# US 8,740,212 B2 · Sheet folding device and image forming apparatus with sheet folding device

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- Number: US 8,740,212 B2
- Document ID: US8740212B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/923,127
- Filed: 2010-09-03
- Published: 2011-03-10
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-09-08
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Isao Yasuda; Ikumi Takashima
- Inventors: Isao Yasuda; Ikumi Takashima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740212B2

## CPC

- B65H 45/14: Buckling folders
- B65H 29/52: Stationary guides or smoothers
- 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 2404/60: Other elements in face contact with handled material
- B65H 2404/61: Longitudinally-extending strips, tubes, plates, or wires
- B65H 2511/21: Angle
- B65H 2601/12: Compensating; Taking-up
- B65H 2701/11238: Asymmetric folded material
- B65H 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines
- G03G 2215/00877: Folding device
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A sheet folding device includes a transport unit that transports a sheet; an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet; a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet; a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member. An exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sheet folding device, comprising:
a transport unit that transports a sheet;
an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet;
a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet;
a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and
a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member, wherein:
an exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit,
the position adjustment unit has a pivot point axis that rotatably supports the guide member, and
the guide member is supported by the pivot point axis so that a rotation angle about the pivot point axis is adjustable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sheet folding device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot point axis is positioned at a center of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sheet folding device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot point axis is positioned at an end of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction.

### Claim 4

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a sheet folding device comprising:
a transport unit that transports a sheet;
an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet;
a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet;
a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and
a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member, wherein
an exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit,
the position adjustment unit has a pivot point axis that rotatably supports the guide member,
the guide member is supported by the pivot point axis so that a rotation angle about the pivot point axis is adjustable,
the pivot point axis is positioned at an end of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and
the image forming apparatus further comprising:
an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet;
a driving unit that rotatably drives the guide member; and
an operation unit that operates the driving unit,
wherein a rotation angle of the guide member is adjusted by the operation unit.

### Claim 5

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and
a sheet folding device, including:
a transport unit that transports the sheet;
an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet;
a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet;
a guide member that partially covers the folding roller and guides the sheet; and
a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member,
wherein an exposure amount of the folding roller with respect to the sheet can be varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit,
wherein the position adjustment unit has a pivot point axis that rotatably supports the guide member, and
wherein the guide member is supported by the pivot point axis so that a rotation angle about the pivot point axis is adjustable.

### Claim 6

A sheet folding device, comprising:
a transport unit that transports a sheet;
an abutting unit that abuts an end of the sheet being transported to form a bent portion at the sheet;
a folding unit that nips the bent portion of the sheet by a pair of folding rollers to form a fold line in the sheet;
a guide member that partially covers the folding rollers and guides the sheet; and
a position adjustment unit that adjusts a position of the guide member,
wherein an overlap amount of the guide member to the folding rollers in an axial direction of the folding rollers is varied by adjusting the position of the guide member through the position adjustment unit,
wherein the sheet conveys toward the guide member prior to entering the nip between the pair of folding rollers,
wherein the position adjustment unit has a pivot point axis that rotatably supports the guide member, and
wherein the guide member is supported by the pivot point axis so that a rotation angle about the pivot point axis is adjustable.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide member is disposed at a position which is directly ahead of the nip between the pair of folding rollers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide member moves in a same direction as the sheet transport direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment amounts of both ends of the guide member are independent of each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the pivot point axis is positioned at a center of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the pivot point axis is positioned at an end of the guide member in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
the sheet folding device of claim 6.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and
the sheet folding device of claim 6.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The sheet folding device according to claim 6, wherein the guide member overlaps with the folding rollers when viewed in a direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction.