Sheet Holding Member with Link Joints for Folded Paper Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet post-processing devices face challenges in efficiently stacking a large number of folded sheets due to the thickness caused by folded parts, making it difficult to align them neatly on a discharge tray.
Innovation Solution
A sheet post-processing device equipped with a discharge port featuring a pair of discharge rollers, a discharge tray, and a swingable sheet holding member with link members and a joint portion. The sheet holding member can change its shape by bending at the joint portion, allowing it to adapt to the undulating surface of stacked sheets and hold them securely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If folded sheets are discharged to be stacked on a discharge tray, then the sheets are collected for post-processing, but the folded parts make the stack partly thick and it becomes difficult to stack a large number of sheets in an aligned manner
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet holding member is designed to be swingable about a pivot axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and angle. This enables the holding member to adapt to the uneven surface created by folded sheets and maintain proper alignment during stacking operations, resolving the contradiction between stacking quantity and alignment quality
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet holding member is divided into multiple link members connected by joints, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation allows different parts of the holding member to independently adjust to the varying thicknesses caused by folded sheets, maintaining overall alignment while accommodating local variations in sheet stack height
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sheet holding member is used to hold stacked sheets, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to the undulating surface of folded sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet holding member incorporates a swingable mechanism with link members and joints that allow dynamic adjustment. This dynamic structure can adapt to the undulating surface of folded sheets while maintaining a relatively simple overall design, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet holding member changes its geometric parameters (angle, position) by swinging about the pivot axis and adjusting link member configurations. This parameter adjustment enables adaptation to varying sheet surfaces without requiring complex active control systems, balancing adaptability with structural simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet post-processing device includes a discharge port, a discharge tray, and a sheet holding member. On the discharge tray, a sheet discharged through the discharge port is stacked. The sheet holding member is swingably attached above the discharge port, and holds the sheet stacked on the discharge tray. The sheet holding member has a plurality of link members and a joint portion. The plurality of link members are coupled to each other along a discharge direction of the sheet. The joint portion couples the plurality of link members to each other. The sheet holding member is capable of changing a shape thereof by being bent at the joint portion in an up-down direction.