Movable Side Guide Sheet Stacking for Short and Thin Sheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stackers fail to correctly stack sheets due to issues such as sheets not reaching the placement part, being piled up disorderly, or stacked in a wrinkled state, particularly with short or thin sheets.

Innovation Solution

A stacker and machining processing device equipped with a placement part, side guide, guide driver, and controller to regulate sheet edges and position the side guide for accurate stacking, including features like level sensors and jogger actions to align sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sheets are conveyed by discharge rollers to the placement part, then sheets can be discharged from the cutting part, but short sheets cannot completely reach the placement part and are piled up disorderly near the discharge port

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet dischargeVSAvoidsheet alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side guide is positioned in advance to support short sheets from below before they are discharged, ensuring they reach the placement part correctly without being piled up disorderly near the discharge port

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The side guide acts as an intermediary element between the discharge rollers and the placement part, providing support to short sheets during transit and enabling them to reach the placement part successfully

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If thin sheets are conveyed to the placement part, then they can be stacked, but they are stacked in a wrinkled state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesheet stackingVSAvoidsheet flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The side guide is positioned in advance to support thin sheets from below during conveyance, preventing them from wrinkling before they reach the placement part for stacking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The side guide serves as a supporting intermediary that prevents thin sheets from deforming during transit, maintaining their flatness until they are stacked in the placement part

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the side guide is positioned to support short sheets from below, then short sheets can reach the placement part correctly, but the side guide may interfere with longer sheets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshort sheet alignmentVSAvoidsheet type compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The side guide is made movable along the width direction, allowing its position to be adjusted dynamically based on sheet length, enabling it to support short sheets without interfering with longer sheets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameter of the side guide is changed according to sheet length, allowing the system to adapt to different sheet types by adjusting where the side guide supports the sheets from below

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4653363A1Stacker and corresponding machining processing device
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 DUPLO SEIKO CORP
  • EP4653363A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4653363A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4653363A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A stacker includes a placement part that stacks thereon sheets discharged from a discharge port by a conveyor that conveys the sheets; a side guide that regulates edges of the sheets in a width direction intersecting a discharge direction of the sheets; a guide driver that moves the side guide along the width direction; and a controller configured to control the guide driver to position the side guide at a position where the sheet discharged from the discharge port is supported from below by the side guide.