Sheet carrying path switching mechanism and sheet folding device

Abstract

A folding device includes a first folded-sheet clamping device and a second folded-sheet clamping device that are arranged on a decelerating roller. A first cam causes the first clamping device and the second clamping device to release a folded sheet into any one of a first sheet discharge path and a second sheet discharge path. When two folded sheets are held by each of the clamping devices, a second cam controls part of the first cam to cause the second clamping device not to release a sheet into the first sheet discharge path and to release a sheet into the second sheet discharge path.

1 . A folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism that carries a pile of folded sheets, the folded sheets being in a predetermined shape and size, the folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism comprising:
 a delivering unit that receives the pile and delivers the pile to one of a first path and a second path, the delivering unit including
 a rotatable member; 
 a first holding unit that is mounted on the rotatable member, and configured to receive the pile in a first position while the rotatable member is rotating and deliver the pile to the first path; and 
 a second holding unit that is mounted on the rotatable member, and configured to receive the pile in a second position while the rotatable member is rotating and deliver the pile to one of the first path and the second path; and 
   a switching unit that includes
 a releasing unit that causes the first holding unit to release the pile into the first path and causes the second holding unit to release the pile into any one of the first path and the second path; and 
 a control unit that controls the releasing unit to cause the second holding unit to release the pile in any one of the first path and the second path depending on number of folded sheets in the pile. 
   
   
   
       2 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the releasing unit includes a first cam having a plurality of concave portions to cause the first holding unit to release the pile into the first path and cause the second holding unit to release the pile into any one of the first path and the second path, wherein the first cam is configured to rotate around a rotation axis of the rotatable member, and
 the control unit includes a second cam configured to cause the second holding unit not to release the pile into the first path depending on number of folded sheets in the pile, wherein the second cam is configured to rotate around a rotation axis of the rotatable member. 
   
   
   
       3 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the releasing unit to cause the second holding unit to release the pile into the first path when the number of folded sheets in the pile is one, and controls the releasing unit to cause the second holding unit to release the pile into the second path when the number of folded sheets in the pile is more than one. 
   
   
       4 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet delivery guide that switches between a first discharge mode and a second discharge mode depending on the number of folded sheets in the pile, wherein
 the first discharge mode causes the first holding unit and the second holding unit to discharge the pile into the first path, and   the second discharge mode causes the first holding unit to discharge the pile into the first path, and causes the second holding unit to discharge the pile into the second path.   
   
   
       5 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first cam including a plurality of concave portions to move the sheet delivery guide to cause the first holding unit and the second holding unit to discharge the pile into the first path, wherein the first cam is configured to rotate around a rotation axis of the rotatable member; and   a second rotating cam to move the sheet delivery guide to cause the second holding unit not to discharge the pile into the first path but to discharge the pile into the second path, wherein the second cam is configured to rotate around a rotation axis of the rotatable member.   
   
   
       6 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 4 , further comprising
 a rotating cam including
 a first concave portion that moves the sheet delivery guide to discharge the pile into the first path; and 
 a second concave portion that moves the sheet delivery guide to discharge the pile into the second path; and 
   a speed controlling unit that changes rotating speed of the rotating cam depending on the number of folded sheets in the pile.   
   
   
       7 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 4 , further comprising a mode setting unit that sets the first discharge mode when the number of folded sheets in the pile is one, and sets the second discharge mode when the number of folded sheets in the pile is more than one. 
   
   
       8 . The folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the folded sheet is produced by printing a predetermined image on the folded sheet and being cut out to a predetermined size. 
   
   
       9 . A folding device comprising:
 a folding roller that is configured to fold a sheet in a predetermined shape and size, and produce a pile of folded sheets; and   a folded-sheet carrying path switching mechanism including
 a delivering unit that receives the pile and delivers the pile to one of a first path and a second path, the delivering unit including
 a rotatable member; 
 a first holding unit that is mounted on the rotatable member, and configured to receive the pile in a first position while the rotatable member is rotating and deliver the pile to the first path; and 
 a second holding unit that is mounted on the rotatable member, and configured to receive the pile in a second position while the rotatable member is rotating and deliver the pile to one of the first path and the second path; and 
 
 a switching unit that includes
 a releasing unit that causes the first holding unit to release the pile into the first path and causes the second holding unit to release the pile into any one of the first path and the second path; and 
 a control unit that controls the releasing unit to cause the second holding unit to release the pile in any one of the first path and the second path depending on number of folded sheets in the pile. 
 
   
   
   
       10 . The folding device according to  claim 9 , wherein the folded sheet is produced by printing a predetermined image on the folded sheet and being cut out to a predetermined size.