Shutter Member Unidirectional Rotation for Sheet Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheet conveying apparatuses face a limitation in throughput enhancement due to increased sheet conveying speed, as the shutter member's reciprocating rotation necessitates longer sheet-to-sheet distances, hindering the reduction of this distance and thus preventing further throughput improvements.
Innovation Solution
A sheet conveying apparatus with a shutter member featuring multiple abutment surfaces and an urging mechanism, including a first rotary member, a second rotary member, and an urging spring, allows for faster positioning of the shutter member after sheet passage, enabling reduced sheet-to-sheet distances and enhanced throughput by ensuring the shutter member rotates in the same direction as the sheet conveying speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shutter member performs reciprocating rotation to return to the abutment position after sheet passage, then the skew feed correction function is maintained, but the sheet-to-sheet distance becomes longer, reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional reciprocating rotation motion of the shutter member into unidirectional rotation. The shutter member rotates in the same direction as sheet conveyance, eliminating the need to return to the abutment position. This is achieved by providing multiple abutment surfaces (first, second, and third abutment surfaces) that sequentially engage with the sheet leading edge during unidirectional rotation, thereby maintaining skew feed correction functionality while reducing sheet-to-sheet distance and enhancing throughput
2Productivity
If the conveying speed of the sheet is increased to enhance throughput, then the productivity is improved, but the sheet-to-sheet distance becomes longer due to the shutter member's reciprocating rotation time, preventing further throughput enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous unidirectional rotation of the shutter member instead of intermittent reciprocating motion. The shutter member rotates continuously in the same direction as sheet conveyance, with multiple abutment surfaces ensuring that skew feed correction is maintained throughout the rotation. This continuous action eliminates idle return time, allowing the sheet-to-sheet distance to be reduced proportionally with increased conveying speed, thereby enabling further throughput enhancement
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
This configuration allows for shorter time periods to position the shutter member back to its home position, eliminating the need for large sheet-to-sheet distances, thereby enhancing throughput even at higher conveying speeds.
Implementation Method 1
an urging spring connected to the second rotary member, the urging spring urging the second rotary member so as to generate a reaction force exerted on the sheet when the shutter member is pressed by the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion to rotate in a rotation direction
Data Source
AI summary
A sheet conveying apparatus, including: a first conveying portion; a second conveying portion arranged downstream of the first conveying portion; a shutter member rotated by the pressure of the sheet and including a plurality of abutment surfaces against which a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveying portion abuts to correct a skew feed of the sheet; and an urging portion which provides the shutter member with an urging force for positioning one abutment surface at an abutment position at which the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the one abutment surface, the urging portion providing the shutter member with an urging force for rotating the shutter member to position another abutment surface at the abutment position after the leading edge of the sheet is nipped by the second conveying portion.