A sheet post-processing device for, after sheets that are ejected from an image forming device are stored on a storage tray, transporting the sheets in a transport direction to a post-processing position and performing post processing at the post-processing position, including: an aligner configured to align sheets on the storage tray; and a transporter configured to transport to the post-processing position a stack of sheets aligned by the aligner. The transporter includes a first contact member and a second contact member, and transports the stack to the post-processing position by causing the first contact member and the second contact member to simultaneously move in the transport direction while causing the first contact member to be in contact with a rear end portion of the stack in the transport direction and the second contact member to be in contact with a leading end portion of the stack in the transport direction.

The present invention is related to a method for folding an article into three parts comprising first folding a leading end portion of the article to form a first folded article, and second folding a trailing end portion of the first folded article, wherein the first folded article is transported with a moving direction change no higher than about 45 degree.

A sheet conveying system includes an upstream conveyor section having an endless first conveyor belt movable in a first conveying direction x and extending in a first lateral direction z, the first conveying direction x and the first lateral direction z defining a first conveying plane xz; and a downstream conveyor section having an endless second conveyor belt that adjoins the first conveyor belt and is movable in a second conveying direction x and extends in a second lateral direction z, the second conveying direction x and the second lateral direction z defining a second conveying plane xz. The conveyor sections are adapted to hold the sheets slip-free on the first and second conveyor belts. The second conveyor belt has a shear compliance in the second conveying plane xz that is larger than the shear compliance of the first conveyor belt in the first conveying plane xz.

A loading device to supply successively with cardboard sheets a station for handling the sheets by folding to form from them boxes for packaging, the handling station having a storage area to receive the successive sheets, optionally grouped in bundles, the device itself having a manipulator that includes: a gripping tool to pick up the sheets; an actuator to move the tool between an inventory of sheets and the receiving storage area of the station; a detection unit for detecting the status of filling of the storage area; and a control unit that directs the action of the device and that receives detection information from the detection unit to do this, the control unit being independent of the control of the handling station and programmable to adapt the operation of the loading device to the type of sheets handled. A corresponding process is also described.

A loading device to supply successively with cardboard sheets a station for handling the sheets by folding to form from them boxes for packaging, the handling station having a storage area to receive the successive sheets, optionally grouped in bundles, the device itself having a manipulator that includes: a gripping tool to pick up the sheets; an actuator to move the tool between an inventory of sheets and the receiving storage area of the station; a detection unit for detecting the status of filling of the storage area; and a control unit that directs the action of the device and that receives detection information from the detection unit to do this, the control unit being independent of the control of the handling station and programmable to adapt the operation of the loading device to the type of sheets handled. A corresponding process is also described.

The medium transport device includes a main roller configured to apply a feeding force to the medium in the transport direction, a pair of transport rollers includes a plurality of sub-rollers disposed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the main roller, and being driven to rotate about a first shaft in a state where the medium is nipped between the sub-rollers and the main roller, and an adjustment section that adjusts a path difference between a first path and a second path when a path of the medium that is nipped and transported between the main roller and the plurality of sub-rollers is defined as the first path, and a path of the medium that is transported in contact with the main roller but not in contact with the plurality of sub-rollers 16 is defined as the second path.