Interlocking Stopper Mechanism for Sheet Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveying apparatuses have complex constructions and high manufacturing costs due to multiple components like size detectors, controllers, and stopper driving devices, and they struggle to effectively align small sheets on large support surfaces without scattering them.
Innovation Solution
A simplified sheet conveying apparatus with a discharge tray featuring a first stopper and a movable member, both of which can change positions using an interlocking mechanism, allowing the stopper to either protrude or retract, ensuring proper alignment of sheets of various sizes without the need for complex size detection and control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional sheet conveying apparatus uses size detectors, controllers, and stopper driving devices to manage stoppers for different sheet sizes, then the apparatus can handle various sheet sizes, but the construction becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the size detector, controller, and stopper driving device from the system. Instead of using these complex components to detect and respond to different sheet sizes, the invention uses a simplified mechanical structure where the discharge tray itself and the interlocking stoppers provide passive size adaptation. The stoppers are positioned at fixed locations and work together with the discharge tray geometry to accommodate various sheet sizes without active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge tray and stoppers are designed to automatically adapt to different sheet sizes through their geometric configuration and interlocking mechanism. The system serves itself by using the physical properties of the sheets (their sizes) to naturally interact with the stopper positions, eliminating the need for external detection and control systems. The interlocking mechanism between stoppers provides automatic adjustment based on sheet dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support surface is made large to accommodate large sheets, then the apparatus can handle large sheets, but small sheets become scattered on the surface and alignment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge tray is divided into functional zones using multiple stoppers positioned at different locations. These stoppers create segmented regions that guide and align sheets of different sizes appropriately. The first stopper and second stopper work together to define alignment zones, ensuring that small sheets are properly positioned even on a large support surface designed for larger sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the discharge tray have different functional characteristics created by the stopper arrangement. The areas near the stoppers provide alignment and positioning functions, while other areas accommodate the full range of sheet sizes. The stoppers create localized guidance zones that adapt to the specific size of each sheet being discharged.
3Manufacturing precision
If stoppers are positioned to align small sheets, then small sheet alignment is improved, but large sheets may contact the stoppers and cause jams
Solution Approach 1:
The stoppers are designed with interlocking capability, allowing them to change their effective position or configuration based on the sheet size. The interlocking mechanism enables the stoppers to adapt dynamically - providing protrusion for small sheet alignment while retracting or interlocking to avoid interfering with large sheet discharge, thus preventing jams while maintaining alignment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus includes a discharge tray having a support surface supporting a sheet discharged by a discharge unit of a conveyor. A first stopper is provided on the support surface. A movable member is provided on the support surface between the discharge unit and the first stopper. The first stopper is changeable between a first position at which the first stopper protrudes from the support surface and a second position at which the first stopper is stored in the discharge tray. The movable member is changeable between a third position at which the movable member protrudes from the support surface and a fourth position located nearer to the support surface than the third position. The first stopper is changed from the first position to the second position in conjunction with a change of the movable member from the third position to the fourth position.