Movable Abutment Member for Sheet Buckling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing apparatuses face limitations in processing sheets of varying lengths, thicknesses, and stiffnesses due to buckling issues, which affect image forming efficiency and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a movable abutment member that adjusts its position based on sheet stiffness information to minimize buckling, ensuring proper alignment and processing without length, thickness, or stiffness limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the elastic force of the leaf springs is increased to improve conveying force, then the conveying force is improved, but thin sheets or sheets longer than the distance between the conveying roller and end stopper become bent and buckled
Solution Approach 1:
The end stopper is made movable along the sheet conveying direction, allowing its position to be dynamically adjusted based on sheet characteristics. This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt to different sheet lengths and stiffness, preventing buckling while maintaining effective conveying force for sheet accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the end stopper is changed as a variable parameter based on sheet length and stiffness. By adjusting the distance between the conveying roller and end stopper according to sheet properties, the system optimizes conveying force application to prevent buckling of thin or long sheets while maintaining accumulation capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the end stopper is positioned to receive sheets reliably for alignment, then alignment is improved, but sheets with low stiffness, thin sheets, or long sheets buckle while bumping into the end stopper
Solution Approach 1:
The end stopper position is dynamically adjusted along the conveying direction based on detected sheet characteristics. This allows the system to maintain optimal alignment by positioning the end stopper at appropriate distances from conveying rollers, preventing buckling of vulnerable sheets while ensuring reliable receipt and alignment of all sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects sheet characteristics (length, stiffness, thickness) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the end stopper position. This closed-loop control ensures that the end stopper is positioned optimally for each sheet type, preventing buckling while maintaining alignment precision.
3Productivity
If sheets are processed while buckling occurs, then processing continues, but image forming efficiency decreases due to needing to form images again on affected sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of sheet characteristics before processing and adjusts the end stopper position in advance. This preliminary action prevents buckling from occurring during sheet accumulation and conveying, ensuring that sheets are properly aligned and undamaged before image forming, thereby maintaining high processing reliability and efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between the conveying roller and end stopper is increased to accommodate longer sheets, then sheet length adaptability is improved, but conveying force becomes insufficient for proper sheet accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The end stopper position is dynamically adjusted based on sheet length and other characteristics. This allows the system to accommodate various sheet lengths by positioning the end stopper at appropriate distances, while maintaining optimal conveying force for sheet accumulation by adjusting the distance between the conveying roller and end stopper according to each sheet's properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the position parameter of the end stopper based on detected sheet characteristics. By adjusting this parameter, the system achieves both long sheet adaptability and sufficient conveying force for accumulation, as the distance between the conveying roller and end stopper is optimized for each sheet type.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus according to the invention includes a conveying portion that conveys a sheet; and an abutment member against which an end of the sheet in a conveying direction abuts, the sheet being conveyed by the conveying portion. Herein, the abutment member is movable so as to change a distance between the abutment member and the conveying portion adjacent to the abutment member based on sheet information about the stiffness of a sheet, when an end of the sheet in the conveying direction is abutted against the abutment member.