Back to results
US 6,889,974 B2Granted
Sheet-like medium alignment apparatus including device and means locatable at different positions
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsMasahiro Tamura, Shuuya Nagasako, Akihito Andoh, Kazuya Tsutsui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To ensure that the leading edge of the sheet ejected onto a tray 12 does not push and move loaded sheets in advance, loaded sheets are retained at position (II) by a retaining roller. A roller (returning roller in this case) 121 for applying external force to a sheet S ejected onto the tray 12 and moving the sheet toward a end face 131 for alignment is displaced to a different position in the direction of ejection “a”, thereby firmly gripping the trailing edge of the sheet S ejected on the tray 12.
Claims30
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the means for moving comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
1 more element
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means;
- and
- a displacement means configured to reciprocate in said direction of ejection,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection,
- wherein said displacement means comprises a first member configured to pivot on a fixed member and configured to pivot about a first pivot portion within a predetermined angle, and a second member configured to pivot on the first member and configured to pivot about a second pivot portion within a predetermined angle, wherein the mean for moving is configured to pivot on the second pivot portion of the second member, and the means for moving is configured to shift between the different positions by rocking of the first member and rocking of the second member,
- wherein the first member is configured to be rocked about the first pivot portion by a first rocking device,
- wherein the first rocking device comprises an eccentric cam configured to rotate in contact with an end of the first member and a first contacting device configured to contact the eccentric cam with the end of the first member, and
- wherein the first contacting device comprises an elastic device disposed between the first member and the fixed member.
6 more elements
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means;
- and
- a displacement means configured to reciprocate in said direction of ejection,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection,
- wherein said displacement means comprises a first member configured to pivot on a fixed member and configured to pivot about a first pivot portion within a predetermined angle, and a second member configured to pivot on the first member and configured to pivot about a second pivot portion within a predetermined angle, wherein the mean for moving is configured to pivot on the second pivot portion of the second member, and the means for moving is configured to shift between the different positions by rocking of the first member and rocking of the second member,
- wherein the second member is configured to be rocked by a second rocking device disposed to act on an end opposite to where said means for moving is installed with the second pivot portion located therebetween, and
- wherein the second rocking device comprises a cam configured to slide on the second member, a flat plate cam, and a second contacting device configured to allow the end to contact said flat plate cam.
5 more elements
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means;
- and
- a displacement means configured to reciprocate in said direction of ejection,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection,
- wherein said displacement means comprises a first member configured to pivot on a fixed member and configured to pivot about a first pivot portion within a predetermined angle, and a second member configured to pivot on the first member and configured to pivot about a second pivot portion within a predetermined angle, wherein the mean for moving is configured to pivot on the second pivot portion of the second member, and the means for moving is configured to shift between the different positions by rocking of the first member and rocking of the second member,
- wherein the displacement device comprises a power transmission system configured to drive the means for moving, said power transmission system comprises pulleys and a belt, the pulleys configured to rotate about a pivoting center of said first pivot portion and second pivot portion and the belt surrounding the pulleys.
4 more elements
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection,
- wherein the means for moving is configured to be moved between a first stop position in which the means for moving does not interfere with the sheet-like medium loaded on the loading means and a second stop position in which the means for moving is permitted to interfere with the sheet-like medium loaded on the loading means, and the sheet-like medium alignment apparatus further comprises a controlling device configured to ensure that, subsequent to movement of the means for moving to the second stop position, movement of the means for moving is stopped for a predetermined time interval, and then to move the means for moving to the first stop position,
- wherein the means for moving comprises a returning roller, and a drive speed when the returning roller is located at the first stop position is slower than a drive speed when the returning roller is located at the second stop position, and
- wherein a return rotating speed of the returning roller at the second stop position is set to a value at which the sheet-like medium is not pushed out in the direction of ejection when a trailing edge of the sheet-like medium contacts the returning roller.
4 more elements
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection,
- wherein the means for moving is configured to be moved between a first stop position in which the means for moving does not interfere with the sheet-like medium loaded on the loading means and a second stop position in which the means for moving is permitted to interfere with the sheet-like medium loaded on the loading means, and the sheet-like medium alignment apparatus further comprises a controlling device configured to ensure that, subsequent to movement of the means for moving to the second stop position, movement of the means for moving is stopped for a predetermined time interval, and then to move the means for moving to the first stop position, and
- wherein a rotating speed of the returning roller at the first stop position is constant.
3 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- means for forming an image on a sheet-like medium;
- means for transporting said sheet-like medium with the formed image;
- and
- a sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- means for aligning and loading the sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the means for moving comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
5 more elements
A sheet-like medium treatment apparatus comprising:
- performing a post-treatment of a sheet-like medium;
- means for transporting said post-treated sheet-like medium;
- and
- a sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising
- means for aligning and loading the sheet-like medium ejected on a loading means from an ejecting means by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- means for moving the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and for aligning the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading means,
- wherein said means for moving is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the means for moving comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
5 more elements
A sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- a device configured to align and load a sheet-like medium ejected on a loading device from an ejecting device by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- a returning device configured to move the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and to align the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading device,
- wherein said returning device is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the returning device comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet-like medium;
- a transporting device configured to transport said sheet-like medium with the formed image;
- and
- a sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising:
- a device configured to align and load the sheet-like medium ejected on a loading device from an ejecting device by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- a returning device configured to move the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and to align the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading device,
- wherein said returning device locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the returning device comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
5 more elements
A sheet-like medium treatment apparatus comprising:
- a post-treatment device configured to perform a post-treatment of a sheet-like medium;
- a transporting device configured to transport said post-treated sheet-like medium;
- and
- a sheet-like medium alignment apparatus comprising
- a device configured to align and load the sheet-like medium ejected on a loading device from an ejecting device by pressing an end of said sheet-like medium on an upstream side in a direction of ejection of said sheet-like medium against an end fence provided at an alignment position;
- and
- a returning device configured to move the sheet-like medium toward the end fence and to align the sheet-like medium by applying a force to the sheet-like medium on the loading device,
- wherein said returning device is locatable at different positions in the direction of ejection, and the returning device comprises a rotatable and drivable roller.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.