# US 8,540,229 B2 · Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus for stably aligning sheets having a long length > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,229 B2 - Document ID: US8540229B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/629,358 - Filed: 2012-09-27 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-29 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540229B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6541: {Binding sets of sheets, e.g. by stapling, glueing} - B65H 29/70: Article bending or stiffening arrangements - B65H 31/02: with stationary end support against which pile accumulates - B65H 31/3018: {from opposite part-support elements, e.g. operated simultaneously} - B65H 31/3027: {by the nip between moving belts or rollers (pile being formed between belts or rollers B65H29/145)} - 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 2301/4212: of articles substantially horizontal - B65H 2301/4213: of a limited number of articles, e.g. buffering, forming bundles - B65H 2405/1111: with several surface portions forming an angle relatively to each other - B65H 2405/11161: by at least a protruding portion arrangement - B65H 2405/11172: around an axis perpendicular to both transport direction and surface of sheets - B65H 2405/1142: Projections or the like in surface contact with handled material - B65H 2511/13: Thickness - B65H 2511/212: Rotary position - B65H 2511/222: Stroke - B65H 2515/10: Mass, e.g. mass flow rate; Weight; Inertia - B65H 2515/81: Rigidity; Stiffness; Elasticity - B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract The alignment unit includes: an upstream-side pressing portion that presses a side edge of the sheet; and a downstream-side pressing portion that presses the side edge of the sheet. The downstream-side pressing portion includes: a first pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet and upstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the large-size sheet. The second pressing portion is formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet processing apparatus, comprising: a conveyance portion configured to convey a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction; a sheet stacking portion configured to stack a sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion; a sheet supporting portion arranged downstream of the sheet stacking portion in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to support side edges of the sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction; and an alignment unit arranged on one side of the sheet supporting portion in the width direction and configured to align the position of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the width direction by moving toward a center side in the width direction, wherein the alignment unit comprises: an upstream-side pressing portion configured to press a side edge of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the width direction; and a downstream-side pressing portion arranged downstream of the upstream-side pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the side edge of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion, and wherein the downstream-side pressing portion comprises: a first pressing portion arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the sheet conveyance direction and upstream of a downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the sheet conveyance direction and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and configured to press the large-size sheet, the second pressing portion being formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pressing portions of the downstream-side pressing portion protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the upstream-side pressing portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the alignment unit movably holds the first and second pressing portions and comprises: a holding portion configured to move in the width direction; a spring arranged between the holding portion and the first pressing portion; and a spring arranged between the holding portion and the second pressing portion, and wherein, when brought into contact with a sheet, the first and second pressing portions are pressed by the sheet and moved toward the holding portion against elastic force of the springs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet supporting portion includes a cut portion at a corner downstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the center side in the width direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cut portion of the sheet supporting portion has a linearly-cut chamfered shape or a curved shape having a more depressed surface than the linearly-cut chamfered shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet supporting portion is inclined downwards from the side ends thereof to the center side thereof in the width direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an actuator capable of changing a protrusion amount of the second pressing portion in the width direction; an input unit configured to input sheet information; and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on sheet information from the input unit, so that the second pressing portion is moved to come into contact with a sheet-conveyance-direction downstream side edge of a sheet whose width-direction center portion sags downwards. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an actuator configured to rotate a portion on which the cut portion is formed; an input unit configured to input sheet information; and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on sheet information from the input unit. ### Claim 9 An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet; a conveyance portion configured to convey a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming portion, in a sheet conveyance direction; a sheet stacking portion configured to stack a sheet conveyed by the conveyance portion; a sheet supporting portion arranged downstream of the sheet stacking portion in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to support side edges of the sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction; and an alignment unit arranged on one side of the sheet supporting portion in the width direction and configured to align the position of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the width direction by moving toward a center side in the width direction, wherein the alignment unit comprises: an upstream-side pressing portion configured to press a side edge of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the width direction; and a downstream-side pressing portion arranged downstream of the upstream-side pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the side edge of the sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion, and wherein the downstream-side pressing portion comprises: a first pressing portion arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the sheet conveyance direction and upstream of a downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet in the sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet supported by the sheet supporting portion in the sheet conveyance direction and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and configured to press the large-size sheet, the second pressing portion being formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second pressing portions of the downstream-side pressing portion protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the upstream-side pressing portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the alignment unit movably holds the first and second pressing portions and comprises: a holding portion configured to move in the width direction; a spring arranged between the holding portion and the first pressing portion; and a spring arranged between the holding portion and the second pressing portion, and wherein, when brought into contact with a sheet, the first and second pressing portions are pressed by the sheet and moved toward the holding portion against elastic force of the springs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sheet supporting portion includes a cut portion at a corner downstream in the sheet conveyance direction on the center side in the width direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cut portion of the sheet supporting portion has a linearly-cut chamfered shape or a curved shape having a more depressed surface than the linearly-cut chamfered shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sheet supporting portion is inclined downwards from the side ends thereof to the center side thereof in the width direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: an actuator capable of changing a protrusion amount of the second pressing portion in the width direction; an input unit configured to input sheet information; and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on sheet information from the input unit, so that the second pressing portion is moved to come into contact with a sheet-conveyance-direction downstream side edge of a sheet whose width-direction center portion sags downwards. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: an actuator configured to rotate a portion on which the cut portion is formed; an input unit configured to input sheet information; and a control unit configured to control the actuator based on sheet information from the input unit.