Sheet Processing Relay Roller for High-Speed Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing apparatuses face limitations in processing speed and efficiency, particularly for longer sheets like A4-size and letter size, due to constraints in the transport path length and alignment mechanisms, which hinder high-speed sorting and increase the risk of sheet misalignment and jamming.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus is designed with a relay roller that shifts sheets in a direction crossing the transport direction, allowing allocation to either of two collection trays, and an alignment section on the processing tray to adjust sheet placement, enabling efficient sorting and alignment of sheets of varying lengths without requiring separate transport rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sheets are transported through a long transport path to enable sorting to multiple collection trays, then sorting versatility is improved, but the risk of sheet misalignment and jamming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment section performs preliminary alignment of sheets before they enter the transport path. By aligning sheets at the entrance to the transport path, the system ensures proper positioning is established early, preventing misalignment issues that would otherwise occur during long transport to multiple collection trays
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment section acts as an intermediary component between sheet entry and the transport path. This intermediary section prepares sheets by aligning them before they proceed through the transport mechanism, thereby ensuring reliable transport without misalignment or jamming
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transport path is extended to reach two collection trays, then sorting capability is improved, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment section performs preliminary alignment of sheets before they enter the transport path. By aligning sheets at the entrance to the transport path, the system ensures proper positioning is established early, preventing misalignment issues that would otherwise occur during long transport to multiple collection trays
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment section acts as an intermediary component between sheet entry and the transport path. This intermediary section prepares sheets by aligning them before they proceed through the transport mechanism, thereby ensuring reliable transport without misalignment or jamming
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus arranged in a space between an image reading section for reading an image and an image formation section for forming an image on a sheet includes a carry-in path guiding a sheet from a carry-in entrance; a relay roller provided in the carry-in path to relay and transport the sheet; a first transport path positioned on a downstream side of the relay roller and having a carry-in roller to transport the sheet from the carry-in path to the first collection tray; and a second transport path branched from the carry-in path and having a branch roller to transport the transported sheet to the second collection tray. The relay roller shifts the sheet in a direction crossing the transport direction while a front end of the sheet enters the first transport path or the second transport path, and arrives at the carry-in roller or the branch roller.