Horizontal Alignment Plate Shift Mechanism for Swollen Sheet Bundles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image processing systems, the swelling of bound sheet bundles due to staple needles can cause obstruction in the alignment of horizontal alignment plates when multiple bundles are stacked, leading to potential collisions and disruptions in the postprocessing operation.
Innovation Solution
A shift mechanism that alternately offsets bound sheet bundles in the sheet width direction, shifting the swollen portions inside the horizontal alignment plate, thereby preventing collisions and maintaining alignment efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If bound sheet bundles are stacked on the tray, then the binding process can handle multiple sheets, but the swollen portion by the needle collides with the horizontal alignment plate causing obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal alignment plate is designed to be movable rather than fixed. It can dynamically adjust its position to accommodate the swollen portions of bound sheet bundles during stacking, preventing collision and obstruction while maintaining alignment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment function is segmented from the stacking function. The horizontal alignment plate operates independently and can be selectively activated or deactivated based on whether bound sheet bundles are being stacked, allowing the system to adapt to different operational modes.
2Manufacturing precision
If the horizontal alignment plate is used to align sheet bundles, then alignment precision is improved, but the swollen portion obstructs the aligning operation when bundles are piled
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal alignment plate transitions from a static component to a dynamic one that can move to accommodate swollen portions. This maintains alignment precision while preventing operational obstructions caused by the swollen needle portions of bound sheet bundles.
3Productivity
If multiple bound sheet bundles are piled on the tray, then processing capacity increases, but the swollen portion collides with the horizontal alignment plate
Solution Approach 1:
The movable horizontal alignment plate can dynamically adjust its position to avoid collision with swollen portions during high-capacity stacking operations, enabling increased productivity without introducing harmful collision effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects the presence of bound sheet bundles with swollen portions and preliminarily adjusts the horizontal alignment plate position before collision occurs, preventing obstruction and enabling smooth high-capacity stacking.
Data Source
AI summary
A postprocessing apparatus includes a horizontal alignment plate, a binder, a tray, and a shift actuator assembly. The horizontal alignment plate is positioned to align sheets in a sheet width direction. The binder binds sheets to form bound sheet bundles. The bound sheet bundles are stacked on the tray. The shift actuator assembly shifts the bound sheet bundles in the sheet width direction. A postprocessing controller controls the shift actuator assembly to shift the bound sheet bundles such that swollen portions of the bound sheet bundles are shifted inward of the horizontal alignment plate in the sheet width direction when the processed sheets are piled on the tray to the vicinity of the horizontal alignment plate.