Sheet Stacking Apparatus Pressure Member Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses face issues with aligning and stacking weak sheets, leading to conveying failure and alignment failure due to sheet swelling, which increases the apparatus size and limits sheet size variability.
Innovation Solution
A sheet stacking apparatus with a discharging member, stacking member, sheet positioning member, and pressure member that presses the sheets from the positioning member side to prevent swelling and ensure proper alignment and stacking, using a pressure member that rotates to address sheet swelling and a holding member that adjusts to accommodate different sheet sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sheets are aligned by a storing guide with downstream side inclined downward, then alignment is achieved, but weak sheets swell due to their own weight or trapped air causing conveying failure
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure member applies pressure to the sheet bundle in advance during the stacking process, preventing swelling before it affects conveying. By pressing the sheets as they are being stacked, the system proactively eliminates the root cause (trapped air and weight-induced swelling) rather than reacting after swelling occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure member acts as an intermediary between the sheet bundle and the stacking surface, mediating the effect of gravity and trapped air on weak sheets. This intermediary component applies controlled pressure to counteract the swelling forces while maintaining alignment, resolving the conflict between precision and reliability.
2Reliability
If the stacking portion is brought into substantially horizontal attitude to prevent sheet swelling, then conveying reliability improves, but the apparatus size and installation area increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the overall apparatus orientation to horizontal, the pressure member applies preliminary pressure during stacking to prevent swelling. This allows the apparatus to maintain its compact vertical configuration while achieving the same reliability benefit as a horizontal design would provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of pressure application during stacking rather than changing the gravitational orientation of the entire apparatus. By controlling the pressure parameter locally at the stacking point, the system achieves swelling prevention without the space requirements of a horizontal configuration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rear end pressure member is used to prevent rear end floating, then stacking stability improves, but central portions of weak sheets still swell causing alignment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure member is designed to perform multiple functions: it prevents rear end floating (stacking stability) and simultaneously presses central portions to prevent swelling (alignment precision). This multi-functional component addresses both problems that previously required separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the function of rear end support with central portion pressure application into a single integrated pressure member mechanism. By combining these functions, the system achieves both stacking stability and alignment precision without the limitations of separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the alignment and stacking of various sheets without conveying or alignment failures, reducing apparatus size and installation area while allowing for sheets of any size to be processed.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure member which presses the sheet received by the sheet positioning member toward the stacking surface of the stacking member; wherein the pressure member presses the discharged sheets from the sheet positioning member side sequentially
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet processing apparatus or an image forming apparatus has a discharging member which discharges sheets; a stacking member which stacks the discharged sheets; a sheet positioning member, located on the downstream side of the stacking member in the discharging direction, which receives ends of the discharged sheets in a discharging direction of the sheet discharged by the discharging member; and a pressure member having a pressure surface which presses the sheet received by the sheet positioning member toward a stacking surface of the stacking member; wherein at first a downstream side in the discharging direction of the pressing surface presses the discharged sheets toward the stacking surface of the stacking member, and subsequently an upstream side in the discharging direction of the pressing surface presses the discharged sheets toward the stacking surface sequentially.