Medium transport apparatus and medium processing system

Abstract

A medium transport apparatus includes a feeding section that comes into contact with a lowermost recording medium in a stacked state and that feeds the recording medium to a post-processing apparatus, an abutment portion against which leading ends of recording media stacked on the feeding section in a feeding direction abut and that allows a lower recording medium among plural stacked recording media to be fed to the post-processing apparatus, and a pressing portion that presses base ends of the recording media stacked on the feeding section toward the abutment portion and that bends the stacked recording media.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-050783 filed Mar. 25, 2025.BACKGROUND(i) Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a medium transport apparatus and a medium processing system.(ii) Related Art

[0003] JP2016-222461A discloses a medium sheet router that receives a medium sheet, guides the medium sheet along a spiral path, and discharges the medium sheet.SUMMARY

[0004] There is a medium transport apparatus that stacks recording media and that feeds a lowermost recording medium of the stack to a post-processing apparatus such as a bookbinding machine.

[0005] In the related art, the lowermost recording medium is fed to the post-processing apparatus while maintaining a stacked state of the recording media. In such a configuration, another recording medium may overlap the lowermost recording medium to be fed to the post-processing apparatus.

[0006] Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a medium transport apparatus and a medium processing system that prevent another recording medium from overlapping a lowermost recording medium to be fed to a post-processing apparatus as compared with a case where the lowermost recording medium is fed to the post-processing apparatus while maintaining a stacked state of recording media.

[0007] Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the above disadvantages and / or other disadvantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not overcome any of the disadvantages described above.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a medium transport apparatus including a feeding section that comes into contact with a lowermost recording medium in a stacked state and that feeds the recording medium to a post-processing apparatus, an abutment portion against which leading ends of recording media stacked on the feeding section in a feeding direction abut and that allows a lower recording medium among a plurality of the stacked recording media to be fed to the post-processing apparatus, and a pressing portion that presses base ends of the recording media stacked on the feeding section toward the abutment portion and that bends the stacked recording media.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a medium processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus provided in the medium processing system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a toner image forming section of the image forming apparatus provided in the medium processing system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view showing an appearance of a bookbinding machine provided in the medium processing system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIGS. 8A and 8B are block diagrams showing a hardware configuration and a functional configuration of a control unit provided in the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a sheet member is stacked on a belt transport device of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which the belt transport device of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is operated;

[0020] FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a pressing portion of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is moved to a pressing position; and

[0021] FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a belt transport section of the medium transport apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure feeds a sheet member and the pressing portion is moved to an initial position.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] An example of a medium transport apparatus and a medium processing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. An arrow H shown in each drawing indicates a vertical direction, that is, an up-down direction. An arrow W indicates a horizontal direction, that is, a width direction. An arrow D indicates a horizontal direction, that is, a depth direction. In addition, the arrow H, the arrow W, and the arrow D are orthogonal to each other.Medium Processing System 100

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a medium processing system 100 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a medium transport apparatus 70, and a bookbinding machine 120. Specifically, the medium transport apparatus 70 receives a sheet member P as an example of a recording medium fed from the image forming apparatus 10 and feeds the sheet member P to the bookbinding machine 120. The image forming apparatus 10 is an example of a pre-processing apparatus. The bookbinding machine 120 is an example of a post-processing apparatus.

[0024] The image forming apparatus 10, the medium transport apparatus 70, and the bookbinding machine 120 are arranged in this order from one side to the other side in the width direction.Image Forming Apparatus 10

[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a paper accommodating section 12 in which the sheet member P is accommodated, a transport section 14 that transports the sheet member P, and a main operation section 16 that forms an image on the transported sheet member P. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an operation screen 18 that is operated by a user and a control unit 20 that controls each unit.Paper Accommodating Section 12 and Transport Section 14

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the paper accommodating section 12 includes a first accommodating section 22 and a second accommodating section 24 that can accommodate sheet members P of different sizes. The first accommodating section 22 and the second accommodating section 24 are each provided with a feed roll 26 and a transport roll 28. The feed roll 26 feeds the accommodated sheet member P one by one. The transport roll 28 transports the fed sheet member P toward a transport path 30 provided in a housing 10a.

[0027] The transport section 14 includes a plurality of transport rolls 32 and a positioning roll 34. The transport roll 32 transports the sheet member P fed to the transport path 30. The positioning roll 34 temporarily stops the sheet member P and then feeds the sheet member P to a secondary transfer position N, which will be described below, at a determined timing, thereby performing positioning for image transfer. As a result, the transport section 14 feeds the sheet member P to the outside of the housing 10a through a feeding port 11 formed on the other side in the width direction as viewed from an operation side of the image forming apparatus 10.Main Operation Section 16

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the main operation section 16 includes an image forming section 40 that forms a toner image (developer image) and a fixing device 36 that fixes the toner image on the sheet member P.Image Forming Section 40

[0029] The image forming section 40 includes image forming units 44K, 44C, 44M, and 44Y for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), exposure devices 46K, 46C, 46M, and 46Y, and a transfer unit 48. The image forming units 44K, 44C, 44M, and 44Y have the same configuration except for the color of the toner used. In a case where it is not necessary to distinguish between Y, M, C, and K, the descriptions of Y, M, C, and K may be omitted.

[0030] The image forming unit 44 has an image holder 42 provided corresponding to the toner of each color. The exposure device 46 irradiates an outer peripheral surface of the charged image holder 42 with exposure light L to form an electrostatic latent image. The transfer unit 48 transfers the image formed by the image forming unit 44 of each color onto the sheet member P.

[0031] In a circumferential direction (refer to an arrow C in the drawing) of a transfer belt 56 provided in the transfer unit 48, the image forming units 44 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are disposed in this order from the upstream side.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 44 includes the image holder 42, a charger 50, a cleaning unit 52, and a developing machine 54.

[0033] The image holder 42 rotates in a direction of an arrow R in the drawing. The charger 50 charges the outer peripheral surface of the image holder 42. The developing machine 54 develops the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device 46 (see FIG. 2) into a toner image.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer unit 48 is disposed below the image forming unit 44 and includes the transfer belt 56, a primary transfer roll 58, a secondary transfer roll 60, and a plurality of winding rolls 62.

[0035] The transfer belt 56 comes into contact with the image holder 42 of each color on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The primary transfer roll 58 is disposed on an opposite side of the image holder 42 with the transfer belt 56 interposed therebetween, and transfers the toner image formed on the image holder 42 to the transfer belt 56. The secondary transfer roll 60 transfers, onto the sheet member P, the toner image transferred onto the transfer belt 56.

[0036] Specifically, the transfer belt 56 is wound around the plurality of winding rolls 62 so as to assume a triangular shape with an apex pointing downward, and circulates in a direction of the arrow C. The secondary transfer roll 60 is disposed on the opposite side of the winding roll 62 disposed at a top portion of the triangular shape with the transfer belt 56 interposed therebetween. A contact portion between the transfer belt 56 and the secondary transfer roll 60 is defined as the secondary transfer position N.Fixing Device 36

[0037] The fixing device 36 is disposed downstream of the secondary transfer roll 60 in a transport direction of the sheet member P. The fixing device 36 fixes, to the sheet member P, the toner image transferred onto the sheet member P by heat and pressure.

[0038] In this configuration, the charger 50 shown in FIG. 3 charges the outer peripheral surface of the rotating image holder 42. Further, the exposure device 46 (see FIG. 2) irradiates the image holder 42 with exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the image holder 42. In addition, the developing machine 54 develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holder 42 into the toner image. Further, the primary transfer roll 58 transfers the toner image on the image holder 42 onto the transfer belt 56.

[0039] The toner image of each color transferred onto the transfer belt 56 is transported by the circulating transfer belt 56, and the secondary transfer roll 60 shown in FIG. 2 transfers the toner image on the transfer belt 56 onto the sheet member P being transported. Further, the fixing device 36 fixes, to the sheet member P, the toner image transferred onto the sheet member P being transported. Then, the image forming apparatus 10 feeds the sheet member P to which the toner image has been fixed to the outside of the housing 10a through the feeding port 11 formed in the housing 10a. Specifically, in a case where the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the operation side, the image forming apparatus 10 feeds the sheet member P to the outside from the right side which is the other side in the width direction.Bookbinding Machine 120

[0040] FIG. 4 schematically shows the binding machine 120 as viewed from an operation screen 128 side of the bookbinding machine 120. The bookbinding machine 120 is a known bookbinding machine, and is a machine that receives a plurality of sheet members P and binds the sheet members P into one book. In the present exemplary embodiment, each time the bookbinding machine 120 receives a predetermined number of sheets of the sheet member P, the bookbinding machine 120 performs a bookbinding process on a plurality of sheets of the sheet member P to produce a book.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, a housing 122 of the bookbinding machine 120 is formed with a receiving port 124a that receives the sheet member P and a feeding port 124b that feeds the produced book. Specifically, as viewed from an operation side of the bookbinding machine 120, the receiving port 124a is formed on one side in the width direction, and the feeding port 124b is formed on the other side in the width direction. In other words, as viewed from the operation side of the bookbinding machine 120, the receiving port 124a is formed on the left side and the feeding port 124b is formed on the right side.

[0042] In this configuration, the bookbinding machine 120 receives the sheet member P from one side in the width direction and feeds the produced book to the other side in the width direction as shown in FIG. 4, as viewed from the operation side of the bookbinding machine 120. In other words, the bookbinding machine 120 receives the sheet member P from the left side and feeds the produced book to the right side as viewed from the operation side of the bookbinding machine 120.Medium Transport Apparatus 70

[0043] As shown in FIG. 5, the medium transport apparatus 70 has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing 72. A receiving port 74a for receiving the sheet member P is formed in a side wall 72a of the housing 72 that faces one side in the width direction. In addition, a feeding port 74b for feeding the sheet member P is formed in a side wall 72b of the housing 72 that faces the other side in the width direction.

[0044] In the present exemplary embodiment, a height of the receiving port 74a from a floor surface is the same as a height of the feeding port 11 (see FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 10 from a floor surface. In addition, a height of the feeding port 74b from the floor surface is the same as a height of the receiving port 124a (see FIG. 4) of the bookbinding machine 120.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 6, the medium transport apparatus 70 includes a belt transport device 76, an abutment portion 80, a feeding table 86, a separating roll 90, a blowing portion 94 (see FIG. 7), a pressing portion 106, and a control unit 110.Belt Transport Device 76

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the belt transport device 76 is disposed below the receiving port 74a. As a result, the sheet members P received from the image forming apparatus 10 through the receiving port 74a are stacked on the belt transport device 76. The belt transport device 76 is an example of a feeding section.

[0047] The belt transport device 76 includes a plurality of rolls 76a arranged in the width direction and having their axial direction as the depth direction, and an endless transport belt 76b wound around the plurality of rolls 76a. Further, the belt transport device 76 includes a drive unit 76c that drives the roll 76a disposed on the outermost side on the other widthwise side.

[0048] In this configuration, the drive force of the drive unit 76c is transmitted to the roll 76a, and thus the belt transport device 76 is operated. Then, as the transport belt 76b circulates in a clockwise direction, the belt transport device 76 transports and feeds the lowest sheet member P stacked on the belt transport device 76 toward the feeding port 74b. Abutment Portion 80 and Feeding Table 86

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, the abutment portion 80 and the feeding table 86 are disposed downstream of the belt transport device 76 in a feeding direction of the sheet member P. The abutment portion 80 is disposed on an upper side of a transport path 78 of the sheet member P transported by the belt transport device 76, and the feeding table 86 is disposed on a lower side.

[0050] As viewed in the depth direction, the abutment portion 80 extends in the up-down direction, and has a lower end portion formed in an arc shape. The abutment portion 80 is provided across the width direction of the sheet member P that is stacked on the belt transport device 76. Then, leading ends of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 in the feeding direction abut against the abutment portion 80 (see FIG. 9).

[0051] The feeding table 86 receives a leading end portion of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 in the feeding direction (see FIG. 9). A gap is formed between the feeding table 86 and the abutment portion 80, which allows feeding of a lower sheet member P among the plurality of sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76.Separating Roll 90

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, the separating roll 90 is disposed downstream of the abutment portion 80 and the feeding table 86 in the feeding direction of the sheet member P. In a case where two sheet members P are fed from the belt transport device 76 in a overlapping manner, the separating roll 90 feeds only the lowermost sheet member P by sliding one sheet member P against the other sheet member P.Blowing Portion 94

[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, the blowing portion 94 is provided to blow air onto the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 from a lateral direction of the sheet members P. The blowing portion 94 includes a blowout duct 94a from which air is blown out and a fan 94b (see FIG. 8A) that flows air into the duct 94a. Here, the lateral direction of the sheet members P is a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the sheet member P in a plan view.

[0054] A plurality of the ducts 94a are provided and arranged on both sides in the lateral direction of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76. In other words, a plurality of the ducts 94a are provided and arranged on a front side and a rear side in the depth direction with respect to the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76. The duct 94a on the front side in the depth direction and the duct 94a on the rear side are arranged in the width direction.

[0055] In this configuration, in a case where the fan 94b is operated, air is blown out from the duct 94a. As a result, a plurality of the blowing portions 94 blow air onto the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 from both sides in the lateral direction of the sheet members P.Pressing Portion 106

[0056] As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing portion 106 is disposed on a base end side of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 in the feeding direction. The pressing portion 106 includes a pressing plate 102 that comes into contact with base ends of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 and a moving unit 104 that moves the pressing plate 102.

[0057] In this configuration, the pressing portion 106 moves between an initial position (see FIG. 10) and a pressing position (see FIG. 11). The pressing plate 102 of the pressing portion 106 disposed at the initial position is in contact with the base ends of the sheet members P. In a case where the moving unit 104 moves the pressing portion 106 to the pressing position, the pressing plate 102 of the pressing portion 106 bends the stacked sheet members P as shown in FIG. 11.Control Unit 110

[0058] The control unit 110 shown in FIG. 6 controls each unit of the medium transport apparatus 70 based on a signal or the like transmitted from the bookbinding machine 120. In the present exemplary embodiment, the processing speed of the image forming apparatus 10 is faster than the processing speed of the bookbinding machine 120. That is, the medium transport apparatus 70 absorbs a difference in processing speed, and the medium transport apparatus 70 has a buffer function.Hardware Configuration of Control Unit 110

[0059] As shown in FIG. 8A, the control unit 110 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a read only memory (ROM) 112, a random access memory (RAM) 113, a storage 114, and a communication interface 115. In addition, the components are communicably connected to each other via a bus 116.

[0060] The CPU 111 is a central arithmetic processing unit that executes various programs and controls each unit. That is, the CPU 111 reads out a program from the ROM 112 or the storage 114, and executes the program using the RAM 113 as a working area. The CPU 111 controls each component and performs various arithmetic processes in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114. The CPU 111 is an example of a processor.

[0061] In the present exemplary embodiment, for example, the ROM 112 or the storage 114 stores an operation program for operating each unit of the medium transport apparatus 70 based on a signal or the like transmitted from the bookbinding machine 120.

[0062] The RAM 113 serves as a working area for temporarily storing a program or data. The storage 114 is configured by a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0063] The communication interface 115 is an interface for the control unit 110 to communicate with the drive unit 76c, the separating roll 90, the fan 94b, the moving unit 104, and the like, and a standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, or Wi-Fi (registered trademark) is used.

[0064] In a case of executing the above-described operation program, the control unit 110 realizes various functions by using hardware resources described above. A functional configuration of the control unit 110 of the control unit 110 for realizing various functions will be described.Functional Configured of Control Unit 110

[0065] As shown in FIG. 8B, the control unit 110 includes a receiving unit 110a and an operation unit 110b. Each functional configuration is realized by the CPU 111 reading out and executing the operation program stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 114. The control of each unit by the control unit 110 will be described together with the action to be described below.Action

[0066] Next, the action of the medium transport apparatus 70 will be mainly described. The operation and non-operation of each unit of the medium transport apparatus 70 are executed by the control unit 110 controlling each unit. In addition, in an initial state of the medium transport apparatus 70, each unit is stopped, and the pressing portion 106 is disposed at the initial position.

[0067] In a case where the medium processing system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is operated, an image is formed on the sheet member P by the image forming apparatus 10. Then, the sheet members P on which the images are formed are sequentially fed from the feeding port 11 of the image forming apparatus 10. The medium transport apparatus 70 receives the sheet member P fed from the image forming apparatus 10 through the receiving port 74a.

[0068] As the medium transport apparatus 70 sequentially receives the sheet members P from the receiving port 74a, the sheet members P are stacked on the belt transport device 76 as shown in FIG. 9. The leading ends of the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76 abut against the abutment portion 80, and the base ends of the sheet members P come into contact with the pressing plate 102. In this state, the receiving unit 110a of the control unit 110 receives the signal transmitted from the bookbinding machine 120.

[0069] Then, the operation unit 110b controls the drive unit 76c so that the transport belt 76b of the belt transport device 76 is circulated as shown in FIG. 10. As a result, the lowermost sheet member P in contact with the transport belt 76b starts to move to the downstream side in the feeding direction. In addition, the operation unit 110b controls the separating roll 90 and operates the separating roll 90.

[0070] Further, after the belt transport device 76 starts operating, the operation unit 110b controls the moving unit 104 so that the pressing portion 106 is moved from the initial position to the pressing position as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The pressing portion 106 moved to the pressing position bends the stacked sheet members P. Here, the operation unit 110b makes the pressing speed at which the pressing portion 106 presses the sheet members P equal to or slower than the feeding speed of the sheet members P by the belt transport device 76.

[0071] In a case where the stacked sheet members P are bent, the operation unit 110b operates the fan 94b to blow air from each of the blowout ducts 94a shown in FIG. 7. In other words, the operation unit 110b operates the fan 94b after operating the pressing portion 106. In this way, the blowing portion 94 blasts air onto the stacked sheet members P from both sides in the lateral direction of the sheet members P. As a result, air is blown between the stacked sheet members P.

[0072] Then, the operating belt transport device 76 transports the lowermost sheet member P toward the separating roll 90, and the separating roll 90 receives the sheet member P and feeds the sheet member P to the bookbinding machine 120 through the feeding port 74b.

[0073] In a case where the sheet member P to be fed is separated from the belt transport device 76, the operation unit 110b controls the moving unit 104 so that the pressing portion 106 is moved from the pressing position (see FIG. 11) to the initial position as shown in FIG. 12. Then, the operation unit 110b stops each unit and waits for each unit until the receiving unit 110a receives the signal transmitted from the bookbinding machine 120. Then, in a case where the receiving unit 110a receives the signal transmitted from the bookbinding machine 120, the above-described process is performed again.SUMMARY

[0074] As described above, in the medium transport apparatus 70, the pressing portion 106 bends the sheet members P stacked on the belt transport device 76. Then, a space is generated between one sheet member P and the other sheet member P that are stacked. This prevents another sheet member P from overlapping the lowermost sheet member P to be fed to the bookbinding machine 120 as compared with a case where the lowermost sheet member P is fed to the bookbinding machine 120 while maintaining the stacked state of the sheet members P.

[0075] In addition, in the medium transport apparatus 70, the control unit 110 operates the pressing portion 106 to bend the stacked sheet members P after the belt transport device 76 starts operating. This prevents another sheet member P from overlapping the lowermost sheet member P to be fed to the bookbinding machine 120 as compared with a case where the pressing portion is operated and then the feeding section is operated. In other words, the lowest sheet member P is effectively fed.

[0076] In addition, in the medium transport apparatus 70, the control unit 110 makes the pressing speed at which the pressing portion 106 presses the sheet members P equal to or slower than the feeding speed of the sheet members P by the belt transport device 76. This prevents another sheet member P from overlapping the lowermost sheet member P to be fed to the bookbinding machine 120 as compared with a case where the pressing speed at which the pressing portion presses the sheet members P is faster than the feeding speed of the sheet members P by the belt transport device. In other words, the lowest sheet member P is effectively fed.

[0077] In addition, in the medium transport apparatus 70, the control unit 110 causes the blowing portion 94 to blow air onto the stacked sheet members P while the stacked sheet members P are bent by the pressing portion 106. This prevents another sheet member P from overlapping the lowermost sheet member P to be fed to the bookbinding machine 120 as compared with a case where there is no flow of air around the stacked sheet members P.

[0078] In addition, in the medium transport apparatus 70, a plurality of blowing portions 94 are provided and blow air from both sides in the lateral direction of the sheet members P. This prevents another sheet member P from overlapping the lowermost sheet member P to be fed to the bookbinding machine 120 as compared with a case where air is blown from only one side in the lateral direction of the recording media.

[0079] In addition, in the medium processing system 100, the medium transport apparatus 70 is provided, so that miscollation of the sheet members P processed by the bookbinding machine 120 is suppressed as compared with a case where a medium transport apparatus that feeds the lowermost sheet member P to the bookbinding machine while maintaining the stacked state of the sheet members P is provided.

[0080] Although the specific exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail, the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to such an exemplary embodiment, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various other exemplary embodiments can be taken within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the sheet member P is transported by the belt transport device 76, but a plurality of rolls may be arranged and the sheet member P may be transported by the plurality of rolls.

[0081] In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the control unit 110 is provided in the medium transport apparatus 70, but a control unit provided in the medium processing system 100 may also serve as the control unit of the medium transport apparatus 70.

[0082] In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the post-processing apparatus is the bookbinding machine 120, but may be another apparatus such as a stapling device.

[0083] In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the blowing portion 94 includes the duct 94a and the fan 94b, but a single fan may be operated to blow air from a plurality of ducts.

[0084] In addition, in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a plurality of blowing portions 94 are provided, but one blowing portion 94 may be provided. In this case, the effect obtained by providing a plurality of blowing portions 94 is not achieved.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiments, the processes are performed by any computer. The computer may perform the processes by using a processor serving as hardware, a program serving as software, or combination of these. In this case, the processor is configured to perform the processes in the exemplary embodiments in cooperation with the program and may function as a unit or a means in the exemplary embodiments. The order in which the processor performs the processes is not limited to the described order and may be changed appropriately. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, an application specific computer, a workstation, or another system capable of performing the processes.

[0086] The processor may be composed of one or more pieces of hardware, and the type of the hardware is not limited. For example, the processor may be composed of hardware such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a programmable logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated circuit for performing specific processing such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a neural processing unit (NPU). Regarding the type of the hardware, different types of hardware may be combined. If multiple pieces of hardware are configured to perform one or more processes of the processor, the multiple pieces of hardware may be present in apparatuses physically away from each other or may be present in one apparatus. In each of exemplary embodiments, the order in which the processor performs the processes is not limited to the order described above and may be changed appropriately. The hardware is composed of electric circuitry in which circuit elements such as semiconductor devices are combined, or the like.

[0087] Further, the program may be software such as firmware or microcode. The program may be, for example, a program module group, and the functions thereof may be implemented by processors configured to implement the respective functions. The program may be program code or multiple code segments stored in one or more non-transitory computer readable media (for example, a storage medium or another storage). The program may be stored in such a divided manner in multiple non-transitory computer readable media present in apparatuses physically away from each other. The program code or the code segments may represent a procedure, a function, a sub program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. The program code or the code segment may be connected to another code segment or a hardware circuit by transmitting and / or receiving information, data, an argument, a parameter, or memory content.(((1)))

[0088] A medium transport apparatus comprising:

[0089] a feeding section that comes into contact with a lowermost recording medium in a stacked state and that feeds the recording medium to a post-processing apparatus;

[0090] an abutment portion against which leading ends of recording media stacked on the feeding section in a feeding direction abut and that allows a lower recording medium among a plurality of the stacked recording media to be fed to the post-processing apparatus; and

[0091] a pressing portion that presses base ends of the recording media stacked on the feeding section toward the abutment portion and that bends the stacked recording media.(((2)))

[0092] The medium transport apparatus according to (((1))), further comprising:

[0093] a processor configured to:

[0094] operate the pressing portion to bend the stacked recording media after the feeding section starts operating.(((3)))

[0095] The medium transport apparatus according to (((2))), wherein the processor is configured to:

[0096] set a pressing speed at which the pressing portion presses the recording media to be equal to or slower than a feeding speed of the recording medium by the feeding section.(((4)))

[0097] The medium transport apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))), further comprising:

[0098] a processor; and

[0099] a blowing portion that blows air onto the stacked recording media from a lateral direction of the recording media,

[0100] wherein the processor is configured to:

[0101] cause the blowing portion to blow air onto the stacked recording media while the stacked recording media are bent by the pressing portion.(((5)))

[0102] The medium transport apparatus according to (((4))),

[0103] wherein a plurality of blowing portions are provided and arranged to blow air from both sides in the lateral direction of the recording media.(((6)))

[0104] A medium processing system comprising:

[0105] a pre-processing apparatus;

[0106] a post-processing apparatus; and

[0107] the medium transport apparatus according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))) that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

[0108] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A medium transport apparatus comprising:a feeding section that comes into contact with a lowermost recording medium in a stacked state and that feeds the recording medium to a post-processing apparatus;an abutment portion against which leading ends of recording media stacked on the feeding section in a feeding direction abut and that allows a lower recording medium among a plurality of the stacked recording media to be fed to the post-processing apparatus; anda pressing portion that presses base ends of the recording media stacked on the feeding section toward the abutment portion and that bends the stacked recording media.

2. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:a processor configured to:operate the pressing portion to bend the stacked recording media after the feeding section starts operating.

3. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to:set a pressing speed at which the pressing portion presses the recording media to be equal to or slower than a feeding speed of the recording medium by the feeding section.

4. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:a processor; anda blowing portion that blows air onto the stacked recording media from a lateral direction of the recording media,wherein the processor is configured to:cause the blowing portion to blow air onto the stacked recording media while the stacked recording media are bent by the pressing portion.

5. The medium transport apparatus according to claim 4,wherein a plurality of blowing portions are provided and arranged to blow air from both sides in the lateral direction of the recording media.

6. A medium processing system comprising:a pre-processing apparatus;a post-processing apparatus; andthe medium transport apparatus according to claim 1 that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

7. A medium processing system comprising:a pre-processing apparatus;a post-processing apparatus; andthe medium transport apparatus according to claim 2 that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

8. A medium processing system comprising:a pre-processing apparatus;a post-processing apparatus; andthe medium transport apparatus according to claim 3 that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

9. A medium processing system comprising:a pre-processing apparatus;a post-processing apparatus; andthe medium transport apparatus according to claim 4 that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

10. A medium processing system comprising:a pre-processing apparatus;a post-processing apparatus; andthe medium transport apparatus according to claim 5 that receives a recording medium from the pre-processing apparatus and that feeds the recording medium to the post-processing apparatus.

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