# US 10,308,060 B2 · Sheet post-processing apparatus and image forming system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,060 B2 - Document ID: US10308060B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/704,653 - Filed: 2017-09-14 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14 - Assignees: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc. - Applicants: Hideki Aoyagi; Hongchang Sun - Inventors: Hideki Aoyagi; Hongchang Sun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308060B2 ## CPC - B42C 1/12: Machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together the sheets or signatures - B31F 5/02: by crimping or slotting {or perforating} - B42B 5/00: Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching (by deformation thereof B31F; by adhesive peculiar to bookbinding B42C9/00) - B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile - B65H 1/08: with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device {(B65H1/02 takes precedence)} - B65H 3/0661: {for separating inclined-stacked articles with separator rollers above the stack} - B65H 29/22: and introducing into a pile - B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates - B65H 31/36: Auxiliary devices for contacting each article with a front stop as it is piled - B65H 31/38: Apparatus for vibrating or knocking the pile during piling - B65H 37/04: for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) - B65H 43/00: Use of control, checking, or safety devices, e.g. automatic devices comprising an element for sensing a variable - G03G 15/6544: {Details about the binding means or procedure} - B31F 2201/0774: Multiple successive embossing operations - B31F 2201/0779: Control - B65H 2301/4212: of articles substantially horizontal - B65H 2301/4213: of a limited number of articles, e.g. buffering, forming bundles - B65H 2301/43828: involving simultaneous deformation of at least a part of the articles to be bound - B65H 2405/11151: with surface inclined upwardly in transport direction - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines - G03G 2215/00852: Temporary binding - B42C: BOOKBINDING (cutting or perforating machines, devices or tools B26; folding sheets or webs B31F; ornamenting books B44) - B31F: MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B) - B42B: PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO (nailing or stapling in general B25C, B27F; machines for both collating or gathering and permanently attaching together sheets or signatures B42C1/12; temporarily attaching sheets together B42F) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a binding unit that crimps a predetermined position on a sheet for binding, and a setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet. The binding unit applies binding to the sheet at different positions as many as the number of binding points set by the setting unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a binding part that crimps a predetermined position on a sheet for binding; and a setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet, wherein if the number of binding points set by the setting unit is more than one, the binding part applies binding to a plurality of binding points along a predetermined direction, and the setting unit obtains information about fastening force of the sheet, and sets the number of binding points based on the information about the fastening force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binding part applies binding to different positions depending on the number of binding points of the sheet, set by the setting unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the number of binding points of the sheet, set by the setting unit is more than one, the binding part applies binding at different intervals depending on the number of binding points. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet post-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the number of binding points of the sheet, set by the setting unit is more than one, the binding part applies binding at a constant interval. ### Claim 5 A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a binding part that binds a sheet by crimping; a first setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet; a second setting unit that sets a binding position or positions on the sheet based on the number of binding points set by the first setting unit; and a control unit that controls the binding part to apply binding to the binding position(s) set by the second setting unit, wherein if the number of binding points set by the first setting unit is more than one, the second setting unit sets a plurality of binding positions along a predetermined direction, and the control unit controls the binding part to apply binding to the plurality of binding positions along the predetermined direction, and the second setting unit, in oblique binding processing in which binding is applied to a corner of two sides of the sheet in a direction crossing the two sides, sets the plurality of binding points in a direction toward a center of the sheet, and in parallel binding processing in which binding is applied along one side of the sheet, sets the plurality of binding positions in a direction along the one side of the sheet. ### Claim 6 A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a binding part that binds a sheet by crimping; a first setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet; a second setting unit that sets a binding position or positions on the sheet based on the number of binding points set by the first setting unit; and a control unit that controls the binding part to apply binding to the binding position(s) set by the second setting unit, wherein if the number of binding points set by the first setting unit is more than one, the second setting unit sets a plurality of binding positions along a predetermined direction, and the control unit controls the binding part to apply binding to the plurality of binding positions along the predetermined direction; the sheet post-processing apparatus has a corner binding mode in which binding processing is applied to a corner of two sides of the sheet, and a two-point binding mode in which the binding processing is applied to two points along one side of the sheet; and the second setting unit, in the corner binding mode, sets the plurality of binding positions in a direction toward a center of the sheet, and in the two-point binding mode, sets the plurality of binding positions in a direction along one side of the sheet. ### Claim 7 A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a binding part that binds a sheet by crimping; a first setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet; a second setting unit that sets a binding position or positions on the sheet based on the number of binding points set by the first setting unit; and a control unit that controls the binding part to apply binding to the binding position(s) set by the second setting unit, wherein if the number of binding points set by the first setting unit is more than one, the second setting unit sets a plurality of binding positions along a predetermined direction, and the control unit controls the binding part to apply binding to the plurality of binding positions along the predetermined direction, and if at least one binding position set by the second setting unit lies outside a predetermined binding region, the control unit stops a binding operation of the binding part. ### Claim 8 A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising: a binding part that binds a sheet by crimping; a first setting unit that sets the number of binding points at which to bind the sheet; a second setting unit that sets a binding position or positions on the sheet based on the number of binding points set by the first setting unit; and a control unit that controls the binding part to apply binding to the binding position(s) set by the second setting unit, wherein if the number of binding points set by the first setting unit is more than one, the second setting unit sets a plurality of binding positions along a predetermined direction, and the control unit controls the binding part to apply binding to the plurality of binding positions along the predetermined direction, and if binding traces in at least two binding positions set by the second setting unit overlap, the control unit stops a binding operation of the binding part. ### Claim 9 An image forming system comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a processing tray that performs post-processing on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit; a binding part that binds the sheet on the processing tray by crimping; an operation unit that inputs processing information for performing the post-processing on the sheet; a first setting unit that sets the number of binding points of the sheet based on the processing information input by the operation unit; a second setting unit that sets a binding position or positions of the sheet based on the number of binding points set by the first setting unit; and a control unit that controls the binding part to apply binding to the binding position(s) set by the second setting unit, wherein if the number of binding points set by the first setting unit is more than one, the second setting unit sets a plurality of binding positions along a predetermined direction, and the control unit controls the binding part to apply binding to the plurality of binding positions along the predetermined direction, and the processing information input by the operation unit includes at least information about fastening force of the sheet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming system according to claim 9, further comprising: a positioning unit that positions the sheet to a predetermined position on the tray; and a moving unit that moves the binding part along one side of the positioned sheet, wherein the control unit controls the moving unit and the binding part to apply binding to a plurality of binding positions.