Pressing Portion Timing for Media Alignment in Saddle Stitching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In processing apparatuses that perform saddle stitching and folding of media, such as in recording systems, the alignment of media stacks is often disrupted due to insufficient sliding and high friction coefficients, leading to inappropriate positioning of downstream edges during transport, which can result in incomplete or incorrect processing of the media stack.
Innovation Solution
A medium transporting apparatus with a feeding member and a mounting portion featuring a support surface inclined downstream, along with a pressing portion that switches between pressing and releasing states to align and secure the media, with delayed state changes for the last medium in a stack to ensure proper alignment, and side guides that adjust their alignment positions to facilitate accurate edge alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pressing portion returns to the first state immediately after the medium is sent to the mounting portion, then the throughput is improved, but the alignment precision deteriorates because the downstream edge of the last medium may not reach the aligning portions
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing portion dynamically changes its state based on whether the medium being processed is the last medium. For normal mediums, it returns to the first state immediately to maintain throughput. For the last medium, it delays returning to the first state to ensure alignment precision. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between throughput and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing parameter of the pressing portion's state transition is changed based on the medium sequence. When processing the last medium, the return timing to the first state is delayed compared to normal mediums. This parameter change allows the system to prioritize alignment precision for the last medium while maintaining normal throughput for other mediums.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pressing portion presses the medium continuously, then the alignment is improved, but the medium cannot be properly sent onto the mounting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing portion operates periodically with distinct phases: it presses the medium during alignment, then releases to allow transport, and repeats this cycle. This periodic action between pressing and releasing states enables both proper medium transport and alignment to occur sequentially without conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing portion performs preliminary pressing action before the medium is fully sent onto the mounting portion to ensure proper alignment. This preliminary action occurs while the medium is still being transported, allowing alignment to be established before the pressing is released for complete transport completion.
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
This solution ensures reliable alignment of downstream edges and improved processing results by delaying the return to the aligned state for the last medium, reducing the likelihood of misalignment and maintaining throughput, thus enhancing the overall processing accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
when sliding between the mediums are insufficient, as is the case, for example, in which ink jet printing is performed on the mediums and the frictional coefficient between the mediums are large
Implementation Method 2
a mounting portion that includes a support surface that, while being in an inclined position in which a downstream portion thereof is oriented downwards in a transport direction, supports the medium transported with the feeding member
Data Source
AI summary
A medium transporting apparatus includes a mounting portion configured to mount a medium, and a pressing portion configured to switch between a first state for pressing the medium against the mounting portion and a second state for releasing the medium. The pressing portion takes the first state in waiting for the medium to the mounting portion, switches to the second state in response to the sent medium and returns to the first state after the medium is sent to the mounting portion. When the last medium is mounted on the mounting portion, a timing at which the pressing portion returns to the first state from the second state is delayed with respect to the timing of the return therebefore.