Sheet Ejection Corrugation for Alignment in Post-Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed image forming apparatuses require post-processing apparatuses with high-speed processing capabilities to handle sheet stacking and stitching efficiently, while maintaining productivity by accepting sheets from the image forming apparatus continuously, but existing solutions face issues with sheet alignment and corrugation leading to unstable sheet conveyance and friction problems.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a sheet ejection section that displaces sheets in the ejection direction, applies corrugation using corrugation rollers, and controls the extent of corrugation through a bias pressure control section, ensuring proper sheet alignment and reduced friction for stable conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are conveyed two by two to the post-processing apparatus, then the conveyance interval is widened and productivity is maintained, but the upper sheet may contact the arrangement plate before the lower sheet causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary corrugation to the lower sheet before it reaches the arrangement plate. This pre-treatment creates a textured surface that reduces friction and allows the lower sheet to slide smoothly under the upper sheet, ensuring proper alignment when both sheets contact the arrangement plate simultaneously. The corrugation is applied in advance to prevent the alignment problem rather than correcting it afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of the sheet by applying corrugation, transforming the smooth surface into a textured surface with reduced friction characteristics. This parameter change allows the lower sheet to move more freely in the conveyance direction, preventing it from being restricted by the upper sheet and ensuring both sheets reach the arrangement plate aligned properly.
2Manufacturing precision
If sheets are conveyed one by one to the post-processing apparatus, then sheet alignment is improved, but processing speed decreases and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies corrugation to change the surface parameters of the sheet, creating a textured surface that reduces friction. This allows sheets to be conveyed with better control and alignment even when multiple sheets are processed simultaneously, thereby maintaining both precision and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the arrangement plate to create a reference alignment position that both sheets follow. By having both sheets contact the same arrangement plate structure, the system ensures they achieve identical alignment, copying the precise positioning for each sheet regardless of whether they are conveyed individually or in pairs.
3Productivity
If additional post-processing apparatus is added at upstream side, then conveyance interval is widened and continuous sheet acceptance is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the corrugation application function from the main conveyance path and places it in the sheet ejection section. This separation allows the corrugation to be applied locally to sheets before they enter the main post-processing flow, enabling continuous processing without requiring additional complex buffering systems upstream.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet ejection section serves multiple functions: it ejects sheets from the image forming apparatus, applies corrugation treatment, and prepares sheets for conveyance to the post-processing apparatus. By combining these functions in one section, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous processing capability.
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
The solution enables efficient sheet stacking and stitching while maintaining high productivity by ensuring proper sheet alignment and reducing friction, allowing for stable and efficient conveyance of sheets to the stacker, even when sheets are ejected one by one or in pairs.
Implementation Method 1
a corrugation application member which applies corrugation onto the sheet to be ejected from the sheet ejection section
Implementation Method 2
a bias pressure control section which changes a bias pressure applied from the rotating corrugation rollers facing each other onto the sheet
Implementation Method 3
The ejected sheets P move to a Y direction by the gravity, and fall down to a stacker section 60
Data Source
AI summary
In a post-processing apparatus in which sheets are stacked in a stacker section and arranged to be subject to post-processing, the stacker section is provided with a sheet ejection section which subsequently ejects the sheets one by one or two or more sheets overlapped with each other, wherein the sheet ejection section is provided with a corrugation application member to apply corrugation onto the sheet to be ejected and to change extent of the corrugation to be applied.