Cutting Apparatus with Retractable Rotary Blade for Rimless Sheet Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing postprocessing apparatuses lack the capability to cut sheets one sheet at a time in four directions, making it difficult to produce rimless printed products like posters, and have complex configurations due to branched and merged conveyance paths for different processing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a simple configuration that includes a conveyance path and two cutting units, a front/rear cutter and a top/bottom cutter, allowing for cutting in both the width and conveyance directions, with a controller that controls the cutting units to retreat when not in use, enabling cutting of sheets one sheet at a time at arbitrary positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a postprocessing apparatus has branched and merged conveyance paths for different processing mechanisms, then it can perform multiple processes, but the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the line-making mechanism and top/bottom trimmer into a single integrated cutting unit that can perform both functions. The cutting unit includes a rotary blade that can be positioned to create folding lines or cut sheets, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms and their associated conveyance paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting unit is designed with multi-functionality to perform both line-making and trimming operations. The rotary blade can be positioned at different locations and orientations to execute different cutting tasks, allowing a single mechanism to replace multiple specialized mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a postprocessing apparatus lacks capability to cut sheets one sheet at a time in four directions, then the configuration remains simple, but it cannot produce rimless printed products like posters
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting unit employs a rotary blade that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation during sheet conveyance. The blade can be rotated to different angles and positioned at various locations along the conveyance path, enabling cutting in multiple directions (four directions as mentioned) without requiring separate fixed cutting mechanisms for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds dimensional flexibility by using a rotary blade that can operate in multiple planes and orientations. Instead of having separate cutting mechanisms for each direction, the rotary blade introduces rotational freedom, allowing it to approach the sheet from different angular dimensions and perform cutting operations in all required directions.
3Productivity
If cutting units are always in position to cut sheets, then cutting speed is fast, but conveyance load increases when cutting is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting unit is designed to be dynamically movable rather than statically fixed. The rotary blade can be quickly positioned to the cutting location only when needed, and retracted or moved to a non-interfering position during sheet conveyance when cutting is not required. This dynamic positioning reduces the conveyance load and energy consumption while maintaining fast cutting capability when activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the rotary blade to the cutting location only when a cutting operation is anticipated. The controller prepares the cutting unit in advance for the upcoming operation, allowing it to be in the optimal cutting position just in time, rather than maintaining that position continuously. This reduces unnecessary conveyance resistance during non-cutting phases.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a cutting apparatus, and a controller. The cutting apparatus includes a conveyance path, a first cutting unit configured to cut, at a cutting position with respect to a conveyance direction of the sheet on the conveyance path, the sheet in a width direction perpendicularly intersecting with the conveyance direction, and a second cutting unit configured to cut, at a cutting position with respect to the width direction, the sheet in the conveyance direction. The controller is configured to control the cutting apparatus such that, in a case where the sheet is cut neither with the first cutting unit nor with the second cutting unit, the sheet is conveyed through the conveyance path with the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit retreated not to contact with the sheet passing through the conveyance path.