Single-Drive Sheet Finisher Alignment With Flapping and Pressing Members
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet post-processing devices face challenges in quickly loading and aligning multiple sheets on a tray without misalignment for stapling, particularly in image forming apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A sheet post-processing device with a flapping member and a pressing member, both pivoted by a single drive source, controls the trailing end of sheets to align and press them against a reference surface, using a conveyance mechanism to facilitate rapid and accurate sheet alignment on a processing tray before stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate drive sources are used for the flapping roller and pressing member, then the sheet alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive sources for the flapping roller and pressing member into a single motor (52). The motor drives both components through a common transmission mechanism involving a transmission shaft (75) and gears (76, 77), reducing the number of independent drive units while maintaining coordinated control of both sheet handling functions
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive source (motor 52) performs multiple functions by driving both the flapping roller mechanism and the pressing member mechanism. The transmission shaft (75) serves as a universal power transmission element that distributes rotational force to both the flapping roller (via gear 76) and the pressing member (via gear 77), making one drive system serve dual purposes
2Device complexity
If a single drive source is used for both flapping roller and pressing member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sheet alignment precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mechanism is segmented into independent gear pairs (gears 76 and 77 on the transmission shaft 75) that can be independently controlled. The flapping roller and pressing member are controlled separately through their respective gears, allowing independent adjustment of each component's operation timing and force, thereby maintaining precise sheet alignment control despite using a single drive source
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission shaft (75) and gear system act as intermediaries between the single drive source and the two controlled components. This intermediary mechanism allows the single motor to precisely control both the flapping roller and pressing member through mechanical transmission, enabling independent control of each component's motion and force application
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet post-processing device includes: a loading assist mechanism including a flapping member, a pressing member, a first power transmission mechanism that pivots the flapping member from a first ready-to-pivot position, a second power transmission mechanism that pivots the pressing member from a second ready-to-pivot position, a rotary member that transmits, during rotation in a first direction, power to the first power transmission mechanism, and transmits, during rotation in a second direction, power to the second power transmission mechanism, and a drive source that rotates the rotary member; and a control device that controls the drive source to control an angle of rotation of the rotary member in the first direction, thus controlling an angle of pivoting of the flapping member, and controls the drive source to control an angle of rotation of the rotary member in the second direction, thus controlling an angle of pivoting of the pressing member.