Pressing Roller Pair for Folded Sheet Bundle Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing devices face issues with preventing the unintended opening of folded sheet bundles after discharge, leading to damage and misalignment, particularly due to the collision of pressing rollers with the sheet end portions, which requires complex mechanisms to manage sheet bundle position and roller separation.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing device with a pressing member pair that has a first region for pressure contact and a second region with an interval, allowing for reduced impact on the sheet end portion and minimizing damage, by adjusting the pressing mechanism based on the number of sheets in the bundle to ensure secure folding and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressing rollers are used to press the fold of the folded sheet bundle, then the folded sheet bundle is prevented from being opened after discharge, but the sheet end portion may be damaged and the folded sheet bundle may deviate from a proper position due to collision with the pressing rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is divided into a pressing portion and a non-pressing portion, where the pressing portion is configured to come into contact with the fold of the folded sheet bundle, while the non-pressing portion is configured not to come into contact with the sheet end portion. This segmentation allows the pressing function to be applied only where needed (at the fold) while avoiding harmful contact with the sheet end portion, thus preventing both opening of the bundle and damage to the sheet end.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member is designed with different properties at different locations: the pressing portion has properties suitable for pressing (contact capability), while the non-pressing portion has properties that prevent harmful contact (non-contact configuration). This local differentiation ensures that the pressing action is applied locally at the fold to prevent opening, while the sheet end portion is protected from collision and damage.
2Reliability
If pressing rollers are moved along the fold to press the folded sheet bundle, then the fold is pressed to prevent opening, but the moving load on the pressing members increases due to collision with the sheet bundle
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is segmented into a pressing portion and a non-pressing portion, where the pressing portion is configured to contact only the fold of the folded sheet bundle, while the non-pressing portion avoids contact with the sheet end portion. This segmentation reduces the moving load on the pressing members by eliminating collision forces that would occur if the entire pressing member contacted the sheet bundle, while still maintaining the necessary pressing function at the fold to prevent opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member acts as an intermediary between the pressing mechanism and the folded sheet bundle. By configuring the pressing member with a pressing portion that contacts only the fold and a non-pressing portion that avoids the sheet end portion, the intermediary design mediates the pressing action to achieve the desired effect (preventing opening) while minimizing the harmful side effects (increased moving load and collision).
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 minimizes damage to the sheet end portions and reduces the moving load of the pressing members, ensuring the folded sheet bundles remain aligned and securely pressed, even when discharged, by adapting the pressing mechanism to the number of sheets.
Implementation Method 1
a first region R1 where members of the pressing member pair are brought into pressure contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet pressing device of the present invention includes: a pair of pressing rollers 70 that press, in a fold thickness direction, a fold of a folded sheet bundle BS conveyed in a folded state; and a pressing roller unit 56 that moves the pressing roller pair in a sheet fold direction while supporting the same. The pressing roller pair 70 presses the fold in one of a first region R1 where rollers of the pressing roller pair 70 are brought into pressure contact with each other and a second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 on an upstream side thereof where rollers of the pressing roller pair 70 are opposed to each other at an interval. With this configuration, it is possible to minimize damage on a sheet end portion and reduce a moving load of the pressing roller pair 70.