Sheet Stacking Apparatus Regulating Member Buckling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet processing apparatuses in image forming devices face challenges with sheet buckling and alignment defects, particularly when handling fragile or curled sheets, due to the self-weight of sheets causing buckling near abutment members, especially at large inclination angles.
Innovation Solution
A sheet stacking apparatus with a movable regulating member that adjusts clearance between the sheet stack surface and a holding member to prevent buckling, ensuring proper alignment and conveying performance by guiding sheets to avoid contact with folding rollers and maintaining a controlled guide clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stack tray is disposed with a large inclination angle to prevent sheet processing apparatus from enlarging, then the apparatus size is reduced, but sheet buckling occurs near the abutment member due to self weight
Solution Approach 1:
A regulating pressing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the abutment member and the sheet. This pressing member actively presses the sheet against the abutment member during regulation, counteracting the buckling tendency caused by the inclination angle and self weight, thereby maintaining sheet alignment stability without increasing apparatus size
2Productivity
If the regulating pressing member is returned from pressing position to home position during conveying, then the next sheet can be conveyed, but buckling or wave is generated by self weight of the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is positioned to hold the sheet trailing end before the regulating pressing member returns to its home position. This preliminary action of holding the sheet prevents the sheet from buckling or waving due to self weight during the pressing member's retraction, ensuring sheet flatness is maintained while allowing continuous conveying operation
3Manufacturing precision
If the regulating pressing member presses only near the abutment member, then the buckling near abutment is prevented, but buckling or wave is generated in other regions of the sheet
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet regulation function is segmented into two distinct components: the regulating pressing member that presses near the abutment member to prevent buckling at the leading end, and the holding member that holds the trailing end to prevent buckling in other regions. This segmentation allows each component to address specific buckling problems, ensuring comprehensive sheet flatness and alignment precision
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet stacking apparatus includes an alignment roller which conveys a sheet to a sheet positioning member and an opening and closing shutter which is disposed so as to face a sheet stack surface of a sheet stack guide. The sheet positioning member abuts a sheet end in a sheet conveying direction to align the sheet. The sheet is stacked on the sheet stack guide. The opening and closing shutter has a regulating area where sheet conveying guide and buckling of the sheet are regulated from an upstream side to a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the alignment roller. A guide interval formed between the opening and closing shutter and the sheet stack surface can be changed. Therefore, in sheet conveying positioning, the buckling can securely be prevented in the sheet stack guide.