Collision Avoidance in Liquid Applier and Binder Posture Change

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medium processing apparatuses face challenges in changing the postures of a liquid applier and a binder without colliding, which can lead to damage or breakage of the apparatus and its components.

Innovation Solution

A medium processing apparatus is designed with a liquid applier, a binder, a mover, a first rotator, and a second rotator, including a posture change assembly and a collision avoidance assembly, to allow for smooth changes in posture between parallel and inclined positions without collision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the postures of the liquid applier and binder are changed in advance ordered sequence, then the binding process can be completed, but the liquid applier and binder collide with each other causing damage or breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebinding process completionVSAvoidapparatus component safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collision avoidance assembly performs preliminary actions by detecting the positions of the liquid applier and binder before posture changes occur. It predicts potential collisions and prevents them by controlling the sequence of posture changes, ensuring that components are positioned safely before moving to new postures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The collision avoidance assembly continuously monitors the positions of the liquid applier and binder using detectors, and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust the posture change sequence. When a potential collision is detected, the system modifies the control signals to prevent the collision while still completing the binding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the liquid applier and binder are disposed adjacent to each other in the main scanning direction, then the apparatus structure is compact, but collision risk increases during posture changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus structure compactnessVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collision avoidance assembly acts as an intermediary between the liquid applier and binder. It detects the positions of both components and mediates their interactions by controlling the sequence of posture changes, ensuring that they do not collide even when disposed adjacent to each other in the compact apparatus structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If the liquid applier changes posture to apply liquid to entire binding position area, then liquid application coverage is improved, but the posture change timing may cause collision with binder

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid application coverageVSAvoidcollision with binder
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the posture change timing of the liquid applier based on the real-time position of the binder. Instead of using fixed pre-programmed sequences, the liquid applier's posture changes are controlled adaptively to ensure complete coverage of the binding position area while avoiding collisions with the binder at any moment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4446816B1Medium processing apparatus and image forming system incorporating same
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4446816B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4446816B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4446816B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A medium processing apparatus (3) includes a liquid applier (31), a binder (32), a mover (144), first and second rotators (52, 126). The first rotator (52) rotates the binder (32) between a first inclined posture and a first parallel posture. The second rotator (126) rotates the liquid applier (31) between a second inclined posture and a second parallel posture, and includes a posture change assembly (114, 115, 117, 118) that changes the posture of the liquid applier (31) between the second inclined posture and the second parallel posture at a posture changing position (D), and a collision avoidance assembly (90) that allows the binder (32) in the first inclined posture to pass a restriction position, and restricts the binder (32) in the first parallel posture from passing through the restriction position. The binder (32) reaches the restriction position before the liquid applier (31) reaches the posture changing position.