Sheet Post-Processing Apparatus Lateral Shift Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet post-processing apparatuses face alignment issues when forming sheet bundles due to protruding curls causing snagging and skewing, leading to deviations in sheet alignment, which affects the formation of a satisfactory sheet bundle.
Innovation Solution
A sheet post-processing apparatus with a punch hole forming portion and a sheet bundle forming portion that adjusts the relative position of sheets to prevent the leading end of one sheet from contacting the punch hole of the preceding sheet, ensuring proper alignment and overlap in the sheet bundle formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sheets are conveyed to form a sheet bundle with overlap, then sheet bundle formation is achieved, but alignment deviation occurs due to snagging on punch holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shift portion that moves sheets in the width direction (lateral dimension) in addition to the conveyance direction. This dimensional change allows sheets to be positioned such that their leading ends do not overlap with punch holes of preceding sheets, preventing snagging while maintaining proper bundle formation. The shift amount is controlled to achieve optimal alignment without causing deviation.
2Shape
If the leading end of a following sheet contacts the punch hole of a preceding sheet, then sheet overlap is achieved, but pushing out and skewing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The shift portion performs a preliminary action by laterally displacing the following sheet before it reaches the punch hole position of the preceding sheet. This preventive measure ensures that the leading end of the following sheet does not contact the punch hole, thereby avoiding the repulsive force that would cause pushing out and skewing. The anti-action is applied in advance to maintain sheet bundle integrity.
3Speed
If sheets are conveyed without position adjustment, then conveyance speed is maintained, but alignment deviation exceeds acceptable range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sheet conveyance process into two independent control stages: (1) conveyance control that maintains speed and (2) lateral shift control that adjusts position. The shift portion operates independently during conveyance, allowing high-speed transport while simultaneously achieving precise alignment by deviating sheets in the width direction. This segmentation enables both speed and precision to be optimized.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing on a sheet on which an image is formed includes: a punch hole forming portion; and a sheet bundle forming portion that has a conveyance portion, stops a first sheet on a conveyance path, and conveys a second sheet after the first sheet to a position overlapping the first sheet to form a sheet bundle. The sheet post-processing apparatus includes a shift portion to make a shift so that a relative position between the first sheet and the second sheet in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction becomes a relative position at which the second sheet does not overlap a punch hole of the first sheet to make the second sheet overlap the first sheet, and forms a sheet bundle in which sheets overlapped with each other are deviated in a width direction.