Sheet Processing Alignment Plates for Lower-Resistance Shifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The leading edge of a sheet hanging down and making surface contact with a processing tray causes resistance in the shift movement during post-processing, leading to inefficiencies in sheet handling.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a pair of side edge alignment plates that can be controlled to contact a portion of the sheet excluding the side edges, reducing resistance during shift movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the leading edge of the sheet is allowed to reach the processing tray during shift movement, then the sheet can be positioned for alignment, but the leading edge hangs down and makes surface contact with the tray causing resistance in shift movement
Solution Approach 1:
The side edge alignment plate is divided into a first side edge alignment plate and a second side edge alignment plate. The first plate contacts the sheet at a position excluding the side edge during shift movement, while the second plate contacts the side edge. This segmentation allows the leading edge to be supported without hanging down, reducing resistance while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The first side edge alignment plate acts as an intermediary support element between the sheet's leading edge and the processing tray. By contacting the sheet at a position excluding the side edge, it prevents the leading edge from hanging down and making surface contact with the tray, thereby reducing resistance during shift movement while still enabling proper positioning.
2Manufacturing precision
If the side edge alignment plate contacts the side edge of the sheet during shift movement, then alignment is maintained, but the leading edge hangs down causing resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented between two plates: the first plate provides support by contacting the sheet at a non-side-edge position, preventing the leading edge from hanging down, while the second plate maintains side edge alignment. This segmentation resolves the conflict between alignment precision and movement efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sheet are contacted by different alignment plates with different functions. The first plate contacts a local position excluding the side edge to provide support during shift movement, while the second plate contacts the side edge for alignment. This local differentiation allows both alignment precision and movement efficiency to be achieved.
3Ease of operation
If the leading edge of the sheet hangs down to the tray, then the sheet can be accepted by the tray, but surface contact creates resistance in shift movement
Solution Approach 1:
The first side edge alignment plate serves as an intermediary support that prevents the leading edge from hanging down to the tray during shift movement. By providing support at a position excluding the side edge, it eliminates surface contact resistance while still allowing the sheet to be properly accepted and positioned by the tray.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus includes: a control unit configured to control at least one of a pair of side edge alignment plates such that the one of the pair of side edge alignment plates is located at a position where the side edge alignment plate can come into contact with an inner side of a sheet in a widthwise direction, which is shifted by a shift unit.