Paddle Guide Mechanism for High-Speed Paper Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed paper ejection from image forming apparatuses poses challenges in efficient and reliable paper arrangement, leading to staggered or off-target paper placement on stacking bases due to free-fall issues, necessitating a quick and reliable post-processing solution.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a paddle guide and pusher mechanism, driven by a single unit, which moves downward to drop and arrange paper on a stacking base, utilizing a paddle wing to guide the paper onto a fence, simplifying operations and reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If paper is ejected at high speed from the image forming apparatus, then productivity is improved, but paper arrangement reliability deteriorates due to free-fall instability and staggered placement
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure comprising guide sides and a guide bottom is introduced as an intermediary between the ejection roller and stacking base. This guide structure controls the paper's falling trajectory, preventing staggered placement while maintaining high ejection speeds. The guide structure acts as a mediator that transforms the uncontrolled free-fall into a controlled descent path.
2Ease of operation
If separate driving parts are used for the pusher and paddle wing, then operational flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving parts for the pusher and paddle wing are merged into a single integrated driving mechanism. This single driving part simultaneously controls both the pusher (which drops paper) and the paddle wing (which arranges paper), reducing component count and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining coordinated operation of both elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for paper dropping and arranging, then functional versatility is improved, but operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher and paddle wing operations are merged into a single coordinated action driven by one driving part. As the single driving part operates, it simultaneously executes the paper dropping function (via pusher) and the paper arranging function (via paddle wing), eliminating sequential operation delays and reducing total operational time while maintaining both functionalities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus ensures efficient and reliable paper arrangement by integrating the pusher and paddle wing with the paddle guide, reducing operational time and component count, enhancing control accuracy and reducing the risk of failure compared to separate driving parts.
Implementation Method 1
moves downward according to a downward movement of the paddle guide, arranges the paper dropped on the stacking base toward the fence positioned adjacent to the stacking base
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a post-processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus which arranges paper ejected from an ejection part of an image forming apparatus on a fence for post-processing. The post-processing apparatus includes a paddle guide which includes a paddle arm to which a paddle wing is coupled and a pusher positioned adjacent to the ejection part and stands by at a home position until the paper is ejected, a driving part which vertically moves the paddle guide, rotates when the paper is ejected from the ejection part to move the paddle guide downward so that the pusher presses the paper downward and drops the paper on a stacking base, and a paddle wing which vertically moves according to a vertical movement of the paddle guide, moves downward according to a downward movement of the paddle guide, arranges the paper dropped on the stacking base toward the fence positioned adjacent to the stacking base, and then, moves upward with an upward movement of the paddle guide according to operation of the driving part, wherein vertical movements of the pusher and the paddle wing are performed by a vertical movement of the paddle guide performed due to single unit periodic operation of the driving part.