Acute Angle Sheet Output Face for Jogged Stack Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face challenges in maintaining the jogged state of stacked sheets during output, leading to ragged or buckled stacks, and require additional space and drive units for stapling, increasing size and cost.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a sheet stacking member and conveyance units, including a sheet output face at a predetermined acute angle to maintain the jogged state and a single drive unit for both conveyance and stapling, allowing efficient and compact operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional sheet output methods are used with vertical sheet stacking trays, then sheets can be output, but the jogged state cannot be maintained and sheets become ragged or buckled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angle parameter of the sheet output face from vertical (conventional) to acute angle (specifically 45 degrees). This parameter change allows the sheet output face to maintain contact with the back ends of multiple sheets simultaneously during output, preventing the sheets from becoming ragged or buckled while maintaining the jogged state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive units are used for conveyance and stapling, then each function can be performed independently, but the apparatus size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conveyance unit and stapling unit into a single integrated structure. The sheet output face serves dual purposes: it acts as a conveyance surface for moving sheets and simultaneously serves as a stapling surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate drive units, reducing apparatus size and cost while maintaining independent operation capability through controlled activation sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet output face is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a conveyance mechanism and a stapling mechanism. By making this single component perform multiple functions, the patent reduces the overall number of components needed while maintaining the versatility to perform both conveyance and stapling operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If acute angle sheet output face is used, then jogged state is maintained, but the conveyance mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conveyance function and stapling function into a single integrated unit with the acute angle sheet output face. This merging simplifies the overall mechanism by eliminating separate conveyance and stapling components, even though the acute angle geometry adds some structural complexity. The net effect is reduced complexity compared to conventional separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet stacking member for temporarily receiving a sheet conveyed thereto and stacking the sheet thereon and a conveyance unit for outputting the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking member therefrom, wherein the conveyance unit includes a sheet output face having a predetermined acute angle with respect to a sheet stacking face of the sheet stacking member and configured to output a stack of sheets by touching a back end of the stack of sheets and pushing the stack of sheets.