Sheet Finishing Apparatus Folding Accuracy via Trailing Edge Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet finishing apparatuses face challenges in accurately positioning sheets for multiple folds without causing wrinkles or skewing, particularly due to complex mechanisms and instability when handling sheets of varying lengths.
Innovation Solution
A sheet finishing apparatus with first and second conveyance means arranged at a prescribed distance, featuring folding rollers between them, and a stopper mechanism that includes a swingable lever member for aligning the sheet's leading edge and a pair of rollers capable of forward and reverse drive to position the trailing edge, ensuring accurate folding without wrinkling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a stopper mechanism is used to position the sheet at folding rollers, then folding accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet itself serves as the positioning element by utilizing its own trailing edge to engage with the folding rollers. The sheet's physical dimensions and properties are leveraged to automatically determine the correct folding position without requiring external stoppers or complex positioning mechanisms, thereby achieving accurate folding while simplifying the device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the stopper mechanism from the folding system. By removing this additional component, the patent reduces device complexity while maintaining folding accuracy through the simplified approach of using the sheet's trailing edge directly for positioning at the folding rollers
2Device complexity
If conveyance rollers are used to nip and stop the sheet for folding, then folding position calculation is simplified, but sheet stability deteriorates causing potential skewing and wrinkles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a temporary, single-use positioning approach where the sheet's trailing edge is engaged by the folding rollers just long enough to establish the folding position, then released. This transient engagement provides sufficient stability during the critical folding moment without requiring complex, permanent positioning structures that could interfere with sheet handling
Solution Approach 2:
The folding rollers perform a preliminary positioning action by engaging the sheet's trailing edge before the actual folding occurs. This preliminary engagement ensures the sheet is correctly positioned and stable during the subsequent folding operation, preventing skewing and wrinkles while maintaining a simple device structure
3Manufacturing precision
If the sheet is temporarily stopped in the conveyance path for folding, then folding accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional stopping and starting time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains continuous sheet conveyance through the folding operation by having the folding rollers engage the sheet's trailing edge during motion rather than requiring the sheet to stop. This continuous action approach achieves accurate folding while eliminating the time loss associated with stopping and starting the sheet, thereby maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The folding rollers apply periodic engagement to the sheet's trailing edge during conveyance, creating a rhythm of engagement and release that allows for accurate folding positioning without requiring complete stops. This periodic action maintains overall workflow continuity and productivity while achieving the necessary folding precision
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet finishing apparatus includes a first conveyance path connected to a sheet conveyance inlet, a second conveyance path branching from the first conveyance path, a folding roller device disposed in the second conveyance path for folding the sheet, and a sheet discharge path arranged vertically parallel to the second conveyance path and guiding the folded sheet from the second conveyance path to a sheet conveyance outlet. The second conveyance path includes a first guide path located at a downstream side relative to the folding roller device and guiding a rear side of the sheet, and a second guide path located at an upstream side relative to the folding roller device and guiding a front side of the folded sheet conveyed from the folding roller device. A gate is formed for selectively guiding the folded sheet from the second guide path to the storage device or the sheet discharge path.