Sheet Stacker Marker Guide for Wind-Stable Bundle Separation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet stacking devices face issues with markers being blown off by fan winds or air blowers, leading to defective stacking, marker ejection failures, and improper placement of markers on small-sized sheets.

Innovation Solution

A sheet stacking device with a guide mechanism that directs markers in the direction of fan winds, preventing them from being blown off and ensuring proper placement on sheet bundles, while using a movable guide to avoid interference with a liftable stacker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the marker is placed on the sheet bundle at the ejection height immediately above the uppermost sheet, then the marker can be placed on the sheet bundle, but the marker may be blown off by fan wind or air from the air blower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarker placementVSAvoidmarker retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is positioned to preemptively counteract the fan wind's effect on the marker. By placing the guide between the marker and the fan wind path, the system prevents the marker from being blown off before the harmful effect can occur, allowing reliable marker placement despite the presence of fan wind.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the ejection height of the marker is away from the height of the sheet bundle, then the marker can be ejected, but the end of the marker close to the roll becomes suspended and sheet stacking height is erroneously detected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarker ejectionVSAvoidsheet stacking height detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the marker ejection process and the sheet bundle. By providing a physical reference surface through which the marker passes during ejection, the guide ensures that the marker's position relative to the sheet bundle is properly established, preventing erroneous height detection while enabling successful marker ejection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the marker is connected to the roll until the subsequent transfer sheet is completely placed on the sheet bundle, then the marker is prevented from being blown off, but the marker may block the ejection port and cause ejection failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemarker retentionVSAvoidmarker ejection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is positioned to provide preliminary support to the marker during the critical ejection phase. By having the guide in place before ejection occurs, the marker is supported throughout the ejection process and immediately upon contact with the sheet bundle, eliminating the need to maintain connection to the roll until complete sheet placement. This preliminary support enables timely cutoff and prevents ejection port blocking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If the stacker is raised excessively, then the stacker can accommodate varying sheet stacking heights, but the stacker may come into contact with the marking device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet stacking height accommodationVSAvoidstacker-marking device interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide is designed with vertical adjustability, allowing it to dynamically adapt its position based on the sheet stacking height. As the stacker raises to accommodate different sheet volumes, the guide can be repositioned vertically to maintain its function as a marker ejection reference while preventing interference with the marking device, enabling the system to handle varying stacking heights without collision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4667401A1Sheet stacking device and corresponding image forming apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4667401A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667401A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667401A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sheet stacking device (8) includes a stacker (14), a conveyor (15), and a marking device (41). The stacker (14) stacks transfer sheets. The conveyor (15) conveys the transfer sheets toward the stacker (14) in a sheet conveyance direction. The marking device (41) includes a marker storage (35) to store a marker (34), an ejection port (35a) to eject the marker (34), a marker conveyor (36) to convey and eject the marker (34) from the ejection port (35a), and a guide (42) to prevent the marker (34) ejected from the ejection port (35a) from moving in a direction opposite to the sheet conveyance direction. The marking device (41) places the marker (34) on an uppermost sheet of each predetermined number of the transfer sheets on the stacker (14).