Sheet Pressing Standby Position for Folding Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face inefficiencies in additional folding operations due to the time required for the folding mechanism to return to its standby position after completing the folding operation, which is not directly related to the folding process, especially when handling serially fed sheet bundles.

Innovation Solution

A sheet processing apparatus with a pressing member that stands by in a non-pressing state at a position close to the center of the folded sheet bundle before the folding operation begins, allowing the moving unit to reduce the travel distance and time for the additional folding operation by starting the folding from this central position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the standby position is set on the side of one edge of the folded sheet bundle, then the additional folding operation can be completed, but the time required for the mechanism to return to standby position increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadditional folding operation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for mechanism to return to standby position

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member is pre-positioned at the center of the folded sheet bundle before the folding operation begins. This preliminary positioning allows the pressing member to start from a central location rather than traveling from an edge, reducing the return travel distance and time to standby position while maintaining effective folding operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of positioning the standby location at the edge of the sheet bundle (conventional approach), the invention inverts this by placing the standby position at the center of the sheet bundle. This inversion allows the pressing member to cover the entire width more efficiently and reduces unnecessary travel distance when returning to standby

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If the additional folding unit reciprocates across the full width of the sheet bundle, then complete folding coverage is achieved, but the reciprocation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding line reinforcement qualityVSAvoidreciprocation duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing member starts from the center position before the folding operation, allowing it to press the fold line as it moves to either edge and then return. This preliminary center positioning ensures complete folding coverage while minimizing the total reciprocation distance compared to starting from an edge position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9387643B2Sheet processing apparatus and image processing system

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A sheet processing apparatus comprises a pressing member configured to press a fold line portion of a folded sheet bundle; and moving unit configured to move a position of pressing by the pressing member in a direction of a fold line of the folded sheet bundle, wherein the moving unit is configured to stand by at a pressing start position in which the pressing member is in a non-pressing state, before the folded sheet bundle is conveyed to the pressing member.