Inclined Sheet Stacker with Angled Fence and Guide Face

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet stacking systems in image forming apparatuses face challenges in efficiently stacking and removing laminated sheets, particularly in ensuring neat stacking and easy removal without damage.

Innovation Solution

A sheet stacker system with a stacker portion having an inclined stacker face, a fence with an angled face, and a guide face that directs sheets to the outlet port, enhancing stacking neatness and ease of removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If sheets are stacked on a horizontal surface, then stacking capacity is maximized, but stacking neatness and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking neatnessVSAvoidstacker footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stacker face is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, changing the stacking dimension from horizontal to inclined. This allows sheets to be stacked more neatly and stably while reducing the horizontal footprint of the stacker portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If sheets are stacked on an inclined surface, then stacking neatness is improved, but sheet removal difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking neatnessVSAvoidsheet removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A guide face is provided that guides the sheet conveyed along the lower side toward an outlet port. The guide face acts as an intermediary that facilitates smooth sheet removal from the inclined stacker, preventing sheets from sticking or damaging each other during extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fence is added to prevent sheet displacement, then stacking stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking stabilityVSAvoidstacker structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fence includes an angled face that rises in the stacking direction with respect to the lower side of the stacker face. This asymmetric design allows the fence to effectively prevent sheet displacement while maintaining a compact and simple overall structure that integrates well with the inclined stacker face.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12264028B2Sheet stacker, sheet laminator, image forming apparatus, and image forming system

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A sheet stacker for use in a device including a stacker portion, a fence, and a guide face. The stacker portion includes a stacker face that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane and receives a plurality of sheets ejected from above and stack the plurality of sheets on the stacker face. The fence includes an angled face to contact an end of the plurality of sheets stacked on the stacker face. The angled face rises in a direction in which the plurality of sheets is stacked, with respect to a lower side of the stacker face. The guide face guides the sheet conveyed along the lower side toward an outlet port to a lower end of the outlet port, the outlet port opening in an exterior of the device to remove the sheet to an outside of the device.