Sheet Folding Apparatus End Edge Alignment Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face issues with end edge misalignment during saddle stitching or middle folding, leading to inferior appearance and misalignment of sheet bundles due to the disarrangement of back side end edges, especially when sheets of varying sizes are processed.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a transport device that maintains sheets bundled on one side in the thickness direction, utilizing a folding plate and angle adjustment mechanism to correct the fold line alignment, and a flexible member to prevent end edge disarrangement, ensuring accurate alignment and folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sheets are scooped with a pawl member from an intermediate tray, then sheets can be transported to the discharge roller, but the back side end edge of sheets becomes disarranged depending on the number of sheets, causing misalignment of the sheet bundle after binding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide member that extends in the sheet width direction (another dimension) to constrain the back side end edges of sheets. This guide member prevents disarrangement by providing lateral guidance, transforming the uncontrolled sheet stacking into organized alignment along the transport direction while maintaining efficient sheet scooping and transport capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sheets are bound via saddle stitching or middle folding, then binding functionality is achieved, but misalignment of the end edge of the sheet bundle becomes noticeable resulting in inferior appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary alignment action by introducing a guide member that maintains end edge alignment during the sheet scooping and transport process. This preliminary alignment ensures that sheets are properly positioned before binding operations (saddle stitching or middle folding), preventing misalignment issues that would otherwise become noticeable after binding and ensuring professional appearance.
3Reliability
If a transport auxiliary rotative member with a wing member is provided to press the surface of sheets, then bulging of end edges is prevented, but the back side end edge disarrangement issue remains when sheets are re-transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide member as an intermediary component between the sheet bundle and the transport mechanism. This guide member acts as a mediator that maintains alignment of the back side end edges during re-transport, working in conjunction with the existing transport auxiliary rotative member. The guide member ensures that sheets remain properly aligned throughout the entire transport and binding process, preventing both bulging and disarrangement issues.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus is configured so as to be capable of preventing the misalignment of the end edge of sheets to be scooped and transported from an intermediate tray, and reliably preventing the so-called displacement of end edges in the post-processing steps of sheets as a recording medium with an image formed thereon, and thereby preventing the inferior appearance during binding. A sheet folding apparatus enables a user to easily adjust the misalignment of the fold line of sheets that occurs during actual use, in the middle folding processing steps of sheets as a recording medium with an image formed thereon.