Paddle Member Sheet Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet post-processing apparatuses face issues with maintaining alignment of sheets after external forces are applied, leading to misalignment of sheets that have undergone longitudinal and lateral alignment processing.
Innovation Solution
A sheet post-processing apparatus comprising a transport roller, a processing tray, a stopper, a paddle member rotating around a shaft in the sheet width direction, and a controller that controls the paddle member to align sheets by pressing them against the stopper and then rotating to ensure accurate alignment and prevent misalignment during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a longitudinal alignment member rotates about a rotating shaft to align sheets in the direction orthogonal to the width direction, then misaligned sheets are aligned, but the aligned sheets become misaligned again when external force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle member is rotated to a predetermined angle before the sheets are fully transported onto the processing tray. This preliminary rotation positions the paddle member to press against the sheets and maintain their alignment against the stopper, preventing misalignment before external forces can act on the sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle member applies a counteracting force to the sheets by pressing them against the stopper. This preliminary anti-action counterbalances any external forces that might cause misalignment, such as gravity or transport vibrations, thereby maintaining the aligned state of the sheets.
2Manufacturing precision
If the paddle member rotates to press sheets against the stopper for alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle member serves multiple functions: it acts as an alignment tool by pressing sheets against the stopper, serves as a positioning mechanism by rotating to a predetermined angle, and functions as a support structure during the transport process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate alignment devices, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the paddle member is rotated to a predetermined angle before sheet transport, then alignment is maintained, but the transport time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle member rotates to the predetermined angle continuously during the sheet transport process rather than stopping mid-transport. This continuous rotation ensures that the alignment action is maintained throughout the entire transport duration, preventing any interruption that would extend the total processing time.
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 solution effectively maintains sheet alignment by using a paddle member to press sheets against a stopper and rotate them to align ends misaligned in the transport direction, preventing misalignment even when external forces are applied, thus ensuring accurate processing and transport.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating paddle member pressing the sheets held on the processing tray against the stopper and aligning ends of the sheets misaligned in the sheet transport direction
Implementation Method 2
after the controller stops the rotation of the paddle member at the first stop position and a predetermined time elapses, rotate again the paddle member
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus (2) according to the embodiment includes a paddle member (25) and a controller (24). The paddle member rotates around a rotating shaft (26), presses a plurality of sheets (S) held on a processing tray (221) against a stopper (225) and aligns ends of the sheets in a sheet transport direction. After the ends of the sheets in the sheet transport direction are aligned, the controller further rotates the paddle member, and stops rotation of the paddle member in a state that the paddle member comes in contact with the sheets held on the processing tray.