Sheet Processing Apparatus Speed Control for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face issues with sheet jamming due to increased productivity in image forming apparatuses, where the distance between sheets becomes smaller, and struggle with processing sheet bundles with fewer sheets than the buffering capacity, leading to improper stapling of multiple bundles together.
Innovation Solution
A sheet processing apparatus with a conveying unit, stacking unit, processing unit, buffering unit, and controlling unit that adjusts the sheet conveying speed to prevent jamming and ensures proper processing of each sheet bundle by controlling the buffering and conveying operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image forming processing speed is increased to improve productivity, then the processing speed is improved, but the distance between sheets becomes smaller causing sheet jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary actions by controlling the conveying unit to adjust sheet conveying speed before the sheet reaches the buffering unit. When buffer sheets are being transferred, the control unit anticipates the potential jamming issue and proactively reduces the conveying speed to ensure the subsequent sheet arrives at the appropriate timing, preventing jamming before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the transfer status of buffer sheets and dynamically adjusting the sheet conveying speed based on real-time conditions. When buffer sheets are transferred at a lower speed, the control unit receives feedback and adjusts the conveying speed accordingly to maintain proper timing and prevent sheet jamming.
2Reliability
If the sheet conveying speed is reduced to prevent sheet jamming, then sheet jamming is prevented, but the processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet conveying speed is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the conveying speed in real-time based on the operational phase: high speed during normal processing for efficiency, and reduced speed only temporarily when buffer sheets are being transferred to prevent jamming. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying speed adjustment follows a periodic pattern where high-speed operation is interrupted by brief low-speed periods during buffer sheet transfer. This periodic variation in speed allows the system to maintain high overall productivity while periodically preventing jamming during critical transfer moments.
3Productivity
If buffer sheets are transferred quickly to improve processing speed, then processing speed is improved, but subsequent sheets may interfere with the transfer causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary speed adjustment before the subsequent sheet reaches the transfer region. By detecting that buffer sheets are being transferred, the control unit proactively reduces the conveying speed in advance to ensure the subsequent sheet does not interfere with the transfer process, maintaining both speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the buffer sheet transfer operation and the subsequent sheet conveying. It mediates the potential conflict by adjusting speeds to ensure proper timing, allowing both operations to proceed smoothly without interference or jamming.
4Quantity of substance
If the number of buffer sheets is increased to handle larger sheet bundles, then the buffering capacity is improved, but the complexity of managing sheet bundles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback control to manage sheet bundle complexity. It monitors the number of buffer sheets and the transfer status in real-time, adjusting conveying speeds and transfer timing based on actual conditions. This feedback mechanism simplifies management by automatically adapting to varying bundle sizes and transfer states without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages varying buffering capacities by dynamically changing operational parameters such as conveying speed and transfer timing rather than requiring complex mechanical adjustments. When the number of buffer sheets changes, the control unit adjusts speed parameters to maintain optimal operation, simplifying the management of different sheet bundle sizes.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus including: a conveying unit, which conveys a sheet; a stacking unit on which the conveyed sheet is stacked; a processing unit, which processes the stacked sheet; a buffering unit, which allows the sheet conveyed to the stacking unit by the conveying unit to pass, and buffers a predetermined number of sheets to be passed during an operation of the processing unit; a transferring unit, which receives the buffer sheets and transfers the predetermined number of buffer sheets from the buffering unit to the stacking unit; and a controlling unit, which controls a sheet conveying speed to make a speed when the transferring unit transfers the buffer sheet lower than a speed when the transferring unit receives the buffer sheets to prevent the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit from interfering the transferring unit during an operation of transferring the sheet.