# US 9,751,274 B2 · Sheet folding apparatus and image formation system provided with the apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,274 B2 - Document ID: US9751274B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/923,103 - Filed: 2010-09-02 - Published: 2011-03-10 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-09 - Assignees: Canon Finetech Nisca Inc. - Applicants: Misao Kobayashi; Masaki Oshima; Yuichi Ichinose - Inventors: Misao Kobayashi; Masaki Oshima; Yuichi Ichinose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751274B2 ## CPC - B31F 1/0012: {combined with making folding lines (B31F1/0022 takes precedence)} - B65H 45/18: Oscillating or reciprocating blade folders (carried on rotary members B65H45/16) - 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 2801/27: Devices located downstream of office-type machines - G03G 15/6544: {Details about the binding means or procedure} - G03G 2215/00877: Folding device - B31F: MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER (making layered products not composed wholly of paper or cardboard B32B) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet in a transporting direction from a carry-in entrance toward a carrying-out exit, has a first transport path for guiding the sheet without performing folding processing; a second transport path for performing folding processing on the sheet; a third transport path for guiding the folded sheet towards the carrying-out exit; and a folding processing device disposed in the second transport path to fold the sheet. The second transport path has a path end portion for guiding the sheet to adjust a folding position of the sheet, a nip point to nip the sheet for folding, and a folded sheet guide path for guiding the folded sheet. The first transport path is arranged between the path end portion of the second transport path and the folding processing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet in a transporting direction from a carry-in entrance toward a carrying-out exit, comprising: a first transport path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit without performing folding processing; a second transport path for performing folding processing on the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit; a third transport path connected to the second transport path for guiding the folded sheet towards the carrying-out exit in which a transporting direction of the third transport path is in a direction opposite to a transporting direction in the second transport path; and a folding processing device disposed in the second transport path to fold the sheet from the carry-in entrance, wherein the second transport path has a path end portion above the first transport path for guiding a leading end of the sheet to adjust a folding position of the sheet, a nip point disposed below the first transport path where the sheet is nipped by the folding processing device for folding, and a folded sheet guide path upstream of the nip point for guiding the folded sheet under the first transport path, the first transport path is arranged between the path end portion of the second transport path and the folding processing device, and the second transport path is arranged between the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit in the transporting direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a stacker disposed below the folding processing device for storing the folded sheet, and a stacker path connected to the third transport path to guide the folded sheet toward the stacker, wherein a transporting direction of the stacker path is in a direction opposite to the transporting direction of the second transport path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the carry-in entrance and the carrying-out exit are disposed in positions opposed to each other in an apparatus housing, the first transport path includes a substantially linear path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, the second transport path includes a substantially loop-shaped path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the folding position of the folding processing device, the second transport path being disposed upstream of the stacker, and the third transport path includes a substantially loop-shaped path for guiding the folded sheet from the folding processing device to the carrying-out exit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the carry-in entrance and the carrying-out exit are spaced apart from each other in the apparatus housing, the first transport path includes a substantially linear path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in entrance to the carrying-out exit, the second transport path includes a loop-shaped path disposed substantially in a direction same as that of the first transport path, and a rear end portion in a sheet discharge direction of the second transport path is disposed below the first transport path, while the second transport path crosses the first transport path and the path end portion is disposed on a side opposite to the rear end portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first transport path includes a linear path disposed in a substantially horizontal direction, the second transport path includes a substantially loop-shaped path branching off from the first transport path to guide the sheet to the folding position, and the third transport path includes a substantially loop-shaped path disposed outside of the second transport path to extend along an outer circumferential shape thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folding processing device is configured to execute first-folding processing for folding the sheet fed to the first transport path, and second-folding processing for performing folding processing on the sheet subjected to the first-folding processing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a post-processing unit disposed downstream of the carrying-out exit for collating and collecting the sheet from the first transport path and the second transport path to bind with another sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 2 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 3 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 4 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 5 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 6 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) An image formation system comprising: an image formation apparatus for sequentially forming an image on a sheet; and the sheet folding apparatus according to claim 7 for folding the sheet from the image formation apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the folded sheet guide path extends from the second transport path for guiding the folded sheet toward the carry-in entrance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third transport path extends from the nip point to the carrying-out exit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the folding processing device comprises first, second, and third folding rollers in which the first folding roller is disposed vertically relative to the third folding roller, and the second folding roller is disposed between the first and third folding rollers; and first and second pressing blades. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the nip point comprises first and second nip points; the first nip point is located between the first and second folding rollers and is structured so that the first pressing blade pushes a first folding position of the sheet toward the first nip point for a first folding process; and the second nip point is located between the second and third folding rollers and is structured so that the second pressing blade pushes a second folding position of the sheet toward the second nip point for a second folding process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the folded sheet guide path is disposed between the first and second nip points so that the sheet folded at the first nip point is guided in a direction toward the carry-in entrance for adjusting the second folding position of the sheet, and then, the folded sheet is guided towards the third transport path, which is in a direction toward the carrying-out exit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The sheet folding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transport path is a substantially linear path situated between the carry-in entrance and the carrying-out exit.