Sheet Stacking Apparatus with Dynamic Holding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet stacking apparatuses struggle to handle the bending and curling of sheets in a standing position, requiring additional components like motors and solenoids for effective stacking, and are unable to respond to the curvature of lower ends of sheets.
Innovation Solution
A sheet stack apparatus with a storage portion for supporting sheets in a standing position, an assisting member that moves to contact and assist in stacking, and a holding member that adjusts its position based on the assisting member's movement to prevent bending, utilizing a combination of mechanical and motor-driven components for precise alignment and stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a finger is kept continuously in contact with sheets by its own weight, then the sheets are prevented from bending and curving, but the apparatus cannot respond to the bending and curling of the lower ends of sheets supported in a standing position
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed to move dynamically between a first position (contacting sheets) and a second position (separated from sheets) based on the stacking state. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different sheet conditions, including bending and curling, while maintaining sheet flatness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member acts as an intermediary between the storage portion and the sheets. It contacts the lower ends of sheets to prevent bending and curling, while the assisting member provides the driving force for movement. This intermediary structure enables precise control over sheet positioning without requiring continuous contact.
2Productivity
If separate motor and solenoid components are added to move the finger and drive the stack belt, then effective sheet stacking is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member and assisting member are combined into a single integrated mechanism. The assisting member provides the driving force that simultaneously moves both the holding member (to contact/separate from sheets) and the stack belt. This merging eliminates the need for separate motors and solenoids, reducing device complexity while maintaining stacking efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The assisting member serves multiple functions: it drives the stack belt for sheet promotion, moves the holding member to contact or separate from sheets, and coordinates the timing of these operations. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed while achieving effective sheet stacking.
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stack apparatus comprises a storage portion configured to support sheets conveyed one by one in a standing position, a receiving portion configured to receive lower ends of the sheets supported by the storage portion, an assisting member configured to move from a first position to the storage portion side and at a second position where the assisting member contacts with the sheets conveyed to the storage portion, assist stacking of the sheets on the storage portion, and a holding member configured to move in correspondence with a movement of the assisting member via an attaching portion, when the assisting member is at the second position, separate from the lower ends of the sheets, and when the assisting member is at the first position where the assisting member is separated from the sheets supported by the storage portion, contact with the lower ends of the sheets, thereby hold them on the storage portion side.