Punching Apparatus Charge Removal Member for Static Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

Highly electrostatically charged paper from image forming apparatuses, particularly when using the belt transfer method, leads to static electricity issues during the punching process, causing punch waste to adhere to container walls and resulting in fullness detection errors and scattering, which conventional solutions fail to adequately address, especially at higher printing speeds.

Innovation Solution

A punching apparatus with a charge removal member, comprising charge removal needles arranged in a pectinate shape within the collecting container, effectively destaticizes punch waste by grounding it, ensuring it falls naturally into the container without scattering, and the needles are designed to avoid damage from the punching mechanism's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a destaticizing brush is positioned near the discharge rollers to remove static electricity from paper, then stacking failure is prevented, but the brush becomes clogged with punch waste and requires frequent cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the charge removal function from the discharge roller area and relocates it to the punch waste collection container. By placing charge removal needles inside the container, the system separates the paper discharge function from the punch waste collection function, allowing each to operate independently without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The charge removal needles act as an intermediary element between the punch waste generation point and the collection container. These needles remove static electricity from punch waste as it falls into the container, preventing adhesion to walls without requiring contact with the discharge roller mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple charge removal needles are arranged in the collecting container to effectively remove static electricity, then punch waste scattering is prevented, but the needles may be damaged by the punching mechanism's movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge removal effectivenessVSAvoidneedle durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The charge removal function is segmented into multiple independent needles arranged in the collection container. This segmentation allows the system to handle high volumes of punch waste effectively while distributing the mechanical stress across multiple components rather than relying on a single delicate element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The charge removal needles are positioned to perform their function before the punch waste accumulates to problematic levels. By continuously removing static electricity as waste falls into the container, the system prevents adhesion that would otherwise cause scattering and mechanical interference during subsequent collection operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the punching apparatus operates at higher printing speeds, then productivity increases, but static electricity charge on paper increases leading to more severe adhesion problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidstatic electricity charge

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The charge removal needles operate continuously as punch waste falls into the collection container, providing uninterrupted static electricity removal. This continuous action ensures that even at high printing speeds where static charge accumulates rapidly, the harmful effect is constantly counteracted without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 reliably removes static electricity from punch waste, preventing adherence to container walls and ensuring accurate fullness detection, while minimizing the risk of damage to the charge removal needles and maintaining apparatus functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a charge removal member disposed in the collecting container and removing static electricity built up on the punch waste

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic Discharge: Electrostatic Discharge

Implementation Method 2

effectively destaticizes punch waste by grounding it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGrounding: Earthing

Data Source

PatentUS7735402B2Punching apparatus

Publication Date: 2010.06.15 SHARP KK

AI summary

In one embodiment, a charge removal member 120, which removes static electricity built up on paper waste 130, is disposed in a collecting container 63 used for collecting the punch waste 130 generated by punching transported paper. The charge removal member 120 is disposed in an open top portion of the collecting container 63, in a location corresponding to a hole-punching punch 64 disposed in the punching unit 60, with a proximal end portion 121 of the charge removal member 120 supported by the collecting container 63 and the distal end portion of the charge removal member 120 forming charge removal comb-shaped needles 122 extending towards the central portion of the collecting container.