Sheet Aligning Mechanism Position Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses lack effective mechanisms to prevent the alignment members from shifting from their controlled positions, leading to inaccuracies in sheet alignment during post-processing.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing device with a sheet aligning mechanism that includes rotationally and rectilinearly movable alignment members, supported by alignment member rotation shafts, and equipped with rotational and rectilinear waiting position detectors, which are controlled by a post-processing controller to maintain precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a stepping motor is used to drive alignment members without detectors, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but positional accuracy of alignment members deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces detectors (such as optical sensors or encoders) to detect the actual positions of alignment members and feeds this information back to the control system. The controller compares detected positions with target positions and adjusts driving signals to correct deviations, thereby maintaining high positional accuracy while still using cost-effective stepping motors.
2Ease of operation
If alignment members are made rotatable and rectilinearly movable without position detection, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs detectors to continuously monitor the positions of alignment members during operation. This feedback mechanism ensures that even though the alignment members are made flexible and movable for ease of operation, their positions remain reliable and accurate throughout the alignment process.
3Device complexity
If no position detection mechanism is installed, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates detectors and control logic to create a closed-loop system. While this does increase device complexity compared to a purely open-loop system, the complexity is minimized by using simple optical sensors or encoders rather than complex mechanical measurement devices. The feedback mechanism ensures high alignment precision is achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-correction by automatically detecting position deviations and adjusting alignment member positions without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously processes detector signals and modifies driving signals to maintain precise alignment, enabling the system to self-correct errors.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet aligning mechanism that aligns a sheet of medium stacked by causing the sheet of medium to move in a shift direction orthogonal to a feed direction. The sheet aligning mechanism includes: a pair of alignment members having a pair of alignment surfaces; a rotational waiting position detector that detects whether the alignment members have moved to a rotational waiting position at which the alignment members wait; a rectilinear waiting position detector that detects whether the alignment members have moved to a rectilinear waiting position; and a post-processing controller that performs correction of a rotational angle and amount of movement of the alignment members performed by a rotational movement drive mechanism, based on signals output from the rotational waiting position detector and the rectilinear waiting position detector.