Single Buffer Roller for Multi-Tray Sheet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing post-processing apparatuses face challenges in accurately aligning sheets in the transport direction due to issues with buffering methods, leading to inefficiencies and increased manufacturing costs when multiple intermediate trays are used.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a controller that adjusts sheet overlapping and stacking based on selected modes and deviation amounts, using a single buffer roller to align sheets accurately across multiple trays, reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a buffering method is used to accumulate sheets in the transport path, then sheet alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases when multiple intermediate trays are used
Solution Approach 1:
A single buffer roller is designed to serve multiple intermediate trays (first, second, and third intermediate trays) through its ability to buffer sheets and deliver them to different trays based on control signals. This multi-functional design maintains sheet alignment accuracy while reducing the overall number of buffer rollers needed, thereby decreasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer roller acts as an intermediary component that receives sheets from the image forming apparatus and selectively delivers them to different intermediate trays. By controlling the buffer roller's operation timing and position, the system achieves precise sheet alignment without requiring separate buffer rollers for each tray, thus simplifying the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple intermediate trays are provided for different post-processes, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer roller is designed as a universal component that can deliver sheets to any of the multiple intermediate trays (first intermediate tray for stapling, second intermediate tray for folding, third intermediate tray for binding). This single multi-functional buffer roller replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate buffer rollers, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the system's adaptability to different post-processing operations.
3Productivity
If sheets are delivered at predetermined time intervals from the image forming apparatus, then productivity is improved, but sheet alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer roller's operation is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. It receives sheets at predetermined time intervals from the image forming apparatus (maintaining productivity) but adjusts its delivery timing and position dynamically to account for varying post-process durations. This dynamic control enables the buffer roller to deliver sheets to different intermediate trays at optimal moments, maintaining both high productivity and precise sheet alignment accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a post-processing apparatus which sequentially receives sheets one by one from an image forming apparatus to execute a post-processing on the sheets, including: a first transport device which receives the sheets delivered from the image forming apparatus and transports the sheets; a sheet overlap device which stays the sheets transported by the first transport device and causes another sheet transported sequentially by the first transport device to overlap at least one stayed sheet; a second transport device which transports a plurality of sheets overlapping each other by the sheet overlap device; a plurality of stacking devices capable of stacking a plurality of sheets transported by the second transport device; and a controller which changes control of sheet overlapping caused by the sheet overlap device depending on which stacking device selected from among the plurality of stacking devices the sheets are to be transported to.