Sheet Buffering Shift Length Control for Image Forming Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed image forming apparatuses face productivity drops due to the need to interrupt the image forming process for binding processes, as the processing time for sheet bundles exceeds the sheet discharge interval, leading to misalignment issues caused by increased conveyance resistance and sliding friction in buffering processes.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a standby portion and rotating conveying portions that control the overlap and alignment of sheets to maintain a consistent shift length, ensuring proper alignment and reducing misalignment by adjusting the shift length based on the number of sheets to be overlapped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the number of sheets to be overlapped increases to assure processing time for binding, then the binding process can be completed without interrupting image forming, but the shift length between sheets increases due to repeated conveyance resistance and sliding friction
Solution Approach 1:
The standby portion is designed to rotate in both normal and reverse directions, allowing sheets to be dynamically adjusted during the buffering process. This dynamic movement enables precise control of sheet positions despite multiple conveyance cycles, resolving the contradiction between processing time and alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion calculates the required shift length based on the number of sheets to be overlapped and the number of times sheets are drawn into the standby portion. This feedback mechanism adjusts the overlapping position dynamically, ensuring precise alignment even when processing large numbers of sheets
2Productivity
If sheets are made to stand by in a branch path during binding process, then the binding process can proceed without interrupting image forming, but conveyance resistance causes increased shift length between sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The standby portion acts as an intermediary between the conveying path and the binding process. It temporarily stores sheets and allows for precise position adjustment through rotational movement, mediating between the high-speed conveying process and the slower binding process while maintaining alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion dynamically changes the shift length parameter based on the number of sheets and the number of drawal operations. By adjusting this parameter, the system maintains precise alignment even as sheets undergo multiple conveyance cycles through the standby portion
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the sheet processing apparatus increases the number of sheets to be overlapped, then it can maintain continuous operation, but the repeated sliding friction along the stationary guide increases the shift length proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The standby portion's rotational capability in both directions provides dynamic adjustment of sheet positions. This dynamic mechanism compensates for the cumulative sliding friction effects, allowing continuous operation with multiple sheets while maintaining precise alignment through active position control
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 allows for efficient sheet processing without interrupting the image forming process, maintaining high productivity and preventing misalignment by dynamically controlling the shift length between sheets during the buffering process.
Implementation Method 1
The conveyance resistance is considered to be caused by sliding friction of the sheet that slides along a conveying guide for example, and the shift length between the overlapped sheets increases by the sliding friction of the sheets that slide along a stationary guide of the branch path
Implementation Method 2
the shift length between the overlapped sheets increases by the sliding friction of the sheets that slide along a stationary guide of the branch path
Data Source
AI summary
First and second buffer roller pairs are driven such that a sheet conveyed sequentially by a conveying roller pair is overlapped with a standby sheet by shifting in a sheet conveying direction and such that the overlapped sheets standby at a branch path. A shift length in overlapping the standby sheet with the conveyed sheet is set such that the more the number of times of drawal into the branch path of the sheet, the shorter the shift length becomes. Thereby, the shift length between the respective sheets turns out to be a predetermined shift length in overlapping the standby sheets with a final conveyed sheet and conveying the sheets to an intermediate processing tray.