Sheet Rotation Mechanism Maintaining Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet transporting devices reverse the front and back sides of the transporting target when rotating it, which can complicate post-processing operations and require additional steps to reorient the sheet.

Innovation Solution

A transporting device that includes a carrying-in unit, a rotation unit capable of rotating the sheet in the thickness direction, and a discharging unit, allowing the sheet to be rotated without reversing its orientation, thereby maintaining the original orientation for post-processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the rotation unit winds the transporting target around the rotation body and rotates it in a view toward the width direction, then the transporting target can be rotated, but the front and back sides of the transporting target are reversed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation operationVSAvoidpost-processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional rotation approach by rotating the transporting target in a view toward the thickness direction rather than the width direction. This inversion of the rotation axis orientation prevents the front and back sides from being reversed, thereby simplifying post-processing operations while maintaining the ability to rotate the transporting target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the transporting target is rotated by winding around a rotation body, then rotation is achieved, but additional reorientation steps are required for post-processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation speedVSAvoidreorientation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reorientation step from the rotation process by changing the rotation direction. By rotating in a view toward the thickness direction, the harmful effect of side reversal is eliminated, making the reorientation step unnecessary and thus reducing the time loss associated with additional reorientation operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the tip of the transporting target facing the downstream side faces the upstream side after rotation, then rotation is completed, but the orientation is reversed requiring additional processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation capabilityVSAvoidpost-processing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the inversion principle by changing the rotation viewpoint from width direction to thickness direction. This causes the tip of the transporting target to face the same direction (downstream) after rotation, eliminating the reversal issue and simplifying post-processing operations while maintaining full rotation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20240092596A1Transporting device and processing system

Publication Date: 2024.03.21 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A transporting device includes a carrying-in unit that carries in a sheet-shaped transporting target, a rotation unit that rotates the transporting target, which is carried in by the carrying-in unit, in a view toward a thickness direction, and a discharging unit that discharges the transporting target rotated by the rotation unit.