Sheet folder with turnover and pressing device

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a center-stapling means for stapling the center of a sheet bundle made up of sheets conveyed from a sheet output apparatus;
• a center-folding means for folding the stapled sheet bundle into two;
• a discharging means for discharging the sheet bundle folded into two;
• a stacking tray for stacking the sheet bundle discharged from the discharging means;
• an aligning means for aligning the sheet bundles on an upstream side in a discharging direction of the stacking tray;
• a pressing means for pressing the sheet bundles stacked on the stacking tray on the aligned side;
• and
• a driving means for protruding/retracting the pressing means from a pressing position.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising;

• a center-stapling means for stapling the center of a sheet bundle conveyed from a sheet output apparatus;
• a center-folding means for folding the stapled sheet bundle into two;
• a discharging means for discharging the sheet bundle folded into two in such a manner that the side folded into two is discharged first;
• a stacking tray for stacking a sheet or sheet bundle discharged from the discharging means;
• a lifting means for lifting up/down the stacking tray;
• a stacking tray driving control means for controlling drive of the lifting means, and moving the stacking tray from a standard discharging position for discharging a sheet bundle without folding into two to a predetermined lower position shorter than a sheet bundle conveying distance when a mode for discharging a sheet bundle folded into two is selected;
• and
• a guide means for deflecting downward a front end of a sheet bundle folded into two after being discharged from the discharging means, wherein the guide means leads the front end of sheet bundle folded into two to the stacking tray or a top face of stacked sheet bundles to make them in contact with each other, the discharging means maintains the discharging action to turn over the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is placed on the stacking tray.

A sheet processing method for folding a sheet bundle stapled at the center of sheets into two at the same center, and stacking the sheet bundle on a predetermined stacking tray comprising steps of:

• folding the sheet bundle into two at the center;
• restricting dropping direction of the sheet bundle to a predetermined direction;
• setting a tilting angle of the stacking tray so that a front end on the folded side of the dropped sheet bundle is placed on the lower side of tilted stacking tray;
• turning over the sheet bundle;
• and
• stacking the sheet bundle on the stacking tray.

A sheet processing method for folding a sheet bundle stapled at the center of sheets into two at the same center, and stacking the sheet bundle on a predetermined stacking tray comprising steps of:

• folding a sheet bundle into two at the center;
• turning over the sheet bundle;
• aligning the sheet bundle on a stapled side;
• protruding a pressing plate over aligned sheet bundles;
• lifting up the stacking tray while pressing a top face of the sheet bundles with the pressing plate;
• applying a predetermined pressing force between the pressing plate and the stacking tray to restrain a bulge of the sheet bundles;
• and
• stacking aligned sheet bundles on the stacking tray.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a center-stapling device configured to staple the center of a sheet bundle made up of sheets conveyed from a sheet output apparatus;
• a center-folding device configured to fold the stapled sheet bundle into two;
• a discharging device configured to discharge the sheet bundle folded into two in such a manner that the side folded into two is discharged first;
• a turning-over device configured to turn over a sheet bundle discharged from the discharging device so that the side folded at the center is oriented to the upstream side in a sheet conveying direction;
• and
• a stacking tray configured to stack the sheet bundle discharged from the discharging device and turned over by the turning over device.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a center-stapling device configured to staple the center of a sheet bundle made up of sheets conveyed from a sheet output apparatus;
• a center-folding device configured to fold the stapled sheet bundle into two;
• a discharging device configured to discharge the sheet bundle folded into two;
• a stacking tray configured to stack the sheet bundle discharged from the discharging device;
• an aligning device configured to aligning the sheet bundles on an upstream side in a discharging direction of the stacking tray;
• a pressing device configured to press the sheet bundles stacked on the stacking tray on the aligned side;
• and
• a driving device configured to protrude/retract the pressing device from a pressing position.

A sheet processing apparatus comprising:

• a center-stapling device configured to staple the center of a sheet bundle made up of sheets conveyed from a sheet output apparatus;
• a center-folding device configured to fold the stapled sheet bundle into two;
• a discharging device configured to discharge the sheet bundle folded into two in such a manner that the side folded into two is discharged first;
• a stacking tray configured to stack the sheet bundle discharged from the discharging device;
• a lifting device configured to lift up/down the stacking tray;
• a stacking tray driving control device configured to control driving of the lifting device, and moving the stacking tray from a standard discharging position for discharging a sheet bundle without folding into two to a predetermined lower position shorter than a sheet bundle conveying distance when a mode for discharging a sheet bundle folded into two is selected;
• and
• a guide device configured to deflect downward a front end of a sheet bundle folded into two after being discharged from the discharging device, wherein the guide device is configured to lead the front end of sheet bundle folded into two to the stacking tray or a top face of stacked sheet bundles to make them in contact with each other, the discharging device maintains the discharging action to turn over the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is placed on the sheet upper side stacking tray.