Sheet Conveyance Speed Control for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet sorting devices face challenges in balancing electric power consumption and productivity due to fixed speed settings for rotating rollers, which either lead to increased power consumption for small shift movements or reduced productivity for large shift movements, while also generating noise and vibration.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a controller that adjusts the moving speed of the sheet conveyance unit based on the shift amount, allowing for low-speed operation when the shift amount is small to minimize noise and vibration and power consumption, and high-speed operation when the shift amount is large to enhance productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotating roller is set at a constant high speed to complete shift movement quickly, then productivity is improved, but electric power consumption increases and noise and vibration are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rotating roller's speed variable rather than constant. The drive mechanism adjusts the rotation speed dynamically based on the required shift amount, rotating at higher speeds for larger shifts and lower speeds for smaller shifts, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter of the rotating roller based on the shift amount. By varying the rotation speed parameter according to the specific sorting requirements, the system achieves optimal balance between productivity and power consumption for different operational conditions.
2Productivity
If the rotating roller is set at a constant high speed to complete shift movement quickly, then productivity is improved, but noise and vibration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism dynamically adjusts the rotating roller's speed based on the required shift amount. For small shift amounts, the roller rotates at lower speeds reducing noise and vibration, while for large shift amounts, it rotates at higher speeds to maintain productivity, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system varies the rotation speed parameter of the rotating roller according to the shift amount requirements, achieving optimal balance between productivity and noise/vibration generation for different operational conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the rotating roller is set at a constant low speed to reduce power consumption, then electric power consumption is saved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rotating roller's speed variable rather than constant. The drive mechanism rotates the roller at higher speeds when large shift amounts are required to maintain productivity, and at lower speeds when small shift amounts are needed to save energy, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and productivity.
4Extent of automation
If the sheet discharge tray is moved in the horizontal direction with a drive mechanism, then automatic sorting is achieved, but the apparatus size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical sheet discharge tray movement system with a rotating roller-based system. Instead of moving a large tray horizontally to achieve sorting, the system uses rotating rollers to discharge sheets at different positions, achieving automatic sorting with a more compact mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
The sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller which controls a moving unit. The moving unit moves a sheet conveyance unit for conveying a sheet toward a direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction. The controller performs the control such that a moving speed of a shift moving unit is reduced when a shift amount of the sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus main body is small. Therefore, generation of a noise and vibration can be suppressed to save electric power consumption. When the shift amount of the sheet is large, the moving speed of the shift moving unit can be increased to shorten an operation time necessary to the movement.