Sheet Processing Apparatus Fold Top Positioning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face challenges in accurately stopping and stabilizing the position of a folded sheet bundle due to variations in the position of the fold top portion, leading to deviations in the configuration of the fold top portion, which increases costs and complicates the apparatus structure.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a pushing member, a drive device, a first conveyance unit with a separable roller pair, a first detection unit to measure the pushing member's movement, and a control unit to separate the rollers based on detected amounts, ensuring precise stopping and stabilization of the folded sheet bundle without additional sensors or complex structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a positioning member is provided to stop the sheet bundle, then the stopping position precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the positioning member from the system and replaces it with a calculation-based approach. The control unit determines the stopping position by calculating based on sheet bundle thickness and conveyance roller characteristics, eliminating the need for additional mechanical positioning components and their associated motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical positioning member with a computational control system. The control unit uses detected sheet bundle thickness and pre-stored conveyance roller characteristics to calculate the optimal stopping position, substituting mechanical intervention with intelligent control based on measured parameters.
2Reliability
If the conveyance path length is increased to prevent pushing-out, then the pushing-out phenomenon is prevented, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the conveyance rollers before the sheet bundle reaches them, based on detected sheet bundle thickness. This preliminary separation prevents the pushing-out phenomenon from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need for additional conveyance path length to accommodate thick sheet bundles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the conveyance roller configuration dynamic by separating rollers based on real-time detection of sheet bundle thickness. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying sheet conditions, preventing pushing-out without requiring a fixed increase in conveyance path length.
3Manufacturing precision
If an optical sensor is added to detect sheet bundle position, then the stopping position control is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing detection unit serve multiple functions: it detects both sheet bundle thickness and sheet bundle position. By utilizing the same detection mechanism for dual purposes, the system achieves precise stopping position control without adding separate optical sensors or mounting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit serves itself by performing multiple measurement functions. The same unit that detects sheet bundle thickness also provides positioning information, allowing the control unit to calculate the optimal stopping position without requiring additional dedicated sensing components.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus includes a pushing member, a drive device, a first conveyance unit, a second conveyance unit provided on a downstream side of the first conveyance unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a control unit. The drive device moves the pushing member to push a portion of a sheet bundle to fold the sheet bundle. The first conveyance unit uses a roller pair to convey the folded sheet bundle folded. The second conveyance unit conveys the sheet bundle. The first detection unit detects an amount by which the pushing member is moved by the drive device. The second detection unit detects an amount by which the sheet bundle is conveyed by the first conveyance unit. The control unit separates the roller pair based on the amounts detected by the first and second detection units.