Dynamic Tray Cursor for Sheet Curl Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing post-processing apparatuses face issues with sheet curling on ejection trays due to excessive friction between curl prevention members and sheet stacks, leading to hindered sheet ejection, as they do not account for the relationship between sheet thickness and curling conditions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a curl prevention portion with a tray cursor that adjusts its inclination angle based on the thickness of the sheet stack, minimizing friction by ensuring the abutment edge remains parallel to the inclined surface when the stack is thin and inclines as the stack grows, preventing excessive curling and smooth ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a curl prevention member is used to prevent sheet curling on the ejection tray, then sheet curling is prevented, but excessive friction force occurs between the curl prevention member and the sheet stack when the stack becomes thick, hindering smooth ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The curl prevention member's inclination angle is made dynamically adjustable based on sheet stack thickness. When the stack is thin, the member maintains a larger inclination angle for effective curl prevention. When the stack becomes thick, the inclination angle automatically decreases, reducing the friction force between the member and the sheet stack, thereby enabling smooth ejection while maintaining curl prevention effectiveness throughout the ejection process
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle parameter of the curl prevention member is changed according to the sheet stack thickness. By varying this geometric parameter, the system adapts to different stack conditions, optimizing both curl prevention and ejection smoothness for different thickness scenarios
2Device complexity
If the curl prevention member maintains a fixed inclination angle, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying sheet stack thickness, causing excessive friction when stacks become thick
Solution Approach 1:
The curl prevention member is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing its inclination angle to change in response to sheet stack thickness variations. This dynamic characteristic enables the simple structure to adapt to different operating conditions without adding significant complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the sheet stack's own weight and thickness to automatically adjust the curl prevention member's inclination angle. As the stack thickens, the increased weight causes the member to naturally decrease its inclination angle, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms while achieving adaptability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents sheet curling on the ejection tray by dynamically adjusting the curl prevention mechanism's angle in response to stack thickness, reducing friction and ensuring smooth ejection of sheet stacks, even as the stack grows.
Implementation Method 1
a tray cursor 311 extended over the ejection tray 24... the lower edge 313... including an abutment edge 315 which mainly contacts the upper surface of the sheet stack
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application discloses a post-processing apparatus (2) which performs a predetermined process after an image formation process performed by an image formation apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes an ejection tray (24), which supports a sheet stack, in which sheets are stacked, and a curl prevention portion (300) including a first tray cursor (311), which abuts an upper surface of the sheet stack on the ejection tray to prevent the sheet stack from curling. The curl prevention portion includes an angle changer (317), which changes an inclination angle of the first tray cursor with respect to the ejection tray. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a first value when a number of sheets is a first number. The angle changer sets the inclination angle to a second value different from the first value when the number of the sheets is a second number different from the first number.