Sheet Conveyance Apparatus High-Speed End Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance systems face challenges in detecting sheet end portions quickly at high speeds and short intervals, leading to increased lateral misalignment and reduced productivity due to the need for longer sensor movement and slower conveyance speeds.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus equipped with a plurality of sheet detection sensors and a drive unit that moves the sensor unit along the sheet width direction to detect sheet end portions efficiently, allowing for rapid detection and alignment, even at high speeds and short intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor is used to detect sheet end position, then the sensor must be moved for a longer distance to detect sheets with large lateral misalignment, but this increases the detection time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection function into multiple sensors (first sheet end detection sensor and second sheet end detection sensor) positioned at different locations in the sheet width direction. This segmentation allows simultaneous detection of sheets with different lateral positions, eliminating the need for long sensor travel and reducing detection time while maintaining detection accuracy for all sheets
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point detection approach to a multi-point detection approach by arranging sensors across the width direction. This dimensional expansion allows the system to detect sheets with various lateral misalignments simultaneously, converting a time-consuming sequential detection process into a parallel detection system
2Speed
If the sheet conveyance speed is increased to improve productivity, then the detection time must be reduced, but a single sensor cannot detect sheet end positions quickly across the entire width
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the detection function across multiple sensors positioned at different width locations, the system can detect sheet end positions simultaneously rather than sequentially. This eliminates the time penalty associated with high-speed conveyance, allowing the system to maintain both high sheet conveyance speed and rapid detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors are pre-positioned at multiple locations across the sheet width before sheet conveyance begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that regardless of the sheet's lateral position or misalignment, the appropriate sensor is already in position to detect the sheet end immediately, eliminating detection time delays at high conveyance speeds
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus capable of detecting a sheet end portion in a short time period even if sheets are conveyed at a narrow interval and at high speed, thus making it possible to expedite the start timing of a subsequent sheet alignment operation. In accordance with results of detection by lateral registration detection sensors performed when a sheet reaches a lateral registration detection sensor unit, the sensor unit is moved in a width direction for sheet end detection. Based on a moving distance of the sensor unit from a standby position to a position where the sheet end is detected, a shift amount to be shifted the sheet in the width direction, i.e., a lateral registration error, is computed.