Adjustable Reception Sheet for Paper Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reception apparatuses for discharged papers face issues with damage during discharge, particularly with small-sized or curled papers, and struggle to handle large volumes or external forces, leading to shape changes and inefficient paper handling.

Innovation Solution

A reception apparatus with adjustable top and rear rods, engagement units, and a flexible reception sheet that can change its position and posture to accommodate various paper sizes and shapes, featuring mechanisms for adjusting the reception length and angle to prevent damage and ensure reliable paper handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the distance from paper-discharging portion to reception sheet is increased to accommodate large sheets, then large sheet reception is improved, but small-sized papers are damaged due to falling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception sheet size adaptabilityVSAvoidpaper damage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The reception sheet is configured to be movable and adjustable in position and posture. The top rod can rotate to change the reception sheet's angle and position, allowing the system to adapt between receiving large sheets (requiring greater distance) and small sheets (requiring shorter distance to prevent falling). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the reception geometry variable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes geometric parameters (distance from discharge portion, reception angle, reception sheet position) based on paper size. By adjusting these parameters, the apparatus can optimize the reception configuration for each paper type, preventing small papers from falling while maintaining adequate space for large sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the reception sheet is allowed to rotate freely to accommodate various paper sizes, then adaptability is improved, but the shape of the large sheet changes when large volumes are loaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception sheet position adjustmentVSAvoidreception sheet shape stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The top rod rotation is restricted to specific predetermined positions rather than allowing continuous or free rotation. These predetermined positions are pre-calculated to be optimal for different paper sizes and types. By limiting rotation to these specific positions, the system maintains shape stability while still providing sufficient adaptability for various paper formats.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation range of the top rod is divided into discrete predetermined positions rather than allowing continuous rotation. This segmentation provides stable, defined positions for the reception sheet, preventing shape changes while still offering multiple configurations for different paper sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the paper-discharging guide maintains a flat and smooth surface for easy discharge, then discharge efficiency is improved, but curled papers slide down along the guide

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper discharge efficiencyVSAvoidcurled paper handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The paper-discharging guide has different surface properties in different regions. The upstream portion (where papers are initially discharged) maintains a flat and smooth surface for efficient discharge. The downstream portion (closer to the reception sheet) has a roughened surface that provides increased friction to prevent curled papers from sliding down, while still allowing smoothly discharged papers to pass through efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3150530B1Reception apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 CANON KK
  • EP3150530B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3150530B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3150530B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

A reception apparatus (3) that receives an article (W) discharged from a processing apparatus (1) includes a first rod (30), second rod (20) and a reception sheet (40). The first rod (30) extends in a direction crossing a direction of the discharge below a discharge port (1a) of the processing apparatus (1) in a gravity direction. The second rod (20) extends in the direction crossing the direction of the discharge at a position farther away from the discharge port (1a) than the first rod (20). The reception sheet (40) has flexibility, is supported by the first rod (30) and the second rod (20), and receives the article (W) discharged between the first rod (30) and the second rod (20). The first rod (30) is capable of being disposed at a first position and a second position which are different from each other in the gravity direction.