Sheet Guide Member Dynamics for Curling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet processing apparatuses face challenges in stably guiding sheets that have been subjected to folding processing, particularly when the curling-up preventing member is positioned far from the nip portion of the folding roller pair, leading to inadequate guidance and potential curling of the sheets during switchback conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus is designed with a guide member that can be positioned to abut against the sheet being switchback-conveyed, using a conveying path with a guide surface and rotors with different radii to form a nip part, allowing the guide member to guide one end of the sheet to the side where the other end is positioned, ensuring stable guidance by adjusting its position between a retracting and abutting configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the curling-up preventing member is positioned far from the nip portion of the folding roller pair, then the sheet conveyance distance increases allowing more time for folding restoration, but the sheet does not abut against the curling-up preventing member adequately and may not be guided to the desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is made movable between a first position (flush with or separated from the guide surface) and a second position (abutting against the sheet in the conveying path). This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different sheet states during conveyance, ensuring adequate abutment and guidance while maintaining sufficient conveyance distance for folding restoration.
2Manufacturing precision
If the guide member is positioned to abut against the sheet early in the conveying path, then guidance precision improves, but the guide member may interfere with the folding roller pair operation
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member's position is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase: it is retracted during the folding operation to avoid interference with the folding roller pair, and then positioned to abut against the sheet during the switchback conveyance phase to provide precise guidance. This temporal separation of functions resolves the conflict between guidance precision and mechanism interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is positioned to abut against the sheet before the switchback conveyance begins, ensuring that guidance is already in place when the sheet needs to be directed. This preliminary positioning action prevents potential guidance issues during the actual conveyance process.
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
This configuration effectively stabilizes the guidance of the sheet, preventing curling and ensuring accurate positioning of the folded end portion during switchback conveyance, thereby improving the overall folding process.
Implementation Method 1
a first rotor 22a having a first peripheral surface 22a2 with a constant radius and a second peripheral surface 22a3 having a radius smaller than that of the first peripheral surface; a second rotor 22b configured to be rotated in sync with the first rotor and brought into pressure contact with the first peripheral surface of the first rotor to form a nip part
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet folding apparatus includes: a rotor having a first peripheral surface and a second peripheral surface with a radius smaller than that of the first peripheral surface and configured to convey a sheet; and a guide member configured to be movable between a first position where it guides a sheet being conveyed by the rotor and a second position retracting from the first position. The guide member is disposed so as to move from the second position to the first position while passing within the rotation locus of the first peripheral surface of the rotor.