Sheet Edge Guide Timing for Stable Misregistration Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveying apparatuses face issues with misregistration and skew during conveyance, leading to potential apparatus upsizing and vibration-induced conveyance disruptions, particularly when using regulation guides to correct misregistration.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with an endless conveyance belt, spheres, and regulation guides that shift independently to guide and retract, allowing for stable sheet conveyance by nipping and guiding the sheet's edges, thereby correcting misregistration and skew without increasing apparatus size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pair of regulation guides are shifted from retract positions to guide positions to guide opposite end edges of the sheet in the width direction, then misregistration of the sheet in the width direction is corrected, but the regulation guides vibrate when halted, increasing amplitude and pressing in the end edges of the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The first regulation guide is shifted to the guide position before the second regulation guide. This preliminary action allows the first guide to be stable before the second guide arrives, preventing simultaneous vibration and pressing of the sheet end edges, thus maintaining conveyance reliability while achieving misregistration correction
Solution Approach 2:
The shifting operation of the pair of regulation guides is segmented into sequential actions rather than simultaneous action. The guide shift section controls them to shift at different timings, dividing the single corrective action into two staged operations that avoid mutual interference and vibration amplification
2Manufacturing precision
If the regulation guides are halted in the guide positions at the same time, then misregistration correction is achieved, but the vibration amplitude increases and the end edges of the sheet are pressed in
Solution Approach 1:
The first regulation guide completes its shifting and halts before the second regulation guide halts. This preliminary completion of the first guide's action prevents both guides from halting simultaneously, thereby avoiding vibration amplification and the harmful pressing effect on the sheet end edges while maintaining side registration correction
3Manufacturing precision
If a fixed reference guide is provided on one side in the width direction with a conveyance belt provided obliquely, then side registration and side skew are concurrently corrected, but the apparatus increases in size to reserve conveyance length
Solution Approach 1:
The regulation guides are made movable between retract positions and guide positions rather than being fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the guides to be positioned only when needed for correction, enabling concurrent side registration and side skew correction without requiring permanent space allocation, thus avoiding apparatus upsizing
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation guides are shifted in the width direction (lateral dimension) rather than requiring extended conveyance distance (conveyance direction). This dimensional change allows correction functionality to be achieved through lateral movement of guides rather than longitudinal extension of the conveyance path, thereby reducing apparatus size
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
Stable and efficient conveyance of sheets is achieved, minimizing vibration and load on the sheets, ensuring precise alignment and reducing the risk of conveyance failure.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spheres disposed in positions opposed to the conveyance face in the conveyance direction to be rotatable in any direction, while nipping the sheet between the spheres and the conveyance face
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a configuration capable of stably performing conveyance of sheets, a pair of regulation guides are capable of guiding opposite end edges in the sheet width direction Y of a sheet S conveyed by a conveyance belt and spheres, while being nipped. Further, the pair of regulation guides are capable of shifting to guide positions for guiding the opposite end edges of the sheet and retract positions retracted from the opposite end edges of the sheet more than the guide positions. In shifting the pair of regulation guides from the retract positions to the guide positions, a guide shift section causes the one of regulation guides to arrive at the guide position after the other of regulation guides arrives at the guide position.