Sheet Folding Apparatus Inclined Support Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet folding apparatuses face challenges in accurately positioning and folding sheets due to lack of rigidity, leading to buckling and curling issues, which affects high-speed conveyance and alignment, especially when sheets are not rigid or are curled.
Innovation Solution
A sheet folding apparatus with a sheet supporting member having an inclined surface, a sheet position adjuster, a sheet pressing unit, and a controller to adjust and fold sheets, ensuring accurate positioning and alignment by pressing sheets against the inclined surface and creating a gap for smooth reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a movable rear end fence is used to elevate sheet stacks along the conveying path, then sheet positioning is attempted, but sheets without rigidity or curled sheets cannot be accurately positioned and become buckled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of sheet support by introducing an inclined surface that uses gravity and friction to hold sheets in position, rather than relying on vertical elevation of a movable fence. This parameter change in the support mechanism allows non-rigid and curled sheets to be positioned accurately without buckling, as the inclined surface provides continuous contact and stabilization along the sheet length.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface acts as an intermediary between the sheet stack and the conveying system. It provides a stable interface that accommodates various sheet conditions (non-rigid, curled) while maintaining positioning accuracy, mediating between the sheets' irregular states and the precision requirements of the folding apparatus.
2Productivity
If sheets are conveyed at high speed, then productivity is improved, but buckling occurs and accurate positioning cannot be attained
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined surface changes the dynamic parameters of sheet handling by using gravity-assisted positioning rather than high-speed mechanical elevation. This allows sheets to be conveyed at high speed while maintaining alignment, as the inclined surface continuously stabilizes sheets during motion, preventing buckling even at increased velocities.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface performs preliminary positioning and stabilization of sheets before they enter the high-speed conveying phase. By establishing proper alignment and reducing buckling tendencies in advance, the system enables subsequent high-speed operation without sacrificing precision, as sheets are already in the correct state for rapid processing.
3Ease of operation
If sheet conveying guide plates are used to convey sheets, then sheets can be transported, but lower ends of sheets become difficult to align
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined surface introduces asymmetry in the sheet support geometry, with the angle of inclination creating natural alignment forces that guide sheets to their correct positions. This asymmetric design inherently aligns the lower ends of sheets during conveyance, eliminating the alignment difficulties associated with symmetric horizontal guide plates.
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 precise positioning and folding of sheets, eliminating buckling and curling issues, allowing for stable stapling and folding processes, even with non-rigid sheets, and facilitates high-speed conveyance without jams or defects.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet pressing unit that presses the stack of sheets against the inclined surface
Implementation Method 2
a sheet supporting member that has an inclined surface to support a stack of sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet folding apparatus including a sheet supporting member which has an inclined surface to support a stack of sheets, a sheet position adjuster which adjusts a position of the stack of sheets along the inclined surface, a sheet pressing unit which presses the stack of sheets against the inclined surface, a folding unit which folds the stack of sheets pressed by the sheet pressing unit, and a controller which controls the sheet pressing unit to press the stack of sheets on the sheet position adjuster against the inclined surface, and to create a gap between the stack of sheets on the sheet position adjuster and the sheet pressing unit to receive a sheet onto the sheet position adjuster.