Sheet Conveyance Control for Post-Processing Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face productivity degradation due to suspended sheet feeding during post-processing, and existing solutions either increase the apparatus size with buffering mechanisms or rapidly change conveying speeds, leading to sheet damage or component degradation.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a conveying unit that changes speed from a first to a second conveying speed to extend the interval between sheets, including a tray system for alignment and discharge, and a control unit that calculates a third conveying speed based on conveyance times to optimize sheet handling and prevent interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a sheet buffering mechanism is arranged in the sheet processing apparatus to temporarily stack sheets, then a processing time for post processing can be assured, but the size of the sheet processing apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit calculates and determines the optimal acceleration timing in advance based on the discharged stack height. By predicting when to accelerate the conveying speed before the discharging unit completes its operation, the system ensures processing time is assured without requiring additional buffering space, thus resolving the contradiction between processing time and apparatus size.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying speed is dynamically adjusted from a first speed to a second speed based on real-time conditions (discharged stack height). This dynamic speed control allows the system to extend the interval between sheets for adequate processing time without adding a physical buffering mechanism, thereby maintaining a compact apparatus size.
2Loss of time
If the sheet conveying speed is accelerated rapidly from the first speed to the second speed, then the interval between sheets can be extended, but the sheet may be damaged or component performance may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit calculates the optimal acceleration timing in advance based on the discharged stack height. By determining the precise moment to accelerate before the discharging unit completes, the system extends the sheet interval adequately while avoiding abrupt speed changes that could damage sheets or components.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying speed parameter is changed from the first speed to the second speed based on calculated timing. This controlled parameter change ensures the interval between sheets is extended sufficiently for processing while maintaining smooth transitions that prevent sheet damage and component degradation.
3Reliability
If sheet feeding is suspended to assure processing time for post processing, then processing can be completed properly, but productivity is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of suspending sheet feeding, the system dynamically adjusts the conveying speed to extend the interval between sheets. This allows continuous feeding while ensuring adequate processing time, thereby maintaining productivity without compromising processing completion quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying speed parameter is adjusted to extend the sheet interval, allowing the system to maintain continuous operation. This parameter change enables both adequate processing time and continuous sheet feeding, resolving the contradiction between processing quality and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
When a sheet is conveyed to a position where a conveying speed can be changed from a first conveying speed to a second conveying speed while a discharging unit is discharging a preceding stack of sheets, a conveyance control unit calculates a third conveying speed for conveying the sheet based on a first conveyance time to be taken until a leading end of the stack of sheets reaches a second tray unit from a first tray unit and a second conveyance time to be taken until a current discharging operation is completed from a start of the current discharging operation, and changes the conveying speed from the first conveying speed to the third conveying speed.