Folded Sheet Holding Members for Aligned Tray Stacking

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sheet post-processing devices face challenges in stacking large numbers of folded sheets due to the thickness of folded parts, making it difficult to align multiple sheets efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A sheet post-processing device with a discharge port, discharge tray, and dual sheet holding members that selectively position to hold folded sheets, ensuring they are stacked correctly on the tray.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If folded sheets are discharged to be stacked on a discharge tray, then the sheets are collected for post-processing, but the folded-parts make the stack partly thick and prevent efficient alignment of large numbers of sheets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sheets stackedVSAvoidalignment precision of stacked sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet holding member is divided into multiple independent holding portions (first holding portion, second holding portion, etc.) that can independently contact and hold different parts of folded sheets. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple sheets with varying fold positions simultaneously, maintaining alignment precision while stacking large quantities of sheets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheet holding member is designed to be movable between a holding position (where it contacts and aligns folded sheets) and a retreat position (where it moves away to allow sheet discharge). This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt to different sheet stacking states, maintaining alignment precision throughout the stacking process without interfering with sheet discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If a fixed sheet holding structure is used to hold folded sheets, then alignment is maintained, but the structure interferes with the discharge route of folded sheets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precision of stacked sheetsVSAvoidsmooth discharge of folded sheets

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet holding member is designed to be movable between a holding position (where it contacts and aligns folded sheets) and a retreat position (where it moves away to allow sheet discharge). This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt to different sheet stacking states, maintaining alignment precision throughout the stacking process without interfering with sheet discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If sheet holding members are positioned to intersect the discharge route, then folded sheets are held for alignment, but the holding members block the discharge path when not needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precision of stacked sheetsVSAvoidtime lost due to holding member interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sheet holding member is designed to be movable between a holding position (where it contacts and aligns folded sheets) and a retreat position (where it moves away to allow sheet discharge). This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt to different sheet stacking states, maintaining alignment precision throughout the stacking process without interfering with sheet discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12384644B2Sheet post-processing device

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

The sheet post-processing device includes a discharge port, a discharge tray, a first sheet holding member, and a second sheet holding member. The discharge port has a pair of discharge rollers that discharge a sheet including a folded sheet subjected to folding processing. The first sheet holding member and the second sheet holding member are, on a downstream side of the pair of discharge rollers in the discharge direction of the folded sheet, selectively disposed at a holding position, at which the first sheet holding member and the second sheet holding member intersect a discharge route for the folded sheet and extend downward from above the pair of discharge rollers toward the discharge tray to hold the folded sheet, and a retreat position retreated to above the discharge route for the folded sheet.