Sheet Processing Apparatus Shift Discharge Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing apparatuses lack efficiency in the shift discharge process, where sheets are moved in a shift direction and then discharged, as they require further acceleration to enhance processing speed.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus is designed with a first conveyance portion, a placement portion, an abutment portion, a second conveyance portion, alignment plates, a driving portion, a processing portion, and discharge rotary members that allow for alignment, binding, and sorting of sheets, enabling quicker shift discharge by moving the alignment plates and discharge members to optimize sheet alignment and discharge positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sheets are conveyed through multiple conveyance portions and alignment plates for shift discharge, then sheet alignment and discharge accuracy is improved, but processing time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus divides the sheet processing function into separate modules: a first conveyance portion for initial sheet transport, a second conveyance portion for shift discharge, alignment plates for positioning, and discharge rotary members for final discharge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall precision while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment plates perform preliminary alignment of sheets in the width direction before the final discharge process. By pre-aligning sheets using the alignment plates and second conveyance portion, the system ensures accurate sheet positioning is achieved earlier in the process, reducing the need for additional correction steps and thereby decreasing overall processing time
2Reliability
If discharge rotary members are positioned at nipping position for binding discharge, then binding process reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge rotary members are designed to be movable between a nipping position and a separated position, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on the required operation. At the nipping position, the rotary members provide reliable binding discharge; at the separated position, they facilitate shift discharge operations. This dynamic positioning capability enables a single mechanism to handle multiple functions, managing device complexity through functional integration
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus performs a binding discharge process and a sorting discharge process. In the sorting discharge process, a second operation is repeatedly performed to form an unbound first sheet bundle on the stacking portion, and a third operation is repeatedly performed to form an unbound second sheet bundle on the stacking portion. In the second operation, a sheet conveyed in a first conveyance direction is nipped by a pair of alignment plates without conveying the sheet in a second conveyance direction, and a shift operation of moving a position of the sheet in a shift direction is performed. Then the sheet is discharged to a shift position on the stacking portion. In the third operation, the sheet is discharged to a position displaced from the shift position on the stacking portion without conveying the sheet in the second conveyance direction.