Sheet Discharge Path for Sorting Without Reverse Conveyance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sheet processing apparatuses require time for reverse conveyance during the sorting discharge process, which affects productivity.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a first conveyance portion, a placement portion, a second conveyance portion, a shifting portion, a driving portion, a processing portion, and a discharge portion to perform binding and sorting discharge processes efficiently by minimizing reverse conveyance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sheets are moved in the shift direction after reverse conveyance on the processing tray, then sorting discharge process can be performed, but time for reverse conveyance is required which reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting discharge process capabilityVSAvoidproductivity of sorting discharge process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the reverse conveyance step from the sorting discharge process by discharging sheets directly from the conveyance path to the stacking tray in the original conveyance direction. This eliminates the unnecessary reverse movement while preserving the sorting functionality through direct discharge at different positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving sheets in reverse direction to achieve sorting discharge, the invention inverts the approach by discharging sheets in the original conveyance direction directly to the stacking tray. This reverses the conventional workflow to eliminate time-consuming reverse conveyance while maintaining sorting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If reverse conveyance is performed on the processing tray, then sheets can be repositioned for sorting, but the time required for reverse conveyance reduces overall processing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet repositioning capabilityVSAvoidtime for reverse conveyance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the reverse conveyance operation from the sheet handling process by implementing direct discharge from the conveyance path to the stacking tray. This extraction eliminates the time loss associated with reverse movement while preserving the ability to reposition and sort sheets through controlled discharge positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention maintains continuous forward conveyance of sheets from the conveyance path directly to the stacking tray, eliminating the interruption and time loss caused by reverse conveyance. The useful action of sheet transport continues in one direction throughout the process, improving overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250355396A1Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 CANON FINETECH NISCA INC

AI summary

In a sorting discharge process, an unbound first sheet bundle is stacked by repeating a plurality of times a process in which, after a sheet is conveyed in a first conveyance direction by a first conveyance portion, the sheet is moved in a shift direction without conveying the sheet in a second conveyance direction by a second conveyance portion, and the sheet is discharged to a shift position on a stacking portion by a discharge portion one by one, and an unbound second sheet bundle is stacked by repeating a plurality of times a process in which the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance portion is discharged one by one to a position displaced upstream in the shift direction from the shift position on the stacking portion by the discharge portion without being conveyed the sheet in the second conveyance direction by the second conveyance portion.