Sheet Processing Apparatus Fold Alignment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing apparatuses that perform inward threefold processing face issues with sheet alignment and stability during discharge, leading to unstable stacking and potential collapse.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a conveying path, position adjusting unit, fold rotating body pair, and biasing unit that applies partly-opened fold processing, forming a first fold line at one position and then folding at a second position, allowing sheets to be discharged with overlapping fold lines for improved alignment and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If inward threefold processing is applied to the sheet, then the sheet can be folded at two different positions, but the sheet alignment performance deteriorates and the discharged sheet bundle collapses
Solution Approach 1:
The fold processing is divided into two distinct stages: first forming a fold line at a first fold position, then forming a second fold line at a second fold position. This segmentation allows the sheet to be folded at multiple positions while maintaining alignment, as each fold line is formed independently and sequentially, preventing the collapse that occurs when both folds are applied simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The first fold line is formed in advance before the second fold line is created. By preliminarily establishing the first fold line and leaving it partially open, the sheet structure is prepared to maintain alignment during the subsequent second folding operation, preventing misalignment and collapse that would occur if both folds were applied at once.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sheet is folded at two different positions, then inward threefold processing is achieved, but the sheet length in conveying direction becomes about 1/3 of the original, causing unstable stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The first fold line is designed to be partially open rather than completely closed, creating a dynamic structure that can adapt during stacking. The partial opening allows the fold line to flex and adjust, maintaining stacking stability even when the sheet is folded at two different positions, preventing the unstable stacking that occurs with completely closed folds.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding process is segmented into two stages with the first fold line remaining partially open while the second fold line is formed. This segmentation creates a structured fold pattern that maintains sheet stability during stacking, as the partial opening in the first fold line prevents the sheet from collapsing into an unstable configuration.
3Productivity
If complete fold processing is applied at both positions, then the sheet is fully folded, but the fold lines do not overlap and alignment performance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The first fold line is formed preliminarily and left partially open before the second fold line is created. This preliminary action ensures that when the sheet is discharged, the fold lines overlap properly, maintaining alignment performance while still achieving complete fold processing at both positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fold processing is segmented such that the first fold line remains partially open while the second fold line is formed completely. This segmentation creates an overlapping fold line configuration that maintains alignment, as the partial opening allows the fold lines to align properly during discharge.
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
The solution maintains sheet alignment performance during discharge by ensuring that fold lines overlap, preventing collapse and improving stackability of sheets discharged from the apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a fold rotating body pair disposed opposite to a surface of the sheet conveyed to the conveying path, having a nip part that nips a first fold position extending in a sheet width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet conveyed to the conveying path and a second fold position extending in the sheet width direction at a different position from the first fold position to apply fold processing to the sheet
Implementation Method 2
a biasing unit that biases the first and second fold positions of the sheet that have been adjusted by the position adjusting unit toward the nip part of the fold rotating body pair
Data Source
AI summary
To prevent displacement of first fold positions and collapse of discharged and stacked sheets when sheet fold processing is performed a plurality of times for each sheet. First fold processing is applied to a sheet conveyed to a conveying path by a rotating body pair 22. The sheet that has been subjected to the first fold processing is fed back to the conveying path while a first fold line is being opened. Then, second fold processing is applied to the sheet that has been fed back to the conveying path by the rotating body pair 22. The resultant sheet is discharged with the first fold line opened.