Bookmaking Apparatus Sheet Bundle Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bookmaking apparatuses face challenges in securely aligning and conveying sheet bundles without misalignment or disorganization, particularly when transitioning from a horizontal to a vertical posture, which leads to skewing and increased complexity in the conveyance mechanism, requiring larger and more power-intensive drive systems.
Innovation Solution
A compact bookmaking apparatus with a tray that lowers to create a turning area for sheet bundles, utilizing two gripping conveyance means to rotate the bundles from a horizontal to a vertical posture while maintaining alignment, and employing clamping members and guide rails to support the sheets, ensuring accurate positioning and minimizing mechanical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a pair of opposing surface rollers grip the sheet bundle to convey it, then the mechanism is simple and low-cost, but the edges of the sheet become misaligned because the sheet bundle becomes disorganized
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping means is divided into multiple gripping members (first gripping member and second gripping member) that can independently engage with different parts of the sheet bundle. This segmentation allows for distributed gripping force application, preventing bundle disorganization while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary element between the gripping members and the sheet bundle. This guide member ensures proper orientation and prevents misalignment during conveyance, resolving the conflict between simple gripping mechanism and precise sheet alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If gripping means with pressing members are used to grip the sheet bundle from above and below, then the edges of the sheets have fewer misalignments, but the conveyance mechanism becomes complex and requires large drive apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pressing members closing from above and below vertically, the gripping members are arranged to close horizontally from opposite sides. This inversion of the gripping direction simplifies the mechanism while maintaining effective bundle control and alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripping action is transitions from vertical pressing to horizontal clamping, changing the dimension of application. This dimensional change allows for simpler mechanism design while achieving the same alignment precision through a different spatial approach.
3Manufacturing precision
If the nipping force is increased to grip the sheet bundle without pages coming out of alignment, then the alignment is maintained, but the drive apparatus must be large and power-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member performs preliminary alignment of the sheet bundle before the gripping members apply force. This preliminary action reduces the required gripping force, allowing for smaller, less power-intensive drive apparatus while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as a mediator that facilitates alignment without requiring high gripping forces. By providing a guiding surface, it reduces the mechanical force needed from the drive apparatus, lowering power requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A bookmaking apparatus includes a first path to convey a sheet bundle, a second path to convey a cover sheet, a joining stage disposed at an intersection of the first path and the second path, a gripping conveyance device arranged for gripping and a conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes clamping members to grip the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates the clamping members to grip a lower edge of the sheet bundle when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet, and the clamping members to retract to an upstream side of the first path and to grip the sheet bundle again when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the conveyance device.