# US 2008/0185762 A1 · Sheet processing device and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0185762 A1 - Document ID: US20080185762A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/007,515 - Filed: 2008-01-11 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-12 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Mitsuru Yamamura; Toshiaki Tobishima; Satoshi Otomo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080185762A1 ## CPC - G03G 15/6582: {Special processing for irreversibly adding or changing the sheet copy material characteristics or its appearance, e.g. stamping, annotation printing, punching} - B65H 45/20: Zig-zag folders {(B65H45/228 takes precedence)} - B65H 2301/17: Selective folding mode - B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines - G03G 2215/00877: Folding device - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract A sheet processing device includes a folding unit, a punch unit, and a cross folding unit. The folding unit folds a sheet conveyed to the sheet processing device a plurality of times. The punch unit punches a hole in a predetermined portion of the folded sheet. The cross folding unit cross-folds the punched sheet on a vertically-extending conveying path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet processing device that folds a sheet a plurality of times and outputs a folded sheet, the sheet processing device comprising: a cross folding unit that cross-folds the folded sheet that is folded a plurality of times at preceding stages, wherein the cross folding unit cross-folds the folded sheet on a second sheet conveying path that is perpendicular to a first conveying path for processes of precedent stages. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a reversing unit that reverses the folded sheet in a downstream side of the cross folding unit in a sheet conveying direction on the second sheet conveying path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet processing device according to claim 2, wherein the reversing unit reverses the folded sheet by conveying the folded sheet in an inward direction of a main body of the sheet processing device and conveying the sheet back in an outward direction of the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sheet processing device according to claim 3, wherein an outlet is provided on a sheet conveying path for conveying the folded sheet in the inward direction of the main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sheet processing device according to claim 4, further comprising a sheet guide for guiding the folded sheet, which is arranged outside the outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sheet processing device according to claim 5, wherein a size of the sheet guide is adjustable to a size of the sheet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The sheet processing device according to claim 2, wherein the reversing unit includes an upper conveyance guide plate, and when a sheet jam occurs, the upper conveyance guide plate is opened in the inward direction to fix the sheet jam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The sheet processing device according to claim 2, further comprising a reverse switching unit for switching a reverse operation, which is provided at an inlet of the reversing unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sheet processing device according to claim 8, wherein the reverse switching unit includes at least one guide member that rotates in different directions depending on a switch signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sheet processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a punching unit that punches a hole in a predetermined portion of the folded sheet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The sheet processing device according to claim 2, further comprising a sheet rotating unit that rotates the folded sheet, which is provided in a downstream side of the reversing unit in the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sheet processing device according to claim 11, wherein centers of x-axis and y-axis of the folded sheet are pressed by a shaft of the sheet rotating unit, the sheet rotating unit includes a first conveying roller and a second conveying roller, and either one of the first conveying roller and the second conveying roller is driven to rotate to convey the sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sheet processing device according to claim 11, wherein centers of x-axis and y-axis of the folded sheet are pressed by a tip of a shaft of the sheet rotating unit, the shaft being capable of moving away from the second conveying path, the sheet rotating unit includes a first conveying roller and a second conveying roller, and one of the first conveying roller and the second conveying roller is driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and other of the first conveying roller and the second conveying roller is driven to rotate in a clockwise direction to convey the sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sheet processing device according to claim 11, wherein the sheet rotating unit includes an openable conveyance guide plate, and when a sheet jam occurs, the conveyance guide plate is opened in an inward direction of a main body of the sheet processing device to fix the sheet jam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sheet processing device according to claim 11, wherein the sheet rotating unit includes a sheet discharging unit for discharging the folded sheet, which is arranged in a downstream side of the sheet rotating unit in the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sheet processing device according to claim 15, wherein the sheet discharging unit is formed with a sheet discharging tray. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The sheet processing device according to claim 15, wherein the sheet discharging unit is formed with a sheet discharging tray, and the sheet discharging unit is moved in a vertical direction according to number of discharged sheets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The sheet processing device according to claim 16, wherein the sheet discharging unit is provided in the downstream side of the reversing unit in the sheet conveying direction. ### Claim 19 An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet processing device that folds a sheet a plurality of times and outputs a folded sheet, wherein the sheet processing device includes a cross folding unit that cross-folds the folded sheet that is folded a plurality of times at preceding stages, and the cross folding unit cross-folds the folded sheet on a second sheet conveying path that is perpendicular to a first conveying path for processes of precedent stages. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a main-body display unit that for displaying, when a sheet jam occurs, a location of the sheet jam.