Sheet Processing Apparatus Vertical Stacking and Gripping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face issues with sheet bundle deviation due to buckling, especially when handling diverse sheet types, leading to increased apparatus size to maintain stability.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a gripping member and sheet receiving member that adjust their positions and forces to prevent buckling by gripping and aligning sheets along the inclined sheet stacking surface, ensuring accurate stapling and folding without increasing the apparatus's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the sheet stacking portion is disposed substantially horizontally to prevent sheet buckling, then the sheet stability is improved, but the apparatus size in the lateral direction is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal sheet stacking arrangement to a substantially vertical arrangement, changing the spatial dimension of sheet support. This vertical configuration allows the sheet stacking portion to extend in the vertical direction rather than the lateral direction, thereby preventing sheet buckling while maintaining a compact lateral footprint of the apparatus.
2Ease of operation
If a sheet receiving member is used to lift the sheet bundle to the binding position, then the binding operation is enabled, but the sheet bundle buckles due to insufficient weight support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable sheet receiving member that can be dynamically positioned and adjusted. This dynamic component is capable of moving to different locations along the vertical sheet stacking portion and can adjust its position to properly support the sheet bundle during lifting and binding operations, thereby maintaining sheet bundle stability while enabling ease of operation.
3Volume of stationary object
If the sheet bundle is moved along a vertical path for alignment, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the sheet bundle is more prone to buckling under its own weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sheet bundle support function into multiple segments: a movable sheet receiving member positioned at the lower end and a sheet stacking portion extending vertically. This segmentation allows the sheet bundle to be supported in a distributed manner along the vertical path, reducing the risk of buckling while maintaining a compact apparatus volume through efficient vertical space utilization.
Data Source
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AI summary
To prevent deviation in a processing position of a sheet bundle caused by buckling of the sheet bundle and handle a number of diversified kinds of sheets without increasing the size of apparatuses, a sheet processing apparatus and a image forming apparatus includes a pair of saddle entrance rollers (801) which discharges a sheet; a stack tray (15) which stacks the sheet discharged by the roller pair (801); a gripping member which grips the rear end portion of the sheet in the discharging direction which is stacked by the tray (15); a gripper (71) which grips the front end portion of the sheet in the discharging direction which is stacked by the tray (15); and a stapler (820), etc., which processes a sheet bundle at a processing position, wherein the gripping member (11) and the gripper (71) grip the sheet bundle (Pn) stacked by the tray (15) and move the sheet bundle to the processing position in cooperation with each other.