Sheet Stacking Apparatus Dynamic Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet stacking apparatuses face challenges in aligning sheets efficiently, particularly when the number of sheets to be sorted as a single unit is singular, leading to interference with sheet ejection and reduced image forming speed, as they struggle to manage conveyance intervals and aligning operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a control section that manages the aligning and shifting of sheets based on the number of sheets in a single unit, aligning multiple sheets when plural and skipping alignment for singular sheets, allowing for optimized sheet alignment and conveyance without reducing image forming speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sheet conveyance speed is lowered to increase conveyance intervals for aligning sheets, then the aligning operation can be properly conducted, but the image forming speed of the image forming apparatus must be lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sheet conveyance speed variable rather than fixed. The control section dynamically adjusts the conveyance speed based on whether plural or singular sheets are being processed. When plural sheets are processed, the conveyance speed is lowered to allow aligning plate shifting. When singular sheets are processed, the conveyance speed is maintained at normal speed since aligning is not performed. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between achieving proper sheet alignment and maintaining high image forming speed.
2Loss of time
If plural sheets are temporarily stacked on the sheet stacking apparatus to increase conveyance intervals, then the aligning operation can be properly conducted, but if the number of sheets to be sorted as a unit is only one, said sheet cannot be temporarily stacked alone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the aligning operation selective based on the specific case. Instead of universally applying aligning to all sheets (which would require temporary stacking), the system applies aligning only locally to plural sheets where it is needed. The control section determines whether to perform aligning based on the number of sheets in the current unit, enabling the system to handle both single sheets (without stacking) and multiple sheets (with stacking and aligning) appropriately.
3Productivity
If the aligning plate shifting operation is not completed before sheet ejection, then the sheet aligning plate interferes in ejecting the sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by completing the aligning plate shifting operation before sheet ejection begins. The control section monitors the shifting operation completion status and only permits sheet ejection after the aligning plate has fully shifted to its final position. This preliminary completion of the shifting action prevents interference during ejection while ensuring proper alignment is achieved, resolving the contradiction between ejection efficiency and alignment completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stacking apparatus, including: a stacking section which stacks sheets; a sorting section which changes an ejecting position of the sheet in the stacking device to sort the sheets; an aligning section which aligns the sheet sorted by the sorting section and ejected onto the stacking section; a shifting section which shifts the aligning section based on the ejecting position changed by the sorting section in the stacking section; and a control section which controls at least the aligning section and the shifting section; wherein when the number of sheets as a sheet unit to be sorted by the sorting section is plural, the control section controls the aligning section to align the sheets as the sheet unit, and when the number of sheets is singular, the control section controls at least the aligning section and shifting section not to align the single sheet in the sheet unit.