Sheet Processing Stacker Sorting Control Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional processing apparatuses lack the ability to move processing members in an intersecting direction, making it difficult to appropriately sort and manage processed articles.

Innovation Solution

A processing apparatus with a control part that controls the stacker part to perform sorting processing based on the number of ejected sheets, including stopping ejection operations, changing belt conveyor speeds, and identifying carrying members to optimize sorting and management of processing articles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the processing member is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the processing articles cannot be sorted and managed appropriately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting and management of processing articlesVSAvoidprocessing member movement mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing member is made movable in the width direction (intersecting direction) rather than being fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment to sort and manage processing articles appropriately while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The processing member serves multiple functions: it performs the primary processing function and additionally enables sorting and management of processing articles by moving in the intersecting direction, reducing the need for separate sorting mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If sorting processing is performed by separating precedent and subsequent processing articles, then the management of processing articles is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement of processing articlesVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The belt conveyor is controlled to stop before processing articles are ejected during sorting processing, preparing the stacker part in advance to receive and sort articles efficiently, thereby reducing overall processing time while improving management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The belt conveyor operates periodically - stopping during sorting processing and resuming after sorting is complete - allowing efficient separation of precedent and subsequent processing articles without continuous interruption of the entire system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the belt conveyor runs at high speed, then the productivity is improved, but the sorting processing cannot be performed accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidsorting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The belt conveyor operates at high speed during normal processing to maintain productivity, then periodically stops during sorting processing to enable accurate separation and management of processing articles, achieving both high throughput and sorting accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3299321B1Processing apparatus comprising a stacker part
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 DUPLO SEIKO CORP
  • EP3299321B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3299321B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3299321B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A processing apparatus comprises: a conveyance part (4) for conveying a sheet; a processing part (24) including a processing member that is installed in a manner of being movable in an intersecting direction of intersecting with a conveyance direction of the conveyance part and that performs predetermined processing at a predetermined position of the sheet under conveyance; a stacker part (2) for accumulating processing articles obtained by the processing of the processing part; and a control part (45) for controlling the stacker part such as to sort a predetermined amount of precedently ejected ones of the processing articles from the subsequent ones of the processing articles among the processing articles ejected to the stacker part by the conveyance part.