Binding device

Abstract

A binding device includes a pair of gears to rotate, the pair of gears crimping media to be bound while conveying the media to be bound entering an engagement portion of the pair of gears that are rotating, and a guide unit on one side in a rotation-axis direction of the pair of gears with respect to the pair of gears, the guide unit extending from one side to another side with respect to the engagement portion in a conveyance direction in which the media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears, the guide unit including a guide to guide a bound end of the media to be bound, the guide being inclined to be disposed closer to the pair of gears as a downstream portion of the guide in the conveyance direction with respect to the engagement portion goes downstream in the conveyance direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A binding device comprising:
 a pair of gears to rotate, the pair of gears crimping a plurality of media to be bound while conveying the plurality of media to be bound entering an engagement portion of the pair of gears that are rotating; and   a guide unit on one side in a rotation-axis direction of the pair of gears with respect to the pair of gears, the guide unit extending from one side to another side with respect to the engagement portion in a conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears, the guide unit including a guide to guide a bound end of the plurality of media to be bound, a portion of the guide located downstream of the engagement portion in the conveyance direction is inclined from an upstream side toward a downstream side in the conveyance direction.   
     
     
         2 . The binding device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the guide unit includes a pressing portion to face the bound end from above to prevent the bound end from floating up.   
     
     
         3 . The binding device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the guide unit has a table on which the plurality of media to be bound are disposed, and   wherein the guide protrudes vertically from the table.   
     
     
         4 . The binding device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears is switchable, and   wherein one side and another side of the guide with respect to the engagement portion in the conveyance direction are inclined with respect to the conveyance direction to be disposed closer to the pair of gears as each of the one side and said another side moves away from the engagement portion.   
     
     
         5 . The binding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a changer to change an angle of inclination of the guide with respect to the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears.   
     
     
         6 . The binding device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears is switchable, and   wherein the changer changes the angle of inclination according to the conveyance direction in which the plurality of media to be bound is conveyed by the pair of gears.   
     
     
         7 . The binding device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the changer has a holder that holds the guide unit in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.   
     
     
         8 . The binding device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the changer changes an angle of inclination of the guide on one side in the conveyance direction and an angle of inclination of the guide on another side in the conveyance direction, with respect to a position of the engagement portion.   
     
     
         9 . The binding device according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the guide unit includes a first member having the guide on the one side in the conveyance direction and a second member having the guide on said another side in the conveyance direction, and   wherein the changer has a holder that holds the first member and the second member in a pivotable manner at a same position as the engagement portion in the conveyance direction.   
     
     
         10 . The binding device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the plurality of media to be bound is a medicine package.