US7003257B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hole-punching processor and image forming apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 2001-12-26
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Granted: 2006-02-21
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Expires: 2021-12-26
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a hole-punching processor that forms punched-holes, for binding sheets into a file, on the sheets, which are ejected after images are formed on them from an image forming apparatus such as, for example, a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine or a compound machine thereof. The hole-punching processor forms a punched-hole on a sheet residing in a conveying path for conveying the sheet through the hole-punching processor. The hole-punching processor includes a hole-punching device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the sheet and a sheet-edge detector to detect a side-edge of the sheet in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the sheet. The hole-punching device moves with the sheet-edge detector to a center of the sheet, based on positional information of the side-edge detected by the sheet-edge detector, to punch a hole in the sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Kohji Yoshie
- 👤 Hisao Hosoya
- 👤 Masanobu Kawano
- 👤 Hideyo Ohashi
- 👤 Kazuyoshi Omi
- 👤 Masaru Goto
- 👤 Tomoki Nagaoka
- 👤 Kazuaki Fukuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; G03G15/6538; G03G15/6541; B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/26; B26D7/2628; G03G2215/00; G03G2215/00362; G03G2215/00789; G03G2215/00818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An image-forming apparatus, comprising: an image-forming section to form an image on a sheet; an ejecting section to eject said sheet on which said image is formed; and a hole-punching processor to form a punched-hole on said sheet while conveying said sheet through said hole-punching processor; wherein said hole-punching processor comprises: a hole-punching device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of said sheet; and a sheet-edge detector to detect a side-edge of said sheet in a direction parallel to said conveyance direction of said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector is in a fixed relationship with said hole-punching device so that said hole-punching device and said sheet-edge detector move in conjunction with each other; and wherein said holepunching device moves in conjunction with said sheetedge detector in said direction perpendicular to said conveyance direction of said sheet, based on positional information of said side-edge detected by said sheet-edge detector, to punch a hole in said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector includes a plurality of sheet-edge sensors, each of which corresponds to each of sheet sizes to be processed by said hole-punching processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An image-forming apparatus, comprising: an image-forming section to form an image on a sheet; an ejecting section to eject said sheet on which said image is formed; and a hole-punching processor to form a punched-hole on said sheet while conveying said sheet through said hole-punching processor; wherein said hole-punching processor comprises: a hole-punching device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of said sheet; and a sheet-edge detector to detect a side-edge of said sheet in a direction parallel to said conveyance direction of said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector is in a fixed relationship with said hole-punching device so that said hole-punching device and said sheet-edge detector move in conjunction with each other; and wherein said holepunching device moves in conjunction with said sheetedge detector in said direction perpendicular to said conveyance direction of said sheet, based on positional information of said side-edge detected by said sheet-edge detector, to punch a hole in said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector includes a plurality of sheet-edge sensors, each of which corresponds to each of sheet sizes to be processed by said hole-punching processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The image-forming apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in case of a nonpunching mode in which a hole-punching action of said hole-punching device is deactivated, said sheet-edge detector is moved at a standby position located at either an inner or an outer position of said side-edge of said sheet so as to pass said sheet without punching.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
A hole-punching processor for forming a punched-hole on a sheet residing in a conveying path for conveying said sheet through said hole-punching processor, comprising: a hole-punching device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of said sheet; and a sheet-edge detector to detect a side-edge of said sheet in a direction parallel to said conveyance direction of said sheet; wherein said sheet-edge detector is in a fixed relationship with said hole-punching device so that said hole-punching device and said sheet-edge detector move in conjunction with each other; and wherein said hole-punching device moves in conjunction with said sheet-edge detector in said direction perpendicular to said conveyance direction of said sheet, based on positional information of said side-edge detected by said sheet-edge detector, to punch a hole in said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector includes a plurality of sheet-edge sensors, each of which corresponds to each of sheet sizes to be processed by said hole-punching processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
A hole-punching processor for forming a punched-hole on a sheet residing in a conveying path for conveying said sheet through said hole-punching processor, comprising: a hole-punching device being movable in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of said sheet; and a sheet-edge detector to detect a side-edge of said sheet in a direction parallel to said conveyance direction of said sheet; wherein said sheet-edge detector is in a fixed relationship with said hole-punching device so that said hole-punching device and said sheet-edge detector move in conjunction with each other; and wherein said hole-punching device moves in conjunction with said sheet-edge detector in said direction perpendicular to said conveyance direction of said sheet, based on positional information of said side-edge detected by said sheet-edge detector, to punch a hole in said sheet; and wherein said sheet-edge detector includes a plurality of sheet-edge sensors, each of which corresponds to each of sheet sizes to be processed by said hole-punching processor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 3 , wherein said sheet-edge detector is disposed in a vicinity of either an inner or an outer portion of said side-edge of said sheet, and, after a leading edge of said sheet is detected, said hole-punching device moves in either an inner or an outer direction perpendicular to said conveyance direction of said sheet so that said sheet-edge detector detects a position of said side-edge of said sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 4 , wherein said sheetedge detector also serves as a detector for detecting said leadingedge of said sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 5 , wherein one of said sheet-edge sensors, which is disposed at a position nearest to a center of said sheet, detects said leading-edge of said sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 3 , further comprising: a trailing-edge detector to detect ling-edge of said sheet being conveyed; wherein an action for conveying said sheet is temporarily deactivated, when said sheet has moved for a predetermined distance since said trailingedge detector detected said trailing-edge of said sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 7 , wherein said sheet-edge detector also serves as said trailing-edge detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 8 , wherein a one of said sheet-edge sensors, which is disposed at a position nearest to a center of said sheet, detects said trailing-edge of said sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A hole-punching processor of claim 3 , wherein, in case of a nonpunching mode in which a hole-punching action of said hole-punching device is deactivated, said sheetedge detector is moved at a standby position located at either an inner or an outer position of said side-edge of said sheet so as to pass said sheet without punching.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 10 , wherein said sheet-edge sensors comprises either a reflection-type or a transmission-type photo-sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hole-punching processor of claim 3 , wherein said hole-punching processor has a guide member, and said sheet-edge detector and said hole-punching device are fixed to said guide member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-02-20 | 2009-08-22 | 2010-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-02-20 | 2013-08-22 | 2014-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-02-20 | 2017-08-22 | 2018-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |