# US 12,005,675 B2 · Medium processing apparatus and image forming system incorporating same

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- Number: US 12,005,675 B2
- Document ID: US12005675B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/162,112
- Filed: 2023-01-31
- Published: 2023-08-03
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2022-02-03
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Takamasa Matsumoto; Kei Sasaki; Kazuki Seto; Yasushi Tsuruoka
- Inventors: Takamasa Matsumoto; Kei Sasaki; Kazuki Seto; Yasushi Tsuruoka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005675B2

## CPC

- B31F 5/02: by crimping or slotting {or perforating}
- 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
- B65H 2301/43828: involving simultaneous deformation of at least a part of the articles to be bound
- B65H 2301/5142: Moistening
- B65H 2301/51616: involving simultaneous deformation of parts of the material to be bound
- B65H 2553/00: Sensing or detecting means
- B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines
- 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)
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

A medium processing apparatus includes a crimper, a liquid applier, a driving source, and a binding load detector. The crimper presses and deforms a part of a medium bundle, which is a plurality of sheet-shaped media bundled, to bind the medium bundle. The liquid applier applies liquid to a position on the media at which binding is to be performed by the crimper. The driving source operates the crimper. The binding load detector detects a load of the crimper during the binding. The liquid applier adjusts an amount of the liquid to be applied to the media in accordance with a magnitude of the load during the binding detected by the binding load detector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medium processing apparatus, comprising:
a crimper configured to press and deform a part of a medium bundle, which is a plurality of sheet-shaped media bundled, to bind the medium bundle;
a liquid applier configured to apply liquid to a position on the media at which binding is to be performed by the crimper;
a driving source configured to operate the crimper; and
a binding load detector configured to detect a load of the crimper during the binding,
the liquid applier configured to adjust an amount of the liquid to be applied to the media in accordance with a magnitude of the load during the binding detected by the binding load detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the binding load detector is configured to compare the magnitude of the load with a plurality of threshold values to detect the magnitude of the load during the binding, and
wherein the liquid applier is configured to adjust the amount of the liquid to be applied, based on a magnitude of a compared threshold value of the plurality of threshold values.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the crimper is configured to perform rebinding of pressing and deforming a same binding position of the medium bundle to bind the medium bundle again, based on a result of comparison between the magnitude of the load during the binding and the plurality of threshold values in the binding load detector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the liquid applier is configured to apply the liquid based on the adjusted amount in liquid application subsequent to a determination of the magnitude of the load during the binding.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the magnitude of the load during the binding represents a change in speed of the driving source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the magnitude of the load during the binding represents a change in torque of the driving source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the magnitude of the load during the binding represents a change in value of current applied to the driving source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An image forming system, comprising:
an image forming apparatus including an image former configured to form images on a plurality of media; and
the medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, configured to press and deform the plurality of media, on which the images are formed by the image forming apparatus, to bind the plurality of media.