Sheet Sorting Discharge Layout Without Reverse Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses require time for reverse conveyance during the sorting discharge process, which affects productivity.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a first conveyance portion, a placement portion, an abutment portion, a second conveyance portion, a shifting portion, a processing portion, a stacking portion, and a discharge portion, enabling binding and sorting discharge processes that reduce or eliminate reverse conveyance by using multiple conveyance and shifting mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sheets are conveyed in reverse direction on the processing tray before shifting, then the sheets can be properly positioned for sorting discharge, but time is lost due to the reverse conveyance process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of conveying sheets in reverse direction on the processing tray, the invention inverts the approach by conveying sheets in the normal forward direction and using the shifting portion to move them in the shift direction. This eliminates the reverse conveyance step while achieving the same positioning effect through the combined action of conveyance and shifting mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the conveyance function and the shifting function into independent portions. The conveyance portions move sheets in the conveyance direction, while the shifting portion independently moves sheets in the shift direction. This segmentation allows sheets to be conveyed forward and then shifted to the correct position without requiring reverse conveyance, thus reducing process time while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Productivity
If multiple conveyance and shifting mechanisms are added to eliminate reverse conveyance, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shifting portion is designed to serve multiple functions: it shifts sheets in the shift direction for sorting discharge, and also positions sheets for binding processes. The conveyance portions similarly serve both sorting and binding functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still improving productivity through eliminated reverse conveyance.
3Manufacturing precision
If sheets are conveyed in the second conveyance direction to the abutment portion, then alignment is improved, but the process becomes more complex compared to direct discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The second conveyance portion conveys sheets to the abutment portion in advance before the shifting operation. This preliminary positioning action ensures that sheets are properly aligned and ready for the shifting portion to move them to the discharge position. By performing this alignment action beforehand, the system achieves better sheet alignment without significantly increasing overall process complexity, as the abutment portion serves as a simple reference point for positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a sorting discharge process, an unbound first sheet bundle is stacked by repeating a plurality of times a process in which, after a sheet is conveyed in a first conveyance direction by a first conveyance portion, the sheet is moved in a shift direction without conveying the sheet in a second conveyance direction by a second conveyance portion, and the sheet is discharged to a shift position on a stacking portion by a discharge portion one by one, and an unbound second sheet bundle is stacked by repeating a plurality of times a process in which the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance portion is discharged one by one to a position displaced upstream in the shift direction from the shift position on the stacking portion by the discharge portion without being conveyed the sheet in the second conveyance direction by the second conveyance portion. As a result of this, the productivity of the sorting discharge process can be improved.