Sheet Conveyance Roller Control for Mixed Sheet Lengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet conveyance systems struggle to handle varying sheet lengths efficiently, leading to inconsistent conveyance timing and difficulty in conveying both short and long sheets without compromising productivity.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveyance apparatus with a control system that adjusts the movement of roller pairs and their contact/separation states based on sheet length detection, ensuring precise alignment and synchronized conveyance timing for sheets of different sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the distance from the slide roller to the oblique feeding rollers is increased to secure sufficient moving time for the slide roller, then long sheets can be conveyed with adequate correction time, but it becomes difficult to convey short sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable release member that can dynamically adjust its position along the conveyance path. For long sheets, the release member is positioned farther downstream to provide sufficient time for the slide roller to complete its movement. For short sheets, the release member is positioned closer to the slide roller, ensuring timely release without requiring excessive distance. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between needing sufficient correction time and maintaining versatility for different sheet lengths.
2Reliability
If the sheet position is corrected by the slide roller while the sheet is retained by upstream conveyance roller pairs, then the correction can be performed with the sheet securely held, but the timing of sheet release is delayed for long sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a coordinated control system where the slide roller's movement and the release member's positioning are pre-planned and executed in a specific sequence. The release member is positioned in advance at an appropriate location based on sheet length detection, ensuring that when the slide roller completes its correction movement, the sheet is released at the optimal timing. This preliminary positioning action prevents delays in sheet release while maintaining secure retention during the correction process.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a first roller pair, a second roller pair, an abutment portion, an oblique feeding portion, a detection portion, a moving portion a contact/separation portion, and a control portion. If a first sheet whose length is a first length is conveyed, the control portion causes the moving portion to move the first roller pair, and then causes the first sheet to be conveyed from the first roller pair to the oblique feeding portion through the second roller pair that is in the separation state, and if a second sheet whose length is a second length shorter than the first length is conveyed, the control portion causes the moving portion to move the first roller pair, and then causes the second sheet to be conveyed from the first roller pair to the oblique feeding portion via the second roller pair that is in the contact state.