shown in Figure 2, gear G12L rotates counterclockwise, gear G13L rotates clockwise, and gear G14L rotates counterclockwise. Also, gear G12R rotates clockwise, gear G13R rotates counterclockwise, and gear G14R rotates clockwise.

[0053] As a result, as shown in the upper part of Figure 12, in a front view of the sheet folding device 100, the left roller R4L of the vertical folding roller R4 rotates counterclockwise, and the right roller R4R of the vertical folding roller R4 rotates clockwise.

[0054] The detection device 150 is a device for detecting the sheet S. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, for example, the detection device 150 is installed in the sheet intake opening 111e of the sheet folding device 100 and detects the sheet S that has been taken into the sheet intake opening 111e. The detection device 150 is an optical sensor having, for example, a light-emitting unit 151 including an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a light-receiving unit 152 including a CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) cell. The detection device 150 is connected to the control unit 160 for information communication, for example, by a wired or wireless communication line.

[0055] The light-emitting unit 151 and the light-receiving unit 152 are positioned opposite each other on both sides of the sheet intake opening 111e, and are installed so as to face the front and back surfaces of the sheet S passing through the sheet intake opening 111e. The detection device 150 outputs a detection result to the control unit 160 indicating that the sheet S has been detected, for example, when the light output from the light-emitting unit 151 is blocked by the sheet S introduced into the sheet intake opening 111e and is no longer detected by the light-receiving unit 152.

[0056] The control unit 160 is composed of, for example, input / output ports, a processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a microcontroller including memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The control unit 160 can perform a variety of control operations by executing a program stored in memory using the processing unit. The control unit 160 also includes, for example, a relay that switches the power supplied to the power source 140 on and off.

[0057] The control unit 160 drives the power source 140 when the detection device 150 detects the seat S. Specifically, for example, when the control unit 160 receives a detection result from the detection device 150 indicating that the seat S has been detected, it supplies power to the power source 140 via a relay, drives the power source 140, and rotates the gear G1 of the power transmission mechanism 130.

[0058] The operation of the vertical folding mechanism 120 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0059] For example, a sheet S output from the printing device 200 shown in Figure 1 is guided by the guide member 111g shown in Figure 6 and taken into the first transport path 111 of the horizontal folding mechanism 110 from the sheet intake opening 111e of the sheet folding device 100. The detection device 150 then detects the sheet S and outputs a detection result indicating that the sheet S has been detected to the control unit 160.

[0060] When the control unit 160 receives a detection result from the detection device 150 indicating that a sheet S has been detected, it drives the power source 140. The power source 140 rotates its output shaft, which in turn rotates the gear G1 of the power transmission mechanism 130 shown in Figure 3, thereby rotating the multiple rollers R of the sheet folding device 100 via the multiple gears G2-G14R of the power transmission mechanism 130. When the sheet S output from the printing device 200 reaches the area between the first roller R11 and the second roller R12 of the horizontal folding mechanism 110 shown in Figure 6, it is sandwiched between these rollers R and transported toward the stopper 111s at the end of the first transport path 111.

[0061] Then, when the front end of the sheet S being transported in the vertical direction LD by the first roller R11 and the second roller R12 hits the stopper 111s of the first transport path 111, the central part of the sheet S in the vertical direction LD bends towards the space between the second roller R12 and the third roller R13. If this point is taken as time t0, then at time t1, after time t0, as shown on the left side of Figure 11, the central part of the sheet S in the vertical direction LD is sandwiched between the second roller R12 and the third roller R13, and the sheet S is folded in half at the fold line FC1 in the horizontal direction CD shown in the upper left of Figure 10.

[0062] The sheet S, which has been folded in half horizontally along the fold line FC1 in the horizontal direction CD, is transported along the second transport path 112 by the second roller R12 and the third roller R13, with the fold line FC1 leading, until the fold line FC1 abuts against the stopper 112s at the end of the second transport path 112. As a result, the central part of the sheet S, which has been folded in half horizontally, in the vertical direction LD, which is the transport direction by the second roller R12 and the third roller R13, bends towards the space between the second roller R12 and the concave roller R21 of the fold roller R2.

[0063] Then, as shown in the center of Figure 11, at time t2 after time t1, the central part of the vertical LD ​​of the horizontally folded sheet S is sandwiched between the second roller R12 and the concave roller R21 of the fold roller R2. As a result, the sheet S is further folded in half at the horizontal fold FC2 shown in the upper right of Figure 10, and becomes a horizontally folded quarter-fold as shown in the lower left of Figure 10. Subsequently, the horizontally folded quarter-fold sheet S, sandwiched between the second roller R12 and the concave roller R21 of the fold roller R2, is conveyed along the third conveyor path 113 by the second roller R12 and the convex roller R22, with the fold FC2 leading.

[0064] Then, the horizontally folded, four-fold sheet S, which has been transported along the third transport path 113 by the second roller R12 and the convex roller R22, is sandwiched between the concave roller R21 and the convex roller R22 of the folding roller R2, with the fold FC2 at the front. As a result, at time t3, after time t2 shown on the right side of Figure 11, the folding roller R2 creates a vertical fold FL1 in the center of the horizontal CD of the sheet S, along the transport direction FD of the folding roller R2, as shown in the lower left of Figure 10. At this time t3, the sheet S has only had the vertical fold FL1 created by the folding roller R2, and has not been folded vertically at fold FL1.

[0065] Subsequently, as shown in the upper part of Figure 12, from time t3 to time t4, the horizontally folded, four-fold sheet S, which has a vertical fold line FL1 on it, is conveyed in the vertical LD ​​direction by the aforementioned raised roller R3, and both ends of the horizontal CD direction are brought towards the center. As a result, the central part of the horizontal CD direction of the horizontally folded, four-fold sheet S rises up starting from the vertical fold line FL1 on the LD direction and rises towards the vertical folding roller R4.

[0066] Then, as shown in the lower part of Figure 12, at time t4 after time t3, the central part of the horizontal CD that has risen toward the vertical folding roller R4 of the sheet S is sandwiched between the left roller R4L and the right roller R4R of the vertical folding roller R4, and the sheet is folded vertically at the vertical fold line FL1 of the vertical LD. As a result, the sheet S, which is folded horizontally into four sections at the horizontal fold lines FC1 and FC2 shown in the lower left of Figure 10, is folded vertically at the vertical fold line FL1 of the vertical LD, resulting in an eight-fold vertical and horizontal fold as shown in the lower right of Figure 10, and is discharged into the tray 121 shown in Figure 1.

[0067] Furthermore, if the sheet folding device 100 does not need to fold the sheet S along the horizontal creases FC1 and FC2 in the horizontal direction CD, the horizontal folding mechanism 110 can be omitted. In this case, the sheet S output from the printing device 200 is taken into the vertical folding mechanism 120 and folded in half vertically along the vertical crease FL1 in the vertical direction LD. Alternatively, the horizontal folding mechanism 110 may be configured to fold the sheet S in half horizontally along the horizontal crease FC1 in the horizontal direction CD. In this case, the horizontally folded sheet S, transported from the horizontal folding mechanism 110 to the vertical folding mechanism 120, is folded vertically along the vertical crease FL1 in the vertical direction LD by the vertical folding mechanism 120, resulting in a four-fold structure.

[0068] As described above, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a bulging roller R3 and a vertical folding roller R4. The vertical folding roller R4 brings both ends of the horizontal CD of the sheet S being conveyed in the vertical direction LD towards the center, causing the central part of the horizontal CD of the sheet S to bulge. The vertical folding roller R4 grips the central part of the horizontal CD of the sheet S that has been bulged by the bulging roller R3, and folds the sheet S along the fold line FL1 in the vertical direction LD.

[0069] With this configuration, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment can transport the sheet S in the vertical direction LD and fold it along the crease FL1 that runs along the vertical direction LD, which is the transport direction FD. Furthermore, since it does not require a mechanism such as a chopper for folding the sheet S, the configuration of the sheet folding device 100 can be simplified, making it possible to make the sheet folding device 100 smaller and lighter. As a result, the sheet folding device 100 can be easily attached to other devices, including office automation equipment such as a printing device 200 or a multifunction printer.

[0070] Furthermore, in the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment, the raised roller R3 includes angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R arranged on both sides of the lateral CD of the sheet S. These angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R transport the sheet S in the vertical LD ​​and are inclined with respect to the lateral CD of the sheet S so as to bring both ends of the lateral CD of the sheet S toward the center.

[0071] In this configuration, the left angle rollers R31L and R32L are positioned such that, as shown in Figure 8, the tangential peripheral velocity V of the outer surface in contact with the sheet S has a velocity component VC directed toward the center of the sheet S in the transverse direction CD and a velocity component VL directed toward the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD. Similarly, the right angle rollers R31R and R32R are positioned such that the tangential peripheral velocity V of the outer surface in contact with the sheet S has a velocity component VC directed toward the sheet S in the transverse direction CD and a velocity component VL directed toward the sheet S in the longitudinal direction LD. As a result, the sheet S is conveyed by the angle rollers R31L, R31R, R32L, and R32R in the longitudinal direction LD shown in Figure 12, and both ends of the transverse direction CD are brought toward the center, causing the central part of the transverse direction CD to bulge toward the longitudinal folding roller R4.

[0072] Furthermore, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment is further equipped with a crease roller R2 that conveys the sheet S in the vertical direction LD and creates a crease in the vertical direction LD in the center of the sheet S in the horizontal direction CD. The raised roller R3 is positioned downstream of the crease roller R2 in the conveying direction FD of the sheet S.

[0073] In this configuration, the sheet S is conveyed to the bulge roller R3 with a vertical fold FL1, as shown in the upper diagram of Figure 12, created by the fold roller R2. Then, the ends of the horizontal CD of the sheet S are brought towards the center by the bulge roller R3, causing the central part of the horizontal CD to bulge towards the vertical folding roller R4, starting from the vertical fold FL1. Furthermore, the sheet S is sandwiched between the vertical folding roller R4 with the vertical fold FL1 at the front and folded vertically along the vertical fold FL1. This makes it possible to accurately fold the sheet S vertically along a fixed fold FL1 created by the fold roller R2.

[0074] Furthermore, in the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment, the fold roller R2 includes a concave roller R21 having a recess R21c on its outer surface and a convex roller R22 having a protrusion R22p on its outer surface. These concave roller R21 and convex roller R22 transport the sheet S in the vertical direction LD with the sheet S sandwiched between their outer surfaces, and sandwich the central part of the sheet S in the horizontal direction CD between the recess R21c and the protrusion R22p, thereby creating a fold FL1 in the vertical direction LD on the sheet S.

[0075] With this configuration, the depth of the recess R21c and the height of the protrusion R22p can be set according to the thickness and condition of the sheet S on which the crease FL1 is made by the crease roller R2, thereby allowing the sheet S to be accurately folded along the vertical crease FL1 in the vertical direction LD by the vertical fold roller R4. If the sheet S on which the crease FL1 is made by the crease roller R2 is a printed sheet that has been folded into quarters along the horizontal creases FC1 and FC2 in the horizontal direction CD, the height of the protrusion R22p is set to, for example, about 1 mm to 2 mm, specifically about 1.5 mm.

[0076] Furthermore, in the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment, the concave roller R21 is positioned to face the first surface S1 of the sheet S that faces the vertical folding roller R4, and the convex roller R22 is positioned to face the second surface S2 of the sheet S that is opposite to the first surface S1.

[0077] This configuration allows a convex fold FL1 to be formed on the sheet S after it has passed through the fold roller R2, directed toward the vertical fold roller R4, as shown in the upper part of Figure 12. This makes it easier for the sheet S to rise toward the vertical fold roller R4 when the bulging roller R3 brings both ends of the lateral CD of the sheet S toward the center.

[0078] Furthermore, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment is further equipped with a horizontal folding mechanism 110 that folds the sheet S along folds FC1 and FC2 in the horizontal direction CD while conveying the sheet S in the vertical direction LD with a plurality of rollers R.

[0079] With this configuration, a sheet S that has been folded horizontally into four sections along the horizontal creases FC1 and FC2 by the horizontal folding mechanism 110 can be folded vertically along the vertical crease FL1 by the vertical folding roller R4, resulting in an eight-fold using the vertical and horizontal creases FC1, FC2, and FL1. Furthermore, if the horizontal folding mechanism 110 is configured to fold the sheet S in half along the horizontal crease FC1, then the horizontally folded sheet S can be folded vertically along the vertical crease FL1 by the vertical folding roller R4, resulting in a four-fold using the vertical and horizontal creases FC1 and FL1.

[0080] Furthermore, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment further comprises a power transmission mechanism 130 and a single power source 140. The power transmission mechanism 130 includes a plurality of gears G1-G14R provided on a plurality of rollers R that transport and fold the sheet S. The single power source 140 rotates the plurality of rollers R via the power transmission mechanism 130.

[0081] With this configuration, the sheet folding device 100 can rotate multiple rollers R via a power transmission mechanism 130 using a single power source 140, and fold the sheet S while transporting it using the multiple rollers R. Therefore, compared to the case where the sheet folding device 100 uses multiple power sources 140, it is possible to make the sheet folding device 100 smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective, and the drive control of the sheet folding device 100 can be made easier.

[0082] Furthermore, the sheet folding device 100 of this embodiment further includes a detection device 150 for detecting a sheet S, and a control unit 160 for driving a power source 140 when a sheet S is detected by the detection device 150.

[0083] With this configuration, the sheet folding device 100 can detect a sheet S taken into the sheet intake port 111e from another device, such as a printing device 200, using a detection device 150, and based on the detection result, the control unit 160 can drive the power source 140. As a result, when a sheet S is taken into the sheet folding device 100, the power source 140 is automatically driven, and the sheet S is transported in the vertical direction LD by multiple rollers R and folded along the fold line FL1 along the vertical direction LD.

[0084] As described above, according to this embodiment, a sheet folding device 100 is provided that can fold a sheet S along a fold in the vertical direction LD along the transport direction FD.

[0085] The embodiments of the sheet folding apparatus according to this disclosure have been described in detail above. However, the sheet folding apparatus according to this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications or substitutions can be applied to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 100 Sheet Folding Machine 110 Horizontal folding mechanism 130 Power transmission mechanism 140 Power source 150 detection devices 160 Control Unit CD horizontal FC1 fold FC2 fold FD transport direction FL1 fold G1 Gear G2 Gear G3 Gear G4 Gear G5 gear G6L Gear G6R Gear G7L Gear G7R Gear G8L Gear G8R Gear G9L Gear G9R Gear G10L Gear G10R Gear G11L Gear G11R Gear G12L Gear G12R Gear G13L Gear G13R Gear G14L Gear G14R Gear LD vertical direction R. Laura R3 Raising Roller R4 Vertical Folding Roller R31L Angle Roller R31R Angle Roller R32L Angle Roller R32R Angle Roller R2 Fold Roller R21 Concave Roller R21c recess R22 Convex Roller R22p protrusion S Seat S1 page 1 S2 side 2

Claims

1. A lifting roller that brings both lateral ends of a sheet being transported vertically towards the center and raises the lateral central portion of the sheet, The system includes a vertical folding roller that grips the lateral central portion of the sheet, which has been raised by the aforementioned raised roller, and folds the sheet along the vertical fold. Sheet folding device.

2. The raised roller includes angle rollers positioned on both sides of the sheet in the lateral direction, The angle roller conveys the sheet in the longitudinal direction and is inclined with respect to the lateral direction so as to bring both ends of the sheet in the lateral direction toward the center. The sheet folding device according to claim 1.

3. The system further includes a folding roller that conveys the sheet in the longitudinal direction and creates a fold in the longitudinal direction at the center of the sheet in the transverse direction, The raised roller is positioned downstream of the folding roller in the sheet transport direction. The sheet folding device according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned folding roller includes a concave roller having a recess on its outer surface and a convex roller having a protrusion on its outer surface. The concave roller and the convex roller transport the sheet in the longitudinal direction by sandwiching it between their outer surfaces, and sandwich the central part of the sheet in the transverse direction between the concave and convex portions to create a fold in the sheet in the longitudinal direction. The sheet folding device according to claim 3.

5. The concave roller is positioned to face the first surface of the sheet that faces the vertical folding roller. The convex roller is positioned so as to face the second surface of the sheet opposite to the first surface. The sheet folding device according to claim 4.

6. The device further includes a horizontal folding mechanism that folds the sheet along the horizontal crease while transporting it in the vertical direction using multiple rollers. A sheet folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A power transmission mechanism including multiple gears provided on multiple rollers that transport and fold the aforementioned sheet, The system further comprises a single power source that rotates the plurality of rollers via the power transmission mechanism, The sheet folding device according to claim 6.

8. A detection device for detecting the aforementioned sheet, The system further comprises a control unit that drives the power source when the seat is detected by the detection device, The sheet folding device according to claim 7.

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