Recording-medium-processing apparatus and image forming system

Abstract

A recording-medium-processing apparatus includes an advancing member configured to push a recording-medium batch by advancing toward a portion of the recording-medium batch, the recording-medium batch having a first end and a second end, the portion of the recording-medium batch being located between the first end and the second end; a pressing component configured to press the recording-medium batch that is traveling with a pushed portion of the recording-medium batch leading a movement of the recording-medium batch, the pushed portion being a portion where the recording-medium batch is being pushed by the advancing member; and a transporting component located on a downstream side from the pressing component in a direction of travel of the recording-medium batch and configured to transport toward the downstream side the recording-medium batch that is being pressed by the pressing component. A force that moves the recording-medium batch toward the downstream side in the direction of travel of the recording-medium batch is ineffective for the pressing component with respect to the recording-medium batch; or a speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the transporting component in the direction of travel is greater than a speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the pressing component in the direction of travel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recording-medium-processing apparatus comprising:
 an advancing member configured to push a recording-medium batch by advancing toward a portion of the recording-medium batch, the recording-medium batch having a first end and a second end, the portion of the recording-medium batch being located between the first end and the second end;   a pressing component configured to press the recording-medium batch that is traveling with a pushed portion of the recording-medium batch leading a movement of the recording-medium batch, the pushed portion being a portion where the recording-medium batch is being pushed by the advancing member; and   a transporting component located on a downstream side from the pressing component in a direction of travel of the recording-medium batch and configured to transport toward the downstream side the recording-medium batch that is being pressed by the pressing component,   wherein a force that moves the recording-medium batch toward the downstream side in the direction of travel of the recording-medium batch is ineffective for the pressing component with respect to the recording-medium batch; or
 a speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the transporting component in the direction of travel is greater than a speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the pressing component in the direction of travel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the force that moves the recording-medium batch toward the downstream side in the direction of travel of the recording-medium batch is ineffective for the pressing component with respect to the recording-medium batch, and   wherein the pressing component is incapable of applying to the recording-medium batch the force that moves the recording-medium batch toward the downstream side in the direction of travel of the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         3 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the pressing component includes a pair of rotatable members that are in pressure contact with each other, and   wherein the pair of rotatable members are each configured to rotate by receiving a force from the recording-medium batch and are each incapable of applying to the recording-medium batch the force that moves the recording-medium batch toward the downstream side in the direction of travel of the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         4 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pressing component has a function of transporting the recording-medium batch, and   wherein the speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the transporting component in the direction of travel is greater than the speed of transport of the recording-medium batch by the pressing component in the direction of travel.   
     
     
         5 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transporting component starts to transport the recording-medium batch with the recording-medium batch being pressed by the pressing component.   
     
     
         6 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transporting component transports the recording-medium batch while pressing the recording-medium batch, and   wherein a pressing force applied from the pressing component to the recording-medium batch is greater than a pressing force applied from the transporting component to the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         7 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a pressing force applied from the pressing component to the recording-medium batch is reduced after the transporting component starts to transport the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         8 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the advancing member advances in such a manner as to reach the transporting component.   
     
     
         9 . A recording-medium-processing apparatus comprising:
 an advancing member configured to push a recording-medium batch by advancing toward the recording-medium batch from a side nearer to one of two faces of the recording-medium batch;   a regulating component configured to regulate a movement of the recording-medium batch by acting against the advancing member while the recording-medium batch is being pushed by the advancing member; and   a transporting component configured to transport the recording-medium batch when receiving the recording-medium batch whose movement is being regulated by the regulating component.   
     
     
         10 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the regulating component regulates the movement of the recording-medium batch by coming into contact with an other face of the recording-medium batch, the other face being opposite the one face.   
     
     
         11 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the regulating component regulates the movement of the recording-medium batch by acting against the advancing member in such a manner as to urge the recording-medium batch toward the advancing member.   
     
     
         12 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the regulating component regulates the movement of the recording-medium batch by acting against the advancing member in such a manner as to urge a pushed portion of the recording-medium batch toward the advancing member, the pushed portion being a portion where the recording-medium batch is being pushed by the advancing member.   
     
     
         13 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the regulating component urges the pushed portion toward the advancing member from a position across the pushed portion from the advancing member.   
     
     
         14 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the regulating component stops regulating the movement of the recording-medium batch after the transporting component starts to transport the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         15 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the regulating component is located downstream from the recording-medium batch in a direction of travel of the recording-medium batch in such a manner as to extend into a traveling course of the recording-medium batch, and is configured to retract from the traveling course after the transporting component starts to transport the recording-medium batch.   
     
     
         16 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the regulating component is configured to pass through the transporting component and to regulate the movement of the recording-medium batch by acting against the advancing member even while the recording-medium batch is passing through the transporting component.   
     
     
         17 . The recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the regulating component is located downstream from the recording-medium batch in a direction of travel of the recording-medium batch in such a manner as to extend into a traveling course of the recording-medium batch, and is configured to retract from the traveling course after passing through the transporting component.   
     
     
         18 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; and   a recording-medium-processing apparatus configured to process the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus,   wherein the recording-medium-processing apparatus includes the recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         19 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; and   a recording-medium-processing apparatus configured to process the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus,   wherein the recording-medium-processing apparatus includes the recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 2 .   
     
     
         20 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium; and   a recording-medium-processing apparatus configured to process the recording medium having the image formed by the image forming apparatus,   wherein the recording-medium-processing apparatus includes the recording-medium-processing apparatus according to  claim 3 .