Stacking Tray Vertical Control for Binding Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional post-processing apparatuses face challenges in reliably discharging recording media onto a tray due to increased stacking height caused by side curl and bulk, which can disrupt the stacking state and degrade binding performance.
Innovation Solution
A post-processing apparatus with a stacking tray, upward and downward driving unit, and control unit that descends the tray before the leading edge of a first sheet reaches the tray, then ascends before the leading edge of a second sheet reaches, to maintain a stable stacking state and improve binding quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tray is caused to descend when recording media is discharged, then the stacking height increase due to side curl and bulk is compensated, but the stacking state of the recording media on the tray may be disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The tray performs a preliminary descent action before the leading edge of the first sheet reaches the tray position. This preliminary action creates sufficient space to accommodate the increased stacking height caused by side curl and bulk, while the controlled timing ensures that recording media are not discharged onto the tray during the descent, thereby maintaining stacking stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray movement is made dynamic and adaptive through controlled descent and ascent operations at specific timing. The tray descends when needed to accommodate stacking height variations, then ascends to return to the original position, creating a dynamic adjustment mechanism that maintains both discharge reliability and stacking state stability.
2Volume of moving object
If the descent amount of the tray is set too large, then space is provided for increased stacking height, but the dropping amount of recording media increases and stacking state is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The descent amount of the tray is precisely controlled as a variable parameter based on specific timing conditions. Rather than using a fixed large descent amount, the control unit adjusts the descent amount dynamically - descending only when the leading edge of the first sheet has not yet reached the tray, and ascending before the leading edge of the second sheet reaches. This parameter control ensures sufficient space is provided without excessive descent that would cause media to drop and disturb stacking.
3Reliability
If the tray descends to accommodate stacking height, then recording media can be discharged properly, but binding performance may be degraded due to disturbed stacking state
Solution Approach 1:
The tray performs a preliminary descent before the first sheet reaches the tray, creating space to accommodate the increased stacking height from side curl and bulk. This preliminary action ensures proper discharge of recording media while the controlled timing (ascending before the second sheet reaches) prevents disturbance to the stacking state, thereby maintaining the precision required for high-quality binding operations.
4Length of stationary object
If no side curl or bulk occurs, then stacking height is normal, but excessive descent of the tray causes recording media to drop and disturbs stacking
Solution Approach 1:
The tray descent operation is controlled as a conditional parameter change based on the actual stacking state. The control unit monitors whether side curl or bulk has occurred and only commands descent when the leading edge of the first sheet has not yet reached the tray. When no side curl or bulk occurs and stacking height is normal, the tray maintains its original position without excessive descent, preventing recording media from dropping and maintaining stacking stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, a post-processing apparatus (40) includes: a stacking tray (17); an upward and downward driving unit (89); a binding unit (49); and an upward and downward driving control unit (96). The upward and downward driving unit (89) drives the stacking tray (17) in vertical direction. The binding unit (49) performs binding on recording media (S) on the stacking tray (17). The upward and downward driving control unit (96) controls such that: descent of the stacking tray (17) is performed before a leading edge of a first sheet among the recording media (S) on which the binding is to be performed reaches a position on the stacking tray (17); and after the leading edge of the first sheet is positioned on the stacking tray (17), ascent of the stacking tray (17) is performed before a leading edge of a second sheet among the recording media (S) reaches a position on the stacking tray (17).